Surviving in the chaos of war begins in the wilderness.

Chapter 127 Your Entertainment Circle is Truly Chaotic

Although I have a new identity, I still need to maintain my old one.

That day, Zhou Ye returned to his home outside the city. He spent half the day at a teahouse and chatted with his old neighbors for a while. Finally, he carried a load of charcoal on a shoulder pole and sold it to the woodcutter's charcoal shop. He also paid the protection money he had collected over the past few months.

However, as soon as Zhou Ye left the charcoal shop, he noticed that two thugs seemed to be following him.

Zhou Ye frowned slightly, immediately becoming alert. He then quickened his pace, and after a few turns, disappeared without a trace into the crowd.

Upon discovering that Zhou Ye had suddenly disappeared, the two thugs stood there blankly, looking around. After a while, they dejectedly went to a nearby theater, where they found a lean man.

After exchanging a few words, the wiry man launched into a tirade of curses at the two thugs. He then hurriedly left the theater, taking the two thugs and a few henchmen with him, and they quickly entered the outer city.

Before long, the group arrived at a detached mansion in the outer city. After announcing their arrival, they were led inside by a man dressed as a steward.

At this moment, night was slowly falling. In the center of the main hall of the mansion, a burly man with a lion's nose and a broad face was sitting in a chair, and between his thighs, a woman with disheveled hair was kneeling, her small head bobbing up and down.

The burly man wore a satisfied expression. He smugly stroked the woman's long hair: "A decent woman is still the best. You'll stay tonight! Your man's loan shark debt for this month's interest will be waived!"

"Uh-huh----

'

Just then, the lean man and his group of men were led in. They seemed quite used to the scene in the hall, bowing and reporting, "Brother Jiao, that A-Ye has finally shown up. We had those two keeping an eye on him, but they lost him in the end."

To everyone's surprise, Brother Jiao looked completely bewildered: "Who is A Ye?"

"It's about Xiong Ge back then. You instructed us a few months ago to bring this A Ye here. But we never saw him again. Until today, he finally sold a load of charcoal to the charcoal shop."

"Oh! I remember now. That bastard Da Jin, he dared to hide it from me? You guys don't need to cause any trouble from now on. If you find him directly, just kill him on the spot! Uh—throw his head at Da Jin's doorstep, give Da Jin a taste of his own medicine. Damn it! Don't think that just because someone surnamed Li is protecting him, I'll give them the time of day—"

"Yes, yes, Brother Jiao."

However, no one would know that right across from the main gate of the mansion, a dark figure was hiding behind a corner of the wall, observing the movements inside the mansion.

After shaking off the two thugs, Zhou Ye returned to his home outside the city as quickly as possible. After gathering all his equipment, he turned back and pursued the two thugs again.

At this moment, Zhou Ye was already dressed in black, with a leather mask on his face, and a black cloth covering his face as well.

However, regarding what was inside the mansion—which could be considered a threat—Zhou Ye remained somewhat hesitant.

After hesitating for a while, Zhou Ye decided to call it a day!

We need to remain calm and avoid rash actions. After all, we know very little, and this is the outer city; it's best not to cause any major disturbances. We should wait until we understand those people's backgrounds and have a complete action plan in place before—?

However, just then, shouts of battle suddenly came from afar. Soon after, several areas within and outside the inner city seemed to descend into chaos once more. And one could faintly hear someone yelling, "What's going on? Is another war breaking out?"

(O—)

Fine!

Zhou Ye was practically numb. This is just everyday life in Fufeng County. A disagreement can escalate into a fight!

However, the sudden chaos immediately made Zhou Ye's eyes flicker. He couldn't help but turn his gaze to the mansion across the street—

After a period of hustle and bustle, everyone in the courtyard quickly returned to calm.

So what if there's war? The people of Fufeng County are used to this kind of fighting and killing. As long as you don't recklessly get caught up in the chaos and stay safely in your home, you can generally be guaranteed safety.

The burly man with the broad face, known as Brother Jiao, was the same. He was embracing the woman from before and preparing to drink and have fun with a group of his brothers.

Just then, one of his men asked curiously, "Why hasn't the wine been served yet?"

"Go to the kitchen and hurry up and urge them."

"Huh? Why does it feel like there's no sound outside—"

"Oh no!"

Realizing something was wrong, Brother Jiao shoved the woman in his arms away and struggled to stand up. But his men all collapsed, and eventually, even he himself felt weak and slowly slid off the chair.

The last thing Brother Jiao saw before he lost consciousness was a man in black walking slowly in through the door.

Brother Jiao barely raised his right hand, trying desperately to beg for mercy.

But the man in black chuckled: "So you're only at the early stage of Ming Jin? Good evening!"

