Chapter 57: Escape and Kill
Moments later, in the back courtyard of the Brocade Robe Guard Office, several carrier pigeons took flight, heading toward Youzhou and Yan Province.
Lu Yuan, however, knew nothing of this. He, Wu Han, and Zhou He had a grand time drinking that night.
By the time they went to rest, it was already late into the night.
The next day, the three of them didn’t wake up until noon.
Still, they weren’t in a hurry. The Sun Family’s smuggling caravan wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow.
It wouldn’t be too late to head down the mountain after eating. As long as they lay in wait on their inevitable path, they could certainly wipe them all out in one fell swoop.
The food in the stronghold wasn’t very good. Lu Yuan and the others ate stewed meat, while the other horse bandits only had a bit of greasy broth in their bowls.
However, no one felt it was unfair; on the contrary, they ate with great relish.
Only a mere few people were allowed to sit at the table and eat meat.
Zhou He glanced around and said to Wu Han, "You’re a bit too harsh on your men, aren’t you?"
"That’s just how it is in a place like this. Your skill determines how much you eat. Before, they were all starving. If it weren’t for me, they wouldn’t have anything to eat at all. Besides, they’re a pack of desperadoes. Show them a bit of kindness, and every last one of them will think they can take over."
Wu Han gnawed on a bone, juices dripping from the corners of his mouth.
Zhou He nodded. "That’s a fair point. Even the imperial court has a strict hierarchy. You can’t have order without rules."
Without another word, he picked up a piece of meat and started eating.
After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Wu Han gave a command, and someone brought over two sets of armor. They were pitch-black, but they were both sets of Half Armor, somewhat different from those of both Dayong and the Northern Barbarians.
They looked like a modification that combined elements of both.
Wu Han grinned and said, "This is the famous Northern Border bandit armor. It’ll have to do. It can’t compare to military-issue armor, but it’s better than nothing."
Having armor and not having armor were two different things entirely.
To put it one way, a Warrior in high-quality armor could routinely take on ten unarmored mountain bandits.
"I’m not picky. As long as there’s something to wear." Lu Yuan donned the armor and then casually picked up a Crescent Saber from the weapons rack.
Although the quality wasn’t the best, it was at least comparable to a regular Warrior’s standard-issue weapon.
At his side, Zhou He also picked out a weapon for himself.
The two of them even left their warhorses behind in the stronghold.
After all, what they were doing this time was a big deal. The Sun Family itself wasn’t to be feared; the real trouble was the people backing them. It was always better to be cautious.
Once they were ready, the group thundered out of the stronghold.
It wasn’t until early the next morning, before the sun had even risen, that they stopped at the edge of a forest to rest.
The entire forest was on high ground, with a road running below.
This forest was called Wild Boar Ridge, and it was the only mountain ridge in the Northern Border.
"Rest here."
Lu Yuan scanned his surroundings. This area was most likely Helian Family territory. For the Sun Family to dare pass through here, it seemed they really did have powerful backing. Otherwise, crossing the lands of two great military families while hauling contraband was not something an ordinary person could pull off.
After all, the Scouts who patrolled outside the city every day weren’t just for show.
They not only fought with Northern Barbarian Scouts but were also responsible for inspecting merchant caravans.
The Sun Family’s caravan would naturally encounter them as well. This meant that the person behind them was, at the very least, someone that not even the Helian and Zhou Families combined could afford to offend. Otherwise, their operation would have been shut down long ago.
Zhou He found a spot to sit down, took a piece of dried meat from his robes, and placed it in Lu Yuan’s hand. "Eat something."
Then, he took out another piece for himself and stuffed it into his mouth.
He was truly hungry.
Wu Han plopped down beside them and said nonchalantly, "Just wait. They should be here by noon."
And at that very moment, within Icefield Pass, the Xiao matriarch and her daughter were leading two horses toward the city gates under the dim light of dawn.
They hadn’t taken much with them; they had even sold their house to buy the two horses.
As soon as the city gates opened, they were among the first to leave.
After they had traveled some distance, the Xiao matriarch, sitting atop her horse, looked at Xiao Hua, who kept glancing back. "Let’s go," she said. "If we leave now, we should be able to meet the people picking us up before nightfall."
Xiao Hua bit her lip. "We didn’t even have time to say goodbye to Yuan."
Her eyes were shimmering with tears as she spoke.
For she knew that after this farewell, there was no telling when they would meet again.
The Xiao matriarch said, "Yuan is a good kid. I promise you, you will definitely have a chance to see each other again. But right now, the most important thing is to help your maternal grandfather. Having just gone through a civil war, the Northern Barbarians are facing their most difficult time.
Besides, since we’ve decided to leave, our identities will be exposed sooner or later. It’s better that we haven’t contacted him, to avoid implicating him.
Once we’ve taken care of our business, we can send someone to find Yuan then."
"Mm." Though reluctant, Xiao Hua nodded and galloped forward with her mother.
More than half a day passed after their departure.
By noon, a squad of Brocade Robe Envoys had charged into the city.
A moment later, the city gates were closed, and squads of the City Guard Army began to converge on Ice Valley Lane.
They were clearly there to capture Xiao Hua and her mother.
However, they were destined to come up empty-handed.
So, when the city gates opened again, one Hundred-Man Squad after another, led by the Brocade Robe Envoys, set out in pursuit.
These Brocade Robe Envoys led hunting dogs, with eagles perched on their arms.
They were specialists in tracking.
A closer look would reveal that within each squad, there were figures in black robes hidden among the crowd. They were the retainers of the Brocade Robe Guard Office, all of them top-tier experts.
The fact that they could dispatch such a lineup showed how seriously the Brocade Robe Envoys were taking this.
Given the short notice, mobilizing such forces was the most they could do.
Meanwhile, Lu Yuan and his men, who had been lying in wait for a full day, finally saw the Sun Family’s caravan arrive in the afternoon.
There were about fifty people in total, and the one leading them was indeed the eldest brother of the Sun Family.
He wore a suit of armor and carried a Wolf-toothed Club, cutting an imposing figure at the head of the caravan.
Behind him were more than thirty carts, with guards stationed on either side.
At the sight, Wu Han’s eyes instantly turned bloodshot.
He fiercely gripped the Xuanhua Axe in his palm.
Seeing him like this, Lu Yuan didn’t say anything, merely had someone bring him a bow and arrows.
Then he took aim at the Sun Family’s eldest brother at the very front.
WHOOSH!
A feathered arrow cut through the air, shooting straight down. Although he was only using an Iron-Clad Bow and not his own, it still packed immense killing power. The Sun Family’s eldest brother heard the vicious whistle of its approach.
He only had time to dodge the fatal blow, but the feathered arrow still pierced his shoulder with precision.
THUNK!
The sharp armor-piercing arrow penetrated his armor, and blood spurted into the air.
The Sun Family’s eldest brother roared, "Ambush!"
Lu Yuan had already waved his hand, leading his men in a charge down the slope.
Wu Han, battle-axe in hand, roared, "Leave no one alive!"
As his voice rang out, he charged toward the injured eldest brother of the Sun Family.
Neighing warhorses trampled the ground, kicking up billowing clouds of dust.
The axe blade glinted coldly.
Already scared out of his wits and heavily wounded, the Sun Family’s eldest brother couldn’t possibly defend himself in his haste.
CLANG!
With a single blow from the axe, his weapon was sent flying, and his head flew high into the air.
With that, all three brothers of the Sun Family had perished.