Chapter 96: Meat Shield (3)
There was a prisoner in the underground prison of the Yangtze River Water Bandit Union.
His name was Xu Lin.
Originally, he was a water bandit who was in the Ten-Head rank of the Rat Fortress.
He did not separately practice martial arts.
Despite that, the reason Xu Lin was able to be in the Ten-Head rank commanding ten men was because he knew how to read and write, and was skilled in speech and various administrative tasks.
To the point that the alias ‘Se-chi’ (Three-Inches), given to him because his three-inch tongue was top-class, was called more than his actual name.
Xu Se-chi. Even on the prisoner list, he was written by this name.
‘……They will not be able to kill me carelessly.’
He was internally confident.
While handling administrative tasks all this time, Xu Se-chi had slinkingly pocketed numerous sums of money and hidden them distributed in secret spaces known only to himself.
Also, in the process of being imprisoned, Xu Se-chi had subtly told the size of the embezzled amount to those interrogating him.
‘If I die, those will all fly away. Therefore, until they find out where that money is buried, they cannot kill me. So when the appropriate time comes, I will pretend I cannot help it and offer about half of the hidden amount as a compromise.’
In the first place, the embezzled amount he revealed during the interrogation was only about half the actual sum.
If he gained his freedom by offering half of that, he would be able to salvage about seventy percent of the actual total embezzled amount.
‘Even if they try, aren’t they just stupid water bandit bastards? How would those illiterate bastards know what window dressing is? Just the powder I have painted on the ledger would be enough to make up a hundred women.’
Furthermore, Xu Se-chi was also relying on his backing.
Since there was bribe money he had steadily offered to the government offices in the meantime, a reaction would come soon.
‘Since I have quite thoroughly lubricated not only the Prefect but also the Inspectors under him…… if they kill me, there will truly be massive trouble afterwards.’
Xu Se-chi thought so.
That was why he could remain calm even while locked up in the cramped cell wearing handcuffs and shackles.
……Up to about three days, it was definitely so.
‘But why is nobody coming?’
His belly skin felt like it was sticking to his back skin.
His throat felt as if he had swallowed a few handfuls of rough sand, so dry that it was even sore.
However, Xu Se-chi clenched his teeth and endured.
Believing that once the promised three days passed, a guard would come and attempt negotiation.
‘Yes. Fine. I will endure. I will endure exactly three days. Let’s see if I hand it over.’
Xu Se-chi harbored a mix of stubbornness and spite.
And he hardened his resolve to play hard to get haughtily if a guard came and tried to negotiate.
However, as four days passed and five days passed, Xu Se-chi’s mind immediately overturned.
‘C-Could they have forgotten about me?’
Water bandits are ignorant.
Therefore, they might have even forgotten the very fact that they had to interrogate the criminals.
‘Come to think of it, the Union Master changed. Then there will be immensely many tasks to handle…… and in that process, they could have forgotten to interrogate the criminals, right?’
As his thoughts multiplied, fear suddenly struck him.
He felt that by the time the Union Master realized it belatedly, they might already be dead of starvation and gone.
From that day on, Xu Se-chi diligently shook the bars and shouted.
Telling anyone to please come, whoever it was.
However, even as time passed and six days and seven days went by, there was no response.
It had been a long time since the prisoners, including Xu Se-chi, had been devoured by fear.
“Hey! We are here! Did you forget!? D-Do you know how much money I pocketed that you forgot it! Aren’t you going to recover the embezzled funds!? Huh!? Do you guys not need money!”
However, there was still no response.
Because it was thirsty, hungry, and dark, there was not even a sense of time.
It felt as if several years had passed, rather than seven days since being locked up.
When time passed like that and reached nine days.
Xu Se-chi was able to come outside following behind the guard.
“Ugh—”
The intense sunlight felt as if it would burn his eyeballs.
The prisoners, including Xu Se-chi, had to climb the snow-covered mountain path while tied up in a single file.
And there, a dilapidated wooden building came into view.
<Slaughterhouse (屠殺場)>
From the thatched cottage attached to the livestock shed, a fishy smell of blood vibrated.
The expressions of the prisoners, including Xu Se-chi, were dyed with anxiety.
Ominousness was felt from the location itself.
Why on earth were they doing the interrogation of criminals in such a place?
However, the guards behind them poked their backs with spear tips without caring.
“Line up in a single file and enter.”
At the dry words of the guards, Xu Se-chi shivered his body once.
At that moment.
“Huh!?”
Xu Se-chi discovered a welcome face.
One of the guards escorting the prisoners.
It was Fang Dalang, who was one of the Ten-Heads at the Ox Fortress and had once even sworn brotherhood with Xu Se-chi.
“H-Hey, Fang-il! Here! I am here! It is Xu Lin!”
“……?”
Fang Dalang opened his eyes wide.
Before long, his two eyes became moist with welcome and surprise.
“Brother Se-chi!”
“Fang-il!”
