Chapter 4: with translation of chapter title

【......】

【You anticipated that Cui Lao San would not give up easily, made ample preparations, and stayed on guard. Relying on a surge of blood‑courage, you successfully asserted dominance and killed three drifters who were looking for a chance to strike.】

【Killing someone on the street, you felt no discomfort. Although your body went weak, you temporarily preserved your life. The other party, knowing your ruthlessness, could only report this to Ya Pozi, a notorious human trafficker who had been rampant for years and was infamous for her viciousness.】

【Will she just let you off so easily?】

「Sure enough! 」

Jiang Xiaomu took a deep breath and involuntarily clenched his fist.

He was right.

The text displayed on the system interface was indeed a record of his, Jiang Xiaomu's, life, but it is not immutable; as long as he can successfully respond, he can completely rewrite his future.

「But what we need to consider now is Ya Pozi: 」

Jiang Xiaomu inhaled, his brows furrowing tighter.

Although he had escaped a deadly situation, allowing him to successfully rewrite his fate, Jiang Xiaomu knew better than anyone that in this chaotic world, war flared everywhere.

The collapsing Great Qian dynasty simply had no capacity to care for these displaced drifters.

In chaotic times, lives are as cheap as grass—this is not just an empty line in history books; otherwise, the officials and nobles of Wangzhou City could not sit by while tens of thousands of drifters silently awaited death beneath the city walls.

Having just killed three people in succession, that was enough to intimidate the surrounding drifters and ruffians with ill intent.

But Jiang Xiaomu also understood that this did not include Ya Pozi, who wielded power among the drifters; a profiteer of chaos would not care about the law, nor be intimidated by his record of killing three.

Nothing else—just because he was alone and weak.

"I must think of a way; relying solely on myself, I might dodge overt and covert attacks, but if they swarm me, unless I am a martial arts master, I can only wait to die."

Jiang Xiaomu muttered.

The life offered by the system can be rewritten, which is enough for Jiang Xiaomu to find some clues in the text to avoid danger, but this is likewise relative and not omnipotent.

For example, Ya Pozi, without hesitation, rounded up a dozen or so ruffians to swarm forward.

Relying on the ice pick in his hand, which hardly counts as a weapon, let alone protecting Xiao Lüzhu from threat, he feared even his own life would be forfeit.

Just......

"What should I do?"

Jiang Xiaomu closed his eyes and began to ponder.

Early the next morning, Jiang Xiaomu opened his eyes; the sky was already faintly light.

The glaring white snow grew a bit heavier; he moved his stiff body from sitting all night, wrapping the soundly sleeping Jiang Xiaoyu a little tighter.

Around them, many drifters emitted intermittent, sorrowful cries.

Every night, drifters suffering from hunger and cold fail to wake in the bitter wind, losing their lives. If relatives are still alive, perhaps they can gather the remains and bury them on a patch of earth.

Many more are simply wrapped in straw mats by the city guards on patrol, tossed onto the hinterland's potter's field, and hastily buried.

At first Jiang Xiaomu felt some sympathy, but seeing it so often, he naturally grew numb.

When the weather warmed a little, he then woke Jiang Lüzhu and led her toward the center where the drifters gathered.

"Brother, where are we going?"

"To get something to eat."

Jiang Xiaomu said with a smile.

"Really?"

At the mention of food, Xiao Lüzhu's eyes lit up and her stomach growled traitorously.

But not knowing what she had thought of, Jiang Xiaoyu's face turned pale in an instant, and she hurriedly shook her head: "Brother, Xiao Lüzhu isn't hungry, really, Xiao Lüzhu isn't hungry at all."

Jiang Xiaomu knew Xiao Lüzhu was probably thinking of yesterday's events again; he could only helplessly shake his head and affectionately pat her little head.

He certainly had no intention of selling Xiao Lüzhu.

And the reason Jiang Xiaomu headed for the center where the drifters were most concentrated was singular.

