Chapter 127
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Chapter 127: Missing
When the black-clad elder used his lightness skill to fly into the camp, Shi Niu, Great Aunt Qin, and He Tianshu had already wanted to break free from their opponents and rush to aid Ou Yan. However, the black-clad men were well aware of their intentions. The three black-clad men they were fighting had been specifically assigned to deal with these three members of the Piaomiao Sect and were highly skilled, making it difficult for them to escape quickly.
Despite being engaged in life-and-death battles, everyone kept a close eye on Ou Yan’s situation. They saw the resistance of Chang Ge and the other female disciples and the arrival of Zhang Xiaohua. However, they also noticed the black-clad elder’s overwhelming internal energy and terrifying Iron Shirt technique. Even if Shi Niu confronted the elder himself, he might not fare well. As a result, the three of them, along with the disciples of the villa, felt a deep sense of despair, fearing that everyone from the villa might end up buried here today. But the situation took a dramatic turn when unexpected reinforcements from the Piaomiao Sect arrived. The loud cry of Bandit A reignited the will to survive among the people of Huanxi Villa. The harder they fought, the braver they came. On the contrary, the black-clad men changed their strategy, gradually retreating toward the horses outside the camp while fighting.
The three black-clad men who were entangled with Shi Niu and the others also had thoughts of retreat. When the black-clad elder used his lightness skill to pursue Zhang Xiaohua, they feigned an attack and then withdrew from the fight, using their lightness skills to leap toward the horses. At this point, it wouldn’t have been difficult for Shi Niu and the others to stop them. However, the three core members of the Piaomiao Sect were not the type to engage in unnecessary battles. Their mission was to protect Ou Yan. Seeing their opponents retreat, they didn’t pursue but instead immediately used their lightness skills to rush toward the black-clad elder. In their minds, the old man in black had initially refrained from attacking immediately to wear down their fighting strength, with the ultimate goal of capturing Ou Yan alive.
Although they were still far from Ou Yan and likely too late to save her, they believed that if the three of them attacked the old man together, they might still be able to rescue Ou Yan. Moreover, reinforcements were on the way, and those reinforcements might even include elders from their sect.
This was the wishful thinking of Great Aunt Qin and the others, but as they were still on their way, they suddenly heard Qiu Tong’s loud cry. Only then did they notice the faint golden glow on the black-clad old man’s palm. The three were shocked, this old man was not trying to capture Ou Yan alive, he was clearly aiming to take her life!
They quickened their pace even further, but the distance was too great to cover in an instant. All they could do was watch helplessly as the tragedy unfolded.
However, while they anticipated the beginning of the story, they could not predict its end.
By the time the black-clad old man collapsed to the ground, Zhang Xiaohua was sent flying through the air, and Ou Yan had fainted from the impact of the elder’s palm strike, everything had happened in the blink of an eye. The trio still couldn’t fully grasp what had transpired but knew that Ou Yan was saved!
When the three finally reached the scene, everything was over. Great Aunt Qin hurried forward with Qiu Tong to check on Ou Yan’s condition. Shi Niu cautiously approached the black-clad elder’s body from a distance, making sure he was truly dead, while He Tianshu went in search of Zhang Xiaohua in the direction he had been flung.
At this moment, the remaining black-clad men who were still alive had already returned to the horses, mounting them quickly. The people of Huanxi Villa did not pursue them, instead, they stood in front of the camp, weapons in hand.
The rain continued to fall steadily, the sound of it failing to drown out the increasingly loud hoofbeats. The three leaders, disguised as bandits, had witnessed the death of the black-clad elder. Though they didn’t understand what had happened, the elder’s death was undeniable. Realizing that it was unrealistic to try and kill Ou Yan with just their remaining forces, especially with reinforcements from the Piaomiao Sect on the way, the “head leader” quickly made a decision. With a wave of his hand, he signaled the others, then led the charge in a different direction. The rest of the black-clad men ignored the bodies in the camp and followed him, galloping away.
Those standing outside the camp with swords and sabers cheered as they saw the black-clad men retreat. Some were so relieved that they collapsed to the ground, dropping their weapons beside them.
At the same time, the sound of hoofbeats from afar finally drew near. The riders, upon seeing the tents of the camp, quickly shouted: “Are you brothers from the Piaomiao Sect?”
Wasn’t that the voice of Lan Dong, whom they had met a few days ago?
