#67 - Encirclement and counter-encirclement
Tianji Year 15, the ninth day of the ninth month, the Double Ninth Festival.
Just as night fell, Wei Changtian swaggered into the carriage parked at the entrance of the Wei residence.
This time, he was not going to the Suspended Mirror Division, nor was he going to Phoenix栖 Pavilion, but was actively stepping into the "trap" set to kill him.
After waiting for more than ten days, Xiao Feng finally contacted Yang Liushi again, asking her to lure him to a low mountain called "Fish Belly" in the south of the city to enjoy chrysanthemums together.
The "lust-filled" Wei Changtian naturally would not refuse. The wheels splashed a cloud of dust, and soon disappeared from the sight of several scouts.
"Chirp—chirp—"
On the old tree in front of the Wei residence, the weak cries of autumn cicadas rose and fell.
These little fellows were only focused on singing loudly during the last moments of their lives, completely unaware of the praying mantis behind them, almost blending in with the green leaves.
Just as the mantis, focused on its prey, did not notice the oriole on another branch.
"Whoosh!"
The forelimbs waved, and the sparrow's wings fluttered.
The mantis and the oriole launched their attacks almost simultaneously, heading straight for their respective targets.
The leaves rustled in a mix of yellow and green, but the autumn cicada continued to sing foolishly.
… …
… …
Fish Belly Mountain is located about ten miles outside the city, named for its resemblance to a fish's belly.
Although it is not far from the capital, it is far from the main road, so even on the Double Ninth Festival, not many people come here to climb and enjoy chrysanthemums. Only a few scattered literati and poets, in order to highlight their uniqueness, would come here alone to climb mountains and drink wine.
By the time the Wei residence's carriage turned off the main road and onto a dirt road in the forest, the sky was already half dark. The surrounding forest was shadowy, and the four lanterns hanging on the carriage could barely illuminate a dim area.
This patch of light moved slowly, and the sound of hooves was particularly loud in the night.
"Chief, the scouts along the way have confirmed that Wei Changtian is indeed in this carriage. Besides the driver, the only other person is that servant named Wang Er."
"Mm."
Xiao Feng, hidden in the darkness, nodded and lowered his voice to instruct: "Tell the brothers to make sure to act quickly, the Wei residence must have sentries following behind."
"Chief, we have a full twenty sixth-rank experts this time, what are we afraid of…"
"… …"
A cold gaze swept over, and the speaker instantly swallowed the second half of his sentence. After a long silence, he put his index finger and thumb into his mouth.
"Chirp chirp~ chirp chirp~"
The night wind rustled, and the whistling sound like birdsong rang softly.
Xiao Feng refocused his gaze on the patch of light, tightly gripping the hilt of the Xuantian Sword in his hand.
Although he told Yang Liushi that he would lure Wei Changtian to the top of the mountain, that was just a guise. In fact, he had always planned to attack halfway.
After all, it was still unknown whether Yang Liushi was trustworthy. Even if she was, the Wei family's sentries would definitely be deployed in advance at the top of the mountain.
Xiao Feng didn't want to clash head-on with the Wei family, but preferred to assassinate Wei Changtian as soon as possible through an ambush, and then flee far away.
For this reason, he brought almost all the experts he could mobilize under his command, and even borrowed one from the Liu family.
This person may not take action, but as long as he is there, Xiao Feng is fully confident that Wei Changtian will die here.
What you made me lose in the Wei residence that day, I will definitely get back a hundredfold!
"Da da da, da da da…"
The distant sound of hooves grew closer and closer, and the two figures reflected in the carriage window were faintly visible.
Finally, just as the carriage reached in front of the crowd, the Xuantian Sword suddenly unsheathed with a "clang", and a roar exploded in the forest.
"Kill!!!"
"Swish! Swish swish swish!"
Xiao Feng was the first to leap up from his hiding place, followed by countless sharp arrows piercing the air, heading straight for the speeding carriage from all directions.
"Puchi puchi!"
"Thump!"
"Neigh! Neigh!!!"
In the blink of an eye, the coachman widened his eyes and fell headlong from the carriage. The two steeds also neighed and raised their front hooves high, with several poisoned arrows stuck all over their bodies. It seemed they would not live for long.
However, Xiao Feng didn't care about them at all, his eyes fixed on the figure in the carriage.
It wasn't until blood splattered all over the carriage windows and the two figures swayed and collapsed that a smile gradually appeared on the corner of his mouth.
However, this smile only lasted for a moment before suddenly disappearing, replaced by a hint of doubt.
That's not right, it seems a little too easy…
Even if Wei Changtian was unprepared, why didn't he even shout?
Could it be a body double? A dummy?
Why? Did Yang Liushi leak the secret? Or is there a spy in the Xuantian Society?
Countless guesses flooded his mind, and Xiao Feng no longer waited. He stomped on the ground and turned into a black shadow, heading straight for the carriage that had already tilted to the ground.
"Swish! Bang!"
He casually slashed off the head of the struggling horse with a sword, followed by another sword slashing on the carriage body.
The fierce sword energy almost instantly shattered the carriage into pieces, revealing the two figures lying in a pool of blood inside.
Both of them were covered with feathers and arrows, and were already dead beyond dead.
Amidst the splashing of broken wood, a strong smell of blood filled the air.
Xiao Feng stared intently with a livid face, originally thinking that he might see the corpses of two strangers.
But when he truly saw who he had meticulously planned to ambush…
The lantern rolling on the side still flickered with fire, illuminating two familiar faces.
"Old Liu…"
"Ying, Ying'er…"
"… …"
The moonlight was bleak, and old friends reunited.
Xiao Feng stood there in a daze, as if he had lost his soul, repeating the word "Ying'er" over and over again.
The girl who had been shot with several arrows naturally could not give him any response, but only stared wide-eyed with her lifeless eyes, which seemed to still retain a trace of the fear before her death.
"Ying'er! Ying'er!!!"
"Ugh ah!!!"
The leaves rustled, startling countless birds in the forest.
Xiao Feng hugged his head in extreme pain and roared madly, but the other members of the Xuantian Society only froze for a moment, and then rushed over to persuade him:
"Chief! Let's retreat quickly!"
"Since it's not Wei Changtian in the carriage, then this must be a trap. I'm afraid the Wei family's people will be here soon!"
"Let's go! It's too late if we don't leave!"
"… …"
These few reminders exploded in Xiao Feng's ears like a thunderclap.
That's right!
Since the Wei family already knew about his plan, how could they easily let him go!
No longer looking at the girl who had no breath left, he took a deep breath and gave the order with difficulty:
"Go! Disperse and retreat into the forest, return to the headquarters first!!!"
"Yes!"
The crowd responded in unison and prepared to run away immediately.
However, at this moment, torches suddenly lit up in all directions of the forest with a "whoosh".
In the firelight, nearly a hundred burly men with knives had already formed an encirclement, and the military-standard crossbows gleamed coldly, like the tongues of poisonous snakes, ready to shoot out at any time and take lives.
Seeing this scene, the members of the Xuantian Society were all instantly horrified, cold sweat dripping down.
They hurriedly raised their weapons to protect their chests, and then heard a voice full of mockery.
"Leave?"
"I think you should go on the road to the Yellow Springs!"
