Chapter 370: The Thirteenth Day in the Struggle for Supremacy World

Chapter 370: Day Thirteen in a Hegemony Story

True, pity serves little purpose. In this age teetering on the brink of collapse, true mercy means building order and giving people a way to live.

After a long pause, Bai Ji let out a low chuckle.

The laugh was quiet, but it carried a kind of pleasure and a trace of satisfaction he couldn't quite put into words.

"You're right, my lord." His eyes lit up, almost startlingly bright, like fire burning deep in his dark brown irises. "I was being foolish. A kind heart needs an iron fist to back it up."

He looked hard at An Yi, the rest of the sentence left hanging.

My lord... An Yi.

Comments section:

"Ahhhhhhh! So they really are gay! @Author! Your MC is GAY!"

"Holy shit! This is basically him catching feelings, right? He's actually gay?"

"Really? Writing gay stuff in the male-genre section?"

"Hahahahaha! Bleh bleh bleh~ So gross! I told you guys! You didn't believe me!"

"Bleh bleh bro! You get it! Wait... are you gay too?"

"Screw off, person above!"

"Wait, I've read like a hundred-plus chapters, and now you're telling me this is gay?! Fuck off! Dumbass author!"

"I don't believe it! This has to be brotherhood! Soulmates! Like Boya and Ziqi! This has to be a front! A conspiracy!"

"Author, you played me! The cover's so badass, the synopsis is so serious, and then the actual story is gay?"

"WTF! Refund! I'm out!"

"What the hell happened in the author's brain to come up with this crap?"

"What did I just read... what the hell did I just read..."

"Why didn't you say so earlier! I'd have switched to a different story right away! Ladies, move aside—this straight guy's about to learn some new stuff!"

"Eh, it's fine. At least both leads have brains and aren't lovesick idiots. Gay and grinding their careers at the same time—I can live with that."

"Yeah, to be fair, An Yi's got charm. No wonder the MC fell for him. Honestly, I could too."

"Wait, you guys are caving way too fast, aren't you?"

"Who said we're caving! @Author! Where you at? Eat this cement truck!"

""What's that stuck to my tire?"" ""I thought it was a speed bump"" ""Blind spot"" ""Talk to my insurance"" ""We're all just trying to live"" ""Oh, you're still alive?"" ""I pushed so hard"" ""Let me turn around and push again""

"..."

An Yi: "..."

Man, that comments section feels way too familiar.

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After resting for about half an hour, they finished lunch, and the kids, having had a bit of a break, looked better.

The convoy hit the road again.

The next few days went by pretty smoothly.

They set out at dawn every day and found post stations or trustworthy villages to crash at before sunset.

Along the way, An Yi dropped by a few friends' places and had some good chats.

Most of the time, An Yi and Bai Ji rode in the same carriage, using it as their spot to talk shop and bounce ideas off each other.

Their talks got deeper, and their chemistry got smoother.

They got more and more comfortable with each other.

Besides work stuff, they'd also just shoot the breeze.

Sometimes, when An Yi got tired of reading and closed his eyes to rest, Bai Ji would move more quietly, handling paperwork or reading in silence—but his eyes would always end up drifting to An Yi's peaceful sleeping face.

Sometimes An Yi would wake up and catch Bai Ji's gaze before he could look away. Bai Ji didn't even flinch—he just handed over a cup of tea like it was the most normal thing in the world.

An Yi would usually just smile, take the tea, say thanks, and get back to what he was doing.

The other advisors tagging along definitely noticed this easy closeness and unspoken understanding—and it stung. They felt jealous.

They were also talents An Yi had recruited or who'd come to him on their own, and they thought pretty highly of their own abilities. But compared to that Mr. Bai—who'd shown up later but was practically glued to the lord's side and clearly had his full trust—they felt like they were a step behind, maybe more.

Privately, more than a few of them shot Bai Ji sly, knowing looks, wondering if he'd pulled some special trick to get in the lord's good graces.

But watching more closely, that didn't seem to be it.

Sure, the lord was warm with Mr. Bai, but he was just as polite with everyone else. He gave everyone tasks that fit their strengths and listened to everyone's opinions without playing favorites—no obvious bias at all.

If anything, it was that they just weren't as talented, didn't have the same rapport with the lord, and maybe... weren't as sharp or attentive either.

Well, what could you do when you're just outclassed?

At least the lord was a good boss. As long as you did your job well, you wouldn't go unnoticed.

But the trip wasn't all smooth sailing.

That evening, the setting sun splashed the sky with orange-red.

The convoy proceeded as planned toward a village ahead for the night.

About two or three li from the village, as they passed a stretch of road with low ground and woods on both sides, shit suddenly went sideways.

Dozens of ragged people, clutching crude clubs, hoes, and whatever else, suddenly poured out of the woods and dirt slopes on both sides, stumbling into the road and blocking the convoy.

Most of them were skinny and sickly-looking, their eyes dull—but in some, there was a desperate, almost crazy glint born of hunger and hopelessness.

"Leave your grain! Leave your money!" "Give us something to eat!" A mess of weak, ragged shouts went up, broken by a few tired, pitiful whimpers.

Refugees.

Not just a few stragglers, but a small group that had banded together—people with nowhere left to go, now desperate enough to take big risks.

Around twenty or thirty of them—men, women, old, young—though most were able-bodied men.

The convoy came to a dead halt.

The retainers reacted swiftly, tightening their formation to shield the master's carriage at the center, half-drawing their long blades, crossbows at the ready, a murderous aura emanating from them.

The difference in bearing between the trained retainers and the ragtag refugees was plain to see.

The refugees, intimidated by the retainers' killing intent, didn't dare advance, just blocked the road, staring at the supply-laden carts with a mix of greed and fear.

Mao Hua rode up to An Yi's carriage window and reported in a low voice, "My lord, there are refugees causing trouble ahead, about twenty or thirty of them, carrying crude weapons. What are your orders?"

Inside the carriage, An Yi was playing Go with Bai Ji.

The board was set on a small table, black and white stones scattered across it.

An Yi held white, Bai Ji black.

At the words, An Yi's hand, about to place a stone, paused for a moment, then he set a white stone down in a corner of the board. Without raising his head, he said calmly, "Just disperse them, no need to kill. If anyone gets hurt, give them some grain and money, and let them go on their way."

"Yes!" Mao Hua acknowledged the order, wheeled his horse around, and swiftly went to make arrangements.

The command was relayed.

Upon receiving the clear directive, the retainers moved immediately.

They moved with sharp efficiency and perfect coordination, instantly breaking through the refugees' already loose formation.

The refugees were no match for these elite retainers. After a few brief shouts and screams, several who had charged ahead in an attempt to seize goods were struck down, clutching their wounds and wailing.

Seeing the situation turn against them, the rest let out a shout, dropped their clubs and sticks, and fled in panic into the woods and wilderness, disappearing in an instant.

The retainers did not pursue, merely guarding the road with vigilance.

Following An Yi's instructions, they tossed each of the wounded refugees on the ground a small pouch of coarse grain cakes and a few dozen copper coins.

The entire affair, from start to finish, was over in less time than it takes to brew a pot of tea.