Taking advantage of the chaos outside, Zhou Ye used an upgraded version of the muscle-relaxing powder to paralyze everyone in the entire mansion.

The effect was absolutely fantastic. Even Mimi couldn't resist it, so how could Brother Jiao and the others possibly withstand it?

There were more than thirty people in the mansion. Zhou Ye threw all the servants and maids, including the woman, into a certain room.

Even without an antidote, the muscle-softening powder can naturally revive them. It just takes a long time; for ordinary people, it usually takes four or five hours.

Then they moved all the remaining people into the lobby.

The first person they looked for was the lean man. Zhou Ye led him to a small room behind the main hall. He took out a bottle of antidote, placed it under the lean man's nose, and let him smell it.

Several loud sneezes were heard, and the lean man slowly woke up.

Upon seeing Zhou Ye's attire, the lean man became terrified. He cried out in panic, "Friend, friend, we are from the Green Wood Hall of the Woodcutter's Gang! Is there some misunderstanding?"

"???"

Zhou Ye was taken aback. He had initially thought these people keeping watch were from the Canal Gang, but how did they suddenly become the Green Wood Hall of the Woodcutter Gang?

"I ask, you answer?"

"I understand, I understand."

"Who are you keeping an eye on today?"

"Oh, that man's name is A-Ye, just an unremarkable mountain dweller."

"Why are you tailing him?"

"Friend, I promise I'll tell the truth, will you let me go?"

"You talk too much nonsense, you're useless."

"No, no!" the wiry man cried out in terror. "The original Xiong Ge was killed, and two archers appeared that night. One was named Gao Xiaoyi, and the other's identity was mysterious. But we later found out that Gao Xiaoyi and that A Ye were quite close. A Ye is also a mountain hermit who knows how to use a bow and arrow. So they wanted to get through—no, you are A Ye. No, no, no!"

I don't know who you are, I promise—uh!

Zhou Ye tossed the lean man's body aside. That idiot, maybe he still thinks he's clever?

So that's how it is. That night, he left some clues, and the Woodcutter's Gang had gotten close to the truth. Zhou Ye reflected on himself briefly; he really couldn't underestimate others. No matter what you do, you'll always leave some trace.

Then it was the butler's turn, and Zhou Ye also led him into a small room—

"I ask, you answer."

"Yes, yes."

Who is here? Names and identities?

"We are from the Green Wood Hall of the Woodcutter's Gang. Our leader is Jiao Defu. Hero, we all know he's been committing many evil deeds outside, and we were forced into this situation. I also want to be a good person."

"Enough with the nonsense."

"Yes. And also—"

"Do you know about what happened to A-Ye?"

"Ah Ye? Oh, I remember now. Good man, you must be asking about Xiong Ge's matter, right? According to Jiao Defu and the others, Gao Xiaoyi must have a master who is skilled in archery, and the Ming Jin archer that night was very likely his master. Gao Xiaoyi and Ah Ye are also very close, so maybe Ah Ye also knows that mysterious archer?"

"Oh? Does Jiao Defu want revenge?"

"No, really no," the butler swore repeatedly. "Originally, Xiong Ge was secretly lending money at exorbitant interest rates behind Jiao Defu's back, so Jiao Defu wanted to find the loan ledger. But after Xiong Ge died, it wasn't found in his house. They thought Gao Xiaoyi and the others had taken it. But now that it's been found, Xiong Ge has almost forgotten about it."

"Hmm? Where did you find it?" Zhou Ye asked curiously.

"It's with Jiao Defu's sixth concubine."

"what?"

"Good sir, Sixth Concubine was taken by Jiao Defu. Later, he had an affair with Xiong Ge. So even the most important account books were given to Sixth Concubine for safekeeping."

"————"

Okay, okay! Your industry is really messy!

By now, Zhou Ye had a pretty good understanding of the whole incident. He had been dragged into it for no apparent reason.

On the other hand, the matter hadn't actually spread; it remained confined to the Green Wood Hall of the Woodcutter's Gang. Since that was the case, Zhou Ye didn't bother asking any more questions and simply decided to send all these thugs on their way!

Without a doubt, these thugs were all guilty of numerous crimes, and none of them were innocent.

After snapping everyone's necks, Zhou Ye began looting the spoils. In the end, the gold and silver jewelry, banknotes, and even the dozen or so baskets of copper coins in the storeroom, all he collected, were worth only a little over 2000 taels of silver?

Is this the leader of the Woodcutter's Gang? What a bunch of damn poor bastards!

To be honest, Zhou Ye is the real oddball. Even ordinary masters of internal energy can't earn as much money as him. The key is that he can find unique "monster-hunting spots," thus creating a very stable channel for hunting monsters.

Otherwise, putting aside hunting monsters, just finding monsters in the vast mountains would be an extremely difficult task.