At the first quarter of the Xu hour, just as the western gate was closing, three carriages rolled out of the city gate.
This was the final group of personnel transferred by the County Yamen. Four groups had already departed.
Once the carriages reached the vicinity of Yulin Academy, they would disembark, cross the forest path, travel five or six li along the Nu Shui riverside, and join the main force.
The regulations formulated by the Six Doors called for splitting the troops into three routes. One route would take boats downstream from the upper reaches of the Nu Shui River, destroy the boats belonging to Zhao and Lin's Two villages, and cut off their possibility of escaping by water. The other two routes would encircle them from the front and rear. If there was no resistance, they would capture them on the spot; if there was resistance, they would surround them from three sides.
The personnel transferred by the Yamen had the easiest task: block the perimeter, guard the small paths leading in every direction, and wait until the Six Doors had finished before entering to bind the prisoners one by one and escort them back to Fengxian County.
The task seemed easy, but in truth it was not. If any prisoners escaped from this place, the Six Doors would Not abide by any sentiment. If robbers escaped, the Constables would be accused of harboring spies who had colluded with outside bandits. Once the accusations came down, everyone would be investigated and interrogated, and none of them would have a pleasant time.
Xiang Yuan knew this in his heart. The mission certainly would not proceed as smoothly as planned. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Two villages would break through from the path they were guarding, and he would die on the spot, fulfilling that prophecy of a disaster of bloodshed.
At this moment, the Eight Trigrams Heart-Protecting Mirror was like a stabilizing pill, filling him with Expectation for the sudden changes Tonight.
Turn misfortune into fortune!
He knew where the misfortune was, but where was the fortune? And what was the Divine skill opportunity?
Even so, Xiang Yuan decided to say something. He was not a cold-blooded person who would simply accept the heavy casualties of his fellow Constables for the sake of his own Opportunity, especially when four of them were boys about his own age.
At fifteen or sixteen, they would still be students in his World.
He was not afraid of losing the Opportunity because of this. Old Daoist Que Xin had taught him to act according to his True heart. Even if an incident occurred, he supposed that the incident would be an indispensable part of the arrival of the Opportunity.
The words reached Xiang Yuan's lips when the carriage and horses stopped. He followed Old Liu out of the carriage, carrying a saber and an umbrella, with a rope tied around his waist, and quickly turned into the forest path.
The more than twenty people in the group all possessed Martial arts. By circulating their qi as they traveled, they could cover five li in The time it takes to drink a cup of tea without effort.
“Old Liu, my heart is pounding like mad. Do you think there's a chance we'll have a fierce battle Tonight?”
“What, are you afraid the plan will have an unexpected change?” Old Liu asked with a laugh.
“Mm.”
“It’s only right to be afraid. There will definitely be an unexpected change. In all my years as a Constable, only a few missions have gone smoothly.”
Old Liu said, “But don't worry. Captain Liu is leading the team Tonight. He is a Foundation Establishment expert, and when Lord Sima went on inspection tours, he often had Captain Liu Protect him at his side. As long as we don't run into a powerful member of the Five Poisons Sect, no matter how many Bandits come from the Two villages, they won't be able to harm a single hair on his head.”
From his tone, it was clear that he held Captain Liu Jingsheng of the Third Squad in the highest regard.
Xiang Yuan secretly Pouted. He thanked Old Liu for shedding light on the matter. He had just been wondering what the Dangerous situation would look like, and it turned out to be the Five Poisons Sect.
He Pressed for an answer, “What if we encounter the Five Poisons Sect?”
“How could that be possible? The Six Doors aren't here to lounge around. Even if a Fierce person from the Five Poisons Sect fought their way through the encirclement, they should flee toward the Southern Border. Our defensive position is to the north. At most, one or two small fry might get through, and Captain Liu can easily Deal with them.”
“But there are mountains to the north, and the roads lead in every direction. The possibility of escape is even greater.”
“Hey, are you deliberately arguing with me?”
Old Liu glared at Xiang Yuan and told him not to Talk nonsense, lest he undermine their own morale.
Xiang Yuan had done all he could. His caution could not shake the lofty Image of Liu Jingsheng and the Six Doors in Old Liu's heart. Instead, it made him look more like a coward afraid of trouble. If he continued, Old Liu would truly lose his temper.
As for explaining the situation to Liu Jingsheng in person...
Xiang Yuan pondered for a moment. He would probably receive a scolding, along with two slaps across the face.
A line from the Physiognomy Book sprang to mind: “When your rank is low, do not advise others; when you are poor, do not speak of Reason.” At first glance, it seemed somewhat reasonable. Only after putting it into practice did he realize it was a true maxim.
