144: The Tornado Destroys the Parking Lot (Part 1)

"Brother Mingtian, do... do you really think this is a good idea?"

Normally, an ordinary person might not even bathe once a month, let alone someone as poor as Old Wang, who would rather go a whole year without washing.

However, upon hearing that Su Xiaoxiao was going to stay at his home, Old Wang had hurriedly taken a bath last night and even put on his new clothes, which he only wore once a year during the Lunar New Year.

Even after being scrubbed clean, Wang Yue still bore little resemblance to anyone handsome; at twenty-six, he already looked somewhat like he was stepping into middle age.

"Just three days, do me a favor," Mingtian laughed heartily.

Not far away, Su Xiaoxiao remained dressed in plain white robes draped with light gauze, forming a sharp contrast with the dirt-covered thatched cottage.

Gazing at the fairy-like, elegant woman, Wang Yue could not help blushing, rendered completely speechless.

In fact, ever since Su Xiaoxiao invited him to take the seat of honor yesterday, Wang Yue had already become somewhat infatuated with this beauty he could never have imagined even in his dreams.

Of course, he knew he was unworthy of Su Xiaoxiao, so naturally, he kept his feelings to himself.

It was precisely because he understood Wang Yue's honest and meek character that Mingtian dared to entrust Su Xiaoxiao to his care with peace of mind.

Someone else? You must be joking!

"Thank you for your trouble, Young Master Zhuge. Such immense kindness is something Xiaoxiao will remember for the rest of her life."

Su Xiaoxiao still exuded the aura of a goddess. Moreover, far from showing any disgust toward Wang Yue's home, she seemed genuinely relieved and happy to have found a safe place to hide.

Watching Su Xiaoxiao's graceful back as she walked away, Wang Yue blushed furiously.

After exchanging a few casual laughs, Mingtian bid farewell to Wang Yue and Su Xiaoxiao.

With this worry off his mind, Mingtian could now deal with Meng Lang's affairs with an easy mind.

It was currently the third quarter of the Si hour, meaning Meng Lang should have already arrived.

Standing on a small hill, Mingtian saw a troop of three to four hundred men marching in a grand and ostentatious manner into the northern part of Sumen Town, about a kilometer away.

The troops were beating drums and scattering flowers—a lively spectacle indeed. Even with his less-than-stellar eyesight, Mingtian could barely make out the commotion from a kilometer off.

With all those banners and drums, they looked as though they were putting on a celebrity concert. He guessed this must be Meng Lang's contingent.

If they could not secure peace for Sumen Town, his parents would certainly refuse to leave, so this matter had to be resolved swiftly and decisively!

Mingtian had already made up his mind.

What was most important in this world? Friends, lovers, and parents, of course! Even if he didn't have deep emotional attachments to his parents, since he had transmigrated into Zhuge Buliang, he had to fulfill this filial duty rather than heartlessly abandoning them and fleeing on his own!

Attempting suicide back then was already an act of supreme unfilial piety, and Mingtian would never make the same mistake twice.

If this Meng Lang knew what was good for him, took a small profit, and left quietly—if the matter could be resolved peacefully according to plan—that would be fine. But...

If Meng Lang was insatiably greedy or pushed his luck further, Mingtian's Plan B was: wipe them all out!

What? He had numbers on his side? Wasn't that simple? He would wipe him and his men out together!

Mingtian had no desire to waste time on such an idiot!

The chaos in the Qi state was spreading; every day they delayed leaving Sumen Town added another layer of danger!

"Brother Mingtian," An Luo, who was responsible for the escort, asked with curiosity, "Since Su Xiaoxiao is only going to hold us back, why take her in? Could it be that you fancy her?"

With that, An Luo pulled a comical face, twitching his awkward eyebrows.

Mingtian rolled his eyes at him and shook his head helplessly. "How is that possible? I'm not that fickle, falling in love with every woman I see. I wanted to wash my hands of her too, but I couldn't just ignore her."

He pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a mild headache from overthinking.

"My old man took her in, which means he's bound to take responsibility for her. After all, that's the family rule of the Zhuge clan, and my dad is stubbornly upright. If I took it upon myself to abandon Su Xiaoxiao, my dad would definitely disown me, saying things like 'I have no son like you.' What could I do? I'm helpless too."

He pursed his lips, letting out a long, winding sigh.

As pretty as Su Xiaoxiao was, and as much as he admired her, Mingtian wasn't about to risk his life for her merely out of admiration.

Mingtian knew his father well; whatever Zhuge Fang decided to save, he would go to any lengths to rescue.

Since his old man had already saved her, he had no choice but to ensure her safety.

