Chapter 146

The continuous cries of women mingled with the cursing voices of people. Some were hitting others, while some didn’t even glance at those lying on the ground coughing up blood.

This place, worse than a slum, made Yueqian feel exasperated. The people here were too cruel. The longer they stayed in this wretched place, the darker their hearts became.

Two people walked in wearing gray cloaks that looked very old. They seemed to be part of the same group as these destitute people, though slightly better off since they at least had clothes that didn’t need patching.

As they walked further in, a number of people watched them with interest. Mu Heng kept a hold on his wife, fearing that they might be attacked. If these people realized that they were wealthy and had wandered into this place, they would likely swarm them and not let them leave.

“The other day, I walked to the caretaker’s house. It seems he has some influence here because at least, people are afraid of him. Before, he used to be a powerful military figure, but his family committed crimes and were executed. He had some merit, so he wasn’t executed, but his life has been difficult,” Mu Heng explained to his young wife.

Yueqian nodded in acknowledgment. They should have tried to figure out a solution in the manor, but they couldn’t think of anything. So, Yueqian suggested they come and ask the locals. Mu Heng mentioned meeting a man with some power in this impoverished area.

The day he and his younger siblings came to this dreadful area, they found themselves surrounded by a large crowd that wouldn’t let them leave. Initially, they thought they would have to fight, but suddenly a big man appeared and with just one word, no one dared to bother Mu Heng and his siblings anymore.

To get information, you had to deal with people like him!

Soon, they reached a small tent made from layers of old cloth, with soil around the base to prevent insects from entering easily.

"Yawn!" The big man was sitting with his head propped up, dozing off, making a sound as if he was utterly bored.

His arms bore numerous severe wounds, and even his face had sword marks, showing just how many battles he had been through.

Yueqian narrowed her eyes cautiously. This man was dangerous for her!!

Even though he seemed very sleepy, if anyone got close to harm him, his reaction would be lightning fast. Besides, would a truly sleepy person sit there with their head propped up? With nothing else to do, why wouldn’t he just lie down in his tent?

It seemed more like he was on guard duty, protecting something. At least on the day Mu Heng and his siblings came, it was this man who stepped in to help them just in time.

"Brother, brother," Mu Heng called out a few times. The big middle-aged man slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with a murderous aura, clearly showed his irritation at being disturbed from his sleep.

But when he saw Mu Heng and Yueqian, his brows furrowed, and he waved them off before going back to sleep.

"Leave me alone. Get lost!" His voice clearly showed he wasn’t welcoming them, but Mu Heng persisted.

"Brother, let’s talk. I promise I can make it worth your while," Mu Heng tossed him ten brass coins without hesitation. The other party was also very quick. Even with his eyes closed, he easily grabbed the money and put it away.

"Get lost. I’m not talking to you."

"But you’ve accepted the money, so let’s talk a bit," Mu Heng persuaded. The man looked at the money in his hand, wanting to throw it away but ultimately tucking it into his shirt.

"What do you want?" The other party’s hostile eyes glared at them. His demeanor clearly showed his displeasure, but he seemed resigned to the situation. He didn’t want to talk but knew he couldn’t refuse now that he had accepted the money.

"Why do you and the others stay here? Don’t you want to go somewhere else?" Mu Heng asked. This question, although Yueqian had already explained this, he still wanted to hear it from someone living here again.

Were they really so afraid that they wouldn’t leave, even though this place was a living hell? Was that truly possible?

"Go somewhere else? Where to? Huh!"

"To a distant city where you wouldn’t starve. You could forage for food there," Mu Heng suggested. At this, the middle-aged man chuckled, looking at Mu Heng with utter contempt.

"Starve? Do you think I’m afraid of starving?" Feeling mocked, Mu Heng was even more confused. If the other party wasn’t afraid of starving, then why stay here? Why endure being a beggar, subject to people’s curses?

"Then why don’t you leave?"

"And why should I?" The other party retorted.

Indeed, if he wasn’t afraid of starving, then why should he leave to another city?

"Even so, what does the capital have that prevents you from leaving? Are you clinging to this place just because it’s your hometown?" Mu Heng asked again, only to be laughed at.

"My hometown? My hometown died with my family."

"Then why do you stay here?" Mu Heng asked once more. The middle-aged man saw Mu Heng’s seriousness and couldn’t understand why he was asking. What benefit would knowing this give him?

"I stay here because I want to. It has nothing to do with you. Leave! This place isn’t suitable for people like you."