A disciple who recognized Lan Dong immediately responded: “Brother Lan, you’ve finally arrived. Yes, it’s us.”
Hearing the response, Lan Dong felt half the weight lift from his heart. He quickly dismounted and, seeing the disheveled state of everyone, grew even more anxious. He hurriedly asked: “Where is Villa Master Ou?”
The crowd pointed to where Ou Yan was, and Lan Dong rushed over, not caring about the muddy ground.
When Lan Dong arrived, Great Sister Qin had already checked Ou Yan’s pulse. Seeing Ou Yan with her eyes closed and her face pale, Lan Dong anxiously asked: “How is the Villa Master’s condition?”
Great Sister Qin frowned and replied: “Her life is not in danger, but the Villa Master was already in poor health. Now, after being injured by that old scoundrel’s palm, she’s sustained serious internal injuries. It will take a considerable amount of time for her to fully recover.”
Upon hearing this, Lan Dong finally felt the knot of worry in his stomach begin to loosen.
At that moment, Shi Niu also approached. Great Aunt Qin, still somewhat uncertain, asked: “Is that old scoundrel truly dead?”
Shi Niu grinned and said: “Dead as can be, without a doubt. A sword through the throat, he couldn’t be more dead. In fact, he died with his eyes wide open.”
He then asked: “How is the Villa Master?”
Great Aunt Qin smiled and replied: “Thanks to Zhang Xiaohua, who took the brunt of the palm strike for the Villa Master, the last palm was also aimed at Zhang Xiaohua, the Villa Master was only slightly affected as she was standing nearby. She should wake up by tomorrow.”
Shi Niu, surprised, asked, “Waking up tomorrow? Isn’t that still serious?”
Great Sister Qin responded: “Isn’t that much better than we expected?”
Shi Niu nodded in agreement, saying: “Indeed, we owe it to Zhang Xiaohua.”
“Zhang Xiaohua?” Lan Dong was puzzled. He had never heard of this name before. From what he could gather, this person must be highly skilled in martial arts. Yet, there was no such name among the sect’s uncles. Could it be one of the elders? But how could the elder have arrived before him? He had ridden non-stop from the town, could the elder have flown here?
As Lan Dong was lost in thought, He Tianshu emerged from the darkness, dragging his heavy steps and rushing over. As he ran, he shouted: “Zhang Xiaohua is missing! He probably fell into the river. Quickly, find brothers who know how to swim and search the river!”
“What?! Zhang Xiaohua fell into the river?” Great Aunt Qin, Shi Niu, and Qiu Tong all exclaimed in shock.
Ou Yan had already suffered severe injuries from just being grazed by the black-clad elder’s palm strike. Xiaohua, on the other hand, had taken a direct hit to the chest from that pale-gold palm. The extent of his injuries must be far worse.
And with such injuries, to have fallen into the raging river, Zhang Xiaohua, could he still…
No one dared to finish that thought. Great Aunt Qin quickly instructed: “Shi Niu, gather the brothers from the villa who can swim and search the surrounding area immediately. Lan Dong, you send some of your men on horseback to follow the riverbank and search for any sign of him.”
Both Shi Niu and Lan Dong acknowledged the orders and prepared to leave. However, after taking a few steps, Lan Dong turned back and asked: “Hall Master Qin, what does this Xiaohua look like?”
Only then did Great Aunt Qin realize that Lan Dong wouldn’t know who Zhang Xiaohua was. She quickly apologized and said: “He’s just a boy, about twelve or thirteen years old. He’s badly injured, so you’ll know him as soon as you see him.”
“A twelve or thirteen-year-old boy?” Lan Dong was momentarily stunned, doubting whether Great Aunt Qin had misspoken.
Seeing Lan Dong standing there in a daze, Great Sister Qin frowned and urged: “Yes, just a young boy. Now, hurry and search for him.”
“Oh, right. We’ll send out people immediately.” Lan Dong snapped out of his daze and quickly went off to organize the search.
Meanwhile, Great Aunt Qin and Qiu Tong carefully carried the unconscious Ou Yan back to the tent.
The rain poured down in torrents, the night as dark as ink, shrouding the world in endless darkness.
