The dark night, almost losing half his face to a blade, Deng Zhiwu had no more sleepiness. He kicked towards the man in black, "Uncle Huang, be careful!"
Uncle Huang and Deng Zhiwu were both masters. Two against one, they instantly gained the upper hand. At this moment, they both knew that this ruthless attacker in black was no common thief.
A moment later, after snatching the long sword from the man in black and slitting his throat, Deng Zhiwu squatted down to examine the corpse with unseeing eyes. "Uncle Huang, there are no identifying marks. He must be a death warrior..."
Deng Zhiwu and Uncle Huang exchanged a look, and they quickly flew towards the side door. Although they didn't know the origin of this man in black, his killing of anyone he saw meant he was no benevolent person.
Moreover, Deng Zhiwu had already killed one. If his accomplices were outside the alley, they would surely seek revenge.
Their breaths had not yet calmed when suddenly, two figures flashed over the wall and landed. Zhan Feiyu instantly tightened her grip on the blood-stained dagger, retreating two steps sharply, but accidentally tripped over the corpse, falling with a thud into the pool of blood.
The night wind blew away the gathering clouds. Under the pale moonlight, all three were momentarily stunned. Zhan Feiyu was dazed from the fall, while Deng Zhiwu and Uncle Huang hadn't expected to see a little girl.
The little girl tilted her head up, her skin as white as snow, her dark eyes round and bright. Her plain clothes were stained with blood. The key was the bodies of the man and dog on the ground. The scene was truly chilling.
"Little sister, don't be afraid, we're not bad people." Deng Zhiwu's dark face forced a smile, and he softened his voice. "Which family's daughter are you? The bad guy is dead. Big brother will take you home."
Without speaking, Zhan Feiyu sized up the two in front of her.
Appearances could be deceiving! Both men carried an aura of iron and blood, and coupled with their simple attire, they likely lived in the inn and came out upon hearing the commotion. Could they be from the General's mansion, as Ah Sheng had mentioned before?
Compared to Deng Zhiwu's pity and concern for Zhan Feiyu, Uncle Huang glanced at the man in black on the ground.
There was a bloody gash on his neck, a fatal blow from a single blade. Coupled with the blood-stained dagger in Zhan Feiyu's hand, Uncle Huang could basically conclude that this man in black had died at the hands of this little girl.
As for the hunting dog's corpse, Uncle Huang recognized it as a sighthound, skilled in tracking and fierce. Compared to the man in black whose throat was slit, the sighthound had its insides ripped open, its organs and intestines spilling out.
Uncle Huang's gaze fell on Zhan Feiyu's right hand. The back of her hand was a bloody mess, likely bitten by the sighthound. Her left forearm was also just loosely bandaged with the hem of her clothes, now soaked red with blood.
Seeing Deng Zhiwu about to pull Zhan Feiyu up, Uncle Huang placed a hand on Deng Zhiwu's shoulder, gently stopping his movement. This little girl, who had killed a sighthound by herself and even ripped it open, had to be guarded against.
"Uncle Huang?" Deng Zhiwu was puzzled. Although the little girl held a dagger, her breathing indicated she wasn't a martial artist.
As for how she killed the man in black, Deng Zhiwu guessed that the opponent had underestimated her and met his end in a ditch.
"Martial artist?" The attendant stared curiously at Zhan Feiyu. Judging by her breathing, she was an ordinary person. Moreover, the girl's right hand was clearly bitten by a dog, and only a little styptic powder had been applied.
Seeing the two whispering, Zhan Feiyu put down the cup. "I've learned some external martial arts for strengthening my body."
Uncle Huang, who was walking to the door, paused. No wonder she succeeded in a sneak attack. The man in black died without injustice.
However, thinking of the commotion at the yamen, Uncle Huang frowned. This little girl couldn't have escaped from the Huai'an Prefecture prison. Her clothes, and the jade hairpin that fell in the alley, were all extraordinary items.
Zhan Feiyu looked at Uncle Huang, who pushed open the door, and immediately stood up, thanking them solemnly. "Thank you both for saving me just now. I will never forget your kindness. My family should be looking for me outside, so I'll take my leave."
Zhan Feiyu was only wearing inner garments at the moment, and her blood-stained outer robe was unusable. Fortunately, although the autumn night was a bit cool, it wasn't cold. Zhan Feiyu planned to conceal herself outside, and then at dawn, she would go directly to the prefect's yamen to find Prefect Chu, and wait for He Sheng and He Nuan to find her.
