Night Ambush

These past days, quite a few refugees had poured into more than a dozen counties around Qingjiang County.

Xu Mingwei's experience of being struck with a club was not an isolated case.

But people generally did not carry much wealth when traveling, and afterward, the culprits could not be found. Since no lives had been lost, the matter had simply been dropped.

Over the past few days, Xu Chuan had spotted furtive figures around his home.

So he set up some traps near the walls—nails, mousetraps, and the like.

If anyone climbed over the wall, they would certainly suffer for it.

There were also warning bells.

The moment someone triggered a trap, the warning bells would ring throughout the area.

[Today's divination: Moderately inauspicious. At Zi Shi tonight, five people will climb over the wall, intending to kill and rob.]

Xu Chuan sneered inwardly.

The Xu Family's reputation in Dongxi Village was resounding, yet they did not have as many household guards as the Xu Family. It was perfectly normal for them to be targeted.

"I wonder if any of those men are Martial Artists?"

"But even if the odds are low, I still need to take precautions."

Those nails and mousetraps were enough against ordinary refugees, but if they encountered Martial Artists, their usefulness would be limited.

He made several simple crossbows and set them beneath the eaves on both sides after nightfall.

Once the traps were triggered, the crossbows would fire in a wild barrage, and he removed the warning bells.

When Xu Chuan went out that day, he merely made a brief round of inspection.

All he could think about was what would happen tonight.

"Shitou, thieves may come to rob us tonight. A quarter of an hour before Zi Shi, take your bow and wait on the rooftop. Shoot when you see the chance. Can you do it?"

Xu Chuan spoke abruptly, his expression exceedingly grave.

"Father, is that true?"

"If you trust Father, then do as Father says. This concerns the safety of our whole family."

Xu Mingwei did not ask further. "Understood, Father. I'll listen to you."

Though he did not possess the strength of a Third-rate Martial Artist, with his Innate Divine Strength, sharp Eagle Eye, and bow at range, a sudden attack under cover of night posed a great threat even to a Second-rate Martial Artist.

"Father, should we poison the arrowheads?"

"You won't feel uneasy about it?" Xu Chuan looked at Xu Mingwei in some surprise.

Xu Mingwei's eyes turned sharp, like blade edges, as though killing intent had gathered within them.

"Anyone who threatens our family must be uprooted once and for all."

"Mm." Xu Chuan nodded. "Do as you see fit."

Night fell.

The bright moon hid behind a dark cloud, while the stars flickered dimly.

On the bed.

Xu Chuan lay quietly, his Blood Qi brimming.

"Husband, let this concubine help you release some Fiery Energy."

For once, Xu Chuan smiled slightly. "This Fiery Energy has other uses. It's just right to keep it."

Bai Jing was somewhat confused.

What use could it have?

Did he want to use it on someone else?

The other people Bai Jing imagined naturally referred to other women.

"All right, rest early tonight. We still have to get up early tomorrow."

Bai Jing felt that Xu Chuan should not be that sort of man. Reassured, she lay down and soon drifted into sleep.

In another room.

Xu Mingwei lit a candle, wiped down his bow and arrows, and poisoned the arrowheads.

The room was filled with the atmosphere of soldiers in a military camp awaiting a great battle.

Oppressive!

Stifling!

On the eve of Zi Shi.

Following Xu Chuan's instructions, Xu Mingwei slung an arrow quiver over his back, held his bow, and leaped onto the rooftop in just a few moves.

Xu Chuan stepped out of his room and glanced at the rooftop.

The moonlight was dim, and Xu Mingwei had almost blended into the night.

He found a chopping knife and stood in the shadows beneath the eaves.

Like an assassin, waiting for the right moment to strike and kill with a single blow.

A quarter of an hour later.

"Big Brother, this is the place."

"This family is surnamed Xu. They rose to wealth very quickly and became a wealthy household in Dongxi Village in just a few years."

"I heard the master of this household is skilled at planting. By sheer luck, he grew Green Jade Pears. They are no ordinary goods. From that alone, he should earn over a thousand taels every year."

