Chapter 357 Please act within your means
Xiao Yuansui's face darkened.
Although he knew that the people in the village were definitely unsettled after killing Wang Quyi, and that he had led a group of men to the gate to confront Yuwen Ye and the others, he did so only after temporarily calming the people's hearts on the surface. Could it be that something else had happened inside during this time?
He immediately asked, "What's wrong?"
One of them pointed to the back of the village, his finger trembling, and his voice shaking even more: "The granary in the back mountain is on fire!"
"What!?"
Xiao Yuansui was startled.
The people around were even more shocked, and everyone turned their heads to look at the back of the village—but from this position, they couldn't see the back mountain at all, but they could see a thick plume of smoke rising from a distance, with faint flames inside, like a roaring black dragon soaring straight into the sky.
Xiao Yuansui's eyes were instantly illuminated by the flames within the black smoke.
He watched this scene, then suddenly turned his head to look at the shocked Shan Tong'er, and Yuwen Ye and Shen Wuzheng, who were clearly frowning, and gritted his teeth, saying, "It's you?!"
"..."
"It's you again?!"
This time, Yuwen Ye did not hide the surprise that flashed in his eyes. After hearing this, he looked at Xiao Yuansui and said indifferently, "I have no interest in using the same method a second time."
After all, one of the key steps in the great victory at Xingluocang was to have his men set fire to the granary in Wanggangzhai, burning their stored grain. This prompted Wang Quyi to send Hu Jinfeng and others to Xingluocang to retrieve the grain, thus causing conflict among them and leading to infighting.
However, this technique isn't as effective at this time.
After Yuwen Ye finished speaking, he smiled faintly and said, "It seems that the people in your village are not so easy to appease."
After saying that, he turned to leave.
But just as he turned around, Xiao Yuansui suddenly said, "At this point, do you think you can still leave?"
"..."
Yuwen Ye had already reached out and taken the reins of Wuyun Taxue, which was walking towards him. Upon hearing this, he tightened his grip slightly, causing Wuyun Taxue to lurch its head. It then shook its head and snorted.
Then, Yuwen Ye slowly turned his head around.
He didn't look at Xiao Yuansui, but instead tilted his head slightly to look at the distant back mountain behind him. At this moment, a dark cloud had already stained the evening sky, adding a touch of gloom to the golden sunset.
He said, "Do you think you still have time to spar with me here a few more times?"
Xiao Yuansui said coldly, "You should know that I'm not talking about sparring."
This time, the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes were filled with murderous intent. Clearly, this was not a friendly exchange, but a full-blown fight.
He decided to take Yuwen Ye's life!
Just as Xiao Yuansui raised his hand again, about to give orders to the people around him and behind him, Shen Wuzheng suddenly rode forward and said softly, "Young Master Xiao—please act according to your ability."
Xiao Yuansui frowned and looked at him.
Shen Wuzheng looked up at the thick black smoke rising from the back mountain, which could no longer be concealed by its mountain slopes, and then slowly fixed his gaze on him, saying, "Your grain reserves are not important to us, but they are very important to you, and even more important to your entire village!"
"..."
“The later you arrive, the more fire will burn.”
"..."
“The more you burn, the more chaotic the people in your village will become.”
"...!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuansui's face darkened.
Indeed, although he still doesn't know who set fire to the granary in the back mountain, stockpiling grain is very important to him at this time. Just as Shen Wuzheng said, once the grain is burned out, Wanggang Village, which is already unstable, will completely collapse!
Therefore, he really couldn't delay any longer!
However, he knew even more clearly that this might be the only chance to kill Yuwen Ye. If he let him go now, then in the future—
Thinking of this, he looked up at Yuwen Ye again, but just as his gaze fell on Yuwen Ye, Shan Tong'er had already walked up behind Yuwen Ye.
Although this child is not tall, his combat strength is indeed first-rate, just as Yuwen Ye said.
He was brought into the stronghold because of his fighting prowess, but if they were to fight both him and Yuwen Ye at the same time—
Xiao Yuansui gritted his teeth and finally said, "Go to the back mountain quickly!"
Those around them could no longer stand still. After all, with an enemy who might pose a threat at any time, the most important thing was the food to fill their stomachs and the thing that could save their lives. When they heard his order, they hurriedly turned around and entered the village, running towards the back mountain. Their panicked shouts seemed to confirm what Shen Wuzheng had just said—people's hearts were about to fall into chaos!
Xiao Yuansui glanced at them one last time, then turned and left.
As soon as they left, the door slammed shut with a bang, and a gust of wind sent their hair flying.
Shen Wuzheng slowly rode over, watched as Yuwen Ye mounted his horse, and then lifted Shan Tong'er to sit down in front of him. He then asked, "Who set the fire?"
Yuwen Ye shook his head.
Shan Tong'er turned to look at him, then at Shen Wuzheng, and said with a surprised expression, "It's not you?"
"..."
"It would be such a waste to burn all that grain."
Although he had just been fierce and almost wanted to kill someone, at this moment, he completely reverted to his childlike innocence, and his speech even had a touch of childishness. Yuwen Ye glanced down at him, but didn't say anything, only saying calmly, "If I did it, I will naturally admit it."
Shen Wuzheng frowned slightly: "Who could it be? Who would burn the grain storage at Wanggang Village at this time?"
Yuwen Ye looked down at Shan Tong'er again: "Are they from the village?"
Shan Tong'er immediately shook his head: "Who would be willing to part with that?"
"..."
"That much grain could feed us for several months."
Yuwen Ye nodded silently—that made sense. If it really was the people in the village who were dissatisfied with Xiao Yuansui who did it, then killing people would be better than burning down the granary. After all, if they lost the grain after regaining power, people's hearts would be unsettled, so it would be better not to take it at all.
He said, "It seems that is a problem."
Shen Wuzheng said, "Let's go down the mountain first. Ruyi and the others must be getting impatient waiting down there."
Yuwen Ye nodded, then said to the boy in his arms, "Little devil, sit tight."
After saying that, he spurred his horse and leaped down the high ground, trotting along the mountain path downhill.
But just as they finally reached the foot of the mountain and were about to approach the pavilion, they saw from afar that Mu Xian and his group were not there waiting.
Yuwen Ye's face darkened, and he hurriedly spurred his horse to the pavilion, which was empty. He then looked around.
Even Shang Ruyi has disappeared!
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