Chapter 135: He Is at Exactly the Age to Easily Fall in Love

Cangyun flapped its wings.

"Caw!"

"The roast chicken I gave Shennü Daren last time, I roasted it myself; I wonder if it was to her taste?"

"Caw caw!"

"In front of Shennü Daren, I feel quite unworthy. She has given me so much, yet I can give her nothing... I do not dare to hope she will like me, I only wish to block all danger for her, and let her continue walking along the path she desires..."

"Caw caw caw!"

Taking advantage of Xiao Moting being drunk, Cangyun snatched away the Ham Sausage he was using as a snack with his wine.

It did not want to listen to his nagging at all; it just wanted to eat the Ham Sausage.

Xiao Moting lay prone on the mountain rock, the Wine Pot in his hand falling to the ground.

He was drunk, his eyes closed, his ink-colored long hair sliding over his shoulders.

The cold moonlight bathed his extremely handsome face, making his features appear all the more exquisite and his countenance all the more elegant.

Especially his long eyelashes, which were just like butterfly wings.

His appearance had completely inherited the peerless beauty of Consort Yun, yet he lacked any effeminate air, instead tempering a sharp, blade-like intensity amidst the fires of war.

When it came down to it, the "Northern Frontier War God" Xiao Moting, who struck terror into the hearts of all, was only twenty-two years old—he was at exactly the age of a pure-hearted youth, prone to falling in love.

Beneath his entire body's sharp, murderous aura, there remained the green, youthful air.

The sky turned bright.

"Bring the Rakshasa bandits up!"

Qin Zhan gave a sharp shout, ordering the soldiers to bring the bandits to the front of the village.

The remains of the villagers in the mass grave at the village entrance had already been buried by the soldiers, but the scent of blood had still not dissipated for a long time.

The bandits had their hands tied behind their backs, their heads drooping as they knelt before the mass grave.

Xiao Moting, in his full armor, strode forward with a sharp, imposing air.

He swept a glance over the bandits kneeling on the ground and shouted in a deep voice.

"Behead them all, and use their blood to sacrifice to the departed souls!"

The surroundings were packed with villagers, crowding the village entrance until it was impassable.

Besides the villagers who had been rescued, the refugee villagers from the Northern Frontier Camp had also rushed back to the village overnight after hearing the news of the victory.

Everyone was filled with righteous indignation, cursing the bandits kneeling on the ground one after another.

"Kill them! Avenge our fellow villagers."

"Many people in the village died under their blades; make them pay blood for blood."

If not for the soldiers blocking them, they would have already rushed over to beat the bandits severely.

"Daughter!"

A heart-wrenching cry rang out.

A one-eyed woman with disheveled hair rushed out from the crowd, grabbed a young girl, and the two hugged each other and wept bitterly.

Supporting each other, they knelt before Xiao Moting and kowtowed while crying.

"Thank you, Prince; thank you, Goddess."

"If it weren't for you, our mother and daughter would never have been able to see each other again in this lifetime."

The executioner, bare-chested and holding a Ghost Head Blade, prepared to carry out the sentence.

The bandits were trembling all over with fear, their faces turning pale.

"Pah, so you are afraid of death too," Qin Zhan said with disdain.

Suddenly, the bandit leader Jiefu lifted his head all at once and roared through gritted teeth.

"I am no mere bandit; I hold an official rank! I am a Centurion in the Rakshasa army!"

"You cannot kill me, or it will affect the diplomatic relations between our two countries!"

"If I die, the King of Rakshasa will surely avenge me; when that time comes, the great army will attack the Northern Frontier, and you will have no chance of winning!"

As he exposed his identity, the executioner became somewhat wary and looked up at Xiao Moting, waiting for his instructions.

Xiao Moting smiled slightly.

"There is no such thing as a Centurion here; all we are killing are Rakshasa bandits!"

"However, since you believe we cannot kill you, then we shall not."

With a wave of his hand, he signaled for the executioner to step back.

Jiefu was instantly overjoyed.

But immediately, Xiao Moting's cold voice rang out again.

"Let the villagers come over and let them carry out the execution!"

"Whether you live or die, it all depends on the will of the villagers."

The soldiers who had originally been blocking the villagers immediately cleared the way.

The angry villagers rushed up like a tidal wave.

Jiefu's expression changed, and he roared.

"No..."

The surrounding bandits were also scared out of their wits, screaming in terror one after another.

They had killed countless villagers and committed heinous crimes.

How could the villagers possibly let them go?

The bandits wanted to run, but they were tied tightly with hemp ropes and could not move at all.

"Beat them to death! Avenge our fellow villagers!"

Someone let out a roar, picked up a stone, and smashed it onto a bandit.

The villagers, filled with monstrous rage, swarmed forward.

Those with stones threw stones, those kicking used their feet, those with blades hacked away...

Villagers without weapons simply opened their mouths and bit chunks of flesh right off the bandits!

Their parents, brothers, kin, and friends... had all died under the bandits' blades.

A blood feud, irreconcilable.

Now, it was their turn to take revenge!

Amidst the crowd, bursts of the bandits' screams and pleas for mercy rang out...

"Help, stop hitting me."

"Prince, quickly stop them..."

Jiefu shrieked.

"Xiao Moting, you might as well give me a quick death..."

Rather than being beaten to death alive by the angry villagers, he would rather be beheaded by an executioner's blade.

Xiao Moting did not answer.

He watched coldly, his gaze icy.

The Northern Frontier Army behind him also remained silent, letting the villagers vent their rage.

After a long while, the village entrance finally quieted down.

The bandits lay before the mass grave, covered in blood, their breath gone.

Jiefu died the most miserably; his body was covered in wounds, and the villagers had even bitten several chunks of flesh off him, leaving him battered beyond recognition, his very features indistinguishable.

The villagers had finally avenged their kin and friends, and they wept while clutching each other.

"Thump."

The village chief, leading the villagers, knelt tremblingly at Xiao Moting's feet.

"Thank you, Prince, for saving us all."

"Everyone in Snow Mountain Village is willing to serve the Prince."

Xiao Moting nodded slightly.

He raised his head to scan the villagers kneeling on the ground, his voice clear and resonant.

"The Northern Frontier Army has cleared out the bandits of Altai Snow Mountain."

"From now on, the mine belongs to the territory of Beijiang and shall be governed by the Northern Frontier Army."

He turned back and gave an order to Zhang Zhao.

"Old General Zhang, you shall lead five thousand troops to garrison Altai Snow Mountain and guard the mine."

"If there are any traitors or spies among the villagers, kill them without mercy."

"Yes."

Zhang Zhao hurriedly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and accepted the order.

Xiao Moting let out a long breath.

Having taken the Altai Snow Mountain mine, the sphere of influence of Beijiang had expanded once more, and its strength had increased.

As for Yuan Canghai, let him deal with the drought for now.

After settling the troops, Xiao Moting took the remaining Northern Frontier Army and set off on the road back to camp.

The village chief and the villagers saw them off to the Post Road, lining the path to bid them farewell.

They even offered the Northern Frontier Army plenty of food and grain... as a token of gratitude.

But Xiao Moting accepted none of it.

The village had been desolate for a long time, and the villagers needed the grain more to rebuild their homes.

Besides, the Northern Frontier Army had the Goddess, so they lacked nothing more than food; they only lacked silver.

In a few more days, it would be time to distribute military pay to all the soldiers.

The Northern Frontier Army had not been paid for two months; if they were not paid this month, it would likely affect the morale of the army.