Ge Liang, picking up on Huo Shu’s intent, immediately dropped his stern expression and forced a smile: "Ah, we’ll move right away."
"Make yourselves at home."
The men in the caravan hurriedly scrambled to pack up their tents. Hearing the commotion outside, Ji Taoyu quickly dressed properly, draped himself in Huo Shu’s cloak, and stepped out of the tent, covering himself tightly.
Blending in with the group, he helped load their belongings into the cargo boxes.
The newcomers gave them no extra time. Their large group soon advanced, torches in hand, clearly intending to set up camp.
None of the men in the caravan spoke a word, hastily gathering their things to leave, unwilling to provoke a confrontation.
"Well, well, isn’t this a pretty little ger!"
As the torchlight flooded their group, one of the men spotted Ji Taoyu among them—his slender frame standing out starkly among the burly farmers.
The man deliberately raised his torch closer, immediately catching sight of a pair of captivating peach-blossom eyes. He froze for a moment, entranced.
"Why cover up in this heat? Let me have a look. If you’re as lovely as you seem, why suffer on the road? I’ll treat you to the good life."
Enchanted by Ji Taoyu’s eyes, the man grew desperate to see the face hidden beneath the scarf.
Teasing wasn’t enough, he blocked Ji Taoyu’s path and yanked the scarf away.
The fabric slipped off, revealing a face as fair as jade under the torchlight. The man gaped, stunned.
Recovering, he swallowed hard and brought the scarf to his nose, inhaling deeply. "In all my years, I’ve never seen such a pretty ger like you."
"Why leave? Stay and play with me!"
Ji Taoyu had never suffered such shameless harassment before. Terror seized him.
Just as he flailed in panic, searching for a way out, a familiar pair of large hands suddenly covered his eyes from behind. At the same moment, a bone-chilling scream pierced the night, sending a flock of birds scattering from the trees in alarm.
"AHH!"
Both groups froze.
Blinded by Huo Shu’s hand, Ji Taoyu had no idea what had happened. He was pulled against Huo Shu’s chest, prevented from turning around.
The men watched as the man writhed on the ground, convulsing in a pool of blood. After one last agonized cry, he fell silent.
A chill ran down everyone’s spines. This was the first time they’d seen Huo Shu truly fight—severing a hand with a single, emotionless stroke, his expression never flickering.
In that instant, they realized just how lenient Huo Shu had been with them all this time.
Ge Liang knew conflict was now inevitable. Gripping his saber, he barked: "Stand ready!"
The others snapped to attention, tightening their grips on their weapons.
No one blamed Huo Shu for losing his temper. This campsite was theirs first, and these men had no right to drive them out.
To openly harass Ji Taoyu was an outright insult.
Even if Ji Taoyu weren’t Huo Shu’s fulang, but merely their group’s physician, such humiliation was unforgivable.
"Bastards! How dare you lay hands on our people!"
A man lunged at Huo Shu with a broadsword. Huo Shu blocked the full-force strike with his own blade, the clash ringing sharply. With a twist, he deflected the attack and kicked the man back, sending him sprawling several feet away.
Two more men charged, but within three exchanges, both were on the ground, unable to rise.
Seeing Huo Shu was no pushover, the group prepared to swarm him—until the bearded leader rode forward.
"Boss, this punk attacked our men!"
The leader ignored him, locking eyes with Huo Shu. The tension between them was like a lit fuse.
Huo Shu pushed Ji Taoyu toward Ji Wenliang. "Watch your brother," he ordered coldly.
No sooner had he spoken than the bearded man dismounted. The two giants circled each other, slowly moving toward the riverbank.
Under the moonlight, their blades clashed with brutal, bone-chilling force, each strike aimed to kill.
All eyes were fixed on the terrifying duel. Huo Shu’s technique was ruthless, every move calculated to end lives. The bearded man fought with savage strength, each blow carrying crushing power.
The fight was perfectly matched—a rare display of mastery.
None of their companions had ever seen Huo Shu fight seriously. Even Ji Taoyu, despite their time together, had never witnessed his full prowess.
He knew Huo Shu had been restraining himself, tempering his brutality for his sake. This was the first time he’d seen him unleashed.
Ji Taoyu’s heart pounded in his throat, his eyes reddening with anxiety.
Ji Wenliang held him back, murmuring reassurance: "He’ll be fine. Brother-in-law will be fine."
Time dragged on, yet neither fighter gained the upper hand.
No one dared interfere—until a tearful voice cried out:
"Great Lord! Cease the fight! Fulang— his oil is exhausted!"
[‘油尽[灯枯’ (yóu jìn dēng kū): lit. oil exhausted, lamp dried up; fig. fading, on the verge of death]
A maid rushed toward the riverbank, sobbing.
The bearded man faltered at the shout, visibly distracted.
Huo Shu immediately withdrew.
The man grinned. "With skills like that, you’re no ordinary merchant. Dare to duel again tomorrow?"
"Why not?"
The man laughed, then sobered.
"We didn’t mean to drive you off. Some in our group are infected. We didn’t want to spread it. Stay or go as you please."
With that, he strode away. Glancing at the pale, writhing man on the ground, he delivered a merciless kick.
"Filthy lech. A grown man bullying a ger, what use are you?"
"Boss, boss, I didn’t mean—"
Ignoring the pleas, he ordered his men: "Drive these newcomers out too. The Wayang Stronghold has no place for scum!"
[寨 (zhài): stronghold (militarized/fortified base, often bandit-related)]
Several men were promptly dragged away from the riverside camp.
As the maid hovered anxiously, the bearded man grumbled:
"Barely a blink ago, she was causing chaos. Now her oil is exhausted?"
Despite his grumbling, he hurried toward a nearby carriage.
Once he was gone, Ji Taoyu flung himself into Huo Shu’s arms.
Huo Shu looked down at the trembling figure and murmured: "It’s over."
"Brother Huo, do we leave or stay?"
Huo Shu wrapped an arm around Ji Taoyu’s shoulders, watching as the other group settled nearby.
"It’s too late to find another campsite. We’ll stay the night and leave at dawn."
"If they won’t cause trouble, that’s fine."
Thank you for the update!!!
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