CH 33

Victory! In his excitement, Liang Feng slammed his fist against the railing; they’d won!

Yiyan had led them far more brilliantly than he could have hoped – and he’d only had twenty people. What if he’d had two hundred, two thousand? His blood surged hot with anticipation just thinking about it. No matter how great an army he managed to build, it’d be useless without a good commander to lead them. 

And he had chosen the most excellent one!

“Tell them to stop drumming,” Liang Feng said to the sentry behind him.

Xunji, who’d returned to his original post, was still staring dazedly at the battlefield below, deaf to Liang Feng’s words. Liang Feng waited and waited, but didn’t hear his words conveyed. He turned to look at the stupefied sentry then wordlessly walked over to the railing and shouted to the drumming servant below, “Stop the drums!”

The servant’s limbs had gone numb from drumming for so long. He was so startled at his command he nearly dropped his drumstick, “Mas, master! Did the militia lose?” 

“No. They won!” Liang Feng stood proudly; his declaration resounded throughout the courtyard, “The militia has emerged victorious and vanquished the bandit forces!”

What? Everyone in the courtyard froze in dumbstruck silence. Then, they stirred with restless agitation. Only then did Xunji come back to his senses – he had, after all, washed out of the militia. He fell to his knees and shouted, “The militia won! Glory to our master!”

His words dispersed their doubt. They cheered in jubilation, “Glory to our master! Victory for our troops!”

Their voices echoed again and again. Liang Feng smiled upon seeing their joyous elation. He patted Lüzhu, who stood stupidly by his side, and said, “Time to go.”

Lüzhu woke from her dreamy haze, clutched Liang Feng’s sleeve, and sobbed, “Master! The militia won!”

“Yes. We’ve won.” Liang Feng smiled and said to Xunji, who was still on his knees, “Go to the farmsteads and find ah-Liang. Tell him to come see me, and to gather a few hale and hearty men.”

Then, he turned and descended the tower. The battle was done, but the mop-up was yet to begin. He wondered whether the militia had taken casualties. Cleaning up the battlefield, burying corpses, dispersing the routed bandits, and investigating where they’d come from…. all of it had to be taken seriously.

By the time Lüzhu remembered to go up and help him, Liang Feng was already slowly walking down the stairs. She said, “Master, watch your step…” 

※

Tian Chang’s face burned as he struggled to get to his feet. He’d been whipped so fiercely he’d lost sight in one eye as well as a few teeth. He touched his head; his hand came away bloody. But at the moment, he had more to worry about than his injures. Zhang Hun had truly died?! Died at the hands of the Liang Estate’s greenhorns?

Weren’t they only twenty people strong? Why were they so powerful? Had that sickly invalid used some kind of witchcraft?!

The once-menacing bandits were all running for their lives now. Tian Chang balked for but a moment before he scrambled towards his donkey. He couldn’t stay here; not only might the frenzied bandits injure him in their escape, but also because he’d be dead for certain if he was caught by the Liang family’s soldiers! 

He couldn’t die! He still had to live!

Despite being injured all over, Tian Chang was still strangely adroit. He clambered on to the donkey in but a moment and started brandishing his whip, “Come on, go! Faster!”

The donkey whinnied in distress and galloped off. He might’ve been overlooked, if not for his mad donkeyback rush, which instantly drew Yiyan’s attention. Yiyan, without hesitation, spurred his horse and chased after him.

Zhang Hun’s fine steed practically flew, its hooves barely touching the earth, as it brought him near. Yiyan’s eyes narrowed when he caught sight of the stooped, cringing figure on the donkey’s back, his gray hair in disarray. He hurled his axe. 

The axe whizzed through the air and slammed into the donkey’s leg. It brayed wretchedly and crashed to the ground, tossing its rider off.

After a moment of disorientated tumbling, Tian Chang felt an agonizing pain in his leg – perhaps it was broken. Tian Chang couldn’t breathe, crushed as he was under the writhing donkey. He screeched, “Help! Save me!”

His head snapped up as a shadow loomed over him. The hideous Jie was glaring murderously right at him. His mind buzzed blankly; he wailed, “General, general, spare me! I know Zhang Hun’s evil plot – he’s going to harm the master, I know…”

The shaft of a broken spear ran him through, cutting him off. He spasmed and was no more. 

Ignoring the corpse, Yiyan tugged the reins and kicked his horse into action. The steed bolted like an arrow from a bow towards the Liang Estate.

