155: Song Yi's choice

“Yes, I am that Song Yi who survived. They all died, only I survived, clinging to life until now,” Song Yi said with a look of despondency.

“I mean no harm, and I don't want to bring up your painful past again.

But it's only early winter, and the Mountain Bandits will come more and more frequently. What will you do then?

If two die in a Mountain Bandit attack today, and three more die tomorrow, will your village have every household draped in white mourning cloth this winter?

Your village only has four or five hundred people in total, right? If this continues, how many people will be left alive in your village by next spring?

There’s always been the saying, ‘A thief can steal for a thousand days, but no one can Guard against a thief for a thousand days’,” Lin Yue advised earnestly.

“Then what can be done?

I was born and raised here. I know everyone here. Can I abandon them?” Song Yi asked, his face full of sorrow.

“You are skilled in martial arts, but you are only one person. These past few times, the Mountain Bandits have acted together. After a few more times, once they know your prowess, they will attack separately.

Furthermore, there is never just one group of Mountain Bandits nearby. Can you kill them all?

At that time, even if you had three heads and six arms, how many could you stop?” Lin Yue said.

“You're saying all this, are you trying to get me to join you?

You're not an ordinary Soldier, are you? What exactly is your identity?” Song Yi gripped his sword hilt, staring intently at Lin Yue.

The old man secretly tugged on Song Yi’s sleeve, signaling him not to be so impulsive.

“My name is Lin Yue. About a hundred li from here, near Crane Wild City, I have a Fief.”

“A Fief? You have a noble title?” Song Yi showed surprise.

“A Great Qin Viscount,” Lin Yue said.

“My friends all died because of Ying Zheng. I will not serve Ying Zheng,” Song Yi shook his head and said firmly.

Lin Yue suddenly laughed, which left everyone a bit confused. Lin Yue then said, without holding back:

“You are a Third-rate Military General. With that strength in the army, you aren't even qualified to see The First Emperor. Where do you get the confidence to say you’d serve him?”

Song Yi was not annoyed. What Lin Yue said was true. In this era where imperial power was gradually reaching its peak, the living space left for assassins like them was becoming smaller and smaller.

This era would not see the rise of talented individuals as in the Warring States period, where one could soar to prominence if he had ability.

A chasm that could not be crossed appeared between the emperor and the common people.

Affected were not only scholars and warriors, but also assassins like them. The difficulty of assassination for them was also increasing!

Even his friend Jing Ke, a First-rate Military General, failed in his attempt against The First Emperor, let alone him, a Third-rate Military General.

“What exactly do you want?” Song Yi asked, vigilant.

“Bring your village to join my Fief!

Or, you join me. My Fief lacks top-tier combat power, but the Guard numbers are large, and I can send people to protect this place.

I came back this time to upgrade my Fief to a town, and I am currently short on manpower. Are you interested?” Lin Yue smiled.

“I will not serve Ying Zheng,” Song Yi repeated.

“I only want to protect these villagers and the safety of my village, not necessarily make you serve me. When Mountain Bandits cause trouble, only the common people suffer. I just want the common people to have a safe place to live.

Furthermore, serving me is not the same as serving The First Emperor. If you serve me, I will not force you to do things you don't want to do,” Lin Yue said.

Then Lin Yue wrapped his clothes tighter and walked into the house, saying as he went, “It's too cold, think about it yourself.”

Lin Yue then went back to lie down. He glanced at the courtyard; the old man hadn't returned, presumably still discussing with Song Yi.

He didn't have the ability to make people immediately pledge allegiance; he could only lay the facts before him and let him choose for himself.

This Third-rate Military General assassin might bring him some surprises.

Then Lin Yue turned over and fell into a deep sleep… Meanwhile, in another household, several respected elders were gathered, their faces etched with worry.

“Xiao Yi, I think what Lin Yue said makes sense. Even if you had three heads and six arms, you couldn't withstand these repeated attacks!” an elder said, the flickering firelight illuminating his weathered and troubled face.

Another elder said, “That’s right, it doesn’t matter for us old folks, but Old Man Wang’s youngest son was only eight years old, and he’s just gone.

The young men patrolling outside the village, their bodies were just found. Both are gone. The Mountain Bandits didn't even leave them clothes. The two lay naked in the freezing snow and ice. Song Erlengzi’s grandson was one of them, and he’s crying his eyes out.”

“So, the elders mean that we should all move to his Fief?

But once we do that, we’ll be like fish on a chopping block, at his mercy,” Song Yi warned.

“Xiao Yi, is our current situation any better?

Other villages can band together with villagers from a few villages to resist, but the closest village to us is ten li away, and the officials are unreliable. Now we can only rely on ourselves.

But if two die in the village today, and two more die tomorrow, we simply can't stop them.

It’s better to go there and try our luck. It doesn’t matter what happens to us, as long as the children can have a safe place to live, we’ll be content!” the old man said.

“But this is our ancestral land,” Song Yi said in a deep voice.

“What about ancestral land? A home is where the people are!

Your father died early, and he asked us to help take care of you, but alas, we were incapable and instead had to rely on you.

These years you have stayed in the village. At first, you were unwilling to serve the Qin Dynasty, and later it was for the safety of all of us. You always refused to leave, needlessly burying your abilities.

You have wasted twelve years in this small place. How much longer do you plan to continue?

Are we to bind you here for a lifetime?” the elder said with a face full of anger.

Before, there was no way, but now an opportunity is at hand; they cannot even lack the courage to fight for it!

“Listen to me. Tomorrow morning, I’ll find a few sharp people to go back with him to see his Fief. As long as he doesn't intend to harm us, we'll go.

No matter how difficult the situation there is, it will be better than now!

Furthermore, he is a Viscount. It's clear he values your talent, so he wouldn't treat us too badly,” the elder said in an unyielding tone.

“But my parents’ graves are still here,” Song Yi was somewhat swayed, but still couldn't bear to leave his parents.

“It doesn’t matter. Your parents weren't kings or nobles; no one will rob their tombs.

Once we are completely settled there, we can choose an auspicious day to move the graves.

As I see it, your parents in the afterlife would not want your talent to be buried here!” the elder said.

Song Yi remained silent. What they said was true; he didn't want to continue burying himself.

He had always wanted to be a wandering swordsman, traveling the world. He didn't have much affection for the Yan State. Ever since King Xi of Yan handed over Crown Prince Dan to the Great Qin, he felt that the Yan State was beyond saving.

But his friend Jing Ke died at the hands of Ying Zheng, and he didn't want to serve Ying Zheng. However, Lin Yue's appearance today resolved some of his difficulties.