Chapter 274: The Big Fat Sheep [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
It was the dead of winter, and the cold wind was biting. It was a mountain path.
A caravan of about ten people could be seen in the distance.
"Cough cough cough—"
A series of coughs could be heard coming from inside the carriage.
"Master Yang, the medicine is ready."
The young man held a bowl of dark, steaming medicine in one hand and lifted the heavy, windproof carriage curtain with the other. The man, whom he called Yang Gong, took the medicine and carefully blew on it twice. The medicine was still scalding hot, so Yang Gong had to warm his stiff hands by holding it in his palms.
The wheel broke, so we had to stop here.
Yang Gong asked in a low voice, "Is there any situation?"
The young man sat down and pulled over a felt blanket to cover his legs.
With a hint of delight, he said, "We've been targeted."
Yang Gong raised an eyebrow: "Hmph, a bunch of petty thieves."
Although he was no longer as valiant as he once was, Yang Gong was still a ruthless man who had personally slaughtered hundreds of bandits, and his words carried a bloodthirsty ruthlessness like that of a wolf. According to their inquiries, the bandits in the vicinity were nothing more than evil spirits in human skin.
Ordinary bandits only seek wealth and don't kill; handing over their property saves their lives. They target wealthy merchants and ignore ordinary people, which can be considered a kind of "honor among thieves." But this gang that was targeting them was different.
They were all young, around twenty years old, but they were extremely cruel and vicious. Relying on their weapons and numbers, they murdered merchants, and few could escape from their clutches.
Ordinary people would also die a violent death if they encountered them. They not only wanted money, but also enjoyed the pleasure of killing and even torture, and finally dumped the unrecognizable corpses on the mountain road!
The young people knew this so clearly because a local resident had managed to escape. However, although he escaped, his hands and feet were covered in festering, ulcerated wounds, and his body was almost entirely devoid of intact skin. He died a few days later, filled with resentment.
How could ordinary people dare to approach this road?
When the young man and Yang Gong heard about this, they laughed and joked. They had led a caravan of more than ten people on this trip, but their cart wheels broke down halfway, forcing them to stop. Winter nights fall quickly, so after some thought, they decided to spend the night on the spot.
The young man said, "We've got them on our radar, but it's hard to say whether they'll take the bait. These petty thieves are unusually cautious."
Yang Gong curled his lips in a mocking smile: "Hmph, still too green."
Clearly, he didn't take these petty thieves seriously. If he still possessed martial arts skills, he could easily kill these low-level thieves single-handedly. As for whether they would take the bait or not, Yang Gong wasn't worried. This group of petty thieves would definitely take the bait sooner or later.
The medicine had cooled down a bit.
Adhering to the principle that a short period of suffering is worse than a long one, Yang Gong closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and his face contorted in agony. He couldn't help but complain, "Ji Shou, this is too much."
The young man laughed and said, "Master Yang, good medicine tastes bitter."
Yang Gong tried to argue that he was in good health, but when he thought about his current situation, he had to give up reluctantly. In the past, during the coldest times, he could go shirtless and practice swordsmanship in the freezing cold without shivering, but now he would shiver even if he wore one less layer of clothing.
He also caught a cold, which was very embarrassing.
Yang Gong wrapped his warm coat tighter around himself, looking dejected.
Youth is the time of Kangshi.
The "Yang Gong" mentioned by Kang Shi was naturally Yang Duwei.
The two were ordered to go out "fishing".
To be precise, Kang Shi was ordered to "fish," and Commandant Yang, unwilling to be treated like an old, weak, or woman, volunteered to help. The older he got, the more stubborn he became, not wanting to owe anyone a favor—
Although no one said it, Commandant Yang was displeased.
The two men first set their sights on this gang of bandits.
Because this gang of bandits was too special.
Commander Yang's extensive experience in suppressing bandits told him that truly vicious bandits were hit-and-run criminals who would move from place to place, committing crimes on the run. It was almost impossible for them to be so ruthless and stay in one place without moving. If they were, there must be something fishy going on!
Firstly, the bandits were afraid of alarming the prefectural government and sending troops to suppress them. How could a makeshift gang go head-to-head with the righteous army of the prefectural government?
Secondly, even if they were truly fearless and unafraid of the prefectural government sending troops to suppress them, bandits still had to consider their income. If the common people, toiling in the fields, relied on the blessings of nature for their livelihood, then bandits relied on the money from passing merchants.
One team would come, and another would be wiped out, in the same bloody and cruel manner of slaughter. Over time, merchants would rather take a longer route than cross this road; survival was their top priority. If merchants didn't come, and the common people were too frightened to venture there, how could they possibly earn any income?
The bandits refused to move their hideout even though they had no income...
What does this tell us?
This means something's fishy.
This shows that this gang of bandits has a wealthy backer!
Using such cruel methods, and allowing survivors to "luckily" escape, is highly likely intentional, intended to force merchants and commoners to avoid this road. Furthermore, the bandits were all around twenty years old, young and strong; these various clues combined make the situation very intriguing.
in short--
It's a fat sheep!
