Chapter 378

The situation took an unexpected turn for Chen Wuji.

The Xiao Family actually feigned surrender.

Moreover, those few old men of the Xiao Family were overly brave, simply fierce to an extreme.

Chen Wuji doesn't know exactly how heavy that Cleaver is, but ordinary people would find it difficult even to swing it a few times, let alone use it as a weapon.

But those Old Masters swing that thing as easily as an ordinary knife.

"Is your second uncle always this formidable?" Chen Wuji asked.

Xiao Yuji shook her head, "I don't know, no, my second uncle always walks with a cane, he gets out of breath after just a few steps. The other uncles are similar; they usually don't do any physical labor, just help manage our fields and some affairs of my caravan."

"I've never seen them practice martial arts, and I didn't know they could be so fierce."

Seeing those familiar uncles suddenly become like this, she was actually far more surprised than Chen Wuji; the difference from her memory was truly too great.

Chen Wuji stood on that small earthen slope and suddenly understood Cao Cao's mindset when he, years ago, stood on a small slope watching Zhao Zilong charge in and out seven times; this sense of immersion was incredibly strong.

Yunan truly does not harbor idlers; anyone who comes out is a fiercely strong person.

With the reinforcements of Qian Fugui and Wu Bu Yong, the Xiao Family's forces quickly reversed the battle in a one-sided fashion; the Gu Family troops, who had originally held the advantageous position, quickly became the side being beaten down.

In the face of absolute strength, any scheme or trick is merely a clownish stunt.

Chen Wuji joked with Xu Zengyi, "Old Xu, do you know what mood I'm in seeing this situation?"

"What mood?" Xu Zengyi asked cooperatively.

"I seem to have the potential to be a wise ruler."

Xu Zengyi's eyes lit up, "Deputy Commandant, you're right to think that. You don't just have the potential to be a wise ruler; you inherently bear the mark of a wise ruler. As heaven and earth change and all things renew, this is the inevitable development of the great Dao of heaven and earth."

Chen Wuji quickly raised his hand to interrupt Xu Zengyi, "Old Xu, hold on, I was just joking."

Xu Zengyi, this rebel leader, indeed never strays from his profession in his speech.

"Deputy Commandant, but I'm not joking," Xu Zengyi said seriously.

"Just keep praising me," Chen Wuji laughed and shook his head, then suddenly noticed a dusty yellow figure on the battlefield, "What is that monk doing standing there? Is he seeking death?"

Xu Zengyi looked and said, "He seems to be chanting sutras; perhaps he's performing a liberation rite on the spot?"

"You're not wrong, there's some resemblance." Chen Wuji was worrying whether the monk would be accidentally injured by the chaotic troops when he saw the monk lift a large knife from the ground and, with one strike, split open an oncoming enemy soldier.

Moreover, judging by his appearance, he didn't even stop chanting while splitting people open.

"Yunan truly is a land of hidden dragons and crouching tigers; the truth of that saying is only growing more valuable," Chen Wuji said.

The monk chants sutras while brandishing his knife, swings it to cut people down, then puts it down and instantly becomes a Buddha; he's pretty badass.

"Shi Yi Shu, have you and the Xiao Family learned anything about this monk?" Chen Wuji asked.

He is now especially curious about these people.

Chen Li said, "The Xiao Family hasn't been in Yunan for many years; we've also learned about them, but they've always been honest in farming and trade, with no special traits compared to others."

But it seems they do have special traits; they just hide them better.

Xiao Yuji added, "My family moved to Yunan in my grandfather's generation; I heard my father mention a few times that our family was implicated back then, faced a massacre of the clan, and my grandfather fled overnight with the whole household."

It seems our family was also a large clan back home, with over a thousand relatives. Only a small part followed us to Yunan—those close relatives who handled our business and various affairs.

As for that monk, I don't really remember him. After all, I haven't spent much time in Xiao Jia Ji; I only come by once or twice a month, just take a quick look and return to the city, so I'm not clear on some things.

Chen Wuji chuckled, "You say if we let your second uncles come work with me, would they agree? I see they're not that old—just in their fifties or sixties, the prime age for striving."

Xiao Yuji smiled faintly, "A married daughter is like water spilled; although I'm not married yet, the water's already spilled, so my loyalties will surely turn outward, toward you."

I'll try to persuade them with reason and emotion; if that really doesn't work, I'll drag my father to kowtow a few times to them—this should be doable.

Chen Wuji blinked, "You say… drag your father to kowtow a few times to them?"

It's fine; my father often does this—behind closed doors with the uncles, anything can be said. Xiao Yuji said carefree; this topsy-turvy, the talk of paternal kindness and filial piety from her mouth seems utterly natural, not worth making a fuss over.

Chen Wuji unexpectedly saw another side of Xiao Yuji.

No wonder she and Qin Zhanhong get along; they indeed share similarities.

Besides, it makes sense—Xiao Yuji now shoulders the banner of the Xiao Family's business; she naturally ought to have the character to stand alone.

But her gentle, water-like exterior is really deceitful, making it easy for people to overlook what she does.

At that moment, a scout came running in a fluster, "Deputy Commandant, a large force of enemy troops has descended from Que Wei Shan, about two thousand, heading straight for Baiquan Village."

Chen Wuji personally helped the scout to his feet, brushed off the dust, looked up and asked Xu Zengyi, "How do we fight now?"

The Gu Family troops have already shouted surrender several times, but some have gone berserk and won't allow the enemy to surrender. Even if they don't surrender, I think this battle is nearly over; the situation should be decided within two or three quarters of an hour, Xu Zengyi said.

Better to just wait here; having the troops run out to meet the enemy would be very tiring.

Alright, then let's wait. Chen Wuji said.

On this battlefield at Baiquan Village, the true Killing Hand that Chen Wuji had painstakingly brought in hasn't moved at all yet, but the fighting is nearly over.

The Gu Family troops, full of confidence and ready to dig pits for Chen Wuji, are now slaughtered to despair.

The Xiao Family's Old Masters are fierce; the troops led by Qian Fugui and Wu Bu Yong are no pushovers either—each one, even before stepping onto the battlefield, has gone berserk, and now they're killing so fiercely they don't even give the enemy a chance to surrender.

The remaining Gu Family troops shouting surrender have indeed been doing so for quite a while.

But no one pays attention.