CHAPTER 51: CHAPTER 37: OLD WANG’S REQUEST_1

"My lord, this isn’t something easy to purchase. However, I can go and find the best artist in the world, have him paint the most beautiful sunset, and then hang it above your bed. You can appreciate the setting sun every day when you wake up.

Although it’s not real, it represents my utmost respect for you. Rest assured, my lord, when the seven of us fully recover, we will pluck the sun from the sky for your amusement!"

At this point, Fanli suddenly chimed in, "Why not just strip the artist naked and tie him up next to the bed, so my lord can..."

"..." Blind Bei.

"..." Zheng Fan.

It seemed that whatever dish you added Fanli to, the taste would always become a bit strange.

"The fight has started."

Liang Cheng’s reminder shattered the awkward atmosphere caused by the straightforward man.

Zheng Fan and his comrades, observing from the bank, didn’t know the true identities of the assassins. However, it was clear that in terms of equipment and combat capabilities, the assassins outstripped the soldiers from Hutou City.

The assassins numbered just over twenty. If there had been twice as many, they likely would have overwhelmed the Hutou City soldiers after the first volley of crossbow bolts.

"They are the men of sacrifice raised by the Liu family of Beifeng."

Ding Hao did not react much to the brawl happening outside. He had been prepared from the moment he was transferred by the North Border Army to Beikang City.

A Ninth Rank Martial Cultivator, although revered at the grassroots level, was only slightly larger than an ant before the great clans.

He already knew his fate; things were merely unfolding as he had envisioned.

"Wang Li, kill me. Don’t hesitate. Didn’t you say your wife was vomiting this morning?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Li’s eyes flashed with ruthless determination, and he raised his knife.

"THUNK!"

An assassin who had just jumped onto the prison wagon was stabbed in the back.

Wang Li pulled out the knife, smiled at Ding Hao in the wagon, then turned his horse and charged toward the assassins who were fighting fiercely with his men.

Ding Hao lowered his head, muttering to himself, "Why bother..."

...

"My lord, is it our turn now?" Xue Three was already getting impatient.

As an assassin, he relished such chaotic scenes—launching sneak attacks, taking heads—it was pure joy for him.

Zheng Fan, on the other hand, pursed his lips. He was tempted to wait a bit longer, ideally until one side had achieved a hard-fought victory, thus minimizing the risk to his own group.

But the problem was, he had already realized these assassins weren’t here to rescue anyone; they were here to kill and silence them. If it weren’t for that patrol captain protecting him, his ’teacher-on-the-cheap’ would have been killed already.

"We’re not waiting any longer. Take action! San’er, be careful. Even though you’ve disguised yourself, your height is too conspicuous."

"Understood, my lord."

The others had already disguised themselves under Siniang’s arrangements. Everyone was essentially a different person, but you couldn’t expect Xue Three to assassinate people on stilts, could you?

Upon receiving the order, Blind Bei closed his eyes.

The next instant, Blind Bei’s voice echoed in Zheng Fan’s mind, "The Lord has given the order! Everyone, get in position!"

Then, Blind Bei instructed, "Remember, after rescuing the target, withdraw from the battlefield immediately! Don’t get entangled in the fight!"

...

Originally, today was supposed to be an ordinary day. According to the plan, I should have been instructing Liang Cheng in martial arts every day before I went to ’work’.

However, events often changed in a mind-boggling fashion, like a pot of Sichuan cuisine bubbling with intense heat and spice.

Zheng Fan held a knife in one hand and the reins in the other.

His task was the most important; once his subordinates rescued the target, he had to transport the target to the pre-arranged safe zone as quickly as possible.

Alright, if Blind Bei and the others said this was the most critical part, then it was.

Zheng Fan didn’t insist on charging forward with his knife. Weren’t Siniang’s daily massages comfortable? Or was the savory tofu pudding in the morning not delicious?

At least, before he could ’flash,’ Zheng Fan decided it was best to be as cautious as possible.

Blind Bei’s voice echoed in Zheng Fan’s mind from time to time, sometimes directing Siniang, sometimes Xue Three. Everyone was closing in on the target area according to the unified rhythm of the plan.

Zheng Fan felt like a staff officer in a command headquarters, only hearing various voices over the communicator, but with absolutely nothing for him to do personally.

Finally, after ensuring everyone was in position and seeing that the Hutou City soldiers were starting to falter and even show signs of collapse, Blind Bei issued the order to commence, "Action!"

...

Ding Hao sat like a wooden doll, watching Wang Li lead his brothers in a desperate fight against the assassins.

But although the Liu family of Beifeng couldn’t bypass the Earl of North Border’s Mansion to extend its influence into the North Border Army, as a great family with a long heritage and vast enterprises, the retainers and men of sacrifice under its command were by no means easy to deal with. This was true even though this particular group was not from the Liu family of Beifeng’s true elite forces.

Wang Li’s Hutou City soldiers were no match for them. Initially, they managed to hold their ground for a while due to their numerical superiority and Wang Li’s personal efforts. But as the numbers on both sides began to even out, and a large, black-clad man disarmed Wang Li with a stroke of his knife, the situation began to completely unravel.

