Chapter 660 - 653_1
"Damn it, why is our luck so rotten? We finally escaped from Xin’an City, and those people stopped chasing us, only to run into a bunch of bandits blocking our way. Boss, though there are many of them, they’re just a ragtag bunch. With our skills, it’s not certain that we can’t handle them. Why not just fight it out with them? We’ve been too cowardly these past few days, being chased around by a gang of poor country bumpkins. I can’t swallow this anger anymore. It’s time to sharpen our knives on these blind bandits."
As Hidden Guards who were cultivated from a young age by the Yin Family, they were powerful and skilled, proud too. They didn’t behave like common servants in the presence of the Yin Family, but they still followed the principles that servants should maintain. However, facing the people from Xin’an City, they couldn’t help but feel superior, considering Xin’an City could never match the presence of Hidden Guards, a much more esteemed class. In their eyes, the servants from Xin’an City were nothing but a group of poor yokels unfit for showing their faces in public.
"Nonsense! The bandits of Longhu Mountain have been rampant for many times, growing more powerful with each passing day. The government hasn’t been able to eradicate them. The Village Chief must be quite capable to have developed an ordinary group of bandits into the force they are now. Xin’an City may indeed be a small place, but that doesn’t mean it has no capable people. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be in such a sorry state. It’s all because of underestimating the enemy."
The leader of the men in black evidently had more brains than his subordinates. With a somber face, he spoke, his expression growing increasingly grave. Although he also deeply resented these opportunistic bandits, what mattered most was resolving the matter, not acting on impulse. Once this was over, there would be plenty of chances to settle the score with these bandits.
"So much has happened that even our identities have been exposed. I don’t know how we’ll explain it all to the Family Head when we return. The last thing we need now is to stir up more trouble. If we can safely escort our charge back to the Capital City, we might even be able to turn our failure into success, at the very least avoiding severe punishment. But if something else goes wrong, would the Family Head spare us? Besides, against the bandits of Longhu Mountain, we have no chance of winning. We can only negotiate with these bandits and see if they will let us pass. If it comes down to it, we can spend some silver. After all, what bandits seek when they rob is simply wealth."
The leader of the men in black quickly thought of a solution. Little did they know that these bandits had been hired by the Zhao Family, and even without Lin Yue’s involvement, because they were Hidden Guards of the Yin Family, Huangfu Yi would not let them off so easily. They were thinking too lightly of the situation.
"The boss is right, we really shouldn’t stir up more trouble. Let me, your subordinate, represent you and negotiate with those bandits, hoping for a favorable outcome." Some of the men in black were arrogantly impulsive, while others were clever and keen to seize these opportunities to impress.
"Alright, then. I’ll leave this matter to you to negotiate with the bandits. If their demands aren’t too excessive, agree to them. Even if they are a bit too much, as long as we can get past this peacefully, go along with them. Once this hurdle is behind us, we can settle the score with them," the leader of the men in black knew this subordinate was somewhat capable, quick-witted with a sharp tongue, and he readily agreed to let him handle the negotiations.