Chapter 42: Poisonous Spider

Yan Sanniang and Gu Mo chatted for a while.

However, Gu Mo found it somewhat strange that the system had not yet issued any missions related to the bounty on Zhuo Qingfeng.

Based on Gu Mo's understanding of the system, there could only be one reason for this: Zhuo Qingfeng did not meet the criteria for a bounty target. Either the authorities had not yet fully convicted him, or there was a hidden truth behind his situation.

"I'm declining this bounty hunter mission," Gu Mo stated. "If Zhuo Qingfeng truly betrayed the Six-Door Enforcement Office and committed that act, he must have made thorough preparations, making him difficult to find. Furthermore, the authorities haven't yet issued an official arrest warrant, so things might still change."

Yan Sanniang nodded, "That's true. Still, it's quite a lamentable affair. That's Zhuo Qingfeng, the Swift Divine Constable! He used to be the one hunting others; who would have thought he'd see a day like this?"

"It is indeed unbelievable."

Although Yan Sanniang said it was almost certain that Zhuo Qingfeng had betrayed the Six-Door Enforcement Office, Gu Mo still found it hard to believe.

Even though he had only spent two or three days with Zhuo Qingfeng at the Wang family residence, Gu Mo had a very good impression of him. He was a straightforward person, direct in his speech and actions, very frank, and his hatred for evil didn't seem feigned.

***

As Yan Sanniang had predicted, within a few days, the news of Zhuo Qingfeng's betrayal of the Six-Door Enforcement Office caused an uproar throughout the Yunzhou jianghu, overshadowing even Silver Fox's assassination of Wang Yuanbao.

After all, Zhuo Qingfeng, the Swift Divine Constable, was the Six-Door Enforcement Office's most prominent figure in Yunzhou. He was a man who had single-handedly reshaped the jianghu landscape of Linjiang County, enjoying an excellent reputation and public trust, almost synonymous with "justice" in the martial arts world.

For such a person to betray the Six-Door Enforcement Office and murder colleagues for treasure angered, disgusted, and saddened many. Instantly, the jianghu was stirred, and the perceived value of the Wood King's Treasure soared once more.

Many renowned figures in the jianghu vowed to hunt down Zhuo Qingfeng, and quite a few took concrete action. However, Zhuo Qingfeng was no ordinary person; he was not easily caught. He appeared several times, and despite being cornered and pursued, he always managed to escape.

For a time, both the righteous and illicit factions of the jianghu began searching for Zhuo Qingfeng, whether for reasons of justice or out of greed for the Wood King's Treasure token he supposedly carried.

Zhuo Qingfeng had single-handedly stirred the entire Yunzhou jianghu.

The Yunzhou Prefect's Mansion also issued an arrest warrant. They immediately set Zhuo Qingfeng's bounty at three thousand taels, the same amount as Silver Fox, Yunzhou's current most notorious assassin.

Yet, Gu Mo became even more certain that there was a hidden truth behind Zhuo Qingfeng's situation.

This was because he still hadn't received a mission from the system, which meant that, in the system's evaluation, Zhuo Qingfeng did not meet the criteria for a wanted criminal.

Gu Mo's Bounty Hunter System did not base its missions on official government decrees but rather on its own set of evaluation standards. It required verification that the crimes committed by the target were genuinely established.

Initially, Gu Mo had even considered exploiting a system bug. After all, if the system's recognition of wanted criminals was based on government declarations, he could find a way to infiltrate official circles or control high-ranking officials to issue arbitrary bounty missions, thus easily completing tasks and gaining rewards.

However, the system's usage details clearly outlined its evaluation criteria, rendering that particular bug impossible to exploit.

***

"Brother, are you going to capture Zhuo Qingfeng?"

"No."

In the courtyard, Gu Mo was instructing Gu Chuwinter in blade practice, correcting her errors in applying force.

