C295 – The Young Masters
Posted on October 29, 2018 by AzureOrchid92
Outside their circle, the information Shao Xuan got was limited. However, the position of the slave owners here let Shao Xuan and Lei have a measure. In this city, the slave owner was the ruler, and right and wrong were defined by them.
What made Shao Xuan feel troubled was the words and language of the slave owners. His understanding of the language used by the slave owners was limited to the few words carved in the slaves, because those words also appeared in the tribal discussions. Shao Xuan had seen it before in other teams, so he would know, but here, it was difficult.
Shao Xuan’s side did not go smoothly, and Tuo, who stayed in the broken house on the other side did not have good news either.
“Were we not at liberty to act?” After hearing what Tuo said, Shao Xuan began to wonder what to do next.
According to Tuo, the people of the other tribes around told him that, whether in the city or outside, if one has no certain permission or pass token, it was easy to be regarded as an enemy and be attacked.
The so-called special permission should be the type shown when the team entered the city, which Shao Xuan did not have now. That kind of token was not easy to get. The other tribes had stayed here for several years, therefore, they have on hand one or two. Nobody would be so generous as to give any to Shao Xuan, for the three people to use. After all, there were not enough even for themselves.
Unable to travel at will, they had to put their finding of stone to build the house on hold temporarily.
“I’ll go find someone,” Shao Xuan told the others.
After resting in the room for a while, Shao Xuan went to the Mang tribe to find Huang Ye. However, today, the people of the Mang tribe seemed to be deliberating about some things. Huang Ye had no time, so Shao Xuan went back to their area. On the way, he visited Chacha who was staying together with the Hui tribe’s two eagles.
In the Hui tribe’s area, Shao Xuan consulted an elder named He She. The elders in this trip had also helped Shao Xuan even though they were busy. But not by much, the will was there.
Instead of asking for tokens they wanted as passes, Shao Xuan asked He She if there were anyone proficient in the language and words of the slave owners. Then, he was able to pay some compensation for the exchange.
The Hui tribe had a few people who had a long-term stay. Some had been here for a half year, some lasted ten years, so it was not a matter to them. They were not too busy to have time to help Shao Xuan.
“By the way, can you tell me something about the slave owners in this city? Today I met a female slave owner outside…”
Shao Xuan said what he encountered today, hoping to get some information from He She.
If Shao Xuan did not ask, He She would not take the initiative to say something. Since Shao Xuan asked, he did not hide anything, except for other things he could not say, but not this. It didn’t matter if he said this. Back in the Hui tribe, He She had listened to Gu La mention Shao Xuan and that the eagle named Chacha. After seeing them, Herscher’s impression of Shao Xuan was also good.
He She was relatively calm and did not say too much nonsense. The few words let Shao Xuan have a general understanding of those slave owners in this city.
The great slave owner of Luoye city, the king, was named Su Lun. Since the rebellion of Su Lun twenty years ago, many slave owners spread blood shed in town. The slave owners in the city became much less, and now, those few who were still alive and of higher-status slave owners, except for the two half-sisters of Su Lun, were his three sons.
Originally, there were five sons. However, the two of them failed to survive due to a variety of reasons. Now, there were three left: the first was Su Ka, second was Su Lei, and third was Su Gu. They were born to different women.
In the past two years, the competition between these three Luoye city slave owners was becoming more and more intense. Although the Luoye King has cooperated with the tribes, there were a lot of times that he did not care much what happened to the tribe’s people. Hence, a lot of things in his eyes were seemingly trivial, directly taking the attitude of ignoring their fight as love. But, on the contrary, several men from the tribes could help a lot.
This was, of course, a mutually beneficial relationship.
The tribes could get some convenience and information from the lords of Luoye city, to deal with their own tribe-related matters. At the same time, they could give some credit to the slave owners, so that they could gain more advantages in the competition to become the next king.
“The Hui tribe have deals with the second son Su Lei?” Shao Xuan asked. When He She mentioned the three young masters, there was a pause when it came to the second young master, Su Lei.
He She looked at Shao Xuan’s eyes, and did not refute it.
The tribes regarded the slaves of the other cities as a grindstone. They hoped that in this way, they could train potential young warriors of their tribes. Only in constant battle, could they become more and more brave, at the same time, also let them be vigilant and prepared against the slave owners, their so-called enemy. Remaining in the tribe was too easy and too narrow-minded. Like a lot of soldiers who had no real contact with the slaves would always feel that slaves were inferiors they could easily cut down, when in fact, that was not so.
Shao Xuan wanted to ask which of the other tribes had traded with the young masters, but He She did not answer this question.
Seeing Shao Xuan seemingly interested in this, He She reminded him, “If you want to make a deal with the young masters, it is best to choose the eldest Su Ka or the second Su Lei. The youngest one was…”
“What about the youngest one?” Shao Xuan asked.
“It is said that the youngest, so far, had no slaves belonging to him.”
