C13 An Old Good Person

"It's a bit late to be asking questions now!" A burly man approached, carrying a jug of wine.

His complexion was nearly identical to Lee Daniu's, except his exposed chest and arms were significantly more muscular.

"Lee sure is fortunate, running into the young master of his former employer," the man said with a grin, standing by the table, his tone laced with schadenfreude.

"Tsk tsk, look how pristine you are. Lee, you're about to strike it rich."

"Zhang Ershan, watch your language!" Lee Daniu stood up abruptly, fixing him with a furious glare.

The atmosphere in the inn grew tense for a moment.

But Zhang Ershan, undeterred by Lee Daniu's stare, went on, "Why hold back? Everyone knows that guy's preferences. This handsome young master here could serve as perfect bait, helping you lot secure a handsome bonus."

"You..."

"Let it go, Lee." The five men at the table with Lee Daniu stood up and restrained him, just as he was about to lose his temper.

Having cooled off, Lee Daniu glanced at his five brothers. He had to admit, he'd been close to losing it and picking a fight with Zhang Ershan.

But that would have been tantamount to suicide.

"Who is he?" Shen Feixue inquired, setting down her food.

"A colleague."

In the world of the Wandering Tigers, colleagues often became rivals. To spur the Wandering Tigers into action, their employers would frequently offer a bonus on top of the agreed-upon fee.

A bonus meant competition, and competition bred rivalry.

Take the Qian family's current offer, for example. They didn't just promise a bonus; they put up a whopping five hundred taels of silver. The catch? You had to bring back the head of the bandit leader from the Yellow Bamboo Forest.

"The Qian family is paying to take down bandits?" Shen Feixue asked, confused.

These bandits, as long as they didn't wreak havoc in the towns or go too far, were generally ignored by the Imperial Court. Their nomadic nature made them exceedingly difficult to eradicate completely.

In Tianxi Town, it was somewhat peculiar that the Qian family was personally funding the fight against bandits.

"The Qian family are merchants. Old Master Qian's son was ambushed in the Yellow Bamboo Forest a few days ago and taken hostage. That's when Old Master Qian sought our assistance," Lee Daniu explained.

"Oh?"

"Oh? If you understand, then make yourself scarce," the other person at the table said with a hint of irritation.

Lee Daniu could see it, and so could they.

Lee Daniu and his companions, a group of six, had agreed that should they receive a reward, it would be divided equally among them.

Now, unexpectedly, there was an additional person, and this individual seemed frail. Beyond the irritation of having another person to share the reward with, they questioned whether this person would slow them down.

After only a few glances at Shen Feixue, they were certain: Yes, he would!

Lee Daniu had a rapport with him, but if he couldn't voice his concerns, then someone else would play the heavy. The speaker mulled this over and spoke up again, "Don't try to stick around because of Lee. Move along."

"Cui..."

Lee Daniu tried to interject, but another companion interrupted him, "Lee, I know you value loyalty, but times have changed. This time we're up against the most ruthless bandit leader in Tianxi Town, who is on the verge of reaching the Perception Stage.

Taking him along could jeopardize not just our reward but our very lives."

"But what if he's in danger?" Lee Daniu, unable to assert himself against his brothers, pleaded, "Brothers, please consider it a personal favor from me, Lee Daniu. Upon our return, I'll give you my share of the reward. If we get the bounty, the five of you can split it. Is that acceptable?"

"It's not about the money. Have you not paid attention to the Qian family's intel? That bandit leader has unparalleled skill with a knife, his agility is exceptional, and he's even trained five wild beasts. You'd have to protect him and still... How is that even possible?"

The man spoke with heartfelt concern and his arguments were sound, winning the agreement of everyone present.

"That makes a lot of sense."

The crowd was puzzled as they turned to look at Shen Feixue, who had unexpectedly chimed in.

Was she planning to step aside? It seemed that way, and perhaps they had been too quick to judge her intentions towards Lee.

"But looks can be deceiving," Shen Feixue remarked calmly.

What in the world!

The group was taken aback. Far from stepping aside, it was clear that she intended to stick by Lee's side!

Not only was she lacking in self-awareness, but she also had the gall to use such a blatant excuse.

The saying about not judging a book by its cover was nonsense in this case. With her slender arms and legs, even her full effort would barely tickle someone.

For a moment, the five companions stopped trying to persuade her. They fixed their gaze on Lee Daniu, their eyes conveying a message of "it's either him or us," as they awaited his decision.

Lee Daniu's gaze shifted uncomfortably between his brothers and Shen Feixue. Making choices was one of life's greatest challenges, especially when it involved weighing gratitude against the bonds of brotherhood.

After a long pause, Lee Daniu stood up and bowed, saying, "I'm sorry, brothers. I, Lee Daniu, am a simple man. I may not grasp complex philosophies, but I do remember the kindness shown to me. His father was good to me, and I can't stand by and watch him march to his death."

Lee Daniu's decision resonated with everyone.

The table fell silent, a stark contrast to the other noisy diners.

The five men bowed their heads, occasionally drinking and eating meat, but no longer engaging in conversation.

Lee Daniu, however, was not idle. He sat down beside Shen Feixue and went into detail about the Yellow Bamboo Forest and Yellow Bamboo Village. He repeatedly cautioned Shen Feixue to stay close to him during their nighttime operation.

He stressed that if Shen Feixue heard a whistle, she must immediately find a place to hide.

