"Master, you are being too modest! But what about the second reason? I believe you must have another one."
"The second reason..."
The master smiled, sipped his spring tea, and said, "There’s no hurry, you will know in time."
Upon hearing this, Su Lang didn’t press further. He clapped his hands and cheerfully ordered, "Someone, prepare wine and meat, and bring over the chest of treasures from my room!"
Thus, people streamed in, laying out wine and meat on the round table and also carrying in a chest with red lacquered wood.
Su Lang poured a cup of wine, downed it in one gulp, then picked up a tool and chopped off the lock on the chest.
"Master, look!" He opened the chest to reveal pearls, jade, and gold and silver, filling it to the brim.
"Two months ago, I led my brothers to raid a merchant caravan, and this chest, Master, is yours. After you left, I’ve kept this chest, waiting for your return! Fortunately, you have come back, and I truly saved the right chest!"
The master seemed lost in thought for a moment, lightly tapped his index finger on the table, then sighed softly, "In that case, I will accept it."
The master didn’t refuse, and he was even more satisfied.
But Su Lang didn’t know that this mysterious ’master’ had come to Black Wind Camp precisely for this chest of treasures.
"Eldest Brother, Eldest Brother, trouble!"
A noisy and chaotic noise came from outside the hut, and Su Lang’s expression turned cold, "What’s the rush about?"
Old Scar burst in, "She’s awake, the little dwarf has escaped!"
Su Lang was startled, then remembered he had brought back three people tonight; two were tall, a man and a woman, and there was also a little girl of about eleven or twelve years old.
Old Scar’s face was ashen as he said, "She’s injured many of our men, strong as an ox, and she’s stolen two horses, escaping with her two unconscious companions!"
Su Lang slapped the table, "Pursue! She’s come to our Black Wind Camp and she must not be allowed to escape alive!"
So, the entire camp sprang into action, but Su Lang was troubled, obviously worried that if they failed to recapture her, the location of Black Wind Camp might be revealed.
The master glanced at the full chest of treasures on the ground, calculating in his mind; there was quite a bit of gold and silver, and plenty of pearls, agate and jade. If converted into silver, it would amount to no less than two or three thousand taels.
"In his position, a man must attend to his duties."
He looked at Su Lang and gestured him over. Su Lang was baffled but then laughed.
"Master, what are your orders?"
Sleeping smoke was akin to an anesthetic, a gas that could not only render people unconscious but also paralyze their bodies.
Dong Huiying was more vigilant. When affected by the sleeping smoke, she secretly jabbed herself with a needle, blocking some of her senses but also allowing her to awaken sooner.
When she awoke, she saw herself and the other two surrounded by a group of men.
These men were of all ages, some physically intact while others were missing limbs.
But without exception, they all looked at her and Hong Xiangjun with malicious eyes. One of them was sharpening a knife, occasionally glancing in their direction, seemingly pondering whether to stab them to death once or several times.
There was something else that befuddled Dong Huiying.
The hostility of these men was mainly towards her and Hong Xiangjun. As for Liang Yuening, he was only tied up with rope, and the men hardly gave him a second glance.
Some were yelling to kill her and Hong Xiangjun quickly, while others objected, saying that such matters must be done in Su Lang’s presence.