Nighttime Assault

During that time, refugees had poured into more than a dozen counties around Qingjiang County.

Xu Mingwei was far from the only person to have been struck from behind.

But people rarely carried much money when they went out, and the culprits could never be found afterward. Since no one had died, the cases came to nothing.

Over the past few days, Xu Chuan had spotted furtive figures near his house.

So he had set traps around the perimeter wall: Nails, Rat Traps, and the like.

Anyone who climbed over would pay for it.

He had also hung warning bells.

When a trap was triggered, the bells would ring out all around.

[Today's divination: Below average. At midnight, five people will climb over the wall, intending to kill for money.]

Xu Chuan gave a cold laugh to himself.

His family was well known in Dongxi Village, yet unlike the Xu Lineage, they had no household guards. It was only natural that someone would target them.

"I wonder if any of the five are martial artists?"

"Even if the odds are small, I still need to guard against it."

The Nails and Rat Traps would be enough for ordinary refugees, but they would be of limited use against martial artists.

He made a few simple Crossbows and, after nightfall, installed them beneath the eaves on either side of the house.

Once a trap was triggered, the Crossbows would fire in a volley. He then took down the warning bells.

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

His thoughts were fixed on what would happen that night.

"Shitou, thieves may come to rob us tonight. A quarter of an hour before midnight, take your bow up to the roof. Wait for an opening and shoot to kill. Can you do that?"

Xu Chuan spoke without warning, his expression grave.

"Dad, is that true?"

"If you trust me, do as I say. Our whole family's safety depends on it."

Xu Mingwei asked no more questions. "I understand, Dad. I'll do whatever you say."

Though he lacked the strength of a Third-Rate Martial Artist, he was born with immense strength. With his sharp eyes and a bow for ranged attacks, a surprise strike under cover of night would make him a serious threat even to a Second-Rate Martial Artist.

"Dad, should I poison the arrowheads?"

"Wouldn't that bother you?" Xu Chuan looked at Xu Mingwei in surprise.

Xu Mingwei's eyes sharpened like blades, as though killing intent had gathered within them.

"Anyone who threatens our family must be dealt with for good."

"Mm." Xu Chuan nodded. "Do what you think is right."

Night fell.

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

On the bed,

Xu Chuan lay quietly, his blood and vitality brimming.

"Husband, let me help you work off some of that heat."

Contrary to his usual manner, Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "That heat has another use. Better to save it."

Bai Jing was puzzled.

What use?

He isn't planning to use it on someone else, is he?

By "someone else," Bai Jing naturally meant another woman.

"All right, let's turn in early tonight. We have to get up early tomorrow."

Bai Jing decided Xu Chuan was not that sort of man. Reassured, she lay down and soon fell asleep.

In another room,

Xu Mingwei had lit a candle and was wiping down his bow and arrows. He also coated the arrowheads with poison.

The room felt like a barracks on the eve of battle.

Oppressive!

Stifling!

Shortly before midnight,

Xu Mingwei followed Xu Chuan's instructions. With a quiver on his back and bow in hand, he leaped onto the roof in a few quick bounds.

Xu Chuan stepped out and glanced up at the roof.

In the dim moonlight, Xu Mingwei nearly blended into the night.

Xu Chuan fetched a woodcutting blade and stood in the shadows beneath the eaves.

Like an assassin, he waited for the right moment to strike a fatal blow.

A quarter of an hour later,

"Big brother, this is the place."

"The family's name is Xu. They rose fast—in just a few years, they became one of the wealthy families of Dongxi Village."

"I hear the head of the family is skilled at growing things and managed to cultivate Jade Pears. They're no ordinary fruit. That alone must bring in over a thousand taels a year."

"There are five of them: the couple and their three sons. The eldest is only nine."

A burly middle-aged man in gray cloth glanced at the short young man. "Fifth Brother, you picked well."

"Brothers, make it quick. Leave none of them alive. Once we find the money, we'll leave Qingjiang County overnight, same as before."

"With refugees roaming everywhere these days, finding a few people will be harder than climbing to heaven."

"Yes, Boss Bear."

The men began climbing the wall together. Judging by their movements, they had done this before.

But none of them appeared to be a ranked martial artist.

Otherwise, even a Third-Rate Martial Artist could have cleared the nearly four-meter wall in a couple of bounds.

The instant they landed,

"Hiss—"

Three of them sucked in sharp breaths and could not help letting out muffled cries.

That was despite gritting their teeth to hold back.

"Are you three trying to get us killed?" Boss Bear growled a low warning, plainly displeased.

"No, Boss Bear. We stepped on Nails."

"Enough. Just watch your step. If anyone makes another sound, don't blame me for what happens afterward!"

They felt their way forward a few steps.

Suddenly, one of the taller men felt something catch around his ankle.

The next instant,

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Seven or eight bolts shot from beneath the eaves at once.

Two men were struck in the head and heart and died on the spot. The other three suffered wounds of varying severity.

One took a bolt to the abdomen, while another was hit in the leg and fell to the ground.

The last suffered a graze to his arm.

"Damn it!"

Boss Bear let out a low roar. "It's an ambush! Get out, now!"

No sooner had he spoken than Xu Mingwei, who had been waiting on the roof, drew his bow to a full moon. His sharp eyes locked onto the man with the bolt in his abdomen.

Whoosh!

The arrow hissed through the air.

Its black shaft cut across the night sky, pierced the man's throat, burst out the back, and embedded itself in the wall behind him.

"Second Brother!"

Boss Bear's eyes bulged with fury as he looked toward the roof.

The moon emerged from behind the dark cloud.

Cold moonlight poured down, draping Xu Mingwei in a veil of silver.

It was a boy's face, cold as ice.

His keen, fathomless gaze drove into Boss Bear's eyes like an arrow.

He's just a boy!

Shock and rage surged through Boss Bear.

Xu Mingwei nocked another arrow and drew his bow, drawing Boss Bear's attention.

At that very moment, Xu Chuan seized his chance. He sprang forward with explosive force, reaching a position almost directly above Boss Bear.

His gleaming woodcutting blade came down with all the force of his descent, straight toward the man's head.

Decisive!

Ruthless!

In his haste, Boss Bear had only time to raise his axe to block. But the tremendous force split the web of his hand, and the axe fell to the ground.

He, too, collapsed onto his backside.

As terror filled Boss Bear's face, Xu Chuan turned and swung. The blade swept cleanly across his throat.

A spray of hot liquid burst forth.

Drops of blood speckled Xu Chuan's face and body.

Then came another whoosh.

Xu Mingwei pinned the man who had first been wounded in the leg and fallen to the ground, killing him where he lay.

Seeing that all the thieves were dead, Xu Mingwei finally felt the tight grip around his heart loosen. He dropped down onto his backside.

He stared at his hands. They would not stop trembling.

He could barely hold his bow.

A constant ringing filled his head, leaving him feeling as though heaven and earth were spinning.

Xu Chuan, meanwhile, had already begun searching the bodies.

On Boss Bear, he found some silver, an Inner Force Manual called Savage Bear Force, and a small porcelain bottle containing six Qi-Blood Pills.

The others did not have a coin among them.

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

Xu Chuan began cleaning up the scene. Xu Mingwei came back to himself and hurried down from the roof to help.

"Drag them into the woods and bury them."

"Wash the arrows and we can use them again. Remember to wipe off the poison first."

"Yes, Dad."