《The Red Lands》Chapter 6 -A New Helper
Advertisement
When they finished the crude process the total number of pellets were over twenty. The new ones were supposed to be more potent than the first batch. Chu kept some of the mushroom paste to re-coat their spears they left hidden in the forest.
Ming made a trip to his shack and returned to sleep in the shack. It was not that he didn't trust Chu with the money. He had already gotten a pouch filled with half of the copper coins to spend as he liked. Chu warned him about spending and creating attention towards them. He also showed him the belt he made containing the silver coins.
The main reason Ming was adamant not to leave was that this was the first time he encountered someone like Chu. This boy smaller than him caused him to jump from extreme poverty to being under a rain of coppers. Most impressive was that he could stand up and actually negotiate with the bear like Griz. The Trading post rotated their managers every couple of years and Griz had the reputation of being one of the fiercest and scaryiest.
Chu just made himself comfortable on one side of the coals while Ming was on the other. He had a wry grin as Ming was still demanding that he not leave him out.
When Chu woke up in the morning he was alone in the shack. His hands reflexively moved towards his waist. The belt was still there and when he looked over near the fireside both pouches of copper were there. Having experienced the cut throat world of society, Chu knew he had found an honest guy.
He restarted the fire and begain making some dumplings for their breakfast. In the middle of this preparation came a banging on the shack side.
"Hey Chu wake up, I have someone with me!"
"Wait you idiot! I'm coming outside."
Chu scrambled to hide the items and supplied he purchased and covered the breakfast he was preparing. Grabbing his cloak he stepped outside under the chilly morning sun.
"Hey Chu, I got somebody for you."
Saying that Ming pushed forward the person at his side.
"Morn'ig, Ming say you need some help with something?"
Chu looked at the person wrapped and cloaked. Only the eyes were visible. He looked at Ming wondering if he just picked up the first person he saw. Didn't he tell this idiot he needed someone they could trust? What if they were robbed? or even killed? Such things have happened in the slums before. One hundred coppers would mean no begging in the village during winter for scraps.
Advertisement
"Lucy is very dependable Chu. I had to put in some real begging for her to come over and not head out for firewood collection."
Switching over from the over confident smug face, Chu looked at Lucy. She was just one of the many of them in the slums. Unlike Ming who was known because of being a resident for over two years, Lucy was a new addition like him. Her story was probably the same as most of the young girls left here.
Chu decided to be as straight forward as possible, last thing he needed was for unwanted bickering. He certainly did not need his escapades beings known to alert the ruffians of the slums.
"I will be honest with you. What we are going to do is dangerous. We are going to be spending the night in the forest hunting beast. Either we make money or we die. You need to listen to everything I say, if not then lets part ways here."
He looked into the eyes of the girl in front of him as he spoke. Without batting an eyelid her response was quicker than expected.
"Agreed, but I have a request. If anything happens to me I need to make sure my two friends get some help to last through the winter."
"EH?"
Chu gave Ming a glare.
'This fool actually brought me someone with baggage!'
His mind raced thing how to respond, last thing he wanted was to be palmed off with some elderly. If something happened he was not sure how ruthless he could be to abandon people to their deaths. Maybe he might be able to kill someone who totally deserved death but can he lie to this girl in the event she dies?
Seeing his hesitation, Lucy piped up once more.
"My friends are younger than us and are really weak now. If you take care of them then next year they will be able to carry firewood to earn you money."
From her begging it seemed that her friend were not elder family but young children like them. Well from what Chu needed was at least to build up a solid base if he wanted to succeed. He wanted to avoid too much grown persons since they were set in their ways and had a high chance to back-stab him in the future. Children his age should be easy to mold into what he wanted.
Advertisement
"Deal. Follow me."
Chu returned into his shack with the others. While continuing to prepare the food, he told Lucy a summary of their plan. Lucy left them after begging for two extra dumplings for her friends. Chu gathered the supplies they needed in the two bags he purchased. He then hid the remainder of their items.
He sent Ming to deliver the two coppers for his mother and to make a purchase at the inn. The village inn was one of the few places where rock bread was sold fresh. This bread was a favorite of mercenaries and hunters. It had a long shelf life the only problem being that it got harder as the days passed by hence its name.
