During this period, quite a few refugees had flooded into the dozen or so counties surrounding Qingjiang County.
Encounters like Xu Mingwei's clubbing incident were not isolated cases. However, generally when people went out, they didn't carry too many valuables with them. Combined with the fact that the perpetrators couldn't be found afterward and no lives had been lost, these matters were left unresolved.
For several days, Xu Chuan had seen suspicious figures lurking around his home. So he set up some traps near the perimeter wall, things like nails and rat traps.
If anyone tried to climb over the wall to get in, they would definitely suffer.
There were also warning bells.
When the traps were triggered, the warning bells would ring out all around.
[Today's divination: Medium-low. Tonight at the hour of zi, five people will climb over the wall to enter, intending to kill and rob.]
Xu Chuan smiled coldly in his heart.
The Xu family had a notable reputation in Dongxi Village, and unlike the wealthy Xu family, they didn't have many household guards, so it was perfectly normal to be targeted.
"But even if the probability is small, I must still take precautions."
Those nails and rat traps alone would be sufficient for ordinary refugees, but if they encountered martial artists, their effectiveness would be limited.
He crafted some simple crossbows and, after nightfall, installed them on the eaves on both sides.
Triggering the mechanisms would cause these crossbows to fire randomly, and then he removed the warning bells.
When Xu Chuan went out today, he just made a simple patrol around.
What occupied his thoughts was entirely tonight's matter.
"Shitou, tonight there may be thieves coming to plunder. A quarter hour before the hour of zi, take your bow and wait on the rooftop. When you see the right opportunity, shoot to kill. Can you do it?"
Xu Chuan said abruptly, his expression extremely grave.
"Father, is this true?"
"If you trust your father's words, then do as your father says. This concerns the safety of our entire family."
Xu Mingwei didn't ask any more questions, "Understood, Father. I'll listen to you."
Although he didn't have the strength of a third-rate martial artist, with his innate divine strength combined with his sharp eagle eyes and ranged bow and arrows, a sudden attack under cover of night would pose a great threat even to second-rate martial artists.
"Father, should I coat the arrowheads with poison?"
"Won't you feel uncomfortable about it?" Xu Chuan looked at Xu Mingwei with some surprise.
He saw Xu Mingwei's eyes become sharp, like knife edges, with killing intent seeming to gather.
"Anyone who dares threaten the family must have all future troubles permanently eliminated."
"Mm." Xu Chuan nodded, "Just do what you think is right."
…
That night, the bright moon hid behind a dark cloud, the stars dimmed uncertainly.
On the bed, Xu Chuan lay quietly, his blood and qi abundant.
"Husband, shall this concubine help you release some fire?"
Xu Chuan smiled slightly, acting unusually, "This fire has other uses. Keeping it is just right."
Bai Jing was somewhat puzzled.
What use?
Could he be planning to use it on someone else?
The "someone else" in Bai Jing's imagination naturally referred to other women.
"Alright, let's sleep early tonight. We still have to get up early tomorrow."
Bai Jing felt that Xu Chuan shouldn't be that kind of person, so she lay down at ease and quickly entered dreamland.
…
In another room, Xu Mingwei lit a candle, wiped his bow and arrows, and coated the arrowheads with poison.
The room was filled with the atmosphere of soldiers in a military camp waiting on the eve of a great battle.
Oppressive!
Stifling!
Just before the hour of zi, Xu Mingwei followed Xu Chuan's instructions, carrying his quiver on his back and holding his bow and arrows, leaping onto the rooftop in just a few moves.
Xu Chuan walked out of his room and glanced at the rooftop.
The moonlight was dim, and Xu Mingwei was almost one with the darkness of night.
He fetched a wood-chopping knife and stood in the shadows under the eaves.
Like an assassin, waiting for the right moment to deliver a fatal strike.
A quarter hour later.
"Big brother, this is it."
"This family is surnamed Xu. They rose to prosperity very quickly, becoming wealthy in Dongxi Village in just a few years."
"I heard the master of this household is skilled at cultivation and was lucky enough to grow green jade pears. From this alone, they should have an income of three to four thousand taels every year."
