At Steward Huang's Residence, after A Shui's performance, he successfully met the Leader of the Rebel Soldiers, Master Qian.
Master Qian was in his forties, with a scar running across the bridge of his nose. He sat there silently, his gaze cold and exuding a sense of ruthlessness from head to toe.
A pure gold necklace hung around his neck, gem-encrusted rings adorned his fingers, and he twirled a string of Buddhist Beads in his hand. Despite being covered in riches, he didn't possess an air of nobility.
It was as jarring as a beggar holding a golden bowl or an old farmer embracing a beautiful wife.
It exuded a sense of wickedness.
A Shui knew this was because these treasures were stolen by Master Qian and never truly belonged to him.
After hearing A Shui's description, Master Qian looked at him suspiciously.
"Government Soldiers surrounding you? Out of Butcher Hu's hundred-plus men, only you survived?"
A Shui's heart skipped a beat, but he immediately replied:
"Master Qian, I only escaped by playing dead. Look at these wounds on my body."
"I thought I had to survive no matter what to warn everyone. Otherwise, if the Government Soldiers catch us off guard, what would we do? Don't you agree, Master Qian?"
"Everyone is scared now. After all, those are Government Soldiers. Master Qian, shouldn't we flee quickly?"
While speaking, A Shui deliberately showed the wounds he had cut himself to Master Qian; Aunt said this was the Self-Injury Ruse.
If A Shui hadn't rehearsed with Qin Sang beforehand and had to rely on improvisation, he might have been found out.
Now that everyone had helped him plan the responses and scenarios, he answered with great ease.
Moreover, by using the survival of all the Rebel Soldiers as a reason, even if Master Qian didn't believe him, he couldn't easily punish him.
Because what if what A Shui said was true?
Then Master Qian would be pushing everyone into a fiery pit.
Since A Shui said others already knew, Master Qian couldn't pretend to be ignorant; he had to react.
Master Qian's eyes darted around as he looked at the guards at the door.
"How are you so sure they are Government Soldiers?"
A Shui cried out, "Oh, my dear Master Qian! They all carried Broadswords and were very disciplined, killing with every strike. Only dozens of them wiped out over a hundred of us like carving melons and vegetables. If they aren't Government Soldiers, what else could they be?"
Master Qian's fingers twirling the beads paused, and his eyes narrowed.
"They weren't wearing uniforms?"
A Shui scratched his head.
"No, they weren't. But Master Qian, they were dressed very neatly and looked very healthy—every one of them was plump. Unlike us, with nothing to eat or drink, they clearly looked well-fed. If they aren't Government Soldiers, they can't be commoners, right?"
"Oh, and maybe they're pretending to be commoners to lower our guard? Think about it, Master Qian, if they pretended to join us and we didn't know the truth, would we refuse?"
"Also, I saw with my own eyes that they have rice, grain, and water. Master Qian, where in Songbai Town can you still find such things? Even the villagers who fled into the mountains are living on grass roots. If you don't believe me, go see for yourself. They're eating White Flour Cakes, and their waterskins are bulging."
Once A Shui finished, Master Qian's hand holding the beads tightened immediately.
In all his time as a rebel soldier, the number of times he had eaten his fill was countable on one hand.
What use was stealing so much treasure and copper coins? There was no food to be found anywhere; money couldn't buy it.
So, hearing that those people had food and water, Master Qian instinctively thought of plundering them.
However, in these times, anyone who could afford white flour and water was indeed unlikely to be a commoner.
Besides Government Soldiers, Master Qian thought of another possibility: the bandits of Qingfeng Mountain.
Having such high combat power and being so willing to eat and drink well, Master Qian felt more and more that the latter was the truth.
In that case, he had to be cautious.
He might have a chance against Government Soldiers with his men, but bandits were a different story.
They were in the business of taking lives and were much more formidable than the motley crew of Government Soldiers.
Moreover, the bandits of Qingfeng Mountain were rumored to number no less than five hundred, while his Rebel Soldiers only had two or three hundred left. If they really fought, they would have no chance of winning.
The group hiding in Tianjia Village was likely an advance scout unit from Qingfeng Mountain sent to gather information.
Once they knew he had a large amount of treasure, they would definitely come to Songbai Town to seize it.
The Rebel Soldiers couldn't buy food with money, but those bandits might have channels to do so.
Thinking this, Master Qian became increasingly uneasy and paced around the living room.
"Fine. Take a small squad of fifty men to check them out and test their strength."
A Shui stepped back.
"Master Qian, you... aren't you sending me to my death? I... I don't want to go."
Though he said this, A Shui's heart was not calm.
Aunt's guess was truly spot on. She said that since Master Qian held so much wealth, he definitely wouldn't risk himself easily; his most likely move would be to make A Shui go back.
And he had to refuse to match the reaction of a rebel soldier who had just escaped death—he couldn't agree immediately; he had to be threatened by Master Qian before reluctantly agreeing.
Sure enough, seeing his reluctance, Master Qian's eyes widened. He drew a dagger from his waist and pointed it at A Shui.
"Only you know the way to Tianjia Village. If you don't go, who will? Dare to say no again, and believe it or not, I'll send you to hell right now!"
A Shui then shrank back in fear and agreed.
"I... I'll go... Can't I just go?"
"Master Qian, if you let me take so many brothers, what if they don't listen to me?"
Seeing him agree and even ask for benefits, Master Qian satisfiedly sheathed his dagger.
"I'm making you a squad Leader of fifty men. If you can kill them all and bring back their rice and grain, next time I'll let you lead a hundred."
A Shui's eyes lit up, then dimmed again.
"I'd better focus on coming back alive first."
This reaction perfectly portrayed a commoner who wanted power but was cowardly.
Master Qian gave him a few more instructions and then ordered others to take him to pick his men.
Leaving Steward Huang's Residence, A Shui went to other courtyards. Unsurprisingly, he saw human skeletons on bonfire racks. The smell of burnt fat in the air made him instinctively gag. He quickly raised his hand; a scent of mint on the back of his hand rushed into his nose, suppressing the nausea.
A Shui visited several courtyards before gathering fifty men. Along the way, he saw where the Rebel Soldiers were holding the commoners.
Seeing the frail elderly, women, and children, A Shui lowered his eyes, and it took a long time for the surging emotions in his heart to calm.
Aunt was right; the sooner these Rebel Soldiers were dealt with, the fewer people would die.
Compared to his idea of "killing one is worth it, killing two is a profit," Aunt's vision was much broader than his.
"Assemble!"
A Shui shouted at the dirty, scrawny men in front of him.