Li Daoqiang shot to his feet, staring at Liu Si in shock and disbelief. His voice was heavy as he said, "Sister-in-law, what do you mean by this?"
After speaking, as if unable to stand still, he half-turned away and said sternly, "Sister-in-law, please show some respect. I and Big Brother are like brothers. I'll pretend I never heard what you just said."
Liu Si let out a light laugh, showing no trace of shyness. Instead, her eyes seemed to speak, unusually alluring. She cooed, "Second Brother, your big brother is your big brother, and I am your sister-in-law. You and your big brother may be like brothers, but that doesn't stop what could be between us, does it?"
With that, she stepped toward Li Daoqiang, a rich fragrance wafting over.
Li Daoqiang quickly dodged away, a hint of anger rising in his voice as he snapped, "Enough, Sister-in-law. How can you face my big brother like this?"
"Second Brother, I am your big brother's wife, but the one I love is actually you," Liu Si said, her expression turning serious.
Before Li Daoqiang could react, she sighed softly and added, "Second Brother, don't worry. Though I love you, I only seek a night of passion. Afterward, I'll still be your good sister-in-law. I won't ruin the bond between you brothers."
"Sister-in-law, how can you say such things? I've always regarded you as my own sister-in-law," Li Daoqiang said, frowning deeply, his tone incredulous.
"Second Brother, don't say more. Time is short. Just give in to me," Liu Si said with a dismissive smile, taking small steps forward again.
Li Daoqiang dodged in panic and shouted coldly, "Sister-in-law, don't push me. If you keep this up, it won't look good when Big Brother returns."
"Heh, Second Brother, so you're worried about your big brother coming back?" Liu Si slowed her steps, a smug smile spreading across her face. "Don't worry, your big brother has already gone down the mountain. He went to fetch some fine wine—I tricked him into it. Tonight, no one can stop what's between us, and no one will disturb us."
Li Daoqiang's expression shifted, a mix of shock and hesitation. Liu Si caught that hesitation clearly, and a triumphant smile curled at the corners of her mouth as she quickened her pace.
Seeing this, Li Daoqiang dodged again in panic, gritted his teeth, and headed for the door, saying solemnly, "Sister-in-law, I'm sorry. I can't betray my big brother. I'll pretend tonight never happened."
"Stop," Liu Si commanded sharply, her brows knitting together as her voice turned colder. "Are you really leaving?"
"I see Big Brother as my own brother. I will never do anything to wrong him," Li Daoqiang said firmly, as if making a resolute decision.
"Hahaha." Suddenly, Liu Si burst into contemptuous laughter, as if she'd found something absurd. When her laughter died, her face was full of mockery and disdain: "You're a bandit, and yet you preach brotherhood to me? Second Brother, should I call you naive or hypocritical? You want to play the saint while acting the whore."
Li Daoqiang stopped in his tracks, raised an eyebrow, and turned to look at Liu Si seriously. "Sister-in-law, though I am a bandit, I still understand what loyalty and honor mean—the brotherhood between men. It's normal that you wouldn't understand."
Liu Si's sneer deepened, and she said dismissively, "Just as I thought, you really aren't one of us."
As she spoke, her tone grew icier, carrying an air of total control. She said flatly, "But do you think you can leave?"
Li Daoqiang looked confused, about to ask, when suddenly his sturdy frame swayed as if drunk, unable to stay upright. He quickly grabbed a nearby pillar, staring incredulously at the wine cup on the table, then at Liu Si. Shocked, he said, "Sister-in-law, you... you poisoned me!"
Liu Si's triumphant smile fully emerged as she chuckled lightly, "It's just a bit of snake venom—won't kill you, Second Brother. But as I said, no one can stop what's meant to happen tonight."
Leaning against the pillar, Li Daoqiang said in disbelief, "Sister-in-law, even if you wanted me, was poisoning necessary?"
"Hmph." Liu Si snorted, glaring in displeasure, and said coldly, "Enough. I'm tired of playing games with you, you clueless fool."
With that, she tore at her clothes, ripping some parts, then looked toward the door and said irritably, "Aren't you coming in?"
No sooner had she spoken than a middle-aged figure stepped into the courtyard with a smile, walking in boldly. He laughed, "Madam, what did I tell you? I was right—Second Brother resisted your temptation."
"Big Brother!" Li Daoqiang's spirit jolted as he cried out in shock. The newcomer was none other than Lin Sanlong, the chief of Black Dragon Stronghold.
