Hearing movement outside, Li Long quietly got up, slowly dressed, and carried the Small-Caliber Rifle beside his bed to the door.
From the sounds, someone had climbed over the courtyard wall and dropped inside fairly quietly. The intruder crouched in the courtyard for a while, then crept toward the side rooms.
Li Long slowly opened the door a crack-the bedroom door in this big house was well maintained and regularly oiled, so its hinges made no sound.
In the darkness, he could make out a thin, small man, less than 1.7 meters tall, who moved very nimbly. After briefly stopping at several doors to the side rooms, the man turned toward the kitchen opposite.
Li Long had a rough idea of what the man wanted.
The thief had probably come in to steal food.
But Li Long didn't let down his guard. Holding the Small-Bore, he watched through the crack as the man entered the kitchen and fumbled around inside for a while. When he emerged, he was carrying a small pot and crept toward the gate.
Li Long had originally thought the man was hungry and stealing food, and had hesitated over whether to let him go. But seeing him actually carry off his pot too was more than he could take!
Seeing the man about to unbolt the gate and leave, he immediately darted out, raised the Small-Bore, and shouted:
"Don't move! Move and I'll kill you!"
Startled, the man worked faster, hoping to escape before Li Long caught up with him. Li Long immediately added:
"Move again and I'll shoot!"
The bastard still moved. What infuriated Li Long was that he half turned and hurled the pot straight at him, then opened the gate!
Bang!
Li Long fired a shot into the gate, and the man froze!