Indulgence and Schemes

Hu Zheng stood on the dock for a while. The young leaders behind him were getting impatient, but none of them dared to urge him. They stood there like wooden stakes. After a while, Hu Zheng turned around and walked towards the camp.

His pace was neither fast nor slow, each step steady, his back straight, his gaze fixed straight ahead, revealing no emotion. But the young leaders following behind him knew that this young leader was far from calm.

In the council hall today, Hu Bashan and Tong Dachui were arguing fiercely, like two roosters fighting with bloodshot eyes, neither willing to give in. As the leader, he sat at the head of the table, listening to their argument and watching their commotion, yet unable to express his true thoughts. The feeling was like swallowing a fly—utterly disgusting and unpleasant, but he couldn't spit it out.

When Hu Zheng entered the council hall, it was already dark. A few oil lamps were lit inside, their flickering light casting long and short shadows on the walls. Several young leaders followed behind, their footsteps light, as if afraid of disturbing something. Hu Zheng sat down in the main seat, leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and let out a long breath. His mind was in turmoil. Hu Bashan's sneer, Tong Dachui's roar, Tongding's gloom, and the other elders' thoughtful glances flashed before his eyes.

He rubbed his temples, opened his eyes, and stared blankly at the ceiling. Several oil lamps hung from the ceiling, their flickering flames casting an inconsistent light. As he was lost in thought, he suddenly heard hurried, heavy footsteps outside. A guard stopped at the door and said in a loud voice:

"Chief, someone outside requests an audience."

Hu Zheng frowned, somewhat impatiently asking, "Who?"

"The Bian Ying leader, who was in charge of slave management, said he had important business to discuss with the chief."

Bian Ying? Hu Zheng's brows furrowed even more. Bian Ying was a man from Hu Bashan, a fact known throughout the entire Tiger Tribe. He was in charge of managing slaves, and his methods were cruel and ruthless, earning him a terrible reputation in the tribe. People usually avoided him like the plague. What was he doing here now? Hu Zheng thought for a while, but couldn't come to a conclusion, so he simply stopped thinking about it.

"Let him in." He waved his hand and said in a calm voice.

The guards obeyed and left. A short while later, footsteps could be heard outside the council hall. This time it wasn't just one person, but several. The footsteps were of varying weight and speed, all mixed together.

Bian Ying walked in. He was thin and bony, like a bamboo pole. His face was not fleshy, his cheekbones were high, his eye sockets were deep, and his eyes were like two black pebbles, gleaming coldly. His lips were thin, like a line when he pursed them, and like a knife's edge when he smiled. He wore a black linen short robe, with a thick hemp rope tied around his waist, and straw sandals on his feet.

Behind him followed two women dressed in linen clothes, their headscarves covering most of their faces, revealing only their eyes. Those eyes were beautiful, large and bright, but filled with fear and unease, like two captured fawns. They had excellent figures; although their linen clothes were loose, they couldn't hide their exquisite curves. They had slender waists, narrow shoulders, and were of medium height, standing there like two budding flowers.

Hu Zheng's eyes lit up instantly. His gaze was completely drawn to the two women, like moths drawn to a flame. His eyes widened, his pupils dilated, and his breathing became rapid, his chest heaving as if he couldn't catch his breath.

At this moment, Hu Zheng's mind went blank. He forgot all about Hu Bashan, Tong Dachui, and the power struggles. All he could see were the two women, their slender figures, their fair faces, and their beautiful yet terrified eyes.

Seeing his leader's demeanor, Bian Ying Shadow sneered inwardly. "Ha," he thought, "He usually puts on quite the act, acting like a mature and composed leader, but now? Seeing two beautiful women, he's so impatient, like a traveler who's been thirsty for half a month seeing Quanshui! All that talk about outstanding ability, all that precocious maturity—it's all an act! All a lie! Deep down, he's just a greenhorn, a lecherous scoundrel!"

