263 - Destroyer of Ice and Fire

Tang Yi roared, "You bunch of worthless fools! How many times have I told you, no drinking while guarding the gate! But no, in one ear and out the other, huh?" Mountain Bandit A guarding the gate replied, "Chief, we only drank because the new guy said you allowed us to have a little. We didn't think it would matter." Mountain Bandit B added, "That's right, we found it strange that you suddenly allowed us to drink." Mountain Bandit C said, "That new guy claimed it was on your orders, and we couldn't very well refuse your kindness." Mountain Bandit D chimed in, "Hey, if you don't believe us, Chief, you can confront that new guy—wait, where is he?" They scanned the room, but the unfamiliar face was nowhere to be seen. It dawned on them that they had been tricked. Mountain Bandit A fumed, "I knew something was off. We started feeling tipsy after just a few sips because we were drugged. Damn it! If I catch him, I'll skin him alive!" Tang Yi fumed, "Useless idiots! Use your brains. Remember this: if I catch anyone drinking while on guard duty again, I'll break their bones, skin them, and feed them to the vultures on the mountaintop!" No sooner had he finished speaking than the clap of horses' hooves thundered outside. A muffled scream pierced the night, followed by a shadow flying into the hall and landing at Tang Yi's feet. It was a corpse with a gash at the throat. Blood oozed from the neck, pooling around Tang Yi's feet, and the stench of blood filled the air. The killer's speed in severing the throat was so fast that the victim had no time to react. Terrified, the other bandits huddled behind Tang Yi, their bravado completely gone. "Tie Zhu? Tie Zhu! Wake up, who did this to you?" Tang Yi roared, his face contorted with rage and his eyes turning bloodshot. His body trembled with fury as he raised his machete and stormed outside. Outside, a group of masked men in black sat on horseback, holding torches wrapped in oiled cloth that lit up the night like daylight. Their sword sheaths gleamed in the firelight, intricately carved with tiger motifs, adorned with gemstones, and featuring gold handles, indicating they were not ordinary men. Despite their masks, the air around them was filled with a murderous aura. Tang Yi hollered, "Who the hell are you? How dare you invade Liangshan Village at night and kill my brothers?" The leader of the masked men barked, "Hand over the person and we'll spare your lives!" "You think you can just waltz in here? You have no idea who you're dealing with! Everyone in the underworld gives me face. Get ready to die!" Knowing they meant trouble, Tang Yi did not know who exactly had been captured but was certain that revenge for his brother's death was necessary. He brandished his machete, sending sparks flying as it scraped the ground. Charging forward with the momentum of a black whirlwind, he attacked the bloodstained masked man in front of him fiercely. The man in black stepped back swiftly, dodging the blade before retaliating with a swift stab aimed at Tang Yi's right arm. Seeing the oncoming blade, Tang Yi quickly loosened his right hand's grip on the machete, catching it with his left. With a concentrated force channeled through his palm, he deflected the masked man's sword. Though his hand tingled from the impact, he pressed on. After several more clashes, it was clear they were equally matched and neither could gain an advantage. The leader of the masked men repeated, "This is your last chance. Hand over the person, and we'll spare you." Tang Yi initially thought they were here to negotiate a ransom for Ning Songwu and his party. However, realizing it would take a day and a night to travel back and forth to Zhongzhou County, he knew it was impossible for the news to travel so quickly. "Why are you standing there? Grab your weapons and avenge Tie Zhu! Fight to the death. Kill one if there’s one, kill two if there are two!" Tang Yi commanded. Despite fighting fiercely, the Liangshan bandits, led by Tang Yi, were no match for the skilled and well-trained masked men. After a bloody skirmish, three or four bandits lay dead. "Bah! Revenge can wait ten years. Just you wait and see!" Tang Yi spat out a mouthful of blood, clutching a machete embedded in the ground. He knelt, exhausted and short of breath. "Boys, a wise man knows when to retreat. Fall back!" Tang Yi ordered. "Master, should we pursue them?" a masked subordinate asked. The leader replied, "No need to chase desperate foes. Search the place and find the person." The masked men ransacked the village, leaving no stone unturned. "Master, the person isn't here, and we can't find the scroll either," a subordinate reported. "Mount up," the leader commanded. "Hyah!" With that, the masked men spurred their horses and vanished into the night. ＊ At dawn, the distant mountain peaks glowed with a golden hue under the rising sun. Smoke wafted from the scattered rural homes, and the sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking filled the air, making it seem like a paradise. After traveling eastward for a long time, Zhou Huaxiu roused from the jostling and called to stop the carriage. "Stop, stop! This old back of mine can't take it anymore. Wu’er, do you smell that? What a delightful aroma," Zhou Huaxiu exclaimed. Ning Songwu, who had remained alert and vigilant, yawned and stretched before pulling back the curtain and leaping out. From a hidden pocket, he retrieved a map and, after scrutinizing it, responded, "Mother, we are near the border of Zhanzhou. Tianfu Post is only two or three li away. It's not safe to linger here. We should rest at the post." "But mother is so hungry. Can't you hear my stomach growling? Could you fetch some food, please? The journey has been exhausting; I'm tired, sleepy, and famished." Zhou Huaxiu was drawn by the aroma of a rural breakfast and longed for food. Ning Songwu assessed the situation, "The nearest farmhouse is over the hill. It’s about the same distance as the post. We should go to the post for safety." Although hungry, Zhou Huaxiu understood the gravity of their situation, remembering the harrowing events of the previous night. She dared not protest further after Ning Songwu's suggestion.