Bandits—well, this group wasn’t new to Wei Yu, nor to the Eighth Prince.

But unlike Wei Yu’s excitement, the Eighth Prince had quite a disapproving attitude toward them.

“Is Ji Prefecture’s public security this bad? You people all had the chance to be good, law-abiding citizens, yet you insisted on turning to banditry!”

As soon as he heard his Eighth Brother’s voice from behind, Wei Yu knew the lecturing was coming again.

He turned his head for a look, and sure enough, he saw his Eighth Brother approaching with a stern face, escorted by guards.

The bandit leader was also quick to assess people. At a glance at the Eighth Prince’s posture, he realized this young master was someone with authority, and immediately began crying out his grievances.

“You’ve misunderstood, young master! We were forced into this life—never really wanted to rob anyone. We’ve got elders and children to feed too. We never do anything that costs lives. You two must believe us!”

Anyone who believed that would be a fool.

Wei Yu smiled, “Forced into banditry? That’s rare. Why don’t you tell me exactly how you were forced? Tell it well, and I’ll let you go.”

Facing the young master’s smiling face, the bandit leader stammered, “Well, well, in Ji Prefecture, everyone knows how hard life is outside the city… we… we were just going with the flow…”

Hard life outside the city?

Wei Yu raised his eyebrows.

Because of too many bandits? No protection from soldiers? So if you can’t beat them, join them?

Understandable, but not acceptable.

After all, that’s not a valid reason for someone to turn from victim to perpetrator.

You may have become bandits and joined this group, but what about the civilians you robbed and hurt? Were they supposed to suffer for it?

The Eighth Prince frowned and rebuked, “Go with the flow? Let’s be honest—you’re just bullies who pick on the weak and fear the strong! You didn’t dare report to the authorities or make a scene, but you were willing to turn to banditry, robbing and looting. If you had that kind of courage, why didn’t you unite with other victims and strike back at the old bandits? Cowards!”

The bandit leader was dumbfounded.

Strike back at the old bandits?!

That’s even a thing?!

It just goes to show how many uneducated people there are these days.

Ordinary folks spend their whole lives tending to their tiny plots of land, always thinking about whether the harvest will be good, if they’ll get to eat today, how much money they can save tomorrow…

Having never been educated, the commoners’ minds are closed off. They think in straight lines, and very few can think around corners. That’s why so many upper-class people mock them as ignorant masses.

Wei Yu gave his Eighth Brother a thumbs up. “Well said, Eighth Brother!”

He’d always thought his Eighth Brother was an upright and kindhearted youth—never expected the kid to have such a rebellious streak.

After all, a prince not encouraging the people to trust the government or the court, not taking the chance to promote official authority and justice, but instead stirring up rebellion and promoting retaliation—this was honestly a bit unbelievable.

The Eighth Prince shot Wei Yu a glare.

These two—if not raised together naked, had at least shared the same cake.

Though he couldn’t say he fully understood his Ninth Brother’s personality, the Eighth Prince knew one thing very well.

That his Ninth Brother would never get up early for anything without a benefit!

He always looked proper on the surface, treating everyone seemingly the same, but once he had some sneaky idea, he’d definitely drag things out and play around.

Just like now.

A bunch of bandits—normal procedure would be to hand them over to the authorities, end of story. But here he was, still dawdling around. Clear sign his motives weren’t pure!

Wei Yu felt oddly guilty under his Eighth Brother’s look.

Even though he didn’t say anything, it somehow felt like he had…

Ah, forget it. Let’s pretend I didn’t see it.

Wei Yu turned to the bandit leader. “Where do you live?”

Still stunned by the Eighth Prince’s words, the bandit leader didn’t react in time to Wei Yu’s question.

“Huh? L-live where?”

Wei Yu smiled with squinted eyes. “Yeah, even as bandits, you’re still people, right? I don’t believe you don’t have a place to live. Especially with so many of you.”

Not handing them over, not killing them, and now asking where they live?

The bandit leader had a bad feeling.

“Our place is really filthy… Young Master, why are you asking? Don’t tell me… you want to come take a look…” He gave a dry laugh, his voice getting smaller.

“That’s right.”

Wei Yu nodded decisively. Meeting the bandit leader’s incredulous gaze, he smiled like a devil whispering sweetly.

“Ah, to tell you the truth, we’re actually colleagues—we’re bandits too, from somewhere else, looking to settle down.”

Bandit leader: !

Eighth Prince: ?

Fang Sheng and the other guards: …

Whether they were actually “colleagues” or not, just saying it was enough.

If Wei Yu claimed they were bandits, what could anyone else do but keep their mouths shut and go along?

What, were they going to tie up His Highness the Ninth Prince and run?

Even the Eighth Prince was just silently watching.

Looking at Wei Yu and the others in their luxurious attire, the bandit leader’s lips trembled. He really wanted to say, “You’re lying, there’s no way bandits could be this rich.” But what choice did he have? Circumstances force people to bow their heads!

His brothers were all taken down in one move and tied up like captives. As the leader, what else could he do?

Raise his neck and refuse?

The bandit leader was filled with grief.

Damn it, not only did they gain nothing from this trip, he was going to lose his home too!

—

Resistance was out of the question. The gap in strength was too big. Even a fool could see there was no escape.

Under Wei Yu’s smiling gaze, the bandit leader led the way, completely unwillingly.

No matter how slowly he walked, since their base wasn’t far, they reached the foot of the mountain in under half an hour.

The carriage couldn’t go up the mountain, so Wei Yu switched to horseback.

Wei Yu and the Eighth Prince rode in front at a leisurely pace, followed by the guards escorting the captured bandits.

The whole group slowly made their way up a narrow path and eventually arrived at a settlement hidden in the forested mountain.

It was truly a settlement—completely unlike the imagined image of a bandit camp.

Run-down, with thatched and wooden huts, old folks and children scattered around. No matter how you looked at it, it didn’t seem like a place where savage bandits lived.

“Tsk.”

Wei Yu clicked his tongue and shook his head, casting a sympathetic glance at the bandit leader. “Fellow bandits—you guys really suck at this.”

Bandit leader: …

“Look at you—a hundred or so bandits, and not even a fence around your camp. Lucky for you it was us—kind and merciful. If it had been someone else, forget the money, even the old and weak in your village might not have survived.”