Chapter 57
Chapter 57
In the end, Xiao Che’s entire family, along with the two bailiffs Zhu Laosan and Li Si, was captured and taken into the Blackstone Tribe.
Once inside, everything they had purchased was looted. Even the silver hidden on the Xiao Family members was taken.
All twelve of them had their hands and feet bound before being thrown into a tent at the edge of the encampment.
Only Jin Bao was taken back outside.
Pei Wanqing tried to stop the man, but one look from him sent a chill through her.
Xiao Che immediately stepped in front of him, shielding Pei Wanqing behind his body.
“Chieftain Tie He says to hurry over. Don’t hold things up.”
Only after the man heard someone calling outside the tent did he turn and stride away.
“Husband, what about our daughter? Why did they take Jin Bao?”
Pei Wanqing was beside herself, her heart feeling as if a piece had been gouged from it.
She suddenly remembered the Shadow Guards Xiao Jingxing had left behind.
“Husband, the people Xiao Jingxing left…”
“Mind your words, my wife. The walls have ears.”
Xiao Che glanced at the shadows moving outside the tent. At least five guards were stationed there.
Pei Wanqing’s eyes reddened. Jin Bao was so young. She had been taken out alone and had to be terrified. It was all her fault for being such an incapable mother and failing to protect her daughter.
Old Madam Xiao remained relatively calm.
“Wanqing, compose yourself. We need to think of a solution. We know too little about this place, so we’ll have to trouble the officers to explain the situation. There must be a way out.”
Pei Wanqing seemed to find her anchor again. Concern had thrown her into confusion, and she truly had panicked.
Everyone gathered together. As the saying went, three ordinary minds could outthink a master strategist. They had not reached a dead end yet. As long as they understood themselves and their enemy, they would find an opening.
Zhu Laosan and Li Si had never expected the Blackstone Tribe to be bold enough to seize even imperial bailiffs. The new chieftain was clearly no easy man and had no fear of the court.
Zhu Laosan concisely told them everything he knew about the various tribes.
Xiao Jingmo had remained remarkably calm ever since they were captured. The only time he had shown strain was when Jin Bao was taken away and his palms broke into a sweat. Now his mind was already racing through possible plans.
The information Zhu Laosan provided gave him a bold idea.
Before he could explain it, however, a group of people lifted the tent flap and entered.
To their surprise, the man in front was from the Central Plains.
The newly appointed chieftain of the Blackstone Tribe, Tie He, followed close behind.
He was in his early thirties, with a square face, broad forehead, thick beard, and a body like an iron tower. His eyes were sharp, and ornaments of wolf fangs and obsidian hung around his neck. An untamed, defiant wildness radiated from his whole body.
“Master Zhou, these are the people you wanted. Twelve in all. One thousand taels each. Money in one hand, prisoners in the other.”
A calculating gleam flashed in Tie He’s eyes as he named his price.
“Tie He, we agreed on one hundred taels per person. Raising the price at the last moment-and multiplying it tenfold-is hardly honest business. Your tribe still depends on us for supplies. Don’t cut off your own path.”
Master Zhou was dressed like a merchant, and anger immediately filled his face.
The deal should have cost only twelve hundred taels. Now the other man was demanding ten times that. His master had never given him enough money to purchase these people’s lives at such a price.
Word from the Capital said the damned Emperor had little time left, and his master was traveling there now. Money was needed everywhere at this critical moment. His superiors would never approve twelve thousand taels. Did they expect him to pay from his own pocket?
“Master Zhou, if we can’t reach an agreement, forget taking these people away. I’m afraid you and your caravan will have to stay as well.”
“You… Tie He, think this through!”
Tie He waved a hand, and his men immediately surrounded the visitors.
“Lock them up. Release him when he comes to his senses. The price rises by another thousand taels for every day he makes us wait.”
Master Zhou gave Tie He a cold look. He had brought too few men to oppose the Blackstone Tribe. Force would not work.
It seemed he would have to stall for time.
Xiao Jingmo watched coldly from the side. After Master Zhou was taken away, Tie He turned to leave the tent as well.
“Chieftain, please wait.”
Xiao Jingmo stepped out from the group. Though a prisoner, the youth stood as straight as a green pine, without the slightest hint of dishevelment.
Tie He slowly turned and looked down at him.
Xiao Jingmo’s expression was serene. His height put him at a disadvantage, yet his detached poise allowed him to stand against the chieftain without seeming inferior.
“Your tribe is about to face a catastrophe.”
His first words enraged Tie He. The chieftain swung a fist like a small mountain straight at Xiao Jingmo’s face.
“That man just now is a spy.”
At Xiao Jingmo’s next sentence, Tie He’s fist stopped dead an inch from his face.
“You had better explain yourself. Otherwise, I’ll hand all of you over. Those people specifically demanded your lives.”
