Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1272: Chapter 1274: Hiding Place Exposed _1

The leader of the forest’s martial arts seemed decent, but they were eventually thrown into disarray by the Beast Team, and soon they could only parry attacks, protecting only a small number of people, unable to safeguard everyone completely.

”Didn’t you say if we didn’t run away, you could protect us? You liars!” a small merchant traveling with the Merchant Team cried out, ”I paid so much protection money, you can’t just watch me die!”

Jin Wanliang was closely following the forest leader, also because he had yet to pay half of the final payment, so the forest leader’s priority was to protect his life, fearing that the money would be unrecoverable.

Behind Jin Wanliang followed a young woman dressed in the attire of a woman from the Western Regions, her face half-concealed by a veil, carrying a Treasure Sword in her hand, occasionally chopping at the approaching beasts with two strikes, showing that her martial arts skill was not bad and that she was a brave woman.

”Dad, quickly think of a way to save everyone,” said Jin Jing, who is Jin Wanliang’s daughter. Her mother was a woman from the Western Regions, which is why she always liked to wear clothes from there.

”Do you think I don’t want to? Didn’t you hear that the leader is Sangta? Running into Sangta’s Beast Team, we would be lucky just to save our own lives!” As he spoke, he shivered and muttered to himself, ”How could we be so unlucky to encounter that Evil Demon Sangta!”

At that moment, everyone was scattered once again, and this time, not many could run away as before. Many were pinned down by beasts before they could move, and even those who ran fast were attacked by the hawks spinning overhead and fell to the ground.

The Invincible Escort Agency had also injured some beasts, but the wounded animals became even more frenzied, leading to more injuries and deaths among the people, while only a few of the beasts were killed!

Human life was like weeds, many people cried out in regret for coming to the Western Regions to conduct their trade. This journey could earn a lot, enough for a year’s expenses, and good fortune in finding valuable items might even lead to wealth, but all this was a gamble with their lives!

Seeing the approaching Beast Team, the leader of the forest broke out into a cold sweat. In desperation, he looked around and his gaze fell on the small hill where Bai Ruozhu and the others were hiding.

”Mr. Jin, we’ll protect you and head to that hill to take cover, let’s just leave some goods behind for them,” said the forest leader.

A look of reluctance flashed in Jin Wanliang’s eyes, but he gritted his teeth and agreed.

Seeing them draw near, Bai Ruozhu whispered, ”This is bad, they’re coming our way.”

Jiang Yichun narrowed his eyes. With so many of them, any movement would definitely attract the attention of the Beast Team, but if they stayed still, the Beast Team might chase them.

Then they witnessed the forest leader protecting about a dozen people including Jin Wanliang as they rushed towards them; those being protected were dressed luxuriously, obviously the wealthier merchants of the group, while the ones sacrificed were naturally the small merchants who had paid less protection money, including the small merchant who had been complaining earlier, now dead in a leopard’s maw, his eyes wide open, whether from fright before death or from dying with grievances.

As Jin Wanliang fled, he said to the people, ”To avoid death, each of you should leave behind some goods, as long as we cooperate, they won’t kill us all.”

If they killed off all the merchants, there would be fewer and fewer traders, so how could they continue to rob?

The other rich merchants, having heard him, left behind some valuable items, except for one who was unwilling to say, ”We paid so much protection money, you guaranteed our safety, and now you still want me to give up my goods, wouldn’t that mean I came here for nothing?”

Jin Wanliang glared at him with deadly intent, ”Not earning money is better than losing your life, if you don’t want to give up your goods, get the hell out of here!”

Having said that, he suddenly drew his sword and thrust it at the rich merchant, who didn’t even have time to react before he collapsed into a pool of blood. The team quickly retreated, leaving his body as the beasts’ lunch.

None of the remaining people dared to object anymore. As Jin Wanliang retreated, he shouted, ”Prince Sangta, all the goods we’ve left behind are tributes to you, please grant us a way to live!”

Sangta laughed as he looked at the goods and gold and silver scattered on the ground. He didn’t answer, but he also didn’t order the Beast Team to pursue them.

On the small hillside, Jianqi and his group were about to move, but were held back by Jiang Yichun, who whispered, ”If Sangta doesn’t come after us, we stay put.”

It seemed that Sangta wasn’t going to chase Jin Wanliang and his group anymore, but if Jiang Yichun and his team revealed themselves, it would likely arouse Sangta’s greed. After all, they were disguised as a Merchant Team, just like Jin Wanliang’s, which, in the eyes of someone like Sangta, was a juicy piece of meat.

Bai Ruozhu held her breath. It wouldn’t be long before Jin Wanliang and Manager Lin noticed them. If they were smart, they would pretend they saw nothing, for fear some idiot might...

Sure enough, Jin Wanliang and his men climbed up the back of the hill and squeezed into the forest. But the forest was so small that Manager Lin soon spotted Bai Ruozhu and her companions. He was taken aback, but it was the old fox Jin Wanliang who reacted quickly, pulling him aside and whispering, ”Keep quiet.”

Manager Lin came to his senses, politely greeted Jiang Yichun with a cupped-hands gesture, and Jin Wanliang also grinned and gestured towards Jiang Yichun. If one hadn’t seen him kill one of his own with a sword earlier, one would have really thought he was an amiable person.

Just then, Jin Jing, who was following behind Jin Wanliang, suddenly glared at Bai Ruozhu and her group, and furiously said, ”You... ”

Before she could finish, Jin Wanliang covered her mouth tightly and whispered, ”My dear ancestor, stop shouting. Do you want to attract them again? This forest is so small, if they come, we’re all doomed.”

Jin Jing nodded to show she wouldn’t cause trouble, but her gaze towards Bai Ruozhu and her team was still filled with hatred. She whispered, ”You hid here watching us get killed and didn’t even come to help, that’s so despicable and shameless!”

Bai Ruozhu, who had been somewhat distressed, now glared back and said softly, ”Someone who sacrifices their own team as bait, do you have the right to call others shameless? If you’re not shameless, why don’t you rush back and save them?”

Jin Wanliang pulled Jin Jing away, his voice lowered as he said, ”Enough, don’t talk anymore, if Sangta discovers us, we’re finished.”

Meanwhile, on the official road in the distance, Sangta and his men were looting the merchandise. They were too lazy to carry everything, only stuffing valuable items in their clothes and bags, all laughing and joking as if they were not bothered to chase after Jin Wanliang and his group anymore.

”That fat one has some sense in him, let’s let them go this time so they don’t stop coming in the future,” Sangta said leisurely, taking a swig of wine from his sheepskin bag.

A skinny and dirty little man nearby suddenly called out, ”Prince, why didn’t you say so earlier? I just sent Xiaohua to bite him.”

”You’re quick, but since it’s done, let it be, it’s his bad luck,” Sangta replied indifferently.

At that moment, from the forest on the small hillside, a scream suddenly pierced the air as Jin Wanliang cried out in pain. He collapsed to the ground, convulsing, his chubby face turning blue in an instant...