Qi Xiao Jiu felt no panic in his heart; he spun his steel knife, creating a few flashes of light. He even felt that things were a bit too boring.
It had been an entire night, and all he had seen were these filthy goods. Each one was a boring meat target; besides knowing how to cry out for mercy, they couldn't even resist in a competent manner.
This was because all the young and strong refugees had already died, leaving only the old, weak, sick, and disabled, who were so exhausted from running for their lives that they were foaming at the mouth and had absolutely no ability to resist.
From the moment they left the city until now, the twenty strong men sent by the Master to slay the fleeing refugees had only one person injured—and that was someone who had accidentally twisted their ankle while searching the mountains.
The two refugees before him were wrapped in filthy clothes, their bodies as thin as stalks. Their faces were so gaunt and blackened that it was impossible to make out their facial features or judge their age.
The two of them could not escape, so they half-crouched and half-knelt, their hands trembling as they gripped their wooden sticks.
He figured that his Ah Huang would kill them in just a few bites; there was no need for him to even draw his blade.
Qi Xiao Jiu’s mouth hooked up into a smile, and his thoughts could not stop drifting away.
First, he would slay the two of them, then plant the torch on the mountaintop to consider the mission complete. If he went back tomorrow to see the Master, he might even receive a reward.
If the Master was in a good mood, could he take the opportunity to propose marrying Xiao Hong to the Main family? Although she was a maidservant who had slept with the young master, as a servant himself, he had no right to be picky.
Xiao Hong was quite attractive, with a pair of peach blossom eyes that were indescribably charming, often casting amorous glances his way...
Thinking of Xiao Hong, Qi Xiao Jiu could not help but let his mouth spread into a grin.
Just at this moment.
The situation on the field suddenly changed.
The hunting dog Ah Huang instantly rushed in front of the two unlucky refugees and was about to take a bite.
Who would have known that one of the refugees, whether out of fear or because his legs had lost all strength, suddenly lunged forward, his body almost pressing directly against Ah Huang.
Ah Huang took the opportunity to open its mouth wide and bit down hard toward the refugee's face. In his desperation, the refugee blocked his face with his arm, and his arm happened to be positioned horizontally right in front of the dog's mouth.
His arm looked somewhat swollen, which did not match his emaciated body. Ah Huang opened its mouth wide, but after a few bites, it could not snap the arm. The man and the dog tumbled together, rolling into a ball on the ground.
The other refugee seemed frightened by the sight of the man and dog fighting; his body froze in place, motionless, without the slightest intention of going up to help his companion.
Qi Xiao Jiu’s attention was instantly drawn to the dog entangled with the man.
This Ah Huang was an important piece of property of the mansion, the young master’s favorite, who usually stayed by the young master’s side. It was fed live poultry daily, eating better than he did, and held a very high "status."
If it weren't for the need to search the mountains this time, he wouldn't even have the qualifications to lead it.
The lowlife was not worth pitying, but he must not let the dog get hurt; otherwise, it would not be easy to report for duty to the young master upon returning.
He immediately lunged forward, raised his steel knife, and prepared to hack to death the refugee who dared to resist and did not honestly die in Ah Huang’s mouth.
However, that detestable refugee was quite cunning. Seeing him rush over, he actually hid his body under Ah Huang. The hunting dog kept twisting its body, and Qi Xiao Jiu could not bring his knife down despite several attempts.
He was furious in his heart—if this weren't the master’s dog, he would have kicked it away long ago. It couldn't help and only added to the trouble!
Unfortunately, he dared not. In the young master’s eyes, he could not gamble on whose life was more precious, his or Ah Huang’s.
Qi Xiao Jiu’s relaxed mood was gone. He frowned and circled around the refugee and the hunting dog rolling on the ground, unknowingly circling halfway around them.
Just at this moment.
A fierce wind suddenly rose behind his head.
Swish!
