Chapter 90

Everyone in the courtyard was shaken by these words. Killing and taking lives were still too shocking for these fourteen or fifteen-year-old boys. However, as they looked at each other, they suddenly felt that killing was just a matter of course. They had already killed yesterday, so what was there to be shocked about?

"Brothers, I want to seize a faction for us, lay a foundation, and take the first step. Are you willing to help me?" Zhao Jin asked with a smile.

He asked casually, but the others became serious. Chen Sheng slammed his knife into the ground and said coarsely, "Help!"

"Help!" "Help!" Everyone chimed in, but Sun Dali was a bit slow. When everyone looked at him, he hesitantly said, "Help!"

Chen Sheng gave him a cold glance but said nothing. Zhao Jin nodded and said, "Good, everyone continue practicing. Just follow my arrangements."

Until lunchtime, no one could focus on their training. Zhao Jin's plan was too shocking and exciting for them.

In this anticipation, the day ended. Liu Yong did not return. Zhao Jin smiled and said to everyone, "Let's go back, eat well, and sleep well. Maintaining our strength is the most important thing."

Shi Manqiang and Jixiang had to help at home every day. They only came to the courtyard in the late afternoon. Zhao Jin arranged for Jixiang to go to the south of the city to keep an eye out for Liu Yong. He didn't need to find Liu Yong, just to see if he appeared. Regardless of whether he saw him or not, he was to come and report in the morning.

The next day was routine. Zhao Jin brought Mu Shulan to the courtyard for practice. Everyone gathered early, and Sun Dali brought a lot of food. Seeing the food, Zhao Jin smiled and said, "We've been busy these days and haven't gone to the cargo yard for a match. I bet a lot of people have already left."

"How could they? In this area, there's no other place for the kids to play. They won't disperse," Chen Sheng said with a smile.

Jixiang arrived early and told Zhao Jin that he had seen Liu Yong the previous day, and he seemed no different from usual.

The day passed quietly. Zhao Jin led Mu Shulan back home. During dinner, someone knocked on the door. Zhao San opened it, and soon came in to say that someone was looking for Young Master. Who would come at this hour? Zhao Jin quickly went out to see, and it was Liu Yong.

Liu Yong looked slightly agitated. Seeing Zhao Jin come out, he bowed and then whispered, "Brother, Tongtou has gone to his lover's house in the south of the city. If it's like before, he'll probably stay there overnight and return to the Temple of Wealth in the morning."

Zhao Jin looked back. Zhao San stood far away at the door, and no one was watching. Zhao Jin whispered, "Is there anything wrong with Chen Ergou? Do you know where Tongtou's lover lives? How many people does he usually bring?"

"Chen Ergou went back and did his own thing, just showing up at the Temple of Wealth. Tongtou usually brings two people. His lover lives by the Bitter Water Ditch in the south of the city. I delivered something there once. I followed him tonight and saw him go in," Liu Yong answered calmly, but his voice trembled slightly.

Zhao Jin exhaled and, after a moment's thought, said, "Wait for me here at the fourth watch. Can you wait?"

The fourth watch was just past midnight, around one o'clock in the morning. It was very quiet and dark. Zhao Jin and his friends were still young and probably had never gone out at this hour.

But when Zhao Jin proposed it, Liu Yong nodded without hesitation. Zhao Jin patted Liu Yong's shoulder and said, "Remember to bring your weapons. Go back now, eat well, and sleep well. Don't miss the time. We brothers will do this together!"

Hearing "we brothers," Liu Yong's face turned red, and he nodded forcefully.

Watching Liu Yong leave, Zhao Jin turned to Zhao San and said, "I'll go to the Wang family to find Wang Zhaojing and make plans for tomorrow's practice."

The Wang family was not far from the Zhao family. Zhao San knew that Zhao Jin and Wang Zhaojing were good friends, so he nodded. Zhao Jin ran off quickly.