The black-clad man emitted a grey glow from time to time. Under his extremely fierce assault, Wang Li was already failing.

From a distance, in Zheng Fan’s eyes, there were two ’glowing figures’ in the battle, clashing like king against king. But it was clear that the disparity in the quality of their subordinates, as well as the leaders themselves, was comprehensive.

"THUMP!"

Wang Li was sent flying by a slash, crashed against the prison wagon, and rolled to the ground.

Ding Hao shook his head helplessly, but his heart was filled with rage.

In truth, Ding Hao himself hadn’t expected that in Hutou City, at this moment, a former subordinate would be willing to risk his life to protect him.

Their relationship had actually faded after Ding Hao was promoted and assigned to Tuman City.

Even after becoming an outlaw, Ding Hao had never thought of contacting Wang Li.

But at this moment, Wang Li had made his own choice.

A long-forgotten unwillingness and hatred surged in Ding Hao’s heart. If the North Border Army hadn’t severed his tendons, he could have smashed this cage with a single punch and charged out, at least saving this former subordinate!

But alas, he was now just a cripple.

The situation had completely tilted; some Hutou City soldiers, in their panic, had already started to flee.

"BANG!"

The grey glow around the large man in black flashed again. He slashed downwards. Wang Li dodged sideways, but his opponent’s blade suddenly veered, heading straight for Ding Hao in the prison wagon.

These assassins had only one goal: to kill!

Wang Li had no choice but to block again.

"THUD!"

The blade pierced Wang Li’s chest.

But at this moment, Wang Li let out an extremely hoarse roar. A white glow flashed from his body as he swung his fist, smashing it directly into his opponent’s chest!

The opponent had tried to withdraw his blade but failed. He took the full force of the punch to his chest and staggered back several steps, blood staining his black face covering.

...

Originally, Zheng Fan had thought Blind Bei was only responsible for observing from the periphery.

\n(o)v.e\l.com

But unexpectedly, after everyone was ready, the first one to enter the fray... was Blind Bei!

Blind Bei, carrying an erhu, rushed directly towards the prison wagon, looking stylish and dazzling.

His speed was indeed fast. But if one observed closely, one could see that Blind Bei’s running posture and his points of leverage were slightly different from a normal person’s, as if someone were pushing him from behind, accelerating him.

This was the enhancement of mental force!

Just as the large man in black was sent reeling by Wang Li’s punch, Blind Bei appeared behind him.

The timing was perfect.

The erhu strings suddenly detached from the instrument, tracing a beautiful arc in the air. Then, like the Grim Reaper’s scythe, they wrapped around the man’s neck.

"A heart-wrenching song to end, where in this vast world can a kindred spirit be found!"

As the last word fell, the strings reaped!

"WHISH!"

The entire sequence of movements, including the line delivered in between, was as smooth as flowing water.

The black-clad man’s head was instantly separated from his body. Perhaps because the cut was so swift, his eyelids were still fluttering after his head hit the ground, as if he couldn’t believe what had just happened.

The sudden appearance of Blind Bei momentarily stunned the other assassins. Seeing their leader killed so abruptly, these assassins displayed a quality entirely different from that of the Hutou City soldiers. They abandoned their opponents and swarmed towards Blind Bei, that is, towards the prison wagon.

"YOHOHOHO..."

Siniang’s laughter echoed as countless embroidery threads shot out from the earth below, tripping many unsuspecting assassins.

At that moment, A Ming, Xue Three, Liang Cheng, and Fanli all charged in one direction.

Having dealt with the ’glowing figure,’ Blind Bei arrived before the prison wagon, intending to open it.

Just then, Wang Li, at death’s door with a blade still embedded in his chest, reached into his robe, took out a key, and handed it to Blind Bei.

He didn’t recognize Blind Bei, but he knew this person was not with the assassins from the Liu family of Beifeng. Since the assassins were here to kill Ding Hao, these strangers must be here to save him.

Blind Bei, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, said, "No need."

He didn’t need a key to open locks; he could just tickle the lock core with his mental force.

"CLICK! CLACK!"

A series of sounds later, the cage’s lock fell away, and the door swung open.

Ding Hao, who was sitting in the prison wagon, immediately crawled out without a word. He didn’t ask who they were or why they were saving him. At this point, any unnecessary words would be foolish. No matter what, he had to get out first!

Fanli, wielding his axe like Li Kui, had already charged to the prison wagon.

Without hesitation, his large, coarse hand grabbed Ding Hao and slung him onto his back.

Although Ding Hao’s tendons were severed, he desperately clamped his arms around Fanli’s neck to steady himself.

Blind Bei issued a new command through his mental force, "A Ming, Liang Cheng, San’er, cover our rear! Siniang, clear the way! Let’s break out!"

Just then, Blind Bei suddenly felt his ankle being grabbed. The person gripping him was Wang Li.

"Brave... warrior... Could you... help me... send a message... to my wife..."

Blind Bei uttered, "Uh..."

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