Chapter 70

70 Sharpening the Spear

Zhou Jia walked to the middle of everyone and looked at the 30-odd family heads. “I’ll take this opportunity to make things clear to everyone today. It’s at least three to four months away from the capital. I don’t know what difficulties we’ll encounter in the future and how many robbers we’ll encounter. Some of us might not be around before we reach the capital.”

“You’d better think about it now. It’s not too late to turn back. Also, I never said I wanted to bring anyone out to live a good life. Those who want to follow me out to live a good life should perish the thought early.”

He Cheng was about to scold him when the village chief looked at him and said coldly, “He Cheng, I remember that you and your brothers came to look for me and asked me to talk to Xiaoyu to bring you and your brothers along. We’re going to escape, not enjoy life. I think you brothers should go back early!”

Seeing this, He Cheng stood up, patted his butt, and snorted. “So be it. What’s so great about this?” The four brothers of the He family left with the other two families.

The village chief looked at the remaining 20-odd families. “Mr. Zhou has made things clear to everyone. We don’t know what kind of situation we’ll encounter on the way. We might not even be able to cross the Clear Wind Ridge. Those who want to leave should leave now!”

The Xu brothers and the other families stood up. “Village Chief, Mr. Zhou, who knows what will happen when we go out? We can’t blame you, but we’re timid. We’ll go back and guard West Mountain Village. Have a safe trip.”

The village chief and Zhou Jia looked at them and instructed, “You’ll still have to cross the Cloud Stream Peak later. Be careful.”

“Thank you, Village Chief. We’ll be careful.” The Xu brothers and the families also turned around and walked back.

Liu Changyun saw that Liu Changmin did not even ask about them along the way. Thinking of the big house that Liu Changmin had just repaired, he rolled his eyes and said to Old Madam Liu, “Mother, there are bandits ahead. I don’t think Big Brother is reliable. Let’s go back with those people!”

Old Madam Liu was also afraid that something would happen to her grandsons on the way. She nodded unhappily. “Sigh! We’ve come so far for nothing. Let’s go back!” The Liu brothers also packed their things and left behind those families.

Li Yu looked coldly at the families who had left and thought to herself that since she was worried that the people who were going along would not be united, it would be good that they had left.

The village chief calculated that more than half of the families had left. Including the seventeen families left behind, it seemed like the party could leave in peace.

The village chief asked the heads of the remaining 14 families, “Have you thought about it? Have you decided not to go back?”

Chen Gui said with a smile, “Uncle, you also know that our brothers don’t have fields in the village. We just planted the land from the landlord’s house. After a year, we can’t even fill our stomachs. If Xiaoyu hadn’t sold the food to us at a low price, we would have starved to death at home. The three of us have decided to follow Xiaoyu and Mr. Zhou. We won’t blame anyone if we die.”

“Uncle, we’ll follow Xiaoyu,” Chen Gui’s two younger brothers, Chen Jin and Chen Yin, said.

“We’re not afraid. We’ll follow Xiaoyu.” A few villagers who had bought food from Li Yu’s house also stood up and expressed that they wanted to follow Li Yu.

Butcher He also stood up and smiled brightly. “I’ve also decided to leave with Xiaoyu and Mr. Zhou.”

The village chief looked at Zhou Jia and Li Yu and said, “Mr. Zhou, Xiaoyu, my family, Chen Zhong’s family, and their 13 families have all decided to leave with you. We’ll leave the matters on the way to fate!”

Zhou Jia looked at the village chief and said, “Since everyone trusts Xiaoyu and me, we’ll go through thick and thin with everyone.”

Li Yu walked forward and said to everyone, “Mr. Zhou said that the Clear Wind Ridge in front is the Black Bear Stronghold’s territory. As long as we work together, we can break through. Everyone must listen to my orders along the way and not act on your own.”

Chen Yaohui, Butcher He, Chen Zhong, and Chen Gui, who had seen Li Yu and Ruyi’s abilities last night, replied loudly without hesitation, “Xiaoyu, don’t worry. We’ll listen to your instructions.” The others also agreed.

Li Yu turned to look at Zhou Jia. “Mr. Zhou, bring the remaining two bows and sabers over.”

