C14 He Was a Thief

The heavy wooden door creaked open from the inside, revealing a spacious passage. As the imposing gate loomed closer, Jing Chong felt a sudden impulse to shrink back. He knew that once he set foot inside, he would be branded a thief, and shedding that label would be no easy task.

He glanced at Nie Haiyuan, who had been confidently leading the way. Despite his reservations about Nie Haiyuan's reliability, Jing Chong couldn't deny the truth in his words. His conscience had been compromised by desperate circumstances. With no options left, if he could indeed learn valuable skills at Blood Razor Keep as Nie Haiyuan suggested, what harm was there in being labeled a thief?

What joy was there in living, and what sorrow in dying? He was ready to face the dragon's den, for he had already cheated death several times. His life was a bonus at this point.

With this in mind, Jing Chong clenched his jaw and firmed his resolve. He strode through the threshold without a backward glance until the door shut firmly behind him. Only then did he allow himself a brief look back, but all he saw was the solid wooden door.

"Hey, kid, what brings you back? Didn't the chief say you couldn't return to the mountain without a token of proof?"

Barely having set foot inside the stronghold, Jing Chong was still finding his bearings when a teasing voice reached his ears.

Turning toward the voice, he saw a middle-aged man clad in beast skin armor, his face framed by a full beard. His rugged appearance was intimidating at first glance, but the smile on his face offered a sense of familiarity.

Nie Haiyuan, on the other hand, was momentarily taken aback upon hearing the voice. He quickly spun around, and upon recognizing the man, his smile returned. "Ahem! Who do we have here? It's the Captain himself. How did it go? Did the chief mention me at all?"

Nie Haiyuan was known for his playful spirit and his ability to get along with just about anyone. Seeing the middle-aged man approach, his energy surged. He stepped forward, playfully punched the man in the chest, and then casually draped an arm over his shoulder, grinning broadly.

"Kid, you've really outdone yourself this time. Even the chief is fretting over your antics. You've been raised in Blood Razor Keep and patrolled Skyreach Keep for five years now. How is it that you haven't shown any progress? It was one thing when you were a little kid, too scared to take on anything significant, but now you're twelve. When I was your age, I had already taken lives. You, on the other hand, still can't bring yourself to kill a chicken without flinching. When do you think you'll be ready to join the inner ranks?"

The middle-aged man was accustomed to Nie Haiyuan's irreverence, and now, with a tone of reprimand, he subtly conveyed to Jing Chong a stark reality: Nie Haiyuan was afraid to kill, a bona fide coward through and through.

The word 'coward' brought back the memory of their first encounter. At the mere brandishing of his blade, Nie Haiyuan had been so terrified that he wet himself and fell to his knees, pleading for mercy. It was a wonder how he had managed to survive in the murderous Blood Razor Keep.

Yet, the thought of killing made him involuntarily recoil. The death of his parents was the first time he had ever seen a corpse, and he vividly remembered that on the night they died, he too had taken a life. Whether it counted or not, the man in black had died by his hand.

This recollection sent a shiver down his spine and caused his hands to tremble. "The man who died was an enemy, a man who deserved his fate. Does that mean I'm a coward too?"

After a brief moment of self-reassurance, Jing Chong's heart gradually settled.

"Look, Uncle Qiao Shan, you can't just say things like that. I did manage to kill a rat three years ago, and today, I've even made my mark!"

Nie Haiyuan's words instantly triggered a fit of laughter from Qiao Shan across from him. He laughed until tears streamed down his face, shaking his head in disbelief. Eventually, his expression turned serious as he asked, "You've killed someone?"

The concept of making one's mark was well-known among the denizens of Blood Razor Keep, especially those involved in the criminal underworld. To make one's mark meant that anyone aspiring to join the bandit ranks had to kill someone as proof of their resolve to enter the life of an outlaw.

Those who lived by the sword and tasted blood were certainly not afraid of killing. So when the topic of the pledge of allegiance came up, they merely gave it a cursory glance and a dismissive chuckle.

