The Second Young Master’s Obedient Husband : Chapter 80

After resting the next day, the merchant caravan continued on its way. Following the mountain road around a bend, up ahead was a long slope with dense, impenetrable forest on both sides. Wind passed through the grass and trees, rustling.

Liang Yu narrowed his eyes. Just as he was about to call for the caravan to stop, there was suddenly a commotion in the forest, and a group of people came rushing out with a great clamor.

Su Qingyu was sitting in the small compartment reading a storybook. He noticed the caravan had suddenly stopped and sensed something was off. He lifted the curtain and looked outside.

Liang Yu drew his blade and leaped down from the cart. He rapped on the window with a bent finger and said in a low voice, “Stay in the cart and be good. Don’t make a sound.”

He then lightly pinched his fingertip and let the curtain fall.

Su Qingyu’s hand paused. He obediently drew back, his heart beating uncontrollably. He shrank further into the corner, bit his lower lip tight, and fished out the short blade Liang Yu had prepared for him from the bundle in back. Like a kitten with its fur standing on end, he pricked up his ears and listened alertly to the movements outside the compartment.

There were roughly thirty to forty men who came, every one of them holding spears, blades, clubs, and staves. The leader was a sturdy man with a big bearded face, holding a cleaver in his hand. He stood in the middle of the road and roared, “I’ve been running these parts for so many years, and this is the first time I’ve seen such blind fools. If you don’t hand over the goods smartly on your own, and you even dare to kill my brother Hu Laosan’s men?!”

Liang Yu hid at the back of the group, holding his blade and leaning against the side of the compartment, listening leisurely to that man’s barking. He gave the man beside him a look. That glib tongued fellow understood and stepped out of the group, smiling apologetically. “We only entered the mountains today, sir. We don’t know anything about the people you’re talking about. We’re truly wronged. When we came up the mountain we saw a big caravan blocking our way and not letting us pass. We saw them heading that way before we dared to take this road. We’re small time traders. How would we dare to kill your men, sir?”

As he spoke, the man even pulled out a money pouch and stuffed it into Hu Laosan’s arms. “We’re just going to do some small business in a few nearby towns. We don’t earn even a few taels of silver in a year, barely enough to support our families. How could we be as impressive as you, sir? This bit of money is for you sirs to buy some wine. Consider it a token of respect from us little people.”

Hu Laosan took the pouch and squeezed it. Feeling that inside there were not only copper coins but also a few silver bits, he quickly stuffed it into his chest and pocketed it. Only then did he smile and pat that man’s shoulder. “You lot are quite sensible.”

Before the words had even landed, Hu Laosan suddenly pressed his blade against that man’s neck, his face darkening. “Even if it wasn’t you, you’re leaving the goods for me. You think you can send off this many of my men with this little money? You think you’re sending off beggars?!”

Qin Cheng saw from the back that the situation was turning bad. With one hand he grabbed that man’s collar and threw him backward. Gripping his blade, he chopped straight at Hu Laosan’s face. The dozen or so men had all been on the battlefield and killed enemies. They had seen bigger scenes than this. None of them panicked. The younger men behind them followed their example, every one of them grabbing their things and charging forward.

At first they were still somewhat hesitant, but then their momentum rose. They learned from the older men to chop at anyone who was not their own. Their blood ran hot and they were not afraid of getting hurt, striking fiercely and savagely.

Especially Liang Yu. His strikes were ruthless and dirty, aimed specifically at weak spots like the neck, head, and waist. The men he chopped bled profusely, red and white flowing everywhere. Yet Liang Yu’s face showed no expression at all, his movements as natural as if he were chopping not people but some livestock that could be slaughtered at will.

The leader Hu Laosan was dragged out of the crowd by Liang Yu. One strike took an arm. That Hu Laosan screamed like a pig being slaughtered. Liang Yu found it noisy and gave his neck another strike. The round object rolled to his feet, and Liang Yu kicked it into the pile of people.

