Chapter 79: Exterminating the Chen Family

Yin Qi did not make a move, continuing to weave through the Chen Mansion in search of Chen Mingxuan's tracks.

His target was Chen Mingxuan; everyone else was of no consequence.

Finally, he found Chen Mingxuan in the backyard of the Chen Mansion.

Chen Mingxuan had gathered over a dozen guards in the backyard, relying on the perimeter wall to struggle against the attack of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Rebel Army.

A dozen or so guards were, in fact, not many people.

One must know that the besieging Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Rebel Army numbered over fifty, but these guards were each holding the latest model of muskets, firing in a way that made them not dare to show their heads at all.

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Rebel Army did not dare to show their heads, so they threw incendiaries toward the backyard one after another.

Since Chen Mingxuan would not come out, they would burn him to death.

It was just that because their arm strength was limited, the incendiaries they threw all landed in the courtyard and did not ignite the house.

Standing in the shadows, Yin Qi observed carefully.

The dozen or so guards used the perimeter wall as cover, sealing off every direction; the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Rebel Army did not dare to show their heads, and he did not dare to either, otherwise, with a dozen guns aimed at him, he would have to drink hatred under the chaotic gunfire.

If one cannot force their way in, then one can only take it by wit.

Yin Qi found a burning wooden stick and threw it with all his might; that burning stick was like a cannonball, smashing directly through the wooden wall of the house in the courtyard and landing inside.

"Good!"

Outside the courtyard, a group of Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Rebel Army soldiers cheered.

They still thought that Yin Qi was their companion.

Yin Qi pressed on, throwing seven more wooden blocks in succession, finally igniting the house completely; under the raging fire, the entire courtyard was simply impossible to stay in.

Chen Mingxuan scurried to put out the fire, but the fire burned larger and larger, and he had to retreat into the courtyard.

He was covered in dust and dirt, a look of despair flashing in his eyes.

"Charge out!"

Chen Mingxuan shouted, his expression somewhat ferocious.

Things had come to this; there was only one fight left to make.

The guards also knew they could not continue to stay in the courtyard, otherwise, not to mention that they would be roasted by the great fire, once the house was burned to ashes, their defense would develop a huge gap.

At that time, without obstruction, they would have no escape from death.

"Yes, Master!"

The dozen or so guards shouted one after another, lifting their muskets as they covered Chen Mingxuan and the others along the way.

"Kill them!"

Seeing that they were about to escape, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Rebel Army soldiers were extremely excited, killing their way from all directions.

Bang! Bang!

The sound of gunfire was constant, and people kept falling.

But the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Rebel Army soldiers were brave and fearless, and they soon rushed to the front.

Without the advantage of distance, a musket without a blade attached was just a fire poker in close combat.

Soon, the dozen or so guards were killed one after another, while Chen Mingxuan, taking his wife and Steward Li and others with him, also used his familiarity with the terrain to temporarily shake off the pursuers.

Suddenly, Chen Mingxuan stopped abruptly.

In the firelight, he saw the blood-covered Yin Qi blocking their path.

"Yin... Yin Qi!"

Chen Mingxuan's expression shifted rapidly, and he tried hard to squeeze out a smile: "Nephew, why are you here?"

Yin Qi said indifferently: "I have come specifically to send you on your way!"

Chen Mingxuan's pupils constricted; his expression sank, and he said sternly: "Yin Qi, you are actually in collusion with the rebel army; are you not afraid of having your nine generations exterminated?"

Yin Qi walked slowly toward Chen Mingxuan and sneered coldly: "Even if I am in collusion with the rebel army, so what? Does your Chen Family not also have collusion with the foreigners? Have you not been investigating who killed your son Chen Rui? I will tell you, I killed him."

"It was you!"

Chen Mingxuan's breathing hitched, and then he became completely deranged, roaring: "Yin Qi, all of you in the Yin Family are animals. Your father ruined his official career, and you killed my son; none of you will have a good death."

"Master, run!"

Steward Li's eyes turned fierce, and he shouted as he charged toward Yin Qi.

Swish!

The blade light cut through the night, and a head flew across the air.

Ignoring Steward Li's corpse, Yin Qi stepped forward and slashed at Chen Mingxuan with his blade.

In his terror, Chen Mingxuan pulled his wife in front of him.

