TGCFNM -Chapter 297 Encountering Mountain Bandits

Around noon.

After reaching the mountaintop, the group temporarily sat down to rest and ate some rations.

Fuxiang’s Father looked at everyone and said, “Once we go down the mountain, we’ll reach the Changgu Road. Midway along the Changgu Road, there are bandits stationed on the mountains. At that point, we’ll just pay a toll to pass. Once we get past Changgu Road, we’ll be on the official route.”

“A toll?” Chu Ling asked.

Fuxiang’s Father nodded. “If we’re lucky, the bandits won’t be patrolling today, and we could pass straight through. But today we have two carriages here, and your side has two more. That makes us rather conspicuous.”

Chu Ling asked with interest, “How much is the toll?”

Fuxiang’s Father looked a bit embarrassed. “It depends on how much they ask for. Sometimes it’s little, sometimes a lot. But to avoid trouble, we usually just pay.”

Curious, Chu Ling asked, “Are there many carriages traveling along Changgu Road?”

“Mostly escort missions. Sometimes the employers are pressed for time, so they take Changgu Road—it’s shorter. And there’s only one bandit group; as long as you negotiate properly, it’s fine,” Fuxiang’s Father explained.

“Negotiate? Properly negotiate with bandits?” Chu Ling looked surprised. “If there are many escort teams, why not just unite and wipe out that bandit group?”

“Sir, if you wipe out one group, the next one will come. It’s better to negotiate. The bandits will end up fighting among themselves over territory anyway,” Fuxiang’s Father said seriously.

Chu Ling nodded thoughtfully after hearing this.

After lunch, everyone rested briefly before preparing to descend the mountain.

The path down was indeed easier, with a gentler slope. As long as the horses were led properly, they could walk down themselves, making it less tiring for the people.

Once they reached the foot of the mountain, Uncle Wu had everyone stop and rest for a while. Only after regaining their strength did they board the carriages and slowly move forward.

Inside the carriage, Uncle Wu rested his hands on his knees, his demeanor suddenly becoming sharp and imposing.

“If the bandits only ask for a small amount, to avoid trouble, just give it—don’t waste our time. But if they dare to ask for too much or provoke us with words, then beat them up. One beating, and they’ll behave,” Uncle Wu said.

Wan Sanjin asked cautiously, “What if there are too many of them?”

Uncle Wu straightened his back, lifted the carriage curtain, and glanced outside. “In this kind of environment, they can only scrounge food from escort teams. They’re just a ragtag bunch, nothing to worry about.”

Chu Ling frowned. “Then why do you say that if the demand isn’t much, we should give it to them?”

Uncle Wu sighed. “Some people are forced into the mountains because they have no other way to survive. Those people still have some conscience. If they ask for a few silver coins, it’s fine—we’re not short of silver. But those who have fully become bandits cause real trouble for civilians. They need a good beating.”

Chu Ling frowned. “Uncle Wu, what if these bandits are all evil? After beating them, might they take revenge on civilians?”

Uncle Wu shook his head. “I’ve asked Brother Liu. From here, the official road leads to the Yuanzhou military training grounds—the place Fuxiang’s Father and his people plan to visit for the ritual. Beyond the Yuanzhou troops is Yuanzhou City itself. So these bandits only dare to extort from escort teams, who usually know martial arts. No need to worry too much.”

“After Fuxiang’s Father and his group finish the ritual, will they come back?” Chu Ling asked.

Uncle Wu smiled. “No. The place we’re going now is like the ‘back gate’ of Yuanzhou City. After entering the city from the back gate, we can exit through the main city gate and continue toward Ningzhou. Once your business is done, I’ll go with Brother Liu to visit Ping’an Village.”

Chu Ling thought for a moment: “Then you should take Cao Tong and Yan Sheng along—it would be two more helpers.”

Uncle Wu nodded. “That’s what I planned too. I’ve already told them. After all, there are quite a few elderly and weak in that village. Having two extra people will help.”

Wan Sanjin also said, “Let’s ask big brother for more men. The sooner they reach Tianjian City, the sooner we can settle this matter. After all, they’ve suffered far too much.”

“Young master, for ordinary people, having a meal to eat and a roof over their heads is already a blessing,” Uncle Wu said softly.

Wan Sanjin shook his head. “That’s not happiness—it just means they managed to survive.”

Chu Ling gave a heavy hum of agreement. “Exactly. The fault lies with the person above, doing nothing. The older he gets, the more foolish he becomes.”

Uncle Wu muttered, “…Are you not afraid of people eavesdropping?”

“Uncle Wu, we’re on the carriage,” Su He said seriously.

Uncle Wu: “…”

Wan Sanjin hooked his arm through Uncle Wu’s. “Anyway, no one’s going to snitch. Talking quietly like this isn’t a problem.”

“What if someone does snitch?” Uncle Wu frowned.

“Then I’ll turn it around on them,” Chu Ling said naturally. “Do you expect me to just sit there and take it?”

Uncle Wu couldn’t help but laugh at the audacity, then realized he wasn’t entirely wrong. “Fine, fine… say what you want. Out here in the wilderness, who cares?”

At that moment, Zhang Dong suddenly signaled the wind chasers to stop and lightly knocked on the carriage door.

Uncle Wu’s eyes narrowed as he lifted the curtain and stepped out, looking coldly at the few dozen people who had suddenly blocked their path.

These people… could be beaten up!

“Oh, sending an old man out, huh? Thinking I respect elders? Hahaha!”

“Four carriages want to pass our road? That’ll cost you.”

“Pay extra—your wheels are crushing our road, hahaha!”

“If a little girl entertains a few of us, we’ll let one carriage pass for free. How about that? Hahaha!”

Fuxiang’s Father’s expression darkened. He held Fuxiang back, took a deep breath, lifted the curtain, and stepped out.

“Gentlemen, please make things easy. We have the toll ready—consider it a treat, some wine and meat for you,” Fuxiang’s Father shouted.

Uncle Wu frowned. “Brother Liu, don’t waste words. These few people are nothing.”

“The old man’s got quite the mouth!” a skinny monkey-like man said, carrying a knife as he stepped forward. He looked them over and sneered. “Oh, you’re a martial artist. Let’s see how many times you can survive against my wild blade.”

“Knife?” Wan Sanjin also stepped out, smiling at the man. “I practice blades too. Shall we try?”

The skinny monkey’s eyes darted around, glancing at the carriages. “Escort? Moving people?”

“Our Third Master is asking questions. You all are just holding in your farts, not saying a word,” he said.

The skinny monkey gave a signal.

His men immediately understood. “Our Third Master is just passing through, having a little fun, making friends. After that, you can go. But you must behave. Let us check the goods first—once everything’s inspected, you can continue.”

After he spoke, several dozen men suddenly laughed lewdly. Their hyena-like eyes seemed to pierce the carriages, trying to see how many people were hidden inside.