Nine-layer armor-breaking

Chapter 362 Settlement of Accounts
He was efficient and decisive in his work, organizing his people in an orderly manner. Upon hearing this, those people did not express any objections and immediately began to respond.

Jiang Yuan knew in his heart that he would not leave the Jiang family here unattended; his words sounded nice, but in reality, he was monitoring them.

Even the few remaining men would be difficult for the Jiang family guards, who were already exhausted, to handle. And the shrewd Eleven had already taken this into account.

Having said that, the group, having received their orders, began to act as instructed. One by one, the previously indistinct figures emerged from the shadows…

One by one, the blurry figures emerged from the shadows, their forms becoming clearer and more realistic as they were revealed to the crowd.

Their steps were heavy, as if they had long since lost all joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, like puppets, which looked somewhat eerie.

Upon closer inspection, the group consisted of men, women, and children, all of whom had their mouths gagged, hands and feet bound, and were tied together with ropes, being restrained from behind. A careful observation revealed that none of them had any intention of struggling to escape.

Their freedom was restricted, yet they showed no sign of resistance; their eyes were lifeless, and their faces bore no trace of their souls. Without any sign of a soul ever existing… what kind of people were they? What had they experienced?
The moment they appeared in the firelight, they attracted everyone's attention. Looking at these lifeless, zombie-like figures, it was hard not to feel a sense of unease and fear.

Leading the group were four men carrying boxes. The bound men looked dejected and exhausted, yet each of them stared intently at the boxes being carried, their gazes fixed on them for a moment.

People who are not very energetic are unlikely to be threatened by anything, let alone instill fear or trepidation in those who are indifferent. Therefore, what these people are staring at so intently is most likely not out of fear. Their unwavering gaze is probably due to unwillingness, not fear.

The moment Li, the guard, saw these people, he felt a chill run down his spine. This was a sight he had never witnessed before.

As a martial artist and a guard of the Jiang family, he had seen countless fights, but none had ever been as bizarre as this. He looked these people up and down, but couldn't guess their identities at all.

If someone were kidnapped, even if they dared not resist easily due to their strength, they would still be somewhat afraid or panicked. It's really strange that they are not shouting, crying, or screaming like this.

If they were mindless puppets, they stared intently at the box, as if it contained something that could move their hearts.

Guard Li sensed something was wrong, but he couldn't influence his master's decision. After careful consideration, although he felt his master wouldn't act rashly, he still felt uneasy seeing Jiang Yuan about to leave with them.

"No!" Guard Li couldn't care less about anything else and blurted out to Jiang Yuan.

Jiang Yuan noticed Li Huwei's worry and determination. As she walked past him, she whispered to him, "I can handle it. I'll protect the lady."

"Absolutely not! Master, Miss is here too." Guard Li lowered his voice, his words becoming increasingly urgent, trying to use Jiang Xian to keep Jiang Yuan here.

Hearing what Guard Li said, Jiang Yuan felt much more relieved. Without that burden, Jiang Yuan could act with even less restraint.

"These people are not easy to deal with, and that box..."

Jiang Yuan interrupted Li Huwei, shaking his head to indicate that Li Huwei did not need to continue.

Interrupted by Jiang Yuan, Guard Li understood Jiang Yuan's meaning and realized that Jiang Yuan had realized the danger. Guard Li felt much more relaxed and no longer insisted as before.

The Jiang family guards also stepped forward. They didn't speak, but their expressions told Jiang Yuan the answer: they also wanted to keep him here.

For someone with absolutely no martial arts skills to go to the enemy camp alone is like a lamb entering a tiger's den.
In the eyes of the Jiang family guards, Jiang Yuan's decision was definitely not rational; they believed it was a decision made on a whim.

However, Li, who was familiar with Jiang Yuan's way of doing things, did not think so. He could now sense that this was probably a decision made by Jiang Yuan after weighing the pros and cons.

"What? Does Your Excellency wish to discuss this further?" Eleven asked from a distance, seeing the reluctant scene of Jiang Yuan's impending separation.

