Chapter 56: Above All, That Era of Peace and Prosperity (Part 2)

Chapter 56: The Most Peaceful and Prosperous Era, Part 2

Zhang Sanlu paid no heed to the village head’s shouting. His gaze was fixed intently on the woman lying on the kang. He understood in his heart that this woman was surely connected to Han’s whereabouts. In a deep voice, he asked, “Woman, have you seen Han? And Han’s daughter, Hui?”

At his words, the woman’s expression changed ever so slightly. She glanced at Zhang Sanlu, then at the village head, before lowering her head in silence.

Seeing this, Zhang Sanlu’s anger flared even more. He stepped forward, pressing closer to the woman, and asked again in a low voice, “Who are you? Why are you sleeping here? Tell me where they are. If you refuse, don’t blame me for what my knife may do!”

He gripped the bloodstained knife tightly in his hand. His eyes blazed with rage and menace. The village head had no time to intervene, and the woman, cowed by Zhang Sanlu’s imposing presence, finally spoke, trembling.

“I... I don’t know. I... I’m just staying here for the night, I...”

“Speak the truth!” Zhang Sanlu shouted, and the woman, terrified, collapsed to the ground.

Just then, a man pushed through the crowd at the door and squeezed inside, speaking loudly, “I’ll tell you what I found out. Han was already lost to the bandits last night. They tricked you, saying Han was among them so the priest would chase after the bandits.” The man who burst in was Guo Qi.

The village head looked at Guo Qi, his face twisted with anger. But Guo Qi stood there, utterly unafraid, staring straight at him. The village head felt uneasy under his gaze, cursing him inwardly for being blinded by greed, thinking that once the priest left, Guo Qi would be in trouble.

Zhang Sanlu, hearing Guo Qi’s words, turned and glared at the village head. “You suffered this calamity, sent me on a fool’s errand to save someone—I won’t blame you for that. But right now, I want to know—where—is—Hui!” Each word was spat out, his fury barely contained.

The village head was silent for a moment, then sighed, “Please, priest, do not be angry. When the bandits left, I sent for the warden, asked him to report to the county bailiff. It was not until this morning that the warden arrived with the officers. But…”

“But what?” Zhang Sanlu’s heart pounded as he demanded.

“But Hui... Her family is short-handed and couldn’t pay the tax this year. So... she was taken away along with the others who couldn’t pay, by the warden and the tax collectors…”

Zhang Sanlu’s eyes flashed with rage.

“The officials come, not to quell the bandits, but to extort from honest families?” he said through gritted teeth.

An old man nearby shook his head and sighed, “Ah... It’s always been so. Common folk are born in the earth and grow in the mud. Natural disasters are disasters, but man-made calamities are no different…”

The village head hurriedly cut him off, “Silence—do you want to lose your life?”

“Who is this woman then?” Zhang Sanlu glanced at the woman on the ground and asked again.

The village head stammered, but Guo Qi suddenly sneered, “Ha! Who is she? Isn’t she the daughter-in-law from your uncle’s family?”

Zhang Sanlu grinned, and the dried blood on his face cracked and flaked off. “Who knows how many filthy dealings you’ve had—I care not, but now you’ll have to come with me and help me find Hui.”

The village head’s face changed, and he waved his hands frantically, “Priest, think carefully—how could this be? I’ve never heard of anyone getting back those seized for unpaid taxes. Is it worth it for a mere girl?”

Zhang Sanlu said nothing, raising his knife so the village head could see the dried blood filling the grooves, uncertain how many lives had stained it.

Terrified, the village head bent his waist, “Priest... priest, I’ll go, I’ll go.”

Guo Qi pushed aside the crowd and ran out, and the people hurried to make way for Zhang Sanlu.

Zhang Sanlu brought the village head to the door, where he saw Guo Qi had already led over a horse-drawn cart. Guo Qi cupped his hands and said, “Priest, on this journey to Mount Fu’ai, I owe you my survival. I can’t help much, but please take this cart.” He paid no mind to the village head’s hateful glare and silent gestures.

Zhang Sanlu nodded his thanks and, with the back of his knife, pushed the village head to drive the cart, hiding himself inside with the knife tip exposed, and thus set out.

A few people followed at a distance, and it seemed some went to report the news, but Zhang Sanlu ignored them and asked aloud:

“Those taken for unpaid taxes—where are they usually sent? How does one find the warden?”

“Priest, those people are usually handed over to brokers. The strong are sold at the market, while women and children of good appearance are sold as slaves to wealthy households. Priest, I’m not familiar with this town, but if you wish to find the broker, I can arrange someone who knows the way to guide you.”

Zhang Sanlu did not reply; he prodded the village head with the knife tip and said only, “Go!” His gaze was cold as ice.

The village head dared not speak further, driving the cart toward the town, glancing about for any sign of rescue.

They reached the town—such as it was, with a low gate built of mud bricks. At midday, only a single guard was posted. The guard seemed to recognize the village head and greeted him, letting them in without question.

The cart wound through streets and alleys, stopping after a while. Zhang Sanlu hid his knife in his sleeve and followed the village head into the town’s dark alleyways.

The village head, catching Zhang Sanlu’s eye, raised his hand and knocked at a door.

“Bang, bang, bang—”

Not long after the knocks, a lazy voice sounded from behind the door, “Who is it?”

“Li the Cripple, it’s me, Guo Quanyou!” The village head answered, forced by the knife at his back.

“Ah, it’s you, Brother Quanyou~” came the reply, followed by the sound of the lock slowly turning.

As the door cracked open, Zhang Sanlu kicked it hard. The person behind the door had no time to react and was sent rolling across the floor, crying out in pain.

“Ow! Ow! Are you trying to kill me? You nearly broke my bones!”

With his knife pressed to the village head, Zhang Sanlu entered the house. His gaze swept over the small courtyard, sharp as blades, but found no sign of Hui.

“Speak! Did the warden bring people here? Where have they been sold?” Zhang Sanlu’s voice was low and dangerous, each word forced through his clenched teeth.

The broker curled up on the ground, his face pale as paper, eyes filled with terror as he looked at the bloodstained, one-armed priest before him. This was a man accustomed to killing. His lips quivered, as if something clogged his throat.

Zhang Sanlu had no patience for delay. He flicked the broker’s collar open.

“If you don’t speak, I’ll make you taste pain worse than death!” Zhang Sanlu’s eyes flashed with a ruthless gleam, as if he truly meant to tear the broker apart.

The village head, standing by, felt a chill rise in his heart as he watched the scene unfold.