Song Xingzhi presented the Peace Buckle with both hands. Zhou Jin took the object and casually toyed with the jade buckle. The jade's quality was excellent—made from premium jade that was translucent and emerald green.
It seemed Zhang San had put considerable thought into this.
"Step back."
Song Xingzhi, who had expected punishment, was surprised when the prince merely dismissed him. He swiftly made his exit.
It appeared the prince was in a good mood—he hadn't even punished him for disobeying orders.
The Peace Buckle truly brings peace.
Zhou Jin looked down at the character "Jin" engraved on the small golden bead, his brow slightly raised as he pondered, "What are your true intentions?"
"If you harbor ill intentions, I will sacrifice you to the heavens."
Having identified the traitor among the officials, Zhou Jin implemented the "Ten-Household Joint Responsibility System," grouping the county's population into units of ten households. If one household in a unit colluded with mountain bandits and the other nine failed to report it in advance, all ten would face collective punishment.
Once this regulation was announced, many relatives of the bandits were exposed. Overnight, these individuals were arrested.
This move thoroughly enraged the bandits of Jiu Lan Mountain, who clamored for Zhou Jin's blood, feeling they had never been so humiliated.
Xu Shaofei, who had originally planned to bide his time and wait for an opportunity, was now forced into action.
"Boss, that brat Duan Wang is going too far!"
The second-in-command, Hu Mianlang (Tiger-Faced Wolf), brandished his broadsword, itching to lead his men and take Zhou Jin's head right then.
"Let's claim Duan Wang's dog head as a sacrifice to our fallen brothers!"
"That bastard arrested my entire family! I won't rest until he's dead!"
"Kill him! Kill him!"
The bandits' morale was high, their shouts fierce.
Xu Shaofei slammed the table abruptly, his gaze sharp as he rebuked them sternly.
"Enough noise!"
"Duan Wang is no pushover—we can't afford to lose our composure."
"Luo Qiang is in his hands now. Luo Qiang knows the terrain of Jiu Lan Mountain and all our hideouts. If he's already surrendered, the situation is extremely unfavorable for us."
Xu Shaofei had been lying low to find a new escape route, avoiding being wiped out in one stroke.
Duan Wang made his name in battle at a young age and has never been defeated. Such a man is terrifying—not to be underestimated.
"To hell with that!"
"I can't take this humiliation! All this hesitation—is this how we treat our brothers?"
"Old Liu's whole family was arrested, even the infant in swaddling clothes!"
Hu Mianlang was a rough, uneducated man who had risen to second-in-command through sheer bravery and loyalty.
He had long been dissatisfied with Xu Shaofei, whose cautious approach didn't seem fitting for a bandit.
"Kill Duan Wang! Avenge our fallen brothers!" Hu Mianlang led the rallying cry, and the other bandits echoed in unison.
"Revenge!"
"Revenge!"
Seeing the situation spiral out of control, Xu Shaofei felt a headache coming on. He knew Hu Mianlang wouldn't listen to him—vengeance had stripped him of his limited reason.
Duan Wang is truly cunning.
He's forcing us into internal conflict. It seems we'll have to call in our backer.
"Your Highness, what a brilliant strategy. I never imagined so many among Baiqu County's populace were colluding with the bandits."
The County Magistrate of Baiqu County gazed at Zhou Jin with admiration. When Zhou Jin first arrived, he had worried the prince was merely a brute who only knew warfare and understood nothing about suppressing bandits.
Now that I think about it, how could a great general who strategizes on the battlefield and wins every battle possibly be a simple-minded person?
Duan Wang truly possesses both courage and wisdom.
"Having captured so many relatives of the mountain bandits, the other side must be restless. Shouldn't we prepare early to better face the enemy?"
Zhou Jin waved his hand dismissively, his exquisite Rui Feng eyes slightly upturned at the corners as he scanned the officials present, as if everything was under his control.
"No need to worry. Those bandits rely solely on brute force and pose no real threat."
The County Magistrate of Baiqu County, seeing Zhou Jin so confident, felt somewhat concerned. With a major battle imminent, wouldn't such underestimation of the enemy be unwise?
Who would have thought that very night, the mountain bandits' stronghold at Jiu Lan Mountain would be ambushed.