Waved away again, Mu Heng could only sigh. Even now, he didn’t understand the situation. If the other party had said they were afraid to travel or something similar, he would feel more at ease.

"My husband wants to help everyone here to make a name for himself. As a former brave soldier, can’t you help him?" Yueqian saw that her husband was cornered and speechless, so she spoke up on his behalf.Mu Heng was slightly surprised. He didn’t expect Yueqian to be so straightforward. Naturally, the big man in front of them was surprised too. Normally, who would admit that they wanted to do good deeds for their own gain? It must be only this brave woman in front of him.

"Who are you trying to help, and why? No one here wants your help."

"How could they not need help? All the way here, everyone was crying."

"You saw people crying, but did you see anyone asking you for help?" The middle-aged man raised an eyebrow. Of course, Mu Heng tried to think, but he couldn’t recall anyone asking for help. At most, they begged for food or money.

"Everyone here stays willingly. Even I am willing to be here. We may seem to struggle, but we are not heartless. Staying here serves a purpose," the middle-aged man said before slowly closing his eyes, leaving Mu Heng to contemplate his thoughts as they drift away.

The old man had hit the nail on the head. No one here wanted to escape. They were all here and willing to stay. They didn’t want to move; they wanted the right kind of help.

But why? What was it that they needed?

The question of "Why do they stay here?" likely wouldn’t yield an answer. Therefore, only one option remained, which was to help them with their immediate needs. Moreover, merely helping them wouldn’t bring great recognition. The help needed to impact the capital, making people there aware of the situation and generating benefits for the capital as well.

But how to do it—that was the question that needed answering.

While Mu Heng was deep in thought, Yueqian suddenly had a revelation.

A middle-aged man with combat skills, whose family was wrongfully executed due to false accusations, harbored a deep grudge and always awaited an opportunity for revenge. The Eastern General’s family was his enemy. They were the ones who brought the false information that led to his family’s downfall, although it was all to secure the current emperor’s ascension to the throne.

Ultimately, his grudge was directed at the Deng family and the emperor. His opportunity came when the Hu Kingdom requested a princess from the emperor as tribute. The emperor ordered the son of the Eastern General to escort her to the Hu Kingdom safely.

Therefore, the man with the grudge lay in wait, hoping to kill the emperor’s daughter who was being sent as a tribute. This crime would lead to severe punishment for the Eastern General’s family, and the emperor himself would be targeted by the Emperor of the Hu Kingdom. This would allow him to deal with both of his enemies at once.

However, the other party was unaware that the son of the Great General of the East was divinely favored. Not only did he fail to kill the princess, but he was also killed in the process.

This was a minor subplot in one episode. The young princess had always loved Young General. Being sent as tribute deeply saddened her. Her unrequited love was deeply sorrowful. When such events occurred, Young General helped her and even sustained injuries for her.

All of this made the princess decide that, although she couldn’t be his lover, she could still act for him. By surviving the journey to the Hu Kingdom, he would gain much merit. As for her love for him, she would keep it hidden as deep as possible. One day, if she became favored by the Hu emperor, she would request an honorable reward for him.

To make him the supreme commander over the people of the Du Kingdom, to elevate him to greatness!!

Since this character appeared only to die, he merely vented his rage with a few curses before engaging in a fatal fight with Young General. Therefore, Yueqian didn’t notice him at first.

Moreover, his current state was quite dire. Even though he exuded a threatening aura, in his condition, he wouldn’t easily win any battle, especially against his enemy who was a general.

However, remembering this now made Yueqian want to laugh. She almost lost her best potential ally. If that had happened, it would make her feel deeply regret.

"Brother, let’s leave. Let this blind dog wait in the pigsty to settle his accounts. Such a person is not worth your attention. He... even though someone killed his own family, he couldn’t do anything. All he can do is wait here like a dead man, watching his enemies grow stronger. How pathetic," Yueqian sneered, looking at the man with contempt.

The middle-aged man’s eyes blazed. If Mu Heng hadn’t stepped in to block him, he probably would have strangled Yueqian until she got hurt!!

"You know nothing. How dare you look down on me!!" The resentment that was aroused made him unable to suppress his anger anymore. His voice thundered so loudly that even his tent shook.

The man’s bloodshot eyes didn’t scare Yueqian at all. On the contrary... they made her smile with even more satisfaction!Yes, hate as much as you want, rage as much as you can, because in the end, the enemy of her enemy is her laborers !!