Those bandits stood up after worshiping the Temple Drum in Uncle Hu's hands. At last, the wild-haired man at their head spoke.
"Since you're also believers of Empress Hong Shang, you're one of us. Where are you headed?"
Uncle Hu hadn't expected the Temple Drum Li Su gave him to actually work. He hurriedly replied, "Yi Town. We're going to Yi Town."
The wild-haired man said, "Oh," without finding it strange. "You're going on a pilgrimage? You really should. Empress Hong Shang protects this region."
"How about this? Tomorrow, we'll escort you there so you don't get into a conflict with any of the other brothers on the road."
"Wonderful, wonderful. That would be great." Uncle Hu thanked him.
The bandits then left.
Little Bug and the others immediately crowded around, all clamoring to look at the Temple Drum in Uncle Hu's hands.
"Uncle, let me touch it. Let me get a little of Niang Niang's divine aura."
Little Bug reached out to touch it.
Uncle Hu slapped his hand away and carefully hid the Temple Drum. "Go play somewhere else. This is a sacred relic. How could I let you defile it?"
"Listen up. I'm the only one allowed to touch this Temple Drum. Mister Li personally gave it to me. Is that clear?"
The middle-aged man had always commanded great respect in the camp. Now that he had the Temple Drum in his possession, the others were even less daring to cause trouble, and they all answered obediently.
As Uncle Hu stroked the Temple Drum, he thought, With this thing, we can finally live like human beings.
The next day, the bandits came again. As promised, they had brought two large trucks and loaded all the dozens of people from the camp onto them to take them to