More than a dozen ferocious bandits, under the villagers' relentless strikes, finally took their last breaths.
The pungent smell of blood permeated the air, filling the atmosphere with a chilling aura of death. The entire environment fell into a dead silence.
The villagers who had delivered the final blows stood motionless, holding their hoes and shovels, their hands trembling slightly.
After all, they had just killed people. Even though the bodies before them belonged to bandits, the gory scene caused many of them to feel nauseous.
Not long after, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the oppressive stillness.
Everyone turned to see Su Qi'an leading a group of village hunters. They looked travel-worn and slightly fatigued.
Su Qi'an quickly walked forward and embraced a stunned Qin Ziyin. Feeling the familiar warmth of his body, the previously resolute Qin Ziyin couldn't hold back her emotions and burst into tears.
Even the hunter's wives, who had shielded Qin Ziyin earlier, began sobbing softly as they saw their husbands return safely.
No matter how strong they appeared, these women relied on their men for support in moments of crisis.
Seeing Su Qi'an and the other hunters return unharmed, Village Chief Li hurried forward and said, "It's good you returned safely and promptly!"
Su Qi'an gently comforted Qin Ziyin before turning to Village Chief Li. Bowing respectfully, he said, "Village Chief and sisters-in-law, thank you for stepping up to protect Ziyin. I am deeply grateful."
"Ah, Su, what are you saying? This is our duty. If not for your timely return, I dare not imagine what would have happened next," Village Chief Li replied, raising his hand dismissively, his face filled with regret.
Who would have thought that Guan Zhanggui would be so brazen as to hire bandits from the mountains? If not for Su Qi'an's return and decisive actions, the villagers of Dongshan would have faced a calamity.
Su Qi'an nodded and turned his gaze to Guan Zhanggui. By now, Guan Zhanggui had been completely terrified by the earlier slaughter of the bandits. He lay prostrate on the ground, trembling uncontrollably. In the next moment, he crawled toward Su Qi'an, kowtowing repeatedly.
As he knocked his head against the ground, he cried out, "Master Su, please spare me! This has nothing to do with me. Although I hired them, I had no idea they would act this way."
"Master Su, please forgive me! I was blinded by greed and acted recklessly. Thankfully, you arrived in time to rid us of these vile bandits and clear my name. I am eternally grateful to you!"
Su Qi'an observed Guan Zhanggui coldly, silently marveling at his quick wit. As a coffin merchant, Guan Zhanggui had certainly mastered the art of reading people.
With just a few words, he distanced himself from the bandits and even managed to flatter Su Qi'an. Even if Su Qi'an wanted to hold him accountable, the dead bandits left no witnesses. Guan Zhanggui had maneuvered himself into a position where he could retreat unscathed.
Su Qi'an's gaze darkened as he replied coldly, "Tsk tsk, Master Guan, you truly live up to your reputation as a businessman. I'm impressed. Since you've put it this way, it wouldn't be meaningful for me to push this matter further."
"If Master Guan wishes to downplay today's events, that's fine, but it'll cost you—ten taels of silver, and we'll consider this matter resolved."
Kneeling on the ground, Guan Zhanggui froze, his face twitching slightly.
He had expected Su Qi'an to take the opportunity to extort him, but he hadn't anticipated it to be so severe.
Ten taels of silver—that was half a year's income for him. Combined with the cost of hiring the bandits, this venture had already cost him a full year's earnings.
It pained him deeply, but what was a little silver compared to his life?
Guan Zhanggui had no doubt that if he hesitated even a moment longer, the villagers might beat him to death on the spot. They had already killed the bandits—if Su Qi'an incited them further, his chances of leaving Dongshan alive would be slim.
After a brief pause, Guan Zhanggui reluctantly took out a pouch of silver from his robe and respectfully handed it to Su Qi'an.
Su Qi'an casually caught the money pouch and tossed it lightly in the air a few times, weighing it in his hand. He glanced at Guan Zhanggui and then waved him off.
Relieved, Guan Zhanggui bowed repeatedly to Su Qi'an, muttering his thanks before crawling away as fast as he could.