Xiao Jingmo knew suspicion had already taken root in Tie He’s mind.
According to Zhu Laosan, no merchant caravan named Zhou traveled through the borderlands. The route had once belonged to the Qi Family of the Northern Frontier. After trouble befell the Qi Family, the Zheng Family and Xie Family took it over-the Chancellor’s own clan and Old Madam Zheng’s maternal family.
That meant this supposed Master Zhou had appeared out of nowhere.
Judging from his exchange with Tie He, it was not difficult to guess that he was one of Prince Cheng’s men, sent to kill them.
Xiao Jingmo’s plan was to sow distrust between the two sides.
Tie He had broken their agreement without warning, which proved he did not fear the power of Prince Cheng’s Mansion. That was what gave Xiao Jingmo the confidence to drive a wedge between them.
He understood all of this in an instant and formed his response.
Even under Tie He’s threat, Xiao Jingmo remained unmoved. Negotiation came down to who could remain calm. The first person to lose his temper had already lost.
“Chieftain Tie He, I saw the corner of that man’s cuff beneath his outer robe. It bore the secret embroidery unique to Prince Cheng’s Mansion. The man clearly serves the imperial court, so why is he pretending to be a merchant?”
“When we passed through Jinzhou, we happened to learn something at the posthouse. I would like to trade this information for your protection. Would you accept?”
Xiao Jingmo calmly held Tie He’s gaze.
A crack clearly appeared in Tie He’s expression, and Xiao Jingmo caught it at once. His words had struck home.
But Tie He had never tolerated threats and would never compromise willingly. Although Xiao Jingmo’s offer had aroused his interest, it had also stirred his dislike.
“You’re trying to bargain with me? You’re nothing but a prisoner, yet you dare negotiate with this chieftain?”
Xiao Jingmo was not intimidated. He raised his chin, a faint smile on his lips.
“Tie He, my information concerns the lives of every member of the Blackstone Tribe. Accept my terms, and I will keep your entire people safe. I’ll even help you eliminate your mortal enemy, the Vulture Tribe. Refuse, and we still lose nothing. A dozen of our lives in exchange for your entire tribe? At least the road to the underworld won’t be lonely.”
He did not press Tie He for an answer. Instead, he turned back toward his family and gave Xiao Che a reassuring look.
From Xiao Jingmo’s words, Xiao Che had already grasped most of the plan. The later promise to eliminate the Vulture Tribe was meant to prevent Tie He from going back on his word. Even after obtaining the information, the chieftain might still hand them over, so Xiao Jingmo was dangling an even greater benefit before him.
As for destroying an entire tribe, that would indeed be easy for Xiao Che.
Father and son understood each other perfectly. Now everything depended on Tie He’s choice.
“You said you can help the Blackstone Tribe eliminate the Vulture Tribe. Is that true?”
Tie He’s expression changed abruptly. His arrogance and defiance vanished, replaced by grave attention.
The Vulture Tribe had clearly become the Blackstone Tribe’s greatest threat. This promise tempted him more than anything else and made him take Xiao Jingmo seriously.
Xiao Jingmo nodded calmly without so much as blinking.
“Of course. But I have one more condition.”
Tie He clenched his fists and studied him sharply. The boy looked only fifteen or sixteen, yet he dared make such wild claims. Still, Tie He had heard that people from the Central Plains were cunning and could not be trusted.
“Tell me your other condition first.”
“Return my sister to me.”
Until Jin Bao came back, the whole family would remain sick with worry.
“If you can help me eliminate the Vulture Tribe, forget your sister. I’ll give you ten more women as well.”
To Tie He, ten women represented a vast fortune.
“No. I only want my sister back.”
“Agreed. But first, I need to verify that you’re telling the truth. Come confront them with me. If they really serve the court, I’ll believe you.”
Tie He waved, and several men immediately moved to drag Xiao Jingmo away.
“Wait!”
Xiao Jingmo stopped them at once.
“What? Were you lying to me?”
Anger flared in Tie He. If Xiao Jingmo gave the wrong answer, he would smash the boy’s skull apart.
“Of course not. They will never admit the truth in a confrontation. Give me a little time, Chieftain. I can let you hear their conversation with your own ears. Then the truth will be clear.”
Tie He’s clenched fists loosened. He snorted. “Boy, you’d better not play any tricks. And what is this information you mentioned?”
Xiao Jingmo now held the advantage in the negotiation. He would not let Tie He lead him by the nose.
“Chieftain Tie He, I don’t trust you, so the information will remain secret for now. First, let me show you a little sincerity and allow you to hear proof of their true identities. Then we can discuss everything else. How does that sound?”
Xiao Jingmo held too many things Tie He wanted. The chieftain could only yield for now.
“Fine. I’ll wait.”