Plus, this shipment consisted entirely of jars and pots, making a faster journey impossible.
Therefore, reaching Tuman City within a day was out of the question.
However, between Hutou City and Tuman City lay Mei Village, a settlement quite renowned along this route.
Beifeng Prefecture was home to numerous forts, so densely packed one might say they were. These so-called forts were essentially small fortresses.
Although nearly a hundred years had passed without large-scale conflicts between the Desert Barbarians and Yan State, minor frictions had never ceased.
As a result, the common folk along the Beifeng Prefecture border naturally began to band together, building their own defensive villages. If desert tribes raided from the south, these communities would rely on their fortifications to resist and await reinforcements from the state army.
Smaller forts might house only a few hundred people, while larger ones could accommodate as many as ten thousand. Naturally, however, they couldn’t compare in scale to cities. They were scattered across Beifeng Prefecture like inverted iron spikes. Unless the Desert Barbarians amassed a significant force, they would only find themselves impaled and bloodied, as these forts each possessed their own armed militias.
Should the Barbarians gather such a force, or even show signs of doing so, the Northern Garrison Army would naturally have its target.
Mei Village wasn’t considered a large fort, with a population of just over a thousand and fewer than two hundred men capable of bearing arms.
However, its prime location, coupled with the current Mei Village Master’s excellent business acumen, had transformed it into a popular rest stop on the official road connecting Tuman City and Hutou City.
Consequently, life in Mei Village was quite prosperous.
By dusk, the caravan finally arrived at Mei Village.
Attendants from Mei Village came to meet them, offering food for the people and fodder for their mules and horses. As long as one paid, all kinds of services could be enjoyed here.
Mei Village even hosted establishments of Siniang’s original trade.
Xiao Yibo once again proactively stepped forward, offering his back as a human stool for Blind Bei to dismount the carriage, all under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
Were the age difference not so great, onlookers might have mistaken him for a son dutifully serving his blind, elderly father.
"Mr. Bei, I have arranged a top-notch room for you in Mei Village. Please rest," Xiao Yibo said respectfully.
Blind Bei nodded, indicating he understood.
Xiao Yibo quickly turned to his wife and concubine, ordering, "Quickly, attend to Mr. Bei and help him to his room."
"Yes, husband," they replied in unison.
Xue Three stood to the side, silently twirling his dagger, observing as Blind Bei enjoyed the attentions of both women.
Xiao Yibo then approached Xue Three, saying respectfully, "Master Three, I have reserved the top girl in Mei Village for you. Please enjoy."
Xue Three nodded, sprang up, and slapped Xiao Yibo on the shoulder.
He was very pleased. Damn it, finally someone recognizes my specialty!
After Blind Bei and Xue Three had gone inside, Xiao Yibo turned around to instruct his men to unload and secure the goods and make other arrangements.
The guest room was indeed splendid. In this fort, situated in the wilderness, there was surprisingly a small building styled with the elegance of a Jiangnan water town. The room’s decor was also full of scholarly charm.
Blind Bei sat on the edge of the bed. Xiao Yibo’s wife and concubine exchanged uncertain glances. Just as the two women, gritting their teeth, were about to close the door—one intending to do so, the other to prepare the bed—they found a short figure had already darted inside ahead of them.
"Yo, getting ready for bed already?" Xue Three teased, tilting his head.
"Let’s have dinner together," Blind Bei proposed.
Right then, attendants from Mei Village delivered their meal. The food was excellent and exquisitely prepared.
At noon, they had only managed to eat some dry rations, so this dinner tasted exceptionally delicious.
One woman attended to each man, pouring wine and serving food.
After a satisfying meal, Xue Three yawned, then pointed at the two women. "Blind man, you can’t hog them both. Do you want the older one or the younger one?"
Blind Bei replied lightly, "Only children make choices."
"Damn it, you can’t be this greedy! Are you trying to make me fight you for them?"
"Isn’t there a top courtesan waiting for you in your room?"
"A courtesan isn’t as interesting as these two, HEH HEH."
"I give up on you." Saying this, Blind Bei turned to the two women. "Go and freshen yourselves up. Return shortly."
The women, having overheard the previous conversation, turned a bit pale but nodded and left the room together.
"Hurry up, don’t dawdle! I can’t wait any longer!"
From behind the closed door, Xue Three’s impatient urging, mingled with his licentious laughter, could still be heard.
The door to the main hall was pushed open, and a servant from Mei Village entered.
At that instant, everyone in the hall—a hundred or so men who had been eating—stopped their actions simultaneously.
Some wore armor, others were bare-chested, but all had weapons by their sides. Without exception, they were formidable-looking men.
At the main table, Xiao Yibo sat with an elderly man dressed in luxurious clothes.
The servant who had just entered approached the elder, bent down, and whispered, "Fort Master, they’ve eaten. They’ve just called for the two little ladies to bathe and prepare to attend to them in bed. It seems... it seems they plan to enjoy them together."
While speaking, the servant intentionally glanced at Xiao Yibo, who was seated beside his master.
The men at the surrounding tables all eyed Xiao Yibo, many with smirks on their faces.
The elder set down the small bottle he was holding and leaned back slightly. Then, slowly opening his eyes, he sighed, "So this is the perfume? It truly is a remarkable item. What this bottle holds isn’t mere water; it’s pure gold."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yibo immediately rose from his seat and knelt before the elder. "I implore you, Uncle, to avenge my father! As long as you, Uncle, can help this nephew eliminate those two villains, not only will this entire shipment of goods be yours, but the perfume formula as well!"
The elder extended his hands to help Xiao Yibo up. "Aiya, my dear nephew, there’s no need for such formalities. Our families have been friends for generations. Your father was slain by wicked men; it is only right and proper for my Mei Village to help you seek revenge. Why speak of rewards? What kind of person do you take me, Mei Wannian, for?"
"This junior wouldn’t dare presume. Right now, my only desire is revenge, and I am truly counting on you, Uncle."
"Indeed. Such scoundrels, everyone has the right to execute them!"
Having said this, Mei Wannian couldn’t resist reaching out to touch the perfume bottle again.
Xiao Yibo added, "Uncle, you must be careful. Those two—one blind, the other short—are not easy to deal with. Otherwise, my father... my father wouldn’t have..." he trailed off, choking back sobs.
"Nephew, rest assured. Didn’t you hear? They’ve already consumed the meal I prepared for them. Heh heh. In a short while, even if they are both graded masters—even if they are formidable experts of the Seventh or Eighth Rank—they will surely perish! It is merely a pity about your two lovely ladies."
Xiao Yibo immediately shook his head. "They were merely two defiled wretches. Their deaths are a clean end; they are not worth pitying. A true man need never worry about finding a wife."
"That is the spirit. It is best that you can see it this way, Nephew. The enmity from a father’s murder is absolute. Now, watch closely. I will have my men avenge your father for you!"
Mei Wannian slapped the table before him and, as the Fort Master, barked, "Have you all eaten your fill?!"
"Just waiting for the Fort Master’s order!"
Mei Wannian nodded. "Good. Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. Though they are poisoned, we must not be careless. Men! Tonight, follow me to slay the villains!"
Xiao Yibo, seemingly swept up by the atmosphere, also rose. He drew the saber from his waist and roared, "Slay the villains!"