Your Majesty, Please Stop!

Chapter 10: Han Qimeng's Volunteer Request

"The tree falls and the monkeys scatter" is a bit out of place when used in the eccentric Fulong Village, but it is very fitting when applied to the Hungry Wolf Village.

When Xin Zhuo and the bandits arrived, about thirty or so bandits who had lost the support of their two leaders quickly fled, even though the six of them tried to block their way with swords and knives. They couldn't stop a few of them.

Just before nightfall, the six of them returned to the village with their remaining spoils of war.

A large bag of coarse grains, two jars of strong liquor, twelve poorly made swords and knives from local blacksmiths, five pieces of cured meat, three baskets of cabbage, several strings of coins, sixteen sets of patched clothes, and half a bucket of coarse salt.

It wasn't a lavish haul, but for the impoverished Fulong Village, it was like a windfall.

The six of them sat in a row, looking back and forth for two sticks of incense, filled with ambition and excitement.

Taking one step on a journey of a thousand miles always evokes deep emotions.

"We've had a fruitful harvest. Tonight, we'll cook the cured meat with cabbage, add some chili and garlic, and it will be an absolute delicacy. No one understands how to cook cured meat with cabbage better than me. When I was a tailor, my wife and her lover, the blacksmith Old Wang from the street next door, both praised my cooking. Really, so tonight, let me be the chef!" Fourth Master Bai Jianxi volunteered enthusiastically, his slender index finger standing straighter than ever before, to the point where he didn't even hide his secret before he became a bandit.

That's right, his wife cheated on him in front of him. Unable to bear it any longer, he killed both of them and became a fugitive.

Seeing the strange looks from everyone, Bai Jianxi explained again, "There's nothing to hide. My wife and I were actually very loving, but she was seduced by Old Wang from the street next door. Before she died, she even begged me not to harm Old Wang, saying that I could do whatever I wanted to her. Look, she confessed everything before she died and even asked me to kill her. How guilty must I feel? She... still had feelings for me in her heart."

The bandits exchanged glances, even more puzzled and confused. How did he come to this conclusion?

Only Third Master Huang Dagui empathized and sighed deeply. His one eye was filled with melancholy. "Yes, I understand Fourth Master's feelings very well. Just like twelve years ago, I was with Chunxiang, the girl from the Cui Fragrance House. I spent three thousand taels of ancestral wealth for her, and to please her, I even killed the wife of the young master she loved, helping them become a couple. Later... she said I was a good person, and she still had feelings for me, but... since I gave birth to her, why didn't she give birth to my child? Her heart must be in agony."

Han Jiulang's tears were about to fall. "You two brothers said it so well. These experiences are deeply moving. Actually, I also have a story..."

The topic somehow veered off track, and the situation uncontrollably turned into a collective sobfest.

This damn humility.

Xin Zhuo tried hard to close and open his mouth, coughed lightly, and said, "The past is in the past, let's cook. We've been hungry all day!"

The "cured meat with cabbage" made by Bai Jianxi wasn't delicious. Perhaps he forgot that the cured meat itself was salty. Even though the salt was added in the right amount, it was still too salty.

But the minds of the group were not focused on that. Today, their mood was truly joyful!

To completely wipe out the Hungry Wolf Village was something that even the former leader had never achieved or perhaps didn't want to do.

The leader was amazing, and they had to celebrate!

"A bowl to toast the leader!"

"Gan!"

And so, overwhelmed by alcohol and completely unaware of the aftereffects of the sweet wine on this world, Xin Zhuo got drunk!

...

The first ray of sunlight in the early morning fell on the courtyard of Fulong Village, casting a mottled pattern on the ground through the airy bamboo windows.

On the low maple wood bed, half of the quilt embroidered with chrysanthemums fell onto the floor.

Xin Zhuo, still hungover, was in an ungraceful sleeping position. First lying in a spread-eagle position, he then turned into a spinning top, as if he was dreaming about something. The corners of his mouth curled slightly, and a glistening drool dripped from his mouth.

Outside the window, five heads suddenly popped up, staring intently into the room, their eyes filled with scrutiny and confusion.

"This must be the 'Rejuvenating Taiyi Sleep,' an advanced sleeping position that can even enhance True Qi!"

"Is there such a saying?"

"You're still young and ignorant. We practitioners of martial arts also sit in meditation when we sleep at night. The head of our gang, at the tender age of sixteen, killed Chai Donghu and Chongtian Pao with just two strikes. How impressive is that? It's unreasonable to sleep in!"

"That makes sense!"

Huang Dagui and Han Jiulang, who were discussing in low voices, finally reached a consensus.

Although Xin Zhuo claimed to be only at the eighth rank of the Realm yesterday, the shock he brought to the gang of thieves with those two strikes far exceeded his imagination.

The thieves not only couldn't digest it, but after fermenting overnight, they found it even more astonishing. The cultivation of martial arts in the world is so difficult. Some people, in pursuit of superior martial arts, are willing to endure the excruciating pain and lonely solitude, leading a miserable life.

He's only sixteen years old!

How did he manage to do it?

Even the former head of the gang, when sparring with Chai Donghu, needed two or three moves. Even so, they were still surprised, let alone the current head of the gang.

"Look! That blob of drool!" Huang Dagui pointed to the room and whispered.

