Chapter Ten: The Fight for Meat

The crowd halted on the open ground outside the house. The noise gradually faded, and everyone stood in silence, watching Qi Jun, who stood before the door in a defensive stance.

He had arrived in haste, and the beast's blood on his face had not yet been wiped away. In the moonlight, his bloodstained visage resembled a demon from hell, his hand gripping a javelin, his gaze cold as he stared at the crowd.

At their head was Liu Qi, the villager who had blocked Elder Liu the day before. Startled by Qi Jun’s fearsome appearance, Liu Qi instinctively retreated a few steps, and those behind him followed suit.

“Honored guests, what brings you here so late?” After a brief silence, Qi Jun asked coldly.

Qi Feng also stepped outside, standing beside his elder brother, his face tense as he stared at Liu Qi.

“We’re too hungry to sleep, so we’ve come to beg for a bite to eat!” Liu Qi glanced around and spoke to Qi Jun. Though he used the word “beg,” his tone was aggressive.

“That’s right! Hand over the meat!” a villager behind Liu Qi shouted, and others quickly joined in, demanding that Qi Jun surrender his food.

Qi Jun frowned, narrowing his eyes. In his previous life, this expression would have meant death for his enemies, but now, facing these unarmed, starving villagers, he knew he could not treat them as such.

Even in a world where life was worth less than grass, he still clung to the most fundamental beliefs in his heart.

“This meat was earned through hard hunting by my brother and me. Why should we share it with you?” Qi Jun asked, suppressing his anger.

Liu Qi was momentarily stunned. The frail scholar before him, aside from reciting poetry, could hardly be believed capable of hunting. He simply couldn’t accept it; such a prize could only be won by the village hunters.

Not only Liu Qi, but the crowd behind him grew restless, murmuring among themselves.

“Enough!” Liu Qi shouted, “I say this meat was stolen!”

The crowd quieted briefly, then Liu Qi’s words stirred up an even greater uproar.

“Yes! Two weak scholars couldn’t have hunted! This meat must be stolen!” the villager behind Liu Qi shouted again.

“I never thought even scholars would resort to theft these days…”

“And here I thought he was an upright man!”

“If he obeyed the law, why would he suffer the magistrate’s whip?”

The crowd clamored noisily, and a few began to push forward, intent on forcing their way inside to seize the meat.

Qi Jun stared silently at the crowd before him, a deep sense of sorrow welling up within. To save these very people, his father had sold off their possessions and scoured for grain, only to fall victim to bandits.

Now, with his parents’ bodies barely cold, these villagers, for a morsel of mutton, showed no gratitude, spouting venom and slander with abandon.

“It’s not worth it!” Qi Jun thought bitterly, sighing helplessly.

He glared at the leading few, tightening his grip on the javelin, determined that if anyone dared to force their way in, he would not show mercy.

“Come on, let’s grab his meat first!” Liu Qi, intimidated by Qi Jun’s gaze, hurriedly waved his hand and called the crowd forward.

“Stop right there!”

Just as tensions reached their peak, a sharp voice from the back of the crowd halted the commotion. Qi Jun was taken aback; the voice sounded familiar, and he followed the crowd’s gaze.

“Out of the way!” Liu Kui pushed through the crowd and strode over to Qi Jun, placing himself between Qi Jun and the villagers. He glanced back at Qi Jun, confirming he was unharmed, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Qi Jun let out an involuntary breath, grateful but silent as he gazed at the burly figure before him. Had the horde of starving villagers really surged forward, he and Qi Feng’s frail bodies would have stood no chance.

Liu Kui glared at the crowd, and wherever his gaze landed, the villagers quickly retreated.

“Brother Liu… what brings you here?” Liu Qi steadied himself, hurriedly clasped his hands, and put on a smile.

“I heard there was meat here, so the elders sent me to claim a share,” Liu Kui said with a mocking smile, fixing his eyes on Liu Qi.

“Of course, of course! I’ll fetch the meat right away so you can pick a good piece for the elders!” Whether trying to curry favor or simply dazed by the aroma, Liu Qi missed the displeasure in Liu Kui’s words.

