Chapter 162: A Desperate Gamble in the Rainy Night
Shi Hao sat in the study, the only sound the gentle, persistent patter of rain against the roof.
Red lanterns hung on either side of the open doorway, casting a warm, crimson glow.
A white crystal lamp, filled with Night Fragrance Grass, illuminated the corner of the room, its soft light, along with two tall candles, providing enough illumination for him to study the map and the various intelligence reports spread across the table.
He was… bored.
Even though lives were being lost outside, at this moment, he could do nothing more.
But he had to stay here, a symbol of stability, a reassuring presence for those fighting on the front lines.
His plans were in motion, his strategies deployed. Now, he could only wait, a silent observer, powerless to directly influence the unfolding events.
There were no telephones or telegraphs in this world. News from the front lines was slow to arrive.
And even if he received a report, formulated a response, and sent out new orders, the situation on the battlefield would have already changed.
Even with modern communication, the chaos and complexity of war made real-time decision-making difficult. Strategies devised from afar were often outdated by the time they reached the front lines.
So, he could only sit here, maintain his composure, and trust those fighting for him, despite the gnawing anxiety, the growing fear, in his heart.
Were there flaws in his plans?
Had he made any critical mistakes in his deployment of troops?
These doubts, which he shouldn’t be entertaining now, plagued him, fueling his anxieties.
And if he examined his plans closely, he would indeed find flaws, weaknesses that could be exploited by a clever enemy, potentially jeopardizing everything.
He reassured himself that, given their limited resources, this was the best he could do.
And if he were to scrutinize his plans so critically, the enemy’s plans were undoubtedly also flawed… A perfect strategy didn’t exist.
And even if both sides had perfect plans, their collision would still result in chaos.
He had made his decisions; now, he could only wait, his mind clear, his thoughts focused on the present.
“Brother Shi,” a girl’s voice came from outside. The red glow of the lanterns was momentarily blocked by an oil-paper umbrella. The hand holding the umbrella shifted, lowering it slightly.
The umbrella closed, the hand now holding its handle, and another hand, carrying a steaming bowl, entered the room.
Du Yuejiao placed the umbrella by the door and carefully placed the bowl on the table before him.
“This is venison soup, specially prepared. Try it,” she said.
Shi Hao took a spoonful and, after a few sips, looked up at her, “You should have some too.”
Du Yuejiao shook her head, “There’s more in the kitchen… oh!”
Shi Hao pulled her into his arms.
Her voice was slightly hesitant, “It’s a busy night. Am I disturbing you?”
Shi Hao smiled, “Not at all.” In fact, for him, this was the quietest part.
He had been working tirelessly for days, and only now, with everyone else in motion, did he have a moment of respite. He was strangely uncomfortable with this inactivity.
“Stay with me,” he whispered.
She wouldn’t refuse. She didn’t know how to help him, but being needed was enough.
He held her close, teasing her gently. The rain outside intensified, a steady, rhythmic drumming against the roof.
He playfully tied her hands with a sash, his boredom giving way to a strange sense of… playfulness.
Time, which had seemed to crawl earlier, now sped up, the hours passing quickly. It was late into the night.
A sharp whistling sound pierced the air, followed by screams.
“They’ve arrived,” Shi Hao said, sighing in relief. His greatest threat was here, but the timing of the attack suggested the overall situation was favorable.
“Brother Shi!” Du Yuejiao quickly broke free from the sash and straightened her clothes.
Shi Hao’s eyes narrowed as he stepped out onto the porch, his gaze sweeping across the courtyard. A figure darted across the shadows, trying to escape.
Du Yuejiao asked, “Who was that?”
Shi Hao said calmly, “A servant. A spy working for the Hanyang Gang.”
Several explosions echoed, and four figures, their clothes drenched in the rain, landed in the courtyard, about four zhang away. One of them, a large, heavyset man in a fur coat, his gaze sharp and piercing, had fixed his eyes on Shi Hao from the moment he appeared. As he approached, a menacing aura radiated from him, pinning Shi Hao in place.
Shi Hao said loudly, “Gang Leader Huang, what an honor! Please forgive my lack of a proper welcome.”
It was Huang Facai, the leader of the Hanyang Gang.
