After leaving the inner residence, Song Qingshu went straight to where the guards were recovering from their injuries. He found several whose wounds were lighter and whose spirits were still decent, then asked them what had happened last night.
"Last night, while we were escorting Sect Leader Huang back, we passed near Yongjin Gate when two men in black suddenly appeared..." The guards all began describing the scene at once.
"Just two men beat all of you into this state?" Song Qingshu was deeply puzzled. Most of these guards had been carefully selected by Han Tuozhou. Though they were not top-tier masters, they were still skilled and agile fighters. Huang Rong had also been with them. Although her pregnancy had affected her strength, with her intelligence and the Dog Beating Staff Technique, she was still a first-rate martial artist in the jianghu. Yet such a lineup had been defeated without suspense by four people. It was clear just how formidable their opponents' martial arts were.
Hearing Song Qingshu's question, the guards looked ashamed. "Those two men in black used extremely strange martial arts, and their movement techniques were fast. We were no match for them."
"You were seriously wounded, which means you risked your lives to protect Sect Leader Huang. You did your best, so there is no need to blame yourselves." Seeing how mortified they were, Song Qingshu spoke to comfort them.
At his words, the guards grew emotional. A feeling rose in all their hearts at once: a soldier would die for one who understood him.
"Come to think of it, it was strange. We brothers thought we were doomed, but those two men in black only made sure we lost the ability to fight. They did not take our lives," one guard said in confusion.
Song Qingshu