Before Zhang Balang could say a word, the sinister voice continued, “I only want money, not lives. Just tell me where your family keeps its gold, silver, and valuables.”
In the pitch-black room, Zhang Balang could see nothing. A flicker of struggle passed through his terrified eyes.
A moment later, his expression hardened. He was just about to open his mouth and shout when someone clamped a hand over it and pinned down his arms, leaving him unable to move.
Zhang Balang was horrified. There was more than one person who had broken into his room?!
Pain came from his neck. He knew that his throat had been cut, and the cold blade was slowly—excruciatingly slowly—sawing through it.
It was truly slow. The blade even moved back and forth several times, and liquid began running down his neck.
He could hear the sound of his own flesh being torn apart.
The sensation was utterly terrifying!
Zhang Balang’s eyes widened, filled with fear and pleading, but he did not dare move his head, afraid that the blade might accidentally sever his neck.
A muffled whimper came from his mouth, full of entreaty. “Mmph, mmph…”
Perhaps sensing his terror, the other party finally stopped cutting. The voice remained soft. “Well? Have you thought it over?”
Zhang Balang panted heavily. His mind raced frantically, yet remained completely blank.
That demonic voice sounded again. “Why bother? If we were able to get in here, we have the strength to kill every last one of you.”
“It’s just that I, Hu Lai, only seek wealth and don’t wish to take lives. If you cooperate, all of you can live. If you refuse, we aren’t incapable of killing.”
“As for the wealth and provisions in your Zhang family’s fortified manor, we can find them ourselves. It’ll merely take a little more time.”
“Since all the wealth in your Zhang family’s manor is going to belong to me, Hu Lai, why throw your life away in a pointless struggle? You’d be better off cooperating obediently.”
Fear and suspicion filled Zhang Balang’s eyes. Cold sweat trickled down his neck, mingling with the blood before dripping onto the bed and soaking into the bedding.
In the darkness, Xie Nanxiao—who was pretending to be Hu Lai and wearing night-vision goggles—saw everything clearly.
The corners of his mouth curled upward as he moved the knife away from Zhang Balang’s neck.
The cold blade slid down from Zhang Balang’s collarbone to his chest and abdomen, as though it intended to gut him. Zhang Balang was so terrified that he wet himself on the spot.
He really did. The sheet and bedding were soaked.
Xie Nanxiao did not care. Finally, he pressed the tip of the blade against Zhang Balang’s upper thigh and pushed down hard, eliciting a muffled groan.
Xie Nanxiao continued in a sinister tone, “Still not talking? Then don’t blame me for cutting off your family line first, and then chopping off all four of your limbs.”
As he spoke, he applied a little more pressure, and the broad blade seemed about to pierce him in a certain place.
“Mmph, mmph…” Zhang Balang shook his head frantically, the terror in his eyes reaching its limit.
Xie Nanxiao halted and gave a soft “Shh.” “Don’t be nervous. I know exactly how much force to use. I guarantee it won’t kill you.”
Zhang Balang nearly broke down. He felt that death would be preferable.
Xie Nanxiao raised an eyebrow. “As long as you obey, I won’t do any of the things I just mentioned. So, are you ready?”
Zhang Balang nodded vigorously, making a series of muffled sounds.
Only then did Xie Nanxiao slowly remove the hand covering his mouth. After making sure he would not shout again, he let go completely. “Speak.”
Zhang Balang’s lips trembled. Though he was fiercely unwilling to give in, he could feel the cold blade against his most vulnerable region and did not dare take the chance.
“It’s, it’s in my father’s study. There’s, there’s a secret chamber.”
The corners of Xie Nanxiao’s mouth lifted. “How far is it from here?”
Zhang Balang answered honestly. “A, a courtyard away.”
Xie Nanxiao also asked about the locations of the stables and granary. Seeing that Zhang Balang’s answers seemed truthful enough, he was satisfied.
“Fine. Have the Zhang family’s Eighth Son help Zhang Balang up, and we’ll go there together. If you try anything funny, you know what will happen!”
Zhang Balang hurriedly nodded. He understood. He understood very well.
Two soldiers “helped” Zhang Balang out of bed. With a dagger pressed against his waist and abdomen, he was made to walk in front and lead the way, while Xie Nanxiao and the others followed behind.
By then, Zhang Balang had grown somewhat accustomed to the darkness. He could vaguely make out several motionless shadows on the floor and instantly realized that they were likely servants assigned to keep watch at night. A chill ran through him.
Once they left the room, the moonlight was dim, but it was still brighter than inside. More than a dozen of his household retainers likewise lay sprawled on the ground, their fates unknown.
Zhang Balang did not dare say or ask anything. He merely trembled as he continued forward.
They crossed the courtyard and reached a covered walkway.
A lantern hung in the distance, its light faint and dim, revealing only blurry shadows.
Unfortunately, they encountered a patrol of household retainers along the way.
Zhang Balang assumed Hu Lai would have him bluff his way past them. But the patrol suddenly collapsed without a sound.
Only then did he see more than a dozen tall, burly figures standing behind the patrol. They held clubs and had knocked his retainers unconscious—or perhaps dead.
Zhang Balang: “…”
He felt an even deeper chill and once again realized that this group’s strength was unfathomable. There were quite a few of them, too.
Xie Nanxiao chuckled. “I told you, I, Hu Lai, only seek wealth and don’t want to take lives. It’s not that we lack the ability to kill you. I’m simply kindhearted, so you’d better behave.”
Before long, they arrived at the Zhang family head’s study.
Zhang Balang cooperated fully. He activated the mechanism, opening the door to the secret chamber and revealing a pitch-black entrance.
The chamber had been built underground, and they had to descend a flight of stairs.
Although Xie Nanxiao was wearing night-vision goggles, the other soldiers had no such equipment. He had no choice but to light a torch.
Only then did Zhang Balang realize that all these bandits had covered their faces. No—that wasn’t quite right. They had covered their entire heads, leaving only openings for their eyes.
The leader had even put some strange device over his eyes, blocking them completely. Could he be blind?
Earlier, there had been some light in the covered walkway, but Zhang Balang had not dared look around and had completely failed to notice the bandits’ attire.
Xie Nanxiao paid no attention to what was going through Zhang Balang’s mind. He had the soldiers force him to descend first.
At dawn, Xie Nanxiao yawned as he stepped out of the tent, planning to head to the next county later if nothing went wrong.
Qi Pingwei happened to be getting up as well. As a military commander, he did not dare be lazy; he had to rise early every day to practice martial arts.
“Morning.” He greeted Xie Nanxiao.
When he saw Xie Nanxiao’s dark circles, his eyes flickered. “What were you doing last night?”
Xie Nanxiao sighed. “The common people suffer. I worry for them so much that I couldn’t sleep.”
Qi Pingwei raised an eyebrow. “General Xie truly has the people in his heart, free of distractions and devoted to his duties.”
Xie Nanxiao waved modestly. “I’m merely serving our lord. I hardly deserve your praise. Besides, your choice of words isn’t quite accurate.”
Qi Pingwei: “…”
Xie Nanxiao, however, was in an excellent mood. “How about we exchange a few moves over there?”
Qi Pingwei’s eyes lit up. “I’d be delighted!”
The two were just about to spar when they saw more than a dozen people driving a herd of horses toward them in the distance.
Strangely, the horses’ backs were loaded with a great many things.
Qi Pingwei grew wary. “Who are those people?”
Xie Nanxiao’s eyes flickered. “I don’t know. Come on, let’s take a look.”
With that, he led his men toward them in long strides.