It was past midnight, yet the encampment of Huanxi Villa remained bustling with noise. Having just endured an enemy attack, no one could guarantee that the attackers wouldn’t return. Lan Dong had only brought a dozen or so disciples with him, and they were all ordinary disciples with average martial skills. The black-clad assailants had retreated in haste, partly because Lan Dong’s arrival had upset the balance of power, they had no way of knowing how many reinforcements from the Piaomiao Sect might be coming. More importantly, the leader of their group, the black-clad elder who had been the most likely to capture Ou Yan, had been unexpectedly killed by an unassuming young boy. This unforeseen event had thrown their carefully laid plans into disarray, forcing them to retreat.
However, if they were to figure out the Piaomiao Sect’s current strength, it wasn’t impossible for them to return swiftly. Thus, except for the injured disciples who had returned to their tents to rest, the others remained tense and vigilant, guarding the perimeter.
Although the Huanxi Villa’s encampment by the river was now clearly unsafe, the darkness of the night, the possibility of lurking enemies, and various other factors made it unwise to move hastily. They would have to wait until daylight to make any further plans.
For the same reasons, not many disciples were sent to search for Zhang Xiaohua.
By now, all the disciples in the camp were aware of what had transpired. They knew that Zhang Xiaohua had not only saved Ou Yan but had also saved everyone in the camp. Everyone had witnessed the martial prowess of the black-clad elder. Even if Lan Dong and his group had arrived in time to assist, the dozen of them would have been no match for the elder, and their fate would likely have been the same as Ou Yan’s, struck down by his lethal palm.
Knowing that Zhang Xiaohua had taken a direct hit to the chest from the elder’s pale gold palm, they already knew in their hearts that he had likely been killed on the spot. Even if he had managed to cling to life, his grievously injured body being swept away by the rushing river would leave him with virtually no chance of survival.
The disciples were willing to search along the riverbank, but the swift currents could have carried Zhang Xiaohua far away. With the pitch-black night, the torrential rain extinguishing their torches, and no light to guide them, searching was nearly impossible. Even those who went with He Tianshu and those who rode downstream were anxious, but they also knew they were doing their best and ultimately leaving the outcome to fate.
He Tianshu had initially called out loudly a few times while searching for Zhang Xiaohua, with several disciples joining in. However, he suddenly realized something and immediately stopped shouting, silencing the others as well. The disciples were initially puzzled, wanting to ask why they had to stop, but seeing the tense expression on He Tianshu’s face, they dared not question him further. Upon reflecting, they couldn’t help but secretly admire He Tianshu. He truly deserves to be our captain. Isn’t our shouting just letting the black-clad assailants know our whereabouts? Captain He is really thoughtful.
Unaware of the increased respect his actions had earned him, He Tianshu could only think, ‘Oh, It’s already past midnight’.
The disciples who had followed the river downstream to search for Zhang Xiaohua found that in the pitch-black darkness, they could barely see anything. Additionally, ensuring the safety of the camp was more important. Before long, they returned to the camp. Seeing them back, He Tianshu decided against continuing the search and called back the others searching the river and nearby areas, his heart heavy with disappointment.
When He Tianshu returned to the central tent in the camp, Great Sister Qin and Qiu Tong quickly came up to him, their faces filled with anxious anticipation. “Did you find him?”
He Tianshu silently shook his head.
Qiu Tong’s tears began to flow uncontrollably, and she bit her lip hard, struggling to keep her composure.
Great Aunt Qin also murmured softly: “Poor child…”
Everyone fell into a somber silence.
After a while, He Tianshu asked: “How is the Villa Master?”
Great Sister Qin nodded and replied: “She’s stable for now, no changes. We’ll need to wait until daylight and have a doctor examine her to know more.”
He Tianshu nodded and said: “The fact that the Villa Master is safe is Zhang Xiaohua’s greatest wish. I’ll head back outside to keep watch. If the black-clad men return, we’ll be in serious trouble.”
After speaking, He Tianshu was about to leave when Shi Niu came in from outside. Seeing He Tianshu there, he also asked: “Still haven’t found anything?”
He Tianshu replied: “No.”
Shi Niu sighed and then turned to Great Aunt Qin and said: “I’ve already checked that old thief.”
Great Aunt Qin and He Tianshu’s eyes lit up, and they asked in unison, “Who is it?”
Shi Niu shook his head and said: “This person has old scars on his face, his features were long ruined, so it’s impossible to tell who he is. That Pale Gold Palm and Iron Shirt techniques aren’t high-level martial arts. Among those in the Jianghu who practice to his level, there must be at least a hundred if not two hundred, so it’s hard to identify him.”
Great Aunt Qin nodded and asked: “What about the other corpses? Found any clues?”
