Chapter 11: Is this reasonable?

The moon is on the treetops, at the foot of Niu Jiao Shan.

Under the cover of night, a group of Embroidered Uniform Guard hid in the darkness at the foot of Niu Jiao Shan.

Chief Xu Quan, the leader, lifted his head to look at the bright moon in the sky and asked in a low voice.

What time is it?

A Colonel estimated: "It should be the early morning watch."

Xu Quan nodded, his eyes becoming resolute: "Everyone, perk up; Chief Yang's side should already be in position."

"After tonight, I'll treat you all to a day of heavy drinking at the Red Pavilion."

With the big pie drawn by the Chief official, whether true or false, the Embroidered Uniform Guard's spirits were lifted a bit.

Suddenly, a sparrow's chirping came from the woods.

This was the Embroidered Uniform Guard's secret signal.

Xu Quan waved his hand.

"Attack!"

As soon as the words fell, two crossbow bolts shot out from the woods, piercing the throats of the mountain bandits guarding the pass.

A rustling sound came from the woods, the noise of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's robes brushing against leaves.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard swiftly rushed up the mountain.

Just then, a miserable cry came from Niu Jiao Shan.

Then came a loud roar.

"A night attack! It's the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

Everyone looked up at the mountain, secretly thinking "Oh no," and they were exposed.

The Colonel also felt at a loss: "Sir, what should we do?"

Xu Quan's face darkened, he let out a loud shout, and drew his steel sword from his waist.

"All of you, charge! Our target is to hold Xu Lao Er and kill him."

"Kill!"

A figure burst out of the night — it was Xu Lao Er.

Xu Lao Er stood two meters tall, his build more sturdy than Xu Lao San's by a margin.

He wielded a tiger‑head great blade, his eyes like copper bells fixed on the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"What? All of you have dog noses? I've only been at Niu Jiao Shan for three days, and you still caught up?"

"Yo yo yo! You foolish old hat, still shouting? Come back with me to the Guard Command, little lord — I promise you'll get something good to eat."

Xu Quan snorted, then waved his hand: "You lot deal with the lackeys; I'll take on this foolish old hat."

The Embroidered Uniform Guard immediately scattered, heading to kill the scattered bandits in the woods, leaving an open space for Xu Quan and Xu Lao Er.

But neither of them moved.

Suddenly a breeze blew, lifting a few fallen leaves, and Xu Quan moved.

A warm current of inner energy wrapped around the tip of his sword as he thrust it at Xu Lao Er's chest.

However, Xu Lao Er, who had repeatedly escaped the Embroidered Uniform Guard's pursuit, was no ordinary foe; raising his tiger‑head blade, he traced a silver arc that clashed with Xu Quan's steel sword.

With a bang.

In an instant, a violent air wave exploded, the blade aura icy, knocking the surrounding shrubs to the ground.

Having already clashed head‑on, neither held back any longer.

Xu Quan's sword danced wildly, delivering several successive slashes at Xu Lao Er.

Xu Lao Er, looking sturdy, wielded his tiger‑head blade with real speed.

Sparks flew in the air, but Xu Lao Er ultimately held a strength advantage; the tremendous force made Xu Quan's tiger‑mouth ache, leaving a slight gap where he failed to keep up with the slash.

Xu Lao Er seized that sliver of opportunity and shouted loudly.

"Die!"

The tiger‑head blade suddenly swept upward; Xu Quan hastily blocked.

The next instant, the tremendous force hurled Xu Quan flying back several meters; after he steadied himself, his tiger‑mouth was split open and bleeding.

Seeing this, Xu Lao Er laughed heartily and rested his tiger‑head blade on his shoulder.

"Xu Quan, do you still want to cross blades with me?"

"I, Xu Hu, started sword training at three, at five I beat boys two years older than me with a wooden sword, at twelve my sword daunted the brave, I alone entered the mountains with one blade, and speaking of seventeen..."

