Chapter 427: Chapter 396: Following_1
After getting all the information he wanted from the young man in the purple robe, Xu Mu showed no mercy and killed him with a single stroke. Such an idiot didn’t deserve to live in the world, only lowering the collective intelligence of mankind. In a way, killing him was a public service.
“Run!”
Having witnessed Xu Mu’s actions, the guards realized that they couldn’t escape their fate, so they turned to flee.
Without wasting any time, Xu Mu picked up a handful of stones from the ground. He casually swung his arm, and the stones flew out like bullets, instantly killing the fleeing guards, who fell like wheat under a scythe.
The remaining villagers stood there, trembling in fear.
At first, they found Xu Mu to be unpretentious and easy to get along with. But in no time, he had turned into a murderous monster, killing dozens of people without blinking an eye, just as casually as if he were slaughtering pigs and dogs.
This sudden turn of events made them uneasy. They barely recognized Xu Mu anymore, and a deep fear for him held them in its grip, fearing that they would be his next victims.
“Gather all the valuables and go back home! I will take care of the rest!”
Seeing the fear etched on their faces, Xu Mu shook his head helplessly. After all, they were simple villagers who had never witnessed such carnage before. Their fear was only natural.
He had no intention of involving them further, so he told them to go home.
“Y-yes!”
The villagers stuttered in reply. They quickly collected the valuables from the bodies but didn’t dare to simply take them. Instead, they placed them before Xu Mu.
“You don’t need to give this to me. Just take it! Consider it payment for your escort service.” Said Xu Mu.
The villagers had followed him without gaining anything in return. Now that trouble had found them, it seemed only right to pay them something.
The spoils of the battle might not be much, but as long as they used it wisely, it would be enough to provide them with a comfortable life.
“Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!”
The villagers excitedly and carefully came forward to collect their share of the spoils.
Xu Mu warned them against talking about the incident and advised them to go back home and live peaceful lives.
The young man in the purple robe was no ordinary person. If the news about his death got out, these villagers would likely be in danger.
The villagers nodded in agreement and quickly mounted the strange horses, taking their leave in a haste.
Having these horses will ensure their quick return to the village and avoid possible dangers from travelling at night.
These horses may look peculiar, but based on what the young man in the purple robe said, their temperament should be gentle, and the villagers should have no problem controlling them.
However, he didn’t plan on letting the villagers keep the horses and instructed them to release them when they got back, to avoid inviting trouble.
The villagers simply could not afford to keep such creatures.
Whether the villagers would follow his instructions remained to be seen.
“Why are you still not leaving?”
What surprised Xu Mu was that one villager chose to stay. The one who had guided the way and conducted negotiations.
Xu Mu remembered his name was Zhang Ergou. A simple farmer who had a bit of experience trading, much like every other farmer around.
“Sir, my family has been wiped out by the monster. I have nowhere to go back to.” Zhang Ergou said with a bitter smile.
“Then you might as well start a new life. The silver from the spoils should be sufficient to start over,” Xu Mu said with a mysterious smile at the corner of his lips. He didn’t believe that Zhang Ergou was staying merely because he had nowhere to go.
“You avenged my family, and unfortunately, I have nothing to repay your kindness. All I can do is to serve you and follow you everywhere to repay your kindness!”
Zhang Ergou kneeled on the ground and said.
“What use could you be to me if you don’t have any skills? Also, following me around is dangerous, you could lose your life at any moment. Go back!” Xu Mu laughed and shook his head. He was surprised that Zhang Ergou was so grateful.
“Even though I don’t know much, sir,I can still serve tea and run errands for you! About the danger, I am not afraid! You avenged my family. If you ask me to die now, I am willing to!” Zhang Ergou said firmly.
“Alright! When it’s time to die, don’t blame me!”
Seeing the man’s firm resolve, Xu Mu stopped refusing. It was indeed handy to have someone around to help with small chores.
“It was my choice. I will never regret it!” Zhang Ergou assured him.
“If that’s the case, you drive the cart. We’re heading into the city!”
As he spoke, Xu Mu waved his long sleeve, creating a gust of wind that seemed almost like a level twelve typhoon, instantly obscuring the traces left by the departing villagers.
With him around, as long as the other party was sane, they shouldn’t, and wouldn’t dare to trouble the villagers. But just to be cautious, Xu Mu tried his best to avoid involving the villagers, in case there was another idiot like the man in the purple robe, which could spell trouble.
“Sir, if we just walk into the city like this, what if we’re discovered?” Zhang Ergou expressed his worries.
Although Xu Mu was powerful, he was still outnumbered. This plan was quite risky.
“Let them discover us if they want. If you have any regrets, it’s not too late to back out now,” Xu Mu said lightly.
“No, I have no regrets.”
Zhang Ergou lowered his head, focusing on steering the cart and falling silent.
“Don’t call me sir in the future, call me master.”
“Yes, Master!”
Despite the commotion at the city gate, no one noticed anything amiss because of the gate’s obstruction and the distance from the residential area. The two smoothly entered the city.
They wandered around the city and found a decent inn.
Zhang Ergou approached the innkeeper to negotiate. The innkeeper didn’t delve into their identities; once he saw the silver coin in the hand, he quickly arranged two superior rooms for them and even took care of their ox cart at the back.
“Don’t mess around with the stuff on the cart,” Zhang Ergou warned.
“Don’t worry, we know the rules,” the innkeeper responded with a jovial smile.
The small county inn didn’t have many guests to begin with. Now, getting these two, while their outfits were a bit shabby, they were generous, so they received enthusiastic service.
As for their origins, the innkeeper didn’t care, as long as he was paid. After all, no one checks in this small county.
The two entered their rooms and cleaned up a bit. At this point, the innkeeper instructed the waiter to serve them a feast of delicious dishes and wine.
Zhang Ergou looked at the table full of meat and fish, swallowing hard.
Although he was a minor merchant in the past, he was wealthier than the average villagers but having such a feast might only happen once a year, let alone eating it.
A meal like this was worth dying for.
Zhang Ergou thought to himself.
“Stop staring, start eating,” Xu Mu laughed.
“Master, you eat first, just leave me some leftover food.”
Zhang Ergou, who had not been a servant before, knew the rules in such a situation; he, as a follower, wouldn’t dare to share a meal with his master.
“Eat when I tell you to eat, stop all this nonsense. From now on, you take my word as the final say, no objections,” Xu Mu said flatly.
“But…”
“Hmm?”
“Yes, yes, yes!”
Zhang Ergou quickly nodded and sat down to eat with Xu Mu.
In this world without spiritual energy, accumulating strength relied on eating. Xu Mu ate enough for more than ten people before he felt slightly satisfied.
Zhang Ergou watching from the side was almost stunned.
His appetite wasn’t small either, and he had been hungry for a half day. But he was already feeling uncomfortable with two pounds of beef and two bowls of wine in his stomach, while his Master’s belly seemed like a bottomless pit.
He really couldn’t comprehend how the other person could eat more food than he weighed.
Xu Mu didn’t plan to explain. After they finished eating, the innkeeper and the waiter cleaned up the room.
However, compared to their enthusiasm earlier, their faces were now pale and their hands and feet were shaking. They dropped a few plates and bowls, and their speaking stuttered.
When those two left, Zhang Ergou asked in bewilderment, “Master, something seemed off about those two just now!”