As night fell, there seemed to be a slight chill in the air.
Prefect Li Mu paced back and forth in his room, his face filled with anxiety. During this time, he had tossed and turned in bed, finding it difficult to sleep, and he appeared to have aged considerably. Thɪs chapter is updated by ɴo(v)elFɪre.ɴet
The Thirteen Riders of the Great Desert had become his constant worry.
If it were only the likes of the Thirteen Riders of the Great Desert, Li Mu wouldn’t be too concerned. Those wealthy merchants and nobles fretted over the blocked trade routes, but they would eventually pay and provide provisions, and the banditry would be quelled.
But with the involvement of the White Lotus Sect alongside the Thirteen Riders of the Great Desert, things took a turn for the worse.
The White Lotus Sect had been rebelling for over a thousand years. If they incited the Thirteen Riders of the Great Desert to rebel, and if they were to attack Nanyang City, he, as the Prefect, would be the first to face danger. His life would be at risk if the city fell.
This was the reason for his deep concern and the posting of the "Righteous Heroes List."
Unfortunately, several waves of "righteous heroes" who came forward had all been killed by the Thirteen Riders of the Great Desert, and now no one dared to step up and challenge them.
Li Mu walked out of the yamen again.
He had ordered his subordinates to keep watch over the "Righteous Heroes List" day and night, hoping that someone would come forward to challenge the bandits.
"Has anyone stepped forward to challenge?"
"Your Excellency, from morning till now, no one has shown interest in the ’Righteous Heroes List.’"
Li Mu grew even more anxious.
If this were to continue, he was even considering resigning from his post. After enduring so many years, he had finally become a Prefect, and he was unwilling to give it up.
Suddenly, in the darkness outside the yamen, a shadow slowly approached.
The yamen officials immediately grew tense.
Even though they kept a close watch on the city gates, no one could guarantee that the Thirteen Riders of the Great Desert wouldn’t infiltrate Nanyang City to carry out assassinations, especially given the Thirteen Riders’ association with the White Lotus Sect.
When it came to assassinations, the White Demon was a true expert!
The yamen officials drew their swords and nervously stared at the approaching figure.
Li Mu, in his civilian clothing, retreated a few steps and was protected by several yamen officials.
Gradually, the figure emerged from the darkness and revealed his true appearance in the dim candlelight. He was a burly man with a full beard, dressed in black and wielding a short sword, steadily approaching the yamen.
The newcomer was none other than Lu Changsheng.
He paid no attention to the yamen officials and went directly to the "Righteous Heroes List," tearing it down.
Lu Changsheng had come to challenge the Thirteen Riders of the Great Desert. After all, the reward of a thousand gold pieces plus a secret martial art was too tempting to pass up.
"I am taking down this ’Righteous Heroes List," Lu Changsheng calmly stated.
Ignoring the yamen officials, he turned and walked away.
"Wait, Righteous Hero."
Prefect Li Mu realized what was happening and immediately called out. In these circumstances, someone had actually come to challenge the bandits?
Although they didn’t know the newcomer’s strength, anyone brave enough to challenge them was unlikely to be a fool seeking death.
Lu Changsheng halted and turned to look at Li Mu.
Li Mu was not wearing his official robes, so Lu Changsheng didn’t recognize him.
One of the yamen officials nearby reminded him, "Righteous Hero, this is our Prefect."
Lu Changsheng, however, didn’t offer any courtesy to the Prefect. Though it might seem arrogant, Li Mu paid it no mind.
These people of the martial world were all proud and unruly, and as a Prefect, he wasn’t highly regarded by them.
"No matter, may I know the honorable hero’s name?" Li Mu asked politely.
"Zhuang Shisan," Lu Changsheng thought for a moment and casually provided a pseudonym.
"I see, Hero Zhuang."
"Hero, after removing the ’Righteous Heroes List,’ if you have any needs, the yamen will do its best to fulfill them," Li Mu said with courtesy.
Now, Li Mu clung to any opportunity like a drowning man catching a lifeline. No matter what, he had to hold on. If Hero Zhuang Shisan died too, he wouldn’t even know if anyone else would come to challenge the bandits.
Thus, he was willing to offer all the help he could to Hero Zhuang Shisan, hoping that he could eliminate the Thirteen Riders of the Great Desert.
Lu Changsheng thought for a moment and then said, "I need a fast horse."
"A fast horse? Certainly! The yamen has fast horses," Li Mu immediately had someone bring a chestnut-colored steed to the scene.
Lu Changsheng mounted the horse and looked at Li Mu. In a calm tone, he said, "Prefect Li, if I manage to kill the Thirteen Riders of the Great Desert and come to claim the reward, what proof will I need?"
"Should I bring back thirteen severed heads?"
Li Mu hurriedly shook his head, "There’s no need for heads. The Thirteen Riders of the Great Desert use unique curved swords that are very rare in Nanyang Prefecture and can be easily recognized."
"At that time, just bring back the curved swords of the Thirteen Riders of the Great Desert."
Li Mu was very familiar with the Thirteen Riders of the Great Desert. The curved swords were their second lives. Unless they died, they would never abandon their swords.
"Very well, Prefect Li, please prepare the gold and the martial art manual," Lu Changsheng said, then turned and rode away on the fast horse.
Watching Lu Changsheng’s departing figure, Li Mu suddenly asked, "Captain Liu, do you happen to know this Hero Zhuang?"
Captain Liu shook his head, "I haven’t heard of him, and he’s not known in the martial world. Most likely, it’s an alias."
It was quite common for people in the martial world to use aliases.
"Regardless of his true name or his alias, as long as he can kill the Thirteen Riders of the Great Desert, it will be fine."
Li Mu clenched his teeth.