Chapter 93

Chen Wuji wants to be a good person, but the price of being a good person is just too high.

A band of bandits formed from deserters of the border army, even if they could be captured, his clan would be left with hardly any survivors; such a loss‑making deal cannot be done under any circumstances.

Chen Bushi definitely would not be willing to gamble on this risk.

"Although your wholehearted desire to die and not involve others is a good starting point, I still advise you not to seek death so lightly; think it over carefully, perhaps there are other possibilities," Chen Wuji said.

Xue Hongdou nodded lightly, "I understand this matter is extremely difficult; I only came up with a thought after seeing you kill so many bandits. Otherwise, I wouldn't have told you this. Rest well; if you want to sleep, I can keep you company willingly."

"When I was taken away by the Xianya, I had already prepared for this. So if the master tries to scare me with such matters, it truly won't frighten me."

Chen Wuji: …

He hates these clever women.

There isn't even a little room to maneuver.

Xue Hongdou bowed his head to Chen Wuji in greeting, then rose and returned to his room.

Chen Wuji looked up, his throbbing head fixed on the brilliant stars in the night sky.

The stars are beautiful; his mind is in a terrible state.

"Brother Wuji, why didn't she run away? If she had fled, would there be so many complications?" Yuan Jinshi turned his head and asked softly.

"If she runs away, the Court will punish her parents, imposing triple taxes plus forced labor, and she might even be imprisoned for life," Chen Wuji said quietly.

Therefore, death is indeed the best option for Xue Hongdou.

Yuan Jinshi thought for a moment, then muttered softly, "So hard …"

"It is indeed difficult."

Chen Bushi walked into the courtyard, sat beside Chen Wuji, and gave him a solemn glance.

"If there's something, say it; what does that look in your eyes mean? I just heard some terrible news, I don't mind hearing another," Chen Wuji said.

From the look in his eyes, what he was about to say would certainly not be good news.

"What terrible news did you just hear? Say it first," Chen Bushi asked back instead of answering.

Chen Wuji forced a laugh amid his misery, "A damn wonderful thing."

"The Xianya sent me a woman yesterday, awarded in the name of a servant; this girl was chosen by the Mountain Bandits of Que Wei Shan."

According to what the girl just said, the Mountain Bandits of Que Wei Shan are extremely wealthy—just in Silver they have tens of thousands. She asked me whether I wanted to get involved, willing to make me a beast of burden. Honestly, it's me she wants; if it were anyone else, she would have already thrown them out.

"She was sent by the Xianya as a servant, not a wife, yet she still set a condition for me."

Chen Bushi's eyes lit up sharply, "Que Wei Shan—are you talking about the group of Yu Xiaz? Are they that rich?"

"I don't know about that; if Que Wei Shan has no other bandits, perhaps it's that group," Chen Wuji said.

Chen Bushi rubbed his palms vigorously, a glint of mischief flashing in his eyes, "We'll discuss this properly later; perhaps it can really be done. You don't need to intervene—just leave it to me. We'll talk later, we'll talk in detail later."

Chen Wuji was stunned, "You're actually interested? These bandits are said to be deserters of the border army!"

"Then there's no escape; it must be Yu Xiaz's group. That bastard hid deep enough to secretly stash tens of thousands of taels of Silver. Lao Zamao actually dared to hoard my Silver—damn it!" Chen Bushi laughed excitedly, his previously solemn expression instantly vanished.

Chen Wuji: …

Damn, he seems to be overthinking.

Chen Bushi and Xue Hongdou actually—one is willing to strike, the other willing to take it.

"Otherwise, you could take that woman away and have a proper talk, if you don't mind that some things have already happened," Chen Wuji said weakly. "I think you two are of the same mind—one dares to speak, the other dares to act."

"I stay away from women!" Chen Bushi waved his hand. "Tell me about another matter: these bandits have spoken, and the person who revealed your identity—you would never guess who it is."

"Someone from the Xianya?" Chen Wuji asked.

"Hey, that foolish brain really works well, I actually guessed almost spot on," Chen Bushi praised, then quietly added, "It's someone from the Zhang Family, that Zhang—Inspector Zhang's Zhang Family!"

Saying that, he turned his head and glanced at Yuan Jinshi, "You kid, whatever you heard, you'd better keep your mouth shut. Forget it, from now on you'll live at Wuji's house."

Yuan Jinshi was about to nod when he heard Chen Bushi's words; excitement made him spring up, ignoring the gaping wound on his body, and he shouted loudly, "Brother Wuji, is it really possible? My brother Xiucai and I will serve as household servants for you, just handling one meal a day—plain broth, a little food, that's enough."

Chen Wuji glanced at Chen Bushi, "Is it really that far?"

"Indeed!"

"You think I'm rich?" Chen Wuji's mind went blank.

His life had just started to look good, and his household kept adding mouths to feed; it was as if they wanted to kill him.

The sparkle in Yuan Jinshi's eyes quietly faded, returning to dimness.

"Brother Wuji, third uncle, I won't say anything outwardly; I didn't hear anything just now," Yuan Jinshi said weakly, his voice so low it was almost inaudible.

Chen Wuji waved his hand, "Come eat at my house from now on, but not as a slave—just stay here temporarily for food and drink, and help me with some chores."

"Really?" Yuan Jinshi snapped his head up, his eyes lighting up again.

"Indeed." Chen Wuji nodded.

That kid risked his life to save him, almost sacrificing himself; how could he possibly be so heartless?

He truly had never considered turning Yuan Jinshi and Licentiate Yuan into his household servants, but he had originally intended to look after these two youngsters' food and drink more in the future.

But once Chen Bushi brought this up, he was no longer that pleased.

Lao Deng actually still wants to be his Family Head!

"Brother Wuji, my younger brother and I will be Chen Family people in life and Chen Family ghosts in death; I could even stop using the Yuan surname. No, since we're household servants, I should change my name—henceforth I'll be called Chen Jinshi!" Yuan Jinshi declared resolutely, his eyes blazing, his gaze steady as if glued in place.

Chen Wuji: …

Which master actually taught this kid to speak like that?

"Go, go, go, lie over there," Chen Wuji waved his hand.

"Yes."

Yuan Jinshi shouted in a high voice, dragging his mat to the side.

"These two youngsters are clever and sensible; I'll treat them as half‑sons. I know you don't need that amount of Silver right now," Chen Bushi said with a faint smile.

Chen Wuji rolled his eyes, "Shut up already. How old am I to be raising a son? Damn, I'm still just a teenager!"

"Hurry up and say what you got out of torturing him, I know Censor Zhang, but we have no grudge—how could he leak my news to the thieves? That doesn't sound reasonable."

Someone like Censor Zhang, a high-and-mighty big shot, would have no reason to keep a little hunter like him in mind.

"Because these thieves are the ones the Zhang family keeps in the mountains," Chen Bushi spoke in a manner that would not rest until it shocked people to death.

Chen Wuji fell silent, "These rich people, their brains are sick…"