According to rumors, the bandit leader had trained five wild beasts capable of spitting fire and water, possessing immense strength. Whenever danger loomed, the bandit leader would blow his whistle, and the five wild beasts would heed the call.

Drawing from Shen Feixue's past experiences of slaying Demonic Beasts, Lee Daniu's description suggested that these five wild beasts were likely unenlightened Demonic Beasts, ranking at the lowest tier.

Beasts of that caliber hadn't even formed their inner cores yet, making them relatively easy to dispatch.

Noticing Shen Feixue's silence, Lee Daniu offered words of reassurance, "You really don't need to worry. We've come prepared this time."

"I'm not scared."

Lee Daniu was momentarily taken aback by her blunt response. Truth be told, he felt a twinge of fear himself.

His reassurance was as much for himself as it was for her. With five of their comrades gone, it was just him and Shen Feixue left, and snatching the bandit leader's head was out of the question.

"The Qian family has infiltrated the Yellow Bamboo Village with their own people. They'll poison the food tonight. Except for the bandit leader, who doesn't partake in the communal meals, everyone will be incapacitated. We'll be safe as long as we steer clear of the bandit leader."

"What's the danger if we get too close?"

Lee Daniu gestured in a circle around them.

It dawned on Shen Feixue that five hundred taels of silver was indeed a fortune to these folks.

Faced with such wealth, who would spare a thought for a comrade's life? The scramble for the bandit leader's head was almost inevitable.

Reflecting on this, Shen Feixue couldn't help but feel for the Wandering Tigers' plight.

They had to be vigilant against foes and allies alike.

The pair continued their hushed conversation, with Lee Daniu doing most of the talking, either advising or muttering to himself, while Shen Feixue simply nodded, shook her head, or replied with brief comments.

As time slipped by, the evening sky deepened to twilight. Those who had overindulged in drink and slumped over the tables were roused by their peers.

The travelers at the station began to form small groups, making their way to the Yellow Bamboo Forest in succession.

While most banded together in groups of seven or eight, or at least five or six, the duo of Shen Feixue and Lee Daniu looked particularly forlorn.

The Yellow Bamboo Forest lay five kilometers from Tianxi Town. For the Wandering Tigers, the forest was shrouded in darkness by the time they arrived.

"Remember, stay close behind me. If you hear the whistle, you must run back immediately!"

Lee Daniu gave one final caution, crouching as he navigated through the bamboo forest.

They had managed to poison the bandits' underlings, but they couldn't afford to tip off the bandit leader too soon. Their plan was to surprise him, leaving no chance for him to sound the alarm.

The bamboo forest was sparsely lit by moonlight, creating significant visibility challenges. Beyond a few yards, darkness enveloped everything.

Apart from the subtle rustling of footsteps, silence reigned.

Shen Feixue followed Lee Daniu, mainly out of respect for his feelings.

Earlier that afternoon, while Lee Daniu was under the influence of alcohol, Shen Feixue had gleaned insights into his current plight. With his cultivation at Level 3 of the Acquired Stage, an elderly mother at home, and three young sons to feed, he was in a tough spot. Yet, he was willing to forgo his share of the reward and bonus to protect her. To ignore such loyalty would weigh heavily on her conscience.

Given the opportunity, she would certainly aim to take down the bandit leader herself, not only to assist the beleaguered Lee Daniu but also because she was in need of funds.

Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this situation than met the eye.

Her suspicions were soon confirmed.

As the thought crossed her mind, the previously dark bamboo forest erupted in flames, the air filled with the clamor of battle cries.

Dozens of individuals with odd hairstyles and patch-covered clothes emerged, their ferocity unmistakable in the torchlight – they were undoubtedly bandits.

"The Head Chief's predictions were spot on; they've come. Brothers, to arms!" bellowed the leader, as his men charged.

"Damn, it's an ambush!" Lee Daniu spat out, swiftly positioning Shen Feixue behind him and readying his saber to face the oncoming assailants alone.

"So it is," Shen Feixue whispered to herself.

The Wandering Tiger group at the station also numbered in the dozens. With such a commotion, and having started to assemble well before dawn, the bandits were certainly not ignorant of the situation – they must have had some inkling of what was to come.

It must be acknowledged that the Qian family's intelligence was spot-on. When they claimed there were over a hundred bandits in the stronghold, they meant it.

At that moment, the bandits who surged out outnumbered the Wandering Tiger's forces. Lee Daniu, tasked with protecting Shen Feixue, could only cover one side. As bandits swarmed from every direction, he was quickly overwhelmed.

Many found themselves battling two bandits at once, and some even faced four or five. The Yellow Bamboo Forest was suddenly ablaze with the light of fire and flashing blades.

These bandits were clearly not as strong as the Wandering Tiger's members; they likely hadn't even reached the Acquired Stage, relying solely on brute force.

Yet their sudden onslaught still inflicted injuries on the Wandering Tiger's ranks. A few bandits, brandishing their swords, charged directly at Shen Feixue.

But such assailants stood no chance against Shen Feixue. Her green sword, already drawn, shimmered with a chilling light amidst the fire.

With her masterful swordsmanship, each strike she delivered was lethal, felling an opponent.

Eventually, the bandits ceased their attacks on Shen Feixue, leaving her unexpectedly unoccupied in the midst of the tumultuous fray.

Despite the chaos, however, Lee Daniu's whereabouts remained unknown.