Chapter 32: Massacre Under the Moon
“I thought you’d dare to lie to me and not show up!” Yue Ya’er stood on a rock, hands on her hips.
The Jin warriors surrounded her. Shi Hao counted fourteen of them; the other four were missing.
The sun had set, and clouds obscured the moon, its light only occasionally breaking through to illuminate the secluded wilderness.
Yue Ya’er was also dressed in black, but perhaps because of a girl’s inherent love of beauty, her otherwise practical attire was adorned with twelve tassels at her left waist, a bow on her chest, and a plum blossom hairpin in her hair.
Standing on the rock, she was taller than Shi Hao, the short black skirt fluttering around her slender waist.
Shi Hao said solemnly, “Don’t worry, everything is arranged.” He took out a map and turned to face Yue Ya’er.
One of the Jin warriors lit a fire starter. Yue Ya’er bent down and looked at the map over Shi Hao’s right shoulder.
He pointed to a circle on the map, “Before daybreak, those men from the Shu Tiger Gang will pass through this location with the children. I’ve already surveyed the area. As long as we set up an ambush, we can take them by surprise. The only issue is avoiding harming the children.”
He wasn’t entirely confident in the troops Yue Ya’er had mobilized. Their fighting prowess was unquestionable, but other aspects were less certain.
Yue Ya’er smiled, “Don’t worry, I’ll be watching. If they harm a single child, I won’t spare them.”
Shi Hao nodded.
Although this girl was also a barbarian, her dedication to saving these children, even knowing she might offend the Zong Hai family and the Blood Lion, earned his respect.
But the Yue Ke Tai family was an exception among the barbarians. As far as Shi Hao knew, they were the only prominent barbarian family that truly supported the “Jin-Xia Family Harmony” policy.
Although this policy was essentially just another form of “using the Chinese against the Chinese.”
Yue Ya’er said, “Let’s go!” She jumped off the rock and walked towards an Yingzhao beast.
“By the way, I have one more request,” Shi Hao said.
Yue Ya’er turned around, “Don’t worry! Just name your reward. I won’t be stingy.”
Shi Hao shook his head, “I don’t want a reward. I just want Gu Shufeng.”
Yue Ya’er looked puzzled, “What do you want with him? That guy is crippled. My men are holding him, but he’s useless now.”
Shi Hao said, “That’s precisely why I want him.”
Yue Ya’er smiled, “Fine. As long as your information is accurate, I’ll hand him over to you.”
She mounted an Yingzhao, and the others followed suit.
Yue Ya’er looked back at Shi Hao, “Come on up!”
Shi Hao hesitated, “But…”
Yue Ya’er giggled, “Sorry, I didn’t prepare one for you. Or do you want to ride with them?”
The fourteen Jin warriors turned and looked at Shi Hao. He felt a sudden surge of pressure.
Yingzhao beasts, although mythical creatures, couldn’t carry the weight of these burly warriors plus another person.
However, Yue Ya’er was small, and Shi Hao, practicing Daoist techniques, was relatively light. Riding together wouldn’t be a problem.
Since she didn’t mind, Shi Hao wasn’t going to be picky. He jumped up and wrapped his arms around her waist.
Yue Ya’er pulled the reins, “Let’s go!”
The fifteen Yingzhao beasts took flight, staying low to the ground. They flew to a desolate area where hundreds of men were gathered, along with the other four members of the Eighteen Riders.
A man approached. Yue Ya’er landed and said, “Third Uncle, are your men ready?”
The man said solemnly, “Rest assured, Miss. Everything is in order.”
Yue Ya’er said, “Let’s go!” They continued on land, their Yingzhao mounts running swiftly.
Shi Hao looked back. The man wore armor, a sword at his waist, and a silver bow on his back.
His eyes were sharp, his build tall and lean, his temples slightly bulging – clearly a skilled military officer.
Although Yue Ya’er addressed him as “Third Uncle,” his status was clearly lower than hers. He simply led the troops, following her orders.
This wasn’t unusual among powerful families. It indicated that although his family had marital ties to the Yue Ke Tai clan, they were essentially their vassals.
