Chapter 122: Come, Follow Me Into the Tomb

There were twenty-one people in total, not the thirty Chen Xiyi had imagined. Probably many had died in this wave.

The front vehicle was affected, leading to many deaths, so these soldiers came out because there were many corpses inside.

The rear vehicle had more survivors. They caught an aide-de-camp, from whom Chen Xiyi learned he was Li Hao’s trusted subordinate, sent here to excavate Lady Shu Mausoleum.

Lady Shu Mausoleum was the tomb he had previously occupied, and the one who turned into a Corpse Demon was Lady Shu.

Although the tomb was a bit simple, with only this Guqin as a burial object, according to the aide-de-camp’s explanation, this Guqin seemed to be a very important item related to some treasure.

As for what exactly it was, he did not know. Commander Li from Rong City had not revealed it to him.

The real reason was known only by Warlord Li Hao himself.

After understanding the situation, Chen Xiyi casually stuffed all the captives into the carriage, leaving only the aide-de-camp to guide him.

“I suppose you can remember the way back and where your Commander Li lives,” Chen Xiyi said, narrowing his eyes at the aide-de-camp.

The aide-de-camp shuddered and quickly replied, “Yes, definitely yes.”

Then he looked somewhat troubled. “If we go on foot, it will take over a day. Rong City is not close from here.”

All the vehicles were broken, with no means of transportation.

Chen Xiyi looked around and sighed inwardly, thinking he had been too hasty.

That was indeed the case.

Then he looked at the only vehicle that seemed intact—the one the soldiers had been in earlier, though it had been overturned and rolled not far away, with many corpses inside.

Chen Xiyi walked over, lifted it up, opened the door, shook out all the corpses, set it upright, and said to the aide-de-camp, “Come check if it can still drive. If not, hehe.”

Watching Chen Xiyi’s actions, the aide-de-camp trembled uncontrollably. Was this even human?

The car was like a toy in his hands. He recalled the subordinate whose upper body was obliterated by Chen Xiyi’s punch, and his face grew even paler.

If the car couldn’t drive, he would be in big trouble.

With no other choice, he said with a sorrowful expression, “I’ll try, but I can’t guarantee it will start.”

“Better if it does,” Chen Xiyi said as he sat in the front passenger seat. The aide-de-camp tremblingly opened the door, sat in the driver’s seat, turned the key, and pressed the accelerator.

Every time the car failed to start, the aide-de-camp’s heart skipped a beat, fearing Chen Xiyi would slap his head into pulp.

Fortunately, the car eventually started, and he drove slowly toward Rong City.

Along the way, the aide-de-camp dared not even breathe heavily, afraid of offending the fierce figure sitting beside him.

Chen Xiyi was pondering one thing: how to handle the aftermath in Rong City.

Killing Li Hao with one slap was certainly possible, but the other clearly had secrets. Chen Xiyi wasn’t coveting those secrets; he just felt that even if another warlord took over, they might still disturb him.

But if he promoted this aide-de-camp to warlord, he could still capture Li Hao back as an experimental subject.

The problem was this aide-de-camp was a red-name NPC. What if he caused trouble?

Having red names was normal. Not just this aide-de-camp, but also the twenty soldiers he captured, the tomb robbers in the prison, the Tiger Demon, the Water Ghost, etc., all had red names. Given what he had done, it was natural for them to hold malice toward him.

Unless Chen Xiyi wiped out the entire Rong City, someone would inevitably come to investigate.

After all, the former warlord had gone to such lengths for Lady Shu Mausoleum, even losing his life. Successors wouldn’t think to avoid it as a dangerous place.

They would assume there was a great treasure inside, which was why the former warlord risked his life for it.

Never underestimate the greed of warlords. Not all warlords were rational; many acted on impulse, rising to power through violence, killing, and plundering.

Thus, warlords changed rapidly, rarely staying in power for years like in Dongtai City.

From the aide-de-camp, Chen Xiyi learned they had followed Li Hao in an uprising just five months ago, killing Rong City’s warlord and making Li Hao the new one.

The situation in the city had only stabilized yesterday, mainly through killing, not political or commercial tactics like forming alliances or suppression.

Otherwise, Li Hao wouldn’t have sent four tomb robbers earlier; he would have dispatched soldiers for faster results.

So if something happened to Li Hao, the powerful families in Rong City would surely cause trouble again.

To everyone in Rong City, Commander Li and his soldiers were nothing but trouble.

Tax collection, forced seizures, murder—such acts were continuous.

The clear intention was to squeeze every last drop from the people, which pushed the city’s influential families to contact other warlords to kill Li Hao.

But Li Hao wasn’t the only one doing this; all newly risen warlords acted similarly, as they needed money to pay their troops.

Moreover, they knew that in such times, there was no telling how long they could hold the city. So they hurried to plunder, ensuring that even if driven out, they could live in luxury elsewhere and continue their warlord careers.

Hence, they resorted to violent extortion, fearing that if they didn’t take it, others would benefit after they were gone.

