Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Five Families City, Chaos Emerges
NEIGH!
WHINNY!
Donkeys brayed and horses neighed.
From his vantage point, Tang Wen saw three mounts galloping wildly, their hooves kicking up clouds of dust.
The riders’ clothes and armor were in tatters. They clung to their mounts’ backs, desperately shouting, "Help!"
Behind them, a troop of riders in black gave relentless chase.
Tang Wen had no intention of meddling.
However, the three fugitives gradually changed course, heading toward the wilderness Hunting Team’s encampment.
’Looks like they know about the hunting encampment.’
’Now I have to get involved.’
The strongest combatants at the Hunting Team’s encampment were only Martial Artists.
’They clearly can’t handle these riders. I have to stop them.’
WHOOSH!
With a Power Burst, he leaped high into the air and shouted, "Who goes there? Halt!"
"A Martial Artist?"
The young man on the donkey gasped, his surprise quickly turning to joy. "Help! Sir Martial Artist, help us! We’re traveling merchants from nearby, and we’re being hunted by the Black Mountain Ghosts!"
Glancing at the men in black behind them, Tang Wen said impassively, "Flee in a different direction."
The three desperate riders, who had just pulled on their reins, grew terrified.
The middle-aged man on the horse quickly spoke up. "Sir, the Black Mountain Ghost riders only have one Martial Artist with them. If you help us, we’ll be sure to reward you handsomely."
SHIING!
With a sharp ring, Tang Wen drew his long saber. "It doesn’t matter to me how many Martial Artists they have. Go!"
The trio was trapped. If they didn’t head for the Flame Camp’s hunting post, they would be caught sooner or later.
The thundering of hooves grew louder.
A domineering voice boomed, "Black Mountain Camp on business! Anyone not involved, get lost!"
"’Get lost?’" Tang Wen chuckled. He looked at the three riders. "You’re in luck. No need to run."
"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"
The three quickly rode their mounts over to Tang Wen’s side.
"You’ve got guts! Daring to interfere with our Black Mountain... Shit! Dodge!"
As the Black Mountain Ghosts drew near, the one who had spoken hadn’t finished his threat when his expression changed drastically.
He abandoned his horse, diving straight for the ground.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The riders were in a line. Those in the rear had no idea what was happening. They only heard a series of loud bangs before they were thrown from their saddles.
The entire troop was thrown into chaos, men and horses toppling over each other.
"Pebbles? It’s you? Tang Wen!"
The burly, dark-clad man in the lead looked up in a wretched state, his face covered in dirt and grime.
He stared at Tang Wen, his eyes darting about uncertainly.
"’You know me?’" Tang Wen sized him up, certain they had never met.
The burly man’s expression shifted several times. He glanced back at his troop, saw that only horses had been killed or injured, and immediately let out a sigh. "Since it’s Commander Tang Wen, we’ll give you face. You three are lucky. We’re leaving."
The burly man was decisive. With a wave of his hand, he led his men in retreat.
"Give us back our goods!" the young merchant yelled.
Tang Wen remained silent.
The burly man sneered.
They retreated to where their horses had fallen. They began butchering the dead animals for meat, rounded up the ones with minor injuries, and led them away.
’What a waste,’ Tang Wen thought. ’I killed their horses partly to make a statement, but I’d also hoped to keep the meat for myself.’
’I didn’t expect these Black Mountain Ghosts to be so resourceful.’
"Where are you from?" Once the burly man bringing up the rear had also departed, Tang Wen turned to the three merchants and asked.
The three cupped their fists and bowed deeply.
The middle-aged man in the lead said, "Sir Tang Wen, we are from Five Families City. We’re traveling merchants of the Lin Family."
Five Families City was a small city controlled by the Five Great Clans, which included the Lin, Wang, and Zheng families.
It was about a ten-day journey from the camp.
The camp’s short-haul caravans often traveled there.
"’How did you run afoul of them?’" Tang Wen asked, gesturing for the three to follow him.
The three followed. The middle-aged man gave a bitter smile. "We would never dare to provoke them. We were just on our usual route, visiting a mountain village to trade for furs and jerky. We have no idea how that village angered the Black Mountain Camp, but they were slaughtered. We ran for our lives but were still overtaken. Not only did we lose our entire investment, but they also sent men to hunt us down!"
