His entire family perished in battle; he rose from the ashes to conquer the world.

This clearly shows that Black Cloud Stronghold is no ordinary place.

"What's the background of this Black Cloud Stronghold's chief?" Mu Yuan's curiosity was piqued, and he planned to pry more useful clues out of Zhang Dongjia.

Zhang Dongjia shrank his neck and said with a bitter face, "I don't know much either."

"Then tell me what you know. Don't hide anything, or you know what the consequences will be," Mu Yuan threatened.

Mr. Zhang was trembling with fear and slowly said:

"The Black Cloud Stronghold has been entrenched in Diancheng for many years. Years ago, a large number of Western Army troops came here to suppress bandits, but they failed to find the stronghold of the Black Cloud Stronghold. The people of the Black Cloud Stronghold are all quite strong and not to be trifled with at all."

Mu Yuan tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table; the Western Army hadn't found the Black Cloud Stronghold's stronghold.

It's clear that Black Cloud Stronghold really does have something special.

Thinking of this, Mu Yuan continued, "How many times have you seen the leader of Black Cloud Stronghold?"

"I've never seen it before," Zhang Dongjia replied.

"Why?" Mu Yuan asked, puzzled.

"To be honest, I have never met the leader of Black Cloud Stronghold, and I don't even know how to get to Black Cloud Stronghold."

"You still dare to lie!"

Mu Yuan roared, "I've never seen him before, how could you sell him to Black Cloud Stronghold?"

Fearing that Mu Yuan would be enraged and order his men to break his other arm, Zhang Dongjia quickly explained:

"Every word I said is true. Every time I sold someone to Black Cloud Village, I would go to the contact person a few days in advance. Then the contact person would arrange a day, blindfold me with a black cloth, and take me to Black Cloud Village."

"When I arrived at the destination, it wasn't the head of the gang who came forward, but the manager of Black Cloud Village. I handed the person over to him, he paid me, and then I was blindfolded and sent back."

It's just a bandit's den, yet it's made to seem so mysterious.

Mu Yuan clicked his tongue in amazement.

After extracting a lot of useful information from Zhang Dongjia, Mu Yuan ordered Jin Kui to tie up Zhang Dongjia and his gang and lock them up in the backyard.

He then led Qin Hongxiu to the woodshed.

He wanted to see if the woman locked in the woodshed was the Lin Xueshang he was looking for.

We arrived outside the woodshed.

Mu Yuan took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

The door slowly opened.

Inside the house, on top of the woodpile, lay a woman.

The woman had her back to Mu Yuan at this moment.

I couldn't see her face clearly.

Mu Yuan and Qin Hongxiu exchanged a glance and quickly walked over.

He was about to reach out and touch the woman's hair to get a better look at her face.

Just then.

The woman lying down suddenly sat up.

Suddenly, a dagger appeared in her hand, and she thrust it straight at Mu Yuan's face.

"It's me!"

Mu Yuan shouted.

Upon hearing this, the dagger stopped abruptly just a hair's breadth away from Mu Yuan.

"What brings you here!"

The woman's tone was tinged with surprise.

In the dim candlelight, the woman's face was revealed; it was Lin Xueshang.

"That was close."

Mu Yuan let out a long breath. If he hadn't reacted quickly and shouted in time, the dagger in Lin Xueshang's hand would have pierced his head.

"Sixth Sister-in-law, it really is you!" Qin Hongxiu said with a face full of surprise.

"Sister-in-law, what brings you here?" Lin Xueshang glanced at Mu Yuan and Qin Hongxiu, then put away the dagger in her hand. She was surprised as to how the two of them had found their way here.

Qin Hongxiu explained:

"You left a letter and then left without even saying goodbye. We were very worried about you, so we came looking for you."

Upon hearing this, a hint of emotion flashed in Lin Xueshang's eyes, but she quickly regained her cool and aloof demeanor.

"Don't worry about me, you guys go back."

"Sixth Sister-in-law, why do you keep people at arm's length?"

Qin Hongxiu walked to Lin Xueshang's side, naturally took her arm, and said:

"We're family. The old lady has told us everything about your situation. How can you take revenge all by yourself? Now that we're here to help you, it will be much easier!"

Lin Xueshang remained unmoved and continued to speak coldly and sarcastically:

"I can do it myself!"

Lin Xueshang refused repeatedly, and Qin Hongxiu didn't know what to say for a moment.

Just then.

Mu Yuan began by saying:

"If I'm not mistaken, you deliberately got captured so you could use the innkeeper's help to get to Black Cloud Stronghold?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xueshang was taken aback.

Qin Hongxiu also looked at Mu Yuan with a blank expression. Lin Xueshang returned here to find the bandits who killed her family. What does she have to do with Black Cloud Village?

However, seeing that Lin Xueshang remained silent, Qin Hongxiu thought about it carefully and immediately realized what was going on.

With Lin Xueshang's experience in the martial arts world, how could she not see that this inn was a shady establishment? Besides, she willingly ate the food that had been drugged.

All signs indicate that she did this for some purpose.

"Black Cloud Stronghold has a large and powerful force, and each member is quite strong. If you go alone, your chances of winning are slim. This time, it's not just me and my sister-in-law, but also the Shadow Squad. With us, your chances of getting revenge are extremely high," Mu Yuan reassured him.

Lin Xueshang remained silent, but unlike before when she was aloof, her eyes now revealed reluctance.

"Think it over carefully. We'll be waiting for your answer in the front yard!"

Mu Yuan didn't rush Lin Xueshang to express her opinion. Instead, after finishing his speech, he took Qin Hongxiu and left to wait in the front yard.

They left the woodshed.

Qin Hongxiu asked in confusion:

"Why should we wait in the front yard? What if Sixth Sister-in-law leaves again without saying goodbye?"

"Don't worry, we're already in this area. Even if she leaves quietly, the only place she could go is Black Cloud Village. Since we know where she is, what are we worried about?" Mu Yuan explained.

After thinking about it carefully, Qin Hongxiu realized that this made sense.

Front courtyard lobby.

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn has passed.

Lin Xueshang arrived at the lobby.

Seeing Lin Xueshang appear, Mu Yuan understood her decision and said, "Go upstairs and rest. Leave the rest to me."

She knew Lin Xueshang well; she was usually quiet and reserved, and her emotions and words never showed on her face.

Rather than making her feel awkward, it's better to let her go upstairs to rest earlier.

After Lin Xueshang went upstairs.

Mu Yuan went to the backyard alone and found Zhang Dongjia, who was tied up.

Upon seeing Mu Yuan again, Zhang Dongjia and his accomplices trembled with fear, mistakenly believing Mu Yuan had come to kill them, and immediately begged for mercy:

"Great hero, spare our lives! We've confessed everything, please spare our dogs' lives!"

"We will never dare to do it again."

Hearing their cries and pleas for mercy, Mu Yuan's face darkened, and he rebuked them:

"Shut up!"

The words fell.

The people who had just been crying and shouting immediately shut their mouths.

Mu Yuan looked at Zhang Dongjia:

"Do you want to live?"

Zhang Dongjia nodded vigorously: "I'd like to. As long as you're willing to let me go, I'll do anything you ask."

"Very good!" Mu Yuan was satisfied with his attitude and said, "Tell me how to contact the contact person, and I'll let you off the hook."

A strange look flashed across Zhang Dongjia's face, and he asked cautiously:

"Great hero, you...you don't necessarily have a grudge against Black Cloud Stronghold, do you?"