SlaySaga
patreon
Chapter 241: The Army
🕑 Added 2025-06-20 20:19:35 +0000 UTCAll Novels || Martial God
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After hearing He Yiming's words, those people were first stunned, then looked at each other.
It was their first time seeing people from Tianluo Country speak with such a proud tone when talking about themselves and Kairong Country. At this moment, they seemed to feel that one of the Three Great Northwestern Powers was not Kairong Country, but their Tianluo Country.
If anyone else spoke with such an attitude, even if they didn't scoff, they would secretly curse the person for not knowing better.
But after seeing He Yiming's expression, they had an unexpected feeling, as if this person was born to have such an arrogant expression.
After hearing He Yiming's words, they even developed a sense of pride, as if their Tianluo Country people were far nobler than those of Kairong Country.
Several people shook their heads, throwing off this strange feeling, secretly muttering in their hearts whether they were possessed.
Xu Su's heart tightened. His eyesight was far superior to that of many of his companions, and he knew that this person was by no means simple. He immediately smiled and said, "Since you are willing to consider our caravan, it is our honor. Please come in."
Several people beside him looked at him in surprise, unable to understand why their usually cautious Eldest Brother had become so agreeable this time.
Xu Su personally led them into the camp, and everyone along the way cast sidelong glances.
After a moment, they arrived before the largest tent in the camp. Xu Su cupped his hands and said, "Gentlemen, although I am the leader of this team, I am, after all, employed by others. If you wish to join the caravan, you must obtain the approval of the caravan's head."
His face bore a hint of apology, an expression displayed just right, neither making He Yiming and the others feel awkward nor provoking their resentment.
He Yiming nodded with a smile, secretly thinking that anyone who could stand out among hundreds of people was indeed not simple.
Xu Su entered the tent alone. A moment later, a pot-bellied man followed him out.
This man was rather fat, with a pair of small eyes that seemed to be drawn with reed leaves, yet they flickered with a faint light, revealing a cunning intelligence at all times.
After carefully and seriously looking at He Yiming and the others for a moment, his face immediately broke into a smile. "My name is Zhang Facai. May I ask your esteemed names?"
He Yiming smiled, casually saying, "I am Li Koubei, this is my humble wife, and this is my senior brother, surnamed Bai."
Zhang Facai nodded, not knowing whether he truly believed it, but his face showed no hint of suspicion. Just from this, it was clear that he was a well-experienced person, and such people generally wouldn't suffer too much in business, even if they didn't gain an advantage.
"Brother Li, as you can see, we are a small caravan with limited supplies, unlike the luxurious tents of large families." He smiled and said, "If you don't mind, making room for a small tent is not a problem."
He Yiming laughed heartily, "When traveling, having a place to settle is already excellent. Thank you, Brother Zhang."
Zhang Facai waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Since we are traveling, we should naturally help each other. Convenience for others is convenience for oneself." As he spoke, he called someone over and gave a few instructions. Immediately, someone took out another tent from the caravan's carriage and began setting it up.
He Yiming watched silently. The faces of those people showed some reluctance, clearly not willingly accepting this extra labor. However, no one opposed Zhang Facai's decision or refuted it, which showed that he had a strong grip on the caravan.
Zhang Facai invited He Yiming and the others into the tent, with himself and Xu Su accompanying them.
Both of them had traveled countless places and seen extraordinary people. Zhang Facai's eloquence was first-rate and flexible; he could bring a bit of novelty to any topic, which greatly satisfied He Yiming and Yuan Lixun, keeping them from feeling lonely. As for One Hundred and Eight, it was unclear whether his cold expression meant he was listening to any of it.
Zhang Facai and Xu Su exchanged glances when they had a moment, becoming more certain that He Yiming and Yuan Lixun were probably a wealthy young master and lady traveling, and as for One Hundred and Eight, nominally their senior brother, he was in fact their household guard, whose purpose was to ensure their safety.
The topic changed, and Zhang Facai sighed, "The three of you traveling alone here is really too dangerous. It would be best to avoid this route in the future."
He Yiming asked in surprise, "Why?"
Zhang Facai shook his head, "This is Tai'a County in Tianluo Country, where horse bandits are most rampant. If you want to travel safely here, it's best to join a large caravan. There's safety in numbers."
Yuan Lixun blinked her beautiful big eyes, "Weren't the horse bandits of Tai'a County wiped out in Taicang County?"
Although Yuan Lixun wasn't interested in such matters, the major event that happened in Taicang County back then was known to all. She had also stayed in He Family Village for a while, and anyone who wasn't deaf would have heard about it, so she was not unfamiliar with the horse bandits of Tai'a County.
Zhang Facai gave a bitter smile, "My Lady, you don't know, those who were eliminated were the old batch of horse bandits. It is precisely because those old horse bandits were eliminated that our lives have become even more difficult."
