Chapter 8, Bandit Camp
The sharp-faced youth brought back rumors, and he did not forget to remind the listeners: "If the young lady cannot get married, we will all be in trouble. This is a bandit camp; today we are here, but tomorrow who knows where we will go. Will Big Head God take a group of children with him? Look around this camp, where else are there any children besides us? I think, Big Head God will not sell us; he will shoot us all through with one shot, stringing us together like this."
Isn't the lady's in-laws also a band of robbers
No, no," the little leader immediately realized he had misspoken, his complexion changed, turning pale green, and the bowl in his hand fell to the ground, "I don't want to, I, I..."
After the sharp-faced youth dismounted, he trembled with apprehension, still clutching the hem of Gu Shenwei's garment with one hand.
I was just joking; it wouldn't really eat people, would it
These are a group of men filled with energy, who, no matter how much food and drink they consume, cannot expel even a little. Thus, they can only rely on fighting to vent their frustrations. Within less than fifteen minutes of the banquet starting, four or five scuffles have already broken out. The onlookers not only do not intervene but instead become increasingly intoxicated, cheering loudly, with cups being thrown everywhere.
Two young boys, who looked very similar, were clearly a pair of brothers. As they walked, they glanced around curiously. Soon, the older brother's gaze met that of Gu Shenwei.
Then, with another surge of joy in his heart, he was about to follow the daughter of the Great Head God into the Golden Roc Fortress, as the divine will reappeared after having abandoned him for several days
There are clues about my sister's whereabouts, and the presence of enemies.
Looking again at the people in the tent, there is no need to mention the big-headed deity; even his subordinates all display fierce expressions. The most normally dressed among them reveals a bare shoulder, marked with scars and tattoos. Some, in a fit of excitement from drinking, even strip completely naked.
As the drinking reached its halfway point, the enthusiasm of the crowd did not wane; rather, it grew even more fervent. They began to take turns toasting to the Great Head God, who accepted every offering without refusal. What was a large bowl of wine in the hands of an ordinary person was merely a small cup in his hands
While the other children were sound asleep, Gu Shenwei propped himself up and stared into the pair of eyes that were just within reach, understanding the other party's intention: the two brothers were inviting him to escape together
A group of minions entered in succession, bringing forth a lavish spread of food and drink, and even the small slaves huddled in the corners were served food.
The Great Head God often leads people out of the camp, sometimes returning empty-handed, and other times bringing back many items. It is difficult to determine what kind of "business" he is engaged in.
The iron spear is both thick and long; in comparison, the long spear of the old servant Yang Zheng resembles a child's toy.
Food and drink were casually piled on the carpet, and everyone sat on the ground, disregarding etiquette, eating and drinking heartily.
The little slaves were startled, two girls fainted, two boys were frightened to tears, and the sharp-faced youth softened, leaning against Gu Shenwei's back, murmuring to himself with a sobbing tone
This is indeed a good opportunity to escape. The Big Head God has taken away many of his subordinates, leaving behind mostly unskilled servants. The bandits have never arranged for special guards for these ten young men. Just a few miles outside the camp lies Biyu City, which is an excellent place to evade capture
Bring the meat
The emaciated woman commanded them to refer to her as "Snow Maiden," and the first phrase those Hu youths would utter in the Central Plains language would be these two words
Gu Shenwei did not care; he had too many things of his own to think about
The Tieshan bandits are not one to observe formalities, directly addressing their leader by his nickname. Big Head God does not take offense, instead displaying a smile as he tilts his head back and downs a bowl of wine, clearly pleased with this toast
This proposal received considerable support from many, but the voices of agreement quickly diminished as everyone noticed the change in the expression of the Great Head God
Gu Shenwei once impulsively spoke up for them, yet they seemed to show no appreciation at all. Of course, they did not speak the Central Plains dialect, but they also never expressed any intention of gratitude
The daughter of the Great Head God, apart from my obedient son-in-law, there is no other man in the world who can see her. My obedient son-in-law is the son of the King of Unique Steps, not you, this scoundrel of a bookworm.
