I was living in the Five Dynasties period, just after crossing the Zhongdu Bridge.

If Shen Lie's current predicament were placed in any book of strategists' treatises, there would only be one solution: to endure.

As the saying goes, "Patience is like a knife above one's head."

But whether the knife is plunged into the heart or held in the hand often depends on a single thought.

Reason is a good thing.

It clearly tells Shen Lie that those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles.

Back then, Emperor Gaozu of Han shared a piece of the pie, and Zhang Xun killed his wife to reward his troops. Didn't they all harden their hearts to the point of being harder than iron?

These were just two women who had never met before, two insignificant specks of dust in this chaotic world.

If sacrificing them could bring in money, provisions, and troops for this fortified village, and provide the capital to establish a foothold in Yaozhou, from the perspective of this chaotic world's power struggle, it would be an incredibly worthwhile deal.

Just endure this moment.

Simply lower your head, take a sip of wine, and pretend you can't hold your liquor by turning your head away.

So, Shen Lie loosened and tightened his hand on his waist, then loosened and loosened it again, finally managing to force a smile.

"Vice Envoy Zhang."

"Today, I am indeed not a strong drinker, and this meaty food is hard to digest. Perhaps we should take these two away and keep them under close watch, and decide what to do tomorrow?"

This is the final compromise.

This was also the biggest concession Shen Lie could make.

First, save these two lives. After Fuwei comes in and takes control of the situation tomorrow, we'll find an opportunity to release them.

Since Zhang Heng wanted an official position and wanted to make a career in Yaozhou, he would at least have to consider his superior's feelings.

However, he ultimately underestimated the limits of this era and overestimated the patience of a bandit like Zhang Heng.

In Zhang Heng's eyes, this was not just a dish, but also a so-called pledge of allegiance.

Since ancient times, when bandits joined forces or defeated soldiers swore brotherhood, they all had to do something utterly heinous. Only when everyone's hands were stained with blood could they be considered to be in the same boat.

In this group's distorted values, the only standard for judging whether someone is one's own brother is whether or not they can "eat meat" together.

In Zhang Heng's view, Shen Lie's evasive behavior meant either that he looked down on him as a counterfeit, or that he didn't consider him family.

Neither of these outcomes is the result Zhang Heng desires.

Moreover, alcohol emboldens both the cowardly and the wicked.

"Ah! Your Excellency's words are rather far-fetched!"

Zhang Heng's breath reeked of alcohol, and a fierce glint appeared in his eyes.

"There will be fresh produce tomorrow! Since we're in the mood today, why wait until tomorrow?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than this fellow disregarded Shen Lie's expression, stood up, and grabbed the woman closest to him.

The woman, whose mouth was already gagged, was now terrified and struggled desperately.

But in Zhang Heng's eyes, this was nothing more than the struggle of the food before it died, and it even added a bit of fun to the slaughter.

There was no foreplay whatsoever, not even a chance for Shen Lie to speak up and stop him again.

Zhang Heng picked up the sharp knife on the table with his other hand, his movements so skillful they were appalling.

The blade pierced straight into the woman's left ribcage, but blood did not gush out immediately.

Instead, as the blade stirred, it shot out like a spring, splashing all over Zhang Heng's face and into the bowl of wine in Shen Lie's hand.

The woman didn't even let out a scream; her body twitched twice, and the coffin in her eyes quickly dissipated before she collapsed softly to the ground.

Yang Ting's hands were already trembling. He gripped the knife hilt tightly, his face as pale as paper.

The twenty guards around him, though men who had seen blood, were all horrified, their stomachs churning.

Only the henchmen of Zhangjiawu seemed to have taken it all in stride, and some even swallowed hard, their faces showing greed.

This is the Five Dynasties period.

Zhang Heng did not stop, but skillfully cut open the wound, reached inside, and forcefully pulled out a piece of flesh.

He held the piece of meat in his hands, which were covered in blood, and brought it directly to his mouth.

"Good! What courage!"

Zhang Heng laughed indistinctly at Shen Lie, his expression quite smug.

"Lord Shen, I, Old Zhang, tasted this first bite for you, and it's truly a delicacy! Enjoy the rest while it's hot!"

After saying that, he actually handed the piece of meat to Shen Lie.

Yang Ting's hands were already trembling; he gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his face ashen. The twenty guards around him, though men who had seen blood, were also horrified, their stomachs churning.

Only the henchmen of Zhangjiawu seemed to have taken it all in stride, and some even swallowed hard, their faces showing greed.

Shen Lie sat there, looking at the blood-stained hands and the gradually cooling corpse lying in the pool of blood.

The moment Shen Lie stepped into Zhangjiawu, he had already mentally prepared himself.

He knew this was a den of thieves, and that there must be some shady dealings going on here.

He had even thought it through: even if Zhang Heng had committed murder and arson in the past, as long as he was willing to obey orders and become a watchdog in Yaozhou, he might as well accept it without hesitation.

After all, during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, which hand was clean?

Compared to those high-ranking figures, Zhang Heng, a minor bandit leader, was nothing more than a speck of dust in this chaotic world.

However, when Shen Lie saw Zhang Heng eat it, he realized that there were some things he could never convince himself of.

What kind of interest game?

What about the overall situation in Yaozhou?

What can bend and stretch?

Fuck it!

If it's for the sake of these few hundred bandits, for the sake of this fortified village's meager food, that he has to be born with cannibals, that he has to watch helplessly as his fellow human beings are slaughtered like livestock...

Then we might as well abandon this overall situation!

If we can't even be human, how can we talk about helping the needy and restoring our country?

Rather than trying to get something out of a tiger, you'll end up becoming its accomplice.

It would be better to kill this tiger!

"My lord?"

Seeing that Shen Lie remained silent, Zhang Heng called out again, "Is this lamb... not to your liking? If you think it's too thin, there are more later..."

"besides?"

Shen Lie turned his head and glanced at Zhang Heng.

If he were to endure this meal and eat this "meat" today, would he still be Shen Lie?

Then what difference is there between him, Zhang Heng, and the millions of wild beasts in this chaotic world?

We came here to be human, not to be beasts.

"Zhang Heng".

"You just said you wanted to come to Yaozhou with me?"

Zhang Heng paused for a moment, then nodded subconsciously, saying, "Yes, didn't the magistrate say..."

"Yaozhou doesn't want beasts."

Shen Lie placed his hand on the horizontal sword at his waist.

"Clang!"

The horizontal sword emitted a clear and melodious dragon's roar.

"I originally intended to endure it."

Shen Lie looked at Zhang Heng, who was in a daze, and a smile appeared on his lips, but there was no hint of a smile in his eyes.

"But I suddenly realized that if I tolerate you, you beast, I'm afraid I'll never sleep soundly again for the rest of my life."