"You're leaving? No!" Deng Zhiwu was the first to object. Looking at the little girl, who was as pliable as dough, he dared not let her go out. "Whose daughter are you? I'll send someone to notify your family to pick you up."
Uncle Huang glanced at the flustered Deng Zhiwu. Had the second young master not realized that this little girl was wary of them and hadn't even revealed her identity? "Miss, you don't need to worry. We are from the General's Mansion."
Before coming to Huai'an Prefecture, Uncle Huang and his men had concealed their identities. However, they had since visited Prefect Chu, so there was no harm in revealing it now.
"I know, the second son of General Deng." Zhan Feiyu nodded. She had guessed their identities when she was brought into the Xinglong Inn.
Uh...
This time, it was Deng Zhiwu's turn to be surprised, and even Uncle Huang's gaze sharpened. Who exactly was this little girl?
But before Deng Zhiwu and the others could speak, footsteps suddenly sounded in the courtyard, making Uncle Huang and the others immediately vigilant. "Be careful!"
Rockets flew in, piercing the windows instantly. Upon landing inside, in addition to the flames, there was choking smoke. While everyone was dodging arrows, the room was already filled with thick smoke.
"Break out!" Uncle Huang commanded in a deep voice. Even if there were enemies in the courtyard, the burning room was more dangerous, not to mention that the smoke also contained a soporific agent. If they didn't get out soon, their limbs would go soft.
Almost at the same time the rockets entered, Deng Zhiwu was the first to rush to Zhan Feiyu's side.
At Uncle Huang's command, two guards immediately broke through the window and rushed out. Uncle Huang followed closely. Deng Zhiwu, holding Zhan Feiyu with his left hand and his saber with his right, also rushed out.
There were at least five archers on the inn's walls and rooftops. Seeing Deng Zhiwu and the others break through the window, the five immediately dropped their bows and rushed into the courtyard.
There were at least ten people in the courtyard, and as a signal flare shot into the night sky, it was obvious that more enemies would arrive shortly.
Zhan Feiyu retreated to a corner, gripping her dagger tightly, and said to Deng Zhiwu, "I can protect myself! Be careful!"
"Hide well!" Deng Zhiwu did not regret saving her. As he spoke, he immediately charged into the battle.
Under the cover of the night, Zhan Feiyu slowly moved to the left along the corner of the wall. After turning to the right and confirming the presence of five people around her, Zhan Feiyu quickly concealed herself.
"Not good, enemies are coming..." Deng Zhiwu blocked a sword thrust from a man in black. As soon as he spoke, he was stunned in disbelief. The man and woman who joined the fray looked around and then attacked the man in black.
"Be careful!" Uncle Huang unceremoniously kicked Deng Zhiwu's waist, then engaged in a fierce struggle with the man in black who had ambushed him.
The most important thing in battle is not to be distracted! Deng Zhiwu wiped his face fiercely. He didn't care anymore. These masked men in black were the enemies, and he would kill them first!
The people in the inn had heard the commotion long ago, but no one dared to come out and look.
A quarter of an hour later, another group of black-clad figures charged in. Their attack was so fierce that they were clearly trained as death warriors.
Deng Zhiwu fought with blood in his eyes and had already taken two cuts. This made Deng Zhiwu, who had always believed his martial arts were formidable, finally understand the meaning of "there are always people better than you, and skies beyond the skies!"
"Uncle Huang, can't we finish them?" Deng Zhiwu's breathing was somewhat heavy as he gritted out the words. Although their reinforcements had arrived, the enemies were endless, and as soon as one group was dealt with, another would appear.
This made Deng Zhiwu suspect that the little girl was a descendant of Huang Zilong, otherwise, why such a grand display?
These men in black were different from the one he had killed earlier. They were all top-tier experts. Even the guards from the General's Mansion had sustained injuries, though fortunately, they were not fatal.
In the darkness, He Sheng and He Nuan killed until their hands were numb. After Zhan Feiyu disappeared from the prison, He Sheng and the others panicked. Fortunately, they quickly caught up with the figures in black. At this moment, the more enemies there were, the more relaxed He Sheng and the others looked, as if killing was a joyous occasion.
"Uncle Huang, they?" Deng Zhiwu and Uncle Huang fought back-to-back, with seven or eight guards by their sides. It could be said that they were at the outer edge of the battle. The ones truly in the thick of the fight were the men in black, the man and woman who had joined later, and the five people who came with them.
