The sun beat down relentlessly, a fiery hammer on the dusty path. Even at mid-morning, the air hung thick and heavy, a palpable sheet of humid heat that clung to their skin, making every movement an effort. For Guozhao Zhiqiang and his companions, accustomed to the crisp, cooler climes of the north, this southern journey was a torment. Sweat plastered their tunics to their backs, and the very act of breathing felt like inhaling steam. They sought the meager shade of a lone, scraggly tree by a sluggish river, its banks offering little reprieve from the oppressive warmth. As they untied their horses, the promise of cool water on their faces was a desperate, fleeting hope in the suffocating southern heat.
"Why is it so hot?" Deming grumbled, wiping sweat from his brow, his face flushed.
"Brother Deming," Yu Lei explained, his own face glistening, "we are heading south, that's why it's hot. The farther south we go, the hotter it gets. This is just the beginning."
"From here to Peace Town, there will be no village," Tian Xiang added, his voice practical. "We'd better collect all the water we need now. Fill your canteens."
Soon, two groups of merchants and a group of four hunters also stopped by the river, seeking respite from the heat. While the men refilled their water canteens, the six travelers continued their journey behind the merchants and the four hunters, heading towards Peace Town. After an hour of walking, the combined group arrived at a crossroads. The left path led to Silver Peak Village, and the right to Peace Town. As they approached, they found a large crowd of people blocking the way, their faces grim.
Two men from the crowd stepped forward. One of them, a gruff-looking individual with a scar across his cheek, announced, his voice booming, "In order to ensure your safety from here to Peace Town, each of you has to pay fifty coins. It's a protection fee."
One of the merchants immediately protested, his voice rising in indignation, "I've traveled this road often, and I've never heard of such a thing! This is outrageous!"
"It's for your safety and your merchandise's safety," the bandit sneered, his eyes cold. "Consider it a toll."
"This is clearly a robbery of citizens," another merchant muttered under his breath, his hands clenching.
The bandit, his patience wearing thin, pointed his saber at the merchant, its blade glinting. "Are you going to pay or not, old man? My patience is limited."
One of the four independent hunters stepped forward, his voice firm, his hand on his sword. "We won't pay any coins. This is an open road."
From the depths of the crowd, a man emerged, his voice calm, an air of authority about him. "What's going on here, boys?"
"Deputy Miao," the bandit explained, addressing the newcomer, "these people refuse to pay the protection fee. They're being stubborn."
Miao Jing smirked at the merchants and the four hunters, his eyes cold. "Refused to pay, have you?" He raised his hand and pushed his right hand forward, a signal. Immediately, thirty more men emerged from hiding, surrounding the four hunters, two merchants, and their ten servants, trapping them.
"We'll pay! We'll pay!" one of the merchants quickly conceded, fear in his eyes, his face pale.
Miao Jing's grin turned ugly, a cruel twist of his lips. "It's too late now. You had your chance."
Lee Nianzu calmly walked forward, positioning himself beside the two merchants and four hunters, his presence radiating quiet confidence. "Deputy Miao," he said, his voice level, "as far as I know, this road has no owner. Please think twice before proceeding. You are making a grave mistake."
Miao Jing spat on the ground, his disdain evident. "Bookworm, if you want to pass the border, you must pay. Rules are rules here."
Lee Nianzu smiled, unfazed, his eyes twinkling. "This road has no owner, so... no one should pay a fee to travel on this road. It's a public path."
Tian Xiang stepped beside Lee Nianzu, staring intensely at Miao Jing, his arms crossed over his chest, a clear challenge in his eyes. "My older brother is absolutely right. You have no right to demand payment."
Yu Lei chimed in, equally defiant, his voice sharp. "I just came here recently, and I don't have to pay! This is an outrage!" He crossed his arms in front of his chest. "It's totally robbing people, plain and simple."
A woman's voice, sharp and commanding, cut through the air from behind the bandits. "Who is looking for trouble, Miao Jing?" The bandits immediately parted, making way for the woman. She walked to the group and stood beside Miao Jing, her presence radiating authority.
"Boss," Miao Jing said, addressing the woman, "they refuse to pay the protection fee. They're causing trouble."
Mu Yin smiled at the brothers, a predatory gleam in her eyes, assessing them. "If you don't pay, we won't let you go. You'll be stuck here." Her gaze then landed on Guozhao Zhiqiang, her eyes widening slightly. She whispered to Miao Jing, "Hey, capture that man in black. He is not human at all. He has an unusual aura. If we capture him and sell him at Silver Peak trading market, we can make a lot of money. He'll fetch a high price."
