Chapter 41: The Fatted Lamb
Chapter 41: The Fatted Lamb
September 25, 2017
The person who reacted most dramatically to the bandit chief's actions was not Lu HaiKong, but rather the village elder.
In his eyes, neither Lu HaiKong nor the bandits were people he wanted to provoke. Just one of these groups was enough to give him a headache. If these two started a fight in their territory, it would only end up with the honest villagers suffering, regardless of who won or lost.
So when the bandit chief approached, the village elder almost cried. He quickly followed with large strides, fearing a fight between the two.
But more importantly, he was afraid that Lu HaiKong, being young and reckless, might not know when to back down and could be killed by the bandits. The village elder wasn't so much concerned about Lu HaiKong's life as he was about Lu HaiKong's companions seeking revenge after his death. Based on the elder's experience, strong individuals like Lu HaiKong usually had their own factions.
"Hey, I didn't know your village offered such services," the bandit chief said mockingly, looking at Lu HaiKong and the bountiful feast before him. He spoke to the village elder beside him in a sarcastic tone.
"This young man is my distant relative. He rarely visits, so I'm hosting him," the village elder said, using his eyes to calm Lu HaiKong, whose face had darkened, while also dealing with the bandit chief.
"Hosting? You're hosting him outside?" The bandit chief sneered.
"This isn't outside..."
The bandit chief interrupted the village elder impatiently, "Enough, old man. Go and prepare the money I asked for. This doesn't concern you. Get lost!"
The village elder wanted to say something to mediate, after all, it was clear that the bandit chief had ill intentions towards Lu HaiKong. He genuinely feared a conflict might break out, but before he could speak, the bandit chief turned and glared at him fiercely.
Lu HaiKong, who had been calmly eating throughout, now wore an expression of helplessness and pleading.
The village elder's intention was clear to Lu HaiKong: he wanted him to restrain himself, to avoid any bloody incidents in their territory.
Initially, Lu HaiKong had no intention of paying attention to the old man, but with the bandit chief so arrogantly interrupting his meal, he felt the need to teach him a lesson. Moreover, this was a perfect opportunity to take down an elite monster, and Lu HaiKong, the brigand, couldn't help but eye the bandits' horses greedily.
However, upon seeing the old man's sorrowful expression, his aged face, and his head full of white hair, as well as the village elder's initial attitude of constant yielding and pleading, Lu HaiKong couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy.
'Forget it, it's just a few horses. I'll get them next time I have the chance.'
With this thought, Lu HaiKong put down his bowl and chopsticks on the table. Just as he was about to get up, having eaten his fill, the bandit had already taken a seat opposite him. Without hesitation, he reached out and grabbed food from the table, stuffing it into his mouth.
"The food's not bad, kid. You know how to enjoy yourself. There's so much food, you can't finish it all. Why not share some with your brother here?" The bandit chief taunted, daring to blatantly steal food right in front of a foodie.
Lu HaiKong's eyes flashed with determination, his hand already on the hilt of his sword. But remembering the village elder's worried expression, he gently lowered his hand.
"You coward!" Lu HaiKong's actions were far from subtle, and the bandit chief across from him immediately noticed, becoming even more disdainful.
Initially, the bandit chief thought Lu HaiKong was some kind of bandit or thief, but seeing his timid demeanor, he didn't seem to have a shred of the warrior's spirit. The bandit chief no longer held back his contempt for Lu HaiKong.
"I see you're well-fed, too. Now scram and let us brothers finish the rest!"
After speaking, the bandit chief called over the remaining eleven bandits nearby. He didn't even glance at Lu HaiKong, who was right in front of him. In his eyes, letting a coward like Lu HaiKong live was already a great favor.
Lu HaiKong, on the other hand, didn't seem the least bit angry. Instead, a faint smile appeared on his face, and as the bandit chief turned his head, Lu HaiKong quickly lifted his hand from the table and then pretended to be frustrated as he stood up. He left in anger.
Lu HaiKong walked in the direction of the eleven bandits, and seeing his humiliated expression, the bandits burst into derisive laughter. One of them, with ill intent, walked up to Lu HaiKong and bumped him with his muscular shoulder.
Caught off guard, Lu HaiKong stumbled back several meters, nearly falling. He looked utterly embarrassed, which only invited more ridicule and laughter from the bandits. However, the bandit who had bumped into Lu HaiKong noticed something else. As Lu HaiKong almost fell, the small bag of gold at his waist jingled, emitting a pleasant sound that caught the bandit's attention.
The bandit's eyes immediately gleamed with greed, but he didn't show it. By then, Lu HaiKong had already walked away, and the bandit followed his companions to where Lu HaiKong had just eaten. As they ate the remaining food without restraint, the bandit chief spoke to them about Lu HaiKong.
"Hey, I didn't expect that coward to be a little fat lamb. Looks like we're in luck today. Let's not rush; we'll eat first, then collect the money from this village and go after that coward. I bet he can't outrun us on his two legs when we're on four."
This is the unedited version from the book!
The village elder quickly gathered the ten gold coins and delivered them to the bandits. The bandit chief took the money, and all twelve well-fed bandits mounted their horses, ready to leave the village.
Usually, these bandits would have been much more demanding. Even if they were paid, they would linger and demand more before leaving. But today, they had Lu HaiKong, the fat lamb, so they left without further ado.
"Boss, should we chase after him?" asked one of the bandits as they exited the village and reached a three-way intersection.
"We'll chase him this way. That kid went in this direction. Looks like we really got to him. He's so angry he's taking it out on the roadside plants, which saves us the trouble of tracking him down."
The bandit chief looked at the roadside, where the grass had been slashed by a sword, and his face twisted in derision.
To the bandit chief, Lu HaiKong was now just a greenhorn—weak, timid, and inexperienced. And with a bit of money in his pocket, he was the perfect fat lamb.
(End of Chapter)
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