The two brothers were taken aback, hesitated for a moment, and simultaneously turned around to rush towards the sharp-faced boy sleeping at the innermost part.
He is accustomed to a soft bed, and to him, a grass mat is no different from sleeping on bare ground. Sharing a tent with ten people makes him quite uncomfortable. In the past, only the young scholar Mingxiang shared a room with him. Mingxiang never snored and certainly did not frequently grind his teeth or toss and turn.
Gu Shenwei has come to accept the harsh reality of his family being shattered and his determination for revenge grows ever stronger, yet he finds it difficult to easily adapt to the details of daily life
At the beginning, everyone started eating, but in their hearts, they were puzzled. Did Big Head God buy twenty children not to treat them to meat?
The other party was somewhat taken aback, but did not continue to persuade. Instead, they waved their hand, turned around, and carefully led their younger brother out of the tent.
Gu Shen had hardly eaten for several days, and he was now ravenously hungry. He did not take the words of the sharp-faced youth to heart, grabbing a piece of meat and taking a big bite. Although it was tough and gamey, it was quite filling, and it did not resemble the rumored human flesh at all.
It is those two young men who are being pursued by the Snow Mountain Swordsman
The giant shouted loudly, like a thunderclap on a clear day. Then, with a leap, his enormous and terrifying body surprisingly moved with agility, soaring over the heads of more than ten people, and when he landed, he thrust a spear through the chest of the small leader.
The smallest piece of meat weighs at least five or six pounds, and it is cooked to a medium-rare state, with blood still oozing out when bitten into
The camp of the Tieshan bandits was not hidden deep in the mountains and forests, but rather built just outside a large city. Within it, there were thousands of people making noise and commotion, weapons standing tall, and flags fluttering. From a distance, it resembled an army preparing to attack the city.
The Great Head God directly entered the tent, and ten pairs of young boys and girls were also brought inside
After eating half a piece of meat, Gu Shenwei was already full. Looking at the group of bandits, especially the tall and strong Da Tou Shen, a thought suddenly crossed his mind: it would be great if he could seek the help of Tie Shan
The little slaves all breathed a sigh of relief, as it turned out they were to serve as dowries for the young lady. It seems they would no longer need to stay by the side of the Great Head God.
It is Snow Maiden, dressed in white garments, moving with incredible swiftness, as if she were standing just outside the tent
Dozens of leaders, both major and minor, followed the chief inside. Before the Great Leader had taken his seat, he waved his hand and commanded loudly:
Gu Shenwei had been poked by iron fingers on his chest several times, and his meager internal strength offered no protection at all. He believed that Xue Niang's skills must be quite impressive
His question went unanswered and unnoticed, for the little leader, in his pride, added another remark.
The sharp-faced youth let out a relaxed breath, then nervously whispered:
The thin woman who selected slaves for the big-headed deity was the lady's personal servant, and these young slaves naturally fell under her management
The death of the minor leader did not disturb the atmosphere of the banquet; the body was quickly carried away, and the guests continued to feast heartily.
The appearance of Xue Niang has no relation to snow at all; her complexion is waxy yellow, her cheeks are gaunt, and her body resembles a bamboo pole. Knowing that most of these young men cannot speak the Central Plains dialect, she is usually taciturn, and when she has any instructions, she often just points with her hand.
What kind of meat is this
The sharp-faced boy mimicked the stance of a big-headed deity aiming a gun at people, causing three children to drop the bronze objects they were holding in fear
My brother was taken aback for a moment, pointed outside, and made a few simple gestures. His eyes were deeper than the night, emitting a faint glow, like a vigilant cat.
Gu Shen lay on the grass mat after a tiring day, unable to fall asleep no matter what.
At this moment, Gu Shenwei suddenly realized that these two brothers intended to escape
When my sister Gu Cuilan was preparing to get married, Gu Shenwei was still just a carefree young master, often talking but rarely taking action. At that moment, he had to work for the daughter of a bandit he had never seen before, and his heart felt as if it were being cut by a knife.
