A New Master

Huan Wei went to one of the bandits. The man was busy with the tents. The young man didn't even greet him. "Ou Yu ordered you to give me weapon and clothes."

The bandit looked up at him. He stared at Huan Wei from head to toe. He didn't seem eager to help. "Whose orders are you under?"

"Yun Ying."

"Then go and tell her."

"Where is Yun Ying?"

"Get out of my sight."

The bandit turned back to the front and continued to tend to the tent. He was checking that the ropes were still intact. It looked like the Forest Masters were going to stay in this area for a while longer.

Huan Wei looked around. He was looking for Yun Ying. It should have been easy to see someone like her.

Soon he saw the fat woman. She was standing at the edge of the camp, scolding Xin Hai. The man Ou Yu had punched was still holding his chest with one hand.

Huan Wei went over there. When he locked eyes with Xin Hai, he wore a wry smile. But he turned serious as he turned to Yun Ying. "Ou Yu said that I will be in your team from now on. She ordered you to give me clothes and weapons."

Yun Ying looked at Huan Wei and then at Xin Hai. The man with the scimitar lowered his head.

"Give him clothes and a weapon, Xin Hai. If you mess up one more time, it won't end well. You will stay in the same tent."

Yun Ying turned around and walked away. The young man was demoralized. He didn't want to be in the same place as the man with the scimitar, yet there was nothing he could do.

So Huan Wei smiled again and looked at Xin Hai. "Someone's about to run out of credit," he said sarcastically. "Will you do your job properly this time, Xin Hai?"

Xin Hai stood up. He glared angrily at Huan Wei but did nothing. "Follow me."

Huan Wei started to follow him. Xin Hai gave him the clothes he had taken from one of the tents. "You will wear these."

"I want the broken sword."

"What?" Xin Hai was surprised. "Are you stupid? You need to use a proper weapon."

"Wasn't it you who said I was stronger with the broken sword? That's what I want. If anyone's mad at you, tell them it's what I want."

"You're out of your mind." Xin Hai laughed in surprise. "I'm happy that you want to die so soon."

Huan Wei took the broken sword he gave him and changed his clothes. He also put the weapon on his waist.

He was used to the broken sword. He hadn't expected this, yet it was indeed stronger when it was broken. The metal that carried death did not need to be so long. As long as a warrior wanted to shed blood, the weapon would obey him. Huan Wei lost faith that a sword had to be perfect. He realized that the mere existence of the sword was enough. In his mind, he gained insight into the sword. Slavery had been more useful to him than he had thought.

Huan Wei looked at his left arm. Fortunately, the clothes he was wearing had no sleeves. That way the fabric didn't touch his skinned flesh.

He turned his eyes to Xin Hai. He was looking at him too. Huan Wei wanted to kill him. He wanted to summon the Corrupt Seal now and drown him in his own blood. But he shouldn't have done it now. With everything going so well, he shouldn't be the one to spoil it.

Xin Hai spoke. "Tonight you and I will watch over the slaves. And don't forget that I can still kill you. If you are trying to deceive us, you are a dead man."

Huan Wei drew the broken sword and cleaned it with his hand. "Are you always such a coward?" he asked as his eyes traveled over the metal. "Or did you forget that I almost killed you in battle? Your cultivation is higher than mine. Do you console yourself by saying that over and over again?"

Xin Hai walked angrily towards Huan Wei once more. The young man smiled and looked at him. "Come on, attack me. I won't fight back."

The veins in Xin Hai's forehead were visible. It was clear that he was trying very hard to hold himself back. Huan Wei was also sure that he couldn't attack. He had joined the group on Ou Yu's orders, even if he didn't know the real reason. Simple bandits could not risk the consequences of attacking him. He was under some kind of protection.

"What happened, Xin Hai? Are you scared?"

"You're pushing your luck too hard, Huan Wei. This road you're on is not going to end well."

"You are closer to that bad end than I am. You'd better watch your step. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get to work."

