Now that Qing Shan had decided, there was no need for hesitation, he enacted an enormous project immediately when he and Bai returned to the town. They had gathered the more fit and normal looking people of the group to help. Sacks of rice, potatoes, cabbages, cucumbers, and wheat. A dozen chicken, seeds for various herbs. Rolls of cloth, shoes, medical supplies, two carriages with four horses, shovels, these were only some of the things he had gathered. he went all out sparing no expenses.

Some folks even thought he was running away from home and was settling in some far off country, after all, he had enough supplies to last well past the winter! What was an 8-year-old to do with all of this anyways?

A dozen Gold coins were spent today and yet he still planned to get more tomorrow. Using his newly brought carriages the group loaded up their purchases and hurried back to the bandit's camp.

Yuan and everyone was waiting for them at the entrance with dumbfounded looks as they stared at the piles of stuff in the back.

"What are you all waiting for? Hurry up and unload the supplies and distribution of the clothes and daily necessities. Get the sick to gather in a line in front of the square, I want to examine them."

As a former CEO, he knew he had to be a taskmaster with these people. They were former bandits and simple farmers, they were undisciplined, and he planned to turn them into his own personal force.

He was a firm believer in carrot and stick.

After passing out all the new clothing and shoes everyone looked much better than before. While still appearing to be in poor health they were much more lively and looked somewhat presentable.

Everyone was soon gathered in front of him, it was mid noon and they had yet to have lunch. He could hear some whispers as he rolled past everyone to the front of the crowd.

"Who's that brat?"

"You mean that midget is the one who beat you all up?"

"Why are we here?"

"Yeah, I'm hungry, let's just eat and do this later"

Although there was a lot of complaints and confusion, nobody had actually left yet.

Qing Shan finally stopped in front of everybody and rolled around to look at them. He went from one side to the other, making sure to slowly look at everyone in the eye. Some avoided his gaze, others glared back. He made a mental note of them all before he stopped back where he began.

"You know what I see when I look at you all? A bunch of trash! I had thought Chen or Lee was the village idiot amongst you, I was terribly wrong, rather this is a village entirely of idiots!"

His tone was flat and harsh like a disappointed father and there were a few angry outbursts amongst the crowd.

"Why you!"

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"What gives you the right to say that to us?!"

"Yeah! You don't know what we've been through to make it here today!"

"A pampered Young master like you!"

It was expected, after all, it was what he was aiming for. To get their emotions riled up.

From the corner of his eyes, he saw Bai biting her lips, her hand clenched to her side in a tight fist as she barely held herself back from saying anything. They exchanged glances. No words were said, but none were needed. She understood his message.

'You asked for my help, so just trust me'

He knew what he was doing. This was by far from his first rodeo.

"You're right. I don't know what you've all been through, and frankly, I don't care. What I do know is that you are all a bunch of spineless cowards! That you've all given up and let despair take over your lives!"

His words ended in a roar that shocked the crowd and silenced any opposition. He was speaking and they will listen.

"What's with the looks? Are you going to tell me that I'm wrong perhaps? I'm just the new guy here, how could I know of your efforts you might ask?"

Some people looked down as he said what they had in mind, others were intimidated by his attitude and aura.

"Just look at yourselves, look at your so-called home! People sitting around doing nothing while waiting for Yuan and his gang to provide for them. Aren't you ashamed? I know I would be as a man if I had to rely on others to take care of me for the rest of my life. Instead of doing anything productive such as fixing the fence, which is only good for keeping chickens out, or improving yourselves in some manner you loiter around laying in bed and complaining. It's disgusting!"

He picked up a rock and "gently" tossed it at a weak point he had scoped out earlier to prove a point. The section easily fell apart into a pile of branches. He doubted anyone, besides Bai considering her wide eyes, noticed that he had channeled his KI when he did it.

Ok, so it was a dirty trick, sue him.

The villagers all looked away with their heads hung low. It would've been quite the comical sight to anyone passing by, an entire village of grown men and woman, members of the Ironback Bandits group, being subdued and berated by a kid in a wheelchair that didn't go past their hips.

 "But you know what else I see?!"

Everyone held a wince on their face, please spare us kid, what more do you want? We know we're a bunch of fuck-ups ok?!

 "I see a harden people. Ones who have been chewed up and spat out by life, but didn't roll over and die, a bunch of survivors! I'm here before to say that this"

Qing Shan gestured with his arms to the entire village

"Does not have to be your fate, that you all can be so much more. From this day onwards I'll be changing things, it'll be hard, and some of you might end up worse off than before, but I promise that those who follow me to the end will be able to grab onto glory with their own hands. To take their life back in their control."

Everyone stared at him. He has played his cards and it was time to see where things fall.

He went to Yuan and handed him a sack of money

"I'm not going to force anyone here to join me, all the supplies I have brought here are gifts and will be theirs regardless of their decision. For those who want a new beginning in life, tell them to meet me where Chen first found me next week at noon. For those without resolve, who are content with their situation and don't wish to follow me, give them a Gold coin. They are no longer part of our group."

He rolled away towards Bai to go home. While he could have used fear or force to make them obey him, what was the point? He had no interest in mindless puppets or quivering idiots. Where was the fun in that? He wonders how many will be left at the end of the week? A gold coin was more than many would see in their lives. Even he couldn't predict the outcome, but that just makes it more fun. He loved challenges.

Bai didn't argue with his choice this time to leave, after all, they had already given them so much that it would last them a long time. Plus she knew she couldn't force him to keep supporting the group.

 "I'll see you next week, Boss!" He heard Yuan's voice call out after them. It seems he had earned someone's respect.

Henchmen +1!