Chapter 696 What the Hell Is This?
As evening settled, golden sunlight bathed the dilapidated Houjia Village.
The dozen or so crumbling houses in the village cast long, distorted shadows.
In the open space between these ramshackle dwellings, a dozen women and a dozen children were bound.
No men were present.
The men had all been slaughtered.
Ge Goufei, along with a group of his subordinates, now guarded these women and children.
He was in charge of the hostages.
Meanwhile, Zijing Liang led his vast army, concealed in ambush outside the village, forming a colossal trap.
They were waiting for Zhang Fengyi.
Skirting the shadows of the buildings, it carefully navigated past the feet of several ruthless bandits.
The tiny figure quickly blended into the huddle of women and children.
These women and children had long been starved and beaten, appearing listless and dejected, their heads bowed. They didn't even notice the palm-sized figure moving among them.
That little figure was, of course, the cc-01 Reconnaissance Heavenly Lord. From the cluster of women and children, he selected the one who looked the strongest and most capable, then gently tugged at the hem of her clothes.
The tug startled the woman. She turned her head and saw a figure no bigger than her palm, which gave her a considerable fright.
The Little Heavenly Lord made a "shush" gesture at her.
The woman understood and nodded. Though her heart was pounding with shock and fear, in their current dire circumstances, any strange occurrence could be their chance at survival. She cast aside her suspicions; every shred of hope for life had to be seized. She leaned down, pressing her ear close to the Little Heavenly Lord.
The Little Heavenly Lord whispered, "I will be coming to rescue you very soon. For now, I'll cut your ropes. Don't make a sound. Keep pretending to be bound. When the critical moment comes, I will call you, and then you can rise up and resist. Do you understand?"
The woman nodded vigorously.
With a swift motion, the Little Heavenly Lord drew a small knife, moved behind her, and deftly severed the straw rope binding her wrists.
Her hands were free, but she dared not move. Dozens, perhaps a hundred, ruthless bandits still stood nearby.
She swayed, leaning against another woman, and whispered into her ear, "Someone is coming to rescue us... Don't make a sound... I'll cut your ropes first..."
A lone rider galloped up to Zijing Liang. "Report, Chief! Zhang Fengyi's White Pole Soldiers have indeed been lured our way. But she hasn't rushed into the village. Instead, she halted two or three li away, climbed a small hill, and is observing from there."
Zijing Liang nodded. "It's to be expected that she would stop to observe. If she charged headlong into an ambush, she wouldn't be the renowned White Pole Soldiers."
Qing Beilang emerged from behind him. "Chief, if the White Pole Soldiers discover our ambush nearby, they probably won't enter the village, will they?"
Zijing Liang replied, "That depends on whether the White Pole Soldiers are as righteous and selfless as rumored. Will they disregard their own safety to save these people, or will they abandon these women and children to avoid falling into a trap?"
He was about to launch into an analysis of "the brilliance of human nature" when another subordinate ran back. "Chief, a swordsman has appeared on the main road and is heading towards Houjia Village."
"What?" Zijing Liang exclaimed. "A swordsman?"
His subordinate's expression was utterly peculiar. "Yes, a swordsman. He looks quite young, dressed in a warrior's garb, wearing a conical hat, and a longsword hangs at his waist. He looks... how should I put it? I don't know how to describe him."
Zijing Liang muttered, "Blast it all."
"Chief, what should we do?"
Zijing Liang waved a dismissive hand. "What else can we do? Do nothing! Ge Goufei's men are already ambushing in the village. What good is one swordsman walking in? Ge Goufei's men will take care of him. Tell the brothers not to move a muscle; we just wait for Zhang Fengyi."
Zijing Liang held his ground.
Meanwhile, Li Daoxuan, step by step, seemingly strolled leisurely towards Houjia Village.
On the hillside two li away, Zhang Fengyi peered through a monocular telescope, watching Li Daoxuan approach. Her heart was filled with extreme worry. "Please, stay safe," she murmured.
Li Daoxuan slowly entered the village, calling out, "Hello, is anyone in the village? This humble swordsman is thirsty and seeks some water..." Before he could finish, he saw a group of women and children bound on the ground in the middle of the village, with a small band of bandits, outlaws, and marauders standing nearby, brandishing their blades.
"Oh!" Li Daoxuan feigned exaggerated shock. "What has happened? You villains, what do you intend to do to these women and children?"
Ge Goufei waved him away. "Get lost, this is none of your business."
"This... how can you say this isn't my business?"
Li Daoxuan declared angrily, "In broad daylight, under the clear sky, how can you act this way? Quickly, release these women and children! Otherwise, this humble swordsman shall right this wrong today and draw his blade to assist!"
The ruthless bandits nearly burst out laughing. *Where did this idiot come from? Has his head been caught in a door?*
This group of bandits surrounding the women and children numbered at least fifty, with dozens more lurking inside the crumbling houses nearby, totaling over a hundred. They were specifically positioned to control the hostages, keeping Zhang Fengyi from making a move.
Such numbers, dealing with a "wandering swordsman," would be a matter of mere moments.
Ge Goufei, suppressing his irritation, waved his hand again. "I told you to scram! Grandpa is handling important business here today and doesn't want any unnecessary trouble, or else I'd have already had you chopped up. Now get out!"
Li Daoxuan retorted, "Important business? I think you mean foul deeds! Humph!"
He stepped further into the village...
From a distance, Zhang Fengyi watched him enter through her telescope, her heart leaping into her throat.
Ge Goufei snarled, "He refuses a toast and prefers a penalty. Little ones, take him out."
Two ruthless bandits immediately drew their blades and advanced on Li Daoxuan.
Li Daoxuan's hand rested on his sword hilt.
The two bandits thought, *This fellow looks formidable; he might actually have some skill. We must be cautious.* They exchanged a look, their expressions turning grim, their steps becoming measured and deliberate, advancing slowly, one step at a time.
As they slowly closed in, Li Daoxuan's hand, resting on his sword hilt, suddenly flashed behind his back, pulling out a short-barreled firearm the length of his forearm.
"Bang!"
With a crisp report, one bandit fell backward, dead.
The other bandit jumped sideways in fright, reacting instinctively.
Ge Goufei and the other hundred-plus ruthless bandits froze for a moment, collectively thinking, "What the hell is this?"
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