The greater the number of slaves, the greater the wealth and strength of the slave owner, which was a direct manifestation. The slave owners had the ability to enslave, to empower those who did not have any faith, and then to enslave them. And yet, he has no slave of his own. For a slave lord, it was quite a failure.
Among these three lords, the age difference was not big. However, from the slaves in their possession, you could see the pros and cons.
“Has anyone chosen the youngest one?” Shao Xuan asked again.
“No.”
Shao Xuan nodded, “I see, thank you.”
Over the next few days, Shao Xuan went back and forth to the Hui tribe’s stronghold, where he learned the language of the slave owners with the rest of the warriors of the Hui tribe. The language and writing of the slave master was not too difficult, nor complicated. Shao Xuan memory was also good, and he was learning fast.
After three days, Shao Xuan had already almost learned it all. He had also carried on hand a hide roll to write the words, as he went back to consolidate. Usually, he went to walk on the street, listening more to remember. But he believed that it would not take him long to be proficient.
On this day, because he had spent the past few days inside the house to learn slave’s language, Shao Xuan took Tuo out for a walk, making Lei stay behind this time for a change. Although the things seen in Luoye city streets were only simple, there was no market as lively as this within the tribes. There were some items that were quite novel, such as some never before seen animals, medicinal herbs, ornaments and so on.
It was just their bad luck today, that they saw the female slave owner who was being carried again.
According to what He She had told Shao Xuan, this should be one of the current king’s two half-sisters. As the only two surviving among the siblings, there must be a reason for their survival. Based on the information Shao Xuan learned, he speculated that these two were either very smart or very stupid.
No matter what, Shao Xuan did not intend to deal with these slave owners now. He has not yet decided to find out which one of the young masters to go to. There were only three people in the Flaming Horns tribe here. They were unknown, and he did not know whether the cooperation could be carried out smoothly.
Just as Shao Xuan and Tuo were planning to leave, there came a cry. It was from that wooden sedan, the voice was of the female slave owner.
Shao Xuan pretended not to understand, ignoring the scene.
Before they left, the slaves in front had blocked the road.
“Stop!” This time, the slave owner used the language of the tribes, but it sounded a bit poor.
Taking a look at Shao Xuan, the slave owner had her hand already holding the edge.
Shao Xuan signaled for Tuo who was also a little stunned, as he turned to look at the female slave owner who was carried over to them.
“Who are you?” A hand wearing a variety of ornaments moved the strip of cloth shielding the front of the wooden car, exposing the face that was not clear, the voice was filled with disdain.
“The Flaming Horns tribe.” Shao Xuan replied.
“Oh, the Flaming Horns tribe? Never heard of it.” The voice was slow and casual, “But it doesn’t matter, I guess it is not a big tribe. Would you like to follow me?” For her, it was a glorious thing to be a slave, like she was offering them charity.
To follow a slave owner meant to be a slave, not to cooperate.
Tuo’s eyes flashed with anger. He was preparing to pull his knife, but was blocked by Shao Xuan.
Shao Xuan looked to the wooden sedan, “Not interested.”
The hand on the wooden sedan was loosened, and the strips of lifted cloth were closed again. Only a gentle hum from inside was heard after.
Next to the wooden sedan, a burly big fellow with a large stone hammer in his hands strode forward. With each of his steps on the ground, they could hear a slamming sound. The gravel was shaken, leaving deep footprints.
Looking at the word written on his face, He was a ‘servant’ slave.
Letting go of Tuo’s hand, Shao Xuan moved forward two steps. When the other man swung his arm down, he moved sideways to avoid it. Then, he took advantage while both hands of the other man was occupied, directly grasping the handle of the long stone hammer, then his wrist moved fiercely so that the force pulled and dragged it away.
The slave holding the hammer handle immediately felt as if his hands were being put in the hot desert, and the sting in his hands hurt. He tried to grasp the hammer handle, but could not resist the greater force pulling it. Even though clenched his hands on the hammer tightly, it was still dragged out of his hand.
Ka!
Under the tyrannical force pulling his arm at the moment, this ‘servant’ slave’s arm was unexpectedly dislocated!
Peng!
The ‘servant’ slave who lost his stone hammer was then kicked by Shao Xuan, flying out for ten meters before landing. He wanted to get up, but the pain all over his body caused him to sweat big buckets, making him unable to get up.
The people who had been standing in the crowd, upon seeing this scene, had their pupil shrink, then flashed to brighten up. Inside the wooden sedan, before the people were going to call out more, she shouted, “Stop!”
Hearing this voice, the surrounding people sneaked away with their heads down low, as they answered, “Yes, master!”
The people who were ready to shout out became meek.
“When can Luoye City force a tribe member to be a slave?” Someone came along, speaking these words righteously.
Shao Xuan frowned and looked at this person sourly. Your side has been watching for so long, and you just pop out now. Isn’t this skill fake?
Note: Aargh! So many new names here!
I miss Chacha. His appearances were less when he was a better pet than Lei and Tuo. *cough*