Plus, this shipnt consisted entirely of jars and pots, making a faster journey impossible.
Therefore, reaching Tuman City within a day was out of the question.
However, between Hutou City and Tuman City lay i Village, a settlent quite renowned along this route.
Beifeng Prefecture was ho to nurous forts, so densely packed one might say they were. These so-called forts were essentially small fortresses.
Although nearly a hundred years had passed without large-scale conflicts between the Desert Barbarians and Yan State, minor frictions had never ceased.
As a result, the common folk along the Beifeng Prefecture border naturally began to band together, building their own defensive villages. If desert tribes raided from the south, these communities would rely on their fortifications to resist and await reinforcents from the state army.
Smaller forts might house only a few hundred people, while larger ones could accommodate as many as ten thousand. Naturally, however, they couldn’t compare in scale to cities. They were scattered across Beifeng Prefecture like inverted iron spikes. Unless the Desert Barbarians amassed a significant force, they would only find themselves impaled and bloodied, as these forts each possessed their own ard militias.
Should the Barbarians gather such a force, or even show signs of doing so, the Northern Garrison Army would naturally have its target.
i Village wasn’t considered a large fort, with a population of just over a thousand and fewer than two hundred n capable of bearing arms.
However, its pri location, coupled with the current i Village Master’s excellent business acun, had transford it into a popular rest stop on the official road connecting Tuman City and Hutou City.
Consequently, life in i Village was quite prosperous.
By dusk, the caravan finally arrived at i Village.
Attendants from i Village ca to et them, offering food for the people and fodder for their mules and horses. As long as one paid, all kinds of services could be enjoyed here.
i Village even hosted establishnts of Siniang’s original trade.
Xiao Yibo once again proactively stepped forward, offering his back as a human stool for Blind Bei to dismount the carriage, all under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
Were the age difference not so great, onlookers might have mistaken him for a son dutifully serving his blind, elderly father.
"Mr. Bei, I have arranged a top-notch room for you in i Village. Please rest," Xiao Yibo said respectfully.
Blind Bei nodded, indicating he understood.
Xiao Yibo quickly turned to his wife and concubine, ordering, "Quickly, attend to Mr. Bei and help him to his room."
"Yes, husband," they replied in unison.
Xue Three stood to the side, silently twirling his dagger, observing as Blind Bei enjoyed the attentions of both won.
Xiao Yibo then approached Xue Three, saying respectfully, "Master Three, I have reserved the top girl in i Village for you. Please enjoy."
Xue Three nodded, sprang up, and slapped Xiao Yibo on the shoulder.
He was very pleased. Damn it, finally soone recognizes my specialty!
After Blind Bei and Xue Three had gone inside, Xiao Yibo turned around to instruct his n to unload and secure the goods and make other arrangents.
「...」
The guest room was indeed splendid. In this fort, situated in the wilderness, there was surprisingly a small building styled with the elegance of a Jiangnan water town. The room’s decor was also full of scholarly charm.
Blind Bei sat on the edge of the bed. Xiao Yibo’s wife and concubine exchanged uncertain glances. Just as the two won, gritting their teeth, were about to close the door—one intending to do so, the other to prepare the bed—they found a short figure had already darted inside ahead of them.
"Yo, getting ready for bed already?" Xue Three teased, tilting his head.
"Let’s have dinner together," Blind Bei proposed.
"Sure."
Right then, attendants from i Village delivered their al. The food was excellent and exquisitely prepared.
At noon, they had only managed to eat so dry rations, so this dinner tasted exceptionally delicious.
One woman attended to each man, pouring wine and serving food.
After a satisfying al, Xue Three yawned, then pointed at the two won. "Blind man, you can’t hog them both. Do you want the older one or the younger one?"
Blind Bei replied lightly, "Only children make choices."
"Damn it, you can’t be this greedy! Are you trying to make fight you for them?"
"Isn’t there a top courtesan waiting for you in your room?"
"A courtesan isn’t as interesting as these two, HEH HEH."
"I give up on you." Saying this, Blind Bei turned to the two won. "Go and freshen yourselves up. Return shortly."
The won, having overheard the previous conversation, turned a bit pale but nodded and left the room together.
"Hurry up, don’t dawdle! I can’t wait any longer!"
From behind the closed door, Xue Three’s impatient urging, mingled with his licentious laughter, could still be heard.
"MWAHAHAHA!"
「...」
SQUEAK...
The door to the main hall was pushed open, and a servant from i Village entered.
At that instant, everyone in the hall—a hundred or so n who had been eating—stopped their actions simultaneously.
So wore armor, others were bare-chested, but all had weapons by their sides. Without exception, they were formidable-looking n.
At the main table, Xiao Yibo sat with an elderly man dressed in luxurious clothes.
The servant who had just entered approached the elder, bent down, and whispered, "Fort Master, they’ve eaten. They’ve just called for the two little ladies to bathe and prepare to attend to them in bed. It seems... it seems they plan to enjoy them together."
While speaking, the servant intentionally glanced at Xiao Yibo, who was seated beside his master.
The n at the surrounding tables all eyed Xiao Yibo, many with smirks on their faces.
HEH HEH...
The elder set down the small bottle he was holding and leaned back slightly. Then, slowly opening his eyes, he sighed, "So this is the perfu? It truly is a remarkable item. What this bottle holds isn’t re water; it’s pure gold."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yibo imdiately rose from his seat and knelt before the elder. "I implore you, Uncle, to avenge my father! As long as you, Uncle, can help this nephew eliminate those two villains, not only will this entire shipnt of goods be yours, but the perfu formula as well!"
The elder extended his hands to help Xiao Yibo up. "Aiya, my dear nephew, there’s no need for such formalities. Our families have been friends for generations. Your father was slain by wicked n; it is only right and proper for my i Village to help you seek revenge. Why speak of rewards? What kind of person do you take , i Wannian, for?"
"This junior wouldn’t dare presu. Right now, my only desire is revenge, and I am truly counting on you, Uncle."
"Indeed. Such scoundrels, everyone has the right to execute them!"
Having said this, i Wannian couldn’t resist reaching out to touch the perfu bottle again.
Xiao Yibo added, "Uncle, you must be careful. Those two—one blind, the other short—are not easy to deal with. Otherwise, my father... my father wouldn’t have..." he trailed off, choking back sobs.
"Nephew, rest assured. Didn’t you hear? They’ve already consud the al I prepared for them. Heh heh. In a short while, even if they are both graded masters—even if they are formidable experts of the Seventh or Eighth Rank—they will surely perish! It is rely a pity about your two lovely ladies."
Xiao Yibo imdiately shook his head. "They were rely two defiled wretches. Their deaths are a clean end; they are not worth pitying. A true man need never worry about finding a wife."
"That is the spirit. It is best that you can see it this way, Nephew. The enmity from a father’s murder is absolute. Now, watch closely. I will have my n avenge your father for you!"
BANG!
i Wannian slapped the table before him and, as the Fort Master, barked, "Have you all eaten your fill?!"
"Eaten our fill!"
"Just waiting for the Fort Master’s order!"
"Aye!"
"Waiting!"
i Wannian nodded. "Good. Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. Though they are poisoned, we must not be careless. n! Tonight, follow to slay the villains!"
Xiao Yibo, seemingly swept up by the atmosphere, also rose. He drew the saber from his waist and roared, "Slay the villains!"
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