Liu Si frowned, looking at Li Daoqiang with disgust. "Hmph, who knew this fool would be this dense? Meat right at his mouth and he doesn't bite? He deserves to die."
"Madam, don't be angry. He's young, naive—only knows about loyalty, doesn't appreciate your charms. That's normal. I appreciate them, don't I? Besides, he's about to die anyway," Lin Sanlong said cheerfully, closing the door.
"Big Brother, why?" Li Daoqiang shouted in disbelief, glaring at Lin Sanlong with the look of a man betrayed by his closest brother.
By now, even a fool could see things weren't simple. The Lin couple had teamed up to kill him.
Lin Sanlong smiled calmly, looking at Li Daoqiang without a hint of shame, only smugness and self-righteousness. "Second Brother, don't blame me. Blame yourself for not being one of us. If I don't kill you, I'll be the one to die."
Li Daoqiang, weakening, asked in confusion, "Big Brother, how are we not the same? And why would you die?"
Lin Sanlong chuckled, then sighed. "Second Brother, I know you're a good man with a sense of loyalty and kindness, treating me like a real brother. But what are we? We're bandits, outlaws who kill and burn. What does loyalty or kindness have to do with us?"
"Over these past two years, you've let some old folks and women go, either deliberately or secretly. You think I didn't know? I knew, but I kept quiet. But tell me, how can you be a bandit like that? Are you really one of us?"
Li Daoqiang's face darkened as he said angrily, "Is that all it takes?"
"Isn't that enough?" Lin Sanlong frowned, speaking earnestly. "Second Brother, for the sake of our bond, let me teach you something. We're bandits, outlaws. Brotherhood, kindness, mercy—none of that matters to us."
"I've seen your type before—youngsters new to the world, always wanting to play the hero. Those with connections eventually wise up. Those without? They end up dead. We bandits have no connections. Preaching that stuff just gets you killed faster."
"Take you, for example. Forget the trouble your soft heart might bring the stronghold. Right now, you can still stomach our 'root-out-the-enemy' methods. But once your strength surpasses mine, will you stay silent? When you had no power, you still dared to disobey me. When you're the strongest, what do I do? Listen to you?"
"Even if you don't kill me, in Black Dragon Stronghold, I'd be as good as dead. That's how it works with bandits—strength rules. When a chief isn't the strongest in the stronghold, he's done for. So, Second Brother, you have to understand. It's either you die, or I die later. Naturally, I'll send you off first."
"Heh heh." Li Daoqiang laughed coldly, his voice bitter. "I get it. In short, you're afraid I'll surpass you, so you want to eliminate me."
"Mm, that's right. Second Brother, you're clever, just too naive. Remember, don't be so naive in your next life," Lin Sanlong said seriously.
Liu Si sneered contemptuously from the side.
"After you kill me, you'll probably say I tried to assault Sister-in-law, giving you a legitimate reason, right?" Li Daoqiang said, breathing heavily as if suppressing pain, gritting his teeth.
"Second Brother is sharp—unexpectedly talented in martial arts and quick-witted too. What a shame," Lin Sanlong said, shaking his head with some regret.
Li Daoqiang said calmly, "There are plenty of holes in the story, but it'll give the brothers in the stronghold an explanation. With the silver you handed out a few days ago and your authority, my death won't cause any ripples. You're thorough, Big Brother. The two previous second-in-commands—you killed them too, didn't you?"
"Right. No matter what, you're the second-in-command of Black Dragon Stronghold. Killing you needs a reason, but it's just a formality. 'Disloyal, assaulting the sister-in-law'—that's more than enough. Alright, Second Brother, I've said enough. Time to send you off." Lin Sanlong's tone grew cold.
"Wait." Li Daoqiang called out weakly, confused. "Even if I'm dying, for the sake of our brotherhood, let me die knowing the truth. How did the two previous second-in-commands really die? And who's backing Black Dragon Stronghold?"
Lin Sanlong and Liu Si exchanged a frown. Liu Si said coldly, "How do you know someone's backing us?"
"I guessed from some clues," Li Daoqiang said.
"Heh, clever. But that's not for you to know," Liu Si sneered.
"Not even for a dead man?" Li Daoqiang asked stubbornly.
"Not even for a dead man. Get on with it, Chief," Liu Si said, her eyes blazing with murderous intent.
Lin Sanlong nodded, pulling a dagger from his sleeve. He said flatly, "Second Brother, I'll make sure you get a proper burial. Rest easy."