Yang Zhi had a sudden realization. He recalled what Liu Rumei had said at the Liu manor, wondering if there wasn't a problem within the Vermillion Bird Gang itself.
Perhaps the mole was among them, allowed to leave so easily.
But who could it be? A thought suddenly flashed through Yang Zhi's mind: Batu. According to everyone's accounts, Batu had charged forward with the third brother, Latour. Yet, the third brother was dead, but Batu was alive, and more importantly, Batu had become the gang leader.
However, these were just his speculations with no evidence to back them up. Yang Zhi kept his thoughts to himself.
"Eldest Brother, I'll have the brothers withdraw for now. It's not suitable to have so many people in another village."
Lardo nodded, "Alright, have them return and settle down. I should leave here as well and not disturb Brother Xiaobei too much."
Yang Zhi went out and gathered everyone, telling them to return first.
Old Man Hu was the first to step forward, "Second Master, please let me stay. I will take care of the Gang Leader."
The rest of the men also voiced their opinions, and even Batu showed enthusiasm, saying he wanted to stay.
Yang Zhi waved his hand, signaling for everyone to be quiet.
"Alright, alright, brothers, listen to me. The Gang Leader and I have discussed it. You all return to the inn, pack up, and tomorrow we will bring the Gang Leader to live with us."
Upon hearing this, the men cheered joyfully.
Batu, seizing the opportunity, stepped forward and said, "Since that's the case, let's hurry back and pack to welcome the Gang Leader's return."
Watching the Vermillion Bird Gang members disperse with laughter and chatter, Li Dong finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He quickly went to report to Chen Xiaobei, who was currently leading people in digging a pit at home.
The water tank would arrive the next morning, so the pit had to be dug today, no matter what.
After hearing Li Dong's report, Chen Xiaobei was also happy. After all, people's hearts were inscrutable, and he wasn't that familiar with the Vermillion Bird Gang.
Rescuing Yang Zhi and Lardo was merely an act of righteousness, not related to personal sentiment.
As they were speaking, Yang Zhi also came to the door, "Brother Xiaobei, Brother Li Dong, I want to take my Eldest Brother away tomorrow. We have troubled you greatly these past few days."
Chen Xiaobei tried to persuade him to stay a bit longer, but Yang Zhi's attitude was firm, "Brother, thank you for your kindness, but it wouldn't be right for the Gang Leader not to be with his subordinates. I've told them to go back and pack, and they will come to pick up the Gang Leader tomorrow morning."
At this moment, Batu had led the group away from Hetou Village and onto the main road.
Sitting in the carriage, Batu's mind began to race. Once Lardo and Yang Zhi returned, he would completely lose his say. The plan to attack Liu Rumei couldn't be implemented then, so he had to act quickly.
With this thought, he reined in the carriage and said to the crowd, "Brothers, the Gang Leader will be back soon. Shouldn't we prepare a welcome gift for him?"
"Yes."
"Yes." The crowd responded in a flurry of voices.
"Brothers, let's go to the county town and kill Liu Rumei. What do you say?"
Batu's proposal was met with unanimous agreement, "Let's go, to the county town, to the county town."
Just then, Yang Bo suddenly shouted, "Everyone, don't rush. We should still ask for the Gang Leader's instructions before making a decision."
Batu glared, pointed at Yang Bo, and roared sternly, "You are such a coward."
"Brothers, tie up Yang Bo and throw him into the woods over there. We'll release him when we return from the county town."
Batu's main purpose in doing this was to prevent Yang Bo from reporting them.
Old Man Hu and the others swarmed forward, tying Yang Bo up securely. Then, they threw him into the nearby woods and sped away.
As night fell, Chen Xiaobei asked Cui Hongyu to cook more rice. He ladled some out and brought it to Yang Zhi and Lardo.
Seeing Chen Xiaobei bring food, Yang Zhi appeared a bit embarrassed.
"It's always such trouble for you. I truly feel bad."
Chen Xiaobei smiled faintly, "It's nothing. I have to eat anyway, so I just made a little extra."
Just as they were talking.
Suddenly, a howl was heard from the distance.
Chen Xiaobei's heart leaped. Yang Zhi immediately blurted out, "That's a wolf's howl."
Hearing Yang Zhi say this, Chen Xiaobei's heart trembled. The sound seemed so close.
However, after listening for a couple more calls, Chen Xiaobei found it a bit strange. The wolf howls sounded weak and listless.
At that moment, the sound of gongs and drums echoed through the village, and some of the village guards were shouting loudly.
Their shouts had two parts: one was to tell the villagers to close their doors and windows and stay indoors, and the other was to summon the village guards to assemble quickly.
Soon, Li Dong, with over a dozen village guards, assembled under the large locust tree.
Seeing Chen Xiaobei there, Li Dong breathed a sigh of relief, "I just came to call you, but Sister Hongyu said you were over here."
Chen Xiaobei nodded, "Did everyone hear the wolf howls just now?"
The village guards nodded in unison, "Village Chief, tell us what to do."
Chen Xiaobei thought, what else could they do? Go to his house and get the repeating crossbows. Those were the most effective.
While they were talking, two more howls were heard. Yang Zhi listened closely and smiled, "Brother Xiaobei, there's no need for such a large operation. Judging from the sound, it should be two small wolves." Su Dan Novels
Small wolves?
"Yes, they are small wolves. Listen." Indeed, the wolf's howls were short and not as loud as those heard on the mountain.
"That's strange, why would small wolves come down the mountain?" Chen Xiaobei was puzzled for a moment. It was Li Dong next to him who suddenly realized, "Could the wolves we caught yesterday have been their parents?"
That remark enlightened them.
Chen Xiaobei and Yang Zhi exchanged a glance. Yang Zhi nodded, "We'll know if we go and see."
Although Yang Zhi said they were small wolves, Chen Xiaobei remained cautious. He went home to get two repeating crossbows, handed one to Li Dong, and kept the other for himself.
The group, holding torches, marched out of the village in a grand procession.
In the woods west of the village.
As soon as they entered the woods, Chen Xiaobei saw two pairs of small, green eyes in the distance.
Seeing them approach, these two pairs of small eyes retreated a few dozen feet.
As they moved, Chen Xiaobei saw clearly. Just as Yang Zhi had said, they were indeed two small wolves, not even as big as newborn lambs.
Seeing these two small wolves, Yang Zhi sighed, "You must have left scent trails along the way, which is how these two small wolves managed to follow you."
Chen Xiaobei thought, isn't that right? He and Li Dong had dragged the wolves down the mountain, so of course, they would have left a scent.
"Brother Yang, do you think these small wolves will starve to death?" Chen Xiaobei felt a surge of compassion. Wolves were also living beings.
"Wolves this small wouldn't be able to hunt rabbits or pheasants. If they could feed themselves, they wouldn't be coming down the mountain to look for their parents."
If they couldn't even catch wild chickens or rabbits, then they naturally wouldn't be able to harm people.