Chapter 817 - Exchanging Terms (1/2)
Exchanging Terms
Long ago, when productivity was still at an all-time low, the tribesmen weren’t as skill as they were now. Their equivalents of keys were created using bones, rocks and straw ropes. These were most commonly known as bone locks or stone locks. The names were still used until this day, especially among the ‘Bi’ organisation.
“The Chief’s Bone Lock?” While the others were clueless about the item, they could guess that it was something like the Xi and it was very special, which could be seen from the usage of the word ‘Chief’.
“Yes.” Robber Seven looked delighted. “That is the symbol and proof of status for the Bi leaders. When the new succeeds the old, the old chief would pass it to the new chief. According to the rumours, the lock was made from the toughest bone of some extinct beast.”
Other than the Xi used to untie knots, the slave masters of the Bi organisation possessed another Xi that represented that was an identity representation. Something akin to an identity token.
Within the Bi organisation, those with higher positions would hold intricately designed Xi-s. But the level of complexity wasn’t very focused on aesthetics like the nobles. Most of its attention was placed on functionality. The Xi would be used as an aid to tie more complicated knots and the same tool would be used to quickly untie said knots.
If the Xi possessed by regular civilians were a key, then the higher authorities of the ‘Bi’ organisation would all hold a relatively complicated key. Their Xi-s had incorporated the functions of different shaped Xi-s. Every curvature and every hollowed out portion had its own use. In the skilful hands of a practised person, the Xi would become an invincible tool to untie knots.
What Robber Seven had stolen, was indeed the very item used to signify the chief’s identity. It was something of considerable weight. Without it, the succession from old to new would be lacking one process. While it wasn’t as important as the legendary jade seal of the state- “**Receiving it would be one’s acceptance of Heaven’s Order, losing it would be the end of one’s reign”- no one would be willing to become a chief without the full ritual. It felt like something was lacking and it was certainly detrimental to one’s dominance.
[**TL Note: This is a direct translation of ‘得之则受命于天，失之则气数已尽’. It is an ancient text engraved on the jade seal that is used in the inauguration of ancient Chinese emperors. The first half indicates that the emperor is the son of Heaven and in charge of looking after the mortal realm in place of Heaven. One must not challenge the emperor’s order. The second half is as directly translated, losing the seal would be the loss of the emperor’s authority.]
Stealing something like this was bound to warrant wrath.
“Did you really steal the Chief’s bone lock from the Bi people?” The others couldn’t help but question him.
“Of course. I stole this from Chief Si of the Bi people.” Robber Seven was displeased by their scepticism. He was one of the greatest robbers, how dare they question his expertise?
“So you hid among the slaves to avoid getting hunted down by Si?” asked Shao Xuan.
“Yes.” Not only did Robber Seven not find his escape plan embarrassing, but he also felt pretty proud of his intelligence. Si certainly wouldn’t have thought that he would blend in with the slaves.
Robber Seven had been stopped twice by Shao Xuan and even got demoted as a result. If the others that ranked behind hadn’t died, he would’ve been demoted to Robber ‘Eight’! That would be shameful!
After the two tectonic plates were brought closer by a series of natural disasters, the robber’s attention had been placed on attacking the nobles of the region. Robber Seven too had come up with an in-depth analysis after his last failure. The man tried his best to improve himself and further refine details. He even learnt how to switch up the scent of his sweat. With that being said, Robber Seven was now able to imitate other people’s scent perfectly. This was why he could avoid the chaser insect beasts with a sharp sense of smell.
However, Si was still able to hunt him down. Though unsure of his approaches, the man was still able to locate him albeit a little slower.
The robbers were skilled in disguising themselves. While Robber Seven was on the run from Si and had decided to blend into the slaves, this method had successfully hidden him from a few waves of searchers dispatched by Si. Si did not wish to publicize the issue so all the dispatched personnel were his most trusted subordinates who held higher positions in the Bi organisation. This slave escort team’s leader was required to be extra courteous when meeting those searchers. Sadly, the darkness was not without reason. Robber Seven was secretly delighted at the sight of the searchers brushing past him without recognition. The robber couldn’t help but think of himself as a genius.
The old slave had passed away from sickness one night. Robber Seven waited for the right time to drug the surrounding slaves into unconsciousness then moved the old slave’s body away. Following that, he disguised himself as the old slave.
Based on Robber Seven’s plan, he was aiming to enter the Chao Qiu City then escape. He’d then hide in the crowd. The more human traffic, the more he’d benefit from it. However, not even in his wildest dreams that he’d imagine himself getting caught by the Flaming Horns.
Robber Seven still couldn’t believe this. He had tricked an entire palace worth of people, tricked the most powerful slave-trading organisation ‘Bi’’s leader and managed to avoid suspicion from the veteran slave masters that could read humans well. Yet, he was stopped not once but three times by the same person! From today onwards, Robber Seven decided that if he ever encountered Shao Xuan again, he’d run right away without hesitation.
Robber Seven decided to tell the truth for two reasons- One, he was hoping that the Flaming Horns would spread word of his glorious deed; Two, he had already figured out a way to escape. The man would lead the Flaming Horns on a ‘search’ and then find an opening to flee.
“Where is it?” Gui He asked, “Where did you hide the Chief’s Bone Lock?”
Ah-ha! There it was! Robber Seven calmed himself down and was ready to put his plan into action. Just as he parted his lips to answer, Shao Xuan interjected, “No need to listen to his lies. A few of you, search his body now.”
Robber Seven was speechless. Wait! Wasn’t it supposed to happen this way: He’d tell that he hid the item in one spot and when the Flaming Horns asked him to lead the way, he’d bring them on a search everywhere and then disappear? Why were things deviating from planned?!
The tribesmen surrounded Robber Seven. Even if the robber had three heads and six arms, he wouldn’t be able to escape this.
Just as Robber Seven tried to talk his way out of this, he caught a glimpse of Shao Xuan brandishing his sword. The sunlight bouncing off the blade was eerily icy, intense fear forcing Robber Seven to birth an idea.
“Wait! You can’t kill me!” Robber Seven quickly changed course, now screaming.
“Then you better do it yourself. Show us what you hid at your abdomen,” said Shao Xuan.
Despite being filled with whacky ideas, Robber Seven’s mind immediately went blank at Shao Xuan’s words.
“W… What?” It was rare to hear Robber Seven stammer.
Shao Xuan tapped the tip of his sword against the robber’s abdomen. “Take this thing here out. You’re not nesting an egg.”
Robber Seven clenched his jaw. “…How did you know?”
Everyone’s confusion immediately transformed into recognition. Robber Seven was hiding something!
The surrounding tribesmen stared at Robber Seven’s stomach.
Knowing that he really couldn’t run from this, Robber Seven gave up his intentions to flee. With a demure expression, he moved his shoulders. “Release me. I can do this myself.”
The tribesman holding onto Robber Seven’s arm released his grip. With a twitch of his finger, a fingernail-sized bone piece appeared at the edge of Robber Seven’s nails. The edge of the bone was razor-sharp, it sent shivers down the tribesman’s spine. If Robber Seven was determined to put on a fight, the tribesman would be the first to die. He wasn’t careful enough!
Ignoring everyone else, Robber Seven had his mind fixated on how to keep his trophies.