Huan Wei took a few steps. He was satisfied to see Xin Hai raging but unable to do anything. He was in good spirits.

As he walked forward, he suddenly stopped and turned to the man with the scimitar. "You didn't give me my whip."

Xin Hai gave him a stern look. "You'll get it tonight. I don't know where the whips are."

Huan Wei looked at him and smiled, making him angry, then turned and walked away.

For the first time in a long time, he felt more special than anyone else. This feeling was perfect. And he wanted more.

He found Yun Ying and went to her. The fat woman was giving orders to another bandit. "Stand over the slaves. If they try to escape, beat them unconscious."

Huan Wei bowed his head as he went to her side. "Master Ying."

Yun Ying turned toward him. She looked him up and down. "What do you want?"

"I've got my equipment, what's my job now?"

Yun Ying looked at the slaves who were busy gathering herbs. "Go and keep an eye on them. Don't let them get emboldened and try to escape because we are outnumbered."

"As you wish." Huan Wei bowed his head respectfully, turned around and started walking towards the slaves.

Yun Ying looked after him for a few seconds. She saw how arrogant this slave had suddenly become.

Although she didn't know it, for the first time in his life, Huan Wei felt like someone to be respected. Now slaves had to respect him even if they didn't like him. The 14 years that had passed in the young man's life had been miserable. Now, about to turn 15, he had some power. It was impossible not to be arrogant.

When Huan Wei came to the slaves, almost all of them looked at him. They saw the clothes he was wearing. It didn't take them long to realize that he had joined the bandits. None of them opened their mouths. They just cursed in their hearts and went on with their work.

Huan Wei liked the bad feelings in their eyes. So he enjoyed it for a while. But then he saw Ai Tung. He was in front of Lei Lok and was taking the herbs he had gathered. Huan Wei's smile grew even bigger.

He began to approach in silence. He signaled the other slaves to keep quiet. When he got there, he heard Ai Tung say.

"If you are not with us, you are against us. I have warned you many times, Lei Lok. Yet you remained friends with the dishonorable Huan Wei. Now you will pay the cost."

Lei Lok stared in astonishment at Huan Wei behind Ai Tung. Huan Wei calmly bent down and put one hand on Ai Tung's shoulder from behind.

"What is the price Lei Lok will pay?"

Ai Tung shrugged his shoulders hard and turned around. "He will give us what he has gath-"

His sentence was cut off when he saw Huan Wei's clothes and the sword at his waist. He swallowed involuntarily. "You have joined them."

The other bandits were watching what Huan Wei was going to do. None of them tried to stop him. They had no intention of doing so.

Huan Wei, however, grabbed him by the throat. Ai Tung gasped. "So you're saying that Lei Lok will pay you tribute for not betraying me like you did, right?"

Ai Tung couldn't speak because he couldn't breathe. His face was turning purple. Huan Wei threw him to the ground. The man began to take deep breaths. He coughed several times.

Huan Wei kicked him hard, knocking him back about a meter. Ai Tung writhed, clutching his stomach. The other slaves could do nothing.

"Huan Wei..." Lei Lok spoke with surprise and disappointment. "Please don't torment him."

The young man turned his head and looked at Lei Lok. There was not the slightest bit of mercy in Huan Wei's eyes. Because he didn't believe Ai Tung deserved it.

On the other hand, Lei Lok's goodwill had gotten on his nerves again. His brows furrowed as he looked at him. Seeing this, Lei Lok also took a step back.

Huan Wei turned to Ai Tung lying on the ground. "If I see you or anyone else bullying Lei Lok or Jiao Bai, you will regret it," he said angrily. "Everyone will fill their own quota!"

Then he turned back to Lei Lok. "So will you. Now keep gathering."

Lei Lok nodded. He felt uneasy, scared. He immediately went back to looking for herbs. Huan Wei also walked among them, feeling the slaves' hateful gazes on him. He would not tolerate any of them. He would make them all pay for leaving him alone so suddenly.