This time, even He Yiming was greatly surprised. He sincerely said, "Brother Zhang, why is that?"
Zhang Facai shook his head, "The former horse bandits had been entrenched here for decades. Although they were greedy, they still knew the necessary restraint. But these new horse bandits are like a pack of long-hungry wolves, and to establish their might, they are ruthless. If anything displeases them, they immediately wipe out everything. Alas... it will take several years to satisfy them, that's impossible."
He Yiming's expression slowly darkened. After the other party mentioned the horse bandits of Tai'a County, he immediately recalled the conversation between Cheng Fu and the Kairong Country princes and princesses that he had heard in Tianluo Country.
In that conversation, He Yiming learned that behind the horse bandit groups in Tai'a County, which bordered Kairong Country, there was actually support from Kairong Country's Second Prince.
If not for that, given Tianluo Country's current national strength, how could it have consistently failed to suppress them?
If this matter had occurred in the past, he would have been helpless, but at this very moment, his status, position, and personal strength had undergone earth-shattering changes compared to when he first went to Kairong Country.
And now that he had met Zhang Facai and the others, perhaps this was fate.
Seeing a trace of coldness suddenly flash in He Yiming's eyes, Zhang Facai and Xu Su both felt a chill in their hearts, becoming even more certain that these three were no ordinary people.
A moment later, He Yiming's three tents were set up, and dinner was also ready.
At the invitation of Zhang Facai and others, He Yiming and his two companions had dinner. Although the dishes were extremely simple and on the salty side, the caravan members ate quickly and abundantly, clearly accustomed to it.
After dinner, He Yiming and his two companions went into their tent.
This was a tent large enough to accommodate ten people, so it was more than enough for the three of them.
Zhang Facai kept saying it was a small tent, but in reality, he had arranged the best available spare tent in the caravan for them.
After entering the tent, Yuan Lixun whispered, "Yiming, are the horse bandits here really so rampant?"
He Yiming nodded slightly, "They have someone backing them. With that, of course they're audacious."
"Someone is actually supporting horse bandits? Doesn't Tianluo Country care?" Yuan Lixun's delicate brows furrowed.
He Yiming sneered twice, "Care? How could they, with what they have?"
Yuan Lixun was slightly stunned. She was originally a very intelligent person, and now that she had broken through to Innate, her thoughts were even sharper, and she instantly grasped the key point.
"Could it be that their backer is Kairong Country?"
"Exactly, it's Kairong Country's Second Prince." He Yiming paused abruptly, thought for a moment, and said, "Perhaps, this was a direct instruction from the Kairong Country Imperial Family."
Yuan Lixun sighed softly. Although she could not agree with such behavior, she knew that in matters between nations, it was truly difficult to say what was right or wrong.
Kairong Country doing this was clearly aimed at delaying Tianluo Country's development.
Although the horse bandit problem might not shake a country's foundation, these elusive horse bandits were enough to give anyone a headache.
Although there were three people in the tent, He Yiming and Yuan Lixun almost ignored One Hundred and Eight's presence.
After all, this guy wasn't a real human. And he sat quietly on the ground, like a true statue, making people unconsciously and naturally overlook him.
This ability made He Yiming envious, but he simply couldn't learn it.
When those people laid out the tent, the sheepskin blanket was also laid flat on the ground, and there was even a layer of warm animal fur bedding on top.
Zhang Facai was very thoughtful; even in this simple place, He Yiming felt very satisfied.
The two lay down side by side, unceremoniously occupying the space for three. As for One Hundred and Eight, perhaps he himself had never thought of sleeping.
Night finally fell.
Dark clouds rose early in the sky, revealing a few sparse stars. The wind howled like a glutton devouring, and the boundless prairie of the day was now completely consumed by the vaster, dim night.
Apart from the occasional whinnying of horses, the entire camp was silent, with only the guards on duty.
For those who frequently traveled this road, such nights were very common, especially for the merchants and rotating guards who had been on the road all day; they basically fell asleep the moment their heads hit the pillow.
When traveling, this skill was very useful.
Finally, just as the long night was about to pass, He Yiming suddenly sat up from the fur. He turned his face, his ears wiggled twice quickly, and his expression became extremely strange.
Yuan Lixun asked in surprise, "What's wrong?"
He Yiming pointed into the distance and said, "Someone's coming. Quite a few, about two hundred riders, fast horses... good horses."
Yuan Lixun was slightly startled. For a horse to earn He Yiming's praise as a "good horse" was no easy feat.
Over two hundred horses, although unlikely to reach the level of the Hong Ling horse, if they were all good horses, they represented a wealth that could not be ignored.
Yuan Lixun half-closed her eyes, her Innate True Qi slowly circulating within her body, making the surrounding air temperature slightly lower.
However, it wasn't her first time doing this, and her True Qi was controlled just right, not drawing any attention from those outside.
As the True Qi began to gather, her entire being underwent a strange transformation, and an inexpressible, solemn pressure subtly emanated from her.
