Hai Hour.
The night was deep and still.
The Scarred Middle-Aged Man led his men toward Dongxi Village.
"Second Brother, Seventh, Eighth, take fifty-odd men to the Orchard. Focus on the Jade Pears. Those thorn walls shouldn't be able to stop you."
"Third, Ninth, Tenth, take forty-odd men to the Medicine Field. Don't worry about anything—just grab handfuls and stuff them into sacks."
"Fourth, Eleventh, Twelfth, you take forty-odd men to the Farmland. Loot whatever you see."
"The rest of you, follow me and lie in ambush one li from the Xu Residence. We'll wait for our chance."
Under the Scarred Middle-Aged Man's command, they moved with practiced efficiency, immediately splitting up.
The Orchard.
"Who goes there!"
A rustle suddenly came from the grass. A Patrol Guard turned, his torch flame soaring like a crimson flood dragon. Its light split the ink-black darkness, revealing the trembling weeds.
"Brothers, charge!"
Second Brother drew the secondhand saber at his waist and roared, bringing it down toward the torch-bearing guard's head.
Just as the blade's rushing wind was about to reach him, someone swept in from the side as though riding the wind and raised a saber across its path. A clang of metal rang out, and sparks burst where the blades met, bathing all three men's brows and hair in red.
"There really are bandits!"
Xu Mingyuan's heart jolted, stunned by his father's uncanny foresight.
He had no time to ponder further. Drawing the longsword at his waist, he pointed its icy edge at the bandits.
"Kill them!"
Then he said to Xu Mingxian beside him, "Anu, don't stray too far from me."
As though he had heard nothing, Xu Mingxian sprang forward, wind seeming to rise beneath his feet. He plunged straight into the crowd, his blue-green treasured sword tracing