Chapter 126: Collecting Protection Money

Chapter 126: Collecting Protection Money

From Huangshi to Jinling, the straight-line distance is actually only 400 kilometers.

Even considering the detours caused by sticking as much as possible to paved roads, the total route length would not exceed 800 kilometers.

The fuel carried by Chen Jian's eight‑person squad is enough for both vehicles to travel 1,600 kilometers, a considerable surplus, so he had no intention of sticking rigidly to a straight‑there‑and‑back route.

He planned to pass through as many known settlements as possible, linking them all with an S‑shaped route.

On one hand, to open up the map as much as possible; on the other, to get a simple trade route operating while on the move, continually gathering supplies needed by Huangshi City so they could be packed up and brought back all at once on the return.

Therefore, they did not choose the fastest waterway; instead, they made their first stop at Caohe Town, thirty‑five kilometers from Huangshi City.

According to information Zhao He had given them in Wuxue Town, Caohe Town, though small, produced a scarce resource and its prosperity was not much lower than that of Wuxue Town.

That resource was plastic.

They would bind the plastic into rafts, float them down the Ji River to Wuxue Town, then trek through the woods north of Wuxue Town to carry the needed supplies back to Caohe by human power.

Such back‑and‑forth trade usually brought them a modest but definitely profitable return, and it sustained the over three hundred residents living there.

By rights, their lives should have been quite comfortable.

But what Chen Jian actually saw was far from that.

Heaps of plastic‑made rafts clogged the river; people worked on them numbly, yet not a single raft set off downstream.

From the faces of the townsfolk Chen Jian could see clear signs of hunger—everyone was skin and bone, and some children even showed slight swelling in their lower limbs.

That was the manifestation of food shortage.

And that shortage had likely persisted for a long time.

When Chen Jian’s strange party approached, everyone instinctively rose to their feet.

Their eyes were filled with curiosity, mixed with a hint of hope, but mostly with fear.

Chen Jian silently parked his vehicle at the edge, sent Zeng Yi into town to make contact, while he stayed with Shen Yue and a few others to set up a simple watch post.

While observing the surroundings, Shen Yue spoke up:

"The situation in Caohe Town seems a bit off. How did they end up starving like this?"

"Being a waterside town like Huangshi, shouldn’t Huangshi be far better off?"

"If it weren’t for the Machine God Sect’s vast resources spent trying to tame monsters, the people of Huangshi could live off fishing and eat their fill."

"The natural endowment here is not much different from Huangshi’s, yet they seem to survive only on plastic trade."

"Has path dependence gone this far? Surely not."

"It shouldn’t be pure path dependence."

Chen Jian shook his head and replied:

"The ecology of the entire Ji River has been almost completely destroyed—come closer and you’ll smell a stench."

"The river’s flow is naturally limited, its self‑cleansing weak, and these residents dump huge amounts of garbage into it, using the river water to rinse the plastic they dig up."

"Who knows how much toxic material has settled in the river; there ought to be no fish left at all."

"Indeed."

Shen Yue nodded thoughtfully, then said:

"We should introduce some scavengers; they’ll eat anything."

".You’re a real living Yama, scavengers can survive, but would you eat what’s left of them?"

"When you’re starving, what can’t you eat?"

Shen Yue countered:

"Didn’t you eat anything like that during training?"

".Never mind, I feel like throwing up."

Chen Jian waved his hand; Lei Jie beside him chimed in:

"Water pollution probably isn’t the main cause—after all, this hasn’t happened overnight."

"I think their current state is tied to Huadu."

"The monsters Huadu trains near Wushan Lake block their overland trade route; even if plastic reaches Wuxue, the resources they need can’t get back."

"Plus, as Zeng Yi mentioned, Wuxue is often harassed by water ghosts, so this stretch of the Yangtze is likely under their control."

"Both routes are blocked, which explains why so much plastic piles up unable to be shipped out."

"Fortunately, both obstacles have now been cleared; otherwise, in another two months the townsfolk would probably all starve to death."

"Indeed."

Chen Jian sighed:

"People in the wasteland are so fragile that a single monster barely reaching level four, plus a few weak water ghosts, could almost wipe out a town."

"One can imagine how hard life must have been for humans before they truly banded together, facing such creatures."

"You only just found that out today?"

As Chen Jian finished speaking, Ji Xing, standing beside him, spoke up.

Her words fell, and Xie Liu shot her a dissatisfied glare, but Ji Xing returned the stare without fear and continued:

"In the wasteland, the weaker you are, the harder life is; the stronger you are, the more resources you can seize."