It is highly likely that it is still a fat sheep, dripping with oil.
As dusk fell, the rich aroma of food wafted from outside the car.
Disguised as a caravan guard, Lili carried a food tray, tapped the wooden frame of the carriage with his finger, and only after receiving permission did he lift the curtain and bend down to enter: "Mr. Kang, Mr. Yang."
Kang Shi said, "Thank you."
The meal was simple, but a few slightly charred flatbreads and a large bowl of thick rice porridge sprinkled with minced meat were a rare treat. Tanuki sat outside the carriage, enjoying the simple meal without wasting a single crumb of bread on her fingers.
Kang Shi bent down and stepped out of the carriage, casually instructing, "Lili, go and keep Yang Gong company. I'll go arrange for someone."
Outside the carriage, the dozen or so seemingly ordinary merchant guards were actually all brave warriors under Commandant Yang.
In the Battle of Xiaocheng, all of Commandant Yang's officers were killed, leaving only forty or fifty soldiers. These were the elite of the elite, each a skilled warrior with strength ranging from the upper second to the fourth rank. Commandant Yang fought to the very end for Xiaocheng, showing no fear of death and even neglecting his family. The surviving soldiers were deeply grateful and wished to continue following him.
However, since Commander Yang's strength had been crippled, he entrusted these people to Shen Tang for "temporary management." Although it was called "temporary management," it was no different from handing them over to her. She would help train the newcomers and at least give them a place to stay, so they wouldn't end up "destitute and homeless."
As for Tanuki—
Shen Tang sent him out to "earn military merits".
Let's see if these "military achievements" can be converted into good fortune.
Lili's weaknesses are too obvious; to catch up, he needs to work twice as hard. Although Commander Yang doesn't understand Shen Tang's plans, he can tell that Shen Tang wants to cultivate Lili.
He himself was crippled, but the experience of cultivating from scratch to the eleventh rank of Right Vice Minister remained, something not everyone could possess. With his guidance, Li Li would be able to avoid countless detours.
Speaking of "Lili" -
This name does sound familiar.
Commander Yang raised his eyes and secretly sized up Li Li, who was sitting upright at the carriage door with a serious expression.
Although he had been under Shen Tang's command for a month or so, he had spent most of his time recuperating and adjusting his mindset alone. This was his first time actually seeing Li Li up close.
It's fine if you don't look at it, but the more you look, the more familiar it seems.
"Your name is Lili?"
Li Li replied, "Yes, Lord Yang."
Commandant Yang: "That fox spirit from the Classic of Mountains and Seas?"
Lili nodded.
Commander Yang's expression became slightly more subtle.
Lili also sensed something else in the other meaning.
"Does Master Yang know me?"
Commandant Yang simply said, "I was a close friend and confidant of the former prefect. However, after the fall of Xin City and the fall of Sibao County, he moved his entire family to another place. He had a beautiful younger sister..."
Tanuki paused for a moment upon hearing this.
Commandant Yang continued, "He once mentioned you to me... though it wasn't anything pleasant..."
He cursed Li Li repeatedly, calling him a toad lusting after a swan. If he were a mid-to-high-level martial artist, it wouldn't matter, but a poor, ordinary commoner dared to covet a noblewoman? The problem was that his own sister was blinded by greed, stubbornly clinging to this idea. The previous prefect had privately complained to Commandant Yang about it countless times. All the blame lay with Li Li!
It's just for fun, why take it seriously? As a young widow living at home with her brother's support, she can keep a few male favorites. As long as she likes them, buy them whatever size they are.
But to have a romantic relationship with a male concubine is truly a disgrace to one's family!
Commander Yang didn't understand either.
He had never met Tanuki before and had assumed that this person must be incredibly handsome or something special that attracted the arrogant "Poison Spider." But upon seeing him in person, he realized that he wasn't as outrageous as the rumors suggested.
Lili: "..."
Commandant Yang said, "Work hard."
Li Li looked at Commandant Yang with a puzzled expression.
Commander Yang said calmly, "If you had daughters or sisters, you would know. Would you want her to fall into a lower position for a man, or would you want that man to rise in rank for her?"
If Li Li had possessed even a modicum of martial arts skill back then, even if he were just a low-level martial artist, given "Poison Spider's" persistence and stubbornness, he might have succeeded in marrying "Poison Spider." However, there's no point in discussing this now. After all, so many years have passed, and Li Li has probably forgotten most of it. Commandant Yang brought it up simply because he didn't have a single acquaintance around him to talk about the past.
I'm so bored.
It also has the meaning of motivating the fox spirit.
After all, shame is the mother of courage.
Commander Yang didn't expect Lili to answer him and was about to close his eyes for a short rest when he heard the big man say in a very soft but surprisingly firm voice, "I hope the lady will move up."