This was the unique aura of an Innate expert. Unconsciously, even Yuan Lixun had gradually become accustomed to it.
A moment later, her eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she said, "I hear it too."
Her voice was excited and joyful. Even without mastering the power of wind, using Innate True Qi could greatly enhance one's hearing and sight. It was just Yuan Lixun's first formal use, so she couldn't help but make a fuss.
He Yiming shook his head slightly, seeing Yuan Lixun's reaction and recalling his own initial experience with Clairaudient Ear qi gong.
After all, they were both young men and women under twenty. When it came to depth of character, they were naturally far inferior to Yu Jinglei and Shui Xuanjin, among others.
Suddenly, a piercing whistle sounded from the camp. It was a special bamboo instrument; once blown, it was clear and pleasant, making it the best choice for waking everyone up.
Immediately, the entire camp became bustling.
Yuan Lixun smiled slightly, dispersing her True Qi. She once again became an ordinary young woman, completely devoid of the imposing aura she had just moments before.
Footsteps sounded urgently, rushing quickly towards them.
"Brother Li, are you here?" Xu Su's steady voice rang out, but for some reason, He Yiming detected a faint, implied hostility in it.
His heart stirred, and he immediately understood that Xu Su suspected that he and his companions were connected to the approaching cavalry. But he couldn't blame him; it was just too coincidental that they arrived at such a timely moment. Even if He Yiming sincerely tried to explain, it would probably be difficult to win Xu Su's trust.
Lifting the tent flap, He Yiming walked out, holding Yuan Lixun's hand. As for One Hundred and Eight, he followed closely behind them, never leaving their side.
The moment the curtain was lifted, a burst of cold air rushed out, making Xu Su shiver. He was greatly surprised, wondering why the weather had suddenly turned so cold.
However, it was winter after all, and the roar of horses' hooves could be faintly heard in the distance, so he only hesitated for a moment before completely dismissing the matter.
After all, given his knowledge and status, he had not yet been able to encounter Innate Realm experts, let alone know that some True Qi had the ability to change the temperature of the surrounding space.
Seeing He Yiming and the others' calm demeanor, Xu Su's expression relaxed slightly. He immediately said, "Brother Li, we just discovered that horse bandits are heading our way. For your safety, it's best to stay in the tent and not wander around. I'll arrange two brothers to protect you."
After speaking, he cupped his hands and turned to leave without a moment's delay.
Such decisive action actually made He Yiming feel a hint of admiration. At such a critical moment, of course, it was best to handle all matters quickly and decisively. If he were to procrastinate and be wishy-washy, it would be seeking death.
More than ten people followed closely behind him, but two remained, staring at them with vigilant eyes. From their posture, it seemed they would draw their swords at the slightest irregularity.
He Yiming was not annoyed by this. Given his current status and position, he didn't truly take such matters to heart.
One of the two cupped his hands and said, "Mr. Li, Eldest Brother Xu ordered you to go into the tent to avoid accidental injury later."
He Yiming smiled and calmly said, "It's fine. We'll just watch from here and see how rampant the horse bandits of Tai'a County truly are."
The two men were stunned. It was their first time seeing someone who, upon hearing the name "horse bandits," not only showed no fear or hesitation but seemed rather interested.
They had indeed suspected that these three uninvited guests were in league with the approaching horse bandits. But now that they had met, for some reason, that idea was fading. It seemed like equating them with horse bandits was an insult.
They exchanged glances, and one of them reluctantly said, "Alright, you can watch from here, but you must not leave, otherwise, it will be difficult for us brothers to account for it."
He Yiming nodded with a smile. The two men then relaxed, but they did not leave. Instead, they stood guard carefully not far away. However, their gazes occasionally darted towards He Yiming and the others, clearly indicating their task of surveillance.
A moment later, the sound of horse hooves grew clearer.
Although there were only a little over two hundred people and two hundred horses, when these individuals galloped towards the camp, the momentum they generated was so immense that it subtly evoked the image of ten thousand horses thundering.
In an instant, most people in the camp turned pale. Such disciplined horse bandits were truly rare.
He Yiming suddenly snorted coldly, "An army."
Yuan Lixun's large eyes swirled, and she immediately understood, "Kairong Country's army?"
He Yiming nodded, sneering, "I originally thought they were recruiting scattered individuals to act as horse bandits, but I never expected them to dispatch an army directly."
Although his voice was low, it contained a deep, chilling killing intent.
"Kairong Country's Second Prince truly has a special fondness for me... for our Tianluo Country."
Yuan Lixun felt the strong anger and resentment in He Yiming's heart. She looked back, just in time to catch the fleeting glint in his eyes.
At this moment, Yuan Lixun suddenly recalled the Fourth Prince of Tufan Kingdom, Bu Xingcong, who had died in a foreign land.
Chapter 242: Everyone's Choice