“Alright.” Zhou Jia nodded and went back to get his weapon.

Li Yu looked at everyone and said, “Uncles, there are also two bows. If any of you knows how to draw bows and shoot arrows, please volunteer yourselves.”

Chen Yaohui and Chen Gui walked out. Chen Yaohui looked at Li Yu in embarrassment. “Xiaoyu, your father taught me and Chen Gui to hunt and shoot arrows. We know how to use your bow, but our aim is not good.”

“Alright, when Mr. Zhou brings the bow and arrow over later, I’ll teach you and Uncle Chen Gui to practice.” Li Yu turned to the village chief and said, “Grandpa Village Chief, we won’t leave today. Let’s rest well for a day before leaving tomorrow morning.”

The village chief nodded in agreement. “Alright, I’ll listen to your arrangements.”

Zhou Jia brought Ji Xiang and Ruyi over with two bows and four thin-bladed thick-backed machetes. Li Yu pointed at these weapons and said to the others, “Whoever has good arms can come and learn a few moves from Ji Xiang.”

Butcher He stood up and said with a smile, “Xiaoyu, I’ll go and learn a few moves from Brother Ji Xiang, but I’m used to using the butcher knife. Let’s leave the machete to the other brothers!”

Chen Zhong and the other three looked at Li Yu. “Xiaoyu, let us try.”

“Okay, Ji Xiang. Take a few uncles with you.”

“Yes.” Ji Xiang led Butcher He and Chen Zhong to the forest.

Li Yu handed the bow and arrows to Chen Yaohui and Chen Gui and led them to choose a big tree. Li Yu used a dagger to carve an archery target on the tree and drew a ray.

Li Yu stood on the beam and said to Chen Yaohui and Chen Gui, “Uncle, let me demonstrate first.”

“Alright.” Chen Yaohui and Chen Gui stood at the side. Seeing that Li Yu had hit the bullseye with two arrows in a row, they clapped and praised, “Xiaoyu, your archery is better than your father’s.”

Li Yu smiled at the two of them. “Uncle, face the target with your left shoulder. Hold the bow in your left hand and stand with your feet wide apart. The weight of your body will fall evenly on your feet. Moreover, lean your body slightly forward and place the arrow on the arrow platform... Use the force of your left shoulder pushing and your right shoulder pulling to draw the bow...”

Chen Yaohui shot an arrow according to Li Yu’s method. Although it was a little off target, it was still much better than ordinary beginners. Chen Gui’s aim was several times better than Chen Yaohui’s. Li Yu watched the two of them practice for a while, corrected their posture, and left the them to continue practicing.

Li Yu returned to the camp and saw that Zhou Jia had already brought people to set up the tents again.

Li Yu called Li Mei’s family and Li Qing over and said solemnly to them, “Aunt, Cousin, and Ah Qing, we’re going to pass through the Clear Wind Ridge tomorrow. If you encounter bandits, you have to quickly hide and remember not to put on a brave front.”

Li Mei, her daughters, and Li Qing nodded in agreement. Li Yu handed the machete to Liu Changmin and instructed him, “Uncle, I’ll leave Aunt and Ah Qing to you.”

Liu Changmin took the machete and replied solemnly, “Xiaoyu, don’t worry. Uncle will protect them even if I have to risk my life.”

After Li Yu took out the sleeve arrow and taught Li Qing how to use it, she showed him how to tie the sleeve arrow with a leather belt.

Li Yu said to Li Qing, “Ah Qing, you’re a man of the Li family. I’ll leave Aunt and my two cousins to you and Uncle. Find a place to practice according to what I’ve taught you.”

Li Qing looked at Li Yu firmly. “Sister, don’t worry! I’ll practice well.”

Li Mei looked at Li Qing’s determined and serious expression and looked at Li Yu in relief. “Yu’er, don’t worry about us. You have to be careful.”

“That’s right! Cousin, we’ll hide when we see that the situation was bad. You still have to rush ahead. You have to be careful,” Zhaodi and Laidi reminded her.

Li Yu nodded. Li Mei looked at the sisters. “Alright, follow us out and let your cousin rest well.”

The village chief led the other men to repair the weapons. Everyone was preparing to pass through Clear Wind Ridge tomorrow.