Night Raid

The Li Estate at the east end of town!

"Butler Tang, there's no more noise from the Luo family courtyard. The siblings are probably asleep. Should we move now and grab them for questioning?"

Listening to his subordinate's inquiry, Li Estate's butler, "Tang Cong," turned to look at the three men of varying builds standing in the yard.

The "Qi Family Trio"—identical triplets, all martial artists at the late Skin Tempering Realm. A few years ago, they committed a heinous crime in the collapsed Ying County of Youzhou, raping and murdering a young lady from a prominent clan there who had sneaked out alone to play.

When the deed came to light, the Yingshan Clan of the woman's family flew into a rage. They not only dispatched elite clansmen to hunt the three down but also offered an extra thousand taels of silver as a bounty on their heads.

Sensing grave danger, the trio fled their village that very night, but bounty hunters caught up with them.

Chased all the way from Youzhou, they escaped through countless close calls, eventually reaching Dongsheng Town near Yunlu County.

Standing outside town, gazing at the lavish estate of "Mister Li," a wicked thought stirred in their hearts—they planned to seize it for themselves.

Their scheme was to kill every man inside and keep the women as playthings.

But as they scaled the back wall of the Li Estate and landed in the rear courtyard, they stumbled upon a terrifying demon devouring a person.

Terrified, they dropped to their knees, begging for mercy. The noblewoman demon was about to eat them.

"Don't eat me," "Don't eat me," we can work for you.

The noblewoman looked at the three men on the ground—three late Skin Tempering martial artists. She was badly injured herself, and if she fought them head-on, even winning would worsen her wounds. The cost didn't seem worth the gain.

Black qi gathered in the noblewoman demon's hand, forming three pills, which she tossed before them.

Eat these pills, and you'll live today.

Watching the pills materialize from thin air, the three hesitated.

"Milord..." Could we—

Eat them, or I'll send you off now.

Seeing the demon lunge at them, they knew hesitation meant death for all. They quickly swallowed the pills.

Seeing them take the pills, the noblewoman said, "From now on, you three will follow him and do as he says."

With that, she pointed at "Mister Li."

"Are you sure 'Luo Wei' led people into the mountains with his nephew and then vanished?"

"Positive, Butler Tang. A few thugs who came to the estate yesterday said so themselves. Mister Li also confirmed the whole story—no doubt about it."

Hearing that his master had verified it, Butler Tang nodded.

"That kid went into the mountains alone a couple days ago and bagged a six- or seven-hundred-pound tiger. Can you three brothers handle him?"

"Relax, Butler Tang. You know how reliable we 'Qi Family Brothers' are! As long as he's not a 'Flesh Refining Realm' martial artist, we'll get the job done cleanly with our strength."

Looking at the confident trio, Butler Tang nodded. "Go. If you fail, don't expose yourselves or the Lady's identity. You know the consequences."

At Butler Tang's threat, recalling the terrifying demon in the rear wing, the three couldn't help but shiver.

Leaving the Li Estate under the pitch-black night, they groped their way to Luo Yi's house.

Instead of picking the lock, they vaulted over the wall into the yard.

Luo Yi had just fallen asleep when he heard faint footsteps landing in the courtyard. Who would come this late and not use the front door?

On alert, he grabbed the Dao beside him and crept quietly to the back of the door.

Pressing against the wall, he listened closely to the sounds outside.

Qi the Eldest slapped Qi the Third on the back of the head!

"Third, I told you to eat less and not get so fat! You made the most noise when you jumped. If you wake the kid inside and he screams for help, ruining the Lady's plans, you'll be in for it when we get back."

"Big brother, I can't help it. Compared to what we used to eat, the food lately is too good—I can't resist!" Rubbing his head, "Qi the Third" looked innocent.

Seeing his brother's clueless expression, Qi the Eldest shook his head helplessly.

"Big brother, third brother, stop arguing. You'll really wake the kid." Cutting off their quarrel, Second Qi crept to Luo Yi's door, poked a hole in the window with his finger, and pulled out a bamboo tube filled with a mix of poison and knockout drug.

Luo Yi caught the conversation outside. "Lady"? Was there a palace lady living in Dongsheng Town? He'd never heard anyone mention it. Puzzled, he thought to himself, these three sneaking around at night meant no good. He tightened his grip on the Dao.

He planned to strike suddenly and take out one of them when they entered the room, catching them off guard.

After a wait with no one coming in, Luo Yi thought they'd spotted him.

Then he saw the window punctured from outside and a bamboo tube poking through. Recalling TV dramas from his past life, this was probably knockout gas or poison. Unsure of his body's resistance to toxins, Luo Yi took a deep breath and blew into the tube.

Second Qi had just poured the poison-drug mix into the tube and put his mouth to it, ready to blow.

Hit by Luo Yi's sudden blast, the mix shot back into his mouth, and he coughed violently.

Knowing the drugger outside had been caught, Luo Yi kicked the door open and charged out with his Dao, heading for the other two.

Qi the Eldest and Qi the Third stood in the yard, watching their brother. Suddenly, Second Qi clutched his throat, thrashing wildly.

They moved to check on him when the door swung open from inside.

A young man wielding a Dao kicked the door wide and burst out.

"Bold indeed!" Not content to wait obediently in the house, he actually dared to come and seek death on his own.

The two men drew the long blades from their backs.

"Together—kill him!"

Qi the Eldest roared, and beside him, Qi the Third swung his long blade. The two charged at Luo Yi from left and right.

Watching them close in, Luo Yi leveled his Dao, blocking Qi the Eldest's attack while sidestepping to evade Qi the Third's slash.

Having dodged their strikes, Luo Yi spun abruptly and swung his Dao toward Qi the Third's head.

Seeing the gleaming blade, Qi the Third hastily retreated.

Just then, Qi the Eldest swung his chopping knife and came at Luo Yi from behind.

Sensing the gust of wind at his back, Luo Yi pulled back the Dao aimed at Qi the Third, forced himself around, and with all his strength, slashed at the oncoming Qi the Eldest.

With a loud clang, the two blades clashed violently, sparks flying.

Luo Yi stood motionless. Qi the Eldest, shaken by Luo Yi's full-force blow, stumbled back several steps, stomping the ground repeatedly before regaining his balance.

"Such strength?"

Before Qi the Eldest could recover, Luo Yi swung his Dao with full power at the still-dazed man.

Watching the Dao hurtling toward him, Qi the Eldest's eyes widened in terror. He tried to raise his blade to block, but found his arms still numb from the earlier collision, his movements sluggish.

Chop. The Dao cleaved Qi the Eldest in two at the waist.

"Eldest!" Seeing his eldest brother cut in half and his second brother fallen into poisoned unconsciousness, Qi the Third knew he was no match for this man. Staying would only mean throwing his life away. He pulled a hidden weapon from his waist, flung it at the spot where Luo Yi stood, then turned and fled.

Dodging the flying projectiles, Luo Yi worried the man might have accomplices waiting outside. He did not give chase to the escaping Qi the Third.