Zhou Jin led elite troops, dividing them to surround and attack, setting fire to the mountain bandits' den at Jiu Lan Mountain, catching the bandits completely off guard.
"You damned villain, prepare to die!"
"Today, I'll make sure to chop you to pieces!"
When Hu Mianlang saw Zhou Jin, his eyes widened with rage, wishing he could tear his flesh apart and devour it. His own brother had been captured by Zhou Jin, sliced piece by piece and fed to dogs, tortured beyond recognition.
When his elderly mother learned of this, she fainted on the spot.
This grudge was irreconcilable—he was determined to take Zhou Jin's wretched life.
Hu Mianlang brandished his broadsword, charging swiftly at Zhou Jin with deadly strikes, each blow aimed to kill.
Meanwhile, Xu Bao'er had climbed to the treetops, concealed among the leaves to observe the battle.
In Zhou Jin's eyes, she was a weak woman who couldn't even harm a chicken. Such a dangerous mission like suppressing bandits would never include her.
If she wasn't invited, she'd simply come secretly.
Xu Bao'er wore a night suit, her hair tied up with a jade hairpin, her face covered except for her eyes. In the midst of a fight, not even Zhou Jin would recognize her—even a ghost wouldn't.
Zhou Jin, the renowned War God of the Great Zhou Dynasty, had been on the battlefield since he was twelve. Many said his blood ran cold, that he killed without blinking.
Hu Mianlang thought to himself, today he would take this War God's head and show that damned emperor the consequences of suppressing bandits.
"Today, I will take your wretched life to avenge my brother!"
"Brothers, charge!"
Facing Hu Mianlang's relentless, deadly broadsword strikes, Zhou Jin evaded them calmly, as if toying with his opponent.
Under the night sky, Zhou Jin's lazy gaze held a trace of contempt, his thin lips slightly curved as he effortlessly blocked the attacks.
The red tassel of the Peace Buckle at his waist swayed with his movements, his agile figure, narrow waist, and long legs exuding explosive power.
If Xu Bao'er weren't in good health, an average noble lady probably wouldn't be able to withstand Zhou Jin's endurance.
Even though a fierce battle was raging below, Xu Bao'er's thoughts drifted.
It was all Zhou Jin's fault—outwardly restrained and noble, yet ferociously relentless when provoked. The suppressed panting, the forceful dominance.
Just thinking about it made Xu Bao'er's legs go weak.
"Ah!"
A scream echoed as Zhou Jin's sword pierced through Hu Mianlang's heart. White blade gleamed, stained with red blood.
Hu Mianlang's massive body collapsed to its knees, his tiger-like eyes filled with ferocity.
"Hu Mianlang, you slaughtered thirteen members of the County Magistrate's family in Baiqu County, not even sparing an infant in swaddling clothes."
"Today, you've brought this upon yourself."
As the blade was withdrawn, Hu Mianlang fell face-first to the ground with a thud.
The second-in-command of Jiu Lan Mountain, notorious for his atrocities, was dead just like that.
At that moment, a bandit attempted to ambush Zhou Jin from behind. Seeing the danger, Xu Bao'er prepared to throw a dart to assist Zhou Jin.
But before she could act, she saw Zhou Jin swiftly turn and kick the bandit flying.
The black silver-thread tiger-patterned boots struck with ruthless and heavy force, leaving no room for hesitation.
Xu Bao'er, who had initially regarded Zhou Jin merely as a target in her mission, was now utterly astonished by his martial prowess.
She genuinely sensed that Zhou Jin was a living, breathing person—flesh and blood.
Under the bleak, pale moonlight, Zhou Jin resembled a living King of Hell emerging from the underworld, surrounded by the corpses of mountain bandits.
His sword blade dripped with blood, crimson blossoms splattering in a grotesquely beautiful display.
From the fearful youth in the cold palace who once dreaded killing, he had become Duan Wang, who now slaughtered without blinking an eye.
To survive, Zhou Jin had licked blood from the edge of blades, transforming into a dreaded demon that struck terror into hearts.
As the night wind rose, the red tassel of the Peace Buckle swayed, lending a touch of warmth to the demon.