The twenty men wasted no more time. With trained efficiency, they formed two lines and swiftly loaded all the Medicinal Herbs onto the backs of the mules, horses, and old oxen.
Qin Sang spoke up:
"Stop. Forget the herbs and the livestock. We need to leave, now. Our lives are more important."
But the villagers wouldn't listen:
"Da Zhuang's Mother, it wasn't easy for us to raise these animals. We can't just let these people take them for nothing. Don't worry, there are so many of us. Nothing will happen."
Anxious and helpless, Qin Sang quickly walked up to Heizi:
"You, go back and report immediately."
Without suspicion, Heizi acknowledged and turned to run, only to be called back by Qin Sang:
"Wait. Don't go."
Heizi asked, puzzled:
"Aunt? We're not reporting?"
Qin Sang scanned the mountain forest once more. She saw no one, but the unease in her heart grew heavier:
"No. If they just wanted to rob us of our grain and livestock, they could have attacked earlier. Why did they let us make an exchange with those dozens of people?"
Heizi caught on and asked in a low voice:
"Aunt, are you saying they want to follow us back to the Camp?"
Qin Sang gave an almost imperceptible nod:
"Exactly. If I hadn't stopped you just now, they might have followed you. Once they find the Camp, they can rob again and take all the village's grain."
Heizi's expression turned grave:
"What do we do now? Stall them?"
Qin Sang thought for a moment and said:
"We'll wait and see. Have everyone eat the rations they brought. We'll need strength to wield our blades."
"Right!"
Heizi's face was full of angry excitement. He was furious because they had helped these refugees, only to be betrayed. His excitement came from the thought that by killing a bunch of these ill-intentioned people, no one would dare covet Tianjia Village or rob Aunt ever again.
The refugees, unaware of the situation, saw Qin Sang and the others telling them to leave with serious faces. Some asked in confusion:
"Why no grain exchange today? We've waited so long. Why cancel it just like that?"
"Has something happened?"
Qin Sang didn't hide it either. Her gaze swept over a man in the crowd who looked nervous and guilty, and she said, looking at him:
"As for why we're not exchanging grain today, you'll have to ask him."
The refugees all turned to look at the man. Guiltily, he avoided their gazes, trying to leave, but he was surrounded and couldn't move an inch:
"You... why are you blocking me? I... I don't know anything. It... it wasn't me... really, it wasn't me..."
Before Qin Sang could speak, someone else questioned him:
"We haven't said anything yet, and you're already saying it wasn't you. You must know something. Speak up."
"Right! We're all counting on trading roots for grain to survive. Are you trying to kill us all?"
"Are you going to talk or not? If not, don't even think about leaving today."
Seeing the crowd's rising anger, the man finally said in anguish:
"It's the Rebel Soldiers. The Rebel Soldiers have entered the mountains. They attacked the Cave where our village was taking refuge last night.
"They were going to kill us all, but Tian Hongmei from our village said... said this grain was traded from people.
"She also said there's... a wealthy family in your Tianjia Village, with more grain than they can eat. If they find out where Tianjia Village is hiding, they can get endless grain."
The man finished, his face full of shame:
"Those Rebel Soldiers planned to follow you today, find where you're staying, and then... kill you all..."
Hearing the familiar name Tian Hongmei, Qin Sang pursed her lips.
So the scourge lives on for a thousand years, huh? She hadn't starved or died of thirst? She was actually still alive and well?
But hadn't they already killed all the Rebel Soldiers from Songbai Town? Could there be another batch?
Seeing the man relax slightly after speaking, Qin Sang knew he probably wasn't lying:
"How many Rebel Soldiers are there?"
The man finally looked up at Qin Sang:
"Fi... fifty-something, I think? I'm not sure. I heard them say they have other brothers looking for refugees in the mountains elsewhere."
After hearing this, the refugees' faces were filled with sorrow.
They had already fled to the mountains, with little to eat or drink, barely surviving, yet the Rebel Soldiers still wouldn't leave them alone.
When would this life ever end?
The atmosphere grew heavy for a moment. Qin Sang said:
"I originally thought someone among your villagers had malicious intent. Since it has nothing to do with you, everyone should leave this dangerous place quickly.
"If Tianjia Village manages to escape disaster today, we will still trade with you all in the future. But if...
"Then you'll have to fend for yourselves."
Qin Sang's words struck the most vulnerable spot for these refugees. They were at the end of their rope, and only Qin Sang could provide a bite to eat. If even this last source of food vanished, they wouldn't survive.
Immediately, someone shouted loudly:
"If something happens to the Tianjia Village villagers today, we'll have no grain to trade in the future, and we'll starve anyway. We might as well fight them together!"
"Right! Them wanting Tianjia Village's lives is the same as wanting all our lives. There are so many of us. Are we afraid of just fifty-something of them?"
"Don't be afraid, everyone! Helping Tianjia Village is helping ourselves. Fight those Rebel Soldiers! At worst, it's death. I stopped wanting to live a long time ago!"
With one villager taking the lead and shouting, the refugees found a backbone. They were right. Fighting might not mean death, but not fighting meant a living death, with death coming sooner or later anyway.
The refugees were willing to stand with Qin Sang against the enemy, something she hadn't anticipated. After all, they were so hungry they could barely stand, let alone fight Rebel Soldiers.
Tian Yougen and Heizi were also surprised:
"Da Zhuang's Mother, look at this..."
Qin Sang looked at them. There were still over forty people, all men. Why not accept an extra bit of strength?
Having made up her mind, Qin Sang spoke:
"Good. Since you all are willing to help Tianjia Village, Tian Family accepts your goodwill.
"If we resolve this successfully today, I promise to divide all the grain we brought equally among you. No need for your roots."
With this promise and seeing the several bags of grain tied to the Mules and Horses, the refugees became even more determined to fight side by side.
Qin Sang made arrangements:
"Alright. Everyone, find handy sticks and stones now. You have no weapons. Later, stand behind the Tianjia Village villagers. If they dare show themselves, hit them with the sticks and stones."
This arrangement comforted the refugees. The Tianjia Village people weren't using them as human shields; they were treating them as people.
"Good. We'll follow your arrangements."
"Right, smash them to death!"
Everyone picked up handy objects from the ground. Like the Tianjia Village people, they formed a perfect circular defensive ring, placing the oxen, horses, mules, and Qin Sang at the very center.
The shouts echoed through the mountain forest, surely reaching the ears of the Rebel Soldiers lying in ambush.
Sure enough, before long, many Rebel Soldiers armed with swords and spears appeared on the hilltops.
The sounds of blades being drawn rose one after another. Soon, the Rebel Soldiers gathered in one place. The leading Rebel Soldier man sneered evilly:
"So you figured it out. Should have killed everyone in that village. Ruined my plans."
Qin Sang sneered coldly:
"Were you that kind? You spared them precisely because you hoped they'd lead the way, didn't you?"
The man sneered, his eyes on Qin Sang's, like the most venomous cobra staring coldly:
"You must be Widow Tian. Hongmei was right. You really are a tough nut to crack. But tough nuts are my favorite to chew.
"Brothers, attack! Just keep this Widow Tian alive to lead the way. Kill all the rest..."