The Red Lands

In relative silence, the two boys continued their work. Understandably, the only topic worth speaking about that dominated their thoughts was the night's adventure. Even Bai Feng, who transmigrated, rated this adventure as a thrilling original.

When they completed the crude process of poison making, the total number of pellets was over twenty. The new ones were supposed to be more potent than the first batch. Chu kept some of the mushroom paste to re-coat their spears, left hidden in the forest.

Ming ventured out to his shack and returned to bunk with Chu. This didn't have anything to do with trust, since Chu furnished him with a woven cloth pouch of copper coins. The younger boy had already explained to him about spending and drawing attention to them. He also revealed the secret belt containing the silver coins.

One of the reasons Ming chose to accompany the boy lay in the fact that this was the first time he encountered someone like Chu. This boy, younger and usually conforming to the norm, broke free of the shackles within a day. A single plan catapulted them from extreme poverty to the impossible.

Holding a silver coin.

And not just one.

This unattainable dream required them to negotiate with the reputed fearsome Trading Post Master and to risk their lives.

The Trading Post rotated its managers every few years, and Griz held the reputation of the fiercest and grim. Any dealings with the Trading Post passed through contact with the locally hired assistance.

As for risking their lives, they did it every day to eke out a bare survival on two copper coins.

To truly risk it all to cross that towering hurdle demanded not only an idea, but the will to take the very first, torturous step.

How many tales of lives flowing through these slums boldly raised their feet.

Chu nestled much comfortably than the previous nights in the bed and coverings of rags. Oblivious to the thoughts circulating in the head of his companion, he stoked the fire in the middle with a stick and burrowed in for the night. Before dozing off, he made a wry smile, hearing the pleas against being abandoned from his guest.

When Chu woke up in the morning, he was alone in the shack.

His hands reflexively moved towards his waist.

The belt with its six precious contents remained strapped across his waist, twisted a little during his sleep. Sitting up, he spied the two pouches containing the copper coins partially hidden near the fireside. Having experienced the cutthroat world of society, Chu knew he had found an honest guy.

He restarted the fire and began making a dumpling soup for their breakfast. In the middle of this preparation came a banging on the shack side.

"Hey Chu, wake up, I have someone with me!"

"Wait, you idiot! I'm coming outside."

Chu replied with a tinge of panic creeping into his voice.

Scrambling to hide the items and supplies he purchased, Chu covered the breakfast he had spent preparing. Grabbing his cloak, he stepped outside under the chilly morning sun.

"Hey Chu, I got somebody for you."

Saying that, Ming pushed forward the individual at his side.

"Morning, Ming say you need some help with something?"

Chu looked at the figure wrapped and cloaked. Only the eyes were visible. He looked at Ming, wondering if he had selected the first person he spotted. Didn't he stress to this idiot merely a few hours ago, about character and trustworthiness?

What if they got robbed? Or heaven forbid, even killed?

The slums generated an outstanding reputation for similar incidents.

Chu toiled in the section of lower-slash-middle management in his previous life. Paperwork of emails, ledgers, and reports cluttered his days.

Currently, his belongings and assets totaled the worth ten silvers.

Enough to secure one's health comfortably over the upcoming winter.

With a silver conversion of one silver to one hundred copper coins, and the average daily pay of a neighbor hovering at an average of two to four copper coins, very few should not be able to understand his concerns.

He suffered every reason to be paranoid.

Chu narrowed his eyes as he scrutinized this bandit-dressed fellow.

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"Lucy is very dependable, Chu. I had to put in some real begging for her to come over and not head out this morning for firewood collection."

Switching over from the over-confident, smug face, Chu surveyed this Lucy. Understandably, he gained no insight as to the character of the cloaked girl. He squeezed his memories for any recollection and rumors aligned with the name.

She was just one of the many of them in the slums.

Unlike Ming, known because of his outgoing nature and self-proclaimed resident for over two years, Lucy retained the position of being a new addition like him. Her story probably followed the same plot as most of the young girls left here.

Chu decided to be as straightforward as possible; the last thing he needed was for unwanted bickering. He certainly did not need his escapades highlighted to the known ruffians of the slums.

"I will be honest with you. What we plan is dangerous. Our goal revolves around spending the night in the forest hunting beasts. Either we make money or we die. If you can't listen and do everything as I say, let's part our ways here."

He looked into the eyes of the girl in front of him as he spoke.

Without batting an eyelid, her response was quicker than expected.

"Agreed, but I have a request. If anything happens to me, I want a promise that my two friends can receive help to last through the winter."

"EH?"

Chu glared at Ming.

'This fool brought me someone with baggage!'

His mind raced thinking of how to respond; the last thing he wanted was to be palmed off with some elderly person.