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※

“Qts jgfc’a atfs tfgf sfa? Glv atfs ufa mjeuta?” Qjcu Le aklamtlis ibbxfv jybea ifoa jcv gluta, ofjglcu atfs’v yf rflhfv jcv xliifv obg agfjrbc ja jcs wbwfca. 

Wang Bao reassured, “They’ve only just rung the bells, ‘course they aren’t here yet. It’ll be fine brother. From the looks of it, a whole ton of bandits must’ve come. Everyone’s gotta be at the front courtyard right now, who’s got time to bother with us? Just wait a little longer, and the reward will land right in our laps…”

In the middle of their conversation, they heard movement coming from the top of the walls. Wang Bao chuckled, “See, they’re here!”

It was exactly as he’d said. A tall, burly man flipped over the walls and landed quietly on the grass. A few seconds later, a thinner man jumped down as well. Judging by how nimbly and swiftly they moved, they were obviously old hands at breaking and entering. The Wang brothers hurriedly greeted them, “Are you the good sirs of the Qingyang Stronghold?”

The burly man snorted coldly, “So you’re the Wang brothers then? Lead the way already. If we don’t catch the master of the Liang family, I’ll chop you to pieces!” 

Taken off guard by their savage aggression, the Wang brothers instantly cowered. Wang Bao toadied, “No worries good sirs, they’ve rung the bell already so it means the master’s gotta be busy fending off the enemy… ah wait, I mean, defending against your troops, good sirs. Right now, no one’s paying us any mind.”

“Of course, of course, this way please, my good sirs.” Wang Hu, who was even more afraid of messing up, cautiously tiptoed away, leading the two bandits towards the main residence.

They’d seemed to have picked a decent route, as they didn’t come across a single soul on the way there. Once they arrived at the high walls surrounding the main residence, Wang Hu parted a thick cluster of grass at the base of the wall, revealing a little doghole. He grinned, “This place’s old an’ run-down, got a small door. If the two of you don’t mind….”

“Outta my way!” The skinnier man shoved Wang Hu aside. Apparently, he didn’t mind at all, for he smoothly slipped through to the other side. After a moment, he called, “Ah-Niu, all clear!” 

Then, the burlier man strenuously squirmed into the doghole. After exiting, he took stock of his surroundings. There really wasn’t anyone else around. They seemed to be in an unused courtyard, lined by winding corridors that stretched out into the unknown. They wouldn’t’ve had the slightest clue where to begin searching if they hadn’t anyone to guide them.

Wang Bao wormed through the doghole as well. He patted the dirt off his clothes and explained, “The master’s courtyard’s towards the west side. We’ll show you the way.”

He was about to go, when the burly man suddenly stopped, “Wait. Why’s there drums?”

They suddenly noticed that the ear-piercing ringing had, at some point, been replaced with thunderous drumming. Wang Bao, who was rather quick, instantly replied, “It’s coming from the watchtower! Are they fighting already?” 

It hadn’t been all that long – had they already entered battle? Were the bandits… wait, no, these fine people really that mighty?

The burly man, though, frowned and demanded, “Hurry up and bring us over. We’ve gotta catch that Liang fellow soon as possible!”

Wang Bao shrank back. Not daring to dally, he took them to the main courtyard. They encountered no one on the way there – almost as if all the servants and maids had vanished into thin air. When they finally reached their destination, it was just as empty. The skinny man yelled, “Where’s the Liang fellow?”

“I… I dunno either…..” Wang Bao was stunned as well. Shouldn’t that sickly weakling be holed up in the main courtyard during such a dangerous bandit invasion? Where else could he possibly hide? 

Suddenly, the drums rumbling in the background hushed. They heard a faint uproar coming from the front courtyard that sounded almost like they were celebrating victory. Setting aside the fact that the drumming had gone on for less than a quarter, even if they really had begun crossing swords, could the hundred or so mountain bandits really have lost to the twenty militiamen?

What was going on? The burly man said again, “You’re sure this’s his courtyard?”

“Us brothers have been guards here for years, how could we be wrong?” Wang Hu ducked his head, “Good sirs, you’re here already, and the master’s gonna be back soon, so could you just let us leave now?”

The two mountain bandits exchanged a look. The burly one said, “Scram! And don’t’ let anyone see you.” 

The Wang brothers sighed in relief. The situation was simply too strange. They didn’t want to stay any longer – better to sneak back to the farmsteads and wait till the Liang Estate was destroyed.

They timidly saluted the two mountain bandits and turned around, intending to leave the courtyard. But before they’d even taken a single step, the two brothers had their mouths covered and their throats slashed open by merciless blades. Without even getting the chance to struggle, the two foolishly hopeful brothers had passed away.

