Luo Shou glanced at Xu Hengyan with confusion, then turned his head back to Xie Jiang in a daze.
What was going on in the village?
He didn't know what Young Master Xie and Young Master Xu wanted to hear.
Xie Jiang appeared bored and sleepless, ready to pass the time with some gossip. "Just say whatever you want."
Luo Shou was certain that Young Master Xie was truly bored out of his mind.
Indeed.
The room was only a few steps from end to end, and there were no pretty young ladies to serve them.
Perhaps it was their first time visiting their village, and they were curious about matters within the settlement.
This was easy. He had a belly full of grievances he wanted to vent!
"Young Master Xie and Young Master Xu should both know that person named Lu Baohong, and you know who that Lu Baohong is, right? I heard outside that their whole family eats people!"
As soon as the West Village brought people back, his brother specifically sent people out to inquire about the background of Lu Baohong and his group.
"Is it true? I heard their family used to be high officials and nobles in the capital. Later, when others found out about their cannibalistic practices, their entire family, old and young, was beaten to death by the furious and red-eyed people of the capital. Only Lu Baohong and his father managed to cling to their lives. It's said that Lu Baohong and his father were not in the capital at the time, which is why they narrowly escaped death."
At this point, he couldn't help but want to confirm with Xie Jiang and Xu Hengyan. Rumors were hard to distinguish from truth, but Young Master Xie and Young Master Xu would surely know if this was the case, right?
Xie Jiang nodded and said, "That's how it is."
Luo Shou immediately became agitated. "It's true! I knew that fellow surnamed Lu was no good bird! Hanging out with those bastards from the West Village, who knows what evil they're plotting!"
Xu Hengyan keenly caught the key point. "West Village?"
Luo Shou's expression shifted slightly. Thinking of Yongfeng Village's current predicament, he let out a muffled "En," "Although my brother is the chieftain of Yongfeng Village, in reality, Yongfeng Village has long been divided. Only the East Village is still under my brother's jurisdiction. Those ungrateful wretches in the West Village..."
Xie Jiang said, "When we first entered the village, we saw two groups of people arguing, almost coming to blows. Was that the people from the East Village and the West Village?"
Xu Hengyan reached out and touched the bowl of hot water on the table. When he felt the temperature was just right, he pushed it towards Xie Jiang.
Drinking water must be boiled; this was something she had repeatedly emphasized, saying that raw water contained many invisible bacteria. Now, everyone around him had been influenced and insisted on boiling water before drinking.
"It's all because of that Lu Baohong. The East and West Villages have argued several times." Luo Shou's face turned ashen at the mention of this. "Yongfeng Village has always had a rule: outsiders are not allowed to be brought into the village."
Thinking that Xie Jiang and Xu Hengyan were also outsiders, Luo Shou quickly explained for fear they would misunderstand. "I'm not talking about you, Young Master Xie and Young Master Xu. You saved me; you are my saviors. You are absolutely welcome to visit the village, but people like Lu Baohong are different."
Xu Hengyan expressed understanding. "Your village's situation is special, so it's understandable to be cautious."
Luo Shou still added, "It is said that our village almost brought great disaster upon itself long ago by harboring outsiders, which is why this rule was established."
Xu Hengyan nodded.
Without strict systems and rules, Yongfeng Village would not have been able to remain independent in these deep mountains, multiplying and continuing for generations. Even if the authorities turned a blind eye to them, the bandits of Huanglan Mountain would have long ago devoured them.
Xie Jiang picked up the chipped bowl, drinking water as he spoke, "It seems the people of the West Village are not convinced by your second brother and want to replace him as the true chieftain of Yongfeng Village, but they lack the strength. So, they are now planning to seek external help."
Xie Jiang didn't dare to touch the bowl, fearing he would drink his own blood before even a sip of water. He could only tilt his head back and drink the water.
Luo Shou's eyes widened in shock as he stared at Xie Jiang. "Young Master Xie, how do you know everything?"
Where had he gotten to? What had he said? He had only just started talking...
Xie Jiang put down the broken bowl. "Who is the leader of the West Village? They have also considered seeking external help more than once. The last time you were kidnapped by bandits, wasn't it a conspiracy between the West Village and the bandits? Their goal was to control your brother."
Luo Shou's eyes widened even further, and he could only stammer, "...You, you even know this?" Is your brain that sharp?!
Xie Jiang said, "Do you know why Xu Hengyan fell into the hands of a good-for-nothing like Lu Baohong?"
Luo Shou shook his head blankly, his brain unable to process.
Xie Jiang said, "Lu Baohong captured Xu Hengyan's younger brother, and Xu Hengyan exchanged herself for her brother."
A thought flashed through Luo Shou's mind. "The people from the West Village sold out my whereabouts, allowing those bandits to capture me alive, all to deal with my brother! Lu Baohong used the same trick on Young Master Xu!"
He knew how Lu Baohong could have possibly captured Young Master Xu and Young Master Xie! httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Xie Jiang stopped at the crucial point. "You are more clever, and you are luckier. You escaped on your own. Xu Hengyan's younger brother was not as clever as you, nor as lucky."
"Did Lu Baohong learn this trick from Luo Zhongtong? Oh, Luo Zhongtong is the leader of the West Village." Luo Shou's expression turned sour when this person was mentioned.
"He's also surnamed Luo? What's his relationship to your family?" Xie Jiang asked.
Luo Shou did not hide his disgust for Luo Zhongtong. "Luo Zhongtong is my grandfather's adopted son. I should call him second uncle, but this ungrateful wretch doesn't deserve it!"
As soon as Luo Shou finished speaking, he heard Dongzi and Xiaohu shouting from outside, "Young Master Xie, Young Master Xie, someone next door is shamelessly climbing the wall!"
At the same time, there was a sound of sticks being swung around.
Xie Jiang said to Luo Shou, "We'll continue later."
With that, he stood up and walked outside.
As soon as Xie Jiang went out, he saw Lu Baohong's face, which was almost merged with the darkness outside the low, dilapidated mud wall.
"Lu Baohong, didn't I tell you not to come near us? Why are you looking for trouble again?"
"I also said that if someone sent you supplies, I could turn a blind eye and ignore it. But I never said you could hide in the house with the villagers and whisper plots!"
Lu Baohong's belly was full of fire, which had just been suppressed, when someone else carelessly fanned the flames!
Who was he calling shameless!
He just wanted to see how much stuff that fellow surnamed Xie had extorted using Xu Hengyan's beauty!
He had just come from next door when two clueless brutes, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, beat him soundly from head to toe.
Luo Shou rushed out of the house. "Who's hiding in the house? This is Yongfeng Village's territory. I can go wherever I want. Do I need to hide? Whoever hides is a son of a bitch!"
This was tantamount to cursing Lu Baohong to his face.
The father and son Lu had indeed fled to Yongfeng Village in desperation.
Lu Baohong sneered coldly, "I wondered who it was. So it's you, kid."
Ever since entering Yongfeng Village, this kid had been the most active among the East Village faction.
Luo Shou stood with his hands on his hips, as defiant as a crab. "It's me! What do you want?"