Ah!

Madam Chen screamed and fell to the ground, her eyes full of disbelief.

Chen Mingxuan turned and fled, not caring at all about his wife's life or death.

But how could he possibly outrun Yin Qi?

Yin Qi leaped and caught up with Chen Mingxuan, thrusting his Samurai Sword through Chen Mingxuan's back.

Chen Mingxuan let out a shrill scream; he looked down at the Samurai Sword protruding from his chest, his whole body trembling violently, blood also gushing from his mouth, and finally, he fell to the ground.

Even in death, his eyes remained wide open!

Perhaps in his heart, not having destroyed the Yin Family was his greatest regret.

"Quick! Quick, they are right in front!"

"Damn it, to have killed so many of our brothers, I must skin that dog thief alive!"

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Rebel Army soldiers had finally found them.

Yin Qi did not linger; he drew his Samurai Sword and left in a hurry, heading straight out of the Chen Mansion toward the Zhang Family.

At this moment, the entire city had fallen into chaos.

It was not just the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Rebel Army, but also a large number of thugs and hooligans who had come out to stir up trouble, hoping to fish in troubled waters.

They moved in gangs, storming the gates of wealthy households.

The sounds of slaughter, screams, laughter, and more converged amidst the firelight.

With the greatest speed, Yin Qi rushed to the Zhang Family.

Outside the Zhangfu lay a ground full of corpses.

Clearly, the battle had already ended.

Inside the Zhangfu, the lights were bright, yet it was deathly silent.

Yin Qi set his mind at ease and hurried toward the Prefecture Office.

……

Zhangfu.

Main Hall.

Zhang Yunze cupped his hands and thanked him, saying: "I do not yet know how to address this hero? If not for your righteous intervention, I fear my Zhang Family would truly have been in danger."

Zhang Fenglai, Zhang Youchu, and other members of the Zhang Family nodded one after another.

No one had expected that a rebellion would break out so suddenly.

As the wealthiest family in Shaoxing, their Zhang Family naturally became a primary target for attack, with as many as a hundred people coming to besiege them.

If not for Yan Zhendong intervening in time, their Zhang Family would have already been breached.

Yan Zhendong cupped his fists and smiled slightly: "Master Zhang is too kind. My name is Yan Zhendong, a Guest of Young Master Yin Qi. Entrusted by Young Master Yin, I am secretly protecting Miss Zhang Youchu. Tonight's events were also within the scope of my duties."

"You are a Guest of Yin Qi?"

Zhang Fenglai was startled; he had originally wanted to recruit the other party.

He had seen clearly earlier that this Yan Zhendong was practically impervious to blades and spears; relying solely on a pair of iron fists, he had defeated the rebel army head-on, remaining unharmed even as they hacked at his body with blades.

Zhang Yunze was stunned, then nodded with a smile: "That lad is thoughtful."

Zhang Youchu was both surprised and delighted, and hurriedly asked: "Were you sent by Second Brother? By the way, where is Second Brother? The entire Yin Family was taken to the Prefecture Office; do you have any contact with him?"

"The Yin Family was taken?"

Yan Zhendong shook his head in some confusion and said: "I have no contact with Young Master Yin. I am only responsible for secretly protecting you; he will find me if there is anything."

Zhang Youchu said in disappointment: "I see."

Zhang Yunze said in a deep voice: "We do not know the situation regarding tonight's chaos. Although we repelled one of their attacks, there is no guarantee that more bandits will not come, so we must do three things next."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions became grave.

Zhang Yunze instructed: "Eldest, you send some clever people out to gather information and see exactly who is causing the chaos and what the situation is with the government."

Zhang Fenglai nodded: "Yes, Father."

Zhang Yunze continued: "Master Yan, all the guards in this mansion are now entrusted to you."

Yan Zhendong cupped his fists and said: "Very well!"

Zhang Yunze nodded and said in a deep voice: "To be safe, everyone prepare yourselves to break out at any time.

Our Zhang Family has many houses and shops in the city; we will disperse to these places to take refuge.

As for who will survive in the end, that will depend on each person's luck."

Once these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent.

A sense of despair began to permeate the air.

If the rebel army occupied the prefecture city, their Zhang Family would certainly be doomed, so they had no choice but to plan ahead.

(End of chapter)