The creaking of the axle and flatbed cart dragging over the ground echoed without end as Chen Xuan's family gradually disappeared into the still morning.
Because it was so early, they encountered very few villagers.
There were hardly any villagers about. When the few who did see Chen Xuan's group noticed them, they were inevitably surprised and even began questioning them. Zhang Chunhua brushed them off by saying they were going to the city to look for her husband and son.
"Mother, Second Uncle, I think I forgot to take something. Go on ahead for a bit—I'll go back and get it!"
They had only traveled two or three li when Chen Xuan slapped his forehead and spoke to his mother and Second Uncle.
"Something? Didn't I already pack everything?"
Zhang Chunhua looked somewhat puzzled.
"Well, I hid it in the little courtyard. I'll go get it and be right back."
Chen Xuan smiled and explained.
"All right, then. We'll wait for you. Er Gou, hurry up."
Though Zhang Chunhua was somewhat doubtful, she still nodded.
"Okay!"
Chen Xuan answered with a smile, then quickly headed back down the road they had come from.
But at this moment, he held a bow and arrow in his hand.
Just as Chen Xuan and the others were leaving.
Chen San Ye's front gate was being pounded on.
"Master, Master!"
"Master, something terrible has happened!"
An anxious voice rang out. It was Er He, a servant of Chen San Ye's household.
"What is it?"
Hurried movements sounded from within the room.
Chen San Ye's voice carried a trace of confusion.
"Master, that kid left early this morning."
Er He was anxious and slightly out of breath as he hurriedly reported.
"Then he left. Yesterday's hunt probably wasn't Tiger and Leopard!"
"Did you eat a leopard's gall, you brat, daring to disturb Third Master's sleep?"
Chen San Ye snorted coldly, and the door opened at that moment.
"No, Master. That kid left today with his mother and younger brother, riding a donkey cart. From the looks of it, they're probably leaving Small River Village."
Seeing Chen San Ye's furious expression, Er He did not dare delay in the slightest and quickly reported the situation.
"What?"
Hearing his servant's report, Chen San Ye finally understood.
Killing intent instantly boiled up in his eyes.
"Master, I've confirmed it. I saw it with my own eyes. Chen Er Shan was even driving the donkey cart for them. I heard they wanted to go to the city to find their deadbeat father."
"And Master, that kid was dragging along the thing he brought down the mountain yesterday. Do you think he might be taking it to the city to sell?"
Er He looked anxious.
He had no choice. He was still counting on his master to take him along to the city, and he did not want anything unexpected to happen.
Hearing Er He's words, a cold gleam instantly flashed through Chen San Ye's eyes.
"Hmph. He took my things and still wants to leave so easily? How could there be such a good thing under heaven?"
Chen San Ye snorted, killing intent appearing on his face as well.
He had never intended to let Chen Xuan's family leave so easily.
Never mind whether it was truly Tiger and Leopard—even if it was not, Chen Xuan leaving was something he could never allow.
More than thirty taels of silver.
If he did not take it back, could he still call himself Chen San Ye?
As for whether twenty taels had already been returned, Chen San Ye did not care. Those twenty taels were his too, and the bow and arrow were his as well.
Since when could these mud-legged peasants get money out of Chen San Ye?
"Ride my horse. Set out from East Village at once and notify Chuan Er. Take them down."
"Tell Chuan Er that if there is Tiger and Leopard, kill him directly. If there isn't, use his mother and younger brother to threaten him. If he cannot hunt Tiger and Leopard within three days, kill his younger brother first. If he still cannot hunt Tiger and Leopard within seven days, slaughter them all, him included."
Chen San Ye's cold voice rang out, the words leaving his mouth as easily as though he were discussing the weather.
"Yes!"
Er He hurriedly answered.
But at that very moment.
Whoosh!
Squelch!
Er He had only just turned around when his eyes abruptly widened, and he fell stiffly to the ground.
Bang!
The dull thud of the body hitting the ground snapped Chen San Ye out of his thoughts. But when he came back to himself, he froze. Blood from Er He's corpse was already spreading across the floor.
"This!"
His body shuddered as he instinctively backed away.
"Third Master, why must it come to this?"
A sigh drifted down from the roof. Chen Xuan stood there holding a bow and arrow, his face somewhat pale, yet his gaze remained calm as he looked below.
Even though a life had just ended before his eyes, it had only made his face turn slightly pale. The hand gripping the bow and arrow did not tremble in the slightest.
"Er Gou, you!"
Following the voice, Chen San Ye's pupils shrank sharply, and he spoke with a stammer.
"Third Master wants to ask why I'm here?"
Chen Xuan chuckled from the roof, cold light filling his eyes as his arrow turned toward Chen San Ye.
"Er Gou, Er Gou, there must be some misunderstanding between us!"
With the arrow aimed at him, cold sweat immediately seeped from Chen San Ye's skin, and he hurriedly spoke.
"A misunderstanding? I don't think it was a misunderstanding. I heard every single word Third Master just said!"
Whoosh!
Chen Xuan laughed again. The next moment, the bow shifted, and another arrow shot out instantly.
Squelch!
Behind Chen San Ye, a figure about to flee suddenly stiffened.
A look of astonishment appeared on her pretty face, while an arrow had pierced directly through her heart.
Bang!
Her body crashed down once more, blood likewise soaking into the ground.
"Er Gou, Er Gou, listen to me!"
Chen San Ye hurriedly spoke. At this moment, his soul had nearly fled his body.
"Third Master, there was no grudge between us. In fact, for the favor of giving me a bow and arrow, I would naturally have offered Tiger and Leopard's heart to you with both hands someday. What a pity. Why did you have to do this?"
Chen Xuan spoke softly, as though soothing his own heart, yet also as though stating something.
"Er Gou!"
Chen San Ye opened his mouth again, but the next moment.
Whoosh!
Squelch!
The arrow pierced in instantly, passing through the center of his forehead. His body fell to the ground at once, just like the others.
Until his death, Chen San Ye never imagined that Chen Xuan had no intention of listening to his nonsense at all.
Those words had ultimately been spoken by Chen Xuan for himself to hear, not for Chen San Ye.
Naturally, there was no need for Chen San Ye to defend himself.
Three bodies lay on the ground, and Chen Xuan's face was somewhat pale.
But his movements did not hesitate.
He stepped forward and quickly arrived at the side room.
He drew a bow and arrow.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Arrows flew out one after another.
The commotion in the main house had not been very loud, and the others had not noticed.
At this moment, these people had not yet gotten up.
Chen Xuan fired arrow after arrow. His accomplished archery allowed the arrows to pierce through the windows almost instantly and bury themselves in the sleeping figures.
Chen San Ye's family, together with the servants and concubines, numbered seven in all.
By the time Chen Xuan left, all seven had completely closed their eyes, while flames began to blaze fiercely behind him.
Two chapters released together, so everyone won't be left wanting. I never intended to write much about Chen San Ye's matter. To the protagonist, Chen San Ye's role was not significant, nor did he pose any real danger. His only purpose was to make the protagonist understand that the human heart in this world was even more vicious than he had imagined. He and Chen San Ye had no connection beyond a transaction, yet even so, whether he hunted the tiger or not, Chen San Ye had never intended to let him leave alive. If he did not hunt it, Chen San Ye would use his family to threaten him. If he did hunt it, Chen San Ye wanted the tiger and the money as well. They were merely mud-legged peasants, after all. Chen San Ye was a great figure who intended to live in the city. If his strength had been sufficient and he had not needed to consider continuing to live in Small River Village, he would have directly coerced them instead of luring them with profit.
Before you continue