When Ming returned Chu and Lucy were waiting. Chu gave Lucy a loaf to leave with her friends. The gratitude in her eyes could not be faked. It should be noted that one rock bread was worth eight coppers. One bread could feed a grown man for two days. In the slums that was the meal for nearly two weeks when turned into gruel!
They made their way to the forest. Lucy joined them soon after, her eyes beaming.
"Are we going to the same spot Chu?"
His loyal henchman questioned.
"No, this time we are going further into the forest. We need to be very careful this time since we don't know if their may be beast stalking us. I think the safest thing would be to get everything we need and make one push to set up quickly."
"Ok, usually hunters out trapping would be on the outskirts so the dangerous animals keep a distance or are asleep during the day."
Chu agreed with Ming especially since it was still before noon. He wanted to use this time to rush things before nightfall.
"Remember we have to be low key. Showing this equipment as slum children would attract unwanted people."
Lucy voiced her opinion. Chu agreed since it would be awkward explaining the stuff in their bags. None of them wanted to be killed for what they had.
First thing in the forest was to get their spears back. Ming showed Lucy how to coat the spears with the poison while explaining. Even though they didn't know if it wold have the same effect as eating, it was an added comfort.
"Lets go in while exploring at the same time. If attacked use the spears to defend until we get a tree to climb."
Chu took out a small machete he bought and started to make marking on the trees as they walked. In the late fall all the trees looked the same. No wonder it was easy to get lost in a forest. Finding a little stream they followed it keeping their eyes out and always remaining on high ground.
"This is a good spot. I can still hear the sounds of the woodsmen. If we need we can always find our way back listening to them."
Chu found a tall tree that had some long branches spreading out. It was also some distance from the others. Lucy was a good climber so Chu let her do the work he wanted on the tree branches he wanted. Ming was made to climb the highest he could to keep watch. With hardly any leaves on the trees it was an easy task.
"Lucy I need you on that other tree to tie the rope. When you climb up throw the end for me. Ming scatter the blood and leave three pellets."
"Chu is that branch really safe for us?"
"Yes, thats why I made you stand while I finished it off. It can more that support you and Ming together."
"Chu I am done. How many times do we need to swing this log. Do you have any idea how heavy this is to pull back?"
"What do you mean how heavy? Don't I always have to help you reset it. Your job is to remain there and focus on the spot. Remember what you need to do."
Like that they finished before sunset. Drenched in their clothes they had a meal of dry bread and water. Readying themselves they prepared for nightfall.
Advertisement
- In Serial195 Chapters
Druidification
People have spent centuries perfecting the indoors. separating the comfort of the living room from the wild of the forest. However, when forces from beyond their comprehension start rising, bent on destroying all they know, the only thing that could stand up to them is the power of nature itself. Will humanity tear down its walls and let nature in, or will their pride and greed leave them isolated until it's too late? Natalie is a wildlife conservation officer who just wants to spend time with animals, helping them grow, heal, and live happy lives. But when given the option between trying to maintain her old life and living a new one with wild predators, what will she choose as the world she knew falls around her?