The two friends shared a welcome reunion where they stood.
Xu Se-chi immediately fawned.
“Hey, Fang-il. You were always upright and clean in everything, and indeed you survived the purge. Indeed, life should be lived like you. This foolish brother of yours was blinded by pocket change and ended up in this shape and form. I have no face to show my younger brother.”
“Oh, brother. What is all this. Sigh, indeed……”
Fang Dalang was restless while looking at Xu Se-chi.
Though he wanted to help somehow, because of their situations as criminal and guard, there was nothing he could do.
Xu Se-chi did not miss such a sign from Fang Dalang and continued speaking.
“Brother Fang, let me speak honestly.”
“Yes, brother. Please speak.”
“Your situation must be very awkward too. I know it well. That you want to help me but there is nothing you can do. The difference in status has become like this, so what can be done. I understand too. I understand it all.”
“…….”
At Xu Se-chi’s words, Fang Dalang closed his eyes tightly, revealing his disastrous state of mind.
Seeing such an expression on Fang Dalang, Xu Se-chi quickly continued speaking.
“But still, Brother Fang. You are a guard in name, so if you think about it well, wouldn’t there be something you can help me with? Even something very small.”
“…….”
“Hmm? Brother Fang. I beg of you. Pity this brother of yours whose situation is like a candle in the wind and bestow grace upon me. Please. Huh? Did you forget? When sister-in-law was pregnant with the third child. Back then, while you were fast asleep drunk, I pushed through the rain and bought boiled pig intestines, did I not? Because of that, sister-in-law said that if you said you were staying out overnight to have a drink with me, of all people, she would let you go without a word. Yes?”
As Xu Se-chi appealed to the old affection, Fang Dalang’s expression turned darker and darker.
The watching prisoners also pricked up their ears at this situation which was turning out quite interesting.
Hoping that if they stuck to Xu Se-chi’s side, perhaps some crumbs might fall for them too.
Eventually, Xu Se-chi drove in the wedge.
“You don’t need to help me with much. If you have any information, please let me know. Huh? Just why they are calling us to the slaughterhouse, what kind of way the interview is conducted, what will happen in the future; if you can let me know even just those things, I will prepare a self-rescue plan myself. Yes? That much is not very burdensome for you either, is it?”
Knowing even roughly what would happen in the future would be a great help in composing one’s mind.
And he could prepare expected answers in advance too.
Meanwhile.
“…….”
Fang Dalang, who received Xu Se-chi’s request, still closed both of his eyes tightly.
Eventually, he opened his mouth with a heavy voice.
“Yes. I will help you, brother.”
“Oh!”
Xu Se-chi’s eyes sparkled.
Since Fang Dalang was an upright and clean character, he never made empty promises.
If it was what he said, it would be fully trustworthy.
Soon, Fang Dalang moved his hand.
Shring……
A long broadsword was drawn from the scabbard.
“?”
Xu Se-chi wore a puzzled expression.
“Fang-il, you…… why a sword?”
In fact, Xu Se-chi expected slightly.
Because he wondered if Fang Dalang would sever his handcuffs and shackles with the sword.
However, Fang Dalang’s sword approached toward Xu Se-chi’s neck.
“Ugh!? F-Fang-il, are you crazy? Why, why are you doing this!”
Xu Se-chi stepped backward in embarrassment.
However, Fang Dalang still pushed the sword forward with a sad expression.
“It cannot be helped, brother. Me doing this is the way to help you.”
“H-How does slitting a person’s throat become a way to help!?”
“I mean it is better for you to pass away peacefully by my hand here instead!”
Xu Se-chi was startled out of his wits by Fang Dalang’s words.
However, Fang Dalang’s sword ultimately did not reach Xu Se-chi’s neck.
Because before that, other guards came and dragged Fang Dalang away.
Even while being dragged away by the other guards, Fang Dalang continued to shout toward Xu Se-chi.
“Brother! Rather, commit suicide now! That way you will be even slightly less pained……”
That must surely be advice offered out of sincere consideration.
Because Fang Dalang was such a person.
And if that kind and good-natured Fang Dalang went as far as to say such things…….
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
The gazes of all the prisoners, including Xu Se-chi, moved to one place once again.
The slaughterhouse.
It was the place where Chui was waiting.
* * *
The guards opened the door of the slaughterhouse with peculiar expressions.
At the final moment, they advised the prisoners.
“It would be better not to offend the new Thousand-Head’s feelings.”
“He gave us a slight tip-off about his future plans……”
“Hey. Why are you telling them such things? Let us only do our job. If we get entangled for no reason……”
The guards were also looking fully consumed by fear.
Eventually, when the prisoners lined up inside the slaughterhouse.
Whack!
Chui was holding a large rectangular cleaver and slicing a pig on the chopping block.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The large pig placed on the tree stump was being chopped into cubes.
Skin, flesh, and bones were all cut into square pieces and piled up abundantly in the basket below.
