The Orchard.
Xu Chuan watched silently from the shadows, with no intention of intervening.
Perhaps I overestimated the danger this time. Not even one person died, Xu Chuan mused privately. Then he shook his head with a rueful smile. Not entirely. Had the Xu Household been unprepared, the Great Mansion would have been safe, but quite a few guards would probably have died, and the orchards and farmland would have suffered enormous losses.
On second thought, the ominous divination signs had been broadly accurate.
He had expected several opponents at the Houtian Peak, but had not seen even one.
"I wonder how the other places are doing?"
Seeing only a handful of men left, Xu Chuan suddenly stepped out and called, "Everyone, stop."
"Father?"
"Family Head."
Xu Mingyuan and Xu Mingxian came to Xu Chuan's side, while the other guards cupped their hands in salute.
"Where is your hideout? Take us there."
"Yes, yes, of course. We'll take you there right away."
Seeing a chance to survive, the last two men immediately knelt and kowtowed, then led Xu Chuan and his men there.
Not long after they left.
The encirclement and slaughter elsewhere also ended, with everyone returning in triumph.
A little over an hour later.
They reached a large residence in Huanxi Village, some fifty or sixty li east of Dongxi Village.
Grain lay piled in a corner of the main hall, along with some fruit, vegetables, and wild game.
"Xu Family Head, since we've been so cooperative, please spare our lives. Those bandits captured us too.
"They were strong. We had no choice but to obey them."
The two men banged their heads against the ground, abasing themselves into the dust.
"Beneath natural disaster, there is no mercy."
"Whoever attacks the Xu Household dies!"
The words had barely