In cities with frequent warlord changes, taxes equivalent to decades’ worth could be collected in a single year.

And people had to pay, since money given to the previous warlord had nothing to do with the current one.

Driving the car, they soon returned to Rong City. With the aide-de-camp present, entering the city was easy.

The guarding soldiers didn’t dare to question why he returned. Asking the second-in-command about his business was seeking death for no reason.

Following the aide-de-camp into the Marshal’s Mansion—which originally belonged to the previous warlord and was now taken over by Li Hao.

The previous warlord had ruled Rong City for quite some time, at least three years, so he had built a magnificent Marshal’s Mansion.

“Where is the commander now? I have urgent matters to report,” the aide-de-camp said smoothly to Li Hao’s guards upon entering.

The guard, without suspicion, replied, “He’s working in the study. Heard he smashed things again—probably in a rage.”

“Alright, I know. Continue your patrol,” the aide-de-camp said calmly.

Entering the city tested his acting skills. If he revealed anything, he wasn’t sure about Chen Xiyi’s fate, but he knew he would be dead.

At such close range, escape was impossible.

Leading Chen Xiyi to the study, he knocked on the door. “Commander, it’s me. I have important matters to report.”

Inside, Li Hao felt puzzled. Important matters?

What could be more important than the task he had assigned?

But since he was back, he might as well let him in and explain. If Li Hao wasn’t satisfied, there would be consequences.

“Come in,” Li Hao said after a moment’s thought.

The aide-de-camp pushed the door open and entered with Chen Xiyi.

Li Hao frowned, not expecting the aide-de-camp to bring a stranger.

“Who is he? Related to your important matter?” Li Hao asked coldly. Bringing someone was acceptable, but not explaining was inappropriate.

After entering, Chen Xiyi casually closed the door.

The aide-de-camp then said, “It’s not related to you, Commander. It’s related to my life.”

“What?” Li Hao’s expression changed abruptly. Realizing the aide-de-camp was under duress, he drew his pistol, but before he could fire, Chen Xiyi reached out and crushed the barrel into a ball.

Li Hao’s eyes widened in shock. He never expected things to turn out like this.

“Who are you? Do you know that if you harm me, you won’t leave the Marshal’s Mansion intact,” Li Hao said calmly after a brief daze.

“Don’t worry about me. Think about yourself. You tried to dig up my tomb repeatedly. Didn’t you know I live there now?”

“Sending four tomb robbers was one thing, but now you send soldiers to forcibly excavate. Do you think I’m easy to bully?”

Chen Xiyi slapped the desk, and the solid wood table instantly collapsed.

Gulp.

Li Hao and his aide-de-camp swallowed hard, completely taken aback by the situation.

“Lady Shu Mausoleum?” Li Hao asked hoarsely.

“Exactly. You admit this is your fault, right?” Chen Xiyi said righteously.

Just as Li Hao was about to explain, Chen Xiyi spoke again.

“Since it’s your fault, compensation is due. I don’t ask for much—just come back to the tomb with me.”

Chen Xiyi’s words sent chills down Li Hao’s spine. What did he mean by “come back to the tomb with me”?

Before Li Hao could react, Chen Xiyi took out the wooden carriage, stuffed him inside, and put it away—all in one fluid motion.

The aide-de-camp’s heart tightened. So that’s why the surviving subordinates were put into the carriage earlier—to be taken back to the tomb too.

At this thought, his heartbeat quickened. Since he wasn’t put in the carriage, there might still be room for negotiation.

So he forced a weak smile and said fawningly to Chen Xiyi, “You see, I’ve done what you asked. Please let me go like I’m nothing.”

Chen Xiyi glanced at him and said, “Consider it settled. If you bother me again, I’ll move the entire city into the tomb to keep me company. Hope you know better.”

“Yes, yes. Don’t worry, I promise no one will disturb you,” the aide-de-camp said happily, quickly adding, “I’ll escort you back.”

“No need for the trouble. I needed some snacks for the journey, and I’ve saved a whole cartload of provisions for the return.”

After saying this eerily, Chen Xiyi vanished from the aide-de-camp’s sight.

The aide-de-camp’s heart sank. Confirmed—he was taking them back to eat them. The relief of surviving made his legs weak.

Then, looking at where Li Hao had disappeared, the aide-de-camp suddenly thought, ‘If Li Hao is gone, couldn’t I become the warlord of Rong City?’

A wave of ambition swelled within him. If Li Hao could be warlord, why couldn’t he?

…

[You have a new mail, stored in the mailbox. Please check.]

Chen Xiyi, who had just returned via the Home Protector’s one-way teleportation, noticed another letter.

This made him overjoyed. “Oh my, could my good brother be sending me another inheritance? How embarrassing.”

Without even settling the people, he hurriedly opened the mailbox.

[A Letter from Chamber of Commerce President Li Zhao]

Seeing the new letter in the mailbox, Chen Xiyi grew even happier. “I guessed right. It’s indeed a letter from my good brother. I wonder what he’s sending me this time.”