Chapter 135: Fury
Chapter 135: Fury
September 25, 2017
With gratitude to 'justforlhq' for their generous donation!
...
After opening the treasure chest, Li Hai Kong went to sleep, as he had been busy all night and was exhausted. He slept until the afternoon before finally waking up.
Upon waking up, Li Hai Kong, feeling refreshed and energized, searched for something to eat while also inquiring about the progress of Hu Yin Wen's situation from Li Xiong.
What else could be done? The incident had caused a huge uproar, resulting in the deaths of many nobles from the tribe. It was not an issue that could be resolved easily. Hu Yin Wen's efforts over the past day had merely prevented the tribe from descending into complete chaos. It was likely that he would be occupied for a considerable amount of time before he could find the opportunity to meet with Li Hai Kong and address the issues regarding Li Xiong's caravan.
Regarding this matter, Li Hai Kong seemed less urgent after a good night's rest. Coincidentally, Li Xiong had sent over a roasted lamb, and although Li Hai Kong's appetite for food had diminished recently, the sight of the fragrant and golden roast lamb still stirred his appetite. Dian Wei, standing nearby, shared the same reaction.
When the two of them saw the roasted lamb, their eyes lit up with anticipation. Despite Li Xiong's incredulous gaze, the two food enthusiasts devoured the several dozen jin of roasted lamb in no time.
After finishing their meal, Li Hai Kong and Li Xiong began strolling through the Hu Yin Tribe. Li Hai Kong had yet to truly immerse himself in the exotic atmosphere of this foreign land. Previously, he had rushed here in a panic, focused solely on killing. Now, it was time to explore and enjoy the surroundings.
However, Li Hai Kong's interest in sightseeing quickly waned.
To be honest, the scenery was quite impressive. Although it was evident that this was merely a temporary settlement, the vast plains and sapphire-like sky of the foreign land were breathtaking. The only regret was that the weather was turning colder, causing the grass on the plains to wither, and snow was soon to arrive. Nonetheless, the landscape remained beautiful.
Unfortunately, the members of the Hu Yin Tribe were not friendly towards Li Hai Kong and his companions. Some even openly cursed at them in the Xianbei language, which naturally upset Li Hai Kong.
What further dampened Li Hai Kong's mood was the sight of a group of people being led like livestock, who were clearly of Han descent.
"What's going on here?" Li Hai Kong's eyebrows furrowed as he witnessed the Xianbei tribesmen intentionally humiliating the Han people.
As a time-traveler, Li Hai Kong was once a Han himself, and he could not tolerate seeing his fellow Han people being mistreated.
"These people were likely abducted by the Hu Yin Tribe from the border regions," Li Xiong explained. "Some of them are even mixed-blood, born to Han and Xianbei parents. In the eyes of the Xianbei, they are considered no better than slaves."
Li Xiong seemed accustomed to such situations, but he knew his boss's temperament well. With a quick glance, he cautiously suggested, "If the master cannot bear to see them treated as mere goods, perhaps I could purchase their freedom on your behalf?"
Li Xiong's proposal was clearly an attempt to flatter Li Hai Kong, but upon hearing this, Li Hai Kong's anger surged. The Han people, his own kin, were being treated as commodities by these Xianbei tribesmen. It was utterly unacceptable!
With great effort, Li Hai Kong managed to suppress his murderous intent. The current situation in the Hu Yin Tribe was unstable, and he was eager to return to the mountain fort. He did not wish to provoke further disputes at this time, so he reluctantly closed his eyes and nodded, allowing Li Xiong to handle the matter.
Li Xiong approached a group of Han slaves, numbering around five hundred, who were being led out. Normally, their price wouldn't be considered high, as transactions between Xianbei tribes often involved selling them for less than two hundred gold.
Some of the enslaved Han, clearly recently captured, looked at Li Xiong with hope, wishing he would rescue them. Others, who had been enslaved for a long time, had a resigned and numb expression in their eyes. This mix of emotions created a powerful image, causing Li HaiKong's fist to clench.
Li Xiong approached the Xianbei noble, clearly a slave owner, and negotiated in the Xianbei language, offering five hundred gold to purchase the slaves.
This was an incredibly high price, and typically, a Xianbei tribe member would readily sell the slaves for such an amount. However, today's situation seemed different. The Xianbei noble not only had no intention of selling the slaves but also mocked and humiliated Li Xiong.
Li HaiKong, unable to hear their conversation due to the distance, could tell by Li Xiong's darkening face that the Xianbei noble was saying something unpleasant.
Li HaiKong's eyebrows furrowed, ready to take action, when the Xianbei noble did something even more outrageous. He shoved Li Xiong aside, grabbed an elderly Han man from the group of slaves, and whipped him with a horsewhip, all while smirking at Li HaiKong.
The Xianbei noble was whipping the man mercilessly, treating him like an animal, without regard for the old man's well-being. As he whipped, he smiled triumphantly at Li HaiKong.
Li HaiKong's face darkened at the sight, and behind him, Dian Wei's face twitched, as if he might transform into a vengeful spirit at any moment.
"Dian Wei, forget it. I'll handle this myself!" Li HaiKong said, his voice filled with determination.
Li HaiKong approached the Xianbei noble, who showed no signs of tension, instead wearing a smug expression of triumph. He clearly saw Li HaiKong as no threat, just a weak Han.
Previously, with the presence of the old chief, the Black Wind Fort's business dealings with the Hu Yin tribe had been relatively smooth. While there were challenges from Xianbei nobles, the old chief's authority kept them in check. But now, with the old chief dead and the four most qualified successors also deceased, only the least qualified, Hu YinWen, remained.
The entire tribe was in disarray, and it was uncertain if Hu YinWen could secure his position. Taking advantage of the chaos, some tribe members sought to disrupt the Black Wind Fort's business, leading to the current situation Li HaiKong faced.
However, this Xianbei noble, eager to take advantage of the chaos, had bitten off more than he could chew. His teeth would surely be shattered by the stone he'd bitten...
(End Times)
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