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Chapter 40: Raiders
Chapter 40: Raiders
September 25, 2017
To be fair, this meal couldn't be considered exceptionally delicious, and it was unlikely to surpass the taste of Wang Fat's cooking. However, Lu HaiKong was already content to have such a meal while adventuring outside, even if it wasn't particularly challenging (or so it seemed).
As Lu HaiKong enjoyed his meal, his happiness was about to be interrupted.
It wasn't the group of villagers who disturbed Lu HaiKong; these honest folks wouldn't dare provoke him. They'd rather flee than risk angering him, as it would be unwise.
Just as Lu HaiKong was happily eating, a burst of rapid hoofbeats rang out. Hearing this, Lu HaiKong, who had recently been thinking about getting a horse, became curious. He looked up while continuing to eat.
In the blink of an eye, twelve robust men on horseback appeared at the village entrance.
These twelve riders gave Lu HaiKong a peculiar feeling. He seemed to instantly recognize that these men, with their knives at their waists and fierce expressions, were likely of a similar profession to his—probably raiders.
This was evident from the villagers' faces, which showed anger and fear when they saw these twelve men.
At this point, it's worth mentioning Lu HaiKong's current location. Although he was also at the village entrance, the villagers, fearing his meal would get cold, had arranged for him to sit in a slightly secluded spot at the entrance, shielded by fences on both sides.
So, as Lu HaiKong ate, he could see the twelve raiders at the opposite entrance, but they didn't immediately notice him because their attention was drawn to the villagers nearby.
"Looks like they're up to no good," Lu HaiKong muttered, popping a piece of chicken into his mouth and watching the impending drama at the village entrance with ease.
"Hey, you knew we were coming, didn't you? You've all been waiting at the village entrance," the scarred leader among the twelve raiders taunted with a mocking tone.
"Raider Leader, I recall we paid our monthly tribute at the beginning of the month. What brings you here again?" To Lu HaiKong's surprise, the old village chief's attitude toward these twelve raiders was even firmer than when he had faced Lu HaiKong.
"Can't we just drop by without a reason?" the raider leader sneered as he urged his horse forward. But before he could step into the village, he saw all the young and strong villagers holding poles and hoes, ready to fight if the raiders dared take another step.
"Oh, so you're feeling bold today, huh? You dare to stop me from entering?"
"Whatever business you have, you can discuss it outside. There's no need to force your way in."
"What if I insist on coming in?" The raider leader's face darkened, and his voice turned cold.
"Hmph! No outsider has ever been allowed into our village. Even when the Xianbei came, we never let them strut in. We pay you monthly tribute not because we fear you but to avoid trouble. If you insist on entering our village today, be prepared to kill or be killed!"
The old village chief now seemed like a different person, exuding firmness and dominance. The villagers behind him were equally indignant, their faces filled with emotion.
The common folk of Bingzhou were unlike those in other regions. Located on the fringes of the empire, the area suffered from poor security, plagued by rampant banditry and horse raiders. During winter, small-scale raids by the Xianbei or other ethnic minorities were common, which led to the locals developing a particularly fierce and brave spirit. They were a martial people, willing to stand up against anyone who dared threaten their homes.
The leader of the horse raiders understood this well. He knew that attempting to enter their village would be crossing a line, and a battle would be inevitable.
Despite his disdain for the villagers' fighting prowess, the leader was aware that these folks, when riled up, could be a real headache. Moreover, his primary purpose for coming here wasn't to enter the village; his true goal was to extort money.
"If you won't let me in, hand over ten gold coins, and I'll leave with my brothers immediately!"
"Ten gold coins? We already paid the monthly tribute last month..."
"Cut the chatter. Either give me the money, or I'll see for myself what a bunch of peasants with poles and hoes can do!"
The horse raider leader cut off the village elder mid-sentence, his face contorted with a ferocious roar, as if he would transform into a beast ready to devour anyone in his path.
Although the village elder stood firm against the horse raiders, they were, after all, simple and honest villagers, not ruthless outlaws. They preferred a peaceful resolution to fighting.
Lu Haikong, sitting nearby, saw the struggle on the elder's face and knew he would compromise. Lu lost interest in the supposed grand feast and turned back to his meal.
Lu Haikong wasn't being cold-hearted; he simply understood that these honest villagers wouldn't appreciate his help.
Lu was well aware that even if he stepped in to aid the villagers, they wouldn't be grateful. Instead, they might even resent him.
This is the unedited version of the book, with no errors!
These villagers had their own rules for survival, which included bowing to the strong. It was humiliating and frustrating, but that was the reality of life, especially for the lower classes.
Sometimes, you have to make compromises just to survive. In the face of survival, do questions of happiness even matter?
While Lu Haikong might be able to drive off these horse raiders this time, what about the next? Without Lu's protection, the villagers would face these raiders again, and any chance of compromise would be gone.
So, Lu Haikong acted as if he hadn't seen anything, sitting in his spot and quietly eating his meal.
But sometimes, even if you don't provoke others, trouble has a way of finding you.
A gentle breeze blew by, carrying the aroma of Lu Haikong's chicken soup towards the horse raiders at the village entrance.
The leader of the horse raiders sniffed the air, his eyes lighting up. "What's that delicious smell?"
Following the scent of the soup, the leader turned towards Lu Haikong, immediately spotting him and the relatively lavish feast on his table. It was like discovering a new world, and the leader charged towards Lu Haikong.
(End of Chapter)
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