Chapter 25: They Are Strange |
Yuan Gang certainly thought, but he had injuries:
"I thought. But my wound was very severe, and it took half a year to heal it. Thanks to the villagers. Then I started working the land, raising crops. But when the harvest ripened, soldier-bandits came again. Here, there's no difference between soldiers and bandits. They loot every time, just like that time."
Niu You Dao understood Yuan Gang's feelings. He knew Yuan Gang came from a special unit, and they had a certain code. If he hadn't accidentally saved Yuan Gang, who was on the brink of death, Yuan Gang probably wouldn't have followed him. He saved Yuan Gang and healed him. He had grown accustomed to him, just as Yuan Gang had grown accustomed to him. So, in repayment of his debt, Yuan Gang helped him as well. Over time, they had come to regard each other as brothers.
"Later, I went out. But I couldn't find you. I figured you'd return to the village sooner or later, because you'd likely repay the village somehow. I decided to stay in the village for now to help prevent it from being raided. I started training the people. And my body wasn't as strong back then. In such turbulent and chaotic times, if you can't protect yourself, you can be killed at any moment, and you won't even know how."
Niu You Dao nodded. He fully understood Yuan Gang.
"And you?" Yuan Gang looked at Shang Chao Zong and the others.
"It seems the people who came with you don't think much of you."
"Hah!" Niu You Dao glanced at them, then waved a hand and clapped Yuan Gang on the back. "Come on, I'll introduce you."
When they approached, Niu You Dao introduced Shang Chao Zong and the others. But when he started to introduce Yuan Gang:
Lan Ruo Ting and the others nearly had their jaws drop. This is your sworn brother, and you don't even know his name? And you're embracing him like that? Is this truly the person the Supreme Purity Sect sent them?
Yuan Gang swept his gaze over everyone and said, "Yuan Gang!"
"Right, Yuan Gang. I left the village a long time ago and forgot names." Niu You Dao turned and said awkwardly, "I have a terrible memory."
Whether they believed him or not, everyone scrutinised Yuan Gang. Especially his sturdy shoulders, his arms... He also had daggers hanging from him. Though he wore rustic clothes, his temperament, and especially his gaze, were certainly not those of a simple peasant.
Normally, peasants would tremble with fear at the sight of such an army and act very cautiously. But this one! A Prince? Never heard of him. Shang Chao Zong and the others exchanged glances. Could it be that everyone from this village is so exceptionally gifted?
This made everyone very curious about what kind of village these people came from.
"Tell your men to keep quiet, or they shouldn't be surprised by my discourtesy!" Yuan Gang looked at Shang Chao Zong and said in a cold tone.
The guard standing nearby immediately bristled with anger and stepped towards Yuan Gang, but Shang Chao Zong raised a hand and stopped him.
Yuan Gang cast a disdainful glance at the guard, then turned and whistled towards the path. He put two fingers in his mouth and let out a piercing whistle.
From the direction of the mountain village, five young men immediately ran over. As they approached, they were very cautious, glancing at the soldiers.
Lan Ruo Ting and the others looked at them, then exchanged glances again. "They must be villagers," they thought.
"Brother Gang, is this...?" The young man at their head wanted to ask something.
Yuan Gang, pointing at Niu You Dao, said, "Da Ban. Go back to the village and tell them Niu You Dao has returned. I won't be coming back to the village; I'll be going with him. Make sure you look after the village well. Nothing must happen."
He hadn't even asked Niu You Dao's opinion, yet he had already declared Niu You Dao his master, and that he wouldn't return to the village!
Niu You Dao smiled and nodded at the young men. He understood that Yuan Gang didn't want outsiders entering the village and learning about them.
"Niu You Dao?" Da Ban looked at Niu You Dao in surprise and suddenly exclaimed, "Ah! Brother Dao, it really is you! You've grown so much, become so much more imposing. Just like a proper lord! If Brother Gang hadn't reminded me, I wouldn't have recognized you. Brother Dao, it's me, Da Ban. You used to play with me often, and often kicked us to make us move!"
"And me, Meng Zi!"
"Brother Dao, I'm Puppy..."
"It's me, Da Wang, Brother Dao. When you left, the whole village searched for you everywhere. Then people came, asking about you. Someone even said they saw you in the city..."
Several young men surrounded Niu You Dao, happily plying him with questions.
Someone asking about him? Someone from the village saw him? Niu You Dao froze. Then, he seemed to figure something out. He burst into laughter and started pointing at the young men with his finger:
"Da Ban, Meng Zi, Puppy..." He pointed at them one by one.
"Ah, I remember, Da Wang. You once went fishing with me at the river and almost drowned..."
With him feigning ignorance, who would dare question it amidst all the excitement?
Yuan Gang twisted his mouth. Only now did he remember that Lord Dao was indeed Lord Dao!
