Chapter 49
Unlike the guards at the sentry post who seemed a bit lazy, the guard team Tang Yu'an and his friends encountered were obviously well-trained.
This team consists of six people. From their hair color and eye color, it can be seen that they are all people with special abilities. They are in a hurry and look serious. I don’t know if they have encountered something big.
Old Li quickly took his two children to the side.
Tang Yu'an also lowered his head consciously to avoid attracting attention.
But when passing by them, the leader of the guard suddenly stopped, stopped Old Li and asked, "Did you just come down from the mountain?"
"Yes, sir." Old Li replied quickly.
"Did you encounter any suspicious traces on the road?" asked the leader.
"Suspicious traces..." Old Li frowned, then shook his head. "I don't feel anything special, but the mountain road seems much quieter today than usual."
Then he looked at the leader and asked, "Are you looking for someone or something, sir?"
The leader of the guard said casually, "Recently, mutant creatures have entered the mountains, and many people have been attacked. If you want to survive, you'd better be careful."
Seeing that they were about to leave after asking questions, Tang Yu'an hesitated for a moment, but still asked in time: "Excuse me, what does the mutant creature look like?"
The guard leader frowned slightly.
The dwarf standing next to the old man kept his head down. Judging from his voice, he should still be a child. After he asked, he took out a red fruit from his pocket and handed it to him.
"This fruit is quite sweet. It will quench your thirst." Zhou Qi next to him said.
The leader of the guards looked at Zhou Qi and saw that he had a handsome appearance and clear eyes. He did not look like a bad person. In the end, he took the fruit and took a bite.
As soon as he took a bite, he couldn't help nodding his head. It was really sweet!
"Yeah, not bad," he said with satisfaction, then glanced at the child who shrank back towards the old man.
For the sake of the sweet fruit, the leader of the guards answered his question: "It's a mutant snake with a fire attribute. It's quite large and good at camouflage."
"The mutant snake first appeared a few days ago and appeared again on the west hilltop today, but it disappeared again soon."
As for more information, they are not clear.
After all, there is no monitoring equipment after the disaster, and they can only obtain information through survivors. So far, their team has not encountered the mutant snake head-on.
"Okay, thank you, sir." Zhou Qi imitated Old Li's address and expressed his gratitude.
Tang Yu'an also said thank you in a low voice.
The leader of the guards nodded and did not make things difficult for them. While chewing the fruit, he led the rest of the guards to another mountain road.
Only after they walked away did Old Li breathe a sigh of relief.
He did not blame the two young men for their boldness. After all, the guards were supported by managers and rarely made things difficult for residents except when collecting tolls and protection fees.
And because of their previous inquiries, they did obtain valuable information.
A mutant snake with fire attribute...
Old Li frowned and turned to the two children, saying, "Let's go. Let's get to the market town as soon as possible. Once we're in town, we won't have to worry about mutant creatures."
"OK."
Tang Yu'an opened the map and looked at it as he walked. They had been walking along the mountain road all the way up the mountain, so only a small thin line appeared on the map.
The surrounding mountains and forests were still shrouded in fog, waiting for them to unlock it.
However, now, as he watched, a branch of the road separated from the unlocked thin line in the area covered by thick fog, and was moving forward slowly and steadily, constantly pushing away the thick fog.
At the fork in the road, there was a silver light leading the way, followed by five green light spots.
This silver light point is naturally the leader of the guard team~
Tang Yu'an's system message also read: [You completed a loss-making transaction with a new customer, experience points +3]
Yes, he just traded information for a sweet fruit, and the system judged it to be a loss-making transaction.
However, looking at the area that was gradually being developed on the map, Tang Yu'an did not feel at a loss at all, and was glad that he had made the right choice just now.
These patrol guards should be running around, probably all over the Giant Peak Mountain, and the dangerous creatures in the unlocked areas will be shown on the map.
In this way, he might be able to observe where the mutant snake is in advance!
In fact, if the employee had not made a loss-making deal, the system would not have recorded it and would not have added experience points, and he would not have risked speaking out just now.
Fortunately, Brother Xiaoqi cooperated with him, so that no unnecessary trouble was caused and the transaction was completed smoothly.
Tang Yu'an quickly marked the silver light spot as "Guard Captain", and then marked the remaining five green light spots as "Patrol Guards", to distinguish them from the sentry guards.
Unfortunately, he didn't have more opportunities to trade with these guards, and could only hope that the "Captain of the Guards" could travel more places and open more maps for him.
Because he was concentrating on the map, Tang Yu'an didn't pay attention to his feet and accidentally stepped on a stone.
Seeing that he was about to fall, Zhou Qi and Old Li grabbed him in time.
"Focus and don't get distracted!" Old Li said sternly.
Tang Yu'an quickly nodded and admitted his mistake. The mountain road was indeed steep. If he fell, he might have rolled down the mountain. Fortunately, he was pulled up in time.
