Chapter 172: Three-Star Wanted Mission

"But Brother Zhuo, for your Six Doors to make a name for yourselves, you'll certainly be targeting significant figures, not minor ones. I can't guarantee I'll always be able to handle every situation," Gu Mo said.

"You can't handle it? What are you talking about?" Zhuo Qingfeng replied. "Who in the martial arts world doesn't know that when it comes to apprehending wanted criminals, you, Brother Gu, have a certain knack for it. No matter how formidable a wanted criminal is, once you set your sights on them, they're bound to be caught. You're known as the 'Bane of Wanted Criminals,' and it's a well-established reputation! When I was negotiating with high-ranking Six Doors officials in Qingzhou and Hongzhou recently, many were discussing this very thing. Some constables are even wondering if they should pay their respects to you before going out to catch wanted criminals!"

Gu Mo was speechless.

The rumor that no wanted criminal could escape from his grasp was becoming increasingly outlandish.

Gu Chutong asked, puzzled, "But Brother Zhuo, if my brother takes action, won't he steal the thunder from your Mobei Six Doors?"

"Don't worry," Zhuo Qingfeng waved his hand, saying, "It will only enhance our reputation. After all, not everyone can persuade your brother to act. Besides, the Six Doors don't need the limelight. Simply put, whether it's Brother Gu who gains great fame or our Six Doors, what we truly want is for the arrogance of the evil sects to be suppressed."

"Oh, I see. In that case, I'm relieved," Gu Chutong said, then asked, "So... the bounty money will still be paid, right?"

Zhuo Qingfeng smiled and said, "Of course. Additionally, I'll arrange for the Chasing Wind Pavilion to help you collect any private bounties from external sources." At this point, Zhuo Qingfeng looked at Gu Mo and added, "However, Brother Gu, I must make it clear upfront: the bounty money is one thing, but if I ask for your personal help, I won't be offering you any separate remuneration from my own pocket."

"You'll at least provide meals, won't you?"

"That's certainly not a problem!"

"Then isn't that remuneration?"

"Haha..."

The Mobei Six Doors headquarters was established in Changling County.

Although Changling County had a harsh environment, its central location within the Mobei region made it the most convenient base for managing the surrounding counties.

Upon Gu Mo's arrival at the Six Doors, he received a warm welcome, with all high-ranking officials in the yamen coming to meet him.

Gu Mo also became acquainted with the second and third most important figures of the Mobei Six Doors. Centurion Zhong Lianshan was a top-tier archer; though his face was covered in intimidating scars, his eyes could always spot subtle clues invisible to ordinary people, earning him the nickname "Four Eyes" in the martial arts world.

The Vice Centurion was named Chen Yin, a master tracker with exceptional Qinggong and a remarkable talent for stealth. He could cling to criminals like a lingering disease, driving them to desperation. He was known in the martial arts world as "Night Owl."

Here, Gu Mo also encountered an unexpected person: Iron Head.

Earlier, during the chaotic battle at the Divine Weapon Manor in Qingzhou City, Iron Head had withstood three punches from Lu Canyang, sustaining severe injuries. This feat, however, had caught Zhuo Qingfeng's eye and earned him his attention.

It was known that on that day, apart from the five grandmasters, no other Six Doors expert could withstand even a single punch from Lu Canyang. Yet, Iron Head managed to take three and survive, which made Zhuo Qingfeng realize his true strength.

Afterward, Zhuo Qingfeng brought the severely injured Iron Head to the Six Doors for treatment. Upon learning that Iron Head was the sole heir of the Military Sage, Iron Candle, he persistently persuaded him to join his ranks. Leveraging his formidable connections, he secured an eighth-rank official position for Iron Head, who now specializes in weapon maintenance for the Six Doors.

Early the next morning, after arriving in Changling County,

Gu Mo and Gu Chutong were still having breakfast when Zhuo Qingfeng arrived. He joined them, eating as he said, "Brother Gu, how about we take action today?"

"Sounds good," Gu Mo nodded. "Tell me, where are we going? And who are we catching?"

Zhuo Qingfeng took out several sheets of Xuan paper and handed them to Gu Chutong. "We primarily have four or five targets, all notorious evil masters in Mobei. The whereabouts of Wuchang Ghost Elder, Sang Guhong, have been confirmed. This man is truly evil, an evildoer without any discernible reason."

"How evil?" Gu Mo asked.