Miao Jing's eyes widened with greed, a glint of avarice. "Everyone, capture the man in black!" Forty bandits instantly surged forward, surrounding Guozhao Zhiqiang, Deming, and Gen, their weapons drawn. Miao Jing smirked. "Catch him alive! He's too valuable to harm!"
Guozhao Zhiqiang stared at the men coldly, his expression unreadable. "We'll go with you," he stated calmly, his voice flat, "if you let these two merchants and four hunters go. They are innocent."
Mu Yin's smile widened, a glint of triumph in her eyes. "Alright. Let them go. You're mine now."
Lee Nianzu quickly whispered something to one of the independent hunters. The hunter nodded and, along with the two merchants, their servants, and the other three hunters, swiftly headed towards Peace Town, disappearing from sight, grateful for their unexpected freedom.
"I just want you," Mu Yin declared, pointing directly at Guozhao Zhiqiang, her gaze possessive. "Not the other five. They are worthless."
Yu Lei smirked, a sarcastic tone in his voice, a challenging glint in his eye. "Why are you so partial, lady? Don't you want to capture all of us?"
"What am I going to do with an old man?" Mu Yin retorted, glancing at Gen with disdain. Then she looked at Deming. "A young teen who looks as fragile as a woman. Useless." She then looked at Lee Nianzu. "A bookworm, and two so-so men." She dismissed them with a wave of her hand.
"Either you take us all, or not take us at all," Tian Xiang asserted, his voice firm, his arms crossed. "We are a unit."
Miao Jing pulled Mu Yin aside, his voice urgent, a whisper filled with greed. "Boss, who cares? We only feed them for one day, and we will sell them out. It's a win-win for us. More slaves, more money."
Mu Yin sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly, considering his point. "Okay, do as you say, Miao Jing. More money is always good." She looked at her followers. "The six of you will go with us, and you will continue to collect tolls. Don't let anyone pass without paying." Mu Yin then smiled at Guozhao Zhiqiang, a glint of triumph in her eyes. "Carry your own bag. The horses stay with my men. You walk."
The six men shouldered their bags and followed Mu Yin, Miao Jing, and their ten followers, heading towards Silver Peak Village, their destination. As dawn approached, the group stopped by the road to rest.
"There is a small stream nearby," Mu Yin announced, "just rest here for the night. We'll continue in the morning."
"Boss," Miao Jing suggested, "it's better to walk a little more and go to the temple to rest. It's safer."
Mu Yin smacked Miao Jing on the head, her voice sharp with exasperation. "You idiot! Do you want the monks to know that we are trafficking humans? Use your brain next time! They'll report us!"
Miao Jing rubbed his head, "Oh... Do you want to share food with the slaves, Boss? They must be hungry."
"Why waste our food?" Mu Yin scoffed, her eyes cold. "We will sell them tomorrow. Let their buyers feed them. They're not our responsibility." She hit Miao Jing on the head again. "You're a bandit. Act like a bandit. Be ruthless."
"Oh," Miao Jing mumbled, then walked towards the ten other bandits and sat down with them, grumbling.
Mu Yin watched as three of her men gathered firewood and started a bonfire, its flames flickering in the dim light. She thought to herself that these three captured men were all quite handsome, especially the one in black. Her gaze then drifted to the stream. She saw the man in black, Guozhao Zhiqiang, gently wiping the young teen's, Deming's, face with a handkerchief, his touch tender. The man in black smiled at the young man, a striking sight, a genuine warmth. She found herself staring at the two men in a daze until Miao Jing's voice startled her, pulling her from her daydream.
"Why are you looking at them, Boss?" Miao Jing asked, an amused smirk on his face.
"Ah Jing," Mu Yin mused, her eyes still on Guozhao Zhiqiang, "do you think the man in black knows how to fight? He seems too calm."
Miao Jing chuckled. "Do you need to ask? Anyone with weapons can fight; it depends on how good their ability is. But he didn't fight back."
"How good do you think his abilities are, Ah Jing?" Mu Yin pressed, a hint of curiosity.
"Maybe not good at all," Miao Jing speculated, shrugging. "If he was good, he would have fought us long ago. He just surrendered." Miao Jing handed her a peach and two buns. "Why are you suddenly interested in the man in black, Boss? You usually only care about money."
"I was thinking that if he was on our team," Mu Yin replied, her eyes narrowing, "many people would be afraid of him because of his looks. He has a powerful aura."
Miao Jing knew that when Mu Yin was interested in a person, it was usually because that person was handsome. He joked, "Could it be that he is too handsome to sell, Boss? You're falling for him!" He laughed heartily.
"Nonsense," Mu Yin denied, though a faint blush touched her cheeks, betraying her.
