The Martial Doctor

The wind stopped.

The night was eerily quiet.

The entire Xue Family Manor looked pitch black, except for the lanterns on the corridors, all the rooms were dark, clearly indicating that the people inside were asleep.

At this moment, the Xue Family Manor was not like an impenetrable fortress, but rather heavily guarded. Pei Jian had mobilized all the forces he could gather.

After all, it’s just such a large manor, how many people can it really hold?

Two battalions, eight hundred people were almost enough, plus over two hundred hired blades, the entire manor now had a defensive force of just over a thousand.

Pei Jian had spared no effort for the defense of the manor, setting up watch posts and lookout towers at every vantage point around.

During the day, anyone approaching from any direction would be immediately spotted.

As for at night, Pei Jian used border military methods to transmit messages, setting up beacon towers and bells, so that even if someone triggered the bell at the last moment while falling, it would alert the manor of danger.

Additionally, all the roads within the manor were set with horse-tripping ropes and pits, and the nearby forests were filled with traps and poison arrows.

The locations of these traps were known only to a trusted few...

Moreover, he had the giant crossbows used in the defense of Dongshan City dismantled and transported here, as ordinary bows and arrows had limited lethality against martial artists.

Only these powerful multi-bolt crossbows could pose a threat to experts of the martial world.

The arrows were poison-tipped.

Every conceivable measure was employed, and Pei Jian had exerted himself tirelessly for this battle, utilizing all the resources he had at his disposal.

Now, he was just waiting for the opponents to arrive.

Tonight.

Whether Lin Miao sent a message, sounded an alarm, or just felt a slight intuition of impending danger, there was a sense of instinct.

Apart from the Green Blade Sect, there were also the scoundrels of the martial world hired by Scorpio, but he didn’t inform Iron Palm Zhou Qianren about this intelligence.

He feared these men would run scared and didn’t want to shake their morale, but fortunately, Lin Miao brought him good news—both the Su Family and Snow Mountain Sect would join the fight at the crucial moment.

This was also the source of Pei Jian’s confidence to remain calm now.

Although the Su Family was in business, as the wealthiest in Lanzhou, they naturally had a considerable force under their command; otherwise, how could they ensure their wealth wasn’t coveted?

Snow Mountain Sect was the largest sect in the northwest and a top-tier sect. Green Blade Sect had been increasingly active in Yue over the years, showing clear intentions of challenging Snow Mountain Sect.

Especially disputes over disciples, Green Blade Sect and Snow Mountain Sect had numerous hidden and open battles, including involvement in business interests in Yue.

Since it’s a rivalry among the younger generations, the elders of Snow Mountain Sect couldn’t use their strength to intervene forcibly, or else it would not stand in terms of morality.

Green Blade Sect’s foundation was far inferior to Snow Mountain Sect’s.

But the grudge between Green Blade Sect and Snow Mountain Sect was real. Green Blade Sect had not yet threatened Snow Mountain Sect’s status, but what about the future?

Doesn’t Snow Mountain Sect have even the slightest sense of crisis?

In the past, Snow Mountain Sect acted as a righteous sect; even when targeting Green Blade Sect, it needed to have a justified reason, and Snow Mountain Sect also had to consider the Da Li Dynasty’s reaction.

Currently, Green Blade Sect was suspected of smuggling and conspiring with enemies, and was involved in the assassination of the "Crown Prince," so Snow Mountain Sect was invited to assist the Da Li Dynasty in suppressing Green Blade Sect. It was natural and couldn’t be questioned.

As for the Su Family, they were already mortal enemies with Marquis Lingyang and the Ye Family, so how could they pass up such a chance for revenge?

Pei Jian had anticipated the Su Family’s assistance, but the involvement of Snow Mountain Sect was beyond what the Su Family alone could persuade.

Although the Su Family maintained good relations with Snow Mountain Sect, the Su Family’s standing, no matter how high in the past, was unlikely to influence the Snow Lord’s decisions in Snow Mountain Sect.

It had to be Lin Miao, whose relationship with Snow Mountain Sect this year was even closer than the Su Family’s. Snow Mountain Sect even sent him a pair of stunning twins, who were Snow Mountain Sect’s True Disciples.

Did the True Female Disciples of Snow Mountain Sect marry off as concubines?

Wouldn’t that be an insult to a top-tier sect like Snow Mountain Sect?

Yet, this pair of twins settled comfortably as concubines in Lin’s residence and appeared quite favored—doesn’t this indicate something?

"Mr. Cao, it’s late at night. Perhaps you should rest. I’ll take over guarding for the second half of the night," Mr. Cao suggested with concern upon seeing Pei Jian still working diligently in the hall.

"Mr. Cao, tonight is different from usual. I estimate the Imperial Envoy from the court should have departed now, at the quickest, arriving in Dongshan within five days. During this time, we must guard the Xue Family Manor and the evidence we gathered," Pei Jian replied, "If the evidence is destroyed, not only will previous efforts be wasted, but our futures will become bleak."

"I understand, rest assured. These days, even when sleep, I keep one eye open, not daring to relax," Mr. Cao replied.

"Come, let’s check around once more, just to stretch our legs!" Pei Jian said, rising and rubbing his face.

"As you command," Mr. Cao agreed, occasionally feeling Pei Jian was overreacting. How could anyone dare storm the Xue Family Manor under such tight security, and did they intend to rebel?

Moreover, with the evidence so clear, why didn’t the authority order the arrest of the wife of Marquis Lingyang? Could there be other ideas?

"How is Mr. He’s interrogation going?" Pei Jian asked as they walked.

"Very stubborn. If it weren’t for fear of being too harsh and killing him, losing more than gaining, I’d have been more unkind," Mr. Cao said, following closely.