Chapter 74: Hidden Edge

The clamor and chaos of Xishan Village went on until daybreak.

This deep night stirred the heartstrings of everyone in Xishan Village.

The Young Strongmen charging ahead wiped the sweat from their palms while mustering courage to press forward.

Women, children, the elderly and the young who hid at home curled up trembling in places they thought were concealed.

The children's cries were hoarse and exhausted, and the adults silently shed tears.

There were many Young Strongmen who, shrinking back, dared not advance; as they charged, they simply vanished.

They slipped away quietly, hurriedly taking their families and plunging into the mountain behind them.

The mountain that no one dared to venture into during the day now saw groups of villagers at night; compared with the ferocious Bandit Refugees, they would rather gamble that the mountain beasts were not at home.

Chen Wuji hacked down four, and the rest were out of reach.

These Bandit Refugees had completely lost the swagger they displayed when Chen Wuji encountered them in daylight; they didn't charge at all, and as soon as they met, they chose to fight while retreating, though they made a few feigned charges during their withdrawal.

When the villagers of Xishan Village gathered their forces and returned, the sky was already essentially bright.

"Yuan Jintang is dead!"

Chen Bushi walked over and placed the two snarling Head Trophies steadily on the grass beside them.

Chen Wuji instantly didn't want to speak to him, "Turn them around; staring at me like that makes me uncomfortable."

Chen Bushi burst into laughter, "You kid hacked so many, and you're still scared of this?"

"It's not that I have great skill because I cut many; it's that I wanted to survive, forced out brutally," Chen Wuji said, "Quickly make them look behind, why are they staring at me with such wide eyes?"

Chen Bushi turned those two Head Trophies to a different direction.

"How did Yuan Jintang die?" Chen Wuji finally asked.

"Want to guess?" Chen Bushi said mysteriously.

Chen Wuji waved his hand, "Do you think I guess or not? No matter how he died, the old man's death is good for me. Too bad I didn't kill him myself."

Several attempts to kill him and even snatch his wife have turned this into an endless blood feud.

"Boring fellow," Chen Bushi shook his head and muttered low, "Two clerks slipped in midway; although they changed clothes, I saw their shoes clearly."

"After killing Yuan Jintang, the two left. I glanced at them; they ran back into the village. Do you have anything to say about this? Don't deny it; I know it was definitely you who did it."

Chen Wuji knew this was the method of Censor Zhang.

Although his big trouble in the village was finally resolved, he couldn't feel quite happy.

The Court's Censor ordered Xianya clerks to act as Executioners; is this the way local aristocrats operate?

"The sky above us..." Chen Wuji murmured, the rest unsaid.

Chen Bushi sneered, "You should be grateful that this high official is someone you know, not someone Yuan Jintang knows. Whether the sky is white or black, we can't reach it no matter how we stretch; be grateful."

Chen Wuji indeed felt grateful.

He was grateful that Censor Zhang, despite his disdain, could still show a bit of favor.

He's a meticulous person.

But he also hates this way that makes his back shiver.

It's hard to say whether Censor Zhang's act contained warning as well as favor.

They could have stuffed the Yuan Clan brothers into the big jail and killed them by law, yet they chose this direct method, officials and soldiers using it privately to flaunt power.

"Good thing, I win by lying down!" Chen Wuji smiled.

Putting aside all reasons and deeper meanings, Yuan Jintang's death also cured his lingering grievance.

Always worrying that one's own walls aren't tall enough, the gate not sturdy enough, those days really wear a person down.

"What a pity, his death still counts as a merit," Chen Bushi said with some regret.

The County Magistrate would definitely prefer to see a Village Chief under his jurisdiction who valiantly kills bandits and dies heroically, rather than see a feeble township run wild, which could even involve his Village Chief.

Having said that, he glanced at Chen Bushi's overnight tally, "You chased and hacked for so long, yet only brought back two Head Trophies; isn't the hiding a bit too obvious?"

"I'm just a frail scholar; cutting two people is my limit. Do you think I'm as reckless as you?" Chen Bushi laughed, waving his hand, "I did my best, really did my best!"

Chen Wuji: …

This shameless bastard.

Chen Bushi shifted tone and suddenly said, "But your knife technique needs practice; relying only on blade edge and raw strength, you can hack these Bandit Refugees, but if you meet a formidable foe, one slash will be your death."

"Where can I go to train?" Chen Wuji asked speechlessly.

Looking up, all he saw were peasants with faces to the yellow earth and backs to the sky; many lifted knives only to chop firewood—who could he train with?

Even if he paid someone to teach, the county seemed to have no such place.

"When you have time, let Luozi teach you," Chen Bushi said.

"He can?" Chen Wuji was somewhat surprised.

Chen Bushi chuckled lightly, "Blacksmiths usually know a few tricks; he won't be masterful, but picking up a move or two is doable."

"Our old Chen family always throws occasional surprises; I'll go another day!" Chen Wuji said heartily, there are masters he could apprentice under, but he certainly wouldn't let a freebie slip away.

Chen Bushi laughed and scolded, "Stop the cryptic side remarks; when it's time to speak, I'll speak. Knowing too much about some things isn't good for anyone; now go hunt properly."

"I'm just worried about this thing around my neck; never mind, I won't ask further," Chen Wuji shook his head, looking at the villagers slowly walking back.

When he noticed those being carried back, his brows furrowed, "Anyone else dead?"

He rushed forward more, and didn't notice the commotion behind.

"They were stepped to death," Chen Bushi said with a weary look. "The Bandit Refugees' several feigned charges threw the big guy off balance; in a moment of carelessness, our own were trampled, the most humiliating way to die."

"Chen Qun, send the Head Trophies of you several to those dead ones; I'll reimburse you the Silver!" Chen Bushi suddenly said to a few people of Chen Qun in the distance.

Only a few of the Chen Family Young Strongmen suffered minor injuries; not a single casualty, and almost everyone claimed a prize, even the most timid Chen Wuwei brought back a Head Trophy.

But that kid was also scared dumb, still there trembling and vomiting.

"San Shu, why give them free benefits? A Head Trophy costs at least two taels of Silver!" Chen Qun came over, asking displeased.

Just send it if you're told to, I'll make up the silver for you. Chen Bushi said.

Oh……

Chen Wuji glanced, "If you really want to hide your sharpness, you might as well leave the mule's spoils, give up everyone else's, just having me at the front will do."

I had no choice but to act today; if I try to hide again I definitely can't, so you'd better not reveal anything else.