Chapter 65: Reward

Grand Master, that grandson is too damn slippery, the brothers can't catch him!

Another brother got killed? At the shrine gate, Zhou Buping's face was darker than the bottom of a pot.

The man who came to report, sweating nervously on his forehead, stammered: "Yes, again... another seven brothers are dead. The big guy has already been very careful, and we've thrown away what we should. But that grandson appears and disappears unpredictably, impossible to guard against."

He cut down a brother in front, and when the brothers chased after him, he suddenly appeared from behind, slashed once and ran; it happened several times like that.

When the brothers became wary, he suddenly changed tactics, boldly appearing before us; even more infuriating, he provoked us, calling us pigs. The brothers went after him fiercely, he led them in circles around the village, running back and forth a few times, then suddenly launched a revolving horse spear attack.

That kid runs too much; the brothers are exhausted like dogs, yet he remains full of vigor and tiger-like ferocity.

Zhou Buping was about to die of anger, he raised his hand and slapped: "A bunch of idiots, you so many people are being led around like a dog by a single opponent. On the battlefield, this is losing the initiative, being controlled by the enemy."

The man who got slapped, his face full of resentment, muttered: "Yes, the brothers all think that grandson is a military veteran fresh from the battlefield, obviously disciplined."

Shut up!" Zhou Buping shouted angrily, "Let the brothers all withdraw, block the outside, set fire to this lousy village; the laborers just don't believe he alone can stir up much trouble."

Yes.

While the two were speaking, someone else rushed into the courtyard.

Grand Master, troops are coming!

Zhou Buping suddenly stood up and shouted loudly: "Forget that kid, retreat quickly!"

……

Chen Wuji was about to collapse from exhaustion.

He had also grown accustomed to killing.

He never imagined that one day he could calmly watch another's head fall before him, and even, when that person turned into a gushing fountain, composure lift their head up.

Now eight ferocious heads were piled beside him.

That's a very auspicious number; he planned to later give it to the Landlord Deity as thanks for helping him watch the cloth.

The village's sounds suddenly became chaotic, a noisy uproar.

Chen Wuji poked half his head out from the roof where he was hiding, looking toward the source of the sound.

The refugees again hoisted their big and small bundles, while women fled in panic.

Did I scare them witless? No way—there are only a few of them, maybe fourteen or fifteen at most?" Chen Wuji muttered doubtfully, and immediately he saw a large number of soldiers.

The provincial troops from Yunan City have arrived.

Damn, these guys finally showed up." Chen Wuji's tense nerves instantly relaxed.

Grabbing the gruesome heads beside him, Chen Wuji jumped down from the high house and walked toward the Landlord's temple.

But before he reached the Landlord's temple, he was surrounded by a group of provincial troops.

Sir Assistant Officers, I'm not a refugee; I was robbed by refugees and blocked from leaving the village." Chen Wuji shouted loudly, his appearance indeed somewhat frightening, so he needed to explain.

Several provincial troops, seeing Chen Wuji covered in blood, holding a string of heads like a demon, were stunned for a moment.

Looking like that, you claim you were robbed by refugees?" a provincial troop shouted.

Indeed, they robbed me first, then I killed a few of them in anger." Chen Wuji said, he really did that, not a word of falsehood.

Could you prove your identity?" a person resembling an officer stepped forward.

Chen Wuji produced the household register: "I have the register, but it's been stained with blood."

No problem, if what you say is true, I'll get you a new one." that person said.

A soldier stepped forward, somewhat nervously taking the household register from Chen Wuji's hands.

The officer-looking person examined the register, asking: "Western Mountain Clan? What's your surname?"

Chen Wuji.

A farmer household?

A hunter household!

That officer-like person put away the register, smiling as he approached: "I, Da Yu, need a young person like you, loyal and brave, to be a model for the whole county's people—how many have you killed?"

I don't recall exactly, about fourteen or fifteen.

I'll count it as twenty; collect your reward at the office another day. By court regulation, each head earns one tael of silver, two mu of land; for beheading more than ten armored foes, reward one servant—but since you're still young, I'll change it to a concubine, and I'll personally pick a nice one for you when the time comes.

That officer was very pleased, his eyes full of admiration for Chen Wuji.

Chen Wuji felt a bit dizzy; he hadn't expected these heads could earn a reward, and so handsomely—his fatigue instantly dissipated by half.

He asked uneasily: "Do I not need to retrieve each head individually?"

No need, just presenting the persons is enough." the officer said generously.

Chen Wuji nodded.

Good, this way he wouldn't be considered to have broken his word to the Landlord Deity.

He had just been planning to renege on his debt to the Landlord Deity.

Sir, I don't want the concubine; can I exchange it?" Chen Wuji asked.

He already has two women at home; bringing back another would exhaust him to death and disrupt household harmony—unnecessary.

This is the court's regulation; if you refuse, others could impeach me for withholding rewards from meritorious personnel. You are being rewarded for merit, so you don't need to pay this year's taxes—why refuse? If the senior wife at home causes trouble, I'll back you up; just come find me, what's there to be shy about?" the officer chuckled.

Seeing this, Chen Wuji had no choice but to concede: "Then could I at least get a set of clothes? If I return looking like this, my wife would surely be frightened to death."

The officer raised his hand: "Yu Wu, take Chen Wuji to the county office, get him two sets of clothes, cash the reward silver, then take a knife from the arsenal. His knife is rusted like this, yet he killed twenty foes with it; if he had a proper weapon, he'd surely be a fierce general."

Thank you, sir." Chen Wuji bowed his hands in gratitude.

Since he transmigrated and learned his situation, he had never dared to hope for the identity of a general, only daring to aspire to be a merchant.

That officer, however, was broad-minded; he raised his hand and simply bestowed upon him the title of fierce general.

If this qualifies him as a fierce general, just how inept must those provincial troops be?

Chen Wuji followed Yu Wu; as they passed the Landlord's temple, he casually offered the string of heads like grapes to the Landlord Deity and retrieved his cloth.

The Landlord Deity helped me watch the cloth for a while; I'm giving him some livestock offerings." Seeing Yu Wu's puzzled look, Chen Wuji explained with a smile.

Yu Wu: ……

Yu Wu is a very aloof person, his speech is absurdly scarce.

The two of them silently returned to Yunan City. He obtained a Knife and twenty taels of Silver for Chen Wuji at the Xianya, and after buying two sets of clothing for Chen Wuji at the ready‑made clothing shop, he finally said his first words, "The land and servants will need a few days; when this matter is settled, someone will come to the door on their own. Just stay at home and wait peacefully."

"Fine."

"Hmm, let's go."

The matter ended simply like that.

The gain was unexpectedly large.