Xiong Fei walked forward two steps with his hands on his hips, his eyes full of contempt.
"Fine, then I'll tell you. Go to the county yamen and get Yang Dazhi and Ding Laosan out for us. We'll trade one for one, and neither of us will lose out."
Chen Xiaobei secretly cried out. He had once thought that the mountain bandits might use this as a condition, and now it had indeed come true.
But clearly, this condition was impossible to fulfill. Let alone using the Willow family's waist token to demand it, even if Liu Rumei herself went, she might not be able to get them out.
Thinking of this, he decisively waved his hand, "This condition is not negotiable. Change it."
Chen Xiaobei's move completely stunned Xiong Fei.
He had never seen anything like it. After a long while, he finally came to his senses, "Chen Xiaobei, are you an idiot? You're the one asking us for people, and you have the nerve to ask me to change the conditions?"
Chen Xiaobei smiled calmly and said unhurriedly, "Yes. Think about it. If I were to go to Magistrate Hu and tell him that I'll trade Yang Dazhi and Ding Laosan for my wife and sister, do you think he would agree?"
This question made Xiong Fei somewhat at a loss.
Chen Xiaobei seized the opportunity, "From my perspective, he wouldn't only refuse, but he would immediately send troops to wipe you out. Therefore, I said to change the condition, which is actually saving you."
These words left Xiong Fei dumbfounded.
So, he had become a savior.
Hearing this, Chen Xiaowen and Chen Xiaobo, who were hiding in the distance, also widened their eyes. They looked at each other, their faces filled with disbelief.
What kind of move was this?
Chen Xiaobei hadn't read any books, yet he could speak so eloquently.
Most importantly, he even appeared to be rescuing them from a predicament.
Xiong Fei finally recovered after a while and laughed heartily, "Chen Xiaobei, I'm not easily scared. Don't try to intimidate me with the official army."
Chen Xiaobei knew that the other party was already hesitant.
"Alright, you can't make the decision. Go tell Da Lao Hei that I'm willing to pay silver to ransom them."
Xiong Fei clearly didn't realize this was a trap and immediately asked, "How much silver are you willing to pay?"
This?
He was being asked to name his price for a ransom?
Chen Xiaobo said calmly, holding up two fingers, "I'll give two 'da zi'."
Two 'da zi'?
Chen Xiaowen and Chen Xiaobo were instantly stunned.
To come to Centipede Ridge with just two copper coins to ransom someone?
Chen Xiaobei, are you serious?
Are you trying to get the bandits to kill them?
Xiong Fei became furious, "Chen Xiaobei, you're playing with me! I'll make you pay today."
With that, he drew his curved saber and charged at Chen Xiaobei.
Seeing the other party's enraged state, Chen Xiaobei was not worried at all.
He believed the other party would not just chop him down.
As expected, Xiong Fei rushed up to him, extended his saber, and pressed it against his neck.
"Kid, believe it or not, I'll chop you down with one stroke."
"I don't think you will. Killing me at the foot of the mountain would require you to dig a grave and bury me. That's too much trouble."
This.
This worked?
Even Xiong Fei was stunned by his reasoning. He stared at Chen Xiaobei for a long moment, then burst into laughter, "Fine, then wait here. Don't leave until I come back."
With that, he put away his saber, gestured to the two subordinates behind him, and turned to leave.
After turning behind a rock, Xiong Fei spat fiercely, "I must have not checked the almanac before leaving today. I've encountered a mad dog. Hmph."
A subordinate asked, "Brother Xiong, why didn't you just chop him down just now?"
Xiong Fei chuckled, "He's right. Killing someone at the foot of the mountain would require us to dig and bury, and clean up the bloodstains. It's too much trouble. Let this fool wait at the foot of the mountain, and we'll go back for drinks."
The subordinate immediately grinned, "Right, right, Brother Xiong is still smart. Letting Chen Xiaobei wait here, he'll wait until the end of time and never see his beautiful wife."
As the three walked away, laughing and chatting, suddenly, the two subordinates froze and stood still.
Xiong Fei said a couple of sentences and, getting no response, couldn't help but turn back to look.
What he saw shocked him: two gleaming long swords were held at the throats of his two subordinates.
Xiong Fei felt a chill run down his spine. He reached for his saber, but felt a cold sensation at the back of his neck.
Then a low voice sounded, "Don't move. If you move again, I'll take your dog's life."
Xiong Fei secretly regretted his actions but immediately put on a smiling face, "I won't move, I won't move. What do you command, great hero?"
"Listen. Go back and tell Da Lao Hei to send down the people Chen Xiaobei wants immediately."
Xiong Fei thought to himself, this day is truly bizarre. What kind of people has he encountered? Each one is more arrogant than the last.
"May I ask for the great hero's name, so I can report back to the great chieftain?"
"The Willow family in the county town, do you know them?" Steward Liu said, taking out a waist token from his chest and flashing it in front of Xiong Fei.
"Do you recognize this thing?"
Although Xiong Fei didn't recognize it, he didn't dare to say so. "I do, but I'm afraid our great chieftain won't agree."
Steward Liu laughed heartily, "If Chen Xiaobei's people are not sent down the mountain before dark, then today will be the death anniversary of your Centipede Ridge."
After speaking, Steward Liu slapped Xiong Fei on the back. Xiong Fei stumbled forward several steps. When he turned around again, the person was gone.
He then saw that his two subordinates had been knocked to the ground and were unconscious.
Xiong Fei was terrified and, without bothering to call out to his companions, fled back to the mountain stronghold.
Before Da Lao Hei could finish a cup of wine, Xiong Fei rushed in in a panic, "Great chieftain, it's bad, something terrible has happened."
Da Lao Hei's eyes widened, and he put down his wine cup, "Xiong Fei, why are you shouting?"
Arriving in front of Da Lao Hei, Xiong Fei's face was still filled with lingering fear, "Great chieftain, we've been severely tricked this time."
Da Lao Hei was bewildered. Hou Lao Liu next to him couldn't help but say, "Xiong Fei, hurry up and tell us, what exactly happened?"
Xiong Fei wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, "Great chieftain, the people who accompanied Chen Xiaobei down the mountain just now were from the Willow family in the county town."
What?
Da Lao Hei's heart trembled. He subconsciously asked, "Is this true?"
"It's true, great chieftain. I recognize the Willow family's waist token. That person also said that if the people were not sent down before dark, he would lead troops to destroy our stronghold."
Upon hearing this, Hou Lao Liu stood up abruptly, "Damn it, this is too much..."
But after saying this, Hou Lao Liu fell silent. He didn't know whether to stand or sit. Because he saw that Da Lao Hei was not as angry as expected, but was standing there in silence.
Hou Lao Liu had to change his tone, "Great chieftain, this Willow family is too overbearing."
Da Lao Hei sighed leisurely, "No wonder Chen Xiaobei dared to come to Centipede Ridge alone. He has backing."