Chapter 23: Revenge and a beating
When Ming returned to the barn after the weekend, he was sporting a small string necklace. It had four smaller wooden beads with a larger one in the center. Since the look was not too eye-catching and enough to incite greed, Chu left him alone.
Dyna was busy in the kitchen with Sue and Mrs Thomas. They had taken up the role of pill maker for the little girl. The large tome she had, contained countless medicinal formulas to aid in a Hound's development.
It was partly to satisfy this ever-increasing black hole that the girl and her pets worked so hard. Most of her kills were converted into cash for purchasing and ordering medicinal ingredients.
The easy concoctions were carried out carefully by Mrs Thomas and Sue. Sakura and Amanda helped to decipher and simplify any hard to understand instructions.
As for the recipients of all this hard work, they maintained a pitiful and humble attitude around the kitchen personnel.
They ingested pills daily like a sick old man. In the evening they soaked in some solution that was concocted before Dyna dried them off. No matter how bloody they got during the day, they were cleaner than Ming at night.
Mrs Thomas had high praises for those pets as she always commented more than once.
"I have never seen such well-behaved animals. Even though they are growing bigger everyday, they still act as cute little pups."
"Who you talking about? Them?"
"You haven't seen their true colors yet!"
"They are the biggest group of bandits around here."
Came the contradictory replies.
Ming did tell Chu about the incident near the village. Even though it could be passed of like an isolated slum holdup, he still informed the others to be careful near the village. Being the chosen target could only mean that they were attracting unwanted attention.
Mr Thomas agreed but he had another suggestion.
"Given what happened to Ming is unfortunate. However we should use this to temper ourselves instead of running away."
"How so?"
"Think about it. No matter where you go, sooner or later I can guarantee you lot are going to get in a fight. Why not use your time here?
Those idle brats in the slums are only armed with pieced of wood. Use some subtle means to attract them. I refuse to believe that they can give you guys a good trashing."
Chu finally understood what the man was saying. It was truly great to have someone with worldly experience at your side. What better way to gain experience fighting against people.
"Thank you for the proper advice Elder."
Chu called a meeting a few days later with the children to discuss the incident. He also proposed some new measured they had to take. He ended the meeting on a satisfactory note.
***
While this incident did not have much impact on the residents of the barn, it was a different matter in another place.
In a shack situated near the center of the Slums, a group of six young males were gathered together.
"Brother Doug is really amazing. To fight head on with a party of adventurers in a tavern brawl is astonishing!"
"Yea, like I always said, pretty soon Brother Doug is going to leave this place. The Slums could never hold back a wolf."
The person in question raised his hands to stop the praises.
"Thiss is too kind ooff you. Chooong till tham the plin."
Doug turned to Chong indicating him to continue. Ever since he lost his front teeth his words came across like a hissing snake.
Chong cleared his throat before he started. A wicked looking bruise running down the center of his face gave him a strange countenance.
"Since the Mong bandits are near finished in this area, Doug has decided the time is right for us to form our own gang. You guys are here because he felt you deserved a chance.
Our first action is to shake down as much money we can from these suckers. After that we can high tail it out before the guards begin looking for us. The time is perfect since a lot of people still have money from last year.
Doug has thought about it and have picked a fat target."
Chong, Singh and Doug glanced at each other before the former continued. The flickering of hate and vengeance could have been seen in those smoldering eyes.
"We have been watching some kids from the Slums. It seems like they have made money during the winter. Every weekend they come waltzing across the grasslands. This time he is going to regret making an enemy out of us."
The trio had refused to believe that Ming was strong enough to take them all on. It was simply due to his luck and that sword he possessed. Greed for an iron weapon clouded their minds.
Singh decided to provide an added incentive.
"By the way, there are girls in this group. If we do it right you can do whatever you like afterwards.
We are going to be bandits, might as well act like them."
The others glanced around understanding the meaning behind those words.
"Here is the plan."
***
Weekend rolled around smoothly. This time only Mrs Thomas rode the wagon along with her husband. As a person who once lived among high society and still managed to retain a cordial attitude, Mrs Thomas soon became friends with those housewives in the neighboring farms.
Thus every weekend the wagon left early to allow her time to chat with those farmer's wives along the way to the village. This gave the children left behind adequate time to prepare for their usual trek.
Today it was the original trio who were making the trip.
"You know what to do right?"
"Yes, I know. How come you always ask me, why don't you ask Lucy?"
"You really want that answer?"
The three set off across the plains.
It was close to midday when they were close to the village.
They had just passed the ruins of a farmhouse when suddenly a group of young men and teens rushed out and surrounded them.
