NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 25 - Sewing Some Shorts
025: Sewing Some Shorts
“Find shelter from the rain,”
Blood Beard wiped the cold rainwater from his face and said coldly, “No one is allowed to drink the rainwater. If you go mad, don’t blame my blade.”
“Yes, sir,” the surrounding thieves responded respectfully.
True to his name, Blood Beard’s chin and cheeks were covered with a thick, blood-red beard, hiding his neck. Even his hair was blood-red.
Standing at 1.9 meters tall, he was the size of two average people combined.
Despite his burly appearance, Blood Beard was meticulous.
However, he had a nasty temper; anyone who angered him faced his wrath and could be beaten to death.
“Send out scouts and be wary of beasts,” Blood Beard ordered.
“Yes, sir.”
The thieves searched for shelter and soon found a slanted rock wall on the hillside, perfect for keeping dry.
All 200+ of Blood Beard’s men crowded under the rock wall, quietly waiting for the storm to pass.
“Boss, there’s no need for you to handle that small camp personally. I can take care of them with my men,” Night Jackal confidently pounded his chest.
One of Blood Beard’s four lieutenants, Night Jackal, was also a mutated jackal.
He had every confidence in his abilities.
“Some things aren’t as simple as they seem,” Blood Beard said, stroking his beard, his eyes calculating.
Of course, he knew he didn’t need to act personally against a small camp.
But Blood Beard was highly distrustful; few of his subordinates earned his trust, and none of the four lieutenants were among them.
Especially when it came to leading missions alone, he feared they might steal away his troops. It had happened once before.
Back then, nearly 400 of his 1,000-strong band were led away.
Since then, any operation involving more than 200 people was personally led by Blood Beard.
“Does that mean there’s someone powerful in that camp?”
Night Jackal licked his lips, eager for a good fight.
“The leader of that small camp is decent,” Blood Beard said indifferently.
“Boss, let me handle him!” Night Jackal exclaimed excitedly.
“Fine, do as you please,” Blood Beard waved dismissively.
What he wanted were the strong men in the camp, potential recruits for his band.
The band grew this way—loyalty was secondary.
As long as Blood Beard controlled the water and food, disobedience wasn’t an issue.
“Beast spotted!” a thief’s panicked cry rang out.
Blood Beard strode forward, grabbing the panicked thief. “Where?”
“On that rock wall,” the thief pointed.
Blood Beard pushed the thief aside and looked. A spider with a red ghost face clung to the wall, ten meters high.
“What’s all the fuss? It’s just a spider,” Night Jackal cursed.
He sneered, picking up a stone. “Watch me knock it down.”
As he raised his arm, Blood Beard caught his wrist.
“Boss?” Night Jackal looked puzzled.
Narrowing his eyes, Blood Beard scrutinized the spider.
After a moment, he shook his head. “That spider’s odd. Don’t provoke it,” he said coldly.
It was wise not to antagonize certain beasts in the wild; you never knew if you’d stir up a nest.
“Odd?” Night Jackal looked again, but the spider had vanished.
He shivered, muttering, “That is creepy.”
On the other side of the hill…
Mu Liang received feedback from the Red Ghost Spider and froze for a few seconds.
It turned out that Blood Beard’s band was just on the other side of the hill.
“What are the odds?” Mu Liang said in surprise.
He had planned to pass by them at noon, but he hadn’t expected them to be so close.
“What’s so coincidental?” Mino looked up, curious.
“Blood Beard’s band is on the other side of this hill,” Mu Liang pointed.
“Will they find us?” Mino asked nervously, her brow furrowing.
“It’s raining; they won’t come this way for no reason,” Mu Liang said, shaking his head dismissively.
“Are you really going to take something from their camp?” Mino bit her lip, worried about his safety.
“It’s too dangerous. Maybe… don’t go,” she pleaded softly.
“Relax, I can turn invisible,” Mu Liang said, his figure slowly fading until he vanished.
“Eh?!” Mino’s blue eyes widened in shock.
She stood and reached for where he had disappeared, only for her small hand to be gently held.
Mu Liang’s voice came softly, “Feel better now?”
“Can you take me with you?” Mino asked, blinking.
“No, stay home,” Mu Liang flicked her forehead lightly.
He could handle himself but didn’t want to risk bringing her along.
“I can help carry things,” Mino flexed her arm, trying to look strong.
“I have Little Cai for that,” Mu Liang said, squeezing her soft arm.
“Ah! Please take me!” Mino blushed, tugging on his sleeve playfully.
“If you go, no one will guard the house,” Mu Liang remained unmoved.
He added, “Don’t you worry about someone stealing your things?”
Mino quickly countered, “We have Little Xuanwu!”
“If we both leave, who will cover me?” Mu Liang warned, making the situation sound more serious. “Plus, skilled thieves might climb up here.”
Tapping her nose gently, he reassured her, “With you guarding, I’ll feel more at ease.”
If the Rock Armored Turtle couldn’t stop intruders, it could seal the house with its shell, making entry nearly impossible.
“Fine, I’ll stay,” Mino pouted.
She knew better than to push, fearing she’d annoy him.
“You won’t be idle. You need to sew some clothes,” Mu Liang suggested, keeping her busy.
“But how do I sew clothes?” Mino tilted her head, her bunny ears tangled.
She had never sewn clothes before; her sister had made all her outfits when she was ten.
“First, measure yourself, then mark the dimensions on the fabric,” Mu Liang explained, grabbing his drying camouflage uniform.
“Make it loose, like a dress,” he suggested.
“But isn’t that wasteful?” Mino pouted, concerned.
Ignoring her protests, Mu Liang showed her how to turn the fabric inside out for stitching. “This way, the seams will be hidden.”
“Really?” Mino looked lost.
“Also, sew some shorts. Don’t ask why—it’s non-negotiable.”
Mino: “…”
“Fine, I’ll draw a pattern. Follow it and sew the matching pieces together.”
Mu Liang only had a rough understanding, but with ready-made clothes as reference, he could figure it out.
For needles, he decided to craft a bone needle during the rain. Spider silk would make excellent thread.