The drifters were too numerous, and their factions were intricately intertwined; it was not that Ya Pozi alone dominated—where there are people, there is the jianghu, and likewise there are conflicts.

And Jiang Xiaomu thought this through clearly.

The enemy's enemy is a friend.

"Stand there, you bastard, the sun's rising in the west—where did this blind beggar come from, barging in? Don't you know whose turf this is?"

A voice sounded, blocking their path.

At that moment, the drifters gathered here scattered far and wide, lest they invite trouble from the voice's owner and suffer needless disaster.

Only Jiang Xiaomu stood in place, calm of expression, merely silently pulling his sister behind him.

Although he had originally been unfamiliar with that voice, seeing the reaction of the surrounding drifters made him understand the speaker's origin.

Ge Heizi was somewhat short, but among the drifters he appeared quite sturdy, possessing considerable strength; even without posing, his face bore a hint of ferocity unlike that of ordinary drifters.

The wind was bleak and the cold pierced to the bone, yet Ge Heizi deliberately bared half his shoulder so everyone could see the black tiger tattoo etched there!

That is the origin of Ge Heizi and his fellows, and also their greatest reliance as they band together to roam among the drifters.

Everyone's shoulder bears the same black tiger tattoo, for they are the military households of the Border Defense Army belonging to the frontier pass.

After the northern pass suffered a crushing defeat, the Border Defense Army had long since collapsed into disarray; these military households could only follow the drifters southward in search of a livelihood.

However, among the military households, ties are naturally close, and they also incorporate defeated soldiers of the Border Defense Army; compared to ordinary drifters, they are united and fierce, possess genuine weapons, and petty ruffians hardly have the standing to challenge them.

Jiang Xiaomu turned his head, deliberately sizing up his shoulder first, then asked in a low voice: "Are you Ge Heizi Boss?"

Based on Ge Heizi's status, he originally was not worthy of the title Boss.

But under someone else's eaves, one must bow; Jiang Xiaomu calculated the other's psychology and deliberately added the title Lao Da to adopt a lower stance.

Sure enough, Ge Heizi's hostility vanished; he feigned nonchalance by revealing his shoulder a bit later.

"You little brat look like you've done your homework on us, coming prepared. Speak, what's the matter?"

Jiang Xiaomu didn't waste words, directly stating his purpose: "I want to see Hu Lao Da."

"You?"

"Yes, I want to sell people! I hope Hu Lao Da accepts!"

Ge Heizi looked behind him and saw the cold and frightened Jiang Xiaoyu, a look of realization appearing on his face.

"All right, count yourself lucky, kid, Hu Lao Da happens to be free."

"With such fine goods, the kid can ask for a good price."

People like them, military households, weren't originally in the business of buying and selling children.

But with many refugees, everyone's livelihood is difficult, with no way to make a living, those who sell their sons and daughters are by no means few.

Such a livelihood, being common among refugees, naturally someone sees its profit; Hu Lao Da's gang also inevitably gets involved secretly.

Thus, the military households represented by Hu Lao Da have long been at odds with Shapozi, not just over a momentary rivalry but due to deep-seated conflicts of interest.

"The enemy of an enemy is a friend!"

With Jiang Xiaomu's abilities, it's absolutely impossible to oppose Shapozi; the only way is to first join Hu Lao Da, exploit their conflict, and then possibly find a way to survive.

"Hey, Lao Da, there's a good deal!"

Ge Heizi led Jiang Xiaomu to a campfire, whereupon seeing Hu San Dao, he immediately put on a fawning smile.

Hu San Dao is precisely the 'big knife mouth' of this military household band, and he was once a soldier of the border garrison, having truly licked blood on the battlefield and witnessed battlefield carnage, a veteran.

One of his eyes is blind, and his face also bears a horizontal knife scar.

These wounds were all gained on the battlefield, but now they have become one of his tools for intimidating the refugees.