According to Mingtian's own style of handling things, if Zhuge Fang weren't such a man of principle, Mingtian would have long since tied Su Xiaoxiao up, delivered her to Meng Lang, or simply driven her out of Sumen Town to end the trouble once and for all.

With a helpless sigh, he prepared to head home.

Magistrate Yue had stated that he would handle the reception initially, and only if he failed would Mingtian need to step in, so there was no need for him to go out and welcome them.

Besides, making such a grandiose display just for a petty inspection—did they think they were emperors?

Mingtian preferred to avoid such idiots whenever possible.

However, on his way home, Mingtian spotted a discordant note in the scenery.

"Sir, oh sir, this is the only ox left for our few neighboring households! If you lead it away, how are we supposed to survive? Please, have mercy and give it back to us!"

Walking just two or three hundred meters toward home, they saw a peasant woman clinging tightly to the thick thigh of a dark-skinned, powerfully built ruffian—a man roughly the same size as An Luo—sobbing and begging tearfully.

Nearby, a small child was crying out for his mother.

The ruffian was pitch-black, bald, and wore a long beard braided and wrapped around his neck.

He was currently pulling an ox away from the woman's home, completely ignoring the mother and child.

The woman clinging to his leg was having zero effect; he simply dragged her along the ground.

"Damn it, let go of me!"

Seeming annoyed, the ruffian glared with eyes the size of brass bells, malice gleaming in them: "His Excellency Meng Lang has graced us with his presence, and taking an ox from you to eat is your honor! Don't be so ungrateful!"

Meng Lang?

This bearded brute was one of Meng Lang's men?

Good grief, the moment they arrived, they were already seizing cattle from the townspeople?

Cattle were precious commodities during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, with five or six households in Sumen Town often sharing a single ox.

If this bearded brute led an ox away to feed Meng Lang, it meant those five or six households would lose their sole livelihood.

Moreover, robbing people of their livestock the moment they arrived was far too tyrannical.

"Sir, please show some mercy and have pity on me. This is the only ox left for our families. My husband is dead, leaving an orphan and a widow behind. What are we supposed to do if you take this ox?"

The woman wept with a heartbreak that tore at the soul.

As the brute dragged her along, the fabric at the cuffs of her trousers was worn away by the rough gravel path, scraping away a large patch of skin on her legs. Yet, the woman refused to let go, continuing her desperate pleas.

Upon hearing this, the bearded brute felt no sympathy whatsoever; instead, his eyes bulged with rage.

He raised his foot and kicked the woman squarely in the face.

*Smack!* How powerful was that kick? How could a mere woman endure it? Her nasal bone collapsed on the spot, and teeth shattered across the ground.

"Mom! Mom, what's wrong?" Seeing this, the little child cried out and threw himself over his mother's body.

"Stinking bitch, refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit!"

With that, the bearded brute savagely kicked the woman in the abdomen.

How could the frail woman withstand such torment? Within moments, she was beaten half to death.

Watching this scene, Mingtian furrowed his brow slightly.

"Brother Mingtian!" An Luo found it hard to watch any longer and made a move to step forward.

However, Mingtian reached out and held him back by the arm.

"Brother Mingtian, why are you stopping me?" An Luo was clearly trembling with rage, looking as though he wanted nothing more than to rush over and beat the ruffian to death.

Yet Mingtian merely said calmly, "Did you hear him? He's one of Meng Lang's men. Don't go looking for trouble!"

"But..." An Luo wanted to argue, but the words caught in his throat. He could only clench his fists and watch the scene in silence.

The woman was clearly beaten half to death by those kicks, yet she still mumbled faintly through her pleas, "Show... show mercy... sir... I beg of you."

"Hmph!"

The bearded ruffian smiled coldly. Instead of feeling pity, he seemed to relish the scene: "It is your honor that your family's ox can become a dish on Lord Meng's plate. That distinction alone is worth your lives! If you dare pester me again, I'll slaughter your entire clan!"

At these words, the woman lying on the ground fell completely silent.

Too angry to speak? No, she was probably too terrified to even feel anger.

She could only struggle weakly to embrace her child and weep bitterly, watching helplessly as the brute led away the only source of livelihood for their households.

The bearded ruffian laughed triumphantly as he pulled the ox along.

However...

"Stop right there!"

A roar like that of an enraged lion echoed from behind, halting the ruffian's steps.

The brute froze, not yet fully processing what had happened, when An Luo's furious voice rang out from behind.

Even Mingtian was stunned, staring blankly at An Luo.

An Luo could no longer contain himself; burning with rage and brimming with murderous intent, he strode forward aggressively.

"Give the ox back to her, or I'll slaughter you!"

What an idiot!

Mingtian slapped a hand to his own forehead. He knew that with An Luo stepping forward like this, a massive wave of trouble was about to follow.