17 Chapter 13: Archery_1

That night, the Lu Family mansion.

Despite an unexpected turn of events, the welcoming banquet still commenced, only now the courtyards were filled with many tense-faced guards, armed and vigilant.

As such, after the banquet concluded and guests dispersed with satisfaction, the Lu Family patriarch, Lu Guan, went to his study with his third son, Lu Ming.

"Father!"

Upon entering the study, Lu Ming hurriedly closed the door and asked his father, Lu Guan, with a tense expression, "Is that Li Qing Shan really going to come back?"

"What do you think?"

Lu Guan glared fiercely at his son, speaking with frustration, "I have long told you, to beat a snake and not kill it is to invite disaster. Today, since we have revealed our enmity, we should not have let him leave alive. Now that the tiger has returned to the mountain, there will be endless troubles. How can we sleep peacefully after this?"

Hearing this, Lu Ming also felt aggrieved, "I was just thinking about giving the Li Family some face, letting them take action to vent their anger, and ease the relations between our two families. How could I have known that man would act so ruthlessly, committing murder over a disagreement..."

"Li Qing Shan...sigh!"

Lu Guan also let out a sigh, "I recognized long ago that he was not an ordinary person. He knows how to be patient, when to advance or retreat, and he has his methods. If it weren't for the Li Family gaining the support of an influential person in Mansion City and the deep-seated grudge between our families, I would have never crossed him. Alas, alas..."

"Enough regrets, Father!"

Lu Ming interrupted, "I heard that the Li Family has found that Li Laojiu's corpse, decapitated, eyes wide open in death. Also, several of the Li Family's guards were all killed with his arrows... If such a person were to come back for revenge, what are we going to do? We surely can't keep guarding like this forever, can we?"

"Don't worry."

Lu Guan waved his hand, reassuringly saying, "Your father already has a plan. In a moment, go to the storeroom and prepare some gold and silver with Zhang Fu. Tomorrow, send someone to Qingfeng Stronghold to enlist their help in searching for those three people. We will then join forces with the Li Family, and search the mountains together. With our combined forces inside and out, we will definitely..."

"Pfft!!!"

Before he could finish his sentence, a blunt sound was heard. Lu Guan's body trembled, and as he looked down, he saw a bloody blade piercing through his chest. Realizing what was happening, he struggled to turn his head.

"You...!"

"Pfft!!!"

Again, before he could finish his words or turn his head, the blade in his chest was forcefully twisted, tearing through his torso and parting flesh from bone, splattering blood everywhere.

"Father..."

Lu Ming stood frozen in place, his face smeared with blood, still unaware of what had happened, when he saw his father's body collapse to the floor, revealing the person behind him, who looked like an Asura or an Evil Ghost.

"You!!!"

Meeting the cold gaze of the other person, and seeing the bloodied blade, Lu Ming finally came to his senses, his pupils shrinking, as he was about to scream.

However...

"Pfft!!!"

Before he could let out a shriek, a flash of steel cut through the air, knocking him heavily to the ground.

After a few spasms, the study returned to silence.

Xu Yang sheathed his blade in his back scabbard, seemingly unconcerned with the two corpses on the floor, he started searching the bookshelves.

Although he had been sneaking into the Lu Family's study to read their books for years, stealing was still stealing; certain valuable books and regularly read texts could not be casually disturbed.

Now that all pretense had been shed, there was no need for concern. He directly packed up all the useful books to take with him.

Thus, moments later, Xu Yang left the study carrying a bundle, and soon after, flames began to spread.

...

On a night dark as ink, perfect for murder, and a wind ripe for spreading fire!

Elsewhere, the Lu Family's west compound.

"There's a leak, there's a leak!"

"Someone, quick, put out the fire!"

"What's going on?"

Shrill cries resonated as lights were ignited in every house.

In a western chamber, two figures dashed out—one male and one female, both youths.

"What's all the fuss about?"

"What happened?"

The two of them, each wielding a longsword, furrowed their brows and stopped a maid to inquire about the situation.

"Miss, Young Master!"

The maid appeared panicked, "I don't know, it seems like there's a leak somewhere."

"A leak?"

The pair exchanged a look, then let go of the maid, "Let's go see what's happened."

"Yes!"

The maid hurried off, leaving the two of them uncertain and anxious.

"How could there be a leak all of a sudden?"

"Could it be the carelessness of a servant?"

"This... shall we dress and go have a look?"

"Yes!"

After a brief conversation, they were about to return to their room to dress.

But unexpectedly...

"Whoosh!"

A sound broke the silence, and an arrow split the air.

The male abruptly paused, swiftly drawing his sword to deflect the incoming arrow with a flick of his blade.

"Who goes there!"

After parrying the arrow, the man shouted loudly, searching for the direction of the attacker.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

In response, the sound of piercing arrows filled the air. Three death-dealing arrows, hidden in the darkness of the night, roared toward them.

The male concentrated his gaze and swept his sword, cleaving one of the arrows, but as the attacker fired three consecutive shots, he could only just keep up by deflecting the second arrow.

Then...

"Pfft!!!"

The third arrow followed immediately. With no time to parry or dodge, he twisted his body desperately, but was still struck by the arrow in his left shoulder, which went through his collarbone.

"Qing Yun!"

Seeing her lover hit, the female rushed to his aid, hurrying to his side.

"On the roof!"

"Be careful!"

The man noticed where the archer was and screamed a warning to the female.

Her eyes narrowed as she looked up, only to see a figure standing atop the roof to the left.

The person was dressed in black, donning armor, and was robust with a build suggesting the ferocity and agility of a tiger or panther. He held a tightly strung large bow, already nocked with another arrow, ready to release a full draw...