Zhuo Qingfeng explained, "Sang Guhong was an orphan, adrift and without family. In his teens, he tried to steal from a master and was caught on the spot. That master was a renowned benevolent figure in the martial arts world. Upon learning of Sang Guhong's plight, he took pity on him, accepted him as a disciple, and treated him like his own son."

"However, after achieving mastery in martial arts, Sang Guhong secretly murdered his master because he coveted his master's wife. After killing his master, he forcibly took both his master's wife and daughter, but he grew tired of them within a few months and killed them as well."

"Later, as he roamed the martial arts world, he met a woman he fell in love with. When he went to propose, the woman's father, momentarily forgetting Sang Guhong was an orphan, inquired about his family background. Sang Guhong perceived this as deliberate humiliation and massacred the woman's entire family."

"From then on, he began killing indiscriminately everywhere he went. Other evil masters usually have reasons for killing—perhaps someone offended them, or it's for cultivation, or for fame and fortune. But Wuchang Ghost Elder is different; he kills purely out of enjoyment, without any specific purpose. He might just be walking down the street and suddenly attack a passerby."

"Roughly twenty years ago, many of Wuchang Ghost Elder's enemies gathered to hunt him down. However, he vanished without a trace, disappearing for two decades. Many of those who harbored grudges against him back then are now renowned martial artists or wealthy merchants across Mobei. If our Six Doors can apprehend Wuchang Ghost Elder, it will significantly reduce resistance to the establishment of the Six Doors in Mobei."

Just then,

A system prompt sounded in Gu Mo's mind:

New target detectedWanted Target: Wuchang Ghost ElderMission Level: Three StarsMission Reward: Max-level Lingbo Weibu (Drifting Steps)

Gu Mo was quite satisfied with this system reward.

Lingbo Weibu was an extremely advanced Qinggong movement technique. For Gu Mo, it greatly compensated for his current shortcomings. His primary Qinggong, Ladder Cloud Ascending, focused on climbing treacherous terrains like high mountains and cliffs, and offered unique advantages for rapid movement within urban environments. In one-on-one or small-scale combat, it allowed him to swiftly adjust his position and seize the initiative.

However, in group combat, the disadvantages of Ladder Cloud Ascending were quite apparent. Lingbo Weibu, on the other hand, functioned as both a Qinggong and a movement technique, featuring varied and elusive footwork. In complex terrains and multi-person battle scenarios, it could better leverage its advantages in evasion and maneuvering. It was also well-suited for long-distance pursuits and tracking.

Furthermore, Lingbo Weibu had another unique characteristic: it could increase internal energy during its use.

"So, you have his exact whereabouts now?" Gu Mo asked.

"Yes," Zhuo Qingfeng replied. "It's a bit of a coincidence, actually. Our Six Doors had been focusing on a group of lone wanderers we might be able to recruit, and among them was the Flying Swordsman, who has become quite renowned in Mobei in the past two years."

"This Flying Swordsman is very much like you, Brother Gu—a true sword fanatic. He frequently travels Mobei, challenging masters everywhere. However, he specifically seeks out evil figures like horse bandits and brigands. This is because he believes in not only determining superiority but also life or death. He's both a sword fanatic and a chivalrous individual, never challenging righteous masters."

"Some time ago, for reasons unknown, this Flying Swordsman wandered into a small village. As a result, he unexpectedly discovered that an old man in that village was none other than Sang Guhong, the Wuchang Ghost Elder, who had disappeared years ago."

"Wuchang Ghost Elder had terrible luck. He had been hidden for twenty years, and even many older martial artists, let alone young experts like the Flying Swordsman, no longer remembered him. But, by a twist of fate, the Flying Swordsman happened to have a friend who was an enemy of Wuchang Ghost Elder and had entrusted the Flying Swordsman with seeking revenge if the opportunity arose. Consequently, the Flying Swordsman was very familiar with Wuchang Ghost Elder's characteristics, weapon techniques, and so on."

"Wuchang Ghost Elder exposed just a slight flaw: he demonstrated a whip technique while playing with children in the village. That single movement was enough for the Flying Swordsman to recognize him. He drew his sword on the spot and attacked, severely wounding Wuchang Ghost Elder. Now, Wuchang Ghost Elder has fled to the vicinity of Ghost Cry Ridge."

"The Flying Swordsman, what a coincidence!" Gu Chutong exclaimed in surprise.

Zhuo Qingfeng asked, puzzled, "Why, do you know him?"

