Chapter Twenty-Three: A Chance Encounter with Rowdy Soldiers

Though the landlord’s family was undeniably cold and heartless, in these troubled times, their actions were hardly unusual. One could not expect others to possess noble morals; each person could only rely on themselves and struggle to survive.

In a low voice, Gu Jun said to Jiang Chen, “In this world, people like the landlord’s family can actually live better than others. Don’t you think Heaven is unjust?”

“Sometimes Heaven’s will is unfathomable. You can never truly know who will outlast whom. Just wait and see,” Jiang Chen replied, his words carrying a deeper significance. Gu Jun only half understood, but the anger that had been simmering in his chest seemed to lose some of its heat.

As the landlord’s family clustered around the hearth, feasting, a band of soldiers suddenly appeared in the distance. Their uniforms were stained a glaring red, faces mottled with bruises and dried blood, a sight that betrayed their recent stint on the battlefield. Yet there were no military camps of the Great Qian dynasty nearby—where could these men have come from?

Strangely, none of them carried weapons or rode horses. Their mental state was indistinguishable from that of the refugees fleeing famine, which led Jiang Chen to suspect that these were deserters.

“I recognize those uniforms. They must be soldiers under General Wang. But they ought to be at the front lines—why have they turned up here?” Gu Jun whispered to Jiang Chen.

As soon as the band arrived, they began scanning the area hungrily, clearly searching for something vital. It wasn’t long before they spotted the landlord’s family gathered together.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen knew at once that trouble was coming for this household.

“This is bad—they’re going to kill,” whispered Gu Jun.

“Stay calm. Let’s see how things unfold. We should avoid getting involved if we can,” Jiang Chen cautioned, his battlefield experience telling him to tread carefully.

These soldiers were nothing like the worthless rabble under Zhao He, nor the bandits of Tiger Head Mountain; they had fought for their lives on the battlefield and were far more dangerous. If provoked, the consequences would be grave. Luckily, they were unarmed for now. Jiang Chen resolved to adapt as circumstances required and to avoid conflict unless absolutely necessary.

At that moment, a spray of blood burst into the air, warm and fresh, sending the nearby refugees fleeing in terror. The two guards who had been protecting the landlord now lay dead in pools of blood.

Jiang Chen nearly