Not long after, Su Qi'an's voice rang out behind him. "Master Guan, a word of advice—don't take the main road when you leave. It's late, and you never know what might happen."
"I understand, Master Su. Thank you for the warning!" Guan Zhanggui called back, repeatedly bowing as he hurried out of Dongshan Village.
The villagers watched Guan Zhanggui's retreating figure with a mix of regret and relief. However, reason soon prevailed.
They understood Su Qi'an's intentions. Killing Guan Zhanggui might have been satisfying in the moment, but it could invite future retaliation from his connections to the bandits or through his accumulated wealth. That would spell disaster for Dongshan.
Through today's events, the villagers realized that Su Qi'an was not the person they had once perceived him to be. His decisiveness and cunning were evident in every move he made.
For the first time, their gazes toward Su Qi'an carried a mix of respect and awe.
Breaking the awkward silence, Su Qi'an lightly coughed and said, "Village Chief, I took the liberty of acting on my own today. I hope you won't hold it against me."
Village Chief Li waved his hand dismissively. "Su, there's no need to say that. From now on, you can decide matters for the village. Does anyone have any objections?"
His gaze swept over the other villagers, who all shook their heads silently.
Village Chief Li, an experienced leader, seized the opportunity to push Su Qi'an into a position of authority, effectively tying him to Dongshan Village. It was clear to everyone that Su Qi'an's potential was immense. By supporting him, their futures would also be secured—if not prosperous, then at least stable.
Su Qi'an nodded, accepting the responsibility without hesitation. Ever since his rebirth, he had initially planned on living quietly using his cleverness to settle in Daliang. However, the incident with the bandits had taught him otherwise. To truly establish himself and survive in this world, he needed a loyal base of people, perhaps even an armed force.
Of course, such plans could not be rushed. Like eating a meal, they would need to be taken one bite at a time.
Facing the villagers, Su Qi'an bowed deeply and announced, "Since the Village Chief and all of you place your trust in me, I will take up this responsibility."
"My first act as the village leader is this: the ten taels we received from Master Guan will be entirely donated to the families of the hunters who were injured or killed during the tiger incident. Does anyone object?"
The crowd was stunned. Su Qi'an's generosity left them speechless.
The tiger attack was a freak disaster, and the hunters' injuries and deaths were a known risk of their trade. Typically, the village would only offer a small payout to handle the aftermath. Beyond that, it was considered their own misfortune.
But Su Qi'an was willing to part with the entire ten taels of silver. His compassion warmed the hearts of the widows of the deceased hunters and deeply moved the other hunters, like Li Hu, Zhao Da, Shui Sheng, and Tie Niu.
Then, under the astonished gaze of the villagers, Su Qi'an made a second announcement.
"Over the past two days, Li Hu and the other hunters and I tracked and killed the tiger. When we take the tiger's carcass to the county office to claim the bounty, half of the reward will go toward compensating the injured hunters, and the other half will be split evenly among the four hunters."
Li Hu and the others immediately objected, saying, "Master Su, we can't accept this. Without your leadership, we wouldn't have been able to take down the tiger."
After some back-and-forth, everyone finally agreed on a fair distribution. Su Qi'an's actions and strategy further cemented his leadership in the hearts of the villagers.
As the crowd dispersed, Li Hu lingered, concern evident on his face. Before he could voice his thoughts, Su Qi'an interrupted him.
"Li Hu, I know what you're worried about. Loose ends are the root of future troubles. Don't worry—Master Guan won't live to see tomorrow."
Li Hu's eyes widened in shock. "Master Su, you mean—?"
Su Qi'an smiled faintly. "Do you think the traps we set before returning were for nothing? By now, Master Guan is likely well on his way down the Yellow Springs."
Though Su Qi'an spoke lightly, his words sent chills down Li Hu's spine. For the first time, he realized just how terrifying Su Qi'an was—a man whose schemes intertwined so intricately that they left no escape.
"Master Su truly is remarkable," Li Hu murmured before retreating, his respect for Su Qi'an now tinged with fear.
[--------------------------------------------]
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