The Second Boss slammed the table, cursing loudly, "Does he not think about who saved him when he was in trouble? We agreed back then that he wouldn't need to repay us, as long as he treated us as if we didn't exist, allowing us to establish ourselves here without causing trouble within his territory. Now what does he want? To go back on his word?"
"After dealing with him for so many years, don't you know his character? He's a classic bully who picks on the weak. When he first arrived in this county, the local gentry ganged up on him. Because he was weak, he sought us out. Now that he's been operating here for so long and believes his power is fully established, he naturally wants to eliminate us," the First Boss said calmly, a sarcastic smile on his face.
As soon as he finished speaking, a cacophony of curses erupted from the crowd in the hall. He didn't stop them. In truth, if one were to truly delve into it, these people hadn't done anything wrong. Although they had taken lives, it was in the name of justice, eliminating only those who deserved to die.
Before they arrived, in the surrounding prefectures and counties, the magistrates and wealthy families preyed on the populace, leaving the common people destitute. After they arrived, they investigated all the local bullies, seized their wealth, and rid the people of their oppressors. After about two years, everyone noticed their pattern of behavior and became more restrained.
Although occasional injustices still occurred, as long as they weren't particularly egregious, they turned a blind eye. In fact, the local populace didn't truly resent them, as their presence deterred the landlords and bullies from oppressing the people too severely.
As soon as Concubine Liu and Concubine Wu entered the room prepared for them, they dared not step out again. Although they felt uneasy, they exchanged smiles, believing the situation was much better than they had anticipated. Perhaps they could truly escape this time without harm.
The group lay on their beds, sleepless for the entire night. The next morning, they were informed they could descend the mountain. Without even eating breakfast, they fled and agreed upon a secret signal with the people who met them.
Returning to the temple, they pretended as if nothing had happened and departed that afternoon.
Upon returning to the Li family, their hearts still pounded, and their minds often wandered, filled with both anticipation and fear of what might happen.
About five days later, a gatekeeper announced that a group of country folk had arrived outside, claiming to be relatives of Concubine Wu and requesting to stay at the manor for a few days.
Concubine Wu hurried to find Li Zixin, saying with some embarrassment, "They are my poor relatives from the countryside. My mother mentioned it a while ago, but I didn't take it seriously, thinking they wouldn't come. Who knew they'd show up today? People from the countryside don't understand rules and might offend the manor. Could you perhaps give them a secluded courtyard to stay in for a few days?"
Li Zixin was initially unwilling to agree. He had heard that twenty or so men had arrived, and the manor was mostly populated by women. However, seeing her cautious eyes and her bulging belly, he sighed and warned, "Just this once. Never again."
Concubine Wu was overjoyed and thanked him profusely.
After these people entered the Li family manor, the servants unconsciously softened their footsteps, resolving to provoke the two concubines less in the future. Although her relatives were from the countryside, they looked like people not to be trifled with, exuding an aura of fear that the servants couldn't quite explain. They could only try to stay away.
In reality, the Second Boss and his group unconsciously exuded the aura of fierce bandits, as each of them had shed blood. These unsophisticated servants only felt a sense of terror. If Li Zixin or the steward had been present, they would have been wary of them. However, they had little interest in these "country folk" looking for handouts, and had not even met them.
That afternoon, a servant from the kitchen tremblingly poured a packet of medicine into the water缸. Then, acting guiltily, he left. They had told him it was a sleeping potion. He didn't know if they were telling the truth, but he had no choice but to comply, as their knives were at his son's throat.
These bandits were, in a way, honorable. They had informed the two concubines in advance that the evening meal could not be eaten, letting them know it had been tampered with. They instructed their personal maids to buy some food from outside, and the two concubines ate it secretly.
As night fell, the Li family was quiet, with lights only in two courtyards.
The other bandits searched the various courtyards for gold and silver, even digging three feet into the ground, determined to plunder the Li family completely. The Second Boss, meanwhile, went to the concubines' courtyard. Seeing them looking at him fearfully, he selectively ignored it, as he had grown accustomed to such looks over the years.
He said somewhat earnestly, "What are your plans now? Staying here will have no good end. Anyone with a bit of sense knows you are involved in this matter. Moreover, if nothing unexpected happens, your Madam will not die." Su Dan Novel Network
"Why? Even like this, she won't die?" Concubine Liu exclaimed in disbelief.
"Of course. We don't want to be enemies with the magistrate. But I can help you. If you wish to leave, I can give you some gold and silver, and you can go far away. To be frank, I am quite interested in you. If you don't find me too objectionable, you can marry me too," the Second Boss said earnestly, looking at Concubine Wu.
Concubine Wu hesitated. It seemed their lives were saved, but they also faced a problem: this county could not accommodate them. She wanted to choose the first option, but neither of them had ever traveled far in their lives and had not experienced the outside world. They had also heard that some women could be abducted on the road and sold to pleasure houses. Although these people were bandits, judging by their actions, she felt she might indeed consider the latter option.
She hesitated and asked, "Are you leaving tonight? Can you take us with you? Give me some time to think. I'll give you my answer once I've decided, okay?"
The Second Boss nodded. Though he didn't want to admit it, he knew that marrying him was not a good thing for women in this world, as they lived a life of constant danger, and who knew when their heads might be cut off.
A while later, the bandits returned, laden with spoils. The Second Boss ordered Li Zixin and his wife to be brought.
The group, taking advantage of the darkness, approached the city gate. The lights on the city walls were bright, indicating that guards were present. As they neared the gate, they heard the guards' shouts.
"Who goes there? What are you doing here so late at night?"
Two bandits immediately seized Li Zixin, placing knives at his throat, and marched forward recklessly.
"We're talking to you! If you come any closer, we'll shoot arrows." In the pitch-black darkness, the guards could only see a mass of people and quickly threatened them.