Outside the tents, raindrops fell in sheets, hanging in the air. Everywhere the eye looked was a glaring white curtain of rain; it was impossible to see into the distance.
Yet the hoofbeats were remarkably orderly, shaking the ground beneath their feet with faint tremors. Though nothing could be seen clearly, the sound had long since reached them, growing ever louder.
Though Zhang Xiaohua did not understand what was happening, he could smell danger in the air. He Tianshu, rich in experience, had already gone pale. He shouted at Zhang Xiaohua, "Zhang Xiaohua, hurry and hide inside the tent. Find a place to conceal yourself, or escape from the side when the chance comes. You don't know martial arts, so you can't be of much help here. You must stay alive and report this to Great Gang Leader Ou later."
With that, he drew his long sword and charged out.
Zhang Xiaohua stood rooted to the spot. Hide? Run away?
His mind was a fog.
Zhang Xiaohua had not grasped the severity of the situation. Had they not encountered mountain bandits a few days ago and driven them off with ease? Why was everything so grave now? Why did he have to flee?
What he did not know was that the orderly hoofbeats had told He Tianshu this was a group trained with military discipline, most likely here for Ou Yan. Only major factions of the martial world could make such a move. Since they had come to ambush and kill them, they surely had a meticulous plan, intending to cut the grass and leave no roots. Though Huanxi Mountain Villa had many people, He Tianshu feared no one would escape. Aside from the very few who might be captured alive, everyone else's fate was almost decided already. Zhang Xiaohua