Not to mention his muscular build, just his appearance alone makes the refugees dare not harbor any thought of resistance.

Moreover, he idly plays with a steel knife in his hand.

That's not a knife for street performers' tricks, but a military-issue blade that has drunk who knows how much human blood!

Hu San Dao lazily said: "The weather's turning cold, it could freeze a person to death; the brothers have to haul corpses every day—where's there any business to be done?"

Ge Heizi licked his face and smiled: "Boss, look, someone's brought a person themselves—truly fine goods, young in age, but mighty tempting."

Only then did Hu San Dao turn his gaze to the Jiang Xiaomu siblings.

He sized up Jiang Lüzhu, his eyes lighting up slightly as he raised his hand.

"The goods are not bad; take him downstairs, reward him with two links of cured sausage and a bundle of wet firewood—if any good goods come later, remember Grandpa Hu's connections!"

"Once the goods are sold, Grandpa Hu will remember your merit, kid!"

"Got it, thanks!"

Ge Heizi thought everything was settled, but Jiang Xiaomu suddenly stepped forward.

"Grandpa Hu, don't get it wrong! I'm not selling my sister—I'm selling myself!"

"What?"

Ge Heizi froze completely.

Hu San Dao directly kicked him in the buttocks.

"Damn it! Where'd you get this brat, to amuse Grandpa Hu!"

Ge Heizi took the kick for nothing, but dared not complain; he just wanted to take out his anger on Jiang Xiaomu.

Jiang Xiaomu's reaction was much faster; he hurriedly blurted: "I've killed before! I've got ruthless grit, and I bear a grudge against Shapozi! Grandpa Hu wants people to fight Shapozi to the death—I'm willing to take the lead and follow Grandpa Hu in battling Shapozi!"

Unexpectedly, Hu San Dao burst out laughing upon hearing Jiang Xiaomu's shout.

The burly men accompanying him also jeered.

"Based on you? Do you have even two taels of meat on you?"

Hu San Dao stood up directly, the flesh on his chest shaking three times.

"Killed someone? You haven't even asked what my background is! Around here, the last thing lacking is men who've wielded a knife!"

"If I were to rely on trash like you to fight Shapozi, I'd have long been dumped as a corpse in the Wei Family River!"

"Ge Heizi, you brought the person—keep the female, dispose of the male."

Hu San Dao's gaze fell upon Jiang Xiaoyu, shining with satisfaction.

Fortunately, having a girl in hand isn't a total loss.

Ge Heizi had long wanted to make a move; hearing this, he revealed a cruel smile.

And before Jiang Xiaomu's eyes, the system interface popped up again, with updated content.

【…】

【You plot to use the enemy of Shapozi's gang, the military household Hu San Dao, to oppose them and gain a foothold. Even if it means temporarily becoming Hu San Dao's killing blade, it will not be spared!】

【However, Hu San Dao comes from a military household, and his surroundings are never lacking in brave and fierce fellows. Yet you have overestimated your own worth; even if you have ruthless fighting spirit, you lack an extraordinary physique. Hu San Dao does not value you, but rather values Jiang Xiaoyu's worth more.】

【If there is no other way to truly move Hu San Dao, and he deems you are playing with him, to preserve his own dignity he will surely take your life. And Jiang Xiaoyu's tragic fate thereafter will not change in the slightest.】

Jiang Xiaomu took a long breath.

The system's prompt made it clear to him that he had indeed overestimated his own worth; his previous calculations had come to nothing, and he must immediately devise a response.

However, his face showed no panic; instead, he seized the opportunity to calmly observe the reactions of Hu San Dao's gang.

"Grandpa Hu not valuing my strength doesn't matter, but I can help Grandpa Hu produce and sell salt! Grandpa Hu, don't you want to learn the method of salt production?"

"Wait!"

Jiang Xiaomu, as expected, heard Hu San Dao's call and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.