Chapter 118 118, Men's Superstition
Qin Cheng and the others watched silently, the youth before them now vastly different from the one they first encountered.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Initially, the other party was calm like a stone, but now, he resembled a knife even more.
Zhang Tongdan was a famously known wilderness man around these parts; many caravans had to pay him a toll fee.
But today, he had died at the hands of an unknown youth.
"He doesn't seem like a city person at all, but more like someone from our wilderness," Qin Yiyi, who had lived for many years in the wilderness and considered herself a part of it, favored the wilds. She brushed off the dust on her clothes with a smile and then asked across the campfire, "Are you hurt?"
"No," Qing Chen shook his head. He took the pistol out of Zhang Tongdan's hand and then looked at Uncle Li Dong, "Teacher, I'm keeping this."
"Hmm," Uncle Li Dong nodded. "You'll need it later. He should have magazines on him too, don't forget."
Ever since Qing Chen had experienced a brush with death up close, as his teacher, Uncle Li Dong wasn't particularly concerned about Qing Chen using firearms.
After all, the Knights was a very pragmatic organization, and so was Heng Society. To achieve greater benefits at the least cost was what a wise person should choose.
If he insisted that Qing Chen not use firearms, Uncle Li Dong felt that would make him seem a little foolish.
Qin Cheng thought for a moment and then said, "The box we gave Zhang Tongdan should be around here somewhere. I'll go look for it."
With that, the old man led his son into the trees.
Qin Tong quietly took Elder Qin to a body and crouched down, "Dad, look at this body, it's eerie."
Qin Cheng examined it silently, "Strange, what kind of method could have done this to a person? And how come we didn't hear anything when such forceful blows were dealt."
He stood up, caressing the tree trunk with his rough and mottled mechanical hand, "Even the sturdy bark has been shattered."
Now, the only question in the father and son's minds was: how was this done?
"Let's not concern ourselves with this for now," Qin Cheng sighed. "I think we have underestimated the other side. That middle-aged man must be B-Class. The last time I saw a B-Class in action was half a year ago. One man killed an entire camp of people, horrifying."
"Dad," Qin Tong's eyes shone, "I now think that the youth might very well be the middle-aged man's disciple. Yiyi likes that kid so much, and the middle-aged man seems to like Yiyi too..."
Previously, because Qing Chen and Uncle Li Dong had spoken in whispers, although they were certain that Qing Chen was not a servant, they still didn't understand the exact relationship between the two.
As Qin Tong spoke...
There was a crack.
Qin Cheng slapped the back of Qin Tong's head with his mechanical hand, sending his own son's head reeling.
The old man scolded in a low voice, "The Old Qin Family relies on heaven and earth to make a living. Why did we leave the city if not to avoid being at the mercy of others? Even if Yiyi never marries, she can live well on her own. My Old Qin Family doesn't need to sell a daughter for wealth and status."
"But Yiyi really likes that kid," Qin Tong said with some grievance. "Besides, when I married my wife years ago, you didn't say that. You said it would be convenient for us in the wilderness if I married Wenwen."
Wenwen was the elder daughter of a tribe in the wilderness. Indeed, after Qin Tong had married, their business improved.
And caravans that paid toll fees had to give up four bottles of antibiotics, whereas the Old Qin Family only needed to give one.
However, because Wenwen didn't have a legal city residence permit, Qin Tong's wife had to wait in the wilderness outside the city whenever the family went to town.
Qin Cheng waited for Qin Tong to say, "You are the eldest son of the family, if you don't sacrifice, who will? And what's wrong with Wenwen? Last year, when you were injured, she stayed in the car and cared for you for three months!"
"I'm not saying she's not good. Wenwen and I are very much in love. Dad, don't stir up trouble," Qin Tong glared back.
Elder Qin Cheng lowered his voice and said, "Even if Yiyi likes that kid, it's her own business, and we shouldn't interfere, understand?"
"Got it, got it," Qin Tong sighed. "I was just saying it."
"Alright, go and retrieve the box quickly."
...
Inside the camp.
Qin Yiyi took her towel and poured some hot water to help Qing Chen clean the bloodstains off his clothes.
His assault jacket was made from waterproof fabric and wiped clean with a towel.
When Qin Yiyi was about to help wipe Qing Chen's face, he quickly took the towel and dodged away...
At that moment, Uncle Li Dong pulled a black box from the pocket on Zhang Tongdan's chest.
Upon opening it, six Thunder Gods (Thor) were quietly lying inside.
From the start, the teacher knew that the Thunder Gods would end up back in his hands.
Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li Dong and whispered, "Teacher, did you deliberately throw the Thunder Gods to them to make them greedy for wealth?"
Uncle Li Dong smiled and nodded, a cold hue in his expression, "To teach students, the teacher needs teaching materials. Since we travel light and can't bring materials with us, we must let the materials come to us. This lesson teaches you not to judge people by their appearance and to hide your wealth."
For this lesson, he sacrificed more than a dozen lives.
But this Knight and current leader seemed indifferent.
Just like the Qing Clan House Masters from past generations, who knew the cruelty of the Shadow conflicts, yet never changed anything.
Everyone learned to face this world with a ruthless attitude.
"But what if he had taken the Thunder Gods and left?" Qing Chen asked.
"If he left, he left, it's just a box of Thunder Gods. I'm not attached," said Uncle Li Dong with a chuckle.
This statement primarily emphasized four words, wealth allows whims.
"Then wouldn't your plan have failed, Teacher?" Qing Chen pursued.
"Ah, that's why I never told you about this plan. If it had failed, I would have just acted as if I never had such a plan," Uncle Li Dong said confidently.
At this time, Qin Cheng and Qin Tong returned to the camp carrying four boxes. The other members of the Qin family ran into the woods to scavenge everything of use from the bodies.
Fitting shoes, men's clothing, firearms, and ammunition.
And a variety of odd things from the wilderness.
It's not that the Old Qin Family was so destitute that they needed to wear dead people's clothes.
Instead, the items would be useful for bartering with people in the wilderness for furs and medicinal materials.
The so-called medicinal materials included wild ginseng, cordyceps, deer antlers, deer penis, and the like. Even though the technology of the Inner World completely overshadowed the Outer World, the men's superstition towards health products had not been dispelled.
After pondering, Uncle Li Dong spoke to Qin Cheng, "This incident will cause trouble with the wilderness folks you cooperate with. It might have some bad repercussions later on. So, when you get back to City No. 18, go to Spring Thunder Road, Number 13, in the Ninth District and look for someone named Su Xingzhi. He will take care of everything for you and arrange new trade partners."
"Thank you," said Qin Cheng earnestly.
Qing Chen asked in a low voice, "Teacher, are you only helping them out of guilt? I feel like you already knew them."
Uncle Li Dong nodded, "Qin Cheng is the brother of an old friend who died because of me."