Yet Nie Haiyuan, having been at Blood Razor Keep since his youth, had not managed to present his pledge due to his inherent timidity. At his age, any child with a hint of potential would have been sent for advanced training within the inner stronghold. But his fearfulness kept him as an uninitiated "white body."

Being naturally timid isn't always a disadvantage. It had taught Nie Haiyuan to be cunning. Despite his seemingly honest face, he was full of tricks. Anyone who crossed him often found themselves at a loss without realizing how or why, either offending someone unintentionally or mysteriously losing something.

Everyone knew he was just a kid, but most preferred to steer clear of him. Plus, Nie Haiyuan's close relationship with the Keep's leader made everyone all the more indulgent towards him.

When Qiao Shan abruptly brought up the subject of murder, Nie Haiyuan's face turned red involuntarily. He felt particularly uneasy about his previous encounter with Jing Chong, worried that Jing Chong might let something slip. In a rush to cover his awkwardness, he gestured towards Jing Chong and forced a smile, saying, "He is the one I've chosen for my pledge of allegiance!"

It was only then that Qiao Shan took notice of the other person Nie Haiyuan had brought along. He scrutinized Jing Chong carefully, and upon seeing nothing amiss, he shifted his gaze and scoffed, "Him? A pledge of allegiance? Are you kidding me? Don't try to fool me, kid. This guy is clearly alive and well!"

Observing Qiao Shan's reaction and their exchange, Jing Chong began to piece things together. That explained the subtle unease he'd felt upon entering the Keep, particularly when Nie Haiyuan broached the subject of the pledge. It seemed the young Nie Haiyuan had some tricks up his sleeve, treating Jing Chong as if he were already a dead man.

Nie Haiyuan's words stopped Qiao Shan in his tracks, just as he was about to fly off the handle. "Look, Uncle Qiao, let's not split hairs here. Dead or alive, I've brought someone back, and this guy's got something special. He's tough, and most importantly, he wields a steel blade with unerring precision—fast, fierce, and deadly. His timing is impeccable, and those piercing ice-cold eyes? He's a natural-born outlaw if I ever saw one. Now, considering I'm looking out for the future of Blood Razor Keep by bringing in talent, doesn't that count for something? Isn't that a feather in my cap?"

Jing Chong nearly lost it hearing this. Nie Haiyuan's description turned him, a good-hearted, simple farm boy, into a key player in an underworld syndicate. How could he resemble that at all?

Internally scoffing at Nie Haiyuan, Jing Chong realized that there was no ill intent toward him, and his anxiety eased.

It seemed he was destined to become a bandit, cutting wood wherever the forest led him.

As for Qiao Shan, Nie Haiyuan's convoluted arguments left him reeling. Shaking his head to clear it, it took him a while to straighten out his thoughts. By the time he grasped the situation, Nie Haiyuan had already brought Jing Chong over to pay respects.

"Hey, what's the big idea? How did you manage to bamboozle even me? When did I agree to take him in?" Qiao Shan's hands flailed as he protested vehemently.

Despite Qiao Shan's resistance, Nie Haiyuan's persistence wore him down until he reluctantly agreed. However, Jing Chong was still not officially part of Blood Razor Keep.

"Listen, kid, joining Blood Razor Keep isn't trivial. It requires the chief's nod of approval. And this guy, whose background we don't know—what if he causes trouble? The most important thing is the chief's endorsement!"

After deciding, Qiao Shan discreetly pulled Nie Haiyuan aside to discuss the implications, emphasizing the need for the chief's approval above all else.

Despite his earnest advice, it was cleverly rebuffed by Nie Haiyuan, who waxed lyrical about things like a "clean background" and "extraordinary talent." In the end, without further discussion, he ushered Jing Chong to the Affairs Hall. Once they had obtained a fitting set of sentry attire, they promptly turned and made their way into the mountains, heading straight for the jurisdiction of the Skyreach Keep's patrol squads.