Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 13

Wasn’t I supposed to have a smooth-sailing journey?

Why do I keep getting humiliated?

Qin Mo ignored Lu Tang and led his men back to the mountain stronghold, forcing Lu Tang to follow along dejectedly.

Qin Mo not only brought back the large chest from the carriage but also several people, including the old man and Er Ya.

Back at the stronghold, the bandits expertly carried away the stolen goods. Qin Mo slouched on his tiger-skin throne.

“Bring them up!”

He was going to interrogate them and didn’t bother to avoid Lu Tang, who stood curiously beside Song Qingzhan.

Er Ya was brought in and pushed to the ground. She struggled defiantly, glaring viciously at Qin Mo.

“You better let us go if you know what’s good for you! Do you even know who we are?”

Lu Tang was surprised, thinking, A bandit with such arrogance!

Qin Mo narrowed his eyes at her. “Then tell me who you are. Scare me to death.”

Er Ya angrily retorted, “If you dare capture us, Master Zhao will tear this bandit nest apart! We are people of Master Zhao, so open your eyes wide. We’re not real bandits like you. We are government officials!”

Lu Tang was stunned.

“Government officials?” Qin Mo rose from his tiger-skin chair and walked towards Er Ya, step by step. “Do government officials put poison in the buns meant for delivery?”

Er Ya spat fearlessly, “You know nothing! Anyway, it’s not too late for you to release us now. Considering you have some skills, I can ask Master Zhao to take you in as my subordinates. Otherwise—”

Before she could finish, her voice abruptly stopped.

Lu Tang’s eyes widened in shock, and her legs gave out beneath her as she saw a head roll to her feet. Er Ya’s eyes stared up at her from the severed head.

Terrified, Lu Tang immediately closed her eyes.

Sensing her fear, Song Qingzhan ordered, “Clean it up!”

A small bandit swiftly came forward to remove the body.

“It’s over,” Song Qingzhan’s gentle voice sounded by her ear. Lu Tang cautiously opened her eyes, her heart pounding. Only the terrified old man remained in sight; Er Ya was gone.

At that moment, Lu Tang felt the genuine danger from the bandit leader, Qin Mo.

Qin Mo addressed the old man, “I advise you to be sensible.”

The old man trembled all over but remained silent, not daring to utter the same defiant words as Er Ya.

Lu Tang watched as Qin Mo’s expression grew impatient. Just as she thought he might snap the old man’s neck, Qin Mo suddenly smiled.

“Not talking? Aren’t you afraid your youngest son will die in the streets?”

The old man’s ashen face froze. He abruptly raised his head to look at Qin Mo.

“The little servant by the third young master of Magistrate Zhao’s mansion is your son, isn’t he?”

The old man’s lips quivered, and he threw himself at Qin Mo’s legs, “You can’t kill my son.”

Qin Mo stepped aside, “Then tell me why I shouldn’t!”

The old man hesitated for a moment before slumping his shoulders and slowly confessing.

“Most of us are from Zhao Village. Any family with children over five years old had them taken to the county by Master Zhao. He said this was his ancestral village, and he wanted to repay his people by letting the children study. We were overjoyed. But once the children were taken away, those men came. They forced us to help them rob passing travelers—officials, merchant caravans, wealthy families. Initially, we refused to do such evil deeds, but they killed our village’s young men, leaving only us old folks. We were coerced. If we didn’t cooperate, what else could we do?”

Qin Mo’s face was impassive. “Those men, are they in league with Master Zhao?”

The old man nodded, “Yes, they are. Every few months, Master Zhao sends someone to take the loot.”

Lu Tang was shocked to her core.

This revelation was more shocking than when she was first kidnapped by the bandits.

No wonder Qin Mo said these people were worse than bandits!

Qin Mo and his men might be bandits, but they probably wouldn’t stoop to such deeds.

Thinking this, she glanced at Qin Mo, whose mocking gaze happened to fall on her.

Lu Tang understood the reason for his scorn. She pursed her lips and said nothing.

The government cracked down on bandits.

Now, the bandits were cracking down on corrupt officials.

“The things we brought back, were they what you recently robbed?” Qin Mo glanced at Lu Tang and then questioned the old man again.

The old man nodded shakily, “Two months ago, a group of government officials passed by our village. They were transporting disaster relief supplies to Xiangnan, including medicinal herbs and government silver. Originally, Master Zhao was going to take it, but for some reason, he said to leave it with us for the time being. Some of it was also from robbing wealthy merchants passing by.”

Lu Tang wondered why the disaster relief officials passed by Zhao Village. Then, she suddenly recalled that the county road in Qingshui County was rebuilt the same year Master Zhao took office.

At that time, the Lu family had even donated money for it.

The people of Qingshui County praised Master Zhao as a benevolent official who cared for the people.

The newly repaired road indeed made travel more convenient for the villagers.

It seemed that part of this road passed near Zhao Village.

After finishing the interrogation, Qin Mo waved his hand to have the old man taken away.

Song Qingzhan gently said to Lu Tang, “Young Master Lu, please rest for now. I will call you when it’s time to eat. Don’t worry, we will definitely send you back, at the latest the day after tomorrow.”

Lu Tang, still in turmoil, nodded absentmindedly.

Song Qingzhan observed her for a moment before adding, “We won’t harm you, Young Master Lu. Just don’t leave the stronghold without permission. Even if you do, you won’t be able to get out of this dense forest and might encounter danger again.”

He didn’t explicitly mention Lu Tang’s escape attempt but made his point clear. Feeling a bit uneasy, Lu Tang murmured an acknowledgment and left.

Back in the small wooden house, she lay down clutching her blanket.

Qin Mo and his men must have known about Master Zhao’s deeds before making their move.

How dare they confront Master Zhao!

Even if Master Zhao’s actions were heinous, as long as no higher authority investigated, he remained the magistrate of Qingshui County.

He could easily deal with anyone who opposed him.

Were Qin Mo and his men truly reckless?

Suddenly, Lu Tang remembered that the person the bandits originally intended to kidnap was Gu Changming. An idea struck her like lightning, and she sat up abruptly.

Gu Changming!

Although no one in the Gu family held official positions now, it didn’t mean they had no connections in the court.

Didn’t Gu Yunhe say that if he could add more to his sister’s dowry, he could secure an official position for Lu Deren?

So, Qin Mo and his men must have intended to kidnap Gu Changming because of the connections between the Gu family and Master Zhao!

Yes!

It must be this.

Her thoughts raced, and her heart pounded.

She recalled another clue: when Qin Mo mentioned Master Zhao, he said, “Master Zhao is still waiting to drink at the Gu family wedding.” At that time, his tone was clearly mocking.

Back then, she thought Qin Mo was mocking Master Zhao for being indiscriminate. But in fact, Qin Mo’s ridicule was deeper than that.

So…

Could it be that Qin Mo and his men weren’t real bandits at all!