Chapter 250: Storm
“This isn’t a difficult matter. Tao Ming, Zhang Xiaoliang, go with my father to the backyard and assemble a few more carriages. Load them up with tents, folding beds, pots, bowls, cotton blankets, and food. In the future, houses will definitely be built there, but for now, they will have to live in tents. Once they settle in Stone Mountain, we’ll assign their work tomorrow.”
Hearing Yu Luo’s instructions, Tao Ming and the others exchanged puzzled glances.
They had personally checked the storage with Ming Ye, and there were no tents to be found. So when did these supplies suddenly appear in this household?
But Zhang Hu was a smart man. As subordinates, they knew better than to question their master’s affairs, let alone inquire about the origins of these goods.
After all, their master was a convicted exile. Yet, why did their master have such an abundance of silver? How could they still have powerful connections backing them, building a residence for them even in the barren lands?
Why was their master determined to reclaim so much land and build a city, despite drawing the attention of Fengcheng’s forces?
None of these were matters for them to ask. Having a safe place to live after exile, having a job with a monthly wage—this was already an immense stroke of luck for them.
All they needed to do was follow orders, complete their tasks diligently, and perhaps one day, they would no longer have to live in stone huts. Maybe they could even improve their family’s lives.
This was Zhang Hu and his group’s goal. It was also the belief that kept them striving to survive in these desolate lands.
Yu Luo’s presence gave them direction and strengthened their determination.
“Understood. We’ll get to it immediately.”
Yu Haojie led Zhang Hu and the others to the backyard’s large courtyard.
As they pushed open the gates, they found the previously empty yard now packed with countless supplies.
To be honest, at that moment, Yu Haojie felt slightly guilty. However, he maintained a composed expression and searched through the pile for the tents.
All these tents were modern inflatable ones that Yu Luo had purchased. The air pumps were manual, specifically chosen to avoid unnecessary explanations.
The system marketplace even had generators available, but such technology had to remain hidden for now.
“Take all these supplies to the side gate. Once the carriages are assembled, load everything onto them.”
Though feeling slightly uneasy, Yu Haojie didn’t bother explaining.
Seeing the confusion on Zhang Hu’s and the others’ faces, he simply pretended not to notice.
With one command, everyone swiftly moved toward the tents. Yu Haojie then proceeded to a stack of folding beds.
Each bed was 75 cm wide and 2 meters long. Fifty beds could easily fit inside one tent. Though it would be a bit cramped, they had to make do with the limited conditions.
After half an hour of work, over a dozen horse-drawn carriages set off in an impressive convoy.
By the time they returned, Yu Luo and her parents, along with Ming Ye and the fool, had already assembled twenty more carriages and loaded them with the next batch of supplies.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Hu and his group brought back over three hundred martial artists. Among them was the middle-aged man who had led the previous group.
Seeing so many people land gracefully using lightness skills, Yu Luo immediately became alert.
“If all of you know martial arts, then why were you kept as forced labor in the mines?”
“Miss, to be honest, we were all sentenced to exile. At the time, we figured that staying in Jiuzhong Mountain was still better than being sent to the wastelands, so we remained. Since we had some martial skills, we were given slightly better treatment in the mines, even becoming minor overseers. It was still better than being exiled to these barren lands, wasn’t it?
If not for unexpected circumstances, we wouldn’t have known when we’d ever leave that place. We had tried escaping once, but most of us had family members who weren’t skilled in martial arts. We could flee, but what would happen to our loved ones? So, in the end, we resigned ourselves to being enslaved in the mines.”
Despite the man’s explanation, Yu Luo didn’t completely believe him.
But the city was already exposed, and she had made her decision. She had no choice but to see things through.
She had long desired to recruit a formidable force—even thousands of skilled fighters. But now that it had actually happened, she felt a deep sense of heaviness.
With an unwavering gaze, Yu Luo stared at the man, her face unreadable. Even when he spoke with rising emotion, she didn’t blink once.
The man’s heart trembled under her steady gaze. In desperation, he swiftly removed his upper garment, turning to reveal his back.
His crude action shocked Zhang Xiaoliang and Tao Ming. Just as they were about to intervene, Yu Luo raised a hand, stopping them.
She wasn’t a delicate young lady of this era, one who would be flustered at the sight of a man’s back. There was no need for such unnecessary modesty.
“If you’re trying to prove your hardships with scars, there’s no need. Since I’ve already decided to take you all in, just focus on doing your jobs well. It seems these people listen to you—you have a natural leadership ability. From now on, you’ll assist my subordinates in organizing work for these ten thousand men.
Tonight, I’ll give you a detailed work schedule. You will then discuss it with Zhang Hu and the others and make the necessary arrangements.
However, let me be clear: I don’t care if your background is real or fake. Now that you belong to me, any act of betrayal will be met with immediate execution.
Even if there are three hundred of you with martial skills, it makes no difference. If any of you think otherwise, you’re welcome to try and see whether I mean what I say.”
“Yes, yes, yes! I will remember Miss’s words and make sure everyone else does too. We will dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to our work. There is no need to test anything! We never expected to meet such a benefactor as you upon arriving here. Miss, you are our savior, our provider! Betraying you is the last thing we would ever do!”
Yu Luo’s expression remained cold as she nodded.
“What is your name?”
“This humble one is named Storm. I am thirty-seven years old.”
Yu Luo raised an eyebrow at his response.
She hadn’t expected him to volunteer his age, but now that she looked at him more closely, she couldn’t help but think—Storm’s face looked far older than his actual years. Life in the mines must have been extremely tough.
Even Yu Zhengqing, who was older than him, looked much younger in comparison.
“There are still some horses in the backyard. Gather your men and assemble more carriages. We need to transport several thousand tents before nightfall. We also need to collect firewood for cooking. There’s plenty of work to do—don’t waste time.”