"Let's go." Old Li relaxed his expression and continued to climb the hill with the help of a branch.
Tang Yu'an and Zhou Qi followed behind him, always paying attention to the movements around them. Finally, an hour later, they arrived at the second sentry post.
Although it is called a sentry post, it actually serves more as a resting place, mainly for patrolling guards to rest, and other people coming and going from Jufeng Town can also stay here.
"Jiufeng Mountain wasn't as safe as it is now. No one dared to go out unless they traveled in groups."
Old Li then told the two teenagers the history of Jufeng Town.
"Later, under the organization of the previous generation of managers, they gradually cleared out, creating the current safe route and leaving these strongholds along the way."
Compared to the first outpost, the atmosphere at the one they arrived at was obviously more relaxed and lively.
The houses built here are all low wooden houses, built against the mountain, and there are probably dozens of them.
A dirt road trampled out by people winds through these wooden houses. Pedestrians are walking on the road, most of them in a hurry, bringing a bit of bustling popularity to the not-so-large stronghold.
Tang Yu'an estimated from the green dots on the map that there were at least one or two hundred people gathered here, which could be considered a small village.
"Now many people are slowly moving out of the market town. Apart from going to the areas around Jufeng Mountain, most people are staying in these strongholds along the way up the mountain."
Old Li continued, "Settling in these strongholds also requires paying protection fees, but since there are no guards to maintain order, most people only pay a symbolic amount."
"Compared to living in a market town, the burden is much lighter, but of course... the safety is also lower."
Old Li stopped and looked towards a corner.
Tang Yu'an and Zhou Qi followed his gaze and, probably because there were no guards stationed there, they witnessed a robbery not long after they walked in.
And the people who were robbed were the mother and son that Tang Yu'an and his friends had met in the mountains before.
"Wow, what a great harvest today!"
A bearded man in ragged clothes walked up to the mother and son and tried to snatch her basket.
Naturally, the mother and son refused.
The man clicked his tongue impatiently, "You haven't paid this month's protection fee yet, let go, don't force me to do anything!"
"Bah! You, Chen Liu, were expelled from the guards long ago. Why are you collecting protection money?"
The woman was also very fierce. She tried her best to protect the food she had collected with great difficulty and refused to let go. Her son also helped her with an angry look on his face.
The man named Chen Liu seemed to be angry when he heard her words, and he shouted directly: "Stinky bitch, if you have the guts, say it again!"
"Chen Liu, let me go!"
The woman didn't dare to add fuel to the fire, but she was also unwilling to throw away the food that she and her son had collected with great difficulty.
However, her retreat resulted in even more brutal treatment from the man.
Chen Liu did not attack her. Instead, he raised his foot and kicked away the little boy who was helping her.
The boy was skinny and small, looking only six or seven years old. How could he withstand a kick from an adult man? He was kicked to the ground, clutching his stomach and unable to get up.
The woman's eyes turned red when she saw it.
"Chen Liu, I'm going to fight you!"
She let go of the basket, bared her teeth and claws, and scratched Chen Liu's face with her fingernails.
Chen Liu was caught off guard and was tickled twice, causing severe pain. He immediately became furious and said, "You crazy woman, are you looking for death?"
He slapped the woman in the face. With the crisp sound of the slap, the woman who was waving her hands vigorously was knocked to the ground.
"Bad guy! Don't hit my mom!"
The little boy climbed up again while holding his stomach. Seeing his mother injured, he rushed straight towards Chen Liu again. Like an angry little wolf cub, he opened his mouth and bit the back of his hand fiercely.
"Ouch! You little bastard! Let go! I told you to let go!"
The man shook his hand in pain.
He was very strong, but he couldn't get rid of the little boy immediately.
Until the end, he kicked the little boy hard and knocked him to the ground. The mushrooms also fell out of the basket and landed on the ground.
The man shook his bitten and bleeding hands a few times, kicked the little boy a few times in anger, then squatted down to pick up mushrooms while cursing.
From beginning to end, everyone nearby who witnessed the scene just watched.
No one thought of speaking out to help, let alone helping the mother and son. They either stayed away when the conflict broke out or watched the situation unfold from afar.
Of course, there were also people who were familiar with Chen Liu watching the fun.
Although Chen Liu was expelled from the guard, he was still quite intimidating in this stronghold.
After being kicked a second time, the little boy fell to the ground and did not get up again.
"Xiaobao...Xiaobao..."
The woman, whose head was buzzing from a slap, no longer cared about the mushrooms when she saw this scene. She crawled over using her hands and feet, hugged the child in her arms, and burst into tears with a look of despair on her face.
Tang Yu'an and Zhou Qi looked very angry.
As early as when the little boy was kicked down, they wanted to go over to help, but were stopped by Old Li.
