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墨書 Inktalez
On the slope in the distance of the mountain village, a bright yellow carriage stood quietly, with the horses grazing leisurely.
"Your Majesty, aren't we going to provide assistance?"
Wei Meng frowned as he looked at the rising dust in the distant village and asked the person inside the Dragon Carriage.
A faint voice immediately echoed from within the carriage.
"No need..."
"Oh right, send someone to inform the local county office not to dispatch troops."
"What!? But, Your Majesty..."
Wei Meng was taken aback, unable to believe that the young emperor could be so heartless.
Chen You, after all, was a trusted confidant of the Former Emperor; he should not meet such an unclear and tragic end!
Moreover, there were citizens of Xia Kingdom in Sang Village!
Were these people also to be buried alongside Chen You?
"I will do as I see fit; I do not need anyone to meddle!"
"My mind is made up; you may leave."
Once again, a commanding voice came from within the carriage, and it seemed that the person was growing angry.
Wei Meng felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead and quickly bowed.
He was about to head towards the county office when he had just taken a few steps.
The voice came again.
"Do not tell them that I am here."
After saying this, the young man returned to the carriage, quietly gazing in the direction of the mountain village.
Wei Meng sat on his horse, his expression shifting between indecision.
"Sir is my Old Friend, who has saved my life multiple times. To go to the county office or to Sang Village, it's a matter of life and death."
Finally, he gritted his teeth.
"I'm sorry, Chen You, but I have a family to take care of..."
...
On the other side, Chen You was driven to the village entrance by a group of bandits.
"Mr. Chen, why are you also..."
A middle-aged man covered in blood looked at Chen You with an expression of disbelief.
"Um... I ran too slowly."
Chen You feigned nonchalance and shrugged.
After tossing Yi Tsuhua and her son into his cellar, he casually set off a firework as a signal.
However, it was too late; he didn't have time to hide and was caught by the rushing bandits.
"You people listen up! This year, we, Luo Hu Mountain, have just established our presence here."
"According to the rules of the martial world, you must pay tribute to us. Each household must contribute money per person; if you have no money, then send someone."
A burly man with a scar at the corner of his eye stepped forward, straddling a tall horse while holding a steel knife, addressing the villagers.
As he spoke, the flesh on his face quivered, and he pointed at the bloodied blacksmith Zhang Tie.
"If you dare to resist, this will be your fate."
As soon as he finished speaking, the villagers trembled in fear.
The village chief Bai Shan steeled himself and, leaning on his cane, approached shakily.
"Good sir, our small mountain village struggles to even find enough food to eat each year. We have no surplus grain to offer as tribute."
"Please show some mercy and pity us..."
As soon as the words were spoken, the other party showed no mercy. The steel knife was swung, aimed at Bai Shan, and a furious shout followed.
"Relying on your age, I won't fall for this trick..."
"You old fool! master Hu doesn't believe your nonsense."
With that, he prepared to swing the knife down, but suddenly a loud voice interrupted.
"Wait!"
In the next moment, the bandit did not stop his steel knife because of Chen You's words.
With a 'thud,' blood splattered.
The elderly Bai Shan could not dodge in time, and his shoulder was struck by the steel knife, leaving a deep wound that exposed bone.
A disagreement led to violence.
It was too outrageous, too domineering!
"Village Chief!"
"How can you do this? To an old man with such cruelty."
"You will face divine retribution; you will face divine retribution!"
"Village Chief!"
Seeing Bai Shan injured like this by the bandits, the villagers rushed forward to help him, all crying out in despair.
"You old fool, daring to play tricks in front of me, Kau Shanhu? You must really be tired of living!"
The bandit known as Kau Shanhu shook the blood off his steel knife and said disdainfully, even the horse beneath him snorted a few times in agreement.
Impatiently stamping its hooves, the horse seemed to share its owner's contempt for the villagers who dared not speak up.
"Lord Tiger, there are plenty of wealthy families in the county town. Why do you choose to rob us poor commoners?"
Chen You looked at the unconscious Bai Shan and the similarly injured Zhang Tie.
He slowly stood up, frowning deeply.
His voice was steady and assertive.
"Mr. Chen..."
"Don't act rashly; they are desperate criminals."
Countless villagers were on the verge of tears, trying to stop Chen You.
Yet he remained calm throughout.
