Chapter 65: What we are robbing is the tribute to the emperor

Not long after, the guards finally succeeded in rescuing all the civilians.

The flood was so fast that people in it could easily be knocked onto the rocks under the water.

But thanks to Lu Wanyin's help, everyone only suffered a few minor injuries.

However, they had all exhausted their strength and lay exhausted on the shore, breathing heavily.

"Great, it's okay!"

"You are truly worthy of being General Xie's soldier!"

Hearing the sounds of people crying with joy, everyone laughed heartily.

The people gathered around with tears on their faces: "It's still raining here, adults, please go to our house and rest for a while."

Xuan Qi subconsciously refused: "Don't bother the villagers, we still have to go back to protect the general."

The people knew very well about Xie Jingci's current situation and felt a little distressed.

One of the elders held Xuan Qi's hand and refused to let go: "That won't do either. At least leave two of you to go with us. The villagers also want to show their gratitude!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the people worked together to pull the guards home.

…

Drops of rain as big as beans fell down, blocking the view half a meter away.

Before his personal guards left, Xie Jingci had someone carry him to the boulder closest to the cave entrance.

At this time, the rain was already splashing onto his legs.

He still didn't mind and looked out silently.

In the cave, Xie Deyi and Liu had learned from Wu Fan that Xie Zhixin died in a mountain flood.

The two were crying bitterly.

Hou Yuanji became annoyed after hearing this and walked over to Xie Jingci.

Looking at his wet trouser legs, Hou Yuanji curled his lips and said, "I know you two are in love, but there's no need to be apart for just a moment and you're acting like the Wife-Looking Rock. Don't you know if your tendons are broken? You're just sitting here soaking in the rain. I think you're going to die."

Xie Jingci glanced at him and asked, "Do you know what a flash flood means?"

The overly dull tone made Hou Yuanji restrain his frivolousness.

He said, "He's a dead man. I'm the commander of the Imperial Guards after all. It's impossible that I don't even have this little common sense."

As he spoke, he seemed to remember something and changed the subject: "However, your personal guards are all by her side, so nothing can happen to her."

Xie Jingci didn't say anything else.

He has felt the fear of being swept away by floods and covered by mudslides.

So he knew that in the face of natural disasters, everyone was as small as dust.

Life or death depends on whether God is merciful.

Besides, he was waiting not only for Lu Wanyin, but also for all his personal guards.

And news of the people.

"Okay, then you wait!"

Hou Yuanji waved his hand impatiently, but he didn't leave.

He took a few steps back and stood in a place where he could shelter from the rain, staring at Xie Jingci.

At this moment, Xie Jingci did not have any personal guards around him, even Lu Wanyin was not there.

Hou Yuanji only needed to exert some force to pierce Xie Jingci's heart with the knife in his hand.

Then, they kicked him into the flood, completely destroying his body.

But strangely, Hou Yuanji did not dare to have this idea.

Who knew that Lu Wanyin's big snake was not in the grass. If it suddenly jumped out, he would not be able to do it.

After a long time, even the people from the third branch of the Xie family were tired of crying.

It was completely dark.

Lu Wanyin and other talents returned one after another.

"Wait! Please stay for a moment!"

The village chief led a group of people to the outside of the cave and without saying a word, stuffed all the cloth bags in their hands into the guards.

He said to Lu Wanyin, "If it weren't for you, those dozens of fellow villagers who fell into the water would have died. We country folk don't have much good stuff to offer, so we can only scrape together some mountain products and bacon. Please don't despise us."

Lu Wanyin quickly refused: "No, no, no, they are all good things, we don't mind. It's too expensive..."

"They're all picked from the mountains and raised at home. They don't cost a thing!"

Another villager opened the cloth bag directly.

Several cloth bags were filled with bacon, mushrooms, pecans, wild pheasants, etc.

The villagers opened the other cloth bags generously and spread them out in front of everyone.

When the village chief only had the cloth bag left in his hand, they all looked warily at Hou Yuanji who was coming over.

The village chief asked tentatively: "Who is this?"

Hou Yuanji raised his neck and acted like a young master from an aristocratic family: "Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and also the legitimate son of the Hou family. You can just call me Commander Hou or Lord Hou."

When the people heard that they were escorting Xie Jingci, they all looked unhappy.

General Xie's enemies are not good people!

The village chief led the villagers and bowed reluctantly and perfunctorily.

Then, they all looked at Lu Wanyin.

He was obviously asking her whether this so-called Lord Hou could be trusted.

Hou Yuanji never expected that even this country bumpkin would dare to ignore him.

"You're too..."

Lu Wanyin glared at him angrily: "If you want to put on airs, go back and do it to your people!"

Hou Yuanji immediately stopped his actions and dared not speak out.

Wu Fan cleverly came over and pulled Hou Yuanji back: "Master Hou, please go and take a look! Those bastards from the Xie family are causing trouble again! If you don't go over, I can't control them!"

"How can this be possible!"

Hou Yuanji immediately waved his sleeves and walked into the cave: "I want to go and see if they are so bold as to rebel!"

The two of them cooperated very well and performed very well.

Unfortunately, everyone saw through Hou Yuanji's cowardly nature.

When the village chief saw that the outsiders had gone far away, he opened the cloth bag and handed it to Lu Wanyin.

"These mushrooms are quite special. It's not good for others to see them. Please be careful when handling them in the future."

What kind of fungus is this? It's so mysterious.

Lu Wanyin and her bodyguards became interested and looked into the cloth bag.

In this cloth bag lie two gray-brown mushrooms, shaped like tiger claws, with thick flesh and emitting a rich fragrance.

Lu Wanyin showed a happy expression and mouthed words to the village chief.

Black Tiger Paw Mushroom

The village chief nodded repeatedly: "Young lady, you are very knowledgeable. It is indeed this thing!"

Xuan Qi took a breath of cold air.

You should know that the black tiger's paw mushroom has tender texture and excellent taste, but its distribution area is extremely small and it is very precious.

Once this thing is discovered, it must be sent to the palace as a tribute.

Now the villagers are risking being beheaded if they give this item to them.

Xuan Qi said: "Absolutely not!"

A villager said in a very low voice: "I picked this thing yesterday when I went into the mountains alone. No one else knows about it."

The village chief agreed: "Yes, no one in our village has heard anything about it, so you can accept it without worry."

All in all, there was absolutely no possibility that this matter would bring them any disaster.

Lu Wanyin asked with great interest: "Where did you pick it? Are there any more in it?"

The current emperor is stingy, and even if the villagers present this item, the emperor will not give them any reward.

The only ones who could profit were the emperor and local officials.

It has nothing to do with the villagers.

In that case, hehe!