The God of Cataka
93
Shen Zhu was already almost there when a commotion rang out from their camp.
The screams of women and children were among the intimidating, violent shouts.
Hordes of unknown men suddenly surrounded their camp and pranked the Liu clan's treasures.
The young men and women fought desperately to rebel. But the horde of strangers carried weapons and their martial abilities were not comparable to the villagers.
The men are lying here and there wounded. The women wailed and the children trembled in fear.
Some people began to regret having followed Shen Zhu and grumbled.
"Maybe we shouldn't trust that young man!"
"Why do we all foolishly believe it and follow it?"
"Don't I say our goal is the devil's den?" Suddenly Shen Zhu was already at the edge of the field, sitting quietly on his horse while carrying his little cat. His horse looked like it was dancing under him, veering towards the campfire.
Everyone gasped and turned towards Shen Zhu. No exception to the robbers.
"Where's the rancid boy from?" hardik one of them while pointing at Shen Zhu with his sword.
"Give them their stuff back!" shen Zhu's orders in a flat voice.
The robbers were laughing and cracking up.
"You think who you are? Our boss?" scorn the other robbers.
A girl screamed and thrashed in the clutches of one of the robbers.
"Let go!" Shen Zhu turned to the robber.
Again the robbers were scattered.
"Then just laugh until you die" Shen Zhu muttered indifferently. Then he rubbed his cat's head.
The robbers are getting louder and louder. Their mouths are getting wider. The longer, the wider. And they can't stop laughing. Until she let out tears. Until their faces flushed like they were suffocating. Sweat ran down their faces.
The goods and weapons in the hands of the robbers were released one by one. Their hands were raised to their faces, to their necks. Strangled himself with a fog, forcing himself to stop laughing. But it didn't work. They can't even speak.
The residents gasped with round eyes and mouths. Not sure what he saw. Don't understand what's going on.
The girl who was taken hostage by the robbers turned to and fro in confusion. Then his mother took his wrist and pulled him away from the laughing band of robbers.
Laughing and suffocating, and one by one the robbers began to fall and flounder. Then stop laughing. Quit moving. Stopped breathing.
Die up!
The residents turned towards Shen Zhu with horrified gazes.
Shen Zhu raised his face calmly and expressionlessly. "Remove the carcasses of the rats" he told the young men.
The young men simultaneously bowed to Shen Zhu and dispersed. Spontaneous married men moved to help them carry the dead robbers and throw them into the canyon. The women pick up their belongings and pack them into their tents.
"Take their weapons for you!" Shen Zhu said to the youths.
The young men responded enthusiastically.
After everything was done, Shen Zhu took out his hunting results near the bonfire.
The residents were caught between joy and amazement.
"Young Master is hunting him?" asked the young orphan who rarely heard his voice.
"My cat," Shen Zhu replied without a burden.
"What—" everyone was again flabbergasted.
"Make dinner!" shen Zhu's instructions again.
"All right!" the men rushed over enthusiastically.
The women began to be busy concocting herbs, while the men skinned the spiritual beast.
Shen Zhu jumped down from his horse and tethered it. Then get close to the campfire and call all the children.
The children approached him happily.
"Hmh!" The kids nodded at the same time.
The eleven-year-old boy whose house was on fire had also awakened and joined them.
Shen Zhu smiled gently. "Don't be afraid" he said, rubbing the boy's shoulder. "There's me!"
The boy nodded.
A woman glanced at Shen Zhu. It was the first time he had seen Shen Zhu smile. "I think he's reliable" he whispered to another woman.
The other women turned their heads towards Shen Zhu.
"I think Young Master is very kind" whispered another woman.
"I don't regret following him" said the other woman.
Shen Zhu took out something from his storage ring in front of the newly awakened child. "This is for you" he said.
The other children were dumbfounded at the same time.
A crystal as big as a blood-red pear floated above Shen Zhu's palm, emitting a glittering glow.
"This is called a blood crystal," Shen Zhu told. "May help you to become stronger."
"strong?" The kids exclaimed enthusiastically.
Shen Zhu nodded with a faint smile. "The blood crystal was taken from such a spiritual beast," he explained as he pointed towards the monster that the men were skinning on the edge of the canyon.
The children simultaneously followed his gaze and muttered in astonishment.
"It was a level four monster," Shen Zhu told. "His spiritual power has already reached forty. His name is Cow Fighter. This crystal was obtained from his body."
"Whoaaaa…!" The kids are back.
"Absorb this," Shen Zhu extended the floating crystal in his palm towards the newly awakened boy. "It will help your recovery."
"Hmh!" The boy nodded obediently.
"Do you understand how?" asked Shen Zhu.
The boy nodded again.
"Then absorb it," said Shen Zhu. "I'll take care of you."
The boy took the crystal with both hands, then filled it and sat cross-legged in a more spacious place. He removed the crystal, and let it float in front of his face.
"You guys don't bother him," Shen Zhu advised the other children.
The kids nodded obediently.
"Young Master," a man approached Shen Zhu after dinner and everyone rested. "I apologize for doubting you" he said.
"There's no need to regret it," Shen Zhu replied as he turned his head towards the man. "It was my fault anyway. I'm the one who left you."
"Young Master saved us!" knock the guy out.
"Just happened to come on time" said Shen Zhu.
Shortly after, two other men joined. Followed by the man whose house was burned and the young men.
"Young Master, thank you for saving us" they said.
"I harmed you," said Shen Zhu grimly.
"Not true" the men shook their heads. "We are truly sorry to have blamed Young Master."
"That's it!" Shen Zhu. "Rest, our journey is still very long."
"Young Master is the one who should rest" rejected the man whose house was burned. "We'll take turns."
The other man nodded.
"Alright," Shen Zhu replied expressionlessly. Then sit cross-legged in a quiet place and start meditating to recuperate. He has not recovered since the wake.
