Chapter 42: Oboi

In the span of more than twenty months, Ma Jun's gang had grown considerably. Aside from Mao Eighteen, Old Qian had recruited over forty men, all driven from their homes by flood and forced to seek refuge. Old Qian managed everything, even setting up a tavern as a base of operations and providing his men with a means of livelihood.

While their enterprise gradually expanded, Kangxi was not idle either! After six years of being a puppet emperor, he finally began to rule in his own right. Yet, barely ten days into his reign, Ao Bai brazenly forced the death of Suksaha, delivering a humiliating blow to the young Kangxi.

Guided by wise advisors, Kangxi did not respond in anger; instead, he rewarded Ao Bai and Oboi with promotions, elevating them to the rank of First Class Duke. Ao Bai, riding high on his success, believed the young emperor would forever bend to his will. Unexpectedly, before long, the youthful sovereign moved with astonishing speed, capturing Ao Bai and eradicating all his followers, thus ridding the court of a great menace.

In truth, Kangxi’s circumstances at the time were far less favorable than those his father had faced in youth—but that need not be discussed further.

On this particular day, Ma Jun was strolling through the garden behind his mansion, cigarette dangling from his lips, idly passing the time with an ancient novel in hand. Qian Motuo hurried in from outside.

“Boss, lately many people have been inquiring about the layout of Prince Kang’s residence. It’s likely members of the Heaven and Earth Society—they plan to assassinate Ao Bai!”

“Do you know the exact time?” Ma Jun’s spirits lifted, and he asked quickly.

“The intelligence is uncertain, but judging from several clues, it should be three days from now, around mid-afternoon.”

Ma Jun smiled slightly. “You’ve spent too much time in the past, haven’t you? ‘Mid-afternoon’—just say three or five o’clock!”

“Yes!”

“In that case, let’s bring Mao Eighteen along and meet the Heaven and Earth Society at the appointed hour.” Ma Jun pondered for a moment and said with anticipation, “After all this time, we’ve yet to obtain any martial arts manuals. It seems the treasure must be with the Heaven and Earth Society!”

In ancient times, guilds guarded their secrets fiercely—not only martial arts, but even the crafts of smiths and carpenters were difficult for outsiders to learn. From the start, Ma Jun had instructed Old Qian to seek out martial arts manuals, but none had turned up.

The system’s marketplace, of course, offered such things, but at prohibitive prices. Energy points were precious and reserved for emergencies.

Purchasing from the marketplace, compared to acquiring things in this world, was infinitely less cost-effective.

Ma Jun then instructed Old Qian that, when visiting Prince Kang’s residence, he should wear a tuxedo beneath his robe and, unless absolutely necessary, refrain from using a firearm.

After all, guns were too powerful—showing one off in front of Mao Eighteen was harmless, but among others, it might arouse dangerous greed.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

After lunch, Ma Jun and Old Qian changed clothes, found Mao Eighteen, and the three, masks in hand, prepared themselves and set out punctually for Prince Kang’s residence.

Prince Kang’s mansion was located in the western district, on the south side of the West Imperial City Wall, at the east entrance of Soy Sauce Alley. It stretched from Soy Sauce Alley in the south to Reward Alley in the north. All of this had been thoroughly investigated in advance.

Ma Jun even obtained a map of the mansion’s interior.

The three slipped through Gut Alley, deliberately choosing quieter paths, and soon arrived at the rear gate of Prince Kang’s residence.

Mao Eighteen, impatient, donned his mask and urged them on in a low voice.

Ma Jun chuckled inwardly, and he and Qian Motuo also put on their masks. Both bent their knees slightly, activated their tuxedos, and leaped directly over the mansion wall, leaving Mao Eighteen staring in astonishment before scrambling over himself.

The mansion occupied a vast area; only the powerful and wealthy could afford such a residence. The rear garden alone rivaled Ma Jun’s own estate.

But now was not the time for admiring flowers—the three crept along the corners, and before long, through the gaps in the foliage, spotted a solitary stone house.

Outside the house stood sixteen guards armed with steel blades, and two captains patrolled around it. The door was iron, solid and imposing.

Ma Jun beckoned and whispered, “Brothers, when we rush in, make it quick. You two handle the guards—I’ll take care of the captains. Once we capture them and get the iron door key, we go in, kill Ao Bai, and leave immediately!”

Qian Motuo and Mao Eighteen murmured their assent.

After a moment’s hesitation, Ma Jun glanced around, checked his watch, and whispered, “Go!”

In an instant, Ma Jun and Qian Motuo, tuxedos activated, charged forward and reached the stone house in a flash, clashing with the guards. Mao Eighteen followed after a few breaths, yelling and flailing.

With the tuxedo, Ma Jun’s combat prowess soared; after knocking down the captains and searching them for the iron door key, he unlocked the door and entered, followed by Qian and Mao.

Inside, the stone house was dim; a stove stood by one corridor, where an old servant was cooking. Hearing the commotion, he looked up in panic.

Ma Jun wasted no words, chopped him unconscious with a hand strike, and proceeded further, entering a small hall.

At that moment, Ao Bai’s curses rang out: “Damn it, I risked my life, earned countless honors, built an empire for your grandfather and father, and you, you useless brat, plotting against me at your young age—if I die, I won’t forgive you even as a ghost!”

Ma Jun laughed twice. “This Ao Bai is quite amusing!”

Following the voice, the three reached a small room, surrounded by iron bars, with Ao Bai locked inside. He was disheveled, shackled at wrists and ankles, pacing restlessly and muttering, the iron chains clanking.

“Who are you?” Ao Bai turned, startled and uncertain.

Ma Jun smiled and beckoned. “Young Protector Ao, I’ve admired your name for a long time—today, at last, we meet!”

“Who are you?” Ao Bai demanded angrily.

“Ao Bai, you traitor! Today we’ve come to take your life!” Mao Eighteen shouted, pounding the iron bars in righteous fury.

Ma Jun signaled to Old Qian, who nodded and produced a short iron rod, wedging it between the bars and prying hard.

Soon, an opening big enough to pass through appeared.

“Guards! Guards!” Ao Bai called out in a panic, but his shouts went unheard.

Outside, soldiers were rushing over, but they collided with a group of men in blue, and a fierce fight broke out.

Ma Jun, smiling, slipped into the cell, stood before Ao Bai, drew a short sword half the length of his forearm, and said solemnly, “Ao Bai, you have slaughtered countless Han people. Today, I will avenge them!”

Had Ao Bai not been chained, he might have wrestled with Ma Jun in his tuxedo, but now he was just meat on the chopping block.

With a swift motion, blood splattered. Ma Jun exited the cell. “Brother Eighteen, please pack up the traitor’s head—let’s withdraw immediately!”