CHAPTER 568: CHAPTER 233: NOTHING MAJOR! I’M GOING TO KILL YUCHI! (REQUEST FOR SUBSCRIPTION) _5

"Okay."

Then the matter began to slowly surface.

Indeed, the Twelve Linked Huts had caught a batch of people. This batch was also one that the Twelve Linked Huts held a grudge against.

Now, looking at a ship gradually approaching the dock, Wei Zhe was quite puzzled. What’s this? Are they still playing the captivity game so late at night? Are the ropes tied very professionally? Just by looking, you could tell they were seasoned players, but the question was whether these skills were stronger than those of his third brother.

From Qian Wenshi and others nearby, Wei Zhe learned the general situation. It turned out that the freight shipping of the Twelve Linked Huts wasn’t always smooth sailing, and occasionally they encountered some river pirates.

The river pirates would try to hijack merchant ships, playing a murderous game of plundering goods. Initially, the Twelve Linked Huts suffered a couple of times, but later sent some strong individuals to protect their merchant fleet. Thus, the people who were bound and brought back were clearly thieves who failed the murder-and-plunder and were captured instead.

"So how is this related to the trade association?" Wei Zhe still couldn’t understand.

This is what the Twelve Linked Huts should be doing. Our trade association pays, so you should handle these issues yourselves. Why disturb the trade association? Not to mention that I, Wei Zhe, finally have a chance to be with Miss Xiangxiang.

"Because we felt the attackers weren’t ordinary people. They weren’t just targeting our Twelve Linked Huts; they were trying to thoroughly disrupt the business of the trade association." Qian Wenshi explained on the side. Couldn’t he see Wei Zhe’s displeasure?

This was visible.

But there was no choice; Yuchi wasn’t home. He wanted to talk to Yuchi, but without the chance, he was forced to disturb others’ leisure lives.

"Disrupting our trade association’s business?" Wei Zhe’s eyebrows furrowed.

"Yes, during normal times, the number of bandits increases around the New Year. As the year ends, they want to take a chunk out of us to celebrate. Last year was like this; they were very greedy, but all were resolved by our Twelve Linked Huts!"

Qian Wenshi spoke earnestly, "But this time is different. They are evidently well-prepared, with what seems like a powerful force behind them. Our Twelve Linked Huts felt this was something the trade association should be aware of, so we’ve come to find you, First Brother."

Is the situation different? Wei Zhe’s scholarly demeanor gradually calmed down. As a breeze blew past his face, he looked at the river pirates before him. After contemplating for a moment, he decisively said, "Don’t worry, follow your plan. If problems arise, our trade association will back you up."

"Thank you, this is the response our Twelve Linked Huts sought. We’ll start the official investigation now."

Qian Wenshi breathed a sigh of relief. The trade association could not be offended now. People within the association carried much face; their Twelve Linked Huts weren’t as arrogant as before and relied closely on the trade association.

After all, if the trade association in Xufu Town could directly enable expansion, it would be the simplest thing to build docks themselves. It was just a matter of specialization and familiarity as locals; otherwise, in the eyes of the Twelve Linked Huts, Old Yuchi... would be extremely brutal when necessary.

Wei Zhe nodded, then proceeded to observe the scene.

The twelfth head of the Twelve Linked Huts, namely Qian Wenshi, cleared his throat and shouted towards the river, "Bring them all up one by one so our First Brother can see what they’re like!"

"Yes!"

The Twelve Linked Huts personnel quickly followed the order, bringing several river pirates from the shore. Seven people stood at the dock’s edge, hooded and with chains around their feet.

"Come, brothers, first take off the leader’s hood," Qian Wenshi continued.

"Alright!"

The crowd complied, pulling the rough white hood off the river pirate leader’s head, revealing a face beaten to a pulp.

The younger members of the Wei Family let out a boo, looking at each other.

They now felt quite awkward, with a sense of helplessness. Originally, things were pleasant, and after finishing their tasks, they could return home to their wives. But now, such a matter suddenly arose.

Moreover, issues like this seemed unnecessary for the trade association to manage. The Twelve Linked Huts would handle such events, ensuring normal trade routes for the association.

The security issues at transfer points were sometimes uncontrollable, but these river pirates didn’t intimidate them. So why did the trade association need to bother with these bandits? These people shouldn’t even warrant a glance. They should just be thrown into the river.

"These don’t seem like ordinary river pirates."

Qian Wenshi said to the bloodied prisoner:

"I’ve killed quite a few river pirates before. Those looked more like pirates. Their clothes were tattered, and they wielded rusty weapons, with bodies varying in height and weight. They clearly had a feel of ruthless folks birthed from poor surroundings."

"But these people? Though they seem a bit disheveled, there’s an aura of calmness about them."

"Alright, brothers, take off all the hoods for them."

Under Qian Wenshi’s indication, the sailors began their task, cursing the river pirates as they removed the hoods, revealing seven bald heads. Being shaved bald was a clear mark of villains in this feudal world.

When bandits were caught, they were immediately shaved. So when encountering a bald person on the road, civilians often first assume they’re a scoundrel.

"Where are they from?"

Wei Zhe covered his nose with his hand, his eyes bearing some distaste. These people smelled like rotting fish for days. The bandits’ eyes were slightly dazed, focusing on the person in front.

Wei Zhe noticed this, standing a yard away from the middle-aged man, with other guards of the Twelve Linked Huts between them.

"Where do you come from? The First Brother is asking you a question, can’t you hear?" Qian Wenshi scolded.

The man remained silent.

Qian Wenshi understood.

"Strip him bare and hang him on the Twelve Linked Huts’ mast. Let me know once he’s ready to talk."

The young members of the Wei Family were instantly stunned, incredulously looking at Qian Wenshi. Was he really so ruthless, to hang someone on the mast? Such brutality!

Qian Wenshi was speechless. Every family seemed to have its benevolent folks. Without their Third Brother, they wouldn’t even get a taste of warm soup outside.

The middle-aged man stared menacingly at Qian Wenshi, remaining silent.

His eyes were filled with resentment, as if wishing to devour the man in front of him!

Wei Zhe said nothing, just watching as the Twelve Linked Huts handled it. Below was the swift river, and he saw the person swiftly cleaned and hung on the mast.

"You wait until tomorrow noon, I’ll bring many elderly women to see you, let’s see if you can handle it!" Qian Wenshi quipped.

Elderly women... referring to the Xufu Town Intelligence Station?

Even Wei Dalao felt a bit pained. The guy was exposed like that, might prefer death, especially when ridiculed, and being compared to a toothpick.

When Wei Zhe prepared to talk to the man, his anger erupted in an instant.

"Where’s that dog Yuchi? I’m going to make him pay!!"

"I’m going to kill Yuchi!"

Everyone: "..."

The scene fell silent in an instant.

...Why did you all stop speaking?!

Wei Zhe snapped out of it and walked to the mast, looking up at the enraged man, "Trust me, you really don’t want to meet him."

The man was dumbfounded, unsure why, but he shivered suddenly.

The others grew even more silent.

Thinking:

Why seek out Yuchi Sanshao? Is it because we’re difficult to communicate with, or is Yuchi Sanshao too kind? No one really believes Old Honest Yuchi is truly honest, right?

Going after Yuchi Sanshao, aren’t you courting a brutal outcome?

"...What kind of dark force is this Yuchi?!" The man was alarmed.

Mere mention of Yuchi’s name brought cold silence instantly?! Was Yuchi really so fearsome?

I refuse to believe it!