Ch. 56 - Departure
If the thrust of a curved blade could be treacherous due to the arc of its body, requiring split-second judgment to defend and respond—
Then as a specialized thrusting weapon, the rapier's strikes had always been renowned for their elegance and precision.
Thanks to its slender, resilient blade, it was unrivaled in noble duels.
And Tang Qi's floating footwork and crude forehand thrust were full of openings—Huss didn't even need to use his blade to parry or counterattack.
He only needed to measure the distance between them through his spectacles, then sidestep and lean, easily delivering a backhand thrust into Tang Qi's wide-open heart—
The outcome of a duel often required only such an instant.
The resistance at his sword tip transmitted to his wrist. Huss understood that he only needed to advance another inch to pierce through his heart.
To silence this rabble-rousing poet forever, so he could never sing another note of noise.
But he quickly discovered that the sword in his hand seemed to have struck an iron plate, forcing even his arm to halt—
This was actually a leather garment lined with studded armor!?
He then realized this obvious opening had been deliberately presented to him by Tang Qi!
Too late to think further, Huss relied almost entirely on combat instinct, using his left hand behind his back to draw the slender short sword at his waist.
That was the backup option for close combat when a mid-range thrust failed.
He could use it in the next exchange to parry that crude slash...
"Pfft!"
Sudden pain erupted at the back of his neck!
Warm blood sprayed violently from the side of his throat—
"Impossible!?"
Huss realized Tang Qi had never intended to slash!
He had only paused his footsteps when that curved blade swept past his neck.
Using the strength of his wrist and the recurved blade tip, he hooked into his throat!
That was Black Snake's signature move—
The thrust was a feint, while the double-edged blade tip transformed into a hook, as treacherous and cunning as a swimming serpent.
Now crudely imitated by Tang Qi, who had witnessed his gladiatorial combat.
"He knew he wasn't a match, so he tried to utilize all his resources and take a gamble..."
Huss felt the pain in his neck gradually fade.
His eyes also became hazy and confused.
His vision gradually darkened, his gaze first fixed on that black blade, then sliding down to Tang Qi's feet...
"Steward Huss! Steward Huss!"
Melade knelt before him crying, his tender palms firmly pressed against the bleeding wound.
But blood still seeped through his fingers, dripping onto this land.
Huss reached out his hand in a daze, looking at Melade's plump face, which began to overlap with Lord Merle's visage.
The old steward's instructions still echoed in his ears:
"You must remember, you are only a commoner. Spending your entire life toiling in the fields is your predetermined fate.
But Lord Merle has given you the opportunity to learn and serve their family.
You should be grateful for Lord Merle's grace and offer him your loyalty."
My lord.
I had intended to send the young master away, then hold this land with the remaining people.
We should be grateful to you.
So protecting your property, death is no regret...
As a servant, have I been loyal?
Have I exhausted myself for you?
Have I fought to the very last moment for you?
He felt he had done so.
But thinking of everything that happened today, he couldn't help but worry:
"Young master—perhaps you should... exercise more..."
Melade's wailing couldn't call back his dilated pupils.
Tang Qi slapped his plump face, stunning him into silence.
Then he grabbed his collar and pointed his head toward the fighting guards:
"Tell everyone to stop, or I'll slit your throat."
Facing imminent disaster, Melade couldn't withstand the intimidation and could only stand up trembling, shouting toward the distance:
"Stop! Everyone stop! Don't fight anymore!"
The guards and townspeople finally stepped back, seeing Huss lying in a pool of blood, exchanging astonished glances.
Tang Qi then issued orders in Melade's stead:
"The cruel servant who oppressed you is dead.
You've won!
As for those mercenaries, if you want to live, gather the wounded together and have Father Lynn stabilize their conditions—
The orc raid is no lie. We must leave here quickly and flee to Longgold City!"
Old David placed his bloodstained pitchfork back on his cart, clutching his injured arm, hesitating:
"But, but sir, we don't know the forest paths..."
"That's why I'll lead you out of here!
Now, everyone put down your weapons, watch over your wives and children, pack your belongings.
Once we've assembled all the townspeople, we'll form a migration convoy and head west to Longgold City together, bypassing the northern forest!"
The sudden change in circumstances left the townspeople temporarily unable to distinguish friend from foe.
But at least the joy of 'escape' showed on their faces, making them all breathe a collective sigh of relief.
To prevent Catherine and Anbi from becoming targets, Tang Qi first had Stonecrusher take them back to the tavern to pack what they needed to bring.
Then, gripping his curved blade, he forced Melade to organize the town guards and commanded them to knock on every door to inform them of the uprising in town.
Father Lynn took out herbs and applied them to the wounded's injuries, stabilizing their conditions.
Since the mercenaries and most guards weren't from Starberry Town, they showed little mercy when striking.
Fortunately, the conflict was brief. Apart from a dozen severely wounded townspeople whose survival was uncertain and would need special care on the road, no more trouble was caused.
By the time the townspeople had all gathered, forming a massive migration convoy, the sky had already shown its azure brilliance.
Tang Qi couldn't tell how much time had passed.