The boys were driven forward, and the camp was almost entirely populated by men, who were quite curious about these children. As they passed by, they pointed and laughed rudely, further intensifying the fear of the young slaves
Her thoughts settled instantly, revealing a clear path before him: infiltrate Jinpeng Fortress, search for her sister's whereabouts, and assassinate an enemy, aiming to kill at least one.
Gu Shenwei began to spend his days in the camp as if they were years
On the fifth day of entering the camp, Big Head God led his subordinates out of the camp and did not return at night
In a few days, it will be the joyous day of Miss Tieshan. Having purchased these ten pairs of young boys and girls, the dowry is considered complete. I wish the young lady to bear children soon, and may the God of Wealth embrace grandchildren!
He guessed correctly; the personnel within the Iron Mountain bandit group are complex, with people speaking various dialects. However, the name "Biyucheng" keeps surfacing, and every person who mentions this city has a joyful expression, patting each other on the back, sharing an unspoken understanding.
Twenty young men and women were being escorted by fifty to sixty bandits, hastening their pace, and returned to the camp that evening
The tents in the camp are densely packed, and the tallest one in the middle is clearly the main tent of the Great Head God
However, as soon as the two of them took a step, they were each lifted up by someone with one hand
Gu Shenwei lay down again; these brothers must have had extraordinary experiences just like him, but the two sides are unable to communicate
Great Head God, our young lady's reputation is renowned far and wide, known to all under heaven. Now that she is to be married off, shouldn't we, her uncles and brothers, have a chance to see her?
We have arrived outside of Biyu City, haven't we
Her fingers are slender and firm, resembling ten thin iron rods. Anyone who fails to immediately grasp her meaning will receive a jab from these iron rods, often leaving bruises that last for two or three days
The sharp-faced boy asked in a low voice, and the several children who had originally grabbed the meat to eat all put it down upon hearing his words
There were people moving inside the tent, and there was a gap in the canopy through which a beam of moonlight entered. Gu Shenwei saw two young boys stealthily approaching the entrance.
A minor leader seemed to have truly drunk too much, standing up unsteadily and raising his voice above everyone in the tent, saying:
The giant stood up abruptly and picked up an iron spear from beside him
Do you want to meet my daughter
Gu Shenwei slowly shook his head, but gently waved his hand, wishing him all the best
However, the two demons, Dubu Wang and Datou Shen, are friends, and Gu Shen can only indulge in wild fantasies.
The exact date of the wedding has not yet been determined, only that it will be on the same day, and there are rumors suggesting that the marriage may encounter unforeseen complications.
The giant-headed deity lifted the dying little leader into the air, and the little leader, gripping the gun handle with both hands, looked at the chief in horror and, using his last ounce of strength, said: "Pardon... pardon my sins"
The minor leader understood that he had caused a great disaster, retreating in panic. He tried to force a smile on his face, but it only became more rigid and twisted.
Gu Shenwei was quite puzzled. He remembered that the legendary Iron Mountain Big Head God always appeared in the vast desert and Gobi. Now, it had unexpectedly come outside of Biyu City, and it did not seem to be planning a robbery.
After the banquet, the ten girls were sent to the tent of the mistress to be at her beck and call, while the boys were sent to a nearby small tent. Their daily tasks consisted of endlessly scrubbing utensils and organizing the dowries
All ten boys have been poked to varying degrees, including the sharp-faced boy who claims to be the best at pleasing the master. Every time he sees Xue Niang enter, the sharp-faced boy immediately snatches away the task that originally belonged to him and enthusiastically gets to work.
The interior space is vast, capable of accommodating over one hundred people. Thick carpets cover the ground, and the newly purchased young slaves stand near the entrance, each trembling with fear, awaiting their uncertain fate
The Big Head Deity and the Unmatched King are in-laws
Gu Shen's heart sank, realizing that there was no possibility of seeking revenge through the Great Head God.
He cannot waste this excellent opportunity to enter Jinpeng Fortress. Unless he follows the young mistress who is marrying into the family, it would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens for a young man with mediocre martial skills to approach Jinpeng Fortress
Someone is trying to escape! Hurry, come quickly!
The two brothers had just lifted a corner of the tent when the voice of the sharp-faced youth suddenly rang out, and no one knew when he had woken up