The ruffians were all riled up upon hearing that prestigious guests were coming, clamoring, "Huzi, who are the guests? Could it be from the stronghold..."
Huzi’s face darkened as he interrupted the ruffians, "The identity of the guests is different from ours. Show so respect, all of you. Don’t ask questions that you shouldn’t ask. If you offend the guests, even I won’t be able to save you."
The ruffians imdiately clamd up upon hearing this, daring not to question further.
Niu Zi scolded them, thinking they were embarrassing, "Hurry up and get ready. When the guests arrive, everyone better be smart about it—entertain them well, and don’t disgrace us brothers."
"Yes, yes, yes," the ruffians complied as they grabbed torches and went into the kitchen to busily prepare, getting ready to butcher chickens and pigs for the feast.
Huzi and Niu Zi left, with Mangzi and the others wanting to follow but were stopped by Huzi.
The two brothers, under the cover of night, left the village. They turned into a small mountain path, where Huzi explained, "Those prestigious guests are from the stronghold. There’s one called Young Master Gao who’s a regular of Boss Gao, highly favored. He has quite a following and might beco the new boss of the stronghold in the future."
"There’s another called Seventh Young Master, one of Boss Gao’s bonded brothers. We should respect him too, but we still ought to listen to Young Master Gao—he’s our real pillar of support."
"Eh, I got it," Niu Zi was excited. He hadn’t expected that his brother would bring back such distinguished guests on his return. He thought they were on the verge of striking it rich.
"Big brother, why would soone important like Young Master Gao co to our village? Is it because of the business with County Magistrate Zou?" Niu Zi asked, puzzled. "But even if it’s due to County Magistrate Zou’s matter, why bother coming to our remote backwater? They could’ve just gone straight to the county."
Huzi replied, "What do you know? Young Master Gao and the boss have conflicting views. It was Third Master’s idea to say that the county governnt is a tough nut to crack; those who make the first move might not make it back alive. Young Master Gao was advised to lay low first, to wait until Gao Zhong and his group have suffered a setback, and then Young Master Gao can lead us to reap the benefits."
Gao Rui’s plan is to have Gao Zhong and his group storm the county governnt first, and it would be best if they died there. That way, no one else would compete with Gao Rui for the position of the boss in the stronghold.
As for visiting the village, the first reason was to use the villagers, like Niu Zi, to gather information about the county. Secondly, it was to avoid suspicion, so that if Gao Zhong were to perish, the stronghold supporters of Gao Zhong wouldn’t bla Gao Rui.
After walking for half an hour, the brothers finally reached the mountain hollow.
Upon seeing Gao Rui, Niu Zi knelt down with a thump, "I am Zhang Huzi’s brother, Zhang Niu Zi, and desperately wish to follow to the stronghold to earn a living, I beg for Young Master Gao’s refuge."
Lian Qi’s expression darkened as he gave Huzi a kick, "Zhang Huzi, you have quite a nerve to spill the beans to an outsider the mont you get back."
However, Gao Rui said, "Uncle Qi, Zhang Niu Zi is Zhang Huzi’s biological brother; he’s not an outsider."
Huzi, being astute, quickly offered flattery, "Thank you, Young Master Gao and Seventh Young Master, for not punishing Niu Zi. It’s late at night, and the villagers are deep asleep. Let’s quickly make our way into the village."
Gao Rui, too, was fed up with the mosquitoes in the mountains, and promptly pointed forward, "Lead the way."
Huzi grabbed Niu Zi, and together with Gao Rui, Lian Qi, and the rest of the river bandits, set off towards the exit of the mountains. As they were about to leave, Lian Qi suddenly frowned, "Wait, don’t make a sound!"
Huzi and the others were startled and hastily stopped.
After a mont, Lian Qi asked, "Did any of you hear the sound of horse hooves?"
Just then, he thought he heard a faint tapping sound, much like galloping horses.
Huzi and the others shook their heads, "Seventh Young Master, we didn’t hear anything."
Gao Rui was very unhappy, "Uncle Qi, I know you don’t want everyone to stay in the village, but Niu Zi said they’ve already taken over the old houses in the Back Village. The villagers are afraid of them and don’t dare to go near there. We could stay there for a few days, and the villagers wouldn’t notice."
Horse hooves?
Heh, in such a backwater place, it’s good enough to even have a water buffalo. Would there even be horses?