"’The village didn’t provoke them at all! They just wanted to take slaves! Those goddamned Black Mountain Ghosts!’" the younger man, who had been silent until now, snarled, his eyes red-rimmed.
The middle-aged man sighed in grief.
The three of them lowered their heads, falling silent.
Tang Wen sighed inwardly. ’A universally hated power like the Black Mountain Camp should have been destroyed long ago.’
’Unfortunately, in this world where the strong prey on the weak, they thrived by constantly recruiting the most vicious and depraved individuals.’
After walking a bit further, Tang Wen pointed ahead. "You can help me with something, too. Help me carry these kills back."
"Of course."
"No problem."
The three readily agreed. But when they got closer and saw the carcasses on the ground, they froze.
"Black Hyenas!"
"A sand lizard?!"
After a two-second stupor, the three blurted out the names of the creatures on the ground, their faces etched with shock.
These were Middle-level Exotic Beasts—creatures they would normally flee from on sight.
Tang Wen waved a dismissive hand. "I got a little greedy and killed a few extra."
"You truly live up to your reputation, Sir Tang Wen! Even the Black Mountain Ghosts give way to you!" the middle-aged man said, full of admiration.
The three Martial Artists worked together to hoist the two Black Hyenas onto the donkeys.
A single Black Hyena weighed two or three hundred pounds, yet the donkey bore the weight with surprising stability.
That wasn’t all. They then tied on an even larger sand lizard.
The donkey’s legs buckled for a moment but then held firm.
Tang Wen was astonished. "No wonder you managed to escape their pursuit. Is this donkey an Exotic Beast?"
The middle-aged man patted the donkey’s head and said with a sigh, "You have a sharp eye, sir. She’s a large jenny, a crossbreed with a Middle-level Exotic Beast—the Black Mountain Donkey."
"She’s a real workhorse. Don’t let her humble appearance fool you. She can carry twenty-five hundred pounds of cargo, and pull several thousand pounds in a cart."
Tang Wen nodded. "What does she usually eat?"
"On a light day, a mix of beans, Maize, and some fodder is enough. But after a haul like today, she’ll need a few pounds of meat and a couple of eggs. Otherwise, she might just refuse to work next time."
"Not bad, not bad at all."
As they spoke, the two younger men finished loading the kills.
Sensing Tang Wen’s interest,
The middle-aged man took the donkey by the reins and said, "To repay you for saving our lives, sir, I wish to gift these two donkeys to you!"
Tang Wen was tempted but remained noncommittal. "We can discuss it later."
Halfway back, they met up with a party from the Hunting Team sent to meet them.
Everyone returned to the encampment together.
Draining the blood, skinning the hides, deboning the carcasses, and butchering the meat.
The three from the Lin Family Trading Team were remarkably efficient. In just half a day, they helped Tang Wen process over a dozen Exotic Beasts.
Before leaving, they insisted on leaving the two donkeys behind as repayment to Tang Wen.
Seeing how insistent they were, Tang Wen gave them several Black Hyena pelts, considering it an even trade.
The three departed, thanking him profusely.
Captain Liu said, "Black Mountain Camp has been on a rampage recently, slaughtering and capturing people everywhere. A lot of unfamiliar faces have shown up at our camp gates. After questioning them, we’ve learned they’re all refugees fleeing from the surrounding villages."
"To take them as slaves?"
Captain Liu shook his head, his voice cold. "It’s more than that. They’re seizing grain, water wells, and farmland. This time, they want everything. Any surplus people they capture, they’ll sell off in Ganshan City for food. At this rate, I fear their rampage will destroy all the nearby villages..."
Tang Wen stared out at the barren wilderness, silent for a long time.
That evening, he moved the meat to his family’s ice cellar. The Black Hyenas, sand lizards, and a moose amounted to seven or eight thousand pounds of meat in total, which finally filled about a fifth of the cellar’s bottom level.
Once everything was in order, he stepped out of the ice cellar.
...
The next day, Tang Wen washed up and headed out, preparing to hunt again.
’There was no other choice. The ice cellar was still mostly empty; he had to get more game.’
"Jump!"
The Blood Crow gave a nimble hop.
"Extend your left wing."
The Blood Crow froze.
Then it spread both wings at once.
Tang Wen reached out, closed its right wing, and then gently pulled out the left one.
...
Beast Taming Skill experience +1
On his way to the hunting grounds, Tang Wen continued to train the Blood Crow from horseback.