If casualties occurred, he was not sure how ruthless he could be to abandon people to their deaths. He may have acquired some wealth, but it was far from enough to guarantee his future safety. Demonstrating lofty morals in his situation garnered a high chance of venturing on a path of death.

Maybe he might be able to kill someone who totally deserved death, but can he lie to this girl in the event she dies?

Seeing his hesitation, Lucy piped up once more.

"My friends are younger and too weak to carry firewood for now. If you can treat them well this winter, then they can handle a few loads come spring."

The tension in his skinny shoulders and skeletal chest eased. Chu didn't clock many hours personally in the slums as yet, but he reckoned someone who possessed the heart to look after others owned a heart of gold. He disseminated even better news, in that her burdens sounded to be children. Providing they didn't have the mentality of spoiled brats, he would welcome them.

Success in this situation called for the forming of a solid base of worthy companions who followed instructions without question. Grown men and women were less likely to listen to a malnourished brat from the slums. He might quicker be the victim of a backstabbing than earn loyal subordinates. Thinking about it, young children may become the best source of manpower to mold and train.

Chu nodded in approval,

"Deal. Follow me."

Chu returned to his shack with the others.

While continuing to prepare the food, he told Lucy a summary of their plan. Lucy left them after begging for two small dumplings in the thick soup for her friends. Her actions again raised his spirits, as not everyone succumbed to despicable ways given the living conditions.

Chu gathered the supplies they needed in the two bags he purchased. He then hid the remainder of their items.

He sent Ming to deliver the two coppers for his mother and to make a purchase at the inn. The village inn was one of the few places where rock bread was sold fresh. This bread was a favorite of mercenaries and hunters. It had a long shelf life, the only problem being that it got harder as the days passed by, hence its name.

When Ming returned, he met Lucy waiting inside with Chu. Before leaving, the younger boy wrapped a loaf inside a rag and handed it to her. Understanding his meaning, the gratitude in her blue eyes could not be faked. It should be noted that a rock bread priced at eight coppers.

One bread nourished a grown man for three meals over the span of two days. For the frugal children, that meal could stretch for over a week when prepared in watery gruel.

They chose one of the more deserted paths into the forest.

Lucy joined them soon after, her eyes beaming. Spotting them over the open grassland before they entered the forest proved easy.

"Are we going to the same spot, Chu?"

His loyal henchman questioned.

"No, this time we head further into the forest. We'd best be very careful this time, since we don't know if there may be beasts stalking us. Our goal, with safety in mind, requires us to use the remaining daylight and prepare our bait."

"Okay, sounds good. I overheard a few trappers speaking near the well. They mentioned how the more dangerous beasts keep a distance or are asleep during the day."

Chu agreed with Ming, especially since it was still before noon. He wanted to use this time to rush things before nightfall.

"I want to say we have to be low-key. Showing this equipment as slum children would attract unwanted people."

Lucy voiced her opinion.

Chu agreed since it would be awkward explaining the stuff in their bags.

None of them wanted to be killed for what they had.

The first quest in the forest sent them to retrieve their spears. Ming showed while explaining to Lucy how to coat the spears with the poison. Even though they didn't know if it would have the same effect as eating, it provided an added comfort.

"Let's go in while exploring at the same time. If attacked, use the spears to defend until we find a tree to climb."

Chu took out a small machete he bought and started to make markings on the trees as they walked. In the late fall, all the trees looked the same. He thought it was no wonder it was easy to get lost in a forest. Finding a little stream, they followed it from the ridge above, keeping their eyes out and always remaining on high alert.

"This is a good spot. I can still hear the sounds of the woodsmen. If we need be, we can always find our way back listening to them."

Chu found a tall tree with long branches spreading out. It was also some distance from the others. Lucy proved to be a good climber, so Chu let her do the work he wanted on the tree branches. He sent Ming climbing the highest he could on the closest tree to keep watch. With hardly any leaves on the trees, it was an easy task.

"Lucy, I need you on that other tree to tie the rope. When you climb up throw the end for me. Ming, do a quick scan and come down. Scatter the blood in the sealed jar and bait three of the poison pellets."

"Chu, is that branch really safe for us?"

"Yes, that's why I made you stand while I finished it off. It can more than support you and Ming together."

"Chu, I am done. How many times do we need to swing this log? Do you have any idea how heavy this is to pull back?"

"What do you mean how heavy? Don't I always have to help you reset it? Your job is to remain up there and focus on the spot. Remember what you need to do."

In silence, with little bursts of chatter in between, they completed the tasks before sunset. Their patched clothing drenched, they sat on the branches to enjoy a meal of dry bread and water. Readying themselves, they prepared for nightfall.