CHAPTER 437: CHAPTER 434 ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

Chang Tong brought the siblings to a secluded spot on the island. This time they were afraid of alarming the enemy, so they didn’t bring many people, and the ship didn’t dare to get too close. They planned to land later, but Chang Tong saw the firelight and then smelled a burnt scent.

Chang Tong, who frequently traversed battlefields, immediately determined that someone was burning corpses.

"These beasts."

Chang Tong could no longer hold back and ordered his men to row the boat closer.

Li Tao left in a hurry, so when Chang Tong arrived, those people had already left.

Chang Tong’s group only had time to search the island for those surviving civilians to rescue, finding an elderly man barely alive from a pyre, and shortly after came across this pair of siblings.

Chang Tong saw fear and sadness in their eyes.

Coming from the Eight States and witnessing this scene, Chang Tong found it difficult to accept. Compared to the Eight States, this place was like hell.

The North had no more battles, but in places unseen, such cruel things always occur.

"Please look at my mother first." The sister remembered her mother’s body had not been attended to and sought help from the person in front of them.

Fortunately, the siblings spoke in Daqi language; otherwise, Chang Tong might not have understood.

There were quite a few vassal people on this island with dark skin and appearances somewhat different from Qi people. Some often compared them to monsters, but Chang Tong did not resent the vassal people; in his view, they were not as terrifying as those who had just left.

Chang Tong’s men found a piece of straw mat and placed the siblings’ mother’s body on it.

The siblings cried yet another time, and the sister first returned to her senses, wiped her tears, and asked Chang Tong, "Is there anyone else alive?"

Chang Tong replied, "We found a few children, but those children are vassal people who don’t understand our language, and we also rescued some injured people, but most of them are too severely injured to survive."

The sister remained silent for a moment before calming down: "My name is Ah Jing; we came from Qi Land. Just now, those people... harmed our village. Years ago, we escaped from them and didn’t expect to encounter them again."

Chang Tong patiently asked, "Where is your original residence?"

Ah Jing replied, "Hai State. My uncle’s name is Yang Wu. He once served in the Hai State Army as a military leader."

Chang Tong did not anticipate Ah Jing’s uncle being a military leader.

Ah Jing continued, "That was during my childhood when I was about as big as my brother. I fell ill, and my parents took me out of the village to find a doctor. Upon returning, we discovered everyone in the village was killed. The government office said pirates had come, looted the village’s possessions, and murdered its people."

"My uncle, although he happened to be home, couldn’t fight against four hands alone and also died at the hands of those pirates."

Chang Tong sighed inwardly, not expecting Ah Jing to have experienced so much at such a young age.

Ah Jing continued, "At that time, my father didn’t let us return to the village, took us to hide in the mountains, and eventually found a ship to take us to the sea, finally settling on this island."

Ah Jing thought of her father, still missing, possibly captured or killed by those people. She wondered whether they would ever reunite.

Ah Jing’s nose was sore, and only after sobbing for a while did she continue, "I was young back then and unaware of the details. Just yesterday, when father saw those people again, his face changed color suddenly, urging us to find a boat on the island to flee, but it was already too late as those people had tightly guarded the entire island, allowing no one to leave."

"Seeing my father’s reaction, I urged him. Father said we were facing impending doom. Among those who landed on the island, he saw a familiar face named Li Tao, whom my father once saw at my uncle’s residence. Uncle told father Li Tao wanted to entice him into private maritime operations, with many officials at checkpoints agreeing, but uncle was straightforward and refused to do so. Father and uncle discussed reporting Li Tao’s affairs to the government office, and both felt it necessary."

Chang Tong couldn’t help asking, "Did your uncle report it?"

"He did," Ah Jing said, "but uncle didn’t know Li Tao’s background and feared reporting to the Commander wouldn’t help, so he found the then Governor of Hai State, who advised uncle not to spread the word and promised to investigate Li Tao secretly, aiming to capture Li Tao and his men all at once."

Chang Tong already knew the outcome: "Your uncle didn’t wait for the Prefect to investigate Li Tao but instead awaited the village’s utter destruction."

Ah Jing said, "Father knew staying and reporting wouldn’t defeat Li Tao and his men, saw revenge as hopeless, and decided to flee far away... Not expecting Li Tao and his men to arrive here again."

Chang Tong said, "Your father saw Li Tao. Could Li Tao have recognized him, hence leading his men here?"

Ah Jing shook her head: "When my father saw Li Tao, he was in the compartment at uncle’s residence, so Li Tao shouldn’t know this. Also, we heard from the villagers that Li Tao came to the island... only to capture people to work."

Chang Tong said, "To work?"

Ah Jing said, "It’s said Li Tao’s ship needed manpower, and they probably... have a base where manpower is also needed; Li Tao originally wanted to persuade everyone to voluntarily go with him, but people didn’t know Li Tao’s background, and when they could live on their own, why work as cattle and horses for others?"

Chang Tong’s brow furrowed deeply; his grandfather and grandmother guessed correctly. Li Tao was working for Prince Lu, and since they had been at sea for years, they likely accumulated much.

Though their people tried to follow Li Tao’s large ship, worrying about being discovered, they couldn’t stay too close. Li Tao’s ship was large and could quickly leave small ships behind, making it difficult to unveil all secrets at once.

However, as long as Li Tao roams the sea, spending more effort will lead to discovering more and more.

For now, he should inform his grandfather of the information gathered, and his grandfather and Governor Meng will plan the next steps.

Chang Tong looked at Ah Jing: "My grandfather is a Military Governor, and upon discovering illicit maritime activities, he ordered us to investigate along the way. I will report to my grandfather what you said, and I hope you will leave with me."

Ah Jing instinctively shook her head, but then quickly nodded: "I... must look for father... before leaving with you."

Certainly, Chang Tong said, "I will help you search."

Fearing Li Tao and his men would return, Chang Tong did not bury all bodies, despite the dead being gone; capturing Li Tao is necessary to save more people.

After tidying up the island, Chang Tong took the sibling Ah Jing aboard, meeting with people dispatched by Meng Su, and later brought the other islanders back to Daqi.

Meng Su, listening to Chang Tong recount the entire matter, his eyes ablaze with anger: "These beasts, now unruly to this extent, how will it end if further indulged?"

"No matter who is behind them, I must investigate; otherwise, I can’t face these poor souls."