Chapter 69

69 Clear Wind Ridge

After Ji Xiang and Zhao Cai brought Chen Yaohui to check on the bandits, they did not find any survivors. After the two of them removed the arrows from the bandits, Ji Xiang went to ask Zhou Jia, “Young Master, what about those corpses?”

When Zhou Jia heard this, he instructed coldly with disgust, “Drag them to a pit and throw them in.”

“Yes.” Ji Xiang led Chen Yaohui and the others to a pit at the end of the forest and threw the bandits down.

The two of them went back and reported to Zhou Jia, “Young Master, Miss Li’s archery is too accurate. She shot the bandits in the throat and killed them with an arrow.”

Zhou Jia took the short arrow. “I understand. Uncle Zhou and I will be on duty. You guys go and rest!”

“Yes, Young Master.” Ji Xiang and Zhao Cai bowed and returned to the tent to rest.

Zhou Jia looked at the short arrow in his hand and thought to himself, Where did Xiaoyu’s skills come from? Did she really have a fortuitous encounter?

After Chen Yaohui returned, he called the village chief to the side and whispered, “Father, Xiaoyu’s kung fu is so good that we can’t even see it clearly, but those robbers were all shot in the throat. I remember that Brother Li Shan’s kung fu isn’t that good!”

“Silly fellow, everyone is like you! You’re like a single-minded person.” The village chief smiled and patted Chen Yaohui’s shoulder, feeling much more relieved. “Those people with some skills won’t reveal everything to you unless their lives are at stake!”

When Chen Yaohui heard this, he felt that what his father said made sense. He nodded and said, “You’re so knowledgeable. I’ll go back and sleep for a while. I’ll leave this place to you and my brother.”

The village chief patted him. “Go! You can sleep for more than two hours.”

The village chief nodded as he thought about Chen Yaohui’s words. Xiaoyu and Mr. Zhou were both capable. There was nothing wrong with following them.

The village chief walked around the camp and saw Zhou Jia guarding Li Yu’s tent. He nodded to himself. Yes! Xiaoyu’s eyes were sharper than her father’s this time.

The sky gradually brightened. A thin mist moved through the bare tree trunks. The forest slowly became lively. The children slept the night away and were energetic again. They laughed and played in the forest, picking up firewood.

Auntie He and Li Mei had already prepared the food. The two of them sat there and looked at the children. They smiled and said something.

Zhou Jia stood under the tree and listened to Li Qing recite his homework. Everything seemed so calm and peaceful as if the killing last night was an illusion.

When Li Yu woke up, she realized that Laidi had already woken up. She hurriedly combed her hair and tied it up simply. She folded the mattress and started to dismantle the tent.

Zhou Jia walked up to Li Yu and looked at her worriedly. “Xiaoyu, I think it’s very likely that the bandits from last night came from Clear Wind Ridge, which is still more than half a day away.”

Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia. “Clear Wind Ridge? Are there bandits there?”

Zhou Jia nodded and said, “I heard that there’s a Black Bear Stronghold there. About two years ago, a person called Black Bear came from somewhere and gathered some people in Clear Wind Ridge to intercept passing merchants. I didn’t expect them to have designs on the refugees. Sigh! It’s my fault for not thinking things through.”

Li Yu was silent for a moment when she heard that. She looked up at Zhou Jia. “Don’t take everything on yourself. Nothing goes smoothly when you’re outside. Zhou Jia, can we take a detour to Qi County from another place?”

Zhou Jia shook his head. “There’s only one way to Qi County.”

Li Yu pondered for a moment before saying, “It’s easy to handle with only our families, but we brought so many villagers. Let’s discuss with the village chief and see what they think?”

Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu and said gently, “You must be hungry! Let’s go eat first before seeing what they think.”

Li Yu nodded. “Alright, there’s no hurry. I’m already hungry. Let’s go eat first.”

Li Mei looked at Li Yu and smiled at Auntie He. “Xiaoyu, you’re up too. Let’s eat!”

Li Qing went forward and held Li Yu’s hand. “Sister, I didn’t even notice that the leaves here had been eaten by the locusts last night. Look, the forest is bare.”

Li Yu looked at the bare tree trunk and frowned. “That’s right! Who would have thought that such a small thing would be so destructive?”

Li Mei shouted, “Xiaoyu, Ah Qing, come and eat so that we can hurry.”

The few of them went over and saw that Li Mei and Auntie He’s pickled vegetables were delicious.

Li Yu and Zhou Jia went to the village chief after dinner. Zhou Jia told him the situation and the village chief stayed for a while. He discussed with Zhou Jia, “Mr. Zhou, I can’t make the decision for everyone. Why don’t we call everyone together to see what they think?”

“It’s only right. We have to pass through Clear Water Ridge to go to Qi County. The bandits of the Black Bear Stronghold will definitely come to rob us again. As long as we fight, there will inevitably be casualties. Everyone, think carefully before making a decision.”

The village chief said worriedly to the two of them, “Mr. Zhou, wait a moment with Xiaoyu. I’ll call them over.”

Chen Yaohui and Madam Li walked over. “Xiaoyu, Mr. Zhou, why aren’t you leaving yet?”

Xiaoyu then told them about the bandits in Clear Water Ridge. Madam Li looked at Li Yu in fear. “Xiaoyu, what should we do? Why don’t we go back?!”

Chen Baozhen was standing at the back. When she heard about bandits, she shouted, “I told you that she was unreliable, but you insisted on believing her. Now, you even have to die here.”

Li Yu looked at Chen Baozhen coldly. “Miss Chen, it’s not too late for you to turn back now.”

Chen Baozhen pointed at Li Yu and flew into a rage out of humiliation. “What kind of attitude is that...”

“Baozhen, it’s not your turn to speak here.” Chen Yaohui pulled Chen Baozhen away and glared at Madam Li. “Are there no bandits when we go back? Have you forgotten about the Xu family being robbed? After these dogs finish robbing the big families, they’ll come and rob us.”

The village chief brought Butcher He, the patriarch’s son, Chen Zhong, and more than 20 other family heads over.

Everyone sat there. The village chief said to them, “I’ve already told you what Mr. Zhou said. Now, everyone is here to discuss and come up with an idea.”

A villager called He Cheng looked at Zhou Jia unhappily. “Mr. Zhou, since there are bandits over there, why didn’t you say so earlier? If you had said so, I wouldn’t have come.”

Zhou Jia glanced at him. “Fellow villager, I don’t remember looking for you to escape with me! Besides, we’re not far away. You can turn back.”

He Cheng glared at Zhou Jia when he heard that. “What kind of attitude is that? You want to abandon us after you brought us out!”

When Zhou Jia heard this, he thought to himself that he should make things clear as soon as possible. Otherwise, it won’t be safe to bring these people along and cause trouble on the road.