Gao Rui ignored Lian Qi and took off with rapid steps.
Zhang Huzi and the others knew that he was Gao Tong’s beloved son and surrounded him as he walked towards the village.
However, Lian Qi had not misheard; just monts ago, horses had indeed galloped past, heading straight for the county.
Elder Qin, who had spent a lifeti in the military, knew that even though Zhang Huzi always moved in and out of the village under the cover of darkness without making a sound, the riffraff from Back Village made quite a ruckus.
They were killing chickens and pigs, and from the looks of it, they were entertaining soone.
Elder Qin, accompanied by two soldiers, quietly approached the old house in Back Village and overheard the conversations of the rabble. Knowing Zhang Huzi had returned with a distinguished guest, he imdiately retreated and sent a soldier to the governnt office to call for backup and surround Yushu Village.
The sound of horse hooves earlier was the noise of the soldier riding to send a ssage.
Elder Qin, worried about the safety of the families at the edge of the village, sent another soldier back to Da Feng Village to inform Gu Jinli, urging them to be vigilant. If anyone were to flee into the village, they must show no rcy and take their lives.
Lian Qi, having beco Gao Tong’s sworn brother, was not a simple character. His years of living on the edge of the knife had honed his senses sharp as a wolf’s. Upon hearing the horse hooves, he felt uneasy. After entering the village and seeing the troublemakers preparing a feast, he grew dark-faced and imdiately began dragging Gao Rui away.
Lian Qi: "We need to leave quickly. Making such a big commotion will surely be noticed. We can’t stay here."
Gao Rui angrily retorted: "Uncle Qi, you’re always so jumpy. Who could possibly co to this godforsaken place?"
"County Captain Jiang is no fool. He knows that Zhang Niu is Zhang Huzi’s brother and will definitely send people to watch this area. Otherwise, where would those horse hooves co from? I was careless before; we cannot stay here!" Lian Qi did not give Gao Rui a chance to disagree and started dragging him out of the village.
"Boss Gao sent to accompany you to protect you. Since it’s dangerous now, I can’t let you take the risk. We can’t have Boss Gao send a white-haired person in exchange for a black-haired one. Let’s move quickly."
The two soldiers following Elder Qin saw that Gao Rui and the others were about to leave and got anxious, quietly asking: "Elder Qin, what should we do?"
Elder Qin: "Go, before that rabble arrives, we’ll nab that young lad first."
Boss Gao’s son was a big fish.
Elder Qin was the first to charge forward, flinging out a handful of poison.
The poison, provided by Gu Jinli, could knock a person down in less than a minute, just after one breath.
However, Lian Qi was agile. He held his breath imdiately and used a wet cloth to cover his face, then turned around, drew his Dagger, and slashed at Elder Qin.
Elder Qin dodged and pulled out his chopping knife, swinging it at Gao Rui.
Although Gao Rui was arrogant and conceited, he had so tricks up his sleeve. He had already covered his face with a wet cloth, drew his Gou He Blade, and attacked Elder Qin. Together with Lian Qi, they pressed Elder Qin into retreat after a clash of one zhang, then imdiately fled, ordering the pursuing Zhang Huzi and others: "We’ve been ambushed! Stop that old man or the fort won’t spare you!"
Hearing this, Zhang Huzi and the rest imdiately drew their knives and charged in for the kill.
Elder Qin, nimble and agile, evaded the attacks and pursued Gao Rui and the others, shouting at the two soldiers: "Use the poison, knock them out!"
The two soldiers took out their poison bags, but before they could open them, Zhang Huzi and other river bandits’ broadswords were already swinging down at them.
With a whoosh, a cloud of dust kicked up, and a figure appeared amidst it, sliding close to the ground. With two swift sounds, blades cut through flesh. Zhang Huzi and another bandit felt a searing pain in their feet - their Achilles tendons were severed. They collapsed instantly, allowing the two soldiers to be rescued.
Gu Jinli spun around, grabbed Zhang Huzi’s hair, and brought the Dagger to his throat, then with a swift motion, cut his throat.
"Xiao Yu!" Qin San Lang had already rushed in from the night, taking down another fallen bandit with his knife. As Zhang Niu charged towards him with eyes wide with fury, Qin San Lang kicked him away and grabbed Gu Jinli to the side: "Stay here and don’t fight. I’ll handle them quickly."
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