Guozhao Zhiqiang heard Deming's stomach growl, a soft rumble. He smiled at Deming. "Hungry?" Deming nodded sheepishly, his face red. Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, "Do you want to eat fish?"
"If I do, Zhiqiang," Deming replied, a hint of curiosity in his voice, "would you go fishing for me?"
Guozhao Zhiqiang looked at his left palm, and a glowing talisman materialized, shimmering with light. He placed his hand in the water, and to Deming's astonishment, fish began to swim towards them, drawn by an unseen force, gathering around his hand.
Deming's eyes widened, a wide smile spreading across his face, pure wonder. "How do you do it, Zhiqiang? That's amazing!"
"It's a charm spell," Guozhao Zhiqiang explained. "After using it, the fish will be attracted by the spell and swim up voluntarily. They can't resist."
Deming looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang, a mischievous glint in his eye, a playful thought forming. "Does it work on a person, Zhiqiang?"
"Why do you ask, Deming?" Guozhao Zhiqiang inquired, a hint of amusement in his voice, a knowing smile.
Deming propped his chin on his knee, his smile broadening. "Well, I wonder if you cast a spell on me because I'm attracted to you. Is that why I can't resist you?"
Yu Lei, who had been observing Mu Yin, suddenly stared at her and asked loudly, his voice challenging, "Hey lady, why are you staring at them? Are you jealous?"
Tian Xiang shouted from the opposite side, "Are you going to give us buns, or just stare?"
Mu Yin smirked, her eyes cold, her voice sharp. "You are a slave; you don't need to eat. You'll get food from your buyers."
Yu Lei smiled, a challenging glint in his eye. "Well, if you don't share, don't blame us for not sharing our delicious fish."
"I don't eat with slaves," Mu Yin retorted, her voice filled with disdain, "nor do I eat anything offered by slaves. It's beneath me."
"Okay, remember your words, lady," Yu Lei said, his smile unwavering, a silent warning. He walked towards Lee Nianzu, Tian Xiang, and Gen, joining them.
Guozhao Zhiqiang and Deming returned, handing Gen the fish they had caught. Lee Nianzu and Gen immediately began grilling the fish over the bonfire, the flames licking at the fresh catch. The tantalizing smell of grilled fish filled the air, and the twelve bandits, including Mu Yin and Miao Jing, began to stare, their eyes fixed on the six people across from them, who were now enjoying their meal, their stomachs rumbling.
Miao Jing frowned, his stomach rumbling loudly. "How on earth did they get those fish, Boss? We didn't see them fishing."
"I don't know," Mu Yin muttered, her gaze still fixed on Guozhao Zhiqiang, a growing suspicion. Mu Yin then stood up and walked towards the six hunters. She sat directly opposite Guozhao Zhiqiang, positioning herself between Gen and Lee Nianzu, a bold move.
"No trading, lady," Yu Lei teased, a knowing smirk on his face.
"Who said I was looking for a deal?" Mu Yin retorted, her voice sharp.
"Then why are you here?" Yu Lei pressed, his eyes challenging.
"I came because of him," Mu Yin stated, pointing at Guozhao Zhiqiang, her gaze possessive. "You have two options. The first option is to be my follower. The second option is to be sold into slavery. Choose wisely."
Guozhao Zhiqiang merely continued to eat his fish, ignoring her completely, as if she were not even there.
Mu Yin, undeterred, took a piece of grilled fish from Lee Nianzu's plate and began to eat it, her gaze fixed on Zhiqiang, her voice attempting to sound persuasive. "Being my follower has many benefits. We split all the gains equally, and you'll be safe." She looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang, but he continued to ignore her, his face impassive. "Hey, are you listening to what I'm saying, man in black?"
Guozhao Zhiqiang didn't even look at her. "I'm not interested," he stated flatly, his voice devoid of emotion. He opened his water canteen and handed it to Deming, a silent gesture of care.
"Why not?" Mu Yin demanded, her patience wearing thin, her voice rising.
"Not interested means not interested," Tian Xiang interjected firmly, his voice sharp. "Do you understand human language, lady? He said no."
Mu Yin rose, her lips pursed, and walked back towards her followers, her face a mask of frustration. She studied Guozhao Zhiqiang intently, noticing how much closer he seemed to Deming than to the others, a subtle intimacy. A smirk touched her lips as she looked at the two men, a new plan forming.
Mu Yin handed the half-eaten fish to Miao Jing and muttered to herself, a determined glint in her eyes, "I will make you interested in me, man in black. You will be mine." She smiled, her gaze still fixed on Guozhao Zhiqiang, a predatory gleam in her eyes.