But Bian Ying Shadow showed no sign of anything amiss. He had been in this line of work for over a decade; what kind of scenes hadn't he seen, what kind of people hadn't he met? He could curse, sneer, and mock in his heart, but on his face he had to smile, be respectful, and keep his tail between his legs. This was his skill, and the reason he had survived until now.

He forced a smile, his eyes crinkling into crescents, and the corners of his mouth turning up to reveal a set of yellow teeth as he spoke, "Chief, this time the Hu Bashan leader fought against the Wu Yue Wuyue Tribe in the east, capturing two of the Wuyue Tribe's subordinate tribes and seizing quite a lot of goods. These two women are the daughters of the leader of one of the Wuyue Tribe's subordinate tribes. They are twin sisters, only eighteen years old this year, and they look exactly alike."

He turned around, looked at the two women, his voice becoming sterner, and reprimanded them:

"Take off your masks! Let the chief have a good look at you!"

The two women trembled, like startled rabbits. They exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with fear, helplessness, and a hint of despair. Then, they slowly reached out, trembling, and removed their face masks. The moment the masks fell, the council chamber seemed to brighten slightly.

Two identical faces appeared under the light: oval faces, willow-leaf eyebrows, phoenix eyes, delicate noses, rosy lips, and fair, smooth skin. Their features were exquisite and flawless. The only difference was that the one on the left had a small red mole between her eyebrows, like a red bean.

Hu Zheng's eyes shone even brighter, his breathing became more rapid, as if a Dashi was pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe. His hands unconsciously gripped the handrail tightly, his fingers turning white from the effort, his bones cracking. His throat bobbed as he swallowed, as if he had been thirsty for a very long time.

He looked at the two sisters, his gaze sweeping over their faces from left to right and right to left, never tiring of looking at them. The two women stood before him, heads bowed, not daring to look at him or raise their heads. Their bodies trembled slightly, their faces were pale, their lips bloodless, and their eyes were slightly red; they were clearly terrified.

They felt fear, humiliation, anger, and helplessness, but more than anything, they felt resigned. They were spoils of war, prisoners of war, and slaves, with no right to choose and no ability to resist. Their families, their people, and their tribe were all in the hands of the Tiger Tribe. If they disobeyed or refused to submit, their families and people would suffer, and their tribe would be destroyed.

So they could only lower their heads, endure it, and force a smile, even though that smile was uglier and more bitter than crying.

Looking at the forced smiles on their faces, Hu Zheng felt no pity, only a stronger desire and a stronger possessiveness. His eyes slowly reddened, becoming as red as a rabbit's eyes, and his breathing became heavier and more rapid, like a bull in heat.

He stared at the two sisters, his eyes fixed on them, as if he wanted to devour them. After a while, he came to his senses and remembered that Bian Ying was still standing beside him. He turned to look at Bian Ying, his gaze somewhat unfocused and dreamy. He forced a smile.

"Hu Bashan's leader was truly remarkable this time. If it weren't for him guarding the east all these years, the Wuyue Tribe would have already flown to the heavens and attacked right under our noses. He did a great job this time, conquering two of the Wuyue Tribe's vassal tribes, seizing a lot of goods, and even sending over such... such a wonderful gift."

He paused, swallowed, and continued, "Go back and tell the leader of Hu Bashan that I have received his offer, and I am very satisfied, extremely satisfied."

Bian Ying nodded, a smile still on his face, but inwardly he sneered. Satisfied? Of course he was satisfied! Look at how impatient you are, you can't wait to drag her away, can't wait to do her right now! What are you pretending for? Saying you "received my heartfelt thanks"? How hypocritical, how laughable!

But he didn't say these words aloud. Instead, he respectfully clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, saying in a high-pitched, thin voice, "Yes, Chief, I will definitely convey your words to the Hu Bashan leader. Don't worry. Chief, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now. Please get some rest and don't overwork yourself."