Uncle Huang glanced at them. "Now you know what it means to be a master who can fight a hundred with one?"
He Sheng and his group were only seven people, but the number of men in black corpses on the ground already exceeded twenty. And there were at least thirty living enemies. Yet, He Sheng and his group fought more bravely. The key was that He Sheng and the others had relaxed and joyful expressions on their faces, as if killing was a happy event.
"Oh, such a grand display. Haha, you're really overestimating the chubby girl!" A mocking laugh sounded particularly abrupt amidst the clash of swords and blades.
Not only Deng Zhiwu and the others, but even the entire group engaged in the melee looked towards the speaker.
"You haven't resolved it after killing your way from Huai'an Prefecture prison to the inn. It seems you all need to be reforged!" Zhong Guang grinned, his white teeth particularly prominent in the darkness. But equally apparent were his killing moves.
With a flick of his hand, the man in black closest to Zhong Guang didn't even have time to react before his chest was pierced by a long sword, and his body fell with a thud.
Uh...
Deng Zhiwu stared in shock at Zhong Guang, who was reaping lives. If He Sheng and the others were masters who could fight a hundred with one, then Zhong Guang at this moment was Yama, the king of hell, reaping lives. The men in black were extremely skilled, but one by one, they fell under Zhong Guang's sword.
Yin Wuyan looked around, ignoring the corpses on the ground, and walked towards a corner.
"Be careful..." Deng Zhiwu shouted as he saw a "corpse" on the ground suddenly raise its right arm.
A crossbow bolt was shot towards Yin Wuyan's back, and the faking-death man in black leaped up. Then came a thunderous strike.
Without stopping his steps, Yin Wuyan flicked the long sword in his hand backward.
With a clang, the crossbow bolt was knocked away, and the ambushing man in black clutched his neck, falling before he could even approach Yin Wuyan.
"So fast!" Deng Zhiwu said blankly. He was shocked by the speed of Yin Wuyan's sword. It was almost a flash of silver, and the sword was already drawn, incredibly fast. Not only did it deflect the crossbow bolt, but it also slit the throat of the man in black.
Uncle Huang and the others felt the same. If they encountered such a master, they would likely be dead before they could even make a move.
Yin Wuyan sheathed his sword, and his clear voice rang out, "Xiao Yu, come out."
"Big brother's voice?" Zhan Feiyu, hiding behind a water vat, was startled. She knew very well that those men in black were looking for her. If she didn't appear, Deng Zhiwu and the others would be safer.
When she heard Yin Wuyan's voice for the second time, Zhan Feiyu sprang up, revealed herself, and ran towards him with her little legs, "Big brother!"
Yin Wuyan hugged the little girl who rushed into his arms, feeling his blood begin to flow again. He instinctively tightened his embrace.
"Big brother, I'm fine." Zhan Feiyu grinned, but her hands tightly clasped Yin Wuyan's neck, not even caring that the wound on her arm had split open and was bleeding again.
After killing the last man in black, Zhong Guang yawned lazily. The chubby girl was quite good at hiding.
He Sheng and his seven men were all kneeling on one knee, heads bowed, their expressions solemn and remorseful. They had failed to protect her properly, causing their young lady to be in danger.
Deng Zhiwu looked at He Sheng and the others kneeling to confess their guilt, then turned to look at Yin Wuyan, who was holding Zhan Feiyu. This little girl must have bad eyesight. This man looked to be about the same age as Uncle Huang, so how could the little girl call him brother?
"Are you injured?" Yin Wuyan frowned, put down Zhan Feiyu in his arms, and took her hand to look. Although the wound on her right hand had been treated, it was clear that it was a bite mark.
Zhan Feiyu held Yin Wuyan's hand in return and swayed it fawningly. Then, with a puffed-up face, she complained, "Big brother, you don't know how hateful they were. They actually let dogs chase me! This is from being bitten by dogs."
Yin Wuyan knew that Zhan Feiyu could turn invisible. Even if she encountered those men in black, she could probably escape. However, when it came to hunting dogs that tracked by scent, invisibility was useless.
"Don't worry, I'll remember this grudge." Yin Wuyan's voice was clear and calm. He gently held Zhan Feiyu's right hand, his gaze sweeping over his shoulder. "I'll take you to rest. Don't look!"