"Holy crap! That scared me."
Ming was patting his chest over his robe.
Chu looked over at him in scorn.
"Why the heck are you so easily frightened for? Damn good thing they didn't have any range weapons, we would have been killed already!"
"You?! Chu it's them, dammit this time you guys are going to pay."
After hiding and waiting since early morning Doug and his bandit team had successfully sprung their ambush. Surrounding the targets what awaited them were not some frightened and pee smelling children but some bickering kids.
It was like the circle of menacing men with wooden clubs did not exist. He was beginning to doubt himself when the same boy recognized him and shouted out.
'Why the heck was this dude yelling like it was us who robbed him?'
Before he could register a sneering face and spout some harsh but cool bandit words the boy moved.
Doug raised his club above his head to start a beating. At the same time he raised his hands above his head, a knee suddenly materialized inches away from his nose.
"Ohhh fuc..."
Was all that flashed across the neurons in his brain before contact.
BAM!
Doug again became the first casualty as he toppled over.
The teen companion standing at Doug's side was simultaneously hit with a 'running punch.'
At least that was the only way the knocked out person might have recalled what happened. All he saw was the smaller kid blasting towards him and then unleashing a deadly straight punch to the face.
Just like that Chu and Ming broke out of the encirclement.
"Ahh! I get it now Chu. Yup, yup this is really the best way, forcing our way out with one strike."
"Shut up and focus. GO!"
As the men turned to face them still undecided and without a leader to issue orders, Chu launched the second attack.
This time they both used their sword sheaths to execute ruthless stabs to the two closest opponents. Just as quickly they retreated to avoid being surrounded.
This time the ones left standing were Chong, Singh and another teenager. Being the previous recipients of a beating by Ming, those two were already panicking. The teen was still trying to keep his guard up from any attacks.
It did not help the situation when Chu and Ming circled around and administered some merciless kicks on Doug and the others rolling on the ground.
"The girl!"
Chong was the first to shout out. Ever since the fight started it was like the girl had vanished. Only now as he shouted did the others look around.
"There!"
Near the ruins where they had waited stood the girl. She stood there looking on as if this skirmish was of no concern to her.
For the new bandits in training this was like lesson 101. Subdue the women and children and use them to secure victory.
Chong and Singh rushed over to the girl. The teen jumped between them and the two boys leering.
"Don't hurt her too much brothers. We still need to play with her."
He then turned to the girl's companions in the front.
"Drop your weapons and kneel. When brother Doug ma..."
He was interrupted by a screaming Ming
"Nooo! Stop you idiots don't waste your lives!"
The teen did not have the luxury to understand what the larger boy was shouting. Ming had a hand outstretched as if wanting to stop their actions while tears streamed down his eyes.
'Huh? Why are you acting like if they are your friends? Why do you care so much?'
Two shadowy blurs rocketed past him on either side from his back. He could only be shocked to see Chong and Singh smashing and tumbling along the ground. When they came to a stop they were both unconscious.
Ming dropped to his knees and punched the ground. He looked up towards the now frightened teen and shouted tearfully.
"You bastard! I will NEVER forgive you! Because of you this is what happened. I tried so hard to warn them!"
Ming roared as he dropped his sword sheath and attacked the teen. The latter at once tried to fend him off with the makeshift club.
Unfortunately his opponent was not truly lost in rage. Ming used his hand to parry the strike and punched out with the other. Soon the teen was on the ground receiving some well-aimed kicks.
"Damn you, if you did not block me this would have never happened to those guys. You tried to rob me and now you did this?"
Doug was looking on from the ground with tears of pain clouding his eyes.
'Why are you pummeling the guy like if Chong and Singh were your best friends?'
'Wait! Yes we tried to rob you, but it was you who robbed us in the end. Why are you acting like you were wronged?'
Ming turned angrily towards Lucy to vent.
"Why didn't you try acting like a frightened girl? Those two probably won't even remember what the hell happened to them. So they should have been left to me to fight. And why didn't you warn me about the ambush? My heart nearly jumped out of my mouth!"
Lucy dusted her hands like nothing happened.
"He tried to touch me. As for before Chu told me not to say anything. You also need to stop relying on me for everything."
Ming swung his face at Chu then back at Lucy.
"Damit you guys are keeping secrets from me."
He launched a kick at one of the bandits on the ground.
"So what are we going to do with these idiots?"
He turned his gaze over to Doug and locked eyes with him.
At this time Doug understood the feelings of an exposed rabbit being stared down by a wolf.
The next sentence from the boy's mouth slackened his bowels and released its contents freely.
"So do we kill them?"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
ForestRage
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