Why would Hu Zheng keep him? He couldn't wait for Bian Ying to leave, to disappear as quickly as possible, so as not to get in his way or disturb his good time. He waved his hand and said, "Go on, go on, you go about your business."

Bian Ying turned and left, his steps light and quick. As he walked out of the council hall, he glanced back and saw Hu Zheng had already stood up from his chair and was walking towards the two sisters. A cold smile appeared on Bian Ying Shadow's lips, and then he disappeared into the night.

Inside the council chamber, a young leader named Hu Zheng stood beside Hu Zheng. Hu Shi was one of the new recruits Hu Zheng had cultivated over the years—young, promising, loyal, and reliable. Tall and burly, he watched his leader walk towards the two sisters and felt uneasy. He wanted to say something but hesitated, then immediately spoke up, "Leader, these two women were sent by the leader of Hu Bashan. Could it be...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Hu Zheng turned around and glared at him. His gaze was cold, like a knife stabbing straight at him, making Hu Shi's heart tremble. He swallowed back all the words he was about to say, as if he had swallowed a bitter pill.

"Is there anything else?" Hu Zheng's voice was cold and indifferent, revealing no emotion, but Hu Shi could hear the impatience and displeasure in it.

Hu Shi lowered his head and said, "No... it's nothing. Chief, please get some rest. We'll be going now."

Hu Zheng nodded and waved his hand. "Go on, go on. If there are other matters, I'll send someone to find you."

Hu Shi clasped his hands in a salute, turned and walked out of the council hall. The other young leaders followed him out, their steps hurried. Once outside the council hall, Hu Shi let out a long breath.

A young leader leaned closer and whispered, "Hu Shi, the leader's old habit has struck again. Last time it was three, this time it's two, and these two are so good-looking. I'm afraid the leader will neglect everything for days to come."

Hu Shi glared at him, his gaze stern, and said, "Shut up! It's none of your business to interfere in the chief's affairs! Watch your head!"

The young leader shrank back, not daring to say anything more. The group quickly left the council hall, their footsteps fading into the night.

In the council chamber, only Hu Zheng and the two sisters remained. Hu Zheng stood in front of them, only two steps away. He looked down at them, his gaze sweeping over them as if he were appraising a piece of merchandise or admiring a work of art. His breathing became heavier and more rapid, his chest heaving, and his eyes were red.

The two women lowered their heads, not daring to look at him or raise their heads. Their bodies trembled even more violently, their hands were clenched tightly together, and tears welled up in their eyes, but they dared not let them fall. They could only endure and suppress them.

Hu Zheng could no longer restrain himself. He took a step forward, stretched out his arms, and pulled both women into his embrace at the same time. His arms were strong, like iron hoops, holding them tightly, making them unable to move or break free. He buried his face in their hair, took a deep breath, and smelled their fragrance. The fragrance was very light, like the scent of flowers and grass, refreshing and intoxicating, making him feel intoxicated and captivated.

His hands roamed over their bodies, his fingers rough and calloused, leaving red marks on their delicate skin that stung like knives. The two women were breathless from his embrace, wanting to struggle but not daring to; wanting to scream but not daring to. They could only endure it and let him do as he pleased.

Their tears finally fell, streaming down their cheeks and dripping to the ground, but Hu Zheng couldn't see them, nor did he want to. He was immersed in his own world, in that illusory sense of satisfaction. Over the years, he had been suppressed for too long, stifled for too long. In front of him, Hu Bashan and his gang were eyeing him covetously, wanting to seize his position and pull him down from the leader's post. Behind him, the Grand Elder Tongding controlled the government, stripping him of his power and turning him into a puppet, a mere figurehead.

For many years, he lived cautiously, not daring to say a word, for fear of being caught red-handed or having his life taken advantage of. Those days were worse than death, each day feeling like a year. Only in recent years has his situation improved slightly, and he has slowly regained some power and gradually built up his own influence.