In less than The time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the group joined the main force, which numbered roughly eighty people. All wore the Black Robe of Constables, with sabers and ropes at their sides, waiting in silent stillness for the Commotion from the Two villages not far away.
The Six Doors handled affairs Reliably. They had searched the surrounding area long ago and confirmed that there were no informants or ambushes before handing the location over to Liu Jingsheng and having him Stationed there with his team.
The Constables each found a place to sit on the ground. Although they lacked the strict discipline of an army, sitting back-to-back still made for a tight formation.
Under the moonlight, Liu Jingsheng leaned against a tree, both eyes fixed intently on the direction of the Two villages.
Under such circumstances, whoever dared to speak would immediately draw the gazes of eighty pairs of eyes, further dispelling any thoughts Xiang Yuan had of speaking.
After roughly half a Shichen, the Black Cloud scattered like ink, covering half the sky. Shouts of slaughter suddenly broke through the clouds, with Firelight faintly Blooming in the distance as cries and screams rose without pause.
The Constables All together rose to their feet and placed their hands on their hilts. At Liu Jingsheng's command, they guarded the narrow, isolated paths from several directions.
The shouts and din of battle continued for a long while before converging from all directions into one place. Compared with the sporadic cries at the beginning, there were more people and greater numbers now, but they had lost their courage and tenacity. The cornered beasts had reached a desperate situation. They could Struggle for only A moment longer and could not stir up any more trouble.
The outcome was decided!
When Liu Jingsheng saw the fireworks exploding high in the sky, he ordered all the Constables to gather. “Follow me into the villages. Ask no questions. Bind anyone you see, and do not fall victim to a cold Saber from Behind a child or woman!”
He spoke concisely, and all the Constables answered his order in unison.
Just as everyone was about to move, Liu Jingsheng's Expression changed. He suddenly Drew Sword from his waist, and a magnificent wave of saber energy violently cleaved into the bushes ten meters away.
The earth collapsed, revealing a Pit, and another scream rang out.
A tunnel!
Liu Jingsheng was astonished. The Constables of the Six Doors and he had surveyed this place one after another. By all rights, there should not have been a tunnel.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!!
The sudden flapping of mosquitoes and flies rang out. A mass of black mist surged from the tunnel and rose into the air. Like ink dispersing, it transformed into strings of ghost hands that lunged toward the Constables.
“Such a petty trick, and you dare show off!”
Liu Jingsheng shouted. Several experienced veteran Constables stepped forward, including Old Liu. Their long sabers splashed White Light, and the fierce wind from their movements scattered the ghost hands.
Liu Jingsheng himself advanced with his Saber. His Figure was as fast as Lightning, and he plunged his blade into the ground. Instantly, screams rang out.
The moment he pulled out his blade, he twisted and leaped aside, then forcefully stamped down with both feet, collapsing the tunnel while avoiding the splattering foul blood and the short arrows shooting toward him.
After landing, Liu Jingsheng determined the enemy's positions by sound. His long saber repeatedly stabbed into the ground, chasing the tunnel and hacking at its occupants as one shrill scream after another rang out.
Xiang Yuan was awestruck by this sight. No wonder Old Liu admired him so much. If Xiang Yuan had a Leader like this, he too would be wholeheartedly convinced.
When something happens, he really charges in!
A greenhorn like Xiang Yuan, with no Experience, was currently Only focused on how terrifying this was. The veteran Constables were different. They listened carefully in secret, To prevent there being another tunnel from which powerful enemies could surround them and launch a hidden ambush or poison attack.
Boom!
A Figure Emerge from the soil at the far end of the tunnel. With a shake of his arms, he thrust out a Thick and strong palm force, forcing Liu Jingsheng to turn his blade and block.
Borrowing the force, he drifted backward. Focusing his eyes, he saw one gray and dirty “local” after another Drill into view from the ground.
Their clothing and appearance were those of Ordinary villagers. Honest and simple, they would not arouse suspicion while walking along the road. However, their accents were stiff, clearly indicating that they had come from the Southern Border.
“There are even Chu people here...”
The burly man at the head seemed to have practiced some unknown martial art. His Face turned ashen as though lacquer had been painted over wood, making him look more like a Zombie than a human.
They had come to transport goods Tonight when they were suddenly surrounded and hunted by the Six Doors. Unwilling to fight, they had led their own people into the tunnel as a precaution. To prevent any mishap, they had deliberately taken the northern route; then, as another precaution, they had placed Poisonous Insects at the end of the tunnel and dug a little farther.
Unexpectedly, they still failed to break out of the encirclement.
The incident had happened suddenly, and neither side was prepared. Yet there was one thing on which both sides were in perfect Tac.
When two opponents meet on a narrow path, the braver one wins!
“Kill!”