Luo Lu frowned, pondering the pros and cons.
Xie Jiang took a sip of tea to moisten his throat. "While Yongfeng Village and those bandits are not on the same mountain, they should know each other well. I not only want to borrow the name of Yongfeng Village to suppress the bandits, but I also want to use you as guides."
Ever since encountering the bandits in Gangshi Town, Xie Jiang's men had already infiltrated the mountains, scouting the bandits' hiding places.
Although Xie Jiang had gathered a lot of information about the Huanglan Mountain bandits, it was no match for Yongfeng Village, their neighbor.
With the assistance of Yongfeng Village, their task of eliminating the bandits would be easier and would reduce many unnecessary casualties.
Luo Lu said, "Yongfeng Village has been able to survive to this day because we are secluded in the deep mountains, never harming the common people, and try our best not to reveal ourselves to the world. If we use the name of Yongfeng Village to suppress the bandits, it will surely attract a lot of attention, which is not beneficial to Yongfeng Village."
Xie Jiang nodded and put down his teacup. "Your concerns are valid, Village Chief Luo."
He then looked up at Luo Lu again. "Then, Village Chief Luo, have you never considered becoming a subject of Da Yu?"
Luo Lu's heart skipped a beat at these words, and his gaze towards Xie Jiang became even more vigilant. He even suspected Xie Jiang could read minds!
Xie Jiang casually raised his hand and smoothed his clothes. "The purpose of your Luo ancestors venturing deep into these mountains is actually similar to why our Xie family chose to go overseas – to escape the continuous wars."
"But now the world has long been pacified, and the Da Yu dynasty shows signs of prosperity. Have you never thought of returning to the human world?"
Xie Jiang smiled at Luo Lu and his brother Luo Shou.
Luo Shou's eyes widened as he looked at her. Did Young Master Xie mean...?
Luo Lu said, "The common people outside view us as demons. In their eyes, we mountain folk are no different from the Huanglan Mountain bandits."
Xie Jiang chuckled softly. "You are not people of Da Yu, and Da Yu's laws and regulations cannot bind you. How can the common people not see you as enemies? If you become people of Da Yu and abide by the law like the common people outside, they will naturally consider you their own."
Luo Lu's eyes were full of scrutiny as he stared at Xie Jiang. "I heard that Young Master Xie is a descendant of the Marquis of Jinghai. You went overseas back then and settled in Lan Yong. Are you truly planning to return and submit to Da Yu?"
Xie Jiang said with great composure, "Of course. Fallen leaves eventually return to their roots."
Xie Jiang did not care whether he believed her or not. "Whether to bring Yongfeng Village back to the human world, Village Chief Luo does not need to answer me in a hurry. I am not yet a person of Da Yu, so why should I worry about Da Yu?"
Luo Lu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although Xie Jiang's words were very gentle, they still inexplicably put immense pressure on him.
Luo Lu feared that Xie Jiang would insist on Yongfeng Village submitting to the court, using their submission to achieve some ulterior motive.
Even joining bandits required a pledge of loyalty; submitting the entire clan to the court was certainly not a matter of simply opening one's mouth.
As long as Xie Jiang did not force Yongfeng Village to submit to the court, Luo Lu understood Xie Jiang's meaning: as long as Yongfeng Village became a territory under Da Yu's rule, it wouldn't matter if they were revealed to the public.
In fact, if they had the reputation of eliminating the Huanglan Mountain bandits, it could even make the Da Yu court pay more attention to Yongfeng Village.
Luo Lu had indeed considered leading the entire village to submit to the Da Yu court.
The world was now peaceful, and there was no need to worry about war falling upon them at any moment. People's hearts had begun to stir.
Who wouldn't want to go out and see the vast world and the bustling mortal realm?
Luo Shou and the other youngsters had snuck out more than once; they couldn't be confined or stopped.
He was not clinging to power and insisting on being the village chief.
However, firstly, although the chaotic times had ended, were the people under the rule of the Da Yu court truly living any better than those in the village?
They had seen the common people outside, and many still suffered from hunger and lacked adequate clothing, not living any better than those in the village.
Currently, the village could still be self-sufficient. Although life was a bit harder, they could at least get enough to eat daily. Were there any common people who didn't live a hard life?
If Yongfeng Village were taken over by the court, half of the heavy taxes would be removed. Would the remainder be enough to fill their stomachs?
Not to mention the many uncertainties.
They had been isolated from the world for so many years, naturally distrusting outsiders, and even more so, distrusting the court and officials.
Secondly, his title as Village Chief of Yongfeng Village was not fully deserved. The people of the West Village followed Luo Zhongtong's lead.
The East and West Villages had differing ideologies. The East Village was willing to follow the old customs, live self-sufficiently, and maintain stability.
The West Village...
The West Village was not satisfied with the current situation. In fact, they wanted to become the next Huanglan Mountain bandits.
How could those led by Luo Zhongtong be willing to submit to the court and be restrained by it from then on?
If he showed the slightest intention of submitting to the court, the village would likely erupt into chaos.
However, if they could resolve the conflict between the two villages this time and eliminate greedy individuals like Luo Zhongtong, it would be an excellent opportunity.
An opportunity for Yongfeng Village to leave the mountains.
As for the concerns after submitting to the court.
If they had someone in the court...
A thought, as if by some supernatural impulse, flashed through his mind.
Luo Lu couldn't help but glance at the young man before him.
The Xie family was still overseas, so how could they be a patron for Yongfeng Village?
But if the Xie family successfully returned to Da Yu in the future and became a new noble clan, what basis would they have to be Yongfeng Village's patron?
At that time, the Xie family would have too many choices. What advantage would their Yongfeng Village have?
Luo Lu's mind was in turmoil. Should he seize this opportunity?
Would his choice lead Yongfeng Village towards light or plunge it into the abyss?
Luo Shou, listening to Luo Lu and Xie Jiang's conversation, was so excited he almost cried out. If he understood correctly, his brother was thinking... thinking...
Then he and his friends could go wherever they wanted, and even hunt for money to eat at restaurants outside!
Luo Shou wanted to tell his brother, "Let's agree to Young Master Xie's proposal. The sky is high and the sea is vast for them to roam!" But when he turned around, he saw his brother sweating profusely.
Luo Shou opened his mouth and immediately closed it.
He also understood that the vast sky and sea were alluring, but a single misstep could lead to utter annihilation.
Luo Shou's heated mind gradually cooled. His brother was the village chief of Yongfeng Village, and the burden on his shoulders was heavy, carrying the future of over ten thousand people in Yongfeng Village.
Xie Jiang had already noticed that Luo Lu had long harbored intentions, but due to too many concerns, he dared not let anyone notice.
Since she didn't plan to return tonight anyway, she had plenty of time to wait for him to make up his mind.
It didn't matter if he refused.
Yongfeng Village was not originally part of her plan.
If it could be used, it would be used; if not, then so be it.
It would be the same according to the original plan.
Xie Jiang casually picked up the teacup and took a sip, frowning as she swallowed the coarse, astringent taste, then placed it back on the table, unwilling to drink a second mouthful.
In the room, Luo Qingqing's crying had stopped, leaving only the woman's soft comforting murmurs.
Old Doctor Zhang, along with Zhang Sheng, returned with medicinal herbs and went straight into the kitchen after entering the courtyard.