"You really did clear the water ghosts in this river stretch and kill that monster, but don’t think that alone will save these three hundred people."

"They’ve been reduced to the brink; the Machine God Sect will move in quickly and seize the resources here."

"Perhaps most of the locals will survive, but they will all become slaves of the Machine God Sect—an outcome not much better than dying right here."

"Why?"

Chen Jian asked curiously:

"In such an environment, would anyone still waste human resources?"

"Didn’t you say yourself that population is a resource, and resources are tools?"

"Who in this world would cherish a tool?"

"It’s just a matter of squeezing out every bit of value and then tossing it aside."

"Perhaps their corpses will end up as fertilizer for that so‑called ecological cocoon in Han Shui City."

".That really is grim."

Chen Jian nodded thoughtfully, then said:

"But what you’re describing won’t happen."

"Because this place is now our territory."

"Our territory?"

Ji Xing stared at Chen Jian in disbelief, while Xie Liu, who could no longer hold back, gave a mocking smile and said:

“Huangshi City has already reached a peace agreement with the Machine God Sect—accurately put, it is their surrender treaty.”

“From the day the agreement was signed, all towns centered on Huangshi City have already been incorporated into our territory.”

“Of course, including Caohé Town.”

“You say the Machine God Sect will enter here? Well, they’d have to dare to come.”

“If they violate the agreement, we will launch retaliation without hesitation.”

“By then, what they lose will not be just this paltry three hundred souls.”

“And there’s such a treaty??”

“Jixing stared, dumbfounded.”

“On the road from Huadu to Wuxue Town, she had indeed heard rumors about Huangshi City.”

“Such as thwarting the joint assault of the Machine God Sect and the Holy Blood Hall, annihilating an entire Holy Temple Guard brigade, and consecutively slaying several monsters—”

“And so on and so forth.”

“In her view, these legends are probably mostly true.”

“But truth does not mean it’s unadulterated.”

“The Machine God Sect and the Holy Blood Hall were never invincible; they too make all kinds of mistakes.”

“Huangshi City’s defeat was merely another mistake, wasn’t it?”

“But why would the Machine God Sect willingly pay such a heavy price for a single error? That makes no sense at all.”

“Watching her expression, Xieliu also felt a flicker of doubt.”

“She asked:”

“‘Haven’t you heard the legend of Huangshi City’s Sun?’”

“‘No.’”

“Jixing slowly shook her head and replied:”

“‘I’ve been aboard the Machine God Sect’s steamship all along; information flow there is far from smooth.’”

“‘After disembarking at Wuxue Town, I haven’t had the time to look into it.’”

“‘I only know that the Machine God Sect and the Holy Blood Hall suffered a loss at your hands, but I never learned the details of what happened.’”

“‘Then you’ve truly missed a great story.’”

“Xieliu, unwilling to elaborate further, casually said:”

“‘If you want to know, go ask in Caohé Town yourself.’”

“‘They surely saw that rising sun as well; ask them and you’ll understand why the Machine God Sect bows to us.’”

“Jixing stared at Xieliu’s confident demeanor, half-believing, half-doubting, and suddenly realized her own foolishness.”

“Indeed, anyone who can make three Holy Blood devotees willingly serve them, saddle to saddle, is certainly no ordinary figure.”

“What she has seen might merely be the tip of the iceberg.”

“And their true strength is likely far more terrifying.”

“She hesitated a moment, then finally spoke:”

“‘I’ll go and be back soon!’”

“With that, she darted toward the town, while at the same moment Zengyi, having finished liaising with the townsfolk, returned to the group.”

“The intelligence he brought back largely matched what Chen Jian and the others had speculated, save for one new detail.”

“Caohé Town’s current plight stems not only from that monster, nor merely from the water ghosts, but chiefly from a blood‑skull demon camp that migrated nearby a few months ago.”

“Those demons nearly severed all overland routes, and their relentless nightly attacks left the small town struggling to cope.”

“‘It is said that just the day before yesterday, while we assaulted the Huadu camp, the demons also struck Caohé Town.’”

“‘They killed over a dozen people, then that night they propped up the skeletons with wood and sent them back to Caohé Town, sticking them in the ground like scarecrows.’”

“‘The folks here are nearly driven mad; they’ve pleaded for help from the Machine God Sect and the Holy Blood Hall, but so far have received no reply.’”