"There are five people in the family. Apart from the couple, there are three sons, and the oldest is only nine."

A burly middle-aged man in gray cloth glanced at the short youth and said blandly, "Fifth, you picked well."

"Brothers, be quick with your hands. Leave no one in this household alive. Once we find the valuables, we'll leave Qingjiang County overnight like before."

"Refugees are everywhere now. Finding a few people would be harder than climbing to the heavens."

"Yes, Boss Xiong."

The group began climbing over the wall at once. From their movements, they were clearly veterans at this.

But none of them seemed to be Ranked Martial Artists.

Otherwise, even a Third-rate Martial Artist could have cleared the nearly four-meter-high wall in just a few moves.

The moment they landed.

"Hiss—"

Three of them immediately sucked in sharp breaths and could not help crying out softly.

That was after gritting their teeth and forcing themselves to hold it in.

"Are you three looking to die?" Boss Xiong growled a low warning from his throat, deeply displeased.

"No, Boss Xiong. We stepped on nails."

"Fine. Just be more careful. If anyone makes another sound, don't blame me for being ruthless afterward!"

They cautiously felt their way forward a few steps.

Suddenly, one of the tall men felt something tug at his ankle.

The next moment.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Seven or eight crossbow bolts shot out together from beneath the eaves.

Two men were immediately struck in the head and heart, dying on the spot, while the remaining three suffered injuries of varying severity.

One was shot in the abdomen, while another was shot in the leg and fell to the ground.

The last one had his arm grazed.

"Damn it!"

Boss Xiong let out a low roar and hurriedly said, "It's an ambush! Retreat!"

The instant his words fell.

Xu Mingwei, who had been waiting on the rooftop for a long time, had already drawn his bowstring into a full moon, his sharp Eagle Eye fixed firmly on the man shot in the abdomen.

Whoosh—

The sound of something cutting through the air rang out.

The black arrow tore through the night sky, instantly piercing through the man's throat, bursting out from the back, and embedding itself in the wall behind him.

"Old Second!"

Boss Xiong's eyes nearly split apart as he looked toward the rooftop.

The moon emerged from behind the clouds.

Cold moonlight spilled down, draping Xu Mingwei in silver gauze.

It was the face of a youth, cold as frost.

His sharp, profound gaze shot into Boss Xiong's eyes like arrows.

He was actually just a boy!

Boss Xiong was both shocked and enraged.

Xu Mingwei drew another arrow, drawing Boss Xiong's attention.

At that very moment, Xu Chuan seized the opportunity and exploded into motion, nearly leaping above his head in a single stride.

The chopping knife, ground to a gleaming shine, came hacking straight down at his head with the force of the fall.

Decisive!

Vicious!

In his haste, Boss Xiong only had time to raise his axe to block. But under that tremendous force, the web between his thumb and forefinger split open, and the axe fell from his hand.

He, too, collapsed onto the ground.

As terror filled his face, Xu Chuan turned and swung. The blade edge of the chopping knife sliced across his throat with perfect precision.

A stream of scorching liquid sprayed out.

Specks of blood covered Xu Chuan's body and face.

Then came another whoosh.

The man whose leg had been injured first and who had fallen to the ground was also nailed to the earth by Xu Mingwei.

Seeing that every thief was dead, the heart Xu Mingwei had been clutching finally relaxed, and he dropped down onto the roof.

He looked at his hands, which would not stop trembling.

He could barely even hold his bow.

A constant buzzing filled his head, making the world spin around him.

As for Xu Chuan, he had already begun searching the bodies.

From Boss Xiong, he found some silver, an Inner Strength Manual called Savage Bear Strength, and a small porcelain bottle containing six Qi and Blood Pills.

The others had not a single coin on them.

"Looks like they've already robbed quite a few wealthy households."

Xu Chuan began cleaning up the scene. Xu Mingwei came back to his senses and hurriedly jumped down from the rooftop to help.

"Drag them all into the forest and bury them."

"Wash the arrows. They can still be used. Remember to wipe off the poison first."

"Yes, Father."