The other thieves looked at each other. What's so strange about that?

Han Qiniang tied her hair into double buns today, smeared her face with some stolen cream, and her eyes sparkled, making her look both playful and adorable. She blinked her eyes and asked, "Could this... have some significance?"

"A martial artist's five organs and six viscera are like the Five Elements, mutually supporting and cherishing each other, forming a cycle in the universe. The saliva in the mouth is a wonderful substance. The martial sages of ancient times called it 'spiritual fluid,' 'divine water,' 'jade spring,' 'golden nectar,' 'jade saliva,' 'clear water from the jade pool,' or 'jade pulp.'"

Huang Dagui tried hard to recite a passage from his "Tiger Form" martial arts technique, "So, this drool is actually a nourishing substance. Who knows, it might help one comprehend some of the Saber Technique like the head of our gang, or even gain some True Qi for no reason."

The words of the third-in-command were undoubtedly the pinnacle of his life, leaving the thieves listening with a bewildered expression.

Han Jiulang scratched his head and carefully pondered his limited knowledge. "Although it sounds reasonable, I feel... it's kind of disgusting."

"You're ignorant again! The head of our gang killed two experts with just two strikes. How do you explain that?"

Huang Dagui squinted his eyes, "The head of the family is still a young man, and it seems like he's also attracted to the spiritual fluid. Fortunately, I am a man and can't let go of my dignity, otherwise I would have taken it. Oh? Second-in-command and Seventh Sister, why don't you go?"

Cui Ying'er rolled her eyes and sneered, "I think the head of the family has had too much to drink. He simply wants to sleep in and drool. You're thinking too much."

Han Qiniang tilted her head and thought for a moment, a different idea forming in her mind. "So, Third-in-command means... taking that... spiritual fluid?"

"That's right!"

"How do we take it?"

"With our mouths."

"?"

Han Qiniang imagined that scene and her cheeks turned red. She glared at him and said, "Disgusting!"

Before Huang Dagui could retort, Fourth-in-command Bai Jianxi added, "If one can cultivate advanced martial arts and increase their True Qi, why would they be afraid of something dirty? The head of the family is so handsome, he won't lose out. Seventh Sister, have you forgotten our parents' grudges? If you don't go, I will! No one understands the head of the family better than me!"

Han Qiniang looked at Cui Ying'er.

Cui Ying'er hesitated for a moment and said, "Indeed, there is a saying among skilled practitioners about the mouth producing spiritual fluid."

Han Qiniang suddenly turned around and walked towards the door.

"Sister!"

"Seventh Sister!"

Han Jiulang and Cui Ying'er called out, but Han Qiniang had quietly opened the door and walked towards Xin Zhuo's bed.

The four pairs of eyes outside widened instantly.

Han Qiniang's petite figure half-knelt at the head of Xin Zhuo's bed, pouting her lips, closing her eyes, and blushing. She slowly leaned closer.

The four people outside started sweating on their foreheads.

Closer, even closer!

Unexpectedly, Xin Zhuo, who was sound asleep, suddenly opened his eyes.

The air instantly froze.

Then, the four heads outside scrambled and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Han Qiniang pouted, raised her small hands, and froze in place.

Looking at the handsome face so close, and the scent of cheap face cream from the other party's breath, the dazed Xin Zhuo became even more confused.

He swore that he had never experienced such a scene before.

He certainly recognized Han Qiniang, but why did she run to his bedside and make such a posture?

"What... do you want to do?"

He couldn't believe that this stubborn and unique female thief suddenly developed a liking for him.

"Head of the family, I want to drink the spiritual fluid," Han Qiniang said with courage, her face showing three parts stubbornness and seven parts dominance.

"What spiritual fluid? Be serious."

Xin Zhuo was completely confused.

"Hehe... just consider it a joke."

Seeing that the head of the family would not comply obediently, Han Qiniang put away her thoughts, smiled awkwardly, and got up, quickly leaving.

Xin Zhuo got up, stunned for a while, folded the blanket, and went out.

The weather was sunny, and the red sun in the eastern sky had risen. The distant mountain scenery was hazy, with golden clouds rolling.

The breeze blew gently, and the fresh air made people feel refreshed.

Xin Zhuo stretched lazily and felt that if he were not a bandit, but a wealthy man with multiple wives, it would be a good choice to live here in seclusion.

In the courtyard,

Third-in-command Huang Dagui was once again sharpening his knife.

Fourth-in-command Bai Jianxi was planting a few garlic cloves in the ground, seemingly cultivating them.

Han Jiulang was busy cooking breakfast.

In the maple forest ahead, Cui Ying'er's figure was agile as she danced with her sword among the falling leaves.

Everyone looked serious, more serious than ever before.

Only Han Qiniang sneaked into her room and muttered to herself, "Liars! They're all liars, hmph! I just realized, that wasn't a kiss..."

Xin Zhuo: "?"

Breakfast, thanks to Han Jiulang being the chef, the taste was passable, but it was still cured meat cooked with napa cabbage, and the staple food was coarse grain rice.

No one spoke during the meal, even Third-in-command, who could always make deafening and suffocating remarks, was too busy eating.

Everyone realized that with the downfall of Wolf Fang Gang, they would soon face an even more serious problem--

(End of this chapter)