Chapter 12

Old Dad is a sly fox, Big Brother is a little fox, but Second Brother is a naive scholar. Zhu Changle pondered for a moment but couldn't figure out how he managed to be so simple-minded. She gave up thinking about it and instead raised her sword, drawing it out and sheathing it back several times. She was very pleased to see his face change color. Ha, not so stupid after all."Are there other people staying at the inn?"

"Just us," Zhu Changle nodded cheerfully, meeting her second brother's gaze. "That's right, they're coming for us."

"Why..." Zhu Changning looked at his father, then at his elder brother. He could understand being demoted as an official - in the world of politics, demotion and execution weren't uncommon. But why would they still be hunted after being demoted?

No one explained it to him. Back in the capital, they had allowed him to grow slowly at the academy. Although he was too scholarly and somewhat naively out of touch, that was how a scholar should be. Learning good things wasn't easy, but learning the dregs of officialdom was all too easy. So it was more important to build a solid foundation. The result was generally more beneficial than harmful. But now that their circumstances had changed, it might be good for him to experience some things firsthand.

Zhu Changwang smiled and said to the corner of a robe that flitted past the door, "Mother, please take Grandmother to our sister-in-law's room. No matter what sounds you hear, don't come out."

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Lady Zhang came out and looked at the men of the family, feeling more at ease when her gaze fell on Changle and Aunt Feng behind her. She hadn't thought about how skilled Changle had become, but she knew Aunt Feng was very capable. With Aunt Feng there, everything would surely be fine.

She pressed a hand to her chest, then supported her mother-in-law as they entered the adjacent room. She cast a worried glance at everyone before closing the door.

"They're here," Aunt Feng stepped forward to the front, narrowing her eyes as she looked up at the increasing number of black-clad figures on the roof, ready to strike. It had been a long time since she had fought.

Just as she was about to make the first move, someone else acted even faster.

Zhu Changle looked at their uniform attire and smiled. "It seems they've prepared for both scenarios."

The others fell silent, watching as the people above engaged in combat. Some fell into the courtyard in front of them, while others slid off to the outside. Except for Zhu Changning, everyone else's expressions remained unchanged.

"It's not just two groups," Aunt Feng suddenly raised her hand, using a gentle force to deflect an arrow and throw it back at the person hiding in the shadows. With a scream, someone fell out of the darkness.

"Young Miss, do you want any prisoners?"

"No need."

"Understood." Aunt Feng lightly tapped her toes and flew off, her figure ghostlike as it appeared and disappeared. Wherever she went, screams followed.

"Little Sister..."

Zhu Changwang gently interrupted his second brother, "Changning, watch carefully."

Zhu Changning's face was tense, his body rigid. This was his first time facing such a bloody scene. There were always disputes at the academy - sabotage, factional struggles, and so on - but he had never suffered in this regard and had always been proud that he hadn't embarrassed his father. But the blades in the capital always killed without bloodshed, while what he saw before him was dripping with blood.

Zhu Changle turned back, her face still wearing the smile her family knew best. But in the current scenario, even Zhu Maonian was taken aback.

"Don't be afraid, Second Brother. They're all too weak."

"..." Zhu Changning didn't feel particularly comforted.

As if to prove Zhu Changle's words, Aunt Feng landed in front of them, her clothes spotless without a drop of blood.

"Too weak."

"I can see that," Zhu Changle said, somewhat disappointedly. She hadn't even had a chance to act!

Tossing her sword to Aunt Feng, Zhu Changle stretched and said, "Tonight's over. We can rest now."

Zhu Changning immediately asked, "Will they come again tomorrow night?"

"What do you think, Second Brother?"

Zhu Changwang smiled, "Are you enjoying this?"

"A little," Zhu Changle said, clasping her hands behind her back. "Big Brother, you have to understand. Master kept me on that island for two years without seeing a single person, let alone anything else. When I learned from Aunt Feng that Master had gone into seclusion after I came ashore, I came straight home. It's been so long since I've had a chance to fight."

"Did you fight often before?"

"Of course! In the Martial Arts World, fists do the talking. My goal is to beat Master and make her listen to me!"

"That's... quite an ambition."

Zhu Changle laughed heartily. "Master said if I could beat her, she'd do whatever I say."

Well, they'd found the root of the problem. This lack of respect and manners was cultivated by her master. Zhu Maonian shook his head, glancing at his still-dazed second son, knowing this shock was significant. The rest of this journey would serve as a good lesson for him.

Thinking about the long road ahead, Zhu Maonian's heart sank. He dared not think deeply about how long Changle and Aunt Feng could hold out if the Emperor's men couldn't. Could they... really reach Yunbei County safely?

Moreover, he had another question lingering in his mind. Were they hunting him down simply because they couldn't tolerate his existence, or did they know he had something? If they knew, it would mean there was a traitor among the Emperor's close attendants! This must be verified. Having such a person by the Emperor's side would be like a sword hanging over their heads.

"It's late. Father, let's go back to the room to rest."

Zhu Maonian nodded, looking at the bodies lying in the courtyard with an inscrutable expression before turning to enter the room with his hands behind his back.

Zhu Changwang beckoned to his youngest sister, "Come push me in."

"Sure thing!" Zhu Changle bounced over. Zuo Qing tactfully stepped back, going ahead to open the door. Although the wheelchair was specially made, flexible and not heavy itself, an adult man, even if thin, still had some weight. He instinctively bent down to help lift, only to see the fourth young miss easily maneuver it into the room...

Zuo Qing rubbed his nose. It wasn't that he had forgotten the fourth young miss had spent years training outside, but she had only ever shown her ability to run on rooftops. He hadn't witnessed her other skills until now, realizing she was also very strong.

Changle didn't rush to leave, knowing her big brother had something to say.

"Are you confident?" Zhu Changwang looked at his little sister, whose expression had remained relaxed throughout. He had no other choice but to bet on Changle, but he still wanted to hear something that would put his mind at ease.

"Big Brother, you have to trust me," Zhu Changle crouched in front of her brother, looking up at him. "Third Sister grew up embroidering flowers, I grew up fighting. If you asked me to embroider a purse, I'd surely mess it up, but when it comes to fighting, I'm confident. You need to believe that I can handle these people. Plus, I've called for backup. They're not like Little Golden who can fly, so they'll need some time to get here, but Aunt Feng and I can hold out until they arrive."

"The pursuit starts tonight and won't end until we reach Yunbei County. It might not even end there."

"You just need to guard against their underhanded tactics. Leave the fighting to me." Zhu Changle grabbed her brother's hand and raised it. "Brother and sister united, their strength can cut through metal!"

"At least you didn't misquote that one." Zhu Changwang tightened his grip on the hand in his palm. It was smaller than his, but much rougher, with hard calluses on the tiger's mouth. This was the testament to her more than ten years of training.

"I'm entrusting the safety of our family to you."

"Don't worry, I've got this."