"You've forgotten that you took the scholar's examination during this period and attained the top rank. I suspect the person behind this has always been there and is connected to the Zheng family's downfall. They haven't made a move against us all these years because they saw us, a widow and orphans, as unable to cause any significant trouble. Now that you are finally about to forge your own path, they want to nip it in the bud," Wu Caiwei told her son, her intention being to instill a sense of caution and encourage him to be more careful in his daily affairs.
"That would be for the best. Mother, haven't you been investigating the culprit all these years without any progress? Since they've been tracking us, they will eventually reveal themselves. If we follow the clues, we can find them and avenge Grandfather and my uncles," Rui'er, though young at the time, clearly remembered the kindness the Zheng family had shown him. This was also why he had readily agreed when his mother suggested he adopt the Zheng surname.
"Yes, but I am very worried about you. After all, the opponent is highly skilled in martial arts and is clearly no ordinary person. You can handle common military officers, but against such hidden guards, you have no chance of winning. If I'm not mistaken, their primary target is you. Therefore, you should go out less for the next while and focus on your studies at home. I will move into the room next to yours for a period, so I can provide timely support if anything happens," she advised.
Rui'er nodded understandingly, fully agreeing with his mother's arrangement. Although it might sound unusual for mother and son to live in the same courtyard, extraordinary times called for extraordinary measures. He still had many ideals and ambitions to fulfill and was very fond of his life.
To ensure absolute security, Wu Caiwei quickly dispatched several of her trained personnel to be on standby. While these individuals, like Rui'er, had only trained in martial arts for seven years, Rui'er had dedicated most of his time to his studies. In contrast, Wu Caiwei had provided comprehensive training to those individuals, placing their martial arts proficiency on an entirely different level.
Compared to hidden guards trained by others for many years, they were not inferior. As long as her son did not step outside the Zheng family's gates, his life would be guaranteed.
One day, Wu Caiwei deliberately walked home alone from her shop. Midway, as darkness fell, she subtly placed her hand on her waist. As she reached a slightly secluded area, she drew her soft sword with lightning speed and moved to meet the attack.
Soon, the sounds of clashing weapons, ping-pong, filled the air. It was likely that the nearby residents had already heard it. However, the sounds clearly indicated the nature of the conflict. At most, they would peek through the crack of their doors, but they dared not show their faces.
The hidden guards had already received news that the young lady of the Zheng family disliked music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, preferring instead to practice martial arts. Having trained with General Zheng since childhood, her martial arts were formidable. To be safe, they had come in a group of four. They had assumed dealing with a delicate woman would be a simple task, but the moment they clashed, they realized they had been careless; her martial arts were far superior to their expectations.
Wu Caiwei, in fact, was equally surprised. Having encountered numerous hidden guards over many lifetimes, and even having trained some herself, she had never seen anyone with such high martial arts proficiency. Today, she was determined to cripple their martial arts, lest they pose a threat to her. Knowing her opponents were powerful, eliminating even a fraction of their strength was paramount.
The hidden guards, knowing their situation was dire, fought with all their might to kill Wu Caiwei, their blades aiming for vital points. Wu Caiwei, on the other hand, was focused on severing their tendons and ligaments, showing no mercy in her attacks.
A duel between masters was characterized by speed, precision, and deadliness, dazzling the onlookers. Ultimately, Wu Caiwei gained the upper hand due to her years of experience, coupled with her relentless training during the years she spent abroad. Otherwise, the outcome of the battle was uncertain. This made her realize that there were always greater powers beyond one's own, and that in each life, her priority would be to ensure her martial arts were invincible and to strengthen her training.
Although they initially fought very close to the homes of ordinary citizens, Wu Caiwei knew that if these hidden guards were defeated, they might choose suicide. To avoid unnecessary trouble, she led them to the outskirts during the fight.
Soon, the men collapsed on the ground like puddles of mud. Based on her experience, she knew each of them likely had poison in their mouths. She quickly dislocated their jaws to prevent them from acting and cautiously distanced herself from them, sternly asking, "Speak, who sent you?"
The men remained silent, which was entirely within Wu Caiwei's expectations. Having been raised and indoctrinated by others for so many years, it was unlikely they would easily betray their master.
"It doesn't matter if you don't speak. I will tie you to a tree later and gouge out your eyes. The scent of blood will surely attract the wild beasts in the mountains. I believe by tomorrow morning, only bones will remain," Wu Caiwei's threat, though meant to be terrifying, held no fear for them. However, this was her first time interrogating hidden guards in the open, and she was truly at a loss for how to deal with them, as they were all hardened individuals. As expected, they remained unmoved. She touched her nose with a hint of boredom, preparing to proceed with what she had just threatened.
As she approached them, she suddenly exerted all her strength and flew backward. In an instant, the place where they stood exploded, leaving no trace of them. Despite her quick reaction, she sustained some injuries.
She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, her face grim. This was the first time she had suffered such a significant setback. Fortunately, she was highly vigilant, or her life would have been forfeit. These people were truly cunning. Who would have thought they carried explosives? If Wu Caiwei had not severed their tendons and ligaments, and inadvertently noticed one of them struggling to pull something resembling a fuse, she would not have reacted so quickly.
It was also fortunate that she had shown no mercy to these individuals today; otherwise, she would have been doomed.
Of course, the commotion caused by the explosion would have attracted the attention of observant individuals. She quickly scanned her surroundings, checked herself, and found nothing left behind. She then rapidly vanished from the scene. Her suspicions were correct; shortly after she departed, a group of people arrived at the incident site to investigate the situation.
"Boss, these are the hidden guards we sent out," reported one of the men in black to the leader.
"I didn't expect the people of the Zheng family to be such tough adversaries. Good, very good. The game is getting more interesting. Let's hurry back to report to our master," the heavily disguised man said with interest.
Wu Caiwei quietly returned to her room, found some medicine, and after tending to herself, lay down on the bed, feeling weary.
She replayed the events of the day repeatedly. Clearly, the opponent's strength was terrifying. A mere hidden guard carrying explosives implied that the person who could procure such items was no ordinary individual, indicating that their power and influence were far greater than she had imagined.