Attacks on Chang Residence

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Towards night.

Lu Yan approached Fei Er who was standing outside his carriage.

Everyone was ready to hit back the road to find lodging in the next town. They were just stopped at the side of the road to relax their stiff muscles.

"Young Master"

"Em, Brother Yan, how long does it take from here to Valley Jie? I mean, it doesn't matter how far, you said there were traces of bandits on the road we were. Although they didn't show up today, is it possible they will suddenly appear later?"

Lu Yan glanced inside the carriage. He understood what his Young Master meant. His little Young Master Hong Er had fallen asleep in the carriage.

"Young Master, do you want to send Master Hong home?"

Fei Er nodded, slightly lowering his voice for fear that the kid would hear it.

"Yeah, what's else? Mother must be so furious about Hong Er running away from home. After all our journey is not safe, right? I don't want him to get hurt"

Lu Yan smiled. He straightened his body, it made Fei Er frown, why is he even smiling?

"Brother Yan"

"Forgive me, Young Master, but little master Hong is not a weak person. Indeed, he can't do martial arts to defend himself, but he is so smart. I think you are too worried"

"So you mean, to let him come with us like that?"

Lu Yan himself was a bit hesitant to the point of furrowing his brows deeply.

"Well, indeed Little Young Master Hong is still very young, it's better to take him home. But going back to the forest may be quite a high risk, and our men are also too tired. I think the safest place right now, of course with us together. I don't dare decide whether he to come along or not, but right now to go back is just as dangerous as we keep going. If anything happens while he gets back, we won't be there to protect him"

Fei Er pursed his lips. What Lu Yan said is right. To go back again right now is not the right choice, they have already struggled to get out of the forest and arrived at the border of the city. Re-entering the forest will cause trouble. Now, Hong's safest place is with them. After all, Hong said he left a letter for Mother, she might have read it by now so she won't be too much worried.

Fei Sighed.

"Heh, that brat"

...

"Tung Tung!" the sound of the night watchman gong.

"It's the damp night! watch out for the fire!" cried the night watchman on the empty street.

The rain had just stopped. It left quite an amount of puddle in the front courtyard inside the gate of a large house. The puddle, which in the dim light of the oil lamp looked red.

The night watchmen who passed were dumbfounded in their position, not daring to move much. One of the men stepped forward to take a closer look inside the gate which was unusually open. Probably they have a problem with their eyes, also it's night, so they have misslooked it.

But sure enough, the two village men who had been night watchmen for many years couldn't believe their eyes. Inside the gates of that big and luxurious house, lay countless bodies covered in blood, motionless. The collapsed banners and fires in several places. No life was seen anymore, all just lifeless bodies that kept bleeding until they blended in the cold rainwater, no one was seen living there. Shaking, the men immediately ran away.

"Bodies! Bodies!"

They both shout while hitting the gongs in their hands hard.

"Tung tung tung tung!"

"Murder!"

A loud sound echoed throughout the area.

The mansion was left cold and silent. Strong wind flew the banners and the fires that shortly went out from the water. The huge house sign on the top of the gate almost fell out of place. It has a squeak sound from the strong wind that passes on it. The sign of the Chang family's mansion.

...

Thump thump thump!

The sound of footsteps quickly entered the hall.

The Phoenix Hall of Sang Guan Jiu's mansion. A respected family, one of the organizers of the Sui An capital's martial arts competition.

"Big lord! Big lord, something big happened!" The young guard struggled to catch his breath upon arriving in front of the officials. Among the guests present that night Bai Hu was one of them.

"What caused the fuss?" Sang Guan Jiu Ye, the inner elder of Sang Guan, has a second lead position in the Martial arts world. The annual event was usually held at Sang Guan's residence near the Emperor's palace.

Sang Guan Jiu Ye (ninth uncle) is a retired palace honorable teacher. He retired honorably from the palace but still has his big name with him, which booms throughout the country. The annual competition in the Phoenix Hall is also one of the agenda of the Emperor's palace. The winner will get a chance to become the head of the guard in the kingdom or can ask the emperor for anything, for example, abundant treasures to large houses.

The young guard saluted. He was carrying a rolled-up letter that the courier had sent expressly, it looks like a very important letter because the courier was reported to be seriously injured.

Jiu Ye grabbed a scroll with the crest of a famous family, he handed it to Bai Hu because that family was said to be close to the Jie family.

"Brother Bai, it looks like this is a letter for you" Sure enough, there was Bai Hu's name on the top of the letter. Bai Hu opened it, there was a little bloodstain on the top of the scroll.

Bai Hu's eyes went wide after reading the letter.

"Brother, this is big trouble, Chang's residence in Xi'an was attacked by enemies, lucky old man Chang and family managed to evacuate"

Bai Hu stood up, his forehead furrowed in thought.

"Who unreasonably attacked the Chang branch? Brother Bai, you know the Chang family well. It's not a small matter, right?" asked Jiu Ye, Bai Hu nodded, he was still thinking.

"A month ago, Old Chang said that a group of bandits were after them. One of the bandits' favorite underlings was killed by one of the Chang family's guards. But it shouldn't be this big. they said they already solved it with some agreement." realizing something, Bai Hu's eyes widened.

"Oh no, Fei is on the way there escorting the new division to Chang's division"

Jiu Ye stood up with big eyes.

"Fei Er? Why did you tell your young son to bring the guards there by himself? It's such a long trip"

"Brother Jiu, looks like I have to go there," said Bai Hu, starting to worry.

Jiu Ye nodded.

"Well, you have to, bring some extra people with you. I will tell the others to be on alert and follow if you need more help"

Bai Hu nodded. He was worried Fei could meet those bandits on the way. Lucky Hong didn't come along with him, he reminded his wife to keep him at home, otherwise, the problem could get bigger. Hong can't even protect himself.

......

A little old inn near the city border.

"Hatchiee! Hatchiee!"

Hong Er sneezed a couple of times, did anyone call his name over and over?

Fei Er approached the bed. The group arrived at the inn and decided to stay for one night before continuing the journey the next morning. He and Hong Er shared a room. He brings an extra blanket for him.

"What's wrong? Do you catch a cold?" Fei Er asked, touching the young man's forehead. Hong shook his head, he sneezed maybe because of the dust in the room. Unlike his room in the Peacock bungalow which is very clean and smells good. How can he sleep there tonight?

"Brother, is it still far to go? Grandpa Chang's house must be more comfortable than this, right?"

Fei Er pursed his lips. It's not weird for his baby brother to complain about anything there, he barely ever left the valley, not to mention sleep in a strange place like this. A little spoiled prince who liked the cleanliness, and now, he rarely went to the restroom because of how uncomfortable it is. He pinched Hong's cheek excitedly.

"This kid is really something"

"Brother it's hurt," said Hong looking at his brother with his sharp eyes. He keeps doing that to him.

"Who told you to tag along? Did staying too comfortable at home make you bored? We've come this far, unless DaHuang comes to pick you up we can't send you back"

"Why do I have to go back home? And what does it have to do with Brother Da Huang anyway? Oh yeah, Brother DaHuang, I wonder how is he now? I hope Mother didn't punish him too hard, you know how Mother is, she is like a tiger when she's mad"

"Yeah, I want to know what Mother will do about you later if you come home"

"Akh brother don't scare me. Mother loves Hong the most, she won't punish me"

"Said who?"

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