Finding Wang Zhaojing was simple. Zhao Jin just said he wanted to practice early the next morning. The gatekeeper and servants didn't dare to be negligent and quickly reported it. Soon, Wang Zhaojing, dressed as a scholar, came out. Zhao Jin pulled Wang Zhaojing a few steps away and said loudly, "We need to practice hard, so we should get up early. If others get up at the fifth watch, we'll get up at the fourth watch and go running. How about that?"

This loud voice was heard by the servants in front of the Wang family. Then, in a voice only the two of them could hear, he said, "At the fourth watch, bring your weapons, meet at my house, and we'll go to the south of the city."

"That thing?" Wang Zhaojing asked in a low voice. Zhao Jin nodded, and Wang Zhaojing hesitated for a moment before agreeing, "Okay!"

After agreeing, Wang Zhaojing asked, "Just the two of us?"

"Liu Yong will lead the way. I also plan to call Chen Sheng. The four of us should be enough. More people would only cause more commotion," Zhao Jin said solemnly.

Wang Zhaojing nodded and said seriously, "If so, I'll be there. No excuses!"

"No excuses!" Zhao Jin raised his voice and added, "See you in the morning."

Chen Sheng's house was not far from here. Otherwise, Chen Sheng wouldn't come to find Zhao Jin every morning. Zhao Jin ran over and soon arrived.

Compared to the Wang family, the Chen family had fewer rules. After a quick greeting, Chen Sheng was called out. When Zhao Jin explained his plan, Chen Sheng frowned and said, "Leaving at that time might wake up the family..."

But after a moment's thought, Chen Sheng slapped his hand and said, "My brother's room is next to the back yard. I'll climb out from there. Meet at your house at the fourth watch!"

After visiting these two families, Zhao Jin breathed a sigh of relief. Unlike Liu Yong, who lived independently, Wang Zhaojing and Chen Sheng were still young and lived with their parents, who were very strict. He didn't expect them to agree so readily.

On the way home, Zhao Jin couldn't help but feel a bitter smile. What he was doing, was it a cause or just children's play? It was too strange.

After spending about half an hour outside, he returned home and was inevitably scolded by He Cuihua. Zhao Zhentang, however, looked at Zhao Jin for a while and said, "The child is growing up and has his own affairs. Don't meddle too much."

Hearing this, He Cuihua glared at Zhao Zhentang but said nothing more.

After dinner, Zhao Jin went to the courtyard and made some arrangements. He moved the long spear from the door to the wall and brought the short knife back to his room. Thinking for a moment, he rubbed some candle wax on the door hinges.

Mu Shulan now returned to her room very early. Her father's sudden death and the trauma of being kidnapped had left her very depressed. She often hid in her room and daydreamed.

Zhao Jin didn't do strength training and didn't take off his clothes. He just lay on the bed. He had adapted to the timekeeping of this era and knew he would definitely wake up around the fourth watch if he stayed alert.

He adjusted his breathing, relaxed, and the fatigue from practicing soon made him fall asleep.

When Zhao Jin opened his eyes, it was pitch black. He got up, put on his boots, and tucked the short knife into his waist. He lifted the curtain and walked out.

It was just past midnight, the deepest part of sleep. He could hear Zhao Zhentang's snoring from the opposite room. Zhao Jin tiptoed to the door and opened it quietly.

Because he had rubbed wax on the door hinges, it didn't creak.

He tiptoed through the courtyard. The monkey in the coop called out, and Zhao Jin stopped in fright, but the monkey didn't make another sound and seemed to be asleep.

Zhao Jin cursed under his breath, removed the bolt from the courtyard gate, and pulled it out. There was a slight scraping sound, but it wasn't loud enough to disturb the quiet courtyard.

He took the long spear and walked out, closing the door quietly. He could hear the distant sound of the night watchman's gong, signaling the fourth watch. At this hour, the night watchmen in Xuzhou mainly patrolled the northern part of the city, where the officials and wealthy lived. They didn't go to other areas.

The night wind was cold. Zhao Jin yawned and shivered. He was a bit regretful. He had been too optimistic last night. At this hour, who could wake up on time, let alone rush over in the dark?