Da Wang, smiling, nodded his head. "Yes! Yes!"
But inwardly, he was bewildered: When had they ever gone fishing? And when had he almost drowned?
"Brother Dao, aren't you coming back to the village? Brother Gang said you're leaving. Where are you going?" Da Ban asked curiously, seemingly paying no mind to Yuan Gang's words. After all, the village wasn't far.
Yuan Gang: "We're going to see the world. Don't ask so many questions."
It seemed Yuan Gang's authority among the young men was quite high, as they immediately stopped asking anything.
Da Ban, however, lowered his head slightly and asked, "Brother Gang, can we come with you?"
"It's dangerous out there. Stay here and train well. You must become stronger than anyone. As for the rest, we'll see how circumstances unfold." Yuan Gang replied. Then he turned to Niu You Dao and asked, "Do you have any money?"
Niu You Dao walked to his horse and took a money bag from his bundle. The bundle indeed contained money.
Yuan Gang walked over, extended a hand, and took the pouch. Tossing the bag in his hands, he heard the coins jingle loudly. As he went, he opened the bag and saw gold, silver, and copper coins. There was a lot of money.
"Whoa!" Several young men had never seen so much money.
Yuan Gang tightly cinched the bag and tossed it to Da Ban. "Give the money to the elders. Let them decide how to handle it. And tell them, even though there's a lot of money, they can't just buy anything. Spending money carelessly everywhere now, in such turbulent times, will only bring trouble to the village. Understood?"
Hearing this, Lan Ruo Ting and the others exchanged glances, becoming even more interested in Yuan Gang.
Niu You Dao also nodded in approval. "If you waste it thoughtlessly, I'll come back later and demand the money back. I earned it through hard work, not for someone to squander it carelessly."
Several people nodded, and Da Wang, patting his chest, said, "Brother Dao, rest assured. We know money isn't easy to earn. You brought so much money for the village, you have a kind heart. How could we possibly squander it? I'll convey everything clearly to the village."
Niu You Dao nodded with a laugh. "Then that's good."
Yuan Gang waved a hand. "Alright, go back."
He spoke clearly, and the young men headed back to the village. With every step, they turned back three times, waving continuously. "Brother Gang, Brother Dao, we're leaving. Come back soon!"
Niu You Dao also smiled and waved, while Yuan Gang stood calmly, watching them go.
When they had gone, Yuan Gang turned to Niu You Dao. "Let's go!"
Sitting on his horse, Lan Ruo Ting asked with a smile, "Brother Yuan, can you ride a horse?"
Niu You Dao turned and said with a smile, "Not just a horse, he can even pilot airplanes and tanks."
"Airplanes? Tanks?"
Lan Ruo Ting and the others exchanged bewildered glances. They seemed utterly lost and didn't understand what he was talking about at all. Each of them initially thought they had misheard, but when they saw that they weren't the only ones, they realized it wasn't their imagination.
"Airplanes, tanks... what are those?" Shang Shu Qing asked.
Yuan Gang remained indifferent, paying them no mind whatsoever.
Niu You Dao now realized he had slipped up and said with a smile, "Some things in the village wouldn't be of interest to you."
"Besides, in some matters, we are limited." Shang Shu Qing said regretfully and didn't press for more questions.
Lan Ruo Ting looked towards the path and said with vexation, "It turns out the mentor doesn't want to return to his native village, not even to look at it?"
Yuan Gang, who usually didn't like to talk to them, said, "Every time troops enter the village, the village suffers."
Upon hearing him, several people immediately grew solemn. Not because Yuan Gang spoke irritably, but because he spoke the truth. They had often heard people like Yuan Gang throughout their journey.
But the guard standing next to Shang Chao Zong bristled with anger and, pointing his whip at Yuan Gang, cursed, "How dare you! The Prince—"
Yuan Gang gave him a sidelong glance, and Shang Chao Zong signaled the guard to be silent.
Noticing the tense atmosphere, Niu You Dao hastily said with a smile, "It's important not to delay the Grand Prince here. If we're not going, we're not going. Alright?"
Shang Chao Zong turned and said, "Give Brother Yuan Gang a horse!"
Shang Chao Zong had taken a liking to Yuan Gang at first sight. The reason for this favorable impression was simple: heroism emanated from him. And his temperament was similar to that of the Yinyang and Wuli Guards' soldiers. He seemed more relatable to Shang Chao Zong than this Niu You Dao, who didn't utter a single truthful word and didn't appear to be a good person.
A horse was quickly brought from behind. Yuan Gang grabbed the reins and deftly leaped onto the horse. Lan Ruo Ting and the others noticed that Yuan Gang hadn't mounted the horse like an ordinary villager. He seemed like an experienced rider.
Shang Chao Zong waved his hand, and the riders continued their journey. The rearguard switched places with the vanguard.