“Careful, don’t get any blood on the clothes,” the skinny man said. “Come on, let’s get these on and wait till that Liang fellow gets back.”

“What about those two?” 

“Just toss ‘em into the bushes.”

Shortly afterward, they were dressed in clothes stripped from the corpses. After they hid the dead bodies, they stood to the left and right of the courtyard entrance, heads lowered, like two dutiful and diligent guards, waiting.

※

Liang Feng was nearly spent, having climbed all those stairs and focused so intently on the melee. After he got down the watchtower, he set off straight for the main courtyard. The battle was won. Yiyan would report back once he finished up clearing the battlefield. Right now, what he needed to do most was to walk back to his rooms, in a dignified manner, and to calm his servants’ frazzled nerves. 

Lüzhu stuck to Liang Feng closely as a shadow, trying to lend him an arm every so often. Liang Feng would smile reassuringly, telling her not to worry. And so, followed by many pairs of watchful eyes, they traversed two courtyards, slowly approaching Liang Feng’s quarters. Inside, it was quiet. His attendants had either gone to find ah-Liang, or they’d stayed behind at the watchtower to help out. At first, Liang Feng didn’t sense anything amiss. But then, right when he was about to cross the threshold, he stopped.

There was a familiar scent floating in the air: blood. It was mild, but conspicuous. There were two servants not five feet away from him: guardsmen’s uniforms, brown stains, unkempt appearances, heads drooping low, half-turned towards him – one of them had his hand behind his back.

Something wasn’t right. Without hesitation, he shoved Lüzhu behind him, yelling, “Go!”

They sprang at him, weapons in hand, as if his voice had been a signal. Befuddled, Lüzhu staggered away from the courtyard. Liang Feng swung his arm out, blocking the doorway, and roared, “Run, quickly!” 

He couldn’t stop them, not in his current condition; at least as head of the Liang family, these bandits wouldn’t kill him immediately. However, Lüzhu, who was merely a servant girl, wouldn’t be shown any mercy!

Lüzhu’s eyes opened wide, fixed on the two men pouncing on her master. She froze for an instant, then sprinted away. She couldn’t save her master alone! Yiyan – where was Yiyan?!

Liang Feng staggered, nearly toppling over, as they crashed against him. There was a beefy arm around his neck and an icy blade against his throat. At the same time, someone shouted, “That lass ran off!”

“Who cares?! We gotta capture this sickly weakling first!” said the man restraining Liang Feng. 

“Che! How’d he find us out? So unlucky!” the bandit spat. He looked at Liang Feng’s face and goggled, “This sickly weakling’s not bad lookin’”

“Who cares what he looks like! We gotta get a move on and hand ‘im over to the general first!” Ah-Niu harrumphed. Jobs that went sideways were so annoying.

Ah-Rao coughed wheezily and rasped, “True. Once he’s in the general’s hand, it’s all up to him how to punish him….”

When Liang Feng finally wasn’t seeing stars anymore, he inhaled and questioned, “You came to kidnap me?” 

“That’s right! If you wanna live, then be a good boy and hand over the estate. My general might even leave your corpse whole!” Ah-Niu snarled dangerously as he twisted the handle of his knife.

“The bandits outside have lost,” Liang Feng stated expressionlessly.

“What?!” The two bandits recoiled in shock. It’d barely been any time at all! Lost? Impossible!

“They indeed lost. If take me away now, you’ll only meet with my militia, who are marching back in victory. Once that happens, you’ll die.” Liang Feng softened his tone and gently advised, “You might as well take some money and flee while you still can.” 

“You’re spoutin’ nonsense!” Ah-Niu dug his dagger into Liang Feng’s neck, “The general brought over a hundred people, how could they lose just like that?!”

“Go take a look if you don’t believe me.” Liang Feng slightly shifted his head, as if he was trying to avoid the dagger at his neck.

His voice was level, his expression calm. He didn’t reveal a hint of fear. Had something really gone wrong up front?

Forcing himself to look composed, ah-Rao snorted disdainfully, “Gonna use the chance to run away, are you? Even if the general’s lost, as long as you’re in our hands, those soldiers still gotta throw their weapons down.” 

“You want to take me with you? I’m incurably sick; I’ll only drag you down.”

Ah-Rao couldn’t refute words. The sickly weakling was white as a sheet, hardly able to stand. If they tried to drag him along, he’d probably croak before they even got out of the estate. He turned to look at his partner.

“That lass already got away – we can’t stay long!” Ah-Niu pressed.

That was true; once the lass found help, they’d have an even harder time bailing out. 

