Above the pool was a small waterfall over ten meters high, and below it was a pool about five or six meters wide.
The gurgling water sounded crisp and pleasant to the ear.
A dozen or so horses were leisurely grazing not far away.
Two small horse-drawn carriages were parked by the pool, and around them, a dozen Quzhao men were slowly walking into the woods near the water.
The leading man was very dark-skinned, his face covered in small pimples. He looked as if he was covered in unwashed coal cinder, giving one the urge to just pick at it.
His expression was joyful, but his voice sounded eerie. Little mice, stop hiding. I see you. Come out now.
The man standing next to the Pimple-faced Man had an equally ugly face. It looked as if it had been run over by a carriage, so flat that there were barely any contours.
He stretched open his flat mouth. Gahaha, come out on your own now, and I promise you will die a bit more comfortably. Otherwise, hmph...
The Pimple-faced Man laughed. That is right. Otherwise, when we get tired of playing with you, we will skewer you on a spit and roast you over the fire with a sprinkle of salt. The taste will definitely be absolutely delicious.
Crack, a faint sound echoed.
The Pimple-faced Man and the Flat-faced Man exchanged a glance, a glint of amusement and triumph flashing in their eyes. Their pace naturally quickened as they approached the source of the sound.
Suddenly, a silver light flashed before their eyes as a longsword thrust straight toward the Pimple-faced Man.
The Pimple-faced Man felt his heart skip a beat, and he hurriedly dodged to the side.
However, he had underestimated his opponent. He had not expected this person to be a martial artist. Reacting half a beat too slow, he failed to evade completely, and his arm was slashed open.
Though the wound was not deep, it was enough to infuriate him.
He finally got a clear look. The one who had wounded him with the sword was actually a tall woman!
The woman's eyes were icy cold as she thrust her longsword at the Pimple-faced Man once again.
The corners of the Pimple-faced Man's mouth curled up. He rapidly retreated two steps and gave a sinister smile. Courting death! Everyone, attack!
The Flat-faced Man stepped forward with his blade, blocking the woman's sword with a single strike.
The others also quickly swarmed in to besiege the woman.
Just as the woman was about to be struck by the Flat-faced Man's blade, a cold-gleaming saber abruptly appeared out of nowhere, stopping the Flat-faced Man's attack with a loud clang.
At the exact same time, the woman backhanded her longsword straight into the Flat-faced Man's heart.
Succeeding in her strike, the woman rapidly retreated.
Retreating alongside her was a tall man, the very same one who had just blocked the blade for her.
The man was around forty years old and pale-faced. A closer look revealed bright red blood seeping from his chest, though it was not very obvious against his dark cyan clothes.
Worry flashed through the woman's eyes. Father, are you alright?
The middle-aged man shook his head. Forcefully blocking the Quzhao man's blade just now had caused the unhealed old wound on his chest to tear open again.
His breathing was a bit unsteady now, but his voice carried a comforting tone. I am fine.
The Quzhao men never expected another martial artist to appear, nor that they would lose a man in a single exchange.
This thoroughly enraged the Pimple-faced Man. He roared, Everyone attack together! I want them to wish they were dead!
Over a dozen men immediately swarmed them, and the two sides became locked in a fierce melee.
Sparks flew instantly, accompanied by the endless clanging of colliding metal.
Two fists are no match for four hands. Before long, several new cuts appeared on the middle-aged man and the woman.
The Pimple-faced Man and his crew had no intention of letting the two die easily. They slashed left and right, deliberately avoiding any vital spots.
The pair struggled more and more to fend them off, gradually showing signs of defeat.
Pfft.
The middle-aged man took another slash to the shoulder from the Pimple-faced Man, blood spurting out.
Taking advantage of the middle-aged man's injury, another Quzhao man kicked out, sending him flying several meters away.
The middle-aged man collapsed to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He struggled hard to get up but failed, lying there panting heavily with a look of extreme unwillingness.
The woman panicked and tried to rush to him, but in her momentary distraction, her back was slashed.
The Pimple-faced Man viciously hacked at the sword in the woman's hand. With a clang, the longsword went flying.
A Long-faced Man gave a wicked smile and grabbed the woman from behind. Gahaha, I just love fierce Han women. So feisty!
As he spoke, he began tearing at her clothes.
Humiliation and ruthlessness flashed in the woman's eyes as she drove her elbow backward.
The Long-faced Man reacted quickly, immediately releasing her and stepping back to avoid the blow.
Several Quzhao men surrounded her; one grabbed her left hand, another her right...
The middle-aged man's eyes looked ready to split open, his voice hoarse. Stop!
The Pimple-faced Man stepped forward and stomped on the middle-aged man's chest. You dare kill our Quzhao people?
Now I will make you watch with your own eyes as we ruin her. After that, we will eat her. Tell me, which part of her do you think tastes best?
Trampled upon, the middle-aged man spat out another mouthful of blood. His bloodshot eyes glared death at him, his voice forcing its way through gritted teeth. You will die a horrible death!
The Pimple-faced Man sneered. He was just about to say something when a noise came from not far away. His gaze sharpened, and he looked toward the sound.
He saw a slender woman run out from a bush, heading up the mountain.
Seizing the momentary distraction as everyone stared at the slender woman, the tall woman who had been restrained broke free and kicked a Quzhao man.
Caught off guard, the man was kicked to the ground.
The middle-aged man found strength from somewhere and screamed at the top of his lungs, Run! Run away!
The tall woman bit her lip. Ignoring the pain of her wounds, she spun around and threw a punch at a Quzhao man.
A hint of smugness flashed across the Pimple-faced Man's face. I knew there was another little mouse. Finally willing to come out, huh? Now we have the whole set. Catch her and bring her back.
A few men immediately sprinted fiercely up the mountain.
How could a slender woman outrun these burly Quzhao men? In less than half a quarter of an hour, she was dragged back down by her arms.
The tall woman was also subdued again.
The Pimple-faced Man looked at the lifeless Flat-faced Man, then at his own injured arm, a trace of bloodlust flashing in his eyes.
He licked his lips. Quite the nerve, daring to kill a Quzhao man. Today, I will show you what it means to wish you were dead!
The slender woman was trembling all over in fear, but she did not utter a single word of surrender, only glaring hatefully at the Quzhao men.
Seeing her gaze, the Pimple-faced Man felt annoyed. He picked up his blade and walked over. You dare glare at me? I might as well gouge them out for fun.
Quite lively here! a female voice rang out abruptly.
Startled, the Pimple-faced Man looked up and saw a young woman staring at them with a cold, stern face.
Standing on either side of the woman was a tall man.
Because they were close to the pool and the waterfall was quite loud, he had not noticed anyone approaching.
The newcomers were none other than Jiang Jin and her two companions.
The three of them had heard the commotion before they even reached the pool, which was why they had quickened their pace and run over.
Who are you? Mind your own business, or do not blame us for being merciless. The Pimple-faced Man looked warily at Zhou Sui and Yun Chengxuan.
Those two men gave him a very dangerous feeling. As for Jiang Jin, he ignored her completely; she looked weak.
Although Jiang Jin did not like meddling in other people's business, she could not tolerate a dozen men bullying two women.
Moreover, these were Quzhao men. Too lazy to waste words, she raised the blade in her hand and charged forward, slashing straight down at the Pimple-faced Man.