Shi Niu shook his head again and said, “These people all undergone rigorous training, dressed in ordinary night clothes, and didn’t carry anything on them. Their weapons are also common in the martial world, so it’s difficult to find anything useful.”
Great Aunt Qin thought for a moment and said: “It’s fine, keep these corpses and weapons well-preserved, bring them back to the Piaomiao Sect. If we can’t identify them, there are experts in the sect who can. Let’s leave these matters to them.”
Shi Niu responded and was about to leave.
At this moment, Great Aunt Qin called him back and asked: “How did that old thief die?”
Hearing this question, He Tianshu also looked at Shi Niu eagerly, wanting to know the answer.
Shi Niu’s expression turned a bit strange, and he said: “The old thief had two wounds on his body, one on his left palm, which seemed to have been pierced by something, and one on his throat, which seemed to have been pierced by a sword, a single thrust to the throat. I don’t know how Zhang Xiaohua did it. It was dark at the time, and I didn’t see clearly. What about you?”
Great Aunt Qin shook her head and said with a wry smile: “It was so dark, and it was raining. Even though deep inner energy allows one to see in the dark, I haven’t reached that level yet, have I?”
Shi Niu listened and sighed with a bitter smile: “Then it’s just a mystery. Xiaohua is probably in great danger.”
Everyone felt a bit gloomy at his blunt remark.
At this moment, He Tianshu suddenly asked: “Senior Brother Shi Niu, were the wounds on the old thief’s hand similar to those made by a long sword, but narrower than a regular long sword?”
Shi Niu was taken aback, not understanding why he asked this but nodded and said: “Yes, that’s right.”
He Tianshu’s eyes brightened and he continued: “Then, were the wounds on his throat also smaller than those made by a regular long sword?”
Shi Niu seemed to understand something and said: “Yes, that’s correct. Junior Brother He, you’re right. So, what kind of weapon was used to kill the old thief?”
He Tianshu smiled bitterly and recounted that when he bought his long sword, the shopkeeper had given Zhang Xiaohua a small toy sword. After he mentioned this, everyone was even more puzzled. How could a toy sword, which had no sharp edges or points, possibly penetrate the old man’s throat or pierce his hand? Don’t forget, the old man practiced the Pale Gold Palm and Iron Shirt technique. Even a disciple like Chang Ge, with her long sword, couldn’t penetrate the old man’s body. How could Xiaohua have done it?
This was indeed a mystery.
Day finally broke, but the rain showed no signs of letting up.
Under the vigilance of the Piaomiao Sect disciples, the black-clad figures did not return. Everyone sighed with relief. The difficult and unforgettable night for the many disciples finally came to an end.
Ou Yan was still unconscious, but her pulse was steady, which was considered a small blessing in misfortune.
With the Villa Master unconscious, everything was naturally under Great Aunt Qin’s command. They couldn’t stay in the campsite any longer, and given Ou Yan’s condition, heading south was not feasible. Moreover, with unidentified black-clad individuals lurking nearby, even if Ou Yan were in good health, Ou Peng in Pingyang City would certainly not agree to her traveling further. Therefore, as soon as it was a bit light, Great Aunt Qin ordered the camp to be packed up and to return swiftly.
On the return journey, they naturally had to avoid the old route. Following Lan Dong’s guidance, Great Aunt Qin took to the nearest official road, re-planning the route back to Pingyang City. She preferred taking a longer route rather than using minor paths, and she chose to stay in towns for safety. Additionally, Lan Dong promptly reported the robbery and ambush to the higher-ups, requesting more personnel to come and provide support.
Ou Yan woke up in the afternoon. The first thing she asked about was Zhang Xiaohua’s condition. After hearing Great Aunt Qin’s explanation, she felt despondent. The group’s decision was not wrong, and it was not very realistic to split up to search for him now. They would have to wait until they met up with the Piaomiao Sect members before making further plans.
Ou Yan did not have much objection to Great Aunt Qin’s unilateral decision to return to Pingyang City. Initially, Ou Peng had not agreed to her outing. She had only managed to go with much persuasion. She was merely a Villa Master with no significant Jianghu grievances. Without any grudges, where did this danger come from?
But harsh reality told her that while a person might not be harmful, the intentions of the tiger might be dangerous. Anyone surviving in the martial world must never forget this cruel rule of the survival of the fittest.
However, even with all her efforts, Ou Yan could not recall who she might have offended on that side.
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