CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 37: ONE SLASH, ONE DOWN

The shopkeeper’s wife looked over worriedly: "Little brother, are you alright?"

Liu Ji nodded.

Qin Yao smiled and shook her head, "He’s fine."

"Shopkeeper’s wife, how do you sell your roof tiles?" Qin Yao inquired about the price.

Business was important, so the shopkeeper’s wife didn’t pay much more attention to Liu Ji. As she led Qin Yao to see the tiles, she said, "It depends on how many you need. We are a tile kiln, selling to the local village. If you buy more than two hundred pieces, the price is more economical."

Uncle Jiu had previously helped Qin Yao calculate that she needed about two thousand pieces to fully tile her house. There might be some leftovers, but not too many.

Qin Yao then asked the shopkeeper’s wife if she could buy extra for now and return any that were left over later.

She remembered that before the apocalypse, when her parents were doing renovations, they bought materials like this. So it should be possible here too, right?

Fortunately, Qin Yao’s luck was good. The shopkeeper’s wife said they hadn’t had any instances of returning tiles after purchase, but if Qin Yao could ensure they were returned intact, she would accept them back.

"We’re not responsible if they’re broken."

The shopkeeper’s wife kindly reminded her, "It’s best to have a surplus because during transportation they might get damaged."

"Do you offer delivery?" Qin Yao asked.

The shopkeeper’s wife nodded: "Where is your house? Let me see how far it is. As long as it’s within Jinshi Town, we can do it."

Qin Yao replied, "Not far, just in Liu Family Village."

The shopkeeper’s wife smiled, assured there was no problem, and asked Qin Yao how many she wanted.

"Two thousand pieces, what’s the price?"

"Since you’re buying a lot, I’ll give you three cents per four pieces. All up, these two thousand pieces will be one tael and five maces. This is already the lowest price, and it includes delivery. The cart and horse fee is not small either; we have to make a bit."

The shopkeeper’s wife spoke sincerely. Qin Yao felt it was reasonable and paid a thirty percent deposit on the spot, asking the shopkeeper to deliver it to her tomorrow.

Two thousand tiles couldn’t be delivered in one go, so they’d have to make several trips. The sooner the better.

The shopkeeper’s wife noted it down and gave Qin Yao a proof written on a piece of wood. When the goods were delivered, she could reconcile with the delivery worker, settle the remaining money, and conclude the transaction.

Seeing Qin Yao coming out of the tile kiln, Liu Ji, who was leaning on the doorpost blowing on the back of his hand, quickly put it down, stood up properly, and asked with a smile, "Finished?"

Qin Yao nodded coldly.

She first went to the blacksmith’s house to ask how her weapon crafting was going on.

The blacksmith thought she must be in a hurry and came to urge him, and hastily assured her, "Wait two more days, come back in two days and it will definitely be ready for you."

"Alright, I’ll come back in two days then."

Seeing the blacksmith so busy, Qin Yao left helplessly.

"Wife, are we going back already?" Liu Ji was surprised and asked as he followed behind her.

Looking up at the sky, it wasn’t even noon yet. It was rare to come out but only visited a tile kiln and a boring blacksmith’s shop. This wasn’t a waste of a trip?

Qin Yao didn’t stop walking, "Do you know why I asked you to come along?"

"Why?" Liu Ji asked sincerely.

Qin Yao explained, "I originally thought the shop didn’t offer delivery. I brought you along as an extra porter."

"So, your luck is pretty good." You escaped a chore.

Liu Ji wanted to laugh but couldn’t, blowing on his still hot hand, he was forced to follow Qin Yao back home.

The two walked in silence.

These days the weather was clear, making the road in the valley quite navigable.

The autumn atmosphere was strong, the forests on both sides of the road tinged with a layer of golden orange. When the wind blew, fallen leaves danced.

The scenery was beautiful, but too quiet; even during the day, it made one’s heart feel uneasy.

Liu Ji glanced at the woman striding ahead and secretly felt relieved that he wasn’t walking this mountain road alone.

He looked around at the rustling forest, quickening his pace to walk alongside Qin Yao.

"Wife, don’t you think this road feels particularly deserted? It’s not even winter yet. Why is everyone indoors? We haven’t seen a single person all this way."

Qin Yao looked around, she didn’t feel anything particularly desolate. She had walked this road alone before, and aside from the leaves being more yellow, there was no change.

But seeing Liu Ji’s awkward attempt to make conversation, she mockingly asked, "Are you scared?"

"How could that be!" Liu Ji acted indifferent, "I just heard that many bandits have come around here this year, so I’m a bit worried about encountering a robbery."

"Forget it, my good intentions are taken as ill intent." Although he said this, his body honestly kept pace with her to stay parallel.

They walked a bit further, entering another long narrow valley through a gap.

The wind howled through the valley, and the sun overhead had hidden behind the clouds at some point, darkening the entire valley.

Liu Ji looked left and right, feeling that something was off.

He wasn’t one to hold back words, speaking his thoughts directly.

"Wife, don’t you think this road looks eerie?"

As he asked, Liu Ji braced himself for mockery.

Unexpectedly, the person beside him suddenly stopped.

She turned to look at him and said: "Yes."

"W-what?"

A chill ran up Liu Ji’s spine.

He was about to ask if she was teasing him, but before he could speak, a sound of footsteps came from the hillside to the left.

Seeing five or six bandits rushing down the mountain to block their path ahead, Liu Ji felt numb all over.

There really were bandits!

Oh no, what now?

Wow, they even have knives!

"Wife, how much silver do you have on you? Give it all to them. Our lives are more important. I’ve heard these bandits are just after money. If we take the initiative, maybe we can survive." Liu Ji said, trembling.

In normal circumstances, thinking of this was already the best survival tactic for an ordinary person, even if cowardly.

But Qin Yao was not ordinary.

She raised her hand in displeasure, signaling him to be quiet.

Liu Ji looked at the gap behind him, considering if he turned and ran, without horses, he might escape.

But before he could act, Qin Yao already questioned the six bandits: "Robbing?"

The group seemed surprised by how composed this young couple was, and one of them laughed, "Little lady, isn’t that obvious!"

Qin Yao asked again, "Do you want money, or lives?"

The bandits laughed arrogantly, advancing towards her and Liu Ji while saying, "We want both money and your life!"

At those words, two of them raised their knives, charging toward them.

They had the numbers and were all desperate criminals; leaving anyone alive to cause trouble was an error they would certainly not make.

"Fine."

Qin Yao understood.

Since that was the case, she had no more qualms.

Her previously calm eyes turned sharp, gripping her knife tightly, flashing like lightning, slicing across a bandit’s throat!

Blood gushed out, and she sidestepped to avoid it.

The knife in her hand became a grim reaper’s scythe, slicing through them swiftly and decisively, one stroke per bandit!