In the grand hall, he dared to give advice to anyone, let alone a group of robbers.
The implication was clear: he looked down on Kau Shanhu for only daring to pick on easy targets!
"What the hell are you? How dare you speak to our boss like that?"
"Are you tired of living?"
"Hold him down! Damn it, let me wash your mouth out!"
The bandits seemed to hit a nerve, hurling insults at Chen You. Some even unbuckled their belts, preparing to teach Chen You a lesson.
In the next moment, Kau Shanhu shouted.
"Kid, do we need you to dictate how we do things?"
"You think I won't take care of you just because you keep talking back?"
Kau Shanhu's gaze locked onto Chen You in the crowd.
Then, he dismounted and strode towards him.
On the other side, Chen You calmly watched Kau Shanhu approach. The latter quickly reached Chen You and grabbed his shirt.
He glared at him fiercely.
His eyes glinted with malice.
"What are you?"
"I am nothing of importance, just someone who happened to study for a couple of years and works as a teacher in the village."
In response to Kau Shanhu's question, Chen You replied calmly.
"A fine teacher indeed."
"Most villages can't afford a teacher."
"Bring everyone in, search house by house!"
After staring at Chen You for a moment, Kau Shanhu pushed him aside and shouted to the bandits behind him.
"Good!"
"Hahaha!"
"Collect the money! Rob the grain!"
In an instant, the ruffians erupted in cheers.
Seeing their reckless behavior, Chen You felt a surge of anger rising within him.
"You are so reckless. Aren't you worried that the Righteous Alliance and the Black Lotus Society will come to wipe you out?"
The Black Lotus Society!?
Hearing this name, the movements of several bandits slowed down for a moment.
The Black Lotus Society has bases all over the Xia Kingdom, robbing the rich to help the poor, acting heroically, and occasionally helping ordinary people clear their unjust grievances.
Good people fear them, but bad people fear them even more.
"Oh, a teacher, and you've heard of the Black Lotus Society? But who are you trying to scare..."
"This poor rural area, the Black Lotus Society wouldn't bother to interfere!"
"Hahahaha..."
As soon as Chen You finished speaking, the group of bandits burst into laughter and scattered.
Not long after, the henchmen returned to the village entrance with various bundles and bags, throwing the collected food directly in front of Kau Shanhu.
"Why is there only this little bit?"
At this moment, Kau Shanhu sat confidently on a long bench, looking disdainfully at the pile of food that resembled a small mountain.
In the next moment, a cacophony of noise erupted.
"Big Brother, look what I found!"
"Let go of me! You beast, let go of me! Help!"
"Wah! Wah!"
The sounds of crying and cursing mixed together reached everyone's ears.
Then, Chen You immediately saw Yi Tsuhua and Ergou being dragged forward by a bandit, despite Yi Tsuhua using all her strength.
But how could a woman compete with a ruthless bandit?
"Let them go!"
Chen You's anger burned within him as he coldly glared at Kau Shanhu and shouted.
As soon as the words left his mouth, several bandits pressed him to the ground, but Chen You's murderous gaze remained fixed on Kau Shanhu.
Kau Shanhu then felt as if he were being targeted by something terrifying; Chen You exuded an aura that suggested he could take life at will, viewing people as mere grass.
Even when facing the county magistrate, Kau Shanhu had never encountered such a presence.
However, upon seeing Chen You's appearance—thin and weak, even less imposing than a scholar— Kau Shanhu felt reassured.
"Damn it, you scared me with that loud voice!"
"What's this? Is that your lover? You're so concerned?"
Kau Shanhu smiled as he noticed Chen You's attention on Yi Tsuhua and stepped forward. He grabbed Yi Tsuhua's delicate face, turning it left and right for inspection, then said to Chen You,
"She is quite striking, but with your small frame, you might not be able to handle her."
"Take that brat along too!"
After saying this, Kau Shanhu pushed Yi Tsuhua away, took the reins handed to him by his subordinate, mounted his horse, and declared loudly,
"In three days, gather a thousand stones of good grain to redeem her, or else... hmph!"
"Leave a few people to clean up the mess, and as for this kid who has repeatedly defied me, I trust you know what to do with him?"
With that final remark, Kau Shanhu led the main group away, leaving a few bandits who cast menacing glances at Chen You.
Their expressions were full of amusement...
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