Chapter 8: The Trouble with Being Too Talkative

Wang Xian’er was deep in slumber.

Her tent was quite spacious, divided into two sections—an inner chamber serving as her bedroom, and an outer one where a maid lay ready to attend her at any moment.

Her long lashes quivered, her hands clenched tightly…

The bandits howled at her with savage fury—some brandishing broadswords, others drawing their bows. Her Second Uncle anxiously tried to reach her, but vanished without a trace before he could.

"Help me!" Wang Xian’er cried out in her dream.

The guards had nearly all perished, and the bandits closed in with sinister grins. Despairing, Wang Xian’er looked frantically about.

Then suddenly, her body soared into the air, and those familiar, keen eyes appeared before her once more.

"Wild boy!"

Wang Xian’er rejoiced.

"Enemy attack!"

Startled awake, Wang Xian’er’s eyes flew open. "Who is it?" she demanded.

Her maid burst in, half-dressed. "My lady, there are bandits!"

Outside, hurried footsteps echoed, and someone called, "My lady, hurry out!"

Wang Xian’er swiftly threw on an outer garment and was ushered outside. Glancing up, she saw Wang Douxiang standing calmly with his advisors.

The wind bit sharply, and shivering from having just left her warm bed, Wang Xian’er spotted Yang Xuan.

He stood at the front of the camp, with the guards arrayed in formation ahead of him.

Yang Xuan surveyed the scene carefully. "Over two hundred men, and they have bows."

As he spoke, he unobtrusively retreated a few steps, just out of the archers’ range.

"Xian’er!"

Hearing her name, Yang Xuan turned to see Wang Xian’er hitching up her skirt as she ran anxiously towards Wang Douxiang.

Her eyes, startled like a fawn’s, met Yang Xuan’s gaze mid-stride, and instantly turned proud.

Wang Douxiang too noticed Yang Xuan’s look, and with a slight frown, he said, "An assassination in broad daylight, a night raid as well—they clearly mean to see me dead. Interesting. Who discovered the bandits? There will be a handsome reward!"

Wang Xian’er, recalling the terrifying swarm of bandits from her dream, nodded in agreement with her uncle.

Huang Lao’er bowed his head. "It was Yang Xuan."

With a soft exclamation, Wang Douxiang glanced at Yang Xuan. Wang Xian’er, surprised, asked, "Does he never sleep?"

Huang Lao’er grew only more ashamed, feeling both he and the other guards were nothing but wine sacks and rice bags. "He was awakened by the noise."

Wang Xian’er asked instinctively, "Then what about you all?"

Huang Lao’er’s head drooped almost to his chest in shame.

He urged, "Second Master, you must take the young lady and withdraw at once!"

Wang Douxiang replied coolly, "Tea!"

"Yes, sir."

A small table and cushions were brought forth, and a maid prepared a brazier to boil water.

Wang Douxiang sat down, Wang Xian’er at his side, just in time to see the bandits drawing closer to the camp.

"Loose arrows!"

Jin Qiyan’s voice rang out loud and clear.

Arrows whistled from the camp, felling over a dozen bandits. Wang Xian’er clapped her hands, "Well done!"

An advisor smiled gently, "Excellent judgment, my lady."

Suddenly, the twang of many bowstrings resounded outside.

"Shields up!" Jin Qiyan roared. He himself did not use one, but simply swung his blade, cutting down more than ten arrows.

The guards raised their shields.

Even standing clear of the arrows’ range, Yang Xuan remained cautious, holding a shield. He noticed some bandits attempting to charge forward while the guards sought cover. Their crouching, swift movements reminded him of how the guards had rushed into the forest the day before.

The bandits broke through a gap.

"Kill!"

Jin Qiyan stood firm, watching his guards surge forward.

The two sides clashed fiercely, and it became clear the guards were more capable, but the enemy had numbers on their side.

Yang Xuan did not move, nor did Jin Qiyan.

Watching the chaotic melee, Yang Xuan felt uneasy. He reckoned he might survive if he joined the fray, but the chance of dying was just as high. Most of all, he sensed that lurking, gaping maw in the darkness still waiting for him.

A fresh volley of arrows fell indiscriminately, friend and foe alike. Five guards fell.

Jin Qiyan’s expression turned cold. "Animals!"

Meanwhile, an advisor warming his hands by the tea spoke, "To so disregard one’s own men—such is either the nature of a hardened general or a cold-blooded merchant. Generals are ruthless, merchants heartless."

Wang Douxiang watched the boiling water, his voice tranquil. "Oftentimes what you see is not the whole truth."

The water began to boil, and the maid skillfully started brewing tea.

Whoosh!

A sharp, piercing sound broke the air. Up ahead, a guard shouted, "Second Master, beware!"

A massive arrow split the night, aimed straight at Wang Douxiang.

Wang Douxiang remained composed. "Brewing tea requires focus and calm. Lose concentration, and the flavor will suffer."

The maid, glancing up at the arrow, quickly averted her eyes. "Yes, sir."

Tea leaves were dropped into the pot just as the arrow arrived.

Yang Xuan saw the advisor reach for a piece of firewood and, smiling, casually swung it as if shooing a fly.

