Chapter 86: The Hunt Begins
South City, atop a tall building, two figures stood against the wind, overlooking the sea of lights in silence, their attention fixed on Baihua Building.
These two were none other than Households Commander Wan Yan and Inspection Team Hundred Households Liu Yong.
"Sir," Liu Yong cupped his fists and said, "There’s fighting over at Baihua Building."
"I see it." Wan Yan toyed with a dagger in his hand and sighed, "I didn’t expect it—this Gu Zhan is even more brazen than I imagined. Without a word, he dares to face the Six Great Families alone. Truly bold!"
Liu Yong pondered, "Sir, Gu Zhan’s actions may disrupt our plans. I’ve just received secret reports—the area around Baihua Building has already been surrounded by all the major South City gangs and the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The Six Great Families can’t send reinforcements."
"That’s fine," Wan Yan said with a smile, "This Gu Zhan, though wild and reckless, is also meticulous. While his actions do throw our plans off somewhat, they actually push them forward directly. Well done—just as I want."
Liu Yong looked puzzled.
Wan Yan chuckled softly, "Now, lead the Inspection Team to intervene. It doesn’t matter if Gu Zhan kills a few, but those young masters must survive. Otherwise, we might drive the Six Great Families completely mad."
Liu Yong frowned, "Sir, wouldn’t it be best to let the Six Great Families and Gu Zhan fight to the death?"
"How could that do?" Wan Yan’s lips curled up. "Gu Zhan is such a useful sharp blade; he can’t be broken by the Six Great Families so soon. Only if he lives will the Six Great Families keep betting on South City. The more people who die, the harder it is for them to abandon South City. As their focus shifts, the infighting among the Six Great Families will grow—won’t that be much more spectacular?"
Liu Yong suddenly understood, "Understood, I will go stop Gu Zhan at once."
Wan Yan nodded and said, "Don’t worry. Gu Zhan is arrogant, and although he seems impulsive, he always knows his limits and never crosses the line. When you go to stop him, a conflict is inevitable, but keep those young masters alive. Gu Zhan may be mad, but he won’t throw his life away by attacking you. Rest easy."
"Understood,"
Liu Yong cupped his hands and prepared to go downstairs.
"Liu Yong." Wan Yan suddenly spoke.
"Sir, is there something else?" Liu Yong asked, puzzled.
Wan Yan walked up to Liu Yong, gently patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Nothing. I just suddenly remembered you’ve been with me for nearly ten years now."
"Sir, it’s been twelve years," Liu Yong replied.
"Good." Wan Yan nodded, reached out to tidy Liu Yong’s clothes, then patted his shoulder again and said, "Go. I’m heading to the Prefecture Government to add fuel to the fire for Yang Yuzhi and the Six Great Families. This place is yours now."
"Rest assured, Sir, I will see it done."
Liu Yong cupped his hands, leapt from the rooftop, waved his hand, and instantly, over a hundred Embroidered Uniform Guard of the Inspection Team emerged from the darkness and quickly disappeared into it again.
On the rooftop, night wind swept by,
Wan Yan’s tousled hair blew wildly as he narrowed his eyes and gestured his dagger toward Baihua Building. After a long while, he suddenly burst out with hearty laughter, then leapt from the rooftop as well.
...
Baihua Building was a vast estate.
At this moment, several young masters of the Six Great Families hurriedly followed their trusted men out of the estate, guarded closely by several Innate Martial Artists. Every now and then they’d look back to see Gu Zhan’s group still being held up, and they’d breathe a little easier.
Soon, their party stumbled out of the estate in disarray.
Outside the estate,
The long street was cold and empty, with only a few carriages parked all alone. The guards assigned to them were nowhere to be seen.
In that instant, everyone’s heart sank.
Wu Ming’s face darkened as he walked to a carriage and lifted the curtain, instantly jolting with shock.
The others glanced over in confusion,
Everyone was stunned to find a corpse inside the carriage, dressed in Embroidered Uniform Guard attire.
At once, the group immediately went to check the other carriages,
Sure enough, every one held a corpse.
"I know these people," one young master said. "They’re the new higher-ups assigned to the South City Hundred Households Office—not to put too fine a point on it, they’re the lot Wan Yan sent to undermine Gu Zhan. Three Chief Banners, four Small Banners, not a single one missing. All here!"
Wu Ming’s face was grim. He roared, "Quick, call for help! That madman Gu Zhan wanted to kill us all from the very start!"
Immediately, all manner of signal flares shot into the sky,
Exploding across the night.
But just then, the long street and nearby alleys suddenly rang with chaotic footsteps and the crisp sound of blades being unsheathed. Out of the darkness surged a dense crowd, each person at the front wielding a gleaming axe.
Meanwhile, atop other high buildings along the street, squads of Embroidered Uniform Guard appeared, all armed with crossbows.
"Kill!"
A shout echoed in the dark.
A barrage of feathered arrows and countless flying axes came crashing toward the Six Great Families’ men. In an instant, blood spattered and screams filled the air.
"Retreat!"
Wu Ming panicked and shouted, "Retreat, fall back to Baihua Building!"
Not that he needed to command it,
The men of the Six Great Families were already heading back for Baihua Building,
With flying axes and crossbows everywhere outside, only Baihua Building could provide cover.
"Hurry, send a signal!"
Once back in Baihua Building, Wu Ming roared, "Quick, call for reinforcements from the city, or we’ll all die here tonight..."
"Young master, get down!"
At that moment,
Two First Grade Martial Artists of the Wu Family shouted. One quickly tackled Wu Ming to the ground while the other raised his long sword in front,
A feathered arrow tore through the night,
Striking true, it snapped the First Grade Martial Artist’s long sword in half. The arrow pierced his chest and hurled the man back, pinning him to a stone wall.
At the same time,
Guards of the other families cried out in alarm, hurrying to shield their own young masters.
In the chaos,
An Innate Martial Artist suddenly grunted, lowering his head in shock to find a feathered arrow lodged in his chest,
He had no idea where the arrow had come from, nor how it had appeared so silently.
As this Innate Martial Artist collapsed,
The two remaining Innate Martial Artists turned pale. Exchanging glances, one said grimly, "We can’t just wait here to die. We’ve long heard of Gu Zhan’s supernatural archery. If he stays hidden out there and we just stay exposed, we’re as good as dead!"
"Fight back, pin him down, buy us some time!"
At once, they both activated their Qinggong, flitting through the estate like specters, constantly searching for cover.
On a distant high building,
Gu Zhan drew back his Cold Iron Bow, three feathered arrows nocked. The frosty arrowheads glimmered faintly in the darkness,
"I’ll let you win a few more seconds, then."