CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT
Yuan's aloof, indifferent face lazily scrutinized the Barbarians one by one.
He did not speak nor move a muscle, just probing them, observing them with piercing eyes.
As if his eyes can penetrate through their minds, their intentions. And that no one can get away with it.
The room was deathly silent, deathly still. No one dared to move nor breathe loudly.
No one even dared to blink!
The Barbarians are getting restless, suffocated.....fearful.
What kind of demon is he?! One Barbarian can't help but complain while stealing glances at Yuan.
They said the Head man has questions for them. What kind of questioning is this?! They are being thoroughly examined by the Head man like animals to be dismembered for further study! He can't help but shudder with the thought.
This Head man is cruel. Much more vicious than them.
One Barbarian is even showing signs of distress. With the Head man's momentum together with the overlong stillness and quiet, he was already perspiring heavily.
He was desperate to get things moving, to start the torture and questioning! Not this unbearable soundlessness.
His ears are already getting deaf with all the strong, rapid beating of his heart. He can no longer stand the absence of sound.
The Barbarian with the long blond beard, secretly looked at the Head man, gritting his teeth with rage and unwillingness. He is stifled, strangled by the dumbness.
He can't stand the humiliation! He is being stripped naked by the Head man's eyes, probing his weakness. He feels defenseless, vulnerable.
Yuan just observed silently as the Barbarians were lost in each of their own thoughts, caught up with their own conjectures and private fears.
Suddenly, he chuckled darkly.
The Barbarians bounced in their seats in instant reaction. They leapt and pulled back their body in an instinctual survival response.
Then they all looked at Yuan in unison. In horror.
"Who is the fiercest amongst you?" Yuan asked in a hush voice.
When Yuan spoke, the Barbarians winced.
Their nerves have long been frayed by tension and agitation that when the Head man spoke, his voice sounded harsh in their ears.
Like a knife scratching a plate.
Yuan closely watched the faces of the Barbarians for any miniscule shift in their expressions.
With no surprise, his sharp eyes caught their slight eye movement that abruptly drifted to the blond bearded man.
It was just a quick glance-through, but it is enough for Yuan to know the answer.
"Do you know their names?" Yuan asked Marshal Han.
Marshal Han Lan flinched hearing the question.
"No. We haven't started with them yet."
Yuan stared at Han Lan expressionless. Then fixed his eyes on the blond bearded Barbarian.
"What's your name?" Yuan suddenly released his overbearing momentum with great waves.
All the people in the room choked, struggling for air. They all simultaneously looked at Yuan like a frightened deer.
Yuan did not ease off the pressure. Instead, he slowly increased it.
All the people in the room went pale in panic and confusion. When a guard knelt down and retched his guts out, Yuan frowned.
"All of you go out." He inclined his head to the guards then glanced at Han Lan and Liu Shou.
"Bring us flasks of strong wine and six cups." Yuan asked. Then added. "The strongest there is."
Chief Liu Shou choked.
Yuan sounds like he is just here for a picnic. While we, Liu Shou looked around, were treading on thin ice fearful of his volatile temperament.
Before everyone can fully internalized the confusing turn of events, Yuan opened his mouth.
"Release them from their bindings too."
Marshal Han was stupefied! His eyes wide in incredibility.
Did he hear wrong?
Looking at Liu Shou's complicated look and the Barbarians astonished faces, he shook his head in confusion.
"Release them?" He asked distinctly.
"uhm."
"All...all of them?" Han Lan stuttered.
"uhm."
Chief Liu Shou motioned for the guards to release the Barbarians.
"Anything else?" Liu Shou asked Yuan.
"Nothing more. Thank you."
"I'll have the wine sent in right away."
"uhm."
Then all of them stiffly went out, a guard even stumbled before reaching the door.
All that remained are the Barbarians and him.
Then Yuan directed his attention back to the bulky Barbarian with the blond beard.
"I'm sorry for that. Your name, you say?"
Blond beard man stared at Yuan for a bit then said with gritted teeth. "Alaric."
"Thank you."
Yuan then continued his perusal of them.
After awhile, Yuan sighed.
"I think you are no ordinary man. And these people are your brothers in blood."
"Aye." Alaric muttered.
"Truth to tell, I just want to talk. I'm not opposed to seeing blood. But I would like to avoid it for today."
Yuan observed Alaric's stoic expression.
"From your eyes I can tell you are not an unreasonable man. In fact, I can sense a righteousness in you. Someone who knows how to value people and appreciate things." Yuan slouched in his seat leisurely.
Like he is talking to a friend.
Staring at the ceiling with his legs stretched out before him, Yuan frowned.
"I remember there are seven of you."
The Barbarians looked at each other uneasily. They all stared at the Head man's relaxed and easy going attitude.
This is like a complete reversal of his previous performance.
Is this a trick?! They unanimously doubled their guard up and warily looked at the Head man.
This Head man is also cunning!
Alaric contemplated Yuan's outward behavior.
Then spoke.
"The other two, we are not kin."
Yuan continued to stare blankly at the ceiling. As if in deep thought.
Silence.
"I see. So the one we need is just them." Yuan silently murmured.
Knock. Knock.
"Head Yu." Guards came with a barrel of wine. These ones are different from the guards earlier.
Yuan raised his brows but remained silent.
When the guards came in, that's when Yuan strongly scented the spicy and earthy aroma from the drum. He blinked his eyes.
Yuan : !!!!
The flask became a drum?
Are they thinking he will outthink these Barbarians into talking through inebriation?
Yuan cleared his throat as the men brought in the drum of wine, a table then the six cups.
Then the guards quietly stood at the side awaiting Yuan's further instructions.
Yuan just waved his hand at them.
"Thank you for your hard work." He said politely.
All the guards shuddered in response then scuttled away.
Alaric chuckled.
Yuan smiled at him.
Then he inclined his head towards the wine and the cups.
Alaric stared at Yuan for a moment then stood to get wine for his brothers and for himself.
"You?" Alaric asked.
"Please."
Alaric handed him a cup.
Then a comfortable silence enclosed the room.
Alaric broke the silence.
"What makes you think we are different from the other two?"
Yuan chuckled. "Gut feeling."
Alaric laughed.
Other Barbarians : !!!!
All the other Barbarians looked up in a daze at Alaric who is getting chummy with the Head man. They were still holding their wine cup, unmoving.
What is happening? Is this still part of the questioning? They are confused.
Then they were stunned and even more confused when the Head man spoke.
"I will have you released tonight."
When he took a sip of the wine, Yuan can feel the burn in his throat. Then he stood up.
He put his cup on the table, dusted his trousers and walked to the door.
When he was about to open the door, Yuan looked back at them. He stared straight at Alaric.
"Finish it all if you want. Leave tonight."
Then he went out.
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The moment Yuan got out, the rest of the Barbarians looked at Alaric with vigilant and suspicious eyes.
Alaric sighed. "I trust him."
I will repay this debt, Head man. Staring at the closed door, Alaric sincerely promised.
"Let's celebrate life! And leave tonight." Alaric then gulped the rest of his wine.
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When Yuan stepped out from the room, he saw Han Lan and Liu Shou waiting for him.
Han Lan and Liu Shou has faces full of bewilderment.
Done already? But the wine was just brought up! Marshal Han thought.
When Yuan came near them, he glanced at the men guarding the room where he just came from.
"They are not the ones we need. Let these Barbarians leave tonight. We will be collecting favors in the future."
Then he stared hard at Head Liu Shou.
"Send to me the other two missing Barbarians." Yuan ordered coldly with a malicious glint in his eyes.
"Bring along my favorite rat, if you please."