The text translates to:
Xue San had thoroughly inspected this inn before, and there were no secret passages. A "small inn" couldn’t possibly hide over thirty people without being discovered, so the only explanation is that these assassins ca from outside.
"Hmph." Although the last assassin had been badly beaten, he remained clear-headed, spat at Ye Shikai, and seed unwilling to confess.
"Bastard, our General is asking you a question." Man Cang, seeing the assassin’s defiance, delivered a heavy punch to his abdon.
"Very well, quite the backbone," Ye Shikai said coldly, as a surge of anger rose within him. He didn’t care about the attempt on his life, but the fact that they almost hard He Linghan was sothing he couldn’t tolerate. Ye Shikai tightly gripped his sword and swung it forcefully.
Ah, ah, ah.
In the blink of an eye, the assassin’s left hand was severed by the blade, and the excruciating pain turned his face ashen as he let out heart-wrenching screams. Such pain would suffice to knock an ordinary person unconscious, but for these trained assassins, it was sheer agony.
"If you don’t speak, you’ll lose your other hand too," Ye Shikai said coldly.
"I’ll talk, I’ll talk."
"Speak quickly." Ye Shikai kicked the assassin to the ground, shouting loudly, with his longsword pressed against the man’s neck.
"We... we are robbers from a nearby mountain stronghold. This inn is run by our brothers, and we usually engage in robbing and looting. In the evening, the shop assistant inford us that a general had arrived. Brothers figured a general would have money, so they planned to make a move at night. Ah, ah, it hurts," the assassin said, trembling from the pain.
"You’re claiming to be robbers, do you take us for fools?" Ye Shikai thrust his sword into the assassin’s arm.
Ah, ah.
Another scream pierced through the night. Ye Shikai wasn’t a fool; robbers might murder and loot, but they choose their targets. If an ordinary rchant ca by, they might make a move if they cleaned up well. In an age without surveillance caras, authorities couldn’t trace a missing person. But Ye Shikai and his party were different. He was the General of East County, with two hundred soldiers stationed outside. The robbers would have to kill two hundred soldiers to commit murder and looting, which was impossible. The robbers weren’t strong enough to attack the Qin Army’s main forces outright. Besides, the assassins on the ground were dressed neatly with decent weapons, and their skills indicated they were trained, not sothing robbers could achieve.
"I’ll give you one more chance to tell the truth."
"We... we are a nearby rebel army."
Rip.
Ye Shikai drew his sword; now that was a reasonable answer.
"Explain in detail, and I might spare your life."
"We are part of a nearby rebel force. We run this inn to gather intelligence from the Jianghu and befriend heroes. Upon hearing a Qin Dynasty general ca here, we decided to assassinate you." After so "flesh and blood", the assassin was finally willing to speak the truth and revealed everything he knew.
"That’s all I know, please spare my life, sir."
"I keep my word. n, take him away for treatnt." Ye Shikai sheathed his sword, and several soldiers promptly dragged the assassin away.
"Sir, these bastards ca to assassinate you. What scum, we almost fell for it," Xue San expressed so self-bla, as he failed to notice the problem in ti. Ye Shikai didn’t bla him. Firstly, Ye Shikai had so responsibility for this incident. Secondly, Xue San fought desperately with four bodyguards to ensure his and He Linghan’s safety.
"Seems like I’m quite famous in East County, with so many people after my head." Ye Shikai suddenly chuckled, with a sense of self-mockery in his tone. ’People don’t offend , and I don’t offend them’ was Ye Shikai’s principle. But now, soone had actively provoked him, so they couldn’t bla him for being ruthless.
"Sir, your military achievents are renowned throughout East County. These robbers wanted to take your life to intimidate all officials."
"Well, their tricks are no more than that." Ye Shikai left the inn just as He Linghan arrived.
"Ling’er, why are you back?"
"Are you all unhard?" asked He Linghan anxiously.
"Don’t worry, everything’s fine," Ye Shikai reassured softly.
"Sir, what should we do next? Should we continue camping to rest or march overnight?" Man Cang inquired.
"Alas, let’s move now," Ye Shikai figured it would take a few more hours before dawn. With such an event, nobody in the army would sleep peacefully, not to ntion the inn had just witnessed a bloody battle, and He Linghan likely wouldn’t want to sleep there again.
"Ling’er, if you’re tired, lean on my back." Ye Shikai mounted his warhorse and had He Linghan sit behind him.
"Mm."
"Sir, what about the inn?" Xue San asked for his orders.
"If it’s left, it will only continue to harm passing rchants. As for the bodies of the assassins, burn it all." Ye Shikai said calmly. Though there was a difference between rebel armies and robbers, in Ye Shikai’s view, these rebels, though claiming to act for ’justice’, also engaged in dubious activities. This inn was likely not just for gathering intelligence for the rebels; they were also involved in robbery and looting.
"Understood." Xue San, along with several soldiers, threw a few torches inside the inn, soon setting it ablaze.
"Alright, let’s go."
...............
Everyone marched slowly. An hour later, dawn had broken. After a night of fierce fighting, Ye Shikai felt a bit weary. He Linghan, who rarely saw such violence, must have been greatly frightened last night and soon fell asleep on Ye Shikai’s back.
"Sir, in about two hours, we should reach the barracks," Man Cang said, holding a map and pointing out their position.
"Everyone eat sothing and rest for the ti it takes to burn a stick of incense before we march again."
"Understood."
"Understood."
After dispersing, everyone took rations from their packs to eat. Concerned that He Linghan might not be used to eating dry rations, Ye Shikai had prepared so pastries for her in his bag.
"Ling’er, you were surely frightened last night," Ye Shikai sat beside her, handing her the pastries. If He Linghan had been hurt last night, Ye Shikai wouldn’t spare those assassins.
"Actually... I’m fine. Luckily, it was a false alarm." He Linghan didn’t want to appear weak, so she tried to conceal her fear even if she was genuinely scared.
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