Chapter 215 Recognizing a Thief as Father, Raiding Niu Family Village Again

The sergeant roared, "You dare to negotiate with me? Believe me or not, I'll chop you up!"

Niu San chuckled and said, "Sir, if you were to kill the little one, that would be a huge loss. You don't need to go against your food supply..."

"Enough talk, what are the conditions?" The sergeant's eyes held a warning.

“My conditions are very simple,” Niu San said politely, “I just want to be able to become a member of the Zhenhuang Army.”

The sergeant was taken aback, not expecting the conditions to be so simple.

"That's it?" the sergeant asked incredulously.

Niu San nodded, "Didn't I say at the beginning that I came here to seek refuge with you, sir? I hope you will take me in."

The sergeant waved his hand, "Since that's the case, then I'll take you in!"

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"

Niu San was so excited that he knelt down and kowtowed.

The sergeant impatiently lifted him up. "Now you should answer my question, shouldn't you?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Niu San nodded and bowed, rubbing his hands together. "There's still plenty of the kind of food I just brought in Niujia Village. I suggest you turn back immediately! It's all good stuff. Wouldn't it be a waste if the villagers ate it all?"

The sergeant looked on with suspicion. "Really? I've already turned Niujia Village upside down, and I'm planning to search some more distant villages tomorrow."

Niu San raised his finger and swore, "It's absolutely true! I would never dare to lie to you! If there's even a single lie, you can chop me up alive!"

"You kid... are you really from Niujia Village?" The sergeant couldn't help but have some doubts about his enthusiasm.

Niu San said angrily, "It used to be! But it won't be anymore! They look down on me and don't take me seriously! I've cut ties with them!"

Seeing his resentment, the sergeant was completely relieved. He licked his lips, savoring the remaining taste of food in his mouth, and then looked at the sky.

Judging that with this kid leading the search, it shouldn't take too long, and they should be able to make a return trip and get back to Zhenhuang Pass before dark, so he agreed.

Niu San hurriedly helped the sergeant onto his horse, and then offered to lead the way for him.

"Sir, may I ask your surname?" Niu San asked as he walked, trying to get closer to the officer.

The sergeant casually remarked, "My surname is Feng."

"Ah, General Feng!"

"Don't yell like that! I'm not a general yet!"

The sergeant gave a reprimand.

Despite the scolding, he couldn't help but smile.

Niu San continued to flatter him, "I see that you are wise, brave, and have an extraordinary bearing. You are definitely the makings of a general, so I couldn't help but call you that. Please don't be offended, sir."

"Ahem," the sergeant stroked his beard and unconsciously straightened his back. "You're quite the smooth talker, kid. But if you can make a great contribution this time, it's not impossible for you to become a general. I'll reward you with the position of deputy general."

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!" Niu San said smoothly. "Sir, I have severed ties with Niu Family Village and no longer wish to bear the surname Niu. If you do not mind, I would like to become your godfather and take your surname."

The squad leader was only in his early thirties. Judging from Niu San's age, he was not much younger than him. It was really awkward to take in such a son.

"That's not a good idea, wouldn't I be taking advantage of you?"

"Sir, you are my benefactor. It is a blessing I have accumulated over eight hundred lifetimes to recognize you as my godfather."

"Alright, alright, then you'll have the surname Feng from now on."

"Thank you, Godfather! Please accept my bow, Feng Sanyi!"

Niu San, who had changed his surname, immediately knelt down and kowtowed three times.

The others found his behavior somewhat distasteful, but the squad leader in charge was quite pleased with it.

"Alright, let's not waste any more time and hurry on our way," the sergeant commanded.

"Yes, Godfather!"

Feng San got up, wiped the snow off his face, and continued to lead the horse with his head held high.

At that moment, he felt his back straighten up more than ever before.

Inside Niujia Village.

The village chief led people to bury the villagers who had sacrificed their lives.

After the whole village had finished their worship, they realized that one person was missing.

"Village chief, Niu San is missing!" someone said urgently.

The village chief asked, "Who was the last person to see him?"

Everyone looked completely bewildered.

Those who had gone hunting with the village chief said they only clearly remembered that Niu San returned with them.

It seems like everyone was still there when they gathered in the ancestral hall to distribute the belongings.

Then everyone was busy burying the victims, so no one paid any extra attention.

"It's getting dark, and it's windy and snowing outside. Where could he have gone?" The old village chief asked with a worried expression. "Have you searched the whole village?"

The villagers said that after discovering that Niu San was missing, they had searched every corner of the village where people could stay, and even searched the vicinity of the village twice.

In normal weather, we might be able to find it by following the footprints, but there's no way to do that now.