Seeming to have noticed their hesitation, Liang Feng tryingly raised his arm and pointed, “In the room to the right, between the daybed and the wall, there’s a locked wooden box filled with gold and jade. They’re ancestral heirlooms, worth up to millions of coins.”

The bandits’ breaths became heavy with greed. Ah-Rao shot a meaningful glance towards his partner-in-crime, “I’ll go take a look.”

Then, he went into the room. Without pause, Liang Feng loosened a jade ornament from his waist and said to the bandit behind him, “This ornament alone could fetch hundreds of thousands. Why not take a few valuables and leave while you still… ah!”

His hand trembled, perhaps from fear, and the smooth jade slid from his grasp. Ah-Niu, who could hardly bear to let such an expensive jade ornament shatter to pieces, subconsciously leaned over to catch it. When he moved, so did the sickly weakling in his hold. 

Liang Feng’s golden hairpin was instantly in his left hand. The bandit behind him had pressed himself against his back in his attempt to rescue the jade ornament. They were close, too close for evasive action. Liang Feng drove the hairpin into his neck. He was neither forceful nor fast, but his aim was deadly, the hairpin was sharp, and he had the advantage of surprise. Ah-Niu gurgled strangely and collapsed.

The jade clattered on the ground, clutched in the hand of a corpse. The bandit’s dead weight had forced Liang Feng down as well.

Ah-Rao, hearing the commotion, doubled back and saw both his partner and the Liang fellow both piled in a heap. He forgot about the riches and dashed over, “Ah-Niu, what’s wrong?!”

Instead of getting an answer, he saw blood oozing from his neck and pooling on the floor. The man who was supposed to be deathly ill shifted, pushing himself up. That sickly weakling was still alive? He was the one who’d killed ah-Niu?! 

Ah-Rao’s eyes blazed with fury. He roared, lunged. In the middle of his stride, Liang Feng braced himself against the ground and suddenly kicked his lower leg. His blow was weak, but exceedingly precise. The bandit lost his balance and started falling face-first as he pinwheeled his arms.

Liang Feng was right in his path, wielding the dagger of the bandit he’d killed, pointing it straight at him. With no way to dodge, ah-Rao landed right on top of him. The dagger sank fully into his heart. The bandit convulsed once, twice, and then he was deceased.

※

Lüzhu had never run so fast in her life; her heart was nearly beating outside her chest. But she didn’t stop, not for a moment. Because the battle had just ended, all the servants were in the front courtyard. She bolted down two corridors without coming across a single useful person. Her master was in danger! Her master had been captured! Was there anyone, anyone at all, who could save her master?! 

She heard the crisp clopping of hooves and saw with one glance the rider who’d burst into the courtyard. Her legs weakened and she dropped into a kneel, yet stubbornly pointed towards her master’s quarters.

“There’s evildoers! Save the master!”

The black steed swept past her without slowing, trailing a gust of wind that smelled of metal in its wake. Lüzhu’s tears pitter-pattered as they fell, but instead of wiping them, she struggled to her feet and ran back the way she’d come. She had to hurry back! She had to save her master!

Yiyan felt like there was a conflagration burning in his chest. He breathed fury and killing intent in the span of each inhale and exhale, as if he’d swallowed a ball of fiery coal! He shouldn’t have gone to battle; he should’ve stayed by his lord’s side, protecting him! If those bandits dared to harm his lord, he’d rip them into shreds! 

As his horse rounded the last corridor and the main courtyard came into view, Yiyan nocked an arrow and pulled it back so far his bow began to creak. The moment he saw even a shadow of those bandits, he’d put an arrow through their miserable heads. The moment he saw them…

The scent of fresh blood pierced his nose. Beyond the open courtyard doors, three unmoving bodies laid piled atop one another. Rivulets of thick dark liquid bloomed across the dirt like the petals of a beautifully sinister flower.

The one-stone bow snapped in two. Its broken string whistled through the air from the force of the rebound, lashing Yiyan’s face. He lost control of his horse, which neighed miserably beneath him as its legs gave out and it tumbled forward.

Yiyan, in a seldom-seen state, failed to react; he was thrown from his horse. The impact wasn’t that bad, but the pain was unbearable, boring into his heart, sapping his strength, drowning his lungs. He crawled to his feet blankly and limpingly approached the courtyard gates. Had he been too late? Just a second too late? 

But as he neared, he heard a weak, nearly inaudible, coming from beneath the corpses.

“Is… is that you, Yiyan?”

The author has something to say:

My little Liang is so handsome =w=