The Birth of a Villainess

Since when did bandits become so organized and respectable?

Just as these thoughts entered everyone's mind, they threw it in the back of their minds as they had a far more dire situation to take care of, which was the lack of food. 

If they all don't get to solve this problem, in no time, the soldiers will become more aggressive and find solutions in their own way.

"Someone, come!" Qu Xing Xu retracted his gaze away from these clowns and called for someone. In just a few seconds, someone stood before him, and it was one of the vice generals in the army. "Go and ask the farmers in the city. Ask them whether they still have enough rice grains available."

Pausing for a second, Qu Xing Xu added, "Go ask the fishermen and also the hunters in the city. Tell them to gather everything they have as that will be our replacement for now. We will compensate them with a huge sum of money."

"What about the people who will refuse?"

In times like this, people were bound to be selfish and greedy. No matter if they see their own neighbors dying in hunger and suffering from pain, they will turn a blind eye and save their own skin rather than help.

However, no one could force them to give what they already have unless someone were to kill all of them and take their things forcefully from them. This was the reason why the vice general was looking grim and dark. 

Although he wanted to use his position to threaten those who refused to give rice grains, fish, or meat, he didn't want to use this opportunity to put a stain on his name. Who knows if he threatened and killed people, and when he returned to the capital and was called to the imperial palace with the complaints from the court officials, he certainly won't be able to avoid punishment.

Thus, the vice general was extremely worried and wanted to let Qu Xing Xu decide on what to do with them.

"Let them choose. Give up their things or die in the hands of the enemy." Qu Xing Xu didn't conceal the cold tone in his voice as he said this. "I have no obligations to save humans who don't know the meaning of 'give and take.'"

With that, Qu Xing Xu turned around and was intending to leave when Wu Xuanyi approached him with teary eyes.

"Brother Xing Xu, I'm really sorry. I never thought that this would happen and let you feel disappointed." Before Qu Xing Xu could reply, the desperate woman continued to blabber, "But don't worry! I will send another letter to my father and tell him to send another batch of supplies to us."

Hearing her words, the surrounding people felt glad and pleased with her. After all, this type of selfless action was pretty commendable, especially from a woman who they highly respected because of her military abilities. 

The Wu family was not a wealthy family. Their prestige was due to Wu Xuanyi's continuous achievements that even Emperor Yun was joyful and kind enough to shower her with benefits. Even Wu Xuanyi's older brother was this year's third rank scholar who got a high score in the capital academy's examination. 

But the Wu family, who were not that wealthy but honest people, were willing to offer help and spend their money to send supplies to the city.

Seeing the beautiful woman and handsome man standing next to each other, most felt regret that they didn't end up with each other. Qu Xing Xu was already married to a woman they had already heard of but never seen. 

Some of them sighed and shook their heads dejectedly and looked at Wu Xuanyi with eyes filled with pity and feeling indignant towards this unknown woman named Lin Xiaofei, the woman Qu Xing Xu married.

Sensing their changing moods, Wu Xuanyi forced the urge to smile proudly and tell them to pity her some more. In that way, she could relish in glory and get their undivided attention. Besides, who knows if someone really took pity on her and tried to convince Qu Xing Xu to take her as his second wife.

While Wu Xuanyi was cunningly using everyone's opinion of her, she heard Qu Xing Xu replying to her previous statement.

"No need."

Wu Xuanyi was stunned for a moment. "Ah?" 

"By the time you send a letter and get a reply, a week has already passed by. The goods and people carrying them might also get caught in another robbery case, so there's no need to send anymore."

Upon hearing his reply, Wu Xuanyi felt embarrassed, but she wanted to continue pushing. "But won't we face a greater problem if we don't get any replacement for the lost food supply?"

Qu Xing Xu didn't reply to her question. He merely glanced at her for two seconds. Wu Xuanyi blushed when she felt his gaze on her and bit her lips alluringly, but before she could get her desired reaction from the other, Qu Xing Xu already turned around to leave without sparing her another glance.

When he was considerably far from everyone, Qu Xing Xu spoke to Gu Yan, who was following behind him. "Do you think if you go to the next city and buy rice and meat from them, you can return before the second attack?"

Gu Yan thought for a few moments. The city next to Henzhou city was Huai City. The two cities had a considerable distance between the two, but the distance wasn't the problem. It was the number of rice grains, fish, and meat or poultry that Huai city possessed. 

Moreover, Huai city was a small city. Will they have enough food supply to sell to them?

"I will try, Master."

Qu Xing Xu sighed and nodded. "You can use my medallion and give them extra gold coins when you buy things from them."

---

At this time, while the people inside Henzhou City were pulling their hair on how to resolve their problem, in the middle of the forest where the forked path was located, a relatively huge black tent was erected and surrounded by smaller tents.

Fences made of chopped tree trunks circle this mini-camp with the upper end of the trunk shaped into a spike, making one hesitate to climb over or get through the barricade.

Outside the barricade were a few monsters of different sizes and colors and danger levels. However, despite their small number, they dare not approach or pass through the barricade and attack the humans inside it because of the several trained black-robed men with white masks on their faces. 

'smack!'

A palm slapped the surface of a wooden table. 

"Hahaha! I never knew this strategy would work! Drilling a hole from your side while covering the other. If you had only told me about this in the past, I would have already done it and made my father die in anger! Sadly, I killed him too early and painlessly." Erkin sighed after laughing his head off.

After he sighed, Erkin asked her, "So, when are you going to cover the other hole and reap the benefits?"

Sitting across from him, Lin Xiaofei did not show any expression on her face as she coolly stared at him.

Then, she said, "Tonight."

---

Author has something to say: I'm really sorry for the lack of chapters... My cousin just died and things aren't working for me this year. 

The mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. (This it the title of the chapter but I shortened it..) LX is the Oriole, Wu Xuanyi is the Mantis, and Qu Xing Xu is the Cicada.