8 157 - In Serial10 Chapters
High School DEATH GAMES
"'Why,' a woman asked me, 'would they show a movie with things I do not want to see?' She is not unusual. Most people choose movies that provide exactly what they expect, and tell them things they already know. Others are more curious. We are put on this planet only once, and to limit ourselves to the familiar is a crime against our minds." - From the Great Roger Ebert Be forewarned, this story is not for everyone. It's not even for some people. This is for just a select few who get wet from misery and excited by suffering. This is no level up, power up, let's kill monsters, op mc, fantasy land, standard litrpg garbage you find in basically every other story on this site. If the rest of RoyalRoad is shounen (which it is), then this is Gantz/Berserk. Sorry. I lied. This is darker than Berserk and bloodier than Gantz. Not a manga fan? Then how about Korean cinema? Have you heard of Kim Ki-duk? His works The Isle, Moebius, and Pieta all come to mind. Again, this is not for normal people. There's a bunch of other normal stories for normal people to read. The whole rest of the site library is for normal. This is a special section set aside for a special type of story meant for a special kind of people. If you follow or favorite this, you're telling the whole world that you're a little different. A bit twisted. I guess you could call it the BDSM of reading. Which segues perfectly into the introduction. Are you kinky? Are you familiar with the taboo? Have you ever thought about the depths of human depravity? What I'm trying to ask is, do you like fucked up shit? Do you like massacres and public shamings? Do you like watching people fall into despair, going insane, or turning into psychopaths? Do you get turned on when love is destroyed and hedonism reigns king? Well, I've got the perfect story for you! If you're uncomfortable with profanity, gore, sexual and traumatising content, then I recommend you move on. I won't judge you just cause you're a pussy. And I'm not talking about the fake labels of the other candy ass stories on this site who think their shit is morbid or even remotely disturbing, I'm talking about the shocking, offensive, real fucked up shit that you can't even use incognito mode for and you gotta install Tor browser. (You don't actually need to install Tor, you idiot.) If you love that shit or even if you're just curious, then read on. I swear it's not as bad as you think it'll be. It's much worse. - Signed with no love, Marley (written by a friend in the voice of Marley) Unapologetic, cynical, pretentious, pessimistic, hypocritical, selfish, sarcastic, passive, apathetic asshole main character named Marley. Alternate POV: Badass, intelligent, proactive, loving, nice, friendly, optimistic co-main character Sophia. This is essentially a rough draft. Grammar and spelling has been read through and fixed for the most part. If you don't like something, tell me why you don't like it. Don't just rate it low anonymously. Thanks.
8 208 - In Serial28 Chapters
Triquetra: A Multi-Class Isekai or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Accept the End of the Multiverse
Triquetra: An Multi-Class Isekei Adventure I know, I know, you have heard it all before. Yes I was hit by a truck. Yes I ended up in a Fantastical World suspiciously similar to one of my favorite RPG’s. Yes I had access to cheats no one else possessed. Yes it was a world of classes and levels and magic powers. Finally, yes I was an overweight middle-aged loser failing to live up to my potential. Given my eclectic reading habits I should have been better prepared. Unfortunately I was not. Sure I could multi-class with reduced penalties, but my starting class was Scholar! No combat abilities and very limited spellcasting. My HUD interface costs mana to use, and my universal translation seemed to be outsourced to Giggle Translate. I’m supposed to be an OP MC! Not a slice-o- life struggling to survive in the wilderness. Not to mention the Arch-Magus who summoned me, mistimed everything, I arrived 300 years too late, after the fall of the Empire I was supposed to save. The surviving remnants have devolved into Murder Hobos. What’s worse is that the Great Devourer, Ancient Calamity, and Spawn from the Void Beyond Time, Space, and Sanity is now aware of a new world to plunder, a world called Dirt! (Told you this translator sucks) Warning Extra Crunchy Authorial Vebosity! Lots of infodump in the early chapters, but I learn my lesson and it does get better, eventually. I do not own the Cover image, found it on a free image site.
8 151 - In Serial44 Chapters
Tales of Erets Book Three: Holding the Heavens
The conclusion of the Martyr King story arc. The land of Arx has been conquered by a selfish mercenary who has allowed the Inquisition to reign there. Nihilus is under the control of the devious Duke Sahar, who is one of King Therion's twin sons. Aryn, the rightful Queen of Arx, hides in exile, hunted by her power-hungry cousin and the nobles who sided with her. But Erelah, the prophetess from long ago, has returned to life. Her mission is to right these wrongs and restore the proper monarch to the throne of Arx.
8 76 - In Serial22 Chapters
(SBUCS) Sea Breeze Under a Crimson Sky
Story Complete, new chapter added every Friday! The Pasongunan, a pirate vessel, sails the seas in search of treasure, fame, and most importantly fortune. When rumor reaches one of the captains ears of a treasure ripe for the taking... Well, it's too good to resist, and who doesn't want to be known for finding the treasure belonging to one of the worlds most famous pirates? Also available on Worldanvil & Wattpad!
8 143 - In Serial30 Chapters
Dramione - The Accidental pregnancy
Yes it is a dramione story, set up a few years after the war. When the annual Hogwarts alumni ball brings everyone together, the last thing anyone expects is for Draco and Hermione to end up together in a bed-drunk. Lots of Dramione, baby and Draco moments n loads of fluff.Ron is not portrayed badly, I wouldn't even dream of it. There is a villain, there is mystery. My very first writing work. Go on, give it a go! Be as honest as u can in the comments if u wish to give me one?
8 103