At the foot of the mountain outside the city lay Pozi Village, with barely a dozen households, all living by hunting. In the village, there was a butcher who specialized in processing their game. He had moved there three years ago—bringing with him a wife whose left leg was crippled.
The setting sun gradually painted the mountain ridge red, and the country path was covered in a warm golden glow. A group of men, disguised as traveling merchants, quietly arrived at the village entrance.
From one house at the edge of the village, a man came out carrying a chicken.
“Bosses, why come at this hour? At this time of day, there’s no good game.”
Seeing Fu Xiujin and his companions dressed in fine clothes, the man mistook them for wealthy restaurant owners who had come to purchase fresh game.
“This is our first time here. We heard your meat is freshly slaughtered, very fresh. By chance, we’re hosting a barbecue feast tonight, so we came just in time.” Fan Zhongliang, an expert at field investigations, immediately played along, steering the villager’s words and pretending to be a buyer.
“First time, eh? Just call me Ah Qi. Not to boast, but our game here is the freshest and fattest. Wait a moment, I’ll call the village head. Everyone can gather and see how much game we have ready for slaughter. You gentlemen, please come in and have some tea while you wait.”
Fu Xiujin and the others sat down. Yao Shu leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Keep these men occupied. I’ll go look for Chen Suqing.”
She was so near that her breath brushed his ear, making Fu Xiujin’s ears flush red. He signaled Zhao Shaobai with his eyes, and Zhao Shaobai immediately made an excuse that Yao Shu wanted a walk, accompanying her out of the house.
News of business spread quickly in the village, and soon the courtyard was bustling. A crowd gathered, surrounding piles of fresh game, waiting for Fu Xiujin to choose.
Just as the selection was made, the villagers shouted to carry the game to the butcher’s house for slaughter. Fu Xiujin suddenly stopped them.
“This is my first time here. I’ve never seen a live slaughter. I hear your butcher’s knife skills are excellent—let him come and do it here. I’d like to see for myself.” He then placed a gold ingot on the table. “If the slaughter is good, there will be a reward.”
The villagers had never seen such a generous “boss.” The village head immediately sent someone to fetch the butcher. From their hiding place, Yao Shu and Zhao Shaobai soon saw a man carrying a bundle of knives, following the village head out of a courtyard. Before leaving, he carefully locked the gate behind him.
Once they had gone, Yao Shu and Zhao Shaobai approached the courtyard.
The gate was secured with an iron lock, and all was silent inside. Zhao Shaobai told Yao Shu to keep watch outside while he climbed over the wall to investigate.
Yao Shu looked up at his figure as he scaled the wall—only to hear fierce barking erupt moments later. Zhao Shaobai scrambled back up to the wall and shouted down to her, “Run! Too many dogs!”
The barking echoed loudly through the quiet village. Yao Shu and Zhao Shaobai had barely run ten meters when they saw a group of angry villagers rushing toward them, led by the village head and the man with the knife bundle.
“Catch them! How dare they sneak into the courtyard—seize them!”
Yao Shu knew no martial arts and had never learned self-defense. Zhao Shaobai was only a civil official. Faced with the furious hunters, the two had no ability to resist and were quickly captured.
Before they could speak, Fu Xiujin and the disguised soldiers arrived. The two groups now stood in a tense standoff, blades drawn, the atmosphere charged with danger.