Madmen don't keep diaries

Chapter 534: Which bandit is being targeted?

Hei Sanniang asked again for confirmation: "Was he the one recruiting people in Fornas City?"

The bandits all nodded in agreement: "Exactly!"

Now even Hei San Niang had to believe it, and nodded, saying, "Then it must be right."

Although Shen Morou had never seen "Second Master" in Fornas City, she knew about the fact that Abbott and Ma Er had joined forces. Regardless of whether the fat man in front of her admitted it or not, even Abbott recognized him as "Ma Er," so how could he not be "Ma Er"?

"Second Master" was utterly desperate. He looked up and cried out loudly, "Mother—I've already said I'm not, but you insist I am! What will it take for you to believe me?"

Tears blurred his vision, and through the haze, "Second Master" suddenly spotted a familiar figure.

Her breath hitched, and the crying stopped abruptly.

"Second Master" rubbed his eyes hard, his gaze fixed firmly on Feng Xiuhu.

His eyes gradually brightened, as if he had seen a lifeline.

"Ah-ah!"

He practically screamed, pointing at Feng Xiuhu like a madman and shouting, "It's him! He's Ma Er!"

"Nonsense!"

Feng Xiuhu righteously denied it: "I am clearly Ah Hu."

"Second Master" struggled to his feet and walked towards Feng Xiuhu: "You are! You are Ma Er!"

He had only taken two steps when the bandit pointing him out from behind kicked "Second Master" in the back of the knee, and he fell to the ground with a thud.

The bandit thumped his chest and said, "Stop trying to frame others, he's Ah Hu—we all know that!"

Feng Xiuhu gave them a thumbs up: "Good brothers, we didn't stay in the same dormitory for nothing."

"Second Master" was speechless with grief and anger, pointing at Feng Xiuhu and crying out, "Admit it! I'm begging you, just admit it—"

Ah Qing, standing nearby, chuckled mockingly, "This guy must be crazy to say you're Ma Er? You might as well say you're the mayor!"

Feng Xiuhu laughed and chimed in, "Hey, who says otherwise?"

Hei San Niang found "Second Master" noisy, so she waved for Lao Huang to come forward and gag "Second Master" with a hemp rope.

Once things calmed down in the courtyard, Hei Sanniang rubbed her temples and said, "I never expected the famous Ma Er to be such a coward. Rumors really can't be trusted."

Feng Xiuhu frowned: "How can you talk like that?"

Hei San Niang was almost used to it and ignored him completely, continuing to ask Lao Huang, "Ma Er and Ye San are inseparable, but where is Ye San?"

Upon hearing this, Aqing jumped up from her chair and said triumphantly, "I killed Ye San!"

He stepped onto a chair with one foot and vividly reenacted yesterday's scene: "Don't be fooled by the darkness last night. That bastard Ye San stood by the door like a bamboo pole, incredibly conspicuous. I spotted him from a mile away, pulled out my big treasure—bang bang bang! Three shots in a row, all hit!"

Feng Xiuhu glanced at his performance—so it was you who shouted that last night.

"Alright, I'll give you credit for this. Next time, get straight to the point."

Hei San Niang waved for A Qing to sit back down, then stared at the "Second Master" kneeling in the courtyard and began to ponder.

After a moment, she asked, "What do you all think we should do with him?"

Ah Qing eagerly raised her hand: "Stab a few holes in his stomach, then hang him on the tallest chimney in town—his intestines and blood will spill out together, scaring that bastard Abbott so much he'll wet his pants! This trick is called killing the chicken to scare the dog!"

Old Huang showed no mercy to Aqing, cursing, "What a terrible idea! And that's called making an example of someone!"

"Second Master" was trembling all over when he heard Old Huang's rejection. He was about to breathe a sigh of relief when Old Huang hadn't finished speaking yet.

"This is the famous Ma Er, your use of him is such a waste."

Old Huang shook his head and clicked his tongue, and everyone looked at him, wanting to hear his insightful opinion.

Old Huang spoke calmly: "Although our Copper Whistle Gang is well-known in Feisha Road, our reputation is not that great outside of Feisha Road."

"So, if you ask me, we should send out invitations to all the heroes in the underworld, gather them all, and then chop off Ma Er's head in front of everyone, so that people will know how powerful the Copper Whistle Gang is." A stench filled the air, and everyone turned to look – it turned out that "Second Master's" crotch was wet, and urine was dripping down his trouser leg onto the ground.

The bandits burst into laughter, and Hei Sanniang roared, "This is my courtyard! Get me out of here right now!"

"Second Master" was dragged out of the courtyard, and as he was being led away, he still stared intently in the direction of Feng Xiuhu with grief and indignation.

Only Feng Xiuhu knew how frustrated he was.

After explaining many matters, Hei San Niang was about to "adjourn the meeting" when a high-pitched bird cry suddenly came from the sky.

Aqing's expression changed, and she looked up at the sky.

He pulled a bird whistle from under his collar, put it in his mouth, and blew it. The sharp whistle rang out, and a moment later, Ah Qing stretched out his arm. As the sound of flapping wings approached, a falcon landed.

Aqing took a strip of meat from the small leather bag he carried with him and fed it to the falcon, then took a roll of paper from its talons.

After unfolding the note and glancing at it, Aqing was taken aback and quickly handed it back to Hei Sanniang.

Hei San Niang unfolded the note and read it, then a look of doubt appeared in her eyes.

She glanced around at the bandits in the courtyard and asked, "We haven't lost any of our men, have we?"

Aqing nodded and said, "They've all been withdrawn; not a single one has been spared."

"What does this mean?"

Hei Sanniang waved the note in her hand: "Our spies in the city informed us that the entire Great Xuan Army has been mobilized to suppress bandits in the city—our people are all here, what kind of bandits are they suppressing?"

The bandits looked at each other in bewilderment.

Old Huang asked suspiciously, "Could it be that other bandits also came into the city last night?"

Hei Sanniang sneered: "Come on, ever since Yuluan County became Fornas City, those rabble have lost the guts to come into the city to make money."

Hua Changrui, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly muttered to himself, "It's not like we're going out of the city to raid a bandit stronghold. It's just about catching a few horse bandits in the city. Does the Great Xuan Army really need to get involved? Shouldn't this be the job of the Patrol and Police Division?"

Hei San Niang was taken aback upon hearing this: "That makes sense."

Feng Xiuhu also sensed something was amiss, and stroked his stubble with a puzzled expression: "I think I've forgotten something..."

Hei Sanniang casually tore the note to shreds, shook her head, and said, "Forget it, it has nothing to do with us anyway. Let them do their thing if they want to fight bandits."

Before he could finish speaking, Feng Xiuhu slapped his thigh and stood up: "My God!"

Everyone was startled and turned to stare.

Aqing suddenly realized: "That's right! The mayor has been kidnapped—could the Great Xuan Army be looking for you?"

Feng Xiuhu said urgently, "Isn't it because they're looking for me!"

Hei Sanniang asked, puzzled, "What's gotten into you now?"

Feng Xiuhu pulled her along and said, "Quick, we have to go back."

Hua Changrui's eyes darted around, and he quickly followed from behind.

"Where to go back to?"

Hei San Niang asked as she walked.

"Back to Fornac City!"

Feng Xiuhu was extremely anxious: "There's no time to explain, is it easy to get a taxi here?"

Hei Sanniang shook off her hand and said, "No way. I won't go back with you unless you explain yourself clearly."

Feng Xiuhu's face darkened.

"If you don't want to see me chop your father, who's a governor, into mincemeat, then you'd better come with me."

(End of this chapter)