"That Chen Liu is the local boss of this stronghold. Can't you see that no one dares to step forward? His accomplices are all watching nearby. If we take action, we won't be able to leave this stronghold today!"
Old Li lowered his voice and pulled the two teenagers away forcefully.
"There are too many things like this. You can handle it once, but can you handle it every time?"
Old Li is not a heartless person, but if he wants to help others, he must ensure his own absolute safety.
If you put yourself in danger in order to help others, it is not kindness, but stupidity!
Especially in the wasteland, helping others may not be rewarded with gratitude, and it may be that the farmer and the snake bite back.
Tang Yu'an clenched his fists.
He understood what Old Li said, and he knew that there were many people around here, and if he exposed himself, he would probably get into trouble.
But... he is obviously capable...
Just when Tang Yu'an was struggling, Zhou Qi, who had been silent all the time, suddenly took out a slingshot from his personal storage and stuffed it into Tang Yu'an's hand.
Tang Yu'an was startled and looked up at him, "Brother Xiaoqi..."
Zhou Qi patted his head, then said to Old Li, "Can we stay out of the way and teach him a lesson from the shadows? You should know how to do it without being noticed, right?"
Old Li is an experienced hunter.
He could sense the Black Pearl hiding in the dark from a distance, and he could even plan to hunt the giant lizard in the deserted city - although he failed due to an accident, the people in this stronghold didn't seem to be strong either, so he should have this ability, right?
Old Li looked at Zhou Qi with a face full of disapproval.
"Grandpa Li, I know you don't want us to get into trouble, and I understand your good intentions, but..."
"The best defense is offense."
Zhou Qi whispered, "We need opportunities to practice."
If they keep avoiding conflicts, they will never grow. After experiencing the attack last night, Zhou Qi has realized how much he lacks experience in fighting and killing humans.
He hopes to make up for this shortcoming, and actual combat is obviously the most effective way to gain experience.
After listening to his explanation, Old Li also looked thoughtful.
Indeed, a child who is protected too well will never grow into a towering tree.
He looked at Zhou Qi, who was always calm and reserved, and then at Tang Yu'an, whose face was full of expectation. Finally, amid the desperate cries of the mother and son, he nodded.
"Okay, follow me."
Now that you are ready to take action, you must act quickly.
Although there are many people in the stronghold, it is on the mountain after all, and it is not as visible as the plains, so it is still easy to find a hiding place.
Finally, Old Li found a good spot on a cliff.
They could overlook the corner where Chen Liu and the mother and son were, and with bushes blocking the view, it was an excellent shooting spot.
"What lesson do you want to teach him? Using this slingshot?" Old Li frowned, thinking that this was a joke.
Killing them directly is definitely not an option. They are strangers and will be screened first, so what kind of lesson should be given to help the mother and son vent their anger and ensure that they can escape safely?
Old Li also fell into deep thought.
Tang Yu'an didn't need to worry about it. He hid behind Old Li and Zhou Qi, pulled the slingshot and aimed at Chen Liu who was still picking mushrooms.
Happy marbles, shoot!
Old Li noticed his actions and although he still didn't quite agree, he didn't stop him in the end.
He just shook his head inwardly. With such soft force, even if he got hit, it wouldn't hurt much. Not only would he fail to subdue the opponent, but he might also cause even greater trouble for the mother and child...
Sure enough, the marble hit Chen Liu's head lightly, bounced away, then hit the mountain wall and bounced back to the ground.
Chen Liu covered his head and raised his head angrily.
However, the situation that Old Li was worried about did not happen. Instead, it evolved in a direction that he could not understand.
Chen Liu, who was originally angry, suddenly...
The corners of his mouth curved up strangely!
That smile was so abrupt that even the knowledgeable old Li felt a little creepy. Were they discovered?
Why didn't he get angry but laughed instead after being hit?
Then……
The strange smile on Chen Liu's face grew bigger and bigger, and finally he even laughed out loud.
“Haha ...
Originally he was trying to hold back his laughter, but it soon turned into a completely bewildered and crazy look on Old Li's face.
“Hahahaha—Ahahahahaha—”
In the relatively quiet stronghold, a startling burst of laughter suddenly broke out, scaring the birds and animals perched on the roof so much that they flapped their wings and flew away.
The people around who were about to disperse were stunned.
They looked at the man who bullied the orphan and the widow with some surprise and suspicion. He was squatting on the ground picking mushrooms, but suddenly he burst into laughter while picking them.
Not many people were paying attention to this corner, but his smile attracted everyone's attention.
Isn't it just some mushrooms? Is it worth being so happy? If you don't know, you might think you got some big treasure.
Or has he become a psychopath from beating people?
The woman who was originally crying while holding her son was also frightened. She sat there blankly staring at the man who was laughing wildly.
