Chapter 173 – Becoming A Useless Person

Chapter 173 - Becoming A Useless Person

He Zhiran was the most rational among them all. She realized that the family had yet to set up their tents for the night, and they had all come here.

"Mother, Eighth Elder Brother, sisters-in-law, it's getting late. Why don't we all return to set up our tents first? I'll stay here with my husband to keep watch. As soon as Fifth Brother wakes up, we'll inform you immediately."

Matriarch Mo understood that Ninth Daughter-in-law made sense. Besides, Mo Zhongyuan had yet to regain consciousness, so staying here would be of no help. It would be better to settle their rest arrangements for tonight.

"Everyone, listen to He Zhiran. Let's go back and get organized."

With that, Matriarch Mo led the way out, followed closely by the others.

Only Fifth Sister-in-law hesitated to leave.

Her husband had barely come back to life, and she wanted to stay and care for him.

He Zhiran could understand Fifth Sister-in-law's feelings at this moment. However, she planned to enter the space to study the antidote, and Fifth Sister-in-law's presence here would indeed be inconvenient.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, I'll notify you right away when Fifth Brother wakes up."

Fifth Sister-in-law, seeing Ninth Brother's wife insist, could only follow reluctantly with Elder Madam Mo.

Now, only Mo Jiuya and He Zhiran were left.

Assuming that Mo Zhongyuan was about to regain consciousness, He Zhiran didn't dare to blindly bring him into the space.

Though she couldn't physically enter the space, she could still manipulate it with her consciousness.

She planned to first analyze Mo Zhongyuan's blood to identify the poison's components.

While He Zhiran and Mo Jiuya were brainstorming ways to detoxify Mo Zhongyuan, Liang Hao and the others who stayed in City Yun were also occupied.

They had witnessed the County Magistrate Cui's harassment of the Mo family earlier and intended to teach the corrupt official a lesson.

That was why they didn't accompany the exiled group to West Ridge Village.

It was now dark, the perfect time for 'highwaymen' to strike.

During the day, they had already inquired about the location of County Magistrate Cui's residence.

Employing their light-footed martial arts, they stealthily entered the courtyard, initially aiming to teach the corrupt official a lesson.

By coincidence, they stumbled upon County Councillor Cui enjoying the company of the He family's identical twin sisters.

Swiftly and silently, they incapacitated the guards and several servants around them. Liang Hao kicked the door open with a powerful swing of his leg.

The three naked individuals inside were instantly startled into a series of screams.

With everyone outside already unconscious, their cries for help went unanswered.

County Councillor Cui, now neglecting the two beauties, hastily grabbed a blanket to cover himself as he stared in terror at the masked intruders before him.

"Who... Who are you people?"

Experienced as bandits, Liang Hao and his companions knew better than to engage in conversation unless they intended to kill. Thus, they remained silent.

In perfect unison, Song Chao and Wang Dali approached, each delivering a swift chop to the necks of the He sisters, rendering them unconscious.

Meanwhile, Xu Qingfeng effortlessly pulled County Councillor Cui off the bed.

"Do not harm this official, I have silver. Just name your price," the man pleaded.

Xu Qingfeng paid him no heed, thinking to himself that if he wanted silver, he'd take it himself without needing the man's help.

Cui, the county assistant, was roughly dragged before Liang Hao. Liang Hao stepped forward, grabbing a handful of the man's hair with one hand and pinning his arms with the other. Xu Qingfeng, in perfect synchronization, held down the official's legs.

At just the right moment, Li Mingrui drew a gleaming dagger and stabbed towards Cui's lower body.

A blood-curdling scream echoed through the room as the man who had just been enjoying the company of two beauties was instantly incapacitated.

With a pained cry, Cui lost consciousness from the agony.

Liang Hao released his grip and kicked the unconscious man fiercely. Seeing no reaction from Cui, he waved at the others.

The group moved in unison, immediately commencing a thorough search of the room.

This didn't seem to be the room where County Magistrate Cui usually resided. Apart from a few insignificant pieces of jewelry, there was nothing else of value here.

Wang Dali slipped the jewelry into his chest and waved his hand at the others. Everyone promptly left the room without hesitation.

They swiftly searched through County Magistrate Cui's residence.

To their astonishment, the loot they found was astounding.

It was just a humble county magistrate, yet his house contained banknotes worth fifty thousand taels of silver.

In addition to the banknotes, there were also around ten thousand taels of silver in cash.

Moreover, the place was piled with gold and silver jewelry, precious stones, fine silk and satin, antiques, and calligraphy and paintings, filling almost half of a warehouse.

Unfortunately, the five of them could only take items that were portable. They had to leave behind the large bolts of silk and satin, as well as the antique paintings and calligraphy, which would temporarily remain in the hands of this corrupt official...

The group quickly left County Magistrate Cui's residence and dashed towards West Ridge Village.

With so many belongings to carry, they couldn't openly walk on the streets.

Liang Hao, accompanied by his comrades, demonstrated their agility as they leaped across rooftops, swiftly reaching the outskirts of the city.

Everyone finally relaxed.

Song Chao held the bulging bag of silver ingots and chuckled, "With this money, Master Ninth's family won't have to worry about their future."

Wang Dali chimed in, "Heh heh... Those corrupt officials who dared to trouble Master Ninth will have to pay the price."

Now that the Mo family was no longer branded as convicts, Liang Hao and his companions no longer needed to remain in hiding.

They entered Xiling Village and searched for a while before finally spotting the Mo family at the foot of a mountain.

Due to Mo Zhongyuan's situation, the Mo family had yet to rest. They huddled around a fire, eagerly awaiting news of his awakening.

Thus, Liang Hao and his group easily found the Mo family's temporary shelter.

Mo Chuhan, having heard footsteps long before, had been on high alert. Upon realizing it was Liang Hao and company, he welcomed them to warm themselves by the fire.

Not spotting Mo Jiuya, Liang Hao instructed that all these valuables be handed over to Mo Chuhan.

A heap of gold and silver, along with a shower of silver ingots and banknotes, was poured onto the ground.

The entire Mo family gaped in astonishment.

Somewhat puzzled, Mo Chuhan asked, "Liang Hao, what's going on here?"

Liang Hao replied with a hint of smugness, "Eighth Brother, we couldn't stand Cui County Magistrate's behavior, so we paid him a visit at his home just now."

Hearing this, Mo Chuhan chuckled.

"You guys really know how to have fun. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have returned to City Yun; I would've joined you to vent some anger."

Song Chao, overhearing the conversation, leaned in and whispered only loud enough for the two of them to hear, "Eighth Brother, you don't know yet – we just... snipped off the family tree of that corrupt official..."

As he spoke, Song Chao made a cutting gesture with his hand, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous delight.

Mo Chuhan shook his head, laughing softly. "Hehe... You guys are quite something..."

The female members of the Mo family, witnessing their whispers, were all rather curious about the subject of their conversation.

In Eighth Sister's mind, she wondered what could have made her husband laugh so heartily in such circumstances. She vowed to herself that she would inquire about it at the first opportunity...

Liang Hao surveyed the area. Normally, if Master Ninth were present, he would undoubtedly join them upon hearing his brothers' voices. Yet, despite their return half a day ago, they had yet to see any sign of Master Ninth.

"Eighth Brother, is Master Ninth not here?"