But that feeling of being suppressed and manipulated never truly left him; it followed him like a shadow, haunted him like a ghost. Only with women could he find the feeling of being in control, of being in charge, of being a man. So, he began to indulge in women, unable to extricate himself.

He held the two sisters in his arms, feeling their soft bodies, smelling their fragrance, and listening to their soft breathing. A wave of satisfaction washed over him. At this moment, he was not a puppet, not a decoration, not a puppet being controlled. This feeling was wonderful.

Just as Hu Zheng was indulging in the pleasures of love, Bian Ying caught up with Hu Bashan, who was heading to the eastern camp. Hu Bashan was riding a tall, black horse with a glossy coat. He wore a black linen robe, a leather belt with bronze buckles around his waist, and animal skin boots. His hair was held back with a bone hairpin. He sat on the horse with an air of grandeur.

Hu Ben Warrior rode beside him on a tall, magnificent horse with a chestnut coat. He stood ramrod straight, his eyes sharp as he vigilantly scanned his surroundings, not missing a single sound. Behind them followed dozens of warriors, all elites of the Great Tiger Tribe, each with broad shoulders and a fierce aura.

Bian Ying caught up and called out, "Leader! Leader!" His voice was high-pitched and thin.

Hu Bashan reined in his horse, turned his head to look at the Bian Ying, and frowned slightly, asking, "What's wrong?"

Bian Ying approached the horse and said, "Chief, the matter is settled. The chief has accepted the two women and is extremely satisfied. He's overjoyed, so much so that he can't even speak properly, and his eyes are wide open, as if he's lost his soul."

He paused, a mocking smile spreading across his face, and said, "Just as the leader predicted, he's still a greenhorn. He can't take his eyes off pretty women, can't move his legs. As soon as I said those two women were a gift for him, his eyes lit up. Before I even left, he couldn't wait to pull them into his arms. Where is the slightest bit of a leader's demeanor? Where is the slightest bit of Chenwen?"

Upon hearing this, Hu Bashan's face did not show any smugness; instead, it became even more serious. He looked at Bian Ying and said, "These things are best kept to yourself. Don't go around spreading rumors. Understand? If I hear anyone outside discussing this, you'll be the first one I come after!"

Bian Ying shuddered, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He nodded repeatedly, saying, "Understood, understood! Don't worry, leader, I'm very tight-lipped. I won't say a single word I shouldn't! I'd rather die than say it!"

Hu Bashan's gaze softened slightly, and he nodded, saying, "Here at headquarters, you and your men keep a close eye on things. Whatever movements Tongding Lao'er makes, whatever Hu Zheng does, and anything unusual about those neutral leaders—you must keep an eye on everything, investigate everything, and send me the information promptly."

He paused, thought for a moment, and then said, "Especially that old man Tongding. He's cunning and treacherous, and he won't let it go just because we gained some advantage in the council hall. He'll definitely pull some tricks behind our backs and find a way to retaliate. You need to keep a close eye on him and pay close attention to his every move."

Bian Ying nodded repeatedly and said, "Don't worry, leader! I've got you covered here, I won't let you down! If there's any trouble on Old Man Tongding's side, I'll send someone to tell you immediately!"

Hu Bashan nodded in satisfaction, took out a piece of animal hide from his pocket, and tossed it to him, saying, "This is your reward for this month. Take it."

Bian Ying caught the animal hide, opened it, and saw the supplies listed on it. His eyes lit up, and he repeatedly thanked him, saying, "Thank you, leader! Thank you, leader!"

Hu Bashan waved his hand, said nothing more, turned his horse around, and continued eastward. Hu Ben followed behind him, and the rest of the group followed. The sound of hooves gradually faded into the night.

Bian Ying stood still, watching the direction the group had gone, holding the animal hide in his hands, a smug smile on his face. He wrapped the hide up, stuffed it into his pocket, and turned to walk back into the camp.