“Nonsense!” Liu Kui suddenly slapped Liu Qi across the left cheek, sending him stumbling back and landing on the ground.

“Brother Liu, what…?” Liu Qi clutched his aching face, feeling humiliated and aggrieved as he pointed at Liu Kui.

The Qi family were outsiders and had suffered misfortune, leaving them vulnerable. Liu Qi had no qualms stirring trouble with them. But Liu Kui, son of the clan elder and the future head of the Liu family, was not someone Liu Qi dared to challenge, even after being struck.

“Bah!” Liu Kui spat at Liu Qi. “When did the Liu family let filthy creatures like you take charge?”

Though Liu Qi seethed inside, he hung his head and dared not meet Liu Kui’s eyes. Those who had wanted to follow Liu Qi in seizing the meat now also lowered their heads and melted into the crowd.

“Either you’re starved out of your senses or stuffed full!” Liu Kui pointed behind him at Qi Jun. “This is the son of Master Qi! The descendant of the man who died for Dongling Village!”

The crowd bowed their heads, and some showed guilt in their eyes. They had followed Liu Qi, lured by the prospect of meat, but now, chastised by Liu Kui, reason overcame hunger and they regretted being swayed.

“The Qi brothers earned their meat by skill. What are you dissatisfied with?” Liu Kui advanced two steps. “Get out of here! Save your energy for the county—maybe there you’ll get a bowl of gruel.”

The crowd lost all their earlier bravado, turning away in shame, preparing to leave. Liu Qi, still clutching his swollen face, brushed the dirt off his clothes and readied himself to go home.

“Stop right there!” Liu Kui, unwilling to let him off so easily, shouted again, making Liu Qi shudder.

“Brother Liu, please forgive me! I know I was wrong…” Liu Qi pleaded miserably, fearing another slap.

Several onlookers paused, turning back to watch Liu Qi with schadenfreude.

“Kneel! Apologize to the Qi brothers!” Liu Kui commanded coldly. “You too!” He pointed at those who had joined Liu Qi in stirring trouble.

Earlier, when Liu Qi had caught the scent of meat and incited the villagers, the clan elder had heard the commotion outside. Learning that the villagers were targeting the Qi brothers, he ordered Liu Kui to follow and keep watch.

Liu Kui had observed from the back, fully grasping the situation, and when Liu Qi and his followers tried to seize the meat, he immediately intervened.

Yun Fei had wanted to come as well, but the clan elder, worried about the dangers of the dark night, did not allow her. She was anxious, seeing so many people marching up the mountain, fearing for Qi Jun and his brother.

Qi Jun opened his mouth, intending to urge Liu Kui to let it go and extend a gesture of goodwill, but recalling Liu Qi’s arrogance and vicious insults, he abandoned the idea.

Several from the crowd stepped forward, heads bowed, kneeling behind Liu Qi, facing Liu Kui and the Qi brothers. Liu Qi glanced at them, then at Liu Kui and Qi Jun, and knelt down as well.

“In a moment of hunger, I was blinded and offended you two gentlemen, failing to honor the great kindness of your late mother. I beg you to spare me!” Liu Qi carefully looked up and pleaded, “I know I was wrong! I will repay you someday…”

The others followed Liu Qi, kowtowing and begging for forgiveness, their faces covered in dust and utterly miserable.

Liu Kui coughed twice to signal them to stop, then turned to Qi Jun for his opinion.

Qi Jun understood, sighed, and feigned reluctance. “I had no intention of forgiving you so easily, but for Uncle Liu’s sake, I will let you go. Remember what you just said!”

Liu Kui nodded and barked, “You all heard him? Get out of here!”

Liu Qi and the others agreed hastily, ready to escape. The crowd began to disperse.

“Wait!” Qi Jun called out, stopping them.

Liu Qi and his companions were nearly in tears—what more did he want?

Liu Kui frowned at Qi Jun; after all, Liu Qi was one of their own, and too severe a punishment would stir gossip among the clan. He felt the matter had been settled, uncertain what Qi Jun intended.

“You wanted meat, didn’t you? It’s not impossible,” Qi Jun paused, observing the surprise and confusion on their faces. “But I have conditions.”