Chapter 79

Editor: Atlas Studios

Mu Yangling called the 54 chosen people to her side. The 18 broadswords and 10 sabers obtained after killing the Hus were distributed. The remaining people held kitchen knives, hoes, sticks, and other tools that they deemed suitable.

Mu Yangling said in a deep voice, “When we fight the enemies later, you can take the opportunity to seize their weapons. For now, make do. Remember, our mission is not to kill, but to lure the enemy away or delay them. Try your best to stay alive.”

Liu Xuan said in a low voice, “Isn’t this still running for one’s life?”

“Yes, but you have to listen to my orders. No one is allowed to escape in a disorderly manner.” Mu Yangling turned around and said to Liu He, “Village Chief, you still have to choose five to six people to report to the county. There are many villages along the way, and we aren’t just saving people from our village. I wonder how the town is doing.”

The road they were taking now didn’t pass through town. Thinking of the cavalry that had ambushed them just now, Liu He wasn’t too optimistic about the situation in town.

In the end, Mu Yangling said goodbye to her father. “Father, don’t tell Mother and Bowen about this. Just say that I’m scouting ahead.”

Mu Shi nodded and touched his daughter’s head, his throat dry. It took him a while before he could speak again. “Be careful.”

Mu Yangling nodded, carried her dry food, and left with her men.

After watching them leave, Liu He and the rest followed Mu Yangling’s instructions and chose six people to go to the county to report, with as little baggage as possible. The rest immediately rushed on their way.

Mu Shi did not dare to tell Shu Wanniang the truth, and only said that he had already sent someone to the county to report the situation, with Ah Ling leading the way.

Mu Yangling used a rock to draw a few paths on the ground, then said, “There’s a fork in the road one mile ahead. To the east of that path is Luocong Mountain, and to the west is Jialing Lake. There’s no cover on Luocong Mountain, so it’s not beneficial to us. However, the trees beside Jialing Lake are dense. After luring the Hus all the way here, immediately run into the forest. How many people can survive depends on everyone’s ability.”

Liu Xuan asked in a low voice, “We’re just luring them over?”

“Of course not.” Mu Yangling glanced at them and said, “We still have to do our best to eliminate them. Otherwise, just the 55 of us won’t be able to lure all the Hus behind us. We can only anger them so that they will persist in pursuing us. I know it’s very dangerous, but our parents, wife, and children are ahead. We have to take this risk.”

The selected people pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement.

“Alright.” Mu Yangling stood up and said, “Then let’s go make some preparations first.” Looking at the dense trees on both sides of the road, Mu Yangling could not help but rejoice. Fortunately, in ancient times, there was no lack of forests. Coincidentally, her forte lay in jungle warfare.

“We are few in number, and you guys don’t have any experience in killing enemies, so we have to use as many traps as possible.” Mu Yangling assigned the missions and asked Liu Xuan to bring Liu Li to the front to guard. As long as they saw the Hus, they were to immediately report it.

The Hus were nowhere in sight all the way until Mu Yangling and the others finished setting up the traps. They could not help but look at each other. Liu Zhuang felt uneasy. “Could they have changed their route?”

Mu Yangling carefully recalled the map of the nearby area, then said in a low voice, “Unless they retreat, they will have to pass by here to invade other villages.” If the Hus did retreat, it would naturally be a great blessing for them, but was that possible?

Mu Yangling didn’t need to think to know that it was impossible. It wasn’t easy for the Hus to go south. How could they retreat just like that?

“Let’s wait a little longer. If there’s still no movement, we’ll go ahead and take a look.”

Liu Zhuang couldn’t help but breathe into his hands. It was already midnight, the coldest time of the day. Not only him, but everyone else’s bodies also couldn’t take it.

Mu Yangling turned around and said, “Move on the spot. That way, you won’t feel cold.”

Just then, Liu Xuan suddenly ran over with Liu Li, his face filled with grief and indignation. “Ah Ling, the Hus are here.”

“How many people?”

“More than 50, but they’re holding more than 20 unmarried girls and young wives. Ah Ling, they… they’re all animals.” With that said, Liu Xuan couldn’t help but hammer the ground.

As the nearby villages were all part of Seven Mile Village, every village nearby more or less had relatives in Nearhill Village. When they saw the pitiful state of those women and thought of the Hus’ modus operandi, they felt a mix of grief and indignation.

Mu Yangling’s expression was gloomy as she said in a low voice, “Alright, go and lay in ambush first. I’ll go lure them in.”

“What if we accidentally injure those women?” Liu Xuan asked.

“No, the Hus won’t let those women charge in front. However, we still have to think strategically if we want to save them.” Mu Yangling thought of the nearby terrain, and remembered there was a place where they could hide people. Since they were going to be cannon fodder to lure the Hus away, they couldn’t bring those women along. Otherwise, not only could they not save them, but it would also hurt them.

Mu Yangling got the men to lay in ambush while she stood at the entrance with a small bag on her back. The barbarians giggled as they came over with sabers. Behind them, there were two rows of women strung together with ropes, their clothes disheveled and their faces numb. Mu Yangling could not help but clench her fists. She finally knew why this group of Hus had only appeared now.

A cold glint flashed across Mu Yangling’s eyes, but she quickly restrained her expression. The moment the Hus discovered her, she screamed, “Mother, the Hus are here. Run!”

The Hus let out a strange cry, and the 20 or so people in front immediately raised their swords and started giving chase. The remaining 20 or so people laughed as they tightened the rope in their hands and pulled the women over to guard them.

Mu Yangling’s nimble body shuttled through the forest as she squalled and led the way for them. When she turned around and saw the Hus chasing after her, she hid and quietly sneaked to Liu Yong’s side. Taking the broadsword from him, she whispered, “Lead them here. Remember, don’t show yourself. Do as I taught you—three against one. After killing them, immediately hide and circle around this area. I’ll then bring Liu Xuan and Liu Li to save the women.”

Liu Yong nodded because he was the first to kill at Mu Shi’s order. Although the villagers were still unconvinced by him, they would listen to his orders.

Mu Yangling also thought highly of him. This person was ruthless, rational, and calm, which made him the best deputy candidate. Liu Xuan, Liu Zhuang, and the others could not compare to him.

Mu Yangling carried her bow and arrow, then quietly left with Liu Xuan and Liu Li. On the other side, Liu Yong saw that five Hus had already stepped into the range of the trap and that the others had also entered the range. With a wave of the cloth in his hand, a row of wooden thorns smashed down from the sky with a bang. Before the five of them could react, they were pierced like hedgehogs.

Seeing that the trap had succeeded, everyone was filled with confidence, and their initial nervousness slowly disappeared.

In contrast, the Hus started panicking. They were used to fighting on the grassland and were good at siege battles, but they rarely fought in the forest. They always had a fear of the unknown. Therefore, the leader of the barbarians decisively shouted, “Retreat! Quickly retreat!”

However, the panicked Hus accidentally stepped on the trap and fell into the pit filled with wooden thorns. Although they did not die, they were seriously injured.

At this moment, the Hus also knew that they had been deceived.

Liu Yong smiled coldly and said in a low voice, “This is just the beginning.”