Chapter 90: Growth

Hiding in the mountains and forests at night couldn’t be easier.

The Third Boss and his men found a sparsely wooded area, extinguished their torches, and waited for Yan Lao’er and the outsiders to walk into their trap.

They didn’t even bother hiding, so it was easy for the three searching for them to spot them.

The group was sprawled lazily on the ground, their blades and clubs set aside.

A rustling sound broke the silence.

Nine people swiftly stood up, two of them swinging their clubs in a wide arc.

A low bush was knocked sideways.

A startled cry of a wildcat rang out.

“Third Boss, it’s just a wildcat.”

The Third Boss nodded, and the group sat back down, returning to their lazy postures.

Qi Si and Qi Wu exchanged a glance—Yan Er’s warning was true.

These bandits were indeed planning to ambush them on the way.

Yan Lao’er was a little shaken.

These bandits were terrifying when they moved.

Their vigilance was off the charts.

He had only sent his cat out as a small test, making the slightest noise—something barely noticeable unless one paid close attention.

In the nighttime forest, small sounds were common. He hadn’t expected them to be this on edge.

The “startled” cat scurried back, curling up in Yan Lao’er’s arms, refusing to move again.

The three of them slowly retreated.

“Old Five, protect Yan Er. I’m going back to the village to deliver the message,” said Qi Si.

Yan Lao’er disagreed.

“It’s pitch dark, and the mountain paths are rough. You won’t find your way back.

Let me go. I know the way.”

With the cat in his hands, he was confident he wouldn’t get lost.

“Yan Er, you and Fourth Brother should go together. I’ll go back to find Brother Hu and the others,” Qi Wu said seriously. “The path we came from has no forks. I won’t get lost.

If you’re alone, we brothers won’t be at ease.”

Yan Lao’er asked, “Are you sure you can find your way back?”

Qi Wu nodded firmly.

“I can.”

“Alright. Then go back and tell Brother Hu to take the children and return to the mountain village first. We’ll meet you there.”

“Qi Si, let’s go.”

Yan Lao’er didn’t waste words. The three of them split into two groups.

—

The journey was rough, but when Yan Lao’er finally saw his eldest brother waiting up for them, he nearly burst into tears.

“Big Brother!” he called out emotionally.

Yan Huaiwen looked up to see his younger brother looking like he had just rolled out of a haystack, his face full of grievance.

“Tianyou, what happened?” He stood up abruptly, his voice tense.

“Big Brother, we were visiting the mountain village when the bandits from Cloud-Piercing Mountain suddenly showed up…” Yan Lao’er quickly recounted the events.

Yan Huaiwen immediately grasped the key point.

“If the bandits don’t see anyone coming, they’ll definitely return to the village!”

Yan Lao’er’s eyes widened. “Huh? Won’t they wait for me until morning?”

Yan Huaiwen was speechless. “Do you think they have that much patience?”

“What do we do?!” Yan Lao’er panicked, regretting his decision. “Er Ya, Er Tie, San Tie, Brother Hu, and Qi Wu are all still up in the mountains! I even told Qi Wu to wait for us in the village!”

“Tianyou, stay calm!” Yan Huaiwen said firmly. “Returning to the village was the right choice. If they ran into the bandits outside, it would be even more dangerous. At least in the village, there are more people. The bandits won’t be as reckless, or they wouldn’t have set an ambush in the first place.”

“From what you’ve told me, it seems that Cloud-Piercing Stronghold really intends to subdue the mountain villagers.”

“Uncle An and the others don’t want to be part of that, which is why I wanted them to come with us.

They know the mountains well and have a decent number of people. We’ll be safer together,” Yan Lao’er said.

Yan Huaiwen nodded in approval.

“You’re thinking correctly. Since they have decent character and don’t want to be bandits, leaving is the best option.”

Yan Lao’er grew anxious. “Big Brother, let’s put that aside for now. We need to go get them!”

“We do. But how?” Yan Huaiwen looked at him intently, his words carrying a deeper meaning.

But Yan Lao’er wasn’t thinking that far.

“There are only nine of them! We have more people! Even if they have knives, we’re not unarmed. Why should we be afraid?!”

Yan Huaiwen gave him a long look but said nothing.

Meanwhile, Qi Si had gone to find Luo Da.

His words were far simpler than Yan Lao’er’s.

“The bandits have probably noticed us. They’re blocking the road. The three kids, Brother Hu, and Qi Wu can’t get back.

We need to take them out.

We can’t let a single one escape.

If word gets out, we’re doomed.”

Older people are naturally light sleepers. Luo Village Chief had heard every word loud and clear.

And he understood one thing—Qi Si couldn’t have come up with this plan on his own.

On the road of survival, human life was cheap.

These young ones hadn’t experienced that yet. Following the Yan family, they had been relatively sheltered from suffering.

But the older folks knew better.

Luo Village Chief didn’t hesitate. He quickly got up to gather the other elders.

By the time the villagers had assembled before the Yan brothers,

—after being lectured who knows how many times—

their eyes were burning with fury, as if ready to charge into battle.

For the first time, Village Chief Luo interrupted the scholar.

“Those are bandits with the hearts of jackals and wolves! They don’t treat human lives as lives!

When they’re desperate from hunger, they even eat human flesh!

They kill the elderly because they’re useless, violate the women before killing them, and raise the young children just to fatten them up for food!

If you hesitate and let those beasts live, you’re sentencing your own elders, wives, and children to death!

Do you understand?! Do you get it?! If you can’t do it, speak now, or don’t drag everyone down when it matters most!”

Yan Lao’er was stunned.

What kind of ruthless speech was this?!

He turned to his big brother.

Yan Huaiwen nodded at him.

Yan Lao’er fell silent.

Li Xuemei suddenly grabbed his hand, squeezing tightly to stop her own trembling.

“Listen to me. Bring Da Bao back safe and sound.

You hear me? Neither of you are allowed to get hurt!

Those are beasts, not people! Don’t hesitate! Be ruthless!

Come back safe!”

Yan Lao’er saw the paleness of his wife’s face and felt his fear vanish.

“Don’t worry. We’ll all be fine. I promise!”

“I’ll be waiting. Come back quickly. Don’t make me wait too long!”

Yan Lao’er nodded solemnly. Under Li Xuemei’s unwavering gaze, he took up his crossbow and nodded at her before leaving without looking back.

Yan Huaiwen went with him.

Even Yan Xiangheng, the half-grown teenager, followed.

Other families saw and did the same.

Half-grown boys took up their bows and crossbows, stepping forward like adults.

Their mothers smiled through their tears.

They knew what their children were about to face.

In these harsh times,

Childhood was short.

They had to grow up fast—faster—faster still!

Village Chief Luo insisted on coming along.

He wasn’t at ease. He had to see with his own eyes that the bandits were dead.

He didn’t know how to explain grand principles.

He only knew one thing:

As long as the bandits lived, they couldn’t!