Chapter 125
Book 12 Chapter 04 – An Escape Trick
It is evening time. The clouds in the sky begin to sink and the moisture in the air begins to rise. When they meet, they acc.u.mulate and form a thick fog.
On a hill three miles South west from where they are, sounds of men talking and horses neighing can be heard. It appears that the enemies have lost their patience and thought that they have left for the farm long ago.
Up till now, not only did both parties have not exchanged blows, they haven’t even seen each other’s shadow. But this intangible battle been fought by both parties competing in intelligence, training, patience, strength and strategy. A small error could cause Xiang Shaolong’s smaller forces to be entirely wiped out.
Relying on the darkness and fog, Jing Jun and his hunters made sure that they were no spies nearby before pus.h.i.+ng three rafts into the river. Securing them with rope, he hid the rafts among the reeds. Once accomplished, they returned to Xiang Shaolong’s side and inquired: "What do we do next?"
Regaining his cool and determination as a top elite special forces commando, Xiang Shaolong replied: "It depends on the enemies’ movement. Unless I am wrong, the men who were left behind will continue searching this area to confirm that we are not in hiding. Once confirmed, they will contact those men who have moved further down the road. That will be the time to retaliate."
Teng Yi nodded: "This is a brilliant move. Once the enemy suffers an ambush, they will retreat back to the path and seal our escape route. At the same time, they will use a flare to inform those men ahead of us. This way, they will surround us from the front and the back. That will be the best time we will use the rafts and leave this area quickly."
Ji Yanran praised: "Fantastic! Even if Sun Wu is here, he may not be able to think of such an excellent plan."
Xiang Shaolong can feel his confidence and fighting will improve by leaps and bounds. Under his strict commands, Jing Jun and the Eighteen Guardians divide themselves into groups of threes and fours. Taking up advantageous spots around the campsite, they held their bows ready.
They may be smaller in numbers but every one of them is well-versed in night combat as well as jungle warfare. Their killing ability is not to be taken lightly.
Xiang Shaolong, Teng Yi and Ji Yanran hid themselves behind some rocks near the hilltop. Their mind at ease, they await the enemies’ appearance.
The new moon rises up slowly to take its place in the sky, surrounded by countless stars. As the fog begins to disperse, the enemies came into view.
They formed ten odd units and are conducting a search slowly along the river.
Opposite the river are another seventeen or eighteen men in three groups. They are the first to enter the firing range of Jing Jun and his three fellow hunters.
Xiang Shaolong and his two companions could sense ten odd men approaching their hiding place. The atmosphere was as tense as a drawn bowstring.
They held their breaths and continue to wait patiently.
As planned, one of their men deliberately provoked a warhorse hidden in the forest. The horse reacts with a loud neighing sound, breaking the silence of the forest.
The enemies begin to move quickly towards the sound of the neighing.
A series of tragic shouts can be heard. Needless to say, the enemies have fallen into animal traps set up by Jing Jun and the hunters. With sharp wooden stakes at the bottom of the pit, a number of men were killed or heavily injured.
Xiang Shaolong and his men knew that it is time. First, they shot out their burning fireb.a.l.l.s all around the enemies. It was followed by an endless volley of arrows.
Under the glow of the fire, the attackers were caught unaware and descended into chaos. Cries of help and sound of people falling filled the air. It was a pathetic sight.
The most formidable was of course Teng Yi. Arrows left his bow continuously with rest. The moment an enemy was sighted, his arrow will fly and embed itself in the enemy’s body as if it can see.
Since they were hiding in several spots along the river, arrows were shot from different directions and the enemy could not find a safe hiding place at all.
In a short span of time, over ten enemies have been shot dead. Those surviving whistled urgently to retreat and they withdrew in panic.
A flare shot up the sky and exploded into silvery white sparks.
Xiang Shaolong charged downhill and trailed the retreating enemies, striking those in his reach. After he struck down seven or eight men, he returned to the forest. Everyone collected their horses, retrieved Wu Jie, boarded their three rafts and floated downstream.
Finally, they vented some of their suppressed anger.
In the main hall of the Wu Family Farm, like a defeated man, Wu Tingwei and Wu Jie kneeled down in front of an incensed Wu Yingyuan.
Xiang Shaolong, Teng Yi, Jing Jun, Wu Guo, Pu Bu, Liu Chao and Tao Fang stood on both sides, staring icily at the two Wu family traitors.
Wu Tingwei continued to protest: "I am only thinking about the family. How can we hope to defeat Premier Lu?"
Wu Yingyuan furiously cursed: "To think that I have been successful all my life and yet give birth to a nitwit and unfilial son. If Lu Buwei manages to kill Shaolong, he will kill you next to seal you mouth. Tell me! Did anyone from Premier Residence arrange to meet you after the ambush?"
Wu Tingwei was taken aback, proving that there is indeed such an arrangement.
He may not be the brightest person around but will still understand a simple philosophy called dead men tell no tales.
Beside him, Wu Jie was shaking with fear, knowing that the house rules are extremely strict.
Wu Yingyuan sighed: "I do what I say. Not only have you disobeyed my order, you are worse than a beast. Men! Bring these two men out to be executed immediately."
Wu Tingwei collapsed and shook with fear, exclaiming: "Father, I am wrong."
Four family warriors came to their sides and restrained them.
Xiang Shaolong interceded: "Father-in-law, please listen to me. Why don’t we send him to the north and help Big Brother? This way, he can acc.u.mulate merits to compensate for his mistakes."
Wu Yingyuan slowly sighed: "I understand your concern. But this concerns the survival of the whole family. If because he is my own son and I am lenient, the authority of our Wu Family house rules will be gone. Everyone will not submit and the other family elders will think that I practise favouritism. Originally, I have three sons but I’ll take it that I only have two sons. Come! Bring them to the ancestral hall and invite all the family heads to witness. I want everyone to know that family traitors will share the same punishment."
Wu Tingwei realised that his father is not trying to frighten him. His legs turning soft like mud, he begged for mercy.
Xiang Shaolong wanted to say something else.
Wu Yingyuan coldly decided: "I have made up my mind and nothing will change it. I have no hesitation in sacrificing a son and gaining everyone’s cooperation."
Everyone was dumbfounded as Wu Tingwei and Wu