The skills Qi Xiao Jiu had practiced in his daily life saved his life. He performed a donkey roll almost subconsciously, just barely dodging the attack.
Even so, the green robe on his back was torn, and an ice cold sharp blade entered his flesh by three points, with fresh blood flowing out.
If his reaction had been any slower, he would have been pierced through from chest to back at this very moment!
While tumbling, he saw the object that had wounded his back.
It was unexpectedly the same wooden stick he had seen the two refugees sharing earlier. Under the tattered cloth at the end of the stick, a dagger was revealed, emitting a cold radiance in the Moonlight.
And at this moment, the wooden stick was firmly grasped in the hands of the other refugee. Where was the look of someone scared out of his wits or standing like a wooden chicken?
Qi Xiao Jiu lay on the ground, his back in pain and his clothes covered in dust. He was furious.
Damn it, he had been hunting all night and thought himself the hunter, only to be bitten back by the prey he looked down upon!
Thinking that he might be the only person in the Qi Mansion to be wounded, would the Master and the young master give him a good look when he returned?
He could forget about Xiao Hong; when it came time for marriage in the future, the Master might force him to marry one of the burly cooks from the kitchen.
At the thought of the charming Xiao Hong being replaced by a stout cook, Qi Xiao Jiu was incensed. He performed a carp leap, intending to jump up and battle.
Hiss...
At the critical moment, the wound on his back flared up, pulling with sharp pain. He lost his focus and couldn't manage to get up in a nimble manner!
The refugee opposite him took advantage of the situation, rushing up with a few strides. He wielded the simple Spear with great force, using thrusting techniques that never strayed from Qi Xiao Jiu’s vital points.
Qi Xiao Jiu was scared out of his wits.
The opponent used a front-and-back bow stance, holding the simple "Spear" firmly with both hands, one in front and one behind, retracting and thrusting with strict discipline.
The refugee opposite him was a trained fighter; he had definitely spent years of hard work practicing with the Spear!
He had no choice but to use his steel knife to perform half a move of "Night Battle in All Directions" to protect his head, face, chest, and abdomen.
But he couldn't protect everything; his left and right legs were pierced with two deep wounds.
In his desperation, Qi Xiao Jiu supported himself with one hand and danced his steel knife into a Light Cluster with the other, curling his legs to barely protect them behind the curtain of the blade.
He danced with all his might for a few moments, and the deadly Spearhead suddenly retracted.
Looking again, he saw the refugee wielding the Spear stop in place, leaning the crudely made Spear on the ground. Sweat was streaming down his head, and his chest was heaving like a bellows!
Qi Xiao Jiu’s eyes lit up!
The opponent was out of strength; he only had a few thrusts left in him!
Moreover, he had just thrust five or six times, yet all of them had avoided his Waist Knife!
This refugee was afraid of clashing with his Waist Knife. Firstly, he lacked the strength and feared losing his weapon; secondly, his "Spear" would likely be whittled into a firewood stick by the steel knife in a few strikes!
Qi Xiao Jiu realized the crux of the matter and became even more annoyed!
He had actually been scared by a desperate refugee.
He gritted his teeth and stood up, enduring the pain from the wounds on his back and legs. He stumbled a few steps forward, intending to end the life of the refugee who dared to humiliate and deceive him!
Just at this moment.
A figure suddenly emerged from behind the panting refugee.
It was the refugee who had been knocked down by Ah Huang earlier. This fierce dog, Ah Huang, had been trained by the young master to never let go once it bit a Living Creature. It was stubborn and was still biting the refugee’s arm tightly.
Swish!
The refugee’s other hand flicked, scattering a large amount of sand and soil toward his face, and his body lunged toward Qi Xiao Jiu.
Qi Xiao Jiu was caught off guard and hastily closed his eyes.
To protect himself, he slashed forward with all his might!
Puff!
A large amount of Fresh Blood splashed all over Qi Xiao Jiu’s face!
✦✦✦