Chapter 018 - Mandatory Draft

The roe deer weighed in at 15 kg, and the people from Four Rivers Trading handed Li Yuan 36 large copper coins for it.

Right there on the spot, he spent 13 large coins on 15 kg of millet and five kilograms of beans, packing them into two separate bags. Then he used another five coins to buy 500 grams of salt; another five went toward a small bag of sugar crystals and some candles. That left him with 13 coins remaining.

In these times, salt and sugar were luxuries. Being able to bring so much back home was enough to make Li Yuan feel quite satisfied.

Meanwhile, Zhao Feng, watching him stock up on provisions, couldn’t help but look displeased. Clearly, Li Yuan was planning to stay put rather than accompany him.

After some hesitation, Zhao Feng spotted Li Yuan’s figure receding into the snowy distance and dashed out to catch him. “Wait, wait!” he called, trudging through the drifts.

Li Yuan stopped politely. “What is it?”

Zhao Feng said, “Li Yuan, let me be straight with you. If you join Four Rivers Trading, you’ll be following me under the Third Miss’s leadership. She’s been suppressed by others in the guild, but she’s got real talent. She’s bound to climb up the ranks sooner or later. If you follow her now, once she truly takes over, you’ll be one of the main contributors. You’ll reap plenty of benefits.”

Those words only confirmed Li Yuan’s misgivings. Sure enough, any sizable faction had internal cliques, each vying for power. With the chaos outside, they were still locked in their own infighting. And Zhao Feng, who wasn’t even officially ranked, likely had little clout in the guild anyway. If he did, he wouldn’t be stuck selling grain in a tiny village like this.

“Thank you. Once I’m home, I’ll think it over carefully. If I decide to join Four Rivers within three days, I’ll come find you here. Right?”

“That’s right!” Zhao Feng said. “I’ll be waiting for the good news.”

Li Yuan nodded and headed off again with his bags of supplies.

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Snow fell thick and fast, whiting out the landscape. In the endless expanse of white, there weren’t many footprints or signs of life. Step by heavy step, Li Yuan made his way back to the small house, finally reaching the eaves.

He dropped his sack and brushed off the clumps of snow.

Yan Yu, who had been listening for his return, opened the door and burst into laughter when she saw him covered in white. “You look like a little old man!”

She turned to fetch hot water so he could wash up, but only took two steps before he reached out and seized her hand.

With a tug, Yan Yu let out a startled cry, spinning out from the doorway in a swirl of her blue blouse.

Li Yuan pulled her into his arms and twirled her around in the snow. They made several turns before stopping. Yan Yu, far from protesting, simply tightened her arms around his waist.

He held her close, and there they stood, pressed together under the falling snow. Knee-deep drifts blanketed the courtyard, and goose-feather flakes still cascaded from the sky. Before long, both their hair and lashes were frosted pure white.

Yan Yu giggled. “What’s this all about?”

Li Yuan brushed a bit of snow from her hair. “Your hair’s turned white too.”

She arched an eyebrow playfully. “Well, maybe it’s a good omen. Maybe Heaven is telling us we’ll grow old together.”

Growing old together. What a fairytale dream in times like these...

Li Yuan suddenly remembered his own

Eternal Youth

and went quiet for a moment. Then he hugged his wife tighter. “I bought you some sugar.”

“Sugar?!” Yan Yu’s face lit up with delight.

Scooping her into his arms, Li Yuan carried her back inside.

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That night, they lay side by side, exchanging quiet words before sleep.

“When I went to Four Rivers Trading, I heard they’ll be pulling out in three days.”

“What’s going on?”

“They said the Red Lotus Rebels have risen up.”

“Red Lotus Rebels? Don't you mean the Red Lotus Cult? I’ve heard a little about them...can’t remember who told me.”

“Red Lotus Cult?” Li Yuan dug around in his memories but came up blank. The former Li Yuan also hadn’t had much contact with outside news.

Yan Yu explained, “There’s been famine and disasters down south, and that’s when the Red Lotus Cult stepped in. Rumor says their cult leader can turn rune water into food. If you drink just one bowl, you won’t feel hungry for the whole day. Desperate refugees flocked to him and even set up altars with his image at home, worshipping him like a living god.”

“A single bowl that keeps you full all day?” Li Yuan let out a cold laugh. But then a more pressing concern struck him.