Commandant Yang opened his eyes and looked at him: "Go upstairs?"
Tanuki said, "I will chase after them."
Commandant Yang choked for a moment.
He muttered to himself, "He's quite the romantic."
He had a nagging feeling that the former prefect would likely still be troubled by the fox spirit.
The moon is high in the sky.
The caravan guards, forced to stop on the mountain road, were also weary. Apart from those on night watch, the others found places to rest against the wind in the leeward side of the wagons. The campfire burned quietly in the night breeze, with occasional popping sounds.
Lili told Kangshi to rest in the carriage.
He was put in charge of keeping watch.
Kang Shi was about to get up when he suddenly froze, then resumed his normal movement in an instant. If Li Li hadn't been so close, he probably wouldn't have noticed. He asked, "Mr. Kang, is someone coming?"
Although Li Li possessed excellent physical attributes and was able to defeat a third-class Zan Niao even before developing martial energy, she was still an ordinary person. Without sufficient martial energy to enhance her five senses, her perception range was far inferior to that of a martial arts master or a scholar. Kang Shi nodded secretly.
He patted Tanuki on the shoulder: "Be careful."
Li Li said, "Yes."
Soft rustling sounds.
The mountain path was rugged and difficult to traverse, nestled in a valley halfway up the mountain, flanked by dense forests and overgrown vegetation, making it ideal for concealment. Tanuki listened intently, but could only hear the rustling of the grass and leaves in the night wind. The others appeared to be asleep, but were in fact on high alert. Tanuki gripped the hilt of his large sword tightly at his waist.
How will the thief appear? Will he attack directly, or will he launch a sneak attack? From which direction will he emerge?
Tanuki's right hand, gripping the hilt of the knife, bulged with veins, and his Adam's apple rose and fell with each swallow of saliva.
He was quite skilled in combat, but he didn't actually kill many people.
Just as his heart was pounding faster, a very faint buzzing sound reached his ears. It was the sound of a bowstring vibrating, accompanied by a sharp chill that shot straight up from his back to his brain. With a swift motion, he drew his sword and, following his instincts and intuition, cleaved the arrow in two with a single blow.
Tanuki shouted, "Enemy attack!"
Without him even shouting, the soldiers disguised as caravan guards jumped up. A short while later, dozens of figures emerged from the dark, dense forest. Without uttering a sound, and without spouting those clichéd lines like "I planted this tree, I opened this road," they went straight to battle!
They looked organized, disciplined, with clear division of labor, working in groups of three to five, and cooperating seamlessly—they didn't seem like bandits at all!
Tanuki shouted, "You've come at the perfect time!"
Having said that—
He swung his sword at the approaching person, slashing down on their head.
The newcomer was no pushover either; he reacted quickly, dodging the fatal blow. With other companions providing support from the side, Tanuki could only regretfully reduce his strength and kick the petty thief who was trying to sneak up on him.
That kick was delivered with absolutely no restraint.
Then another person cried out in pain as he was kicked away.
"kill--"
"kill--"
Shouts of killing echoed through the quiet, secluded mountain path.
Blood was drawn shortly afterward.
Taking advantage of their numbers, the petty thieves set their sights on the carriage that was clearly a big fish, and sent six or seven men to surround it. If they had X-ray vision, they would have seen that inside the carriage, Commandant Yang had his eyes closed, listening to the sounds outside, and Kang Shi was also calm.
This is hardly the composure one would expect from a caravan facing imminent death.
Kang Shi said, "Yang Gong was skilled in training troops."
These were all brought out by Commandant Yang.
None of them used any martial arts, and they even deliberately held back, relying solely on their ordinary flesh and blood and the moves they had honed day and night to deal with the few petty thieves who were attacking them.
It should be understood that although the gap between low-level martial arts practitioners and ordinary people is large, it is not so large as to be outrageous.
One wrong move and you could be beaten to death.
Commandant Yang did not reply.
With a loud clang.
It's unclear whose knife struck the wooden frame of the carriage.
Then came a tearing sound.
Half of the blade was almost touching Captain Yang's arm.
Looking at the broken knife, Kang Shi asked the composed Commandant Yang, "Lord Yang, shall we make our move now?"
Commandant Yang said, "No need."
There weren't many petty thieves who came, and their fighting skills were average.
Let's delay a bit longer and see if any big fish take the bait.
The dozen or so men outside the carriage—let alone all of them attacking together, even one of them could easily defeat the invading thieves. These thieves were too weak; they didn't match the expected easy prey.
Upon hearing this, Kang Shi stopped urging him.
He simply kept a close watch on the situation from the shadows.
They came to "fish" and probe the enemy's strength, not to deliver themselves to the enemy—the enemy can be wiped out, but they cannot afford to lose a single one!
(︶.︶)
Do you have any good keyboard organizer recommendations?
There seem to be too many keyboards in the house...
PS: Seeing this sentence means it's been corrected. I'll fix any bugs I haven't found yet.
(End of this chapter)
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