Bang!

The huge arrow was sent soaring into the night, destination unknown.

A true master!

Yang Xuan was awestruck. He wondered how Yang Lue would fare against this advisor. He reckoned Yang Lue might be even more formidable, and realized he’d perhaps exaggerated when comparing him to the local constable. The constable was certainly not as strong as Yang Lue.

Ahead, the guards spread out, two or three forming teams to launch their attack.

Both sides were locked in a brutal struggle.

"Yang Xuan isn’t moving!" Wang Xian’er was disappointed, thinking the wild boy too timid.

But Yang Xuan could not move. He had discerned that the seemingly chaotic formation of the guards actually followed a pattern; each small group working together to greater effect. It reminded him of the "chemical reaction" described in his scrolls. If he barged in, he would only disrupt their coordination.

He watched intently as a maid hurried past, glaring at him for not fighting and snapped, "Still just watching!"

I wasn’t watching you!

Yang Xuan rolled his eyes in exasperation, but then a chill ran down his spine.

A guard was suddenly flung into the air, blood spraying everywhere. A bandit, close behind, streaked past him, then dove toward Wang Douxiang like a great bird of prey.

Wang Douxiang calmly raised his teacup, sipped, and nodded approvingly, "Not bad."

Before he finished speaking, his advisor soared into the air, a long blade now in hand.

Clashing weapons rang out above, then shattered apart.

Damn, why did weapons in their hands become as fragile as straw? Yang Xuan ducked, narrowly avoiding a flying splinter.

The bandit struck with a fist so swift Yang Xuan could barely see it.

The advisor blocked with his right hand, but was immediately sent hurtling backward. The bandit, fist still extended, and the advisor, arm raised in defense, both shot past each other at blinding speed.

As they passed over Wang Douxiang, the bandit suddenly dropped like a stone, stomping down toward him.

Wang Douxiang looked at Wang Xian’er and said gently, "Close your eyes!"

"No!" Wang Xian’er stubbornly shut her eyes.

Wang Douxiang smiled, and with casual ease, struck upward just as the bandit’s foot descended—neither too soon nor too late, a perfect meeting.

Bang!

A blast of force swept everyone’s hair and clothes, sending debris rolling across the ground. All raised their hands to shield their faces—except for Wang Xian’er, who, standing just beside Wang Douxiang, was untouched and opened her eyes, gazing on in wonder.

The bandit, instead of crushing down, was sent flying and laughed aloud, "So the Second Master of the Wang clan is a hidden master. I’m impressed! Retreat!"

The bandits, seeing this, began to withdraw like a receding tide.

"Don’t pursue a cornered enemy!"

Though Jin Qiyan longed to slaughter them all, he knew his first duty was to protect Wang Douxiang and Wang Xian’er. His blade flashed, felling two bandits, then a palm sent another flying—none could last a single exchange against him.

As the fleeing bandit soared away, Wang Douxiang sipped his tea, "You might as well stay for a cup!"

Even as he spoke, he flipped the heavy tea table with a sweep of his hand.

The table hurtled after the bandit, who struck it with his palm. The table shattered into pieces, but the impact jolted him violently, blood spurting from his mouth as he crashed to the ground.

Yang Xuan, who had been watching closely, quietly followed. As the bandit fell, Yang Xuan pounced, gliding low to the ground and drove a short blade into the bandit’s abdomen, twisting it before leaping back.

Caught off guard by the ambush, the bandit froze, then lashed out with a palm. Yang Xuan retreated swiftly, raising his shield and curling behind it.

Bang!

The shield shattered, and Yang Xuan, without hesitation, threw himself flat to the ground.

Faced with the choice between shame and death, he chose shame without a second thought.

A blast of force swept over him. The bandit yanked free the short blade, lifted it, bellowed, and collapsed with a thunderous crash.

Jin Qiyan and two guards rushed over. Jin Qiyan, cautious, stabbed the bandit to ensure he was nearly dead, then his eyes lit up with delight as he inspected the wound. The bandit had tried to escape by pulling out the knife, but Yang Xuan, having riskily twisted it inside, had severed several intestines, ensuring the bandit’s doom.

Yang Xuan slowly got up, still shaken, rubbing his aching, numb hands.

Surprise was a rare emotion for Wang Douxiang, but now he turned, genuinely astonished, to look at Yang Xuan.

The advisor was equally taken aback.

Jin Qiyan looked up at Yang Xuan, never having so regretted his earlier dismissal of the youth. Such resourcefulness and daring—he had refused the Wang clan before, but could he not try again?

Wang Xian’er stared, stunned. To think the wild boy was so formidable—though he’d seemed cowardly before, lying flat on the ground. Yet she quickly forgave him: neither her uncle nor the advisor could stop the bandit, but the wild boy had slain him on the spot. Timid, perhaps, but certainly capable!

It was the first time she truly looked at Yang Xuan.

…

Thanks to the generous reward from the Alliance Lord of "A True Man of the Northern Song," Chapter 998, and to the Alliance Lord who loves to eat Little Girl’s Chubby Beef.

As usual, another chapter will follow in five minutes.