Who knows which unlucky devil stepped on it and got blood splashed halfway up his body. His face went white with fright, and he hollered wildly, just like a pig being killed, making a terrible racket. The crowd gradually quieted down, all staring blankly at Liang Yu. Liang Yu casually tossed aside what was in his hand, wiped the blood splashed on his face with his thumb, his other hand holding the dripping blade. His brows and eyes were fierce, the very image of the King of Hell walking the earth. Impatiently he looked at the silenced crowd and said in a deep voice, “If you want to live, get lost.”

The remaining bandits did not even take the weapons they had brought. They ran with all their might, afraid that if they ran one step slower, the living King of Hell would chase them down and hack them to death.

Qin Cheng spat and cursed them cowards. The men burst into laughter and went about their business. With nimble hands and feet, they cleaned up the ground in no time. Those who needed washing washed. Those who needed medicine applied medicine. A young man who had never experienced such things vomited wildly under a tree. The older men laughed at him and handed him water and medicine. Under Qin Cheng’s deliberate guidance, the atmosphere in the group was not bad at all.

Liang Yu went to the river and cleaned the blood and filth off his body, then washed his blade too. He came back and sat on the cart shaft, took out a cloth, and wiped his blade.

Su Qingyu lifted the carriage curtain and came out. Although he had not seen any of the bloody scene, he was still frightened pale by the lingering smell of blood.

Liang Yu turned back and met his gaze. He wrapped the blade in cloth and put it away, reached out to pull him into his arms, and kissed his forehead. He said gently, “It won’t happen again from now on.”

Su Qingyu leaned against his shoulder, made a muffled sound of agreement, calmed his emotions, and got down from the cart to help them busy themselves together.

After that they truly did not encounter mountain bandits again. The bandits had their own channels of information among themselves. They knew perfectly well which north south merchant caravals they could touch and which they could not. Liang Yu struck hard, this group of men was fierce too, and the goods were not especially valuable. There was no need to truly risk their lives to rob them.

The caravan continued south without any more bandits daring to intercept them.

With nothing much happening on the road, the men started chatting idly. Qin Cheng was three or four years older than Liang Yu and was originally a steady sort. Perhaps the road was too boring, for even he was drawn into their lively mood and opened up. “This kid Liang Er looks like he doesn’t like to talk, but when he fights he’s like the King of Hell. Back then he made squad leader on the battlefield entirely through real skill, not a drop of water in it.”

The young men’s eyes shone as they listened. Another man who had been in the same unit as Liang Yu picked up. “Isn’t that right? A young man of seventeen or eighteen, not the least bit timid on the battlefield. Back then my legs even went soft for a moment. But him? He held his blade and chopped at anyone he saw. That year in battle, he chopped down more than ten men by himself. You should have seen that scene. I threw up when I got back. He still had the mind to eat. Second Master Liang, I truly admire him.”

They finished their idle chatter in a few words. The two of them seemed to remember something and fell silent. After a while, that man sighed. “Finally no more fighting.”

Qin Cheng made a sound of agreement, patted that man’s shoulder, and changed the subject.

Su Qingyu sat beside Liang Yu, leaning against his shoulder listening to them talk. He lifted his head to look at his face, drew close, and kissed him on the lips.

Liang Yu gazed at the road ahead, his expression unreadable, holding the reins in his hand, not knowing what he was thinking about. He did not even react when Su Qingyu kissed him.

Su Qingyu quietly reached out and grasped his other hand, the one not holding the reins. His eyes curved into crescents, and he kissed him again.

Only then did Liang Yu come back to his senses. He turned his hand and held Su Qingyu’s, his expression softening. He scratched the center of Su Qingyu’s palm with his thumb pad.

Su Qingyu instinctively wanted to pull his hand back, but Liang Yu grabbed it and kneaded it back and forth. At first Su Qingyu was good natured and let him play. After a while he got annoyed from all the kneading and glared at Liang Yu with a huff. Only then did Liang Yu’s eyes crinkle with laughter. He properly held Su Qingyu’s hand and stopped moving.