If the Red Lotus Rebels really do sweep through, the local authorities might start conscripting soldiers. That could be an issue... I'll be forced to go fight.

He fell silent, torn.

Should we leave with Zhao Feng? No, life on the road as a merchant guard in these chaotic times is hardly safer either. We’d be wandering around with the perfect target on our backs. Merchant caravans drew outlaws and rebels alike, all hungry for plunder.

Eventually, Li Yuan spoke up, voice serious. “Yan Yu, I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?” she asked, surprised by his tone.

He leaned in and whispered by her ear, “If we hear word that the Red Lotus Rebels are coming for the county seat, I’ll hide out in the mountains for a while, then sneak back at night.”

“Huh?” It took her a moment to process, and then she lowered her voice. “Won’t that be dangerous? And are you sure you’ll be safe in the mountains?”

Li Yuan shook his head. “They won’t find me.”

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Time slipped by.

Three days later, Zhao Feng never saw Li Yuan and never showed up at his door. He simply left the village with his people.

Li Yuan carried on hunting as usual. Meanwhile, Uncle Wang had indeed found an opportunity through the local restaurant. That newly opened channel meant Li Yuan now had a direct buyer for his game, and the restaurant was happy to purchase fresh meat straight from the source.

Uncle Wang was an honest type, and Li Yuan’s catches were in excellent condition, so the restaurant was more than willing to strike a deal.

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Nine days went by in a flash.

During this time, Li Yuan kept a deliberately low profile in Little ink Village. One day, he even scraped his skin with a stone, claiming he’d been attacked by a wild bear. He put on a show of terror, which caused his reputation to plummet.

Over the following days, he returned home later and later, catching smaller and smaller prey each time. On the ninth day, he came back empty-handed, muttering that he hadn’t caught a single thing.

When Bear heard the news, he threw his head back and let out a hearty laugh.

Feng’er, who had ended up sharing his bed, snuggled closer and crooned, “Bear, you really are incredible. Li Yuan can’t hold a candle to you.”

Bear smirked. “He’s not so bad.”

Feng’er pressed him coyly, “So...when are you going to marry me?”

“Soon, soon,” Bear murmured.

Elsewhere, Qian Er also gave a snide laugh when he heard Li Yuan had come back empty-handed.

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Five more days passed.

Suddenly, all of Gemhill County seemed to erupt. Government bailiffs were racing through every street and alley, forcing men to join the military in order to fight off the incoming threat.

“The Red Lotus rebels are at our gates. Time to defend our homes!”

“Don’t argue! This isn’t a matter of volunteering. Everyone has to go!”

“Two men in your household? Draw lots. One of them’s coming with us.”

“Only one man in the family? Then he goes, no exceptions!”

“Move it! What’s all the fuss? Don’t tell me you’re in league with the rebels! Let’s go!”

All at once, people were distraught...families torn apart, husbands separated from wives, children losing fathers, heartbreak filled every corner.

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In Little Ink Village, Bear was dozing with Feng’er in his arms when someone started pounding on the door.

“Who is it?” he growled.

𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Feng’er snapped, “Don’t you know Bear’s resting? Can’t you read the room?”

Before the words were out of her mouth—

BAM!

The door was kicked in. A bailiff took one look inside and asked, “Lu Ergou, right?”

Bear froze. Seeing the fierce-looking bailiff, he lowered his head, avoiding Feng’er’s gaze. Quietly, he admitted, “Yes...”

“Conscription,” the bailiff snapped. “Put some clothes on and come with us.”

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

Meanwhile, at the Qian residence, the gates were shoved open. Qian Er was in the midst of eating and drinking with a group of local thugs when the bailiff rushed in.

Qian Er gaped. “What are you—”

The bailiff cut him off. “So this is where everyone’s been hiding. Great. You’re all drafted!”

Qian Er hastily fished out two pieces of silver and tried to slip them into the man’s hand. “I’m a good friend of Lieutenant Liu. Maybe we can work something out...”

But the bailiff slapped the silver aside. “Lieutenant Liu isn’t in charge here anymore. On your feet, move!”

Behind him stood an escort in plain clothes, leaning against the doorframe with a blade in his arms, watching impassively.

When a few of the thugs tried to argue, the plainclothes escort sprang into action like an eagle after prey, slamming them to the floor in a matter of seconds. None of them dared fight back again.