Chapter 63: The Prey And Hunter (II)

"Zhao Gang, that young man really might be Lord Han’s junior brother, and your dumb ass pointed him toward the battlefield where the bandits are clashing with the caravan. If something happens to him, Lord Han will never forgive you," whispered a soldier.

Zhao Gang held the pack Lin Zheyu had thrown to him, panic rising in his heart as he muttered, "N-no... surely not? That fellow’s speed was incredible, and if he’s Lord Han’s junior brother, his strength shouldn’t be weak. He wouldn't really come to harm, would he?"

The fact that he trusted them enough to hand over his pack showed that he was most likely truly Lord Han’s junior brother.

"Who can say? The boy is young, and though his skill seems decent, how much can one man really do on a battlefield? You know what those bandits are like; they use smoke screens, poison powders, and venom-coated hidden weapons without end. If a hotheaded youth charges in, he’ll be dead in just a few exchanges," said the soldier.

The more Zhao Gang listened, the more anxious he became. Fear gripped him, and he stammered, "Th-then should we bring some brothers to support him?"

"You dumb fuck, are you looking to die? If Lord Han’s junior brother really does get hurt, at worst, you’ll be beaten and suffer for a few days. But if you disobey military orders and take men out without permission, you’ll lose your dog life," said the soldier with a roll of his eyes.

"

Ah!

Th-then, then..." Zhao Gang’s youthful face flushed red, and he almost started crying.

***

The distance was only around 4 kilometers. At full speed, Lin Zheyu could cover it in less than 5 minutes. As he neared the area, he caught the thick stench of blood mixed with faint traces of something else, likely smoke and poison gas.

Another 100 meters ahead, he finally saw the caravan. It was a caravan of nearly 300 people. The escorts were all sturdy and well-built, with some still bearing wounds. Several dead horses and more than a dozen corpses littered the ground. Many lay unconscious, while severed limbs and broken weapons were scattered everywhere. Of the surviving guards, a dozen busied themselves with cleaning the aftermath, while the rest stood with weapons drawn, watching the surroundings warily.

"Brother Bin, the goods suffered little damage, and only 230 taels of silver were taken," a steward reported after checking the supplies.

"Good. Pass the word to stay on guard. Bandits are thick around here, and there may well be another wave," ordered Zhao Bin.

"Yes!" The steward left to carry out the instructions, organizing the aftermath with practiced order.

Along the journey, they had endured many bandit attacks yet managed to survive each one. At times like these, only caravans with considerable strength dared to trade. Those without skill had long since become piles of bones. If they could safely reach Songyi City, the profits from this trip would equal several normal ones.

"It’s over already?"

From a distance, Lin Zheyu saw the caravan settling matters. There were no bandits left in sight. After some thought, he walked forward.

He intended to ask directly where the bandits had gone and gauge their strength. If they were not too formidable, he would try intercepting them on the road. With his growing strength and the lack of restrictions outside the city, he had grown bolder in his actions.

Clang.

As Lin Zheyu approached, one of the guards drew his saber with a sharp clang, pointing the blade at him with eyes full of suspicion.

"Stop! Who goes there?" shouted the guard.

At the front of the caravan, Zhao Bin, mounted on horseback, turned to scrutinize Lin Zheyu from head to toe. He was a man in his forties with a deep aura and considerable strength. Lin Zheyu sensed faint traces of blood qi emanating from him. He was a Blood Qi Realm cultivator, but was not especially strong. He was still slightly weaker than Lin Zheyu.

"Forgive the intrusion. I mean no harm. I came here to pursue the bandits. Did you just suffer an attack?" Lin Zheyu cupped his hands politely toward the guard.

"Your origins are unclear. Leave at once, or do not blame this blade for being merciless," said the guard coldly.

"I only wish to know which way the bandits fled. I mean no harm," replied Lin Zheyu.

The guard pointed toward the forest as he said, "They escaped in that direction, but they were formidable. Though a dozen of them were killed, over 60 remain. I advise you not to overestimate yourself, lest you lose your life."

"Thank you."

Lin Zheyu cupped his hands again to the guard and to Zhao Bin, who was watching from afar, then turned and sped off in the indicated direction.

Beside Zhao Bin, a man in his thirties smirked and commented, "He really went after them... he's far too reckless."

He had seen many like Lin Zheyu, charging after bandits with shouts of killing intent. Some were after the spoils, turning bandits into prey even as the bandits preyed on others. Some sought vengeance, killing bandits purely to ease the hatred in their hearts. He had seen all kinds of people with all kinds of motives, but never someone this young.

"His lightness technique is not bad," remarked Zhao Bin.

"Brother, can you tell what realm he’s at?" asked the man.

"I cannot tell. I sensed no blood qi fluctuation from him. Judging by his youthful appearance and his speed, he might be around the Organ Forging Realm. Overall, he should be slightly weaker, probably around the Bone Forging Realm. Zhao Qiang, don’t underestimate others. Strength isn’t everything. Since he dared to chase them, he must have something to rely on," said Zhao Bin calmly, not paying it much mind. For him, the most important thing was the safety of the cargo, which was of great value.

"Understood," replied Zhao Qiang with a nod, also not too concerned.

Lin Zheyu’s appearance was nothing more than an interesting little episode in the long journey of transporting goods.

***

Lin Zheyu sped in the direction the guard had pointed, spotting many traces along the way. Clearly, the guard had not lied.

They’re just ahead.

Following the signs left in the forest, he gave chase at great speed. Within the woods, over 60 burly men moved swiftly, armed with cold weapons, their eyes constantly scanning their surroundings with caution. Not only did ordinary folk need to be wary of bandits, but bandits had to beware of other bandits, too. Bandits preying on bandits was a common sight in this chaotic wilderness, where the cruel and bloody law of the jungle reigned supreme.

"Damn it, another Blood Qi Realm fighter? Since when did Blood Qi Realm experts become so cheap?" cursed a brawny man.

"No helping it. Those caravans aren’t stupid. Any who dares come here at times like this must be strong," replied another.

"With prices rising, the profit from one shipment is enough to hire several Blood Qi Realm experts," remarked their leader.

It was not just ordinary people who had it hard; even bandits struggled to survive. Despite their infamous reputation and ferocious image, their lives were no more comfortable than common folk. If survival were easy, who would willingly become a bandit, living each day with their head hanging from their belt?

"More of our brothers are dead, and what we took this time isn’t even enough to split fairly. Brother, why not agree to that man’s offer? If we join the City Guard, at least our brothers will have enough to eat," one man suggested.

"Don’t speak such nonsense. The Xing Family is vicious. Joining the City Guard means swearing allegiance to Great Wei. If you betray them after making that oath, you’ll die. When the rebel army eventually attacks, the latecomers like us will be thrown to the very front as cannon fodder. If you don’t want to die, stay far away from the Xing Family. Cooperation is fine, but never think of joining them," said the leader, lecturing his subordinate.

"But if things go on like this, we might not even live to see the day the rebel army arrives," retorted the man.

The leader fell silent as hesitation stirred in his heart as well.