c10 - Are Women a Burden on the Escape from Famine? Give Them to Me

Chapter 10: How Dare You Poop? "Brother, what are you up to?" Lu Xiao Xiao suspiciously observed Lu Wei, noticing her brother exhibiting an odd behavior that suggested discomfort. Lu Wei chuckled sheepishly, then momentarily darted his eyes around as if concealing something, turning on a bemused expression as he prepared to explain himself. Caught by surprise while brushing the dust off the items he carried, Lu Xiao Xiao expressed her curiosity with delight. "I'm going to the bathroom," Lu Wei casually responded. Upon hearing this, Lu Xiao Xiao scrunched her nose in disdain, shooting a questionable look at Lu Wei. "Brother, we just had a proper meal; how can you have the audacity to poop now? Isn't that a bit extravagant?" she teased. Lu Wei: ... Well, he supposed that under the current circumstances, using the bathroom was indeed somewhat of a luxury. "Alright, alright. It's not like I'm going to hold it in and make myself miserable, come on, let me be." Lu Wei climbed off the sled, finally allowing himself a moment of relief. They had been traveling for roughly half a day now, without any breaks to rest or unwind. It was already afternoon, and both of them were sweating profusely. Their stamina and physical qualities had improved considerably, overall culminating in a noticeable enhancement of their physical condition. Although Lu Wei was not particularly adept at martial arts, he was adequately proficient. Even if he wasn't as strong as the mercenaries they encountered the day before, their physical capabilities still gave them an edge over him in experience and expertise. However, he wisely acknowledged that if a confrontation occurred with those mercenaries, he might find himself in a less than advantageous position, possibly resorting to muttering a curse under his breath. Nevertheless, considering that he wasn’t initially inclined to engage in conflict, he was still in a relatively good situation today. The mercenary team had taken up the position of rear guard. Sitting at the back was a worldly merchant known as Uncle Jian. Uncle Jian cut a striking figure, his face marred by scars, with one particularly noticeable scar slicing across his eye. Peering at the long knife in the corner of Uncle Jian's eye, one might suspect him of harboring lethal intent due to his intense gaze. Startled by this quality, Lu Wei exhibited an involuntary shiver that seemed to seep into his bones, giving him an instinctive chill. Opting to avoid Uncle Jian, Lu Wei distanced himself from the caravan, tentatively looking back at the sizable figure. He foolishly believed he could outmaneuver Uncle Jian without being detected — a possibly naive assumption. As he maneuvered the sled through the snow, conspicuously keeping to himself, a shadow unexpectedly appeared before him, causing a quick jump backward. Looking up, he was met with the piercing gaze of the one-eyed Uncle Jian, quietly assessing him with an unnerving scrutiny. "Uncle Jian, what brings you here?" Lu Wei guardedly inquired, taken aback by the sudden appearance of the menacing figure. Though the merchants were largely friendly, their cautiousness was not to be underestimated at times like these. Abruptly intervening upon an encounter, Uncle Jian spoke with a rasp that grated against the senses, much like the sound of sandpaper against a stone. "Martial arts?" he inquired sharply. With his face still wrapped in confusion, Lu Wei hesitated, pointing to his nose directly. "Martial arts? Me? Oh, I don't really train in martial arts." Upon hearing this, Uncle Jian's brow furrowed in apparent confusion. The powerful scent of blood surrounding him, intensifying with each step as he approached, surely bespoke of his martial proficiency. Even so, when informed that Lu Wei did not train in martial arts, there seemed an insightfully deliberate relaxation as his brow unfurled. Despite being unable to discern Lu Wei's truth, he proceeded to muster his resolution. In an effortless motion, his sword drawn, Uncle Jian swept toward Lu Wei with the polished precision of a practiced hand. As Lu Wei instinctively backed away, he stumbled slightly in shock, his eyes widening at the abrupt passage of the weapon. Yet there was hope afoot — he had not anticipated that a reckless night of camping would lead to this moment. Despite everything, instead of lamenting his meager skills and lack of experience, he adjusted his stance, stepping back quickly. After all, the underlying intention was not to provoke conflict but to survive the encounter. Having little choice, he landed in the snow roughly as Uncle Jian ceased pursuit for the moment. Hating his inability to retaliate, even as his face chilled against the ice, the fleeting thought arose of how undue cultivation had concerned him — he would persist boldly enough to endure. Grinding his teeth, without looking back, Lu Wei steeled himself, his soul loaded with determination. Earlier self-training amidst the wilderness would serve its purpose now, honed into practice across this life-and-death encounter. Analyzing the known options, he orchestrated a modest plan, prepared to battle strategically. Despite overwhelming odds, he would secure the defense of his family by any means necessary, unwilling to let resentment stifle him. The threat of immediate harm shifted swiftly underfoot, drawing his strength inward. Shouts echoed through with the resolve; "Do not hurt my brother!" declared Lu Xiao Xiao, sprinting forth fiercely. Upon hearing her, Lu Wei urgently screamed back, "Xiao Xiao, run!" He launched himself desperately to impede Uncle Jian's advancement, clutching his adversary's leg with hopeful fervor. Regardless of the outcome, all distractions would be abated to maximize every second afforded them. Despite knowing the futility in motion, his mother tongue rang true in determination with scant hope in the face of fear. Tensing mirthlessly for words unsaid, invoking latent awareness, Lu Wei dared to grasp onto his foundations, evoking elemental focus therein. Every prickle of power flared emboldened, offsetting crimson disappearance narrowly beyond bearable vision.