Gu Chutong shook her head. "I don't know him personally, but I know of him. When my brother first became a 'Blade Catcher,' his very first bounty mission was for Feilong, the leader of the Flying Horse Gang. Feilong had fled Mobei and gone to Linjiang Commandery precisely because the Flying Swordsman was pursuing him."

Zhuo Qingfeng chuckled, "That truly is quite a coincidence."

Gu Chutong nodded. "Sister Yan told me before that he's a master of the sword."

Zhuo Qingfeng nodded. "Speaking of Yan Sanniang, I have some news about her."

Gu Chutong quickly asked, "What news?"

Zhuo Qingfeng explained, "Three months ago, Marquis Guangyang, Bai Chaoxian, passed away. The imperial court allowed his eldest son, Bai Jingrui, to inherit the marquisate. Unexpectedly, Bai Jingrui turned out to be an arrogant and tyrannical individual. The moment he gained power, he became utterly unrestrained. Because of a mere verbal disagreement, he kidnapped a wealthy merchant's family of over thirty people and burned them all alive."

"The incident caused a huge uproar, and the Yunzhou Grand Prefecture Yamen began an investigation. What they discovered was shocking: the investigation unexpectedly unearthed several old cases connected to Bai Chaoxian. Among them, the most significant was that Bai Chaoxian had been secretly selling imperial military provisions and embezzling army funds through abuse of power for many years, accumulating over three hundred thousand taels in illicit gains from corruption and illicit trade."

"What is the status of the Bai family now?" Gu Mo asked.

Zhuo Qingfeng said, "The entire Bai family, over forty members, were arrested. Due to their special status, they were sent to the Dali Temple in the capital, stripped of their noble titles, and sentenced to full family execution." At this point, Zhuo Qingfeng sighed and continued, "Bai Chaoxian was also a legend of his generation, rising from slavery to become the renowned Marquis of Guangyang, a figure countless commoners and former slaves once looked up to as a life goal. Yet, unexpectedly, in the end, he became the very kind of person he most detested in his youth."

Gu Mo remained silent. Gu Chutong let out a soft sigh.

Both of them were privy to the Bai family's internal affairs, and although they had long been mentally prepared, hearing that the Bai family had truly been annihilated still brought a wave of sorrow for Bai Chaoxian.

They knew the Bai family was destined to fall, but they never imagined the Emperor would strip Bai Chaoxian of all his lifelong achievements.

As for the claim that Bai Jingrui's massacre led to the Bai family being investigated, Gu Mo and Gu Chutong naturally didn't believe it. It was merely an excuse to target the Bai family.

"What about Sister Yan, then? Didn't you say you had news about her?"

Zhuo Qingfeng said, "When the Bai family was sentenced, someone in court mentioned that Bai Chaoxian had an illegitimate daughter. However, the Dali Temple investigated and found that Yan Sanniang was not even listed in the Bai family's genealogy and also held a grudge against Bai Chaoxian. So, the court ceased its inquiry. Therefore, you no longer need to worry about Yan Sanniang; no one will trouble her because of the Bai family's affairs, nor will any Bai family member mistreat her again."

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "Let's not dwell on that. Tell me, what's your plan for apprehending Wuchang Ghost Elder?"

"We'll be overt, and you two siblings will be covert," Zhuo Qingfeng said. "I'll arrange a guide for you to secretly make your way to Ghost Cry Ridge, while our Six Doors will proceed openly and ostentatiously. There's no other way; if Wuchang Ghost Elder knew you, Master Gu, were personally involved, he would likely flee, even if severely wounded."

"Oh, and Brother Gu," Zhuo Qingfeng continued, "there's one more thing I need to instruct you on."

"What is it?" Gu Mo asked.

Zhuo Qingfeng said, "It would be best to capture Wuchang Ghost Elder alive. You understand what I mean, don't you? A live Wuchang Ghost Elder, publicly tried and executed, would have a much greater impact in establishing our authority. Of course, if the situation is urgent, disregard what I said; your own safety is more important, and it's not an absolute requirement."

Gu Mo nodded. "I understand."

This was actually a common request. Many bounties in the martial arts world had this requirement, asking 'Blade Catchers' to capture targets alive. It was just that Gu Mo had never taken on such bounty missions before.

Aside from not encountering suitable ones, another reason was the added trouble. The system's completion criteria required not only capturing the wanted criminal but also obtaining an official government letter. This might involve escorting the prisoner, which was significantly more complicated than simply killing them.