C21 Fighting with a Tiger for Its Skin!

This individual was the epitome of a spoiled rich kid, a complete waste of space. And apparently, this waste of space was quite wealthy...

"Yes... Yes... Yes... Hero, feel free to inquire. I will spare no detail in my response..."

Lin Han appeared eager to add more, but upon catching the leader's menacing glare, he choked back his words, leaving a hint of unfinished business in his eyes. Those around him could hardly bear to witness such a display of supposed candor.

After the commotion, Bear forcefully threw Lin Han to the ground. Killing such a man would be a dirty job, but even if left on the ground, Lin Han wouldn't be able to flee!

"Have you ever seen Lin Han's face? Or does he have any distinguishing features?"

The leader inhaled deeply, pushing down his contempt and revulsion. He asked bluntly, determined to extract information about Lin Han and a hefty sum of silver. He was ready to serve justice without a shred of guilt.

"Of course, I know him. I'd recognize that guy even if he turned to ashes. If you truly intend to confront Lin Han, I couldn't be happier. Once the deed is done, I will surely reward you. If you can spare my life, how about two hundred taels of silver each? And if you manage to kill Lin Han, I'll throw in an extra two hundred taels..."

As Lin Han uttered the name "Lin Han," his expression twisted into a snarl. They say nothing compares to the hatred for one's father's killer or one's wife's captor, and Lin Han's current demeanor vividly displayed the latter. The viciousness on his face and the venom in his eyes were unmistakably genuine.

Lin Han was truly in awe of his own performance. He should have pursued a career in acting...

"Huh? Are you for real?"

The leader remained silent, but Bear, towering behind Lin Han like a steel fortress, voiced his skepticism. With seven people present, each promised two hundred taels, that made it one thousand four hundred taels. And with the additional sum for eliminating Lin Han, the total would reach two thousand eight hundred taels.

"Absolutely, I'm serious. I'm loaded with money, and I won't be able to quell the hatred in my heart unless this scoundrel is dead. I need to show him that having talent doesn't give him the right to do as he pleases..."

Lin Han quickly got into the swing of things and resumed his chatter.

"Big brother, this guy is way more generous than that Zhao fellow. He even calls himself the emperor of the county, and he only offered five hundred taels for a murder..."

Upon hearing Lin Han's words, Bear immediately started cursing and vented his frustration to the gang leader.

The leader's expression darkened. Though tempted by Lin Han's offer, he remained suspicious of the young man before him. The situation had taken a turn for the worse when Bear inadvertently revealed their employer. Now, the leader harbored a deadly intent towards Lin Han.

As soon as Bear finished his outburst, the leader fixed his gaze on Lin Han, who was looking down and muttering to himself with a face that alternated between stormy and clear. Drawing closer, the leader overheard Lin Han cursing under his breath, seemingly oblivious to Bear's earlier remark.

The malice in his voice sent a shiver down the leader's spine. Could it be that the kid hadn't heard? For the first time, a sliver of hope flickered in the leader's mind.

Yet, Lin Han's reaction to Bear's comment was no accident. He had certainly heard it, but he was acutely aware that any false move could prompt the 'venomous snake' before him to strike and end his life in an instant.

Zhao? The emperor of Shuixiu County? There was only one person with the surname Zhao in Shuixiu County who fit that description—the County Magistrate. The county itself wouldn't stoop to confront him, which meant the target must be the County Magistrate's unfortunate son. Lin Han hadn't expected him to act so soon.

"Kid, what did you just hear?"

A chilling voice crept into Lin Han's ear, as biting as a winter gale, causing him, still lost in his own ramblings, to shudder.

Lin Han looked at the sinister eyes with a dawning realization, as if he had just snapped back to reality. His apparent return to the present lowered the leader's guard slightly.

"What's that, hero?"

Lin Han managed a grimace that was more pained than any cry, his face still twitching as if the shock hadn't fully worn off.

"You claim to speak the truth, sir, but do you take us for fools?"

The tension in the air was palpable, like a venomous snake poised to strike, coiled around Lin Han's body. He tensed, knowing that any sudden move might provoke a deadly bite.

"Hahahaha, would I be that kind of person?"

Lin Han forced a laugh, his intentions clear as day—he planned to deceive them. Yet, this very realization brought a sense of relief to the group's leader. If Lin Han were truly that gullible, they would have met their demise long ago. Surprisingly, he found himself no longer questioning Lin Han's identity.

Bear and the others glared at Lin Han with suspicion. His recent outburst had laid bare his character for all to see.

Their faces might as well have been emblazoned with the words, "You are exactly that kind of person."

"Haha, I had imagined you all as heroes of great valor, yet it seems... Well, no matter. Since you don't trust me, let's proceed differently. Cash for the captive, fair and square. Let's set the exchange in the western forest—both land and water routes are available for a swift retreat. If we were to meet at a restaurant in Shuixiu County and I alerted the County Magistrate to set an ambush, capturing you with the evidence, you'd surely be uneasy... But let me be clear, I expect to see Lin Han's head."

Lin Han feigned distress before shifting to a tone of consideration for the group, embodying the role of a scoundrel. Given the leader's distrustful nature, Lin Han's goal was to sow seeds of doubt about their so-called employer. Should Young Master Zhao not be under suspicion as well?

The group nodded in agreement, the leader's heart sinking as a realization dawned on him. Zhao Yan's promise was to celebrate their success with Lin Han's head at the grandest restaurant in Shuixiu County. Lin Han's insinuations sent a shiver down his spine. While Lin Han's ability to command the authorities was questionable, there was someone who undoubtedly had the power to do so...

Zhao Yan, the son of the County Magistrate!

"Lin Han is a scholar, and scholars are considered the Emperor's disciples. His death is bound to cause a major stir. If the authorities fail to apprehend the true culprit, they might hastily pin the blame on bandits. This could eventually implicate all of you heroes. To prevent this, it seems the heroes of Shuixiu County can no longer remain here. By taking the water route through the western forest, one could cover a thousand miles in a day. By the time they try to implicate you, you'd be far beyond their reach, living freely. What do you think of this plan?"

Lin Han spoke earnestly, his expression alternating between concern and resignation, as though he was genuinely plotting an escape for the bandits. The malice in his eyes was deeply concealed, yet perceptible enough for the gang leader to notice. Lin Han wasn't afraid of their suspicion; rather, he feared their lack of it.

Their suspicion meant they were taking his words to heart. Everything seemed so natural that, before they knew it, Lin Han had subtly taken control of the conversation.

"What's your angle? Why are you thinking ahead for us?"

The gang leader finally snapped, his blade flashing dangerously close to Lin Han's neck as his voice burst forth, signaling a threat that could turn lethal in an instant. In reality, his back was soaked with sweat. Initially, he hadn't given it much thought, but as Lin Han's words sank in, his anxiety deepened. His thoughts shifted from how to kill or extort Lin Han to whether Zhao Yan would act as Lin Han had described.

Once trust begins to fracture, it only widens, never to be mended. There was no denying that the young man before him was a scoundrel, but Zhao Yan was no different. If he were in Zhao Yan's shoes, would he act the same? Undoubtedly, he would cut off any potential threat. With this realization, he abandoned the idea of killing Lin Han.

He was primarily focused on how to maximize the benefits of having this kid in his grasp...

Exerting himself to the point of exhaustion to kill Lin Han would mean not only shouldering the blame for Zhao Yan but also risking his own life. The trade-off simply wasn't worth it. Even if Zhao Yan paid them, it would amount to a mere five hundred taels of silver. How could this kid be of any significant value...