"No need." Jiang Yuan walked towards them before he finished speaking. "Lead the way." He said to Eleven without looking back at the Jiang family guards.

Seeing this, the patriarch had made his decision, and the Jiang family guards naturally couldn't say anything more. Watching the group's departing figures, they knew that the Jiang family was probably really in trouble this time, and in their view, this would be a significant crisis.

……

"As you can see, there aren't many people in this village, just a few households. They definitely need someone to protect them and ensure their peaceful lives."

Shi Yi walked alongside Jiang Yuan, laughing and introducing the village to him.

As I walked along, every house had its doors tightly shut. How could this be the way people who could live a peaceful life should live!
Jiang Yuan didn't pay much attention to Eleven's words. He was ready to take action at any moment, and he was also very interested in the group of people and the box. He wouldn't be at ease until he clarified the matter.

However, Jiang Xian had already left that place by then...

"That's how it is," Jiang Xian said succinctly to Guard Liu, who was listening nearby, explaining everything.

The more Guard Liu listened, the more serious his expression became. Through Jiang Xian's words, Guard Liu analyzed the pros and cons, but he comforted her, saying, "The patriarch is not a reckless person. He has his reasons for doing things. Miss, there is no need to worry."

Jiang Xian pulled his hood down even lower, peeked through the gap into the doorway, and whispered, "No matter what, you must protect these two."

These words were spoken to Guard Liu, but also to himself.

“Miss, the most urgent thing right now is to meet up with them and wipe out those villains before we go find the head of the family.”

Jiang Xian sensed the anxiety in Liu Huwei's tone and shook her head: "No, don't move those people for now."

"The lady is there! We don't know where the head of the family has gone, we can't just wait here!"

"Don't worry! I will find my father, but I am really worried about my mother."

Guard Liu's eyes lit up: "You can find the head of the family?"

Jiang Xian nodded and responded.

Just like Jiang Xian had done before, Guard Liu glanced at the two people inside, and then, as if he had made up his mind, said to Jiang Xian, "Then I'll trouble you to wait here, Miss. I'll go and bring the Jiang family back!"

Jiang Xian knew what Guard Liu was thinking. Guard Liu knew that Jiang Xian had a way of controlling the leader and the steward, so he didn't want Jiang Xian to go with him into danger. He still wanted to find Guard Li and the others to reunite.

"How do you feel now?"

Upon hearing this, Guard Liu understood that Jiang Xian was worried about his current physical condition and ability to exert himself. He replied without hesitation, "I'll be almost fully recovered while we wait, no problem!" The face beneath the hood seemed thoughtful. After a moment, she turned away, avoiding Guard Liu's gaze, looked up at the sky, and said, "Most of them have already left. If no one returns after an incense stick's time, we'll make our move." She then stepped forward and whispered, "Do as I say..."

……

Upon seeing the people with their hands and feet bound, a warm voice came out to greet them, saying as they walked, "You're back! Looks like you've had quite a haul..."

Before the man could finish speaking, he seemed to have discovered something, and his voice abruptly stopped.

The group of people bound by ropes was indeed more numerous than before, but he still felt something was amiss. There were more prey, but the number of people hadn't changed much. Moreover, at a glance, his own men didn't show any joy on their faces. He seemed to understand.

Looking closer, he spotted a hooded stranger who wasn't restrained by any rope. The stranger was standing with Eleven. Considering the discrepancy in the number of people, he began to speculate about what was happening.

"Yes, he's back." Eleven answered first, turning his body slightly towards Jiang Yuan, and added, "This guest was encountered just now and got into a fight with our people, so we asked him to come back to discuss things with our elder brother."

The man didn't say anything, but instead asked Jiang Yuan directly, "Who are you?"

Seeing the wary look on the other party's face, Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Brother Eleven has already asked, so please forgive me for not being able to tell you."

The person in front of him spoke gently, but his relaxed demeanor aroused his disgust.

"Eleventh brother..." The man seemed to be speaking to himself. As soon as Jiang Yuan finished speaking, he repeated this sentence in a low voice.