However, Shi Hao suddenly remembered that County Mistress Li Tong had mentioned Yue Ya’er’s mother was Chinese. Did this mean this military officer was also Chinese?
But family relations among the powerful were complex. Although Yue Ya’er called him “Third Uncle,” he might not be her actual blood relative.
The officer had brought five hundred men, all trained warriors, elite troops.
They followed Yue Ya’er and the Thunderclap Eighteen Riders through the mountains, their movements disciplined and orderly.
Shi Hao led them, bypassing the small village and arriving at the canyon.
They hid in the dense forest on the side of the canyon, maintaining complete silence.
Yue Ya’er whispered a few instructions, and someone rode an Yingzhao and left.
They waited for most of the night. The messenger returned with Gu Shufeng, his fingers broken, his legs crippled, his appearance horrifying.
As the night deepened, darkness enveloped the canyon. A scout stealthily approached and reported to the officer.
The officer listened, then went to Yue Ya’er and whispered, “Miss, they’re approaching from the southeast. It’s the Shu Tiger Gang, escorting a group of children in carriages. About one hundred and thirty men, all on high alert.”
Yue Ya’er snorted, “I want those children alive. Kill the rest.”
The officer said, “Rest assured, Miss. Not one of them will escape.” He turned and waved his hand. The five hundred soldiers, armed with crossbows, dispersed.
Yue Ya’er pointed, “Give that cripple to him.”
One of the Thunderclap Eighteen Riders brought Gu Shufeng over.
Shi Hao took Gu Shufeng and whispered, “Thank you.” He grabbed Gu Shufeng and quickly left.
The officer was at least an eighth-rank, perhaps even seventh-rank, expert. The five hundred soldiers he brought were elite troops, plus the Thunderclap Eighteen Riders.
Even if Shi Hao stayed, he wouldn’t be of much help. His task here was complete; he left the rest to them.
He carried Gu Shufeng away from the forest.
Gu Shufeng, unsure where the young man was taking him, pleaded, “Spare me, Young Master… Please spare me…”
Shi Hao struck him on the back of the neck, knocking him unconscious.
He carried him in a wide circle and then stealthily returned to the cave on the opposite side of the canyon.
In the darkness, Shi Hao drew his sword and slit Gu Shufeng’s throat, severing his artery.
He then held him upside down.
Blood flowed from Gu Shufeng’s neck, into a concave stone, and then, through a notch in the stone, into the pattern Shi Hao had carved earlier.
The blood spread, filling the carved grooves, forming a strange magic circle.
A circle surrounded by intricate runes.
Gu Shufeng convulsed until his body went limp, his arms hanging lifelessly.
Shi Hao tossed the corpse into a corner and, with a flick of his wrist, a faint, ethereal flame appeared in his palm.
He carefully examined the magic circle. Although the “price” didn’t have to be his own, the circle itself couldn’t have any flaws; otherwise, it might have disastrous consequences.
After confirming there were no errors, he placed six white candles at the six points of the circle within the larger circle and then, dipping a brush into the still-flowing blood, began drawing strange runes on the cave wall.
Outside, the battle had begun, screams echoing through the canyon.
But he ignored the sounds, completely focused on his task within the hidden cave.
Over twenty flaming arrows suddenly arced into the canyon, illuminating the dark path.
A volley of arrows followed, their sharp whistling piercing the night, like the opening of death’s gate, carrying the scent of blood.
Hong Youyi and Yuan Gang, the Shu Tiger Gang’s two top experts after Cheng Kun, knew something was wrong the moment the flaming arrows appeared.
“Ambush!” Hong Youyi roared. Behind him, a man clutched his throat and collapsed.
An arrow protruded from his throat, blood seeping through his fingers.
Hong Youyi drew his saber and deflected four arrows.
Yuan Gang, on the other side, also roared, unleashing his energy to intercept a wave of arrows.
Any ranked martial artist could withstand this initial assault. However, most of the Shu Tiger Gang members were unranked.
This first volley alone decimated almost half their forces.