With him were Zhao Xuanding, the Canyon Stabilizer; a tall, thin man with a staff and a fleshy growth on his forehead; and a man of average build, his movements precise and controlled, wielding a saber.
The staff and saber wielders weren’t mentioned in any of the intelligence reports, but their presence here, with Zhao Xuanding, suggested they were also sixth-rank experts.
Numerous martial artists from the manor emerged, surrounding the four, who, however, showed no fear, their gazes fixed on Shi Hao, as if looking at a dead man.
Huang Facai, his large belly belying his fifth-rank cultivation, looked more like a wealthy merchant.
He looked at Shi Hao, his hands clasped behind his back, and smiled, “It seems you were expecting me.”
Shi Hao sighed, “A dying man will clutch at straws. You came here personally to kill me, Gang Leader Huang. It seems you consider me a major threat. Although I don’t understand why you would waste your time on someone like me, I’m… flattered.”
Huang Facai stared at him, “You’re a dangerous man. If we don’t eliminate you now, you’ll become a serious problem later.”
Shi Hao said, “Likewise.” He suddenly shouted, “Fire!”
Figures emerged from the rooftops, and a volley of arrows, propelled by powerful crossbows, rained down.
One arrow, spinning rapidly, its whistling echoing, pierced through the rain.
A flash of saber light, and the arrowhead flew off, the shaft shattering, the force of the blow deflecting several other arrows.
Blades flashed, weapons clashed, and with a sneer, a surge of energy erupted, sending several attackers flying.
Another figure was thrown backwards, landing in the rain, his body twitching, his chest caved in, his skin turning black.
Zhao Xuanding, the Canyon Stabilizer, having killed two men, flickered and appeared beside Shi Hao, his palm striking downwards.
A hook, its trajectory a twisting arc, descended from above, forcing him back.
It was Xiang Gu, leaping from a rooftop.
This was their third encounter. Although they had clashed briefly twice before, neither had gained an advantage.
After their previous encounters, Zhao Xuanding had tried to investigate her background, but he couldn’t find anything.
Normally, a mid-rank martial artist would have some reputation in the jianghu. She couldn’t have simply appeared out of nowhere.
But he couldn’t find any information about her.
Her movements were bizarre, her hook a demonic artifact, her fighting style unlike any known sect.
Only her internal energy, smooth and flowing, yet not overly aggressive, suggested Daoist cultivation.
Zhao Xuanding’s palm strikes, although powerful, couldn’t break through her defenses. Their fight was a stalemate.
The tall, thin man with the staff and the fleshy growth on his forehead, and the other man with the saber, their movements precise and controlled, were also formidable opponents, their strength comparable to Zhao Xuanding’s.
The surrounding martial artists tried to surround them, but they were pushed back.
Huang Facai finally acted. He pushed out with both palms, a wall of force slamming into Shi Hao and Du Yuejiao, sending nearby martial artists flying, their bones cracking as they died on impact.
Shi Hao roared, a divine light flashing as his body grew larger.
This was the power of the Earthly Valor Tiger.
At the same time, a cracking sound, and a puff of smoke, as the talisman, its uses depleted, shattered.
Shi Hao punched, a resounding boom echoing through the courtyard as he was thrown backwards, crashing into a building, which partially collapsed.
Even with the Earthly Valor Tiger’s power, he couldn’t withstand Huang Facai’s attack.
As debris rained down, he leaped to his feet. Huang Facai, like a shadow, pursued him relentlessly, his palm strikes tearing through his divine form, which was rapidly dissipating.
Du Yuejiao and several other martial artists tried to intervene, protecting Shi Hao.
But a black aura, like a coiling serpent, swirled around Huang Facai, anyone it touched dying instantly.
He even used the corpses as weapons, flinging them at his opponents, who collapsed, convulsing and foaming at the mouth, their eyes wide with terror, their bodies quickly going still.
One man, caught by his legs, was spun around like a top and then flung outwards, crashing into two others, sending them flying.
Du Yuejiao leaped clear, dodging the attack, and then, using the Illusory Moon Movement Technique, her figure flickering, she lunged towards Huang Facai, her sword aimed at his back—
Leave a Reply