Shigeo gave a low "hmm," then quietly asked, "Since there are bandits around here, why doesn't the caravan hire ninja for protection? If there were ninja among us, those thugs wouldn't dare attack."
Da Zhuang whispered, "Because if ninja were here, we'd die even faster. Besides, hiring ninja costs too much. Our caravan has more than ten carts of grain. Once we reach the drought-stricken region in the Land of Earth, the price doubles. But if we hire a three-man ninja team, we'd barely make enough to pay them. Don't worry though—Chen Mazi has his way. If we meet bandits, we just pay a toll."
"Toll?"
"Yeah. Just road money. Two hundred per wagon. Around three thousand total should do. Usually we meet three groups of bandits on this route. Ten thousand should buy us peace." Da Zhuang spoke as though long used to it.
Shigeo nodded slightly, then pulled out a small scroll and handed it over. "Take a look under the moonlight. Have you seen this man before?"
On the paper was a sketch of Ame-Neri, the missing-nin from Amegakure and former ally of Hanzō of the Salamander. A man skilled in Suiton (Water Release) and Doton (Earth Release). Somewhere in this region—but no one knew exactly where. Maybe someone in the caravan had heard rumors.
He was easy to recognize: a scar across his face that no one could forget after seeing it once.
"I think I've seen him…" Da Zhuang frowned, squinting at the drawing. But before he could finish, someone snatched it from his hand.
Chen Mazi glared at the image, then yanked Shigeo out of his bedroll. "You little bastard! I knew something was off about you! What's this picture for? Are you trying to get us all killed? You know we traders can't meddle in ninja business, yet you bring their portraits with you? If you want to die, go do it yourself—don't drag us down with you!"
Shigeo narrowed his eyes, silent.
"Up! Everyone up! We're leaving now! I'll hand you over to the bandits myself, you nosy brat!"
The others scrambled awake. Da Zhuang rushed forward. "Captain, it's not that serious! It's just a picture! How can you hand him over to bandits? That's murder!"
"You don't understand! Why do you think we never hire ninja? Why are we so careful past Beiling Pass? Because of the bandits! This boy's carrying a picture of their leader—of course I'm nervous! Call it karma. I won't need to lift a finger; someone else will make him regret being born!"
At that, Shigeo's eyes gleamed. So, Chen Mazi knows where Ame-Neri is.
The shouting continued. The rest of the caravan tried to calm Chen Mazi down, telling him not to overreact, but he ignored them. "I'm taking this kid, and I'd like to see who dares stop me!"
At once, silence. These people depended on the Sunward Merchant Group for work. If they crossed Chen Mazi, he'd twist the story and have them all dismissed.
Shigeo smirked. "Take me? How? Kill me? I'll tell you this—I didn't join this caravan by accident. If my friends don't see me return, they'll come looking. You'll be the first they question."
That cooled Chen Mazi's temper. His eyes darted back and forth, then he chuckled. "Relax. I won't make trouble. Everyone, prepare to move!"
Just like that, he dropped the issue. The caravan packed up and moved on before dawn.
For the next two days, Chen Mazi didn't bother him again. The road was steep but far less muddy than in the Land of Rain. Everywhere they passed lay barren and lifeless, the occasional mud hut standing lonely in the autumn wind.
Finally, they reached the first checkpoint run by bandits. Chen Mazi went ahead to negotiate. He paid over three thousand coins in tolls—and, to everyone's shock, handed over Shigeo's portrait as well, whispering and laughing with the bandits while pointing toward Shigeo.
Everyone saw it clearly.
Da Zhuang clenched his fists, glancing back. "A-Mo, things are bad. Did you see what he just did?"
Shigeo's gaze swept over the gathered bandits, studying every face carefully. Ame-Neri was not among them.
"If my guess is right, the three checkpoints belong to the same bandit clan, don't they?"
Da Zhuang scratched his head. "I don't know. I've run this route for two years, never heard that they were connected."
"They are," Shigeo said quietly. "Maybe you don't know, but Chen Mazi does."
North of Beiling Pass was Land of Earth territory, a region crawling with bandits for hundreds of li. The daimyo's men had tried to exterminate them before, but it was as if the bandits always knew in advance—whenever ninja patrols appeared, they vanished. Once the ninja left, the bandits returned to terrorize the villages.
That was why the land lay empty, the few remaining elders too stubborn to flee.
At the second checkpoint, the number of bandits had grown. Several gave Shigeo cold looks as the caravan passed, dragging their thumbs across their throats in mock execution.
Da Zhuang trembled. The bandits laughed cruelly, enjoying their fear.
If they passed the third checkpoint, they'd be safe. But between the second and third was where most caravans vanished.
The wagons creaked as they moved up the narrow mountain path. No one spoke.
Everyone was tense. Even after paying tolls, bandits were unpredictable—no one knew if they might change their minds and kill everyone for the goods.
Shigeo silently prayed they would attack soon. Only then would he know whether Ame-Neri was truly among their leaders.
As dusk fell, the caravan entered the Dahu Ridge area. The air grew heavy. Everyone glanced nervously at the cliffs.
Then a shout rang out—
"This road's ours! The trees are ours! If you want to pass, pay the fee!"
From the slopes above, a horde of men charged down. At their head was a scar-faced brute wielding a massive blade, surrounded by more than a hundred armed bandits. In moments, the caravan was completely surrounded.
(End of Chapter)
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