“‘Should we consider clearing that demon camp as well? I mean, since this batch of demons moved here six months ago, they might be connected to the demons of the Anqing ruins.’”

“‘Even if there’s no link, we must still clear it out.’”

“Chen Jian spoke decisively:”

“‘Keep negotiating with them; tell them the waterways are cleared, have them haul all their stockpiled plastic to Wuxue for trade, and we’ll take eighty percent of the profit.’”

“‘In exchange, we’ll help them clear out the demon camp.’”

“‘Isn’t this just protection money?’”

“Shenyue chuckled, interjecting.”

“Chen Jian waved a hand and continued:”

“‘At least if they pay our protection fee, we’ll truly protect them—don’t interrupt, where exactly is it?’”

“Zengyi, upon hearing this, replied:”

“‘Not far—within a straight‑line three kilometers. According to them, if you follow this road you’ll get there soon.’”

“‘You go talk to them; we’ll head ahead.’”

“Chen Jian swung onto the cat‑cart, and the others followed suit.”

“No extra orders were needed; Shen Yue had already launched the drone, and after a quick reconnaissance the demon camp’s location was swiftly locked.”

“The two cat‑carts rolled side by side, speeding along the direction Zengyi indicated.”

“The road condition was far from ideal, yet according to the map it was indeed a provincial highway.”

“After skirting several stretches obscured by jungle, Chen Jian could already see the demon camp ahead.”

“It bore a striking resemblance to the camp he had seen near the Hanshui River before.”

“Rudimentary low huts, bloodstains everywhere, a stench of rotting corpses, bones fashioned into totems.”

“Several demons were in the midst of a killing game in the camp’s center—likely a woman snatched from Caohé Town two days prior, stripped naked and bound to a wooden frame.”

“Every orifice of her body had been pierced through with rust‑streaked metal.”

“She could not possibly still be alive.”

“Chen Jian heaved a heavy sigh, yet at the same time set aside all his reservations.”

“Before the demons noticed the squad, he spoke to the teammate beside him:”

“‘Lishi, put on your armor and helmet, shoulder your 301, and charge forward.’”

“‘Hesuo, you’re on cover fire.’”

“‘Xieliu, follow behind Lishi, provide cover and clear the area.’”

“‘Let’s go—quick and decisive!’”

“‘Understood!’”

Twenty minutes later, Ji Xing stepped out of the residential district of Caohé Town, her heart heavy with thoughts.

Her mind still replayed what she had just heard.

The rising sun, the violent explosion, the fierce wind that almost set the roofs ablaze, the earthquake‑like tremor, the guard brigade that ‘evaporated’ rather than vanished, the endless mountain fires—

All of this seemed too fantastical to her; she even wondered whether the residents of Caohé Town had merely shared the same nightmare by coincidence.

But clearly, that was impossible—

If the Huaxia troops of Huangshi City truly possessed such strength, they could surely slay even a first‑tier monster.

If they could kill a first‑tier monster, then perhaps they really could reach the mountain city.

At that moment, the lingering reluctance in her heart dissipated like smoke.

Ji Xing suddenly felt that decisively binding Bai Xu and throwing herself to the Huaxia Army had been the rightest decision of her life.

She lifted her gaze toward the outskirts of the town, where the few Huangshi people she had regarded as ‘slaughter gods’ still stood.

Oddly, two of the Saint‑bearers among them bore faint stains of blood.

Ji Xing approached, puzzled, and asked:

"What’s wrong with you guys?"

"Just took care of some business."

Chen Jian answered offhand, while Zeng Yi, who had just returned from the town, inquired:

"Has it been resolved?"

"Resolved—just over twenty dread demons, not many."

"Li Shi is progressing quickly; he hardly wasted any bullets."

"Xie Liu also found some new clues—these dread demons are indeed linked to Huadu and Anqing."

"I’ll sync that with you later on the road."

"No problem."

Zeng Yi nodded and continued:

"The talks with Caohé Town are settled; they’ll set out this afternoon, and if possible, they’d like to trade directly with us."

Chen Jian waved his hand and replied:

"No issues; it’s a small matter. Contact Huang Yu and have him arrange it."

"Understood, then I’ll—"

"Wait!"

Ji Xing interrupted Zeng Yi, astonished, and asked:

"You cleared a dread demon camp?"

"Just from my brief foray in there?"

Chen Jian nodded, as if it were obvious, and countered:

"Yeah, what’s the problem?"

"Just a matter of course."

(End of chapter)