Gu Chuwinter, following Gu Mo's instructions, maintained an unvarying posture, continuously practicing her sword swings. As she swung, she asked, "Why not? If you could capture Zhuo Qingfeng, your name would truly resound throughout the jianghu, and no one would ever question your identity as the Golden-Medal Bounty Hunter again."

Gu Mo shook his head, "There must be more to Zhuo Qingfeng's situation."

"Do you trust Zhuo Qingfeng that much?" Gu Chuwinter asked, puzzled.

Gu Mo smiled without explaining. He wasn't well-acquainted with Zhuo Qingfeng, so "trust" wasn't quite the word; he simply trusted the system.

"Actually, I also think Zhuo Qingfeng might be innocent," Gu Chuwinter said. "During those days at the Wang family, I felt he was a particularly upright person. Furthermore, his disciple died at the hands of Silver Fox, who was sent by the Wood King's descendants. That means he has a grudge against the Wood King's descendants, so how could he choose to cooperate with them?"

Gu Mo smiled and said, "Could it be that he's enduring humiliation, gaining the trust of the Wood King's descendants, and then waiting for an opportunity to avenge his disciple?"

"Probably not," Gu Chuwinter replied. "He doesn't seem like the kind of person who would go to such extremes, even killing colleagues, just for revenge."

Gu Mo nodded slightly, "It's unlikely."

"Oh, and brother," Gu Chuwinter said, "Boss Yan sent someone this morning with a message. She said she has tracked down the evil master Poison Spider and expects to get definite leads within a day or two. Brother, are you really going to take on this mission? That Poison Spider is not easy to deal with!"

Poison Spider was not an actual spider but a person, a renowned master of poisons in the Yunzhou jianghu. His methods of using poison were exceptionally cunning, making him difficult to guard against. Many established martial artists in the jianghu had fallen at his hands, and Gu Mo himself had suffered greatly because of him.

Gu Mo's blindness was a direct result of Poison Spider's actions.

On that occasion, as an escort, he participated in a mission for the Long Wind Escort Agency. There were many skilled escorts from the agency with him, including two chief escorts, but they encountered Poison Spider and were all incapacitated.

Gu Mo, in particular, received special attention from Poison Spider.

At the time, Poison Spider was collaborating with a group of bandits. Gu Mo, being a young man, was not taken seriously. It was precisely this oversight that allowed Gu Mo to notice Poison Spider releasing poison from behind during the fight, prompting him to rush forward with his blade.

Given Gu Mo's skill level at the time, even without using poison, Poison Spider would have been far superior. However, Poison Spider became furious because he had completely underestimated Gu Mo and his group, and being discovered like that felt incredibly humiliating.

After all, for a master of poison, even casually administering venom, being seen by an unknown nobody was an insult.

So, he directed his poison specifically at Gu Mo's eyes. He didn't kill Gu Mo but chose to destroy his eyes, purely to vent his displeasure at Gu Mo having seen him employ his poisonous techniques.

A few days ago, when Yan Sanniang delivered a list of wanted criminals, Gu Chuwinter spotted Poison Spider's name on it. Gu Mo took note and asked Yan Sanniang to pay close attention to the case.

However, Gu Chuwinter harbored lingering apprehension. Although she knew Gu Mo's martial arts had improved significantly, the thought of Poison Spider filled her with worry. Poison Spider's poison mastery was notoriously formidable in the jianghu, and Gu Mo had suffered greatly at his hands before.

"Don't worry, it'll be fine."

Gu Mo felt no significant pressure regarding Poison Spider. His Nine Yang Divine Skill possessed a property of being impervious to most poisons, which, while perhaps slightly exaggerated, indeed granted him immunity to the vast majority of venoms, thus providing a significant advantage against poison-wielding martial artists.

"Hmm, by the way, Chuwinter, have the steel beads you ordered been made?"

"Yes, they're ready. The blacksmith will deliver them tomorrow. Brother, are those for practicing the Flicking Finger Skill?"

"Yes, and also as weapons."