Chapter 2: Sister-in-Law, Open the Door

"Sister-in-law! Sister-in-law, open the door!"

Bathed in moonlight, Ye Tian knocked on the door of She Tou's house and called out softly.

After quite a while, the old wooden door finally went *creak* and was opened just a crack, revealing a pretty face peering out from behind it.

"Who are you?"

Her gaze toward Ye Tian was wary.

"Snake Sister-in-law, it's me, Ye Tian. Brother She Tou sent me."

"Ye Tian?" This book is first published on Tiantian Kan Novels — ttks. tw — excellent! Giving you a flawless, properly ordered reading experience.

Snake Sister-in-law's brows knit slightly, as if trying to recall the name Ye Tian — it did seem her husband had mentioned it.

"Snake Sister-in-law, terrible news!"

Giving her no chance to react, Ye Tian spoke in an urgent tone.

"Tonight Brother She Tou took us to Zhang Yuanwai's house to steal something, but we were spotted by his servants. Brother She Tou got beaten with several sticks and barely got away, but Zhang Yuanwai has already reported to the authorities. Soldiers are chasing Brother She Tou right now, so he sent me to come here quietly."

"What? That's impossible!"

Hearing that She Tou was being hunted by soldiers, Snake Sister-in-law instinctively objected.

But Ye Tian's voice followed right after.

"Brother She Tou said he's a man of the Black Water Gang, so he wants you to pack up all the valuables at home right now. We'll have the Black Water Gang step in — then he'll be fine."

"This..."

If before she still hadn't believed him, once Ye Tian mentioned the Black Water Gang, the wariness in Snake Sister-in-law's eyes clearly faded by more than half.

She Tou had only just recently joined the Black Water Gang, and she herself had only just learned of it — no stranger could possibly know.

"Snake Sister-in-law, Brother She Tou really is a man of the Black Water Gang? That's wonderful! As long as the Black Water Gang steps in, even the authorities will have to show face and release him."

Ye Tian's face was full of joy, looking every bit as if he were happy for She Tou.

Just then, a burst of hurried footsteps came from the distance.

Ye Tian's expression changed and he said quickly,

"Snake Sister-in-law, it must be the soldiers chasing Brother She Tou. Let me in and hide for a bit."

He squeezed himself into the house without waiting for an answer.

"Keep it down."

Though still suspicious, she let Ye Tian in.

The door had just been shut when they heard soldiers running past outside.

"Quick, this way!"

"Everyone keep up!"

Judging by the footsteps, there were quite a few soldiers.

Of course, this was Ye Tian's doing — he had reported to the authorities that someone had been killed in the city, and quite a few at that. No matter how little the yamen cared, they had to send men to take a look; they were merely passing by.

But Snake Sister-in-law didn't think that way.

Combined with what Ye Tian had said earlier, Snake Sister-in-law was now thoroughly convinced.

"How is my husband? Is he all right?"

In her agitation, the knife she had been hiding behind her back clattered to the floor.

Anyone living with She Tou couldn't be a good sort — Ye Tian had long heard of Snake Sister-in-law's reputation, and she was every bit as bad as She Tou, if not worse.

He'd heard she'd forced plenty of decent women into prostitution; the crimes she'd committed deserved death ten times over.

Up close, Ye Tian could see clearly that Snake Sister-in-law was not only pretty but had an excellent figure as well.

Not pausing to admire her, Ye Tian hurriedly replied,

"He only got beaten with a few sticks, he's fine for now. But She Tou told me to go find the Black Water Gang people, and I don't know who to look for."

"I know that one."

Hearing he was all right, Snake Sister-in-law was considerably relieved.

"My husband mentioned it to me — when something comes up, go to Linshui City and find someone called Gao Fei."

Seeing that Ye Tian had come back to deliver the message under such dangerous circumstances, clearly a loyal man, Snake Sister-in-law held nothing back.

"Great! Snake Sister-in-law, hurry and pack up anything important — we'll set out tonight!"

Linshui City was several dozen li from where they were; even traveling through the night, they wouldn't arrive until tomorrow.

"I promised Brother She Tou I'd definitely protect Snake Sister-in-law."

As Ye Tian spoke, his gaze was earnest, looking every bit like a man who would face death without fear to protect Snake Sister-in-law.

"All right!"

Snake Sister-in-law trusted him all the more.

She briskly went back inside to pack. Watching her retreating back, the anxious look on Ye Tian's face gradually gave way to a smile.

Just as Snake Sister-in-law set the packed bundle on the table and was wrapping it in cloth, Ye Tian's voice suddenly sounded behind her.

"Thank you, Snake Sister-in-law!"

"?"

Thank? Thank her for what?

The next instant!

"Mmph!"

Ye Tian clamped one hand over Snake Sister-in-law's mouth, and a dagger sank into her neck.

"Take deep breaths — feeling dizzy is normal!"

Even at the moment of death, Snake Sister-in-law's face was full of disbelief. Paying no heed to the corpse on the floor, Ye Tian looked at the things Snake Sister-in-law had packed — all valuables, this and that together worth perhaps fifty or sixty taels or so.

Adding the two hundred taels on him, along with the few qian of loose silver picked off those local thugs.

With this much money, it was enough for him to live freely for quite a long time.

Wiping the bloodstains clean from the dagger and packing up anything of value, Ye Tian took advantage of the moonlight, slipped quietly out of She Tou's house, and left the small town.

Upon reaching the outskirts of the small town, Ye Tian did not hurry to keep going, but waited beneath a tree instead.

"Boss!"

"Boss!"

At that moment, two figures walked over—both broad-shouldered, thick-backed burly men—looking at Ye Tian with eyes full of reverence.

"Mm!" Ye Tian merely nodded in acknowledgment, his gaze deep as he stared at the small town ahead, saying nothing.

And those two men, like iron towers, stood guard silently on either side of Ye Tian, watching the surroundings warily.

Before long, the sound of hurried footsteps came—another burly man running over.

"Boss."

These three were precisely the Primary Loyalty rewarded by the system's selection; however, they had not suddenly appeared in this world out of nowhere, but had found him by seeking him out as refugees.

"Well done."

A look of satisfaction crossed Ye Tian's face.

When these three loyal followers had first sought him out, Ye Tian had told one of them to go report the case to the yamen, and had instructed him to make sure the yamen sent people out.

The local yamen was used to being lax; if you simply reported a case, they wouldn't pay you any attention at all.

"It's all what we ought to do. Back then, if not for Boss's kindness of a single meal, the three of us would have died long ago. From now on, whatever Boss commands, the three of us will follow you unto death."

The two men at the side made the same pledge.

Their eyes were sincere, with no trace of any false emotion.

In his memory, the three of them had nearly starved to death back then; it was only because of the meal Ye Tian had given in charity that they had survived until now. Though it was unclear how three men who had nearly starved to death could have grown this burly.

One could only say that the power of the system was just that reasonable.

"Don't worry!" Patting one of them on the shoulder, Ye Tian made the same pledge.

"As long as I have a meal to eat, I will absolutely never let you go hungry."

Although they were loyal followers rewarded by the system, if they didn't eat their fill, they would still go hungry and grow weak all the same.

"Boss!"

The three men's faces showed emotion.

"Let's go, there's no time to lose. We set out tonight and reach Linshui City by noon tomorrow."

Although he didn't think the local yamen's dereliction of duty would lead them to investigate him, arriving at Linshui City sooner would be a bit safer.

None of the three men had any complaints, and they immediately followed in Ye Tian's footsteps.