Chapter 38: Arrogance

The village head and Huzi rushed to support Old Uncle Xue.

Huzi said with red eyes, “Uncle, just tell Grandpa the truth!”

“Ah.” The village head sighed.

They had not told Old Uncle Xue the truth before, fearing that he would not be able to handle the blow. But now that they were all leaving Xiaya Village, they had to tell him to break his hopes.

“Uncle, General Bai’s guerrilla army from the Northwest Army was completely wiped out in a battle more than a month ago. Three thousand men, not a single survivor.”

Huzi’s father and second uncle were both under General Bai’s command in the Northwest Army, two of those three thousand.

“How… how could this be?” Old Uncle Xue stammered.

“The court said it was caused by General Bai’s negligence, but rumors have it that the new commander of the Northwest Army is a fool who doesn’t know how to fight. This whole thing was actually blamed on General Bai.”

Many villagers who had been to the town recently knew about this. They were afraid that Old Uncle Xue would not be able to handle the news and would die of grief, leaving Huzi behind, so no one dared to mention it in the village.

Adults could control their tongues, but it was difficult for children. Huzi had already heard about his father and second uncle’s deaths from his playmates and often cried in secret behind Old Uncle Xue’s back.

“Grandpa, Father and Second Uncle won’t come back.”

“Let’s go to the mountains with everyone else. Once we’re in the mountains, we won’t have to serve in the army or do forced labor, and we won’t have to give up our food for survival to others.”

Huzi’s voice drifted up to the treetops with the wind.

Although he was young, he understood everything. He clearly knew what it meant to go to Mount Yueheng.

Wei Yunlan felt a sense of bewilderment. She seemed to understand why the forces in Mount Yueheng had grown so rapidly later on.

There’s a saying: When the officials push the people too far, the people have no choice but to fight back.

Who would be willing to leave their home and become bandits if they weren’t forced to?

“Let’s go back. It’s time to leave,” Wei Yunlan said softly.

Seventh Lady Yu, supporting her arm, quietly led her back to Old Uncle Xue’s courtyard.

Soon, Old Uncle Xue and Huzi also entered the courtyard.

Lost in grief over the loss of his sons and the anxiety of leaving his home, Old Uncle Xue almost forgot that there were outsiders staying in his house.

Seeing Wei Yunlan and the others, he was slightly taken aback. He then said apologetically, “Gentlemen, something has happened in our village. I’m afraid we can’t entertain you any longer.”

“We were just about to leave as well. Thank you for your hospitality, Old Man.” Wei Yunlan cupped her hands and bowed to Old Uncle Xue.

Shortly after they left, Old Uncle Xue, who had packed his belongings and was about to lock the doors of his house, suddenly noticed two pieces of loose silver on the kang in the west room.

“Ah, those gentlemen were really kind.”

“It’s not easy to travel in this world. Huzi, let’s pray that those gentlemen have a safe journey…”

…

Wei Yunlan and her group, who had been blessed with sincere good wishes, were not so “safe.” They hadn’t even gone far from Xiaya Village, just a short distance along the mountain road leading out, when they encountered officials who were stopped halfway.

It was the same group that had just left Xiaya Village.

Judging from the situation, it seemed that two of their horses had been injured on the mountain road.

The leader, who had been full of impatience, suddenly lit up when he saw Wei Yunlan and her group. “Stop!”

Wei Yunlan had no intention of stopping halfway, but the leader blocked the narrow road, preventing them from passing.

“I’ve requisitioned your horses. Dismount.”

“Why?” Wei Yunlan didn’t intend to pay any attention to these officials, but they had come to trouble them.

Looking at their arrogant and domineering tone, they must have done this kind of thing often, taking things from the common people.

“When the government is doing its work, you should cooperate.” The leader’s tone was impatient. He pressed his hand against the hilt of his sword, threateningly.

“What if we don’t cooperate?” Wei Yunlan’s brows furrowed slightly.

“You can’t afford to be disobedient!” The leader drew his sword. The other officials who had been resting and tending to the horses also drew their swords and stood up.

“We’re doing you a favor by using our swords on you. Stop stalling and dismount!”

Wei Yunlan gave them a cold glance, ignoring the leader, and quietly asked Seventh Lady Yu, who was sitting behind her, “Do you think you can handle these few?”

“Piece of cake.”

“Then do it.” These light words came out of Wei Yunlan’s mouth. Seventh Lady Yu behind her instantly leaped from the horse.

She landed in front of the leader. Before he could react, the long sword in his hand was already in Seventh Lady Yu’s.

With a flash of the blade, the leader fell backward.

The remaining four officials were stunned by this sudden turn of events. Before they could raise their swords to resist, the ghostly figure had already circled them.

With a flash of the blade, the one body on the ground instantly became five.

Adding the one on the saddle, it made a full team of six, neatly complete.

“They’re… all dead?” Ningshuang and Tingxue, who were on another horse, finally recovered.

They looked at the bodies on the ground with some apprehension but couldn’t bring themselves to say that their young mistress was cruel. These officials had provoked them first, and they deserved their fate.

However…

“Miss, won’t this cause trouble?” Ningshuang worried.

Wei Yunlan shook her head slightly. Killing them was safer than letting them escape.

Their identities were now hidden. Even though they were disguised as men, there was still some risk. These officials who had seen them would be a threat if they were left alive.

Only dead men tell no tales. Besides, they deserved to die.

“Miss Wei, don’t get your hands dirty. I’ll handle it.” Seventh Lady Yu used the officials’ ropes to tie their bodies securely to the saddles, then slapped the horses’ rumps.

The six horses charged out of the mountain path, scattering in different directions.

At the same time, Wei Yunlan and the others galloped forward, heading towards Suijiang under the approaching dawn.

…

Outside the city gate of Qingfeng County.

The officials responsible for escorting the exiled prisoners looked haggard and disheveled.

These two days spent in Qingfeng County had been more tiring than the ten days they had spent traveling on the road combined.

They were outside the city when the earth dragon turned, and they managed to escape from the forest in time, so they didn’t suffer any injuries. But in the chaos, many people from the group had gotten separated.

Each of the four families had lost members, and the Wei family had lost the most. Of the ten or so people, only Wei Maolin and two servants remained.

The officials wanted to find them but didn’t have the time.

More important than the missing family members was the fact that the official and Master Liang who had entered the city hadn’t come out yet.

They had inquired about this for two days and finally learned that Master Liang and the official had been trapped under a collapsed inn during the earthquake.

They hadn’t been rescued yet!