Eight prison carts, each crammed with over a dozen children, remained unscathed.
The arrows avoided the carts, sparing the gang members surrounding them.
They drew their weapons, looking around frantically.
Ropes flew through the air, striking the rocks with a clang, followed by figures emerging from the darkness, attacking like tigers and wolves.
The Shu Tiger Gang fought back, but it was a massacre.
“Who are you?!” Hong Youyi roared, his voice filled with rage and despair.
This well-organized, unexpected ambush indicated they were facing an army, and an elite one at that.
He couldn’t understand how this could happen with the Six Gates providing them with intel, but now wasn’t the time to think about that.
Hong Youyi bellowed, “Charge!” He brandished his saber, his imposing figure riding a tall horse, as he charged forward.
He had been at the front of the group. This charge, although appearing courageous, was primarily an attempt to escape the battlefield.
The enemy was numerous, well-prepared, and armed with powerful crossbows, far superior to a gang like the Shu Tiger Gang… Hong Youyi, with his experience, quickly assessed the situation.
He charged forward, attempting to break through the encirclement. As for the gang members behind him, including Yuan Gang in the middle of the group, whether they could follow… was their own problem.
A blast of energy struck the ground three zhang ahead of him with a loud boom.
An armored general, sword at his waist, stood up from the newly formed crater.
He stepped out of the crater, drew his sword fluidly, and faced the charging horse.
Hong Youyi’s horse didn’t falter. He channeled his energy into his saber, the force whistling through the air as he slashed down at the general.
A fierce wind swirled around the blade, and his well-trained horse charged forward fearlessly.
The general before him raised his sword and met the saber head-on.
With a resounding boom, their energies collided, sparks flying. The general stood firm, but the horse reared back, its hind legs digging into the ground, its front legs flailing in the air.
Blood spurted from the horse’s seven orifices as it crashed to the ground, its back hitting the earth with a thud.
Dust and debris flew everywhere. Hong Youyi rolled to the side, horrified. His full-powered strike, with the momentum of his charging horse, hadn’t even made the general flinch. This meant, in terms of pure strength, he was completely outmatched.
This general was at least seventh-rank.
His horse dead, his body aching, Hong Youyi felt like his bones were about to shatter from the impact.
The general’s next strike, like a falling meteor, came at him. A simple, direct military sword technique, honed for the battlefield, without any unnecessary flourishes or hesitation, a single strike capable of routing an army.
Hong Youyi, a seasoned martial artist, leaped into the air and unleashed a flurry of saber strikes, deflecting the general’s attacks.
Sparks flew with each clash, but the general’s relentless assault continued.
With a flash of blood, the general passed him.
Hong Youyi staggered, his back to the general, “Who… who are you?!” Blood spurted from his chest, staining the ground beneath him as he collapsed.
Yuan Gang, in the middle of the group, led his remaining men in a charge towards the hillside.
To avoid hitting the children in the prison carts, the crossbow fire had focused on the front and rear of the group, leaving Yuan Gang with a number of skilled fighters.
Hearing Hong Youyi’s shout to “charge,” Yuan Gang cursed… That coward hadn’t even turned back to help them, simply charging forward alone, abandoning them.
Despite his anger, Yuan Gang knew this was a life-or-death situation. He led his men, abandoning the prison carts, ignoring the enemies attacking from both sides, and charged towards the hilltop, hoping for a desperate counterattack, aiming for the enemy commander.
Yue Ya’er, standing on high ground, watched them approach, discreetly taking out a magical weapon. She wanted to test its power and also her own skills learned at the Ancestral Altar.
According to her grandmother’s teachings and the power of the weapon she possessed, she should be able to handle an eighth-rank expert, three or four ninth-rank martial artists, and a dozen or so unranked fighters… There shouldn’t be any problem.
But she didn’t get a chance to act.
Ten Jin warriors remained by her side, while the other eight, along with over a hundred men, charged forward and quickly dispatched the attackers.
Yue Ya’er pursed her lips. She had secretly learned many skills and possessed a powerful weapon, yet she hadn’t had a chance to use them. She was dissatisfied.
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