But Stonecrusher, who returned, slapped his ass with a very strange expression:
"Way slower than the predicted two hours, but you actually fucking pulled it off?"
Two fists couldn't fight four hands—Stonecrusher alone couldn't handle a siege of dozens.
To divide the guards' strength, clear obstacles, and capture Melade alive, he could only try to stir the farmers' fighting spirit.
Tang Qi shrugged his shoulders and breathed a sigh of relief:
"The funniest thing now is still 'a 12-year-old little girl stole entire tons of starberries overnight,' right?"
"But 'foolish poet tries to take three hundred people with him' still ranks second!
Even though you pulled it off, I still think it's stupid!"
"Stop making fun of me now. Help me watch Melade, I need to rest for a bit..."
The adrenaline produced by danger had been completely exhausted.
Tang Qi's eyelids drooped, and he could collapse on the ground at any moment.
But Stonecrusher still slapped his ass, his rough voice like a dull bell, making such a racket that Tang Qi had no choice but to pull himself together:
"Look at what's coming from the southern forest!"
Tang Qi immediately shivered, thinking the orcs had arrived faster than expected.
He hurriedly looked in the direction of the finger—
But saw a small black shadow running hurriedly along the distant dirt road.
Fortunately, the dawn light allowed Tang Qi to faintly make out the silhouette:
"Kuru!?"
The robed kobold, clutching a huge oval stone in its arms, ran along the dirt road through the wheat field.
"Didn't you flee back to the cave because you were afraid of the orcs?" Tang Qi asked hesitantly.
The kobold holding the stone looked somewhat wronged, tears the size of beans rolling down:
"Kuru, went back! They, disappeared! Migrated, underground!"
"They left you behind? Why?"
"Told, them, wait, one day! Now, two days!"
Tang Qi finally recalled that Kuru had originally followed him to carry out the 'passing off inferior goods as superior' plan.
Who would have thought so many things would happen in between, delaying them by a whole day.
And those kobolds, who already thought it was dangerous and wanted to migrate back underground, seeing that Kuru hadn't returned to the tribe on time, probably assumed it died on the surface. So they packed their belongings and left directly, never looking back...
For kobolds who disregarded kinship relations, this was just routine.
The chief was gone? Just replace the chief—at most they'd be less clever.
Tang Qi, understanding the key point, blinked his eyes and examined the stone in its arms.
He squinted slightly, almost unable to suppress his smile:
"This is..."
Kuru jumped in fright, turning away and saying nothing.
But its reaction precisely confirmed Tang Qi's guess:
"So you're homeless now? Why not come with us to Longgold City?"
"Kuru..."
"Come on, if those orcs catch you, no one else will come to rescue you."
"Orcs..."
"I also provide three meals a day. If there's trouble, just help out with your spells. If we run into danger, you can still escape—I definitely won't stop you!"
Stonecrusher smacked his lips, muttering:
"Damn, clearly a poet, but why does he look more like a slaver from Black Reef Harbor?"
Tang Qi clenched his fist and shouted at Kuru:
"Rua!"
"Rua!"
Kuru ultimately jumped onto the cart—
Actually, that had been its plan all along.
It just couldn't agree that quickly, or it would seem cheap.
Kuru, very, smart!
Looking at the stone in the kobold's arms, Tang Qi almost drooled.
But fatigue attacked again, and he finally couldn't hold on, falling against the hard corner of the ox cart—
"Careful!"
Fortunately, Catherine quickly supported him, and with Anbi's help, dragged him onto the ox cart's driver's seat.
Tang Qi straightened up, somewhat embarrassed:
"Sorry, I really have no strength left. Maybe I should get a good sleep..."
He glanced at the cargo cart but found that although the ox cart was spacious, it was filled with goods.
After seating Anbi, Stonecrusher, and a bloated Melade, there was little room left to lie down.
Catherine noticed his predicament and gently shook her head, putting her arm around his shoulder:
"You really should rest. If you need a pillow...
If you don't mind, you can rest on my lap for now."
Tang Qi could tell she said this out of pure kindness.
But who cares about that:
"Then I won't be polite."
Only a bastard would pass up such an opportunity.
He curled up on the driver's seat, burying his face in her round thigh.
The linen dress was a bit scratchy, and there was no so-called maiden fragrance.
But she was soft enough.
Soft enough to easily relieve Tang Qi's fatigue, letting him instantly sink into a gentle, dreamy slumber.
"Then we'll depart. Stonecrusher-xiansheng, please help keep watch around us."
Stonecrusher laughed loudly: "As long as you give this old man wine to drink!"
"There's a crate of wine barrels on the cart specially prepared for you."
"Good girl, even when we get to Longgold City, you'll definitely make big money!"
The farm girl only responded with a faint smile.
But when she turned to look at that small town, at that golden oak tree and its swaying shadows—
All her smiles remained only as a soft farewell:
"I'm leaving now, Mother.
And also...
You bastard old man."
She gave a light cry, driving the cart with the composure of a knight leading troops.
The old ox in front lifted its slow steps.
A ray of dawn pierced through the mountains, enveloping the country dirt road.
Reflecting on the muddy wheel tracks.
Also pointing toward the unknown ahead.