Any trace outside will be quickly covered by the heavy snow.

“You guys, come with me out of the village to look for him,” the old village chief said, pointing to a few strong young men. “Wear more clothes and take torches. I suspect he might have gone back to that place… but he’s not familiar with the terrain. Even if he went through it once, he definitely wouldn’t remember it. It would be terrible if he got lost in the mountains!”

The villagers immediately tried to dissuade him.

"Village chief, ignore that kid!"

"He's always been an idler and never willing to do anything for the village!"

"That's right, losing him will save us some food!"

"..."

The villagers were generally in agreement on Niu San's attitude.

The old village chief said sternly, "No matter what, Niu San is also a member of our Niu Family Village. Although he has been lazy and slacking off in the past, he has never really done anything to harm us. Besides, it's a human life at stake. How can we just ignore it?"

"Village chief, but—"

"Alright! Stop talking!"

The old village chief was adamant, so everyone had no choice but to comply.

Just as he and a few young men stepped out of the ancestral hall, a familiar figure appeared in the gloomy snowstorm.

"Hey? Isn't that Niu San?"

"Village chief! He's back!"

"Great! We don't have to go through the trouble of looking for him!"

The group breathed a sigh of relief.

The old village chief said with a long face, "I'm going to give him a good scolding later. He left the village without saying goodbye, making everyone worry."

A young man muttered, "Actually... it's just you who's worried..."

"Niu San!" The old village chief slammed his cane into the ground a few times. "Get over here right now!"

As Niu San's figure drew closer, more figures appeared behind him.

"Niu San? You're not calling me, are you?" Feng San swaggered over. "Old man, you better remember this, my name is Feng San now!"

Then he respectfully pointed to the captain on horseback behind him, "This soldier is my godfather! I have joined the Zhenhuang Army!"

The old village chief's expression froze.

The young man next to him exclaimed, "Village chief! It was these soldiers who robbed our village and killed our people!"

"What?!" The old village chief's expression changed drastically.

The young men were on high alert, all protecting the old village chief and keeping a close eye on the thugs.

Feng San sneered, "Haven't you learned your lesson yet? Going against our Zhenhuang Army won't end well!"

The old village chief was heartbroken, "Niu San! You—"

"I told you, my surname isn't Niu anymore!" Feng San said viciously. "My name is Feng San!"

"You..." The old village chief's heart ached, his eyes filled with grief and indignation. "Fine... Feng San, you're recognizing a thief as your father! They killed so many people from our Niu Family Village, and you actually..."

Feng San didn't take it seriously and said disdainfully, "I've been fatherless for a long time, so what's wrong with acknowledging one? What thief? I've severed ties with the people of your Niujia Village. What do the people who killed you have to do with me? You'd better watch your words, or don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"Feng San, stop wasting time, where is the thing?" the squad leader urged.

Feng San immediately switched to a fawning smile and pointed towards the ancestral hall, "It's inside, there's a whole bunch more, packed in big packages."

The squad leader raised his arm and gestured, "Go, bring them all out for me."

Dozens of soldiers from the town's dilapidated area were about to storm into the ancestral hall.

The young man next to the old village chief was furious and wanted to fight someone.

"No!" The old village chief, barely suppressing his anger, stopped the young men. "You are no match for them. Don't throw your lives away in vain!"

"Get out of the way!" Zhenhuangjun rudely pushed aside the old village chief and the young men, kicked open the ancestral hall door, and filed in.

The villagers immediately gasped in surprise inside the ancestral hall.

"Feng San...you are...you are a beast!" The old village chief pointed at Feng San's nose and cursed, trembling. "You...you went to seek refuge with them, and you even...brought them back to steal our things! You have no conscience!"

Feng San kicked the old village chief in the stomach, yelling, "You old bastard! Try cursing me again!"

"You dare hit the village chief?! You're asking for death!" Several young men, unable to bear it any longer, were about to pounce on him.

Feng San was startled and quickly took a few steps back.

Then several soldiers from the Zhenhuang Army drew their swords and shielded Feng San behind them.

The young men were unarmed and outnumbered, so they had no choice but to stop in place.

"Hahahaha!" Feng San laughed arrogantly, relying on his master's power. "You're the ones who're courting death! Do you still think I'm the same Niu San you used to be? Now I'm a military man you can't afford to offend! Kneel down before me!"

The young men's eyes were practically spitting fire; they wanted nothing more than to devour Feng San alive, and they were far from kneeling before him.

Feng San then ordered the soldiers stationed around him, "Go! Give those guys a good beating!"

