Chapter 081: Seizing Wealth, Seizing Goods, Seizing Women (Please Vote)

“Big business? What big business?” the pudgy Gu asked in confusion.

“There was a huge merchant caravan passing at the foot of the mountain. Judging by all those wagons, they must be hauling some valuable goods!” Lin San’s eyes sparkled as he spoke to Xin Lang and the other two.

Xin Lang fell into deep thought upon hearing Lin San’s words.

“Boss, what do we do?” Qian Bai Du and Gu both looked to Xin Lang. They had come to Sky Vault Mountain only to avenge Gu’s father, not truly to become bandits, and now they faced a dilemma.

After a moment’s deliberation, Xin Lang said to Lin San, “Gather the men—come down the mountain with me!”

Xin Lang had no desire for robbery and looting, but as they were now the lords of Sky Vault Mountain, if they let a golden opportunity slip by, how could they answer to their followers? So, for appearances’ sake, they had to act.

Qian Bai Du rubbed his hands excitedly. “Damn it, finally, we get to rob the rich and help the poor!”

Xin Lang ordered Lin San to fetch three masks that could conceal their faces, tossing them to Qian Bai Du and Gu: “Put these on, one for each.”

“Boss, what’s this for?” Gu asked.

Xin Lang replied, “We still need to go to the Summer Capital’s Martial Academy later. What if someone recognizes us? Unless… you’re planning to kill everyone we rob!”

“Uh…” Gu and Qian Bai Du, hearing this, obediently donned the masks. They couldn’t bring themselves to harm ordinary folk.

By now, Lin San had rallied nearly three hundred men—a hundred archers and two hundred swordsmen and axemen.

The scouts from below returned with news: the merchant caravan was now only three li from Sky Vault Mountain. Xin Lang led his three hundred men down the mountain.

He turned to Lin San beside him. “Lin San, how do you usually handle these jobs?”

“We block the caravan and just take what we want!” Lin San answered.

“How exactly do you take it? To what extent?” Xin Lang pressed.

“If the mercenaries guarding the caravan are tough, we save face and let them go. If the mercenaries are weak, we take everything—money, goods, all of it. The men are either killed or chased off, and all the women are hauled up the mountain for… well, you know…” Lin San said, grinning.

Xin Lang frowned at this, glancing at Gu and Qian Bai Du. Hearing Lin San’s words, the two were no longer excited.

Gu and Qian Bai Du were unlike Xin Lang; barely sixteen or seventeen, inexperienced in the ways of the world. They could never bring themselves to commit such evil acts.

After a moment’s thought, Xin Lang said to Lin San, “The old way of robbing won’t do. The infamy spreads too far—ordinary caravans would rather detour than cross Sky Vault Mountain. For the long run, we need a new approach.”

“A new approach? Are there so many ways to rob?” Lin San asked, puzzled.

Xin Lang smiled, “Robbery is like business—the end goal is to collect money. Naturally, whichever way brings in the most is the way to go.”

“Are you saying, besides looting goods, you plan to add kidnapping and extortion?” Lin San asked again.

Xin Lang coughed dryly, exasperated with Lin San’s mind, which seemed fixated only on robbery and kidnapping. “No, not kidnapping and extortion! Even in robbing, one can build a reputation, build trust, so that caravans compete to let us rob them.”

“Ah…” Lin San stared blankly. “Caravans competing to be robbed by us? Is… is… is that possible?”

Xin Lang smiled mysteriously. “Of course it’s possible. Just do as I say, and before long, what I describe will become reality.”

Xin Lang ordered the axemen to lie in ambush on either side of the road, and the archers to climb the tall trees flanking the path, ready to shoot down upon any target.

The grand caravan soon entered the ambush zone. Xin Lang surveyed the caravan: over twenty wagons laden with goods, surrounded by more than sixty mercenaries guarding them.

A portly, thick-eared middle-aged man poked his head from one of the wagons and called to the burly, bull-eyed man at the head of the convoy, “Captain Xiahou, we’re almost at Sky Vault Mountain. Will we be safe?”

“What’s the matter? Don’t you trust me, Xiahou Cheng?” Xiahou Cheng’s glare was intimidating.

The merchant swallowed hard. “N-no, not at all. For years, I’ve taken the long way around—safer, though farther! This is my first time crossing Sky Vault Mountain—don’t take offense, Captain Xiahou!”

“Haha!” Xiahou Cheng laughed proudly. “I once faced Sky Vault Mountain’s old chief, Huang Tianqi, in battle—three hundred rounds, neither side prevailed! Ever since, whenever I escort a caravan through here, he shows me respect! Of all the mercenary groups in the Grand Summer Dynasty, only our Wild Wolf Mercenary Corps dares lead caravans through here!”

“Very good… with Captain Xiahou here, I can rest easy!” Though he said this, the merchant was still uneasy.

Suddenly, an arrow whistled and struck the ground before the lead horse.

From the woods on either side erupted a thunderous shout: “Money! Goods! Women!”

The caravan panicked, and the merchant looked to Xiahou Cheng for help.

“Captain Xiahou, we’re beset by bandits! What do we do?” the merchant cried.

“Don’t be afraid, merchant. They don’t know it’s me, Xiahou Cheng, escorting this caravan. I’ll go negotiate with them!”

Xiahou Cheng rode to the front, studied the woods, then cupped his hands and called out loudly, “Are you brothers of Sky Vault Mountain up ahead? I am Xiahou Cheng, captain of the Wild Wolf Mercenary Corps, an old acquaintance of your chief Huang.”

Xin Lang and his two companions, masked, stepped from the woods and approached Xiahou Cheng’s horse. Xin Lang spoke, “Captain Xiahou, is it? Sorry, but the leadership of Sky Vault Mountain has changed. The old chief Huang has gone to meet the Judge of the Dead. Now, the three of us call the shots. If you wish to pass, you must pay a toll.”

“You three?” Though their faces were masked, Xiahou Cheng could tell from their voices they were young, and he didn’t take them seriously. He laughed, “And if I refuse?”

Xin Lang replied, “You have two choices. First, we take all your goods and women, and kill everyone else.”

“What’s the second option?” Xiahou Cheng asked.

“Second, according to Sky Vault Mountain’s new rules, pay us a toll equal to ten percent of your caravan’s total value. Once the money is paid, you’re free to pass, and we won’t demand a coin more! Oh, and if there are women in the caravan, each must pay ten gold coins as well.”