“Hahahaha—Ahahahahaha—”
The man held his stomach, pounded the ground and laughed so hard that tears came out.
No, what's so funny?
Everyone around was puzzled, and those who were farther away were gradually attracted by the laughter and came over to watch.
The woman, who was originally at a loss, slowly came to her senses.
Although she didn't know what was going on, when she tentatively reached out to pick up the mushrooms and found that Chen Liu was still smiling and ignoring her, her eyes lit up.
She quickly grabbed the basket and started picking up mushrooms on the ground with nimble hands and feet.
She picked them all up in a short while, then she quickly squeezed through the crowd with her son in her arms and ran away.
Because everyone was watching Chen Liu's excitement, no one paid any attention to them, including Chen Liu's companions, who surrounded him with a puzzled look on their faces.
“Aha ...
Someone felt the noise was too loud, so they walked over and slapped Chen Liu on the head, but he continued to pound the ground and laugh, with no intention of stopping at all.
After about ten minutes, Chen Liu's laughter did not stop.
"Grandpa, let's go." Tang Yu'an said in a low voice.
He originally wanted to try the Sad Marbles again, but there were too many people watching, which not only blocked their view but also increased the probability of them being discovered.
not to mention……
He glanced at the scene again.
After the Happy Marbles hit Chen Liu, they bounced off the mountain wall and bounced back to the ground. Then—
When Chen Liu fell to the ground and laughed out loud, he accidentally touched the happy marbles. He happened again and again, and he didn't know how many times he touched them.
It now seems that there is no need to wait for ten minutes to trigger overtime. If you hit the overtime in the middle, the time will be extended.
Happy Marbles, so scary!
Anyway, there's no way he'll stop laughing after ten minutes.
This lesson should be profound enough for him, right? I just hope he doesn't die of laughter in the end.
Thinking of this, Tang Yu'an couldn't help feeling a little guilty.
The mutant pig was so strong before that it couldn’t even bear to laugh for forty minutes, let alone an ordinary human like Chen Liu.
But on the other hand, he felt that this man deserved it.
It would be fine if he just stole things, but he also beat people up and kicked other people's children to death. Such people deserve to die!
Old Li was dragged away by them in a daze.
As they left, Chen Liu's strange and crazy laughter never stopped. More and more people gathered around, and some of them couldn't help but rush forward to beat him up.
What his final fate will be depends entirely on his own luck.
After leaving the stronghold and there was no one else on the mountain road, Old Li looked at Tang Yu'an in disbelief and asked, "Just now... was that you who did it?"
He felt as if that devilish laughter was still echoing in his ears.
After walking a hundred meters, the happy marbles returned to Tang Yu'an's hands.
He carefully put away the marbles. As for Old Li's problem, he had already thought of a solution before he took action.
Tang Yu'an put his hands on his hips and said proudly, "Grandpa, this is my unique secret technique!"
"Unique secret technique?" Old Li frowned. "You don't have any special abilities, do you?"
"Yeah, I didn't use my powers."
Tang Yu'an nodded, then said mysteriously, "I hit his smile!"
Speaking of this, Tang Yu'an couldn't help feeling a little nervous.
He felt that Old Li was a survivor before the disaster, and this world spoke Chinese and used Chinese characters... He should know what "笑xue" is, right?
Old Li was confused at first, then his eyes suddenly widened.
"Xiaoxue? You mean..."
He put his index and middle fingers together, then gently poked Tang Yu'an's arm, "Is that so... acupuncture point?"
Tang Yu'an couldn't help but smile.
Hehe, Grandpa Li really knows! It will be easy to fool people from now on!
"Yes, yes." Tang Yu'an nodded, "Grandpa Li, do you know anything about Xue?"
Old Li's face was full of sighs.
"Before the disaster, I saw it in a martial arts novel." His expression was full of emotion. Who didn't learn how to point the acupoints from the characters in martial arts dramas when they were young?
"So this kind of martial arts actually exists, and it's been passed down in the fortress..."
Old Li did not doubt Tang Yu'an's words. On the one hand, the child left him with an impression of being too simple and naive, and he subconsciously wanted to believe him.
On the other hand...
They have now walked out of the stronghold, and they can still faintly hear that person's laughter!
Is it true that he won't die of laughter?
He was watching the whole thing just now. The kid really just hit him with a slingshot. If he hadn't been hit by a laughingstock, then this would be totally inexplicable!
"So will he keep laughing like that?" Old Li asked curiously.
Tang Yu'an shook his head, "It will stop."
I just don't know when it will stop. After all, he has encountered Happy Marbles many times. If it lasts for ten minutes at a time...
From then on, the way Old Li looked at Tang Yu'an changed.
Probably...
The soft and cute little white rabbit that makes people want to protect it turns out to be the big devil.
The author has something to say:
Anzai: I'm really not a devil [pushing sunglasses]
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