Several soldiers from the town frowned, thoroughly disgusted by Feng San's arrogant and smug demeanor, but they had no choice but to give him some face, considering that he had already recognized their squad leader as his godfather.

So he went up and beat the young men until they were black and blue.

Feng San wasn't satisfied yet, so he had the Zhenhuang Army force the young men to kneel before him.

The old village chief slumped in the snow, watching helplessly as the remaining supplies in the ancestral hall were looted once again. Several young men outside the hall were beaten and humiliated. A mouthful of blood welled up in his throat and gushed out of his mouth, staining the snow with a glaring crimson.

"Heaven is watching what people do..." the old village chief cursed hoarsely, "Feng San... you... you will definitely get your retribution!"

Feng San grinned and said smugly, "If you say that my joining the Zhenhuang Army and having a sergeant as my adoptive father is retribution, then I hope there will be as many retributions as possible."

The old village chief was so angry that he couldn't speak. He gritted his teeth, kicked his legs, and fell into a coma on the spot.

"Is this old guy going to die of anger?" the sergeant said casually.

A thought suddenly flashed through Feng San's mind—the village chief can't die; he seems to still be useful.

However, he couldn't think of any use for it at the moment, and felt that he might still be thinking about past relationships, but if he showed it now, it would probably be detrimental to his future.

So he said nonchalantly, "So what if I'm dead? It doesn't matter."

"Report! Everything has been searched! It's all here!" A group of soldiers from the town, carrying bundles and beaming with pride, walked out of the ancestral hall.

Feng San pointed to the unconscious village chief and the several young men who had been beaten unconscious, "Don't forget their cotton-padded clothes and shoes, they all belong to our Zhenhuang Army."

The sergeant gave him an admiring look. "Not bad. You're ruthless enough to help me achieve great things. I need someone like you under my command."

Feng Sanxi was overjoyed and clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying, "Godfather, you flatter me."

Seeing that they had plundered again, and with even better food and supplies than before, the sergeant was in high spirits and said that he would reward Feng San handsomely when they returned to Zhenhuang Pass.

Then, the group left satisfied, leaving behind a desolate scene in the cold wind and snow.

Inside the ancestral hall, the villagers, barely clothed, were utterly despondent. They all slumped on the cold stone floor, numbly staring at the dilapidated walls that let in drafts everywhere. The children, too terrified and freezing, had stopped crying altogether.

They, along with the young men who lay unconscious in the snow and the village chief, were slowly enveloped by the approaching night, quietly awaiting their deaths.

I don't know how much time has passed.

The sound of footsteps crunching through the snow could be heard, and the flickering of firelight could be faintly seen.

A few villagers, still somewhat conscious, struggled to open their eyes a crack and saw what appeared to be a tall woman running into the ancestral hall, followed by several burly figures...

Before they could see clearly, they completely collapsed and lost consciousness...

...

On the other side, Feng San followed this group of Zhenhuang soldiers back to the border city.

His adoptive father, who was a sergeant, was rewarded and promoted to centurion by the General of Zhenhuang Pass.

But his adoptive father did not deliver on his promise of a serious injury. People said that he would be rewarded properly once he became a general.

Feng San was extremely dissatisfied with this, but he did not show it on the surface. Instead, he said that all the credit belonged to his adoptive father, and that it was his honor that his adoptive father had been promoted to centurion. That was enough.

His adoptive father was overjoyed by the compliments and took him aside to drink with him in the tent, asking him where Niujia Village had gotten all that food and supplies.

Feng San laughed it off, saying that they were all made by the villagers themselves.

"Don't give me that crap! Those things are nowhere to be found, not even in our capital!" The centurion, reeking of alcohol, grabbed Feng San's shoulder with a threatening tone, his eyes glazed with drunkenness. "You little brat, stop hiding things and tell me the truth!"

As Feng San poured the wine, he smiled and said, "Godfather, why are you so curious about the origin of those things?"

The centurion downed another large bowl of wine and mumbled, "Nonsense... good stuff... how... how can I not be curious? The general told me that if... if I could get more, he would definitely make me a general."

A sinister glint flashed in Feng San's eyes. "So that's how it is. Then I was right. My godfather is about to become a general! Congratulations, godfather! Come, let me offer you another bowl!"

The centurion was in a great mood and accepted all the drinks offered. He was forced to drink bowl after bowl by Feng San and soon became so drunk that he passed out.

"You're getting a general's position for nothing? What kind of good deal is that?" Feng San soaked a cloth in strong liquor and covered the centurion's mouth and nose tightly, grinning maliciously as he whispered, "My good godfather, you're no longer of any use to me. Rest in peace. When I become a general, hehe... I'll definitely burn a few more incense sticks for you!"