Chapter 77: Night Stay in the Desolate Village – Hidden Forces Lie in Ambush

Horse hooves trod over the deepening dusk, flinging the official road far behind.

Chen Wen chose a small path that branched off toward a mountain hollow.

According to the rough map Qian Gui provided, there should be an abandoned village ahead where they can spend the night.

Continuous travel is not wise; when people and horses are exhausted, encountering danger would be even more disadvantageous.

The mountain road was rugged, and the trees grew denser.

After another roughly half an hour, a stretch of broken walls and ruined ramparts finally appeared at the edge of sight.

The village was not large, with twenty or thirty earthen-walled thatched huts scattered sporadically along the hillside.

Most had collapsed roofs and leaning walls.

Only a brick-and-stone building resembling a shrine at the village entrance remained relatively intact.

But its doors were wide open, the interior pitch black, exuding a desolate, deathly air.

"This is the place."

Chen Wen reined in his horse, his sharp gaze sweeping over the entire village.

The air was filled with the smell of dust and rotting vegetation, with no cooking smoke or signs of people—indeed a deserted village.

"Boss, there's a fire over there."

Zhao Dayan, sharp-eyed, pointed toward the other end of the village.

Toward a relatively intact large house.

Faint orange-red light seeped from the broken windows, and a shadow could be seen moving.

Chen Wen furrowed his brow slightly.

It seems they are not the only group staying here tonight.

He listened intently; aside from the wind and insect chirps,

there were no other unusual sounds.

"Proceed with caution; let's go take a look first."

The six led their horses and approached silently.

Arriving before the large house, they saw ten or so horses tethered at the doorway.

These were the mounts of the group in blue-gray martial attire they had met at the tea stall that afternoon.

The door was ajar, and from inside came low conversation and the crackling of burning firewood.

At that moment, the door was pulled open from inside.

A capable warrior stepped out, one of that group.

Upon seeing Chen Wen and the others, he showed little surprise.

He simply cupped his fists, his tone flat:

"In this wild village, meeting is fate."

"The interior is fairly spacious; if you don't mind, you may come in to rest together—it's better than outside."

Chen Wen returned the gesture:

"Thank you for your kindness, brother; then we'll intrude."

He signaled his men to lead the horses to the rear of the house and tether them together with the others'.

He himself entered with Zhao Dayan.

The interior of the large house was sturdier than its exterior appeared, resembling the manor of a former wealthy family in the village.

The hall was spacious; although a thick layer of dust covered it and cobwebs clung to the corners, at least it could keep out wind and rain.

A bonfire burned in the center of the hall, dispelling the chill of the late-spring night and the hall's damp mustiness.

That group occupied the inner side, seven or eight of them sitting or standing.

Though appearing loose, they subtly protected the calm-demeanored "Guard Captain" standing in the middle.

Beside the fire, several wild hares were roasting, fat dripping into the flames with a sizzling sound, filling the air with fragrance.

The "Captain" saw Chen Wen enter, lifted his eyes and glanced.

He gave a slight nod, a greeting, and said nothing more.

Chen Wen also found a spot near the door with an open view.

He signaled his men to clear a space, each sat down, took out their dry rations, and ate silently.

The two groups remained distinct, each maintaining vigilance.

Inside the hall, aside from the crackling of the fire and the faint sounds of chewing, there was utter silence.

This silence was not outright opposition; rather, it was a mutual, unspoken caution in an unfamiliar setting.

As night deepened, the deserted village fell into a deathly stillness, even the insect chirps seeming to grow sparse.

Chen Wen leaned against the wall, feigning sleep, but his mind remained highly focused.

The Cow Horse System granted him extraordinary perception, making him unusually sensitive to minute changes in his surroundings.

He constantly felt that beneath this stillness lurked some uneasy presence.

Around midnight.

A faint rustling, almost blending with the wind, came from the direction of the village gate.

It was not the footsteps of a beast; it sounded more like someone deliberately lightening their steps, treading on broken tiles and rubble.

Chen Wen's eyes snapped open, sharp as lightning, gazing toward the impenetrable darkness outside the window.

Almost at the same moment, he saw among the opposite group

the man on window watch also straightened his back sharply, cocking his ear to listen.

and he gave the "Captain" a warning glance.

Indeed, there is a situation!

Chen Wen felt a chill in his heart.

In this desolate wilderness ridge, moving stealthily at midnight, they are certainly not good people.

He lightly touched Zhao Dayan beside him and gave a glance to several other subordinates.

Those from the Sharp Warrior Battalion have extraordinary vigilance.

They immediately understood, and their hands unconsciously went to the hilts of the short blades at their waists.

Chen Wen pondered for a moment, then decided to give a warning.

After all, we're in the same room; if it really is bandits attacking, we share the same fate.

He stood up, trying to make his motion appear natural.

He cupped his fists toward the group opposite and said, "Brother, the night is cold and the dew heavy; I'll step out to relieve myself and check on the horses."

The leader called "Brother" flashed a glance, immediately grasping Chen Wen's implied meaning.

He nodded steadily, his voice low but clear:

"Brother, be careful; this desolate village and wilderness may not be peaceful."

"We'll also send an extra hand here to keep watch together."

Saying that, he gestured to a man beside him.

That man immediately rose and followed Chen Wen out of the main house.

Outside, the moonlight was obscured by thin clouds, making the light dim.

A cold wind blew, adding a bit more chill.

Chen Wen and that man exchanged a glance, both seeing solemnity in the other's eyes.

The two, in tacit understanding, said nothing, one to the left, the other to the right.

Using the shadows of the broken walls, they moved silently toward the village entrance.

The closer they got to the village entrance, the clearer the rustling sound became.

It even mixed in a few extremely low coughs and the faint clink of metal.

Using the faint light of dawn, Chen Wen faintly saw behind the broken wall near the ancestral hall.

Several dozen black shadows were writhing and gathering, the weapons in their hands reflecting a cold glint.

Their numbers were not small, at least twenty or thirty!

Judging by their furtive movements, they were certainly not good people.

Chen Wen and that man held their breath, observed for a moment, then quietly retreated back to the main house.

"How?"

The "Brother" saw the two return and immediately asked.

"At the village entrance ancestral hall, there are no fewer than thirty people lying in ambush, