A group of desperate robbers set fire to a village, threatening to burn it to the ground. Ye Shikai quickly organized efforts to extinguish the blaze and ordered his men to chase down the fleeing robbers. He personally cornered the remaining bandits and their leader, Su Li, who ultimately surrendered after Ye Shikai promised their safety. Meanwhile, Hua Liandie also arrived, intending to help.
"You..." Ye Shikai found himself speechless. Hua Liandie’s abrupt departure previously had caused him considerable worry. Now, her return, intended to be helpful, had nearly resulted in catastrophe. Luo Li’s assessment was accurate; had the blaze not been contained swiftly, East Village would have been reduced to embers within an hour. The surrounding trees would have ignited, consuming the entire village. Even with a concerted effort from all villagers to combat the fire, a significant portion of their homes would have been lost, leaving thousands displaced and without shelter for at least a fortnight.
"What, are you still planning to blame me?" Hua Liandie, her anger evident and disregarding the onlookers, challenged Ye Shikai vociferously.
"I don’t wish to argue with you at this moment." Ye Shikai, mindful of the villagers nearby, suppressed his frustration. He turned his grim countenance away, his voice a cold reprimand.
"Luo Li, quickly mobilize your men to assist the villagers in extinguishing the fire."
"Yes, I’ll depart immediately."
As Ye Shikai turned to leave, Hua Liandie intercepted him, her hand gripping his arm.
"Stop right there. We need to settle this today." Hua Liandie, apparently enraged, held onto him tightly.
"Speak. Are you blaming me?"
"No, sigh." Ye Shikai felt a wave of helplessness. Hua Liandie’s presence here was an unforeseen variable. She and her guards had appeared at the village entrance, blocking the robbers’ escape route and cornering them. He acknowledged his partial responsibility, especially since Hua Liandie’s intentions had been good.
"You’re lying. Still trying to brush me off." Hua Liandie remained insistent.
"How am I lying to you?"
"You won’t meet my gaze when you speak, and your tone lacks sincerity. Clearly, you’re trying to avoid me and are looking for any excuse to leave."
"You… are being utterly unreasonable." Ye Shikai, at his wit's end, forcefully pulled his arm free. It seemed patience had run its course, and a display of temper was now necessary.
"You left without a word a few days ago; obviously, you intended to depart, didn’t you? And even if you had to leave, you should have at least… given some notice. Furthermore, your arrival today, even with the intention to help, was too hasty. Why not wait until the robbers had already exited the village before firing arrows? Your men blocked the village entrance; wasn’t that precisely the provocation that led them to set the village ablaze?" At this, Ye Shikai felt a peculiar mix of frustration and amusement, as if Hua Liandie had orchestrated a rather significant ploy against him.
"How could I have possibly known all this?" Hua Liandie realized her charitable act had backfired, yet she refused to accept the blame. "You brute, I came here with good intentions to help you, and you still dare to blame me? Hmph, if you don’t want me here, then I shall depart immediately."
"Alright, alright." Ye Shikai understood Hua Liandie’s feigned departure and played along, gently pulling her back.
"It’s rare for you to visit. My wedding banquet hasn't even been held yet. At the very least, stay for a drink before you go. Surely, you're not afraid, considering your supposed prowess with alcohol?"
"Afraid? How could I possibly be afraid? I’ll stay, and I’ll have my men eat until your treasury is depleted," Hua Liandie retorted.
"Regardless, the food is on you anyway," Ye Shikai murmured to himself, rolling his eyes subtly as he turned.
Village Entrance.
"Report, Sir. All the houses that were on fire have been extinguished. A total of thirty-six residences were destroyed. Furthermore, when these robbers infiltrated East Village, they plundered the villagers' possessions and caused damage to their homes. Fortunately, the General had the foresight to instruct the villagers to remove their valuables beforehand, thus preventing greater losses," Luo Li reported with haste.
"Very well. Take your men and promptly distribute silver to the villagers whose homes were lost. Also, inform the Three Elders to organize manpower to assist the villagers in rebuilding their houses," Ye Shikai commanded.
"Understood."
"Sir, we have apprehended all the robbers here; there are as many as three hundred individuals," Xue San and his soldiers presented the captured robbers at the village entrance.
"Squat down and remain quiet." Numerous soldiers congregated, ensuring none of these robbers could attempt an escape.
"Dispatch them to the county as swiftly as possible. Additionally, I have given my word to Su Li, the leader of these robbers, that his men’s lives will be spared. I shall draft a letter; please deliver it to the County Magistrate," Ye Shikai instructed.
"Understood."
"Right, hurry and send them away. If the villagers gather around, it will become difficult to manage the situation," Ye Shikai urged, allowing Xue San and his guards to escort the prisoners to the county.
Within the Village.
"People of Shangshui Village, these bandits have been vanquished by us! The ones who surrendered have been handed over to the authorities, and from this day forward, we shall no longer live in fear of these brigands." Ye Shikai addressed the assembled villagers, his presence marking the end of the immediate threat. The aftermath of the battle saw the robber menace eliminated with minimal losses, solidifying the villagers' trust in him.
"This is truly wonderful news! No one will dare to trouble our village anymore!"
"Indeed, the General is the true guardian of this village."
"Fighting alongside the General is such an exhilarating experience!"
A wave of happiness swept through the villagers. Apart from a few burnt houses and some pilfered belongings, the cost in terms of lives and property was remarkably low. To annihilate such a large group of robbers under these circumstances felt nothing short of miraculous.
"Very well, everyone, let's clear away the remnants of these bandits. We shall continue with our drinking and feasting. First, to resume the wedding banquet, and second, to celebrate our triumphant victory."
................................
"So, is the conflict concluded?" Inside the dwelling, He Linghan noticed Ye Shikai’s arrival and promptly stepped forward to seek an update.
"Yes, it was a resounding victory. The majority of the robbers were eliminated, and the rest have laid down their arms and surrendered."
"Haha, I mentioned it earlier! If our esteemed guest could so easily handle the Northern Wolf Clan’s army, then these paltry bandits would be no match at all," Man Cang declared with a hearty laugh.
"Alright, let us all proceed outside," Ye Shikai said, taking He Linghan’s hand as they moved towards the exit.
In the courtyard.
The villagers began to reassemble in the courtyard. Following the intense battle, they had indeed missed the ‘auspicious hour’ that the Three Elders had previously proclaimed. However, Ye Shikai held no stock in such notions. He mused that had he not been leading the defense just moments before, at precisely that supposed ‘auspicious time,’ the robbers would likely have been the ones slaughtering villagers and setting the village ablaze.
Hua Liandie entered the house, and He Linghan offered her a cup of hot tea. Ye Shikai also rose to his feet. Despite her well-intentioned disruption, Hua Liandie had been a benefactor to Shangshui Village, providing essential provisions that significantly eased their hardship.
"Congratulations, Miss He," Hua Liandie announced, gesturing for a server to present a wooden box. "This is my token of congratulation for you."
"Thank you. I’ve heard you provided considerable assistance to the village; I am truly grateful," He Linghan responded calmly.
"It was merely a small gesture. Should you require any assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to ask."