The large tree stump used as a chopping block.
Thick blood flowed along the shape of the growth rings.
It was producing multiple layers of red concentric circles, spitting out bubbling froth.
The fishy smell of blood and the greasy smell of fat piercing the nose made their heads dizzy.
Among the forest of intestines hanging down low while hooked, the prisoners were shivering.
Chui spoke.
“When the New Year dawns, one must cut a few catties of meat to take home to the family.”
Because the atmosphere was so chilling, they could not even answer.
“Only then can you boil at least a bowl of meat soup to feed the kids, can you not? Is it not so?”
Before Chui’s subsequent question, the prisoners merely gauged each other’s moods.
Eventually, Chui spoke.
“I will send these pieces of pork piled up here to your families. As a New Year’s gift.”
It was a warm blessing.
Except for the fact that the location was a slaughterhouse and the speaker was Chui.
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
Before Chui, who was bringing up the word family anew, the prisoners simply stood blankly, not knowing the reason.
There were also some who were scared, wondering if it meant he would take their families hostage.
However, Chui’s subsequent words were slightly different from their expectations.
“Ah, right. I will also slice up your meat and mix it among these pork pieces.”
“……!”
The prisoners doubted their ears.
However, Chui still looked composed.
“Become the nourishing food for your mothers, fathers, wives, and kids. There is no other place to use you valuably besides that.”
His gaze and tone were so composed that it seemed as if they were sharing some casual chat.
However, the meaning contained within was by no means casual.
Chui wiped the blood splattered on his face and continued speaking.
“If you boil it thoroughly, nobody will know whether it is pig bone or human bone. If you eat it without knowing, meat is always delicious.”
He is sincere. That fellow is someone who would definitely go that far.
This was the thought that occurred commonly in the minds of the prisoners.
At that moment, an anomaly occurred among the prisoners.
Xu Se-chi. He rushed forward first and prostrated flat.
“L-Lord! Please spare me! Only my life……!”
Then, the other prisoners also hurriedly knelt and slammed their heads to the floor.
“…….”
Chui stared down at the prisoners for a while.
Then, he shook his head from side to side.
“I told you there is no use for you, though?”
“I-I will offer it! I will offer all the pocketed wealth!”
“I don’t need it. If we don’t have it, we just live without it. Since when did thieves live accumulating wealth? If we need money or rice, we can just plunder it as the need arises.”
In every single word, sincerity was strongly felt.
The prisoners could know by instinct.
That there was a separate place where stubbornness worked, and negotiations also had to choose the time and place.
Xu Se-chi shouted as if having a fit.
“I, I, I am useful! I am of a Confucian scholar background, so I write well and am also skilled in administrative tasks! If you spare me, I will surely become a great strength!”
The other prisoners also began to vie to step forward.
“I have a lot of money! I will offer it all!”
“You bastard! That is embezzled money! My parents do business, so I truly have a lot of money!”
“My specialty is martial arts! If you spare me, I will protect Lord Chui for my entire life!”
“I, I have fifteen beautiful courtesans under me! They are girls kidnapped from various places, and their beauty is killer! Please take them all!”
Each was busy stepping forward, arguing for their own necessity.
Only then did Chui’s expression change.
“……Well, if I must be specific, there is one more place where you can be useful.”
He said there was a use besides becoming meat.
Among the prisoners, there were even fellows who burst out crying because those words were so welcome.
Eventually, Chui picked up the cleaver.
And dipping the cleaver’s tip in the blood, he began to write characters on the wall.
–Sacrificing Self for the Public Good (滅私奉公)–
The bright red fishy smell of blood wafting from the phrase dug into the prisoners’ eyeballs.
Chui continued speaking.
“If you help me and establish merit, I will exempt you from punishment. In addition, I will also turn a blind eye to the recovery of funds.”
To leave even the embezzled money as it was, in addition to release, was indeed an extraordinary condition.
Xu Se-chi swallowed his dry saliva without realizing it.
And as if possessed by something, he asked with a blank expression.
“W-What do we have to do?”
Chui answered calmly.
“We will climb the Shu Snowy Mountain.”
“……?”
The expressions of the prisoners, including Xu Se-chi, turned blank.
What was called the Shu Snowy Mountain was the highest and most rugged mountain peak even in the land of Ba-Shu, which was notorious for its rugged terrain.
A terrifying region where snow did not melt even in the sweltering heat of midsummer, as if a corner of the Tianshan Mountains in far-away Xinjiang had been broken off and brought over.
Climbing that place was practically identical to the meaning of going to die.
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
Before the prisoners, who had all lost their words and were holding their mouths half-open.
Slightly— Thud!
A large cleaver struck down, splitting the pig’s head in half.
Beyond the fresh blood, brain matter, bone fragments, and flesh splattering in all directions, Chui’s voice echoed.
“Is there by any chance anyone among you? A person who will accompany me ‘voluntarily.’”
Unrivaled Spear Ghost