"A household of five. Besides the couple, there are three sons, the oldest being only nine years old."
A burly middle-aged man in gray cloth looked at the short young man and said indifferently, "Fifth, your choice is good."
"Brothers, work quickly. Don't leave anyone from this family alive. After finding the valuables, we'll leave Qingjiang County overnight as before."
"With refugees roaming everywhere now, trying to find a few people is extremely difficult."
"Yes, Boss Xiong."
Several people simultaneously began climbing over the wall. From their movements, they were clearly experienced. However, none of them should be ranked martial artists.
Otherwise, even a third-rate martial artist could easily leap over the nearly four-meter-high perimeter wall in just a few moves.
The instant they landed.
"Hiss~"
Three people immediately drew in sharp breaths and couldn't help but cry out softly.
This was the result of gritting their teeth and enduring.
"Are you three looking for death?" Boss Xiong was very displeased, emitting a low warning growl from his throat.
"No, Boss Xiong, we stepped on nails."
"Alright, just be more careful. If anyone makes another sound, don't blame me for being rude to them later!"
They carefully groped forward a few steps. Suddenly, a tall person felt his ankle catch on something.
The next moment.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh~
Seven or eight crossbow bolts shot out simultaneously from under the eaves.
Immediately two people were struck in the head and heart, dying on the spot. The remaining three were injured to varying degrees.
One was struck in the abdomen by an arrow, one in the leg, both falling to the ground.
Another had his arm grazed.
"Damn it!"
Boss Xiong roared lowly and hurriedly said, "There's an ambush, retreat quickly!"
As soon as the words fell, Xu Mingwei, who had been waiting on the rooftop for a long time, had already drawn his bowstring into a full moon, his sharp eagle eyes fixed intently on the person struck in the abdomen.
"Whoosh~"
The sound of air being pierced rang out.
The black arrow cut through the night sky, instantly piercing through his throat, exiting from behind, and embedding itself in the wall.
"Second brother!"
Boss Xiong's eyes nearly split with rage as he looked up at the rooftop.
The moon emerged from behind the clouds.
The cool moonlight fell, draping Xu Mingwei in silvery gauze.
That was a youth's face, cold as ice.
His sharp and profound gaze shot into his eyes like arrows.
It was actually just a youth!
Boss Xiong's heart was both shocked and furious.
Xu Mingwei nocked another arrow and drew the bow, attracting his attention.
At this moment, Xu Chuan seized the opportunity, suddenly exerted force, and almost in a single stride leaped to above his head.
The sharply polished wood-chopping knife, combined with the force of descent, directly chopped toward his head.
Decisive!
Ruthless!
Boss Xiong, in his haste, only had time to raise his hand and lift his axe to block, but under the tremendous force, the web between his thumb and index finger split open, and the axe in his hand dropped to the ground.
His entire person also fell sitting on the ground.
As terror filled his face, Xu Chuan turned and swung, the knife blade precisely slicing across his throat.
A stream of scalding liquid sprayed out.
Xu Chuan's body and face were covered with dots of blood.
Then came another "whoosh."
The one who had been injured in the leg at the very beginning and had fallen to the ground was also pinned to death on the ground by Xu Mingwei.
Seeing all the thieves dead, the heart that had been clenched in Xu Mingwei's chest finally relaxed, and then he sat down heavily.
He looked at his own hands, which kept trembling.
He almost couldn't hold the bow steady.
A constant buzzing sound in his head gave him a feeling of the world spinning.
As for Xu Chuan, he had already begun searching the bodies.
On Boss Xiong's body, he found bank notes worth three thousand six hundred taels, an internal energy manual called "Bear Vigor Technique," and a small porcelain bottle containing six Qi and Blood Pills.
The others had nothing on them whatsoever.
"Looks like they'd already robbed quite a few wealthy households before."
Xu Chuan began cleaning up the scene. Xu Mingwei came to his senses and hurriedly jumped down from the rooftop to help clean up together.
"Let's drag them all into the mountain forest and bury them."
"Wash the arrows and they can be used again. Remember to wipe off the poison first."
"Yes, Father."