Suddenly, a voice came from a tall tree nearby: "What about seventeen?"

Xu Quan and Xu Lao Er startled, then looked up sharply.

Only Shen Qing, clad in a black flying‑fish uniform, stood atop the tall tree, a full moon emblazoned on his back, and fittingly a few crows flew past.

Quite the show‑off.

Xu Lao Er's face darkened: "Xu Quan, did you call in reinforcements?"

Xu Quan also looked bewildered: "Reinforcements? When did I call for them? I had no idea."

And when did Shen Qing get up into the tree?

Xu Lao Er snorted, flicked his wrist, and threw three red flying darts at Xu Quan; Xu Quan raised his hand and blocked each with three sword strokes.

But Xu Lao Er had already run tens of meters away.

Xu Quan's face changed: "Not good!"

But the next moment, a black shadow flashed past him, swooping low at great speed toward Xu Lao Er.

Xu Lao Er had run a hundred meters and still glanced back; Xu Quan remained standing there, dazed.

"Everyone says I, Xu Hu, am foolish, but now I see it's Xu Quan who's truly stupid — I've run off and he still isn't chasing me."

However, now is not the time to be happy; Xu Quan has reinforcements, so we must quickly inform the eldest brother, the third brother, and Mr. Lan.

Just then, Shen Qing's voice came from beside his ear again.

I think so too; you really should notify them, but you don't need to tell your third brother—he doesn't need it.

Xu Lao Er turned around, and instantly he was frightened out of his wits; Shen Qing was standing at his side, smiling with narrowed eyes at him.

He instinctively threw a punch at Shen Qing.

A miserable cry rang out, and a thick arm flew high into the air.

Xu Lao Er's eyes were filled with terror as he desperately covered his wound.

Without regard for the pain, he madly dashed into the forest.

With just one strike, he realized he could absolutely not be a match for Shen Qing.

Xu Lao Er shouted with a voice like a broken gong.

"Help! Help!"

Shen Qing's mouth corners twitched slightly upward.

Exactly, exactly, exactly.

Just like that.

Shout louder; the louder you shout, the happier I am.

It would be best to call your eldest brother out as well, so I don't have to look for him myself.

Only then did the scholar and the others hurry over, each propping themselves on their knees and gasping heavily.

"Boss, Sir Shen... please wait... we subordinates can't keep up..."

Xu Quan also arrived at everyone's side at this moment and asked.

"Which unit of the Embroidered Uniform Guard are you from?"

Only then did the scholar and the others notice there was also a Chief Flag present; they all hurriedly rose to salute.

"Reporting to the Chief Flag, we are from the Chief Flag Office of Bai Yun County."

Xu Quan's thoughts were myriad.

Bai Yun County? The Chief Flag of the county seat's Chief Flag Office?

Is that correct?

He is actually the Chief Flag of the Hundred Households Office of Wanan City, and in terms of strength among the Chief Flags of the Hundred Households Offices, he is also upper tier.

Even so, he was still soundly beaten by Xu Lao Er.

But the Xu Lao Er who soundly beat him was in turn soundly beaten by a county seat's Chief Flag in a flashy manner.

Isn't your strength comparable to that of some Hundred Households commanders?

As a result, you don't go to the Zhenfu Bureau to make a name for yourself, but instead hide in the county seat as a Chief Flag, competing with me for a livelihood.

Is this in the river?

This is not in the river!

Xu Quan took a deep breath, calmed his emotions, and continued to ask.

"Who ordered you to come here to assist? Why haven't I received any news?"

The scholar recounted the entire sequence of events.

Xu Quan's expression was strange.

Good grief, I originally thought Shen Qing's strength was already unreasonable enough.

I didn't expect there to be something even more brutal.

Because they feared retaliation, they went ahead and chopped off their heads.

But at first glance, it seems there's no problem.

If we kill you in advance, you won't be able to take revenge, right?

This is very much in the river!