He looked at Eleven and Jiang Yuan in front of him and said, "Your Excellency is putting me in a difficult position. I don't know your identity, nor can I see your face. How should I discuss some things with you?"

After he finished speaking, a large group of people behind him lined up on both sides of the riverbank, surrounding Eleven and his group of fellow countrymen.

Jiang Yuan glanced at the man and saw that he had dark skin, was tall and burly, but was dressed in ordinary clothes, a practical and neat martial arts outfit, clearly a martial artist, or one who was active in such situations; the others were dressed in uniform, round-necked robes that were easy to move in, and each of them was carrying a short knife.

This is a threat, and also a test.

Jiang Yuan observed the situation. In his opinion, the tall and burly man should be the leader of their mercenary group, while he seemed to distrust his deputy leader.

This indiscriminate and uniform act of surrounding everyone was, for Jiang Yuan, a threat to his refusal to reveal his name; for Eleven and those who had returned with him, it was a test.

Jiang Yuan had spoken with the Eleventh before, and he knew that the Eleventh was by no means an empty-headed, incompetent deputy commander. On the contrary, judging from his demeanor, he should be a clear-headed and rational person. Therefore, the Eleventh must also be aware of the point that Jiang Yuan had just thought of.

Eleven glanced at Jiang Yuan and, seeing that the hooded man showed no sign of panic, smiled slightly and said to the tall, burly man, "We can't talk here. Brother, when guests arrive, they should sit down and have a cup of tea."

Upon hearing this, the man stared at Eleven with his cloudy eyes for a moment, then said in a low voice, "In that case, come in." After saying that, he turned around and paused, "Everyone, wait where you are! Eleven, bring your men in."

"Yes!" everyone shouted in unison.

"Let's go." Eleven gestured to Jiang Yuan and led the way.

"Where are my brothers?"

As soon as the two entered, they heard the burly man ask such a question in an extremely gloomy and dejected voice.

Jiang Yuan glanced at the figure standing with his back to him, walked to the long table, pulled out a chair, and said, "Where they belong." He then sat down.

"Did I tell you to sit down?" The tall, burly figure turned around, placed his hands on the table, hunched over, and glared fiercely at the person in front of him.

Shiyi remained standing in the same spot, but suddenly sensed that the situation was not good.

"If the guest won't sit down, am I supposed to be invited in to stand?"

"Who do you think you are, a guest?"

"Isn't that what you said?"

The man grinned widely, as if he'd heard a hilarious joke. "I'll ask you one more time, who are you? Where's my brother?"

"It seems you have some comprehension issues. Tell me, what do you want to do? I don't want to waste time."

The man was initially furious, then burst into laughter: "Do you know who I am? I think you're asking for trouble!"

"I don't care who you are. As for your next sentence, let's see if you have the ability to deliver it."

Throughout, Jiang Yuan maintained an indifferent attitude, but at this moment, Shiyi felt somewhat uneasy.

“Several of them died in battle, and a few remained in the same place to guard it,” Eleven explained to the man.

After hearing what Eleven said, the man was no longer so anxious. He dragged over a chair and sat down, then looked at Eleven and raised his chin: "Eleven, you sit down too."

Jiang Yuan understood the meaning behind Eleven's words. Eleven did not provoke the conflict between the two of them, nor did he directly say that their people died in battle against Jiang Yuan's people; he glossed over everything lightly.

"I'll give you one more chance. Take off your hood, state your name, and maybe I won't hurt you." The man's tone softened as he spoke to Jiang Yuan.

Jiang Yuan's tone remained calm: "Your men robbed me on the road, wasting my time. How should this be settled?"

The man opposite him laughed a few more times. "Interesting! You're the first person to take the initiative to settle accounts with me." After saying that, he suddenly calmed down and stared at Jiang Yuan: "Listen! No one can escape from me without paying the price."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan snorted and then said seriously, "Your hands are quite big. Commander, I think you don't have much experience. Don't overestimate yourself. Let the person behind you come out. I have nothing to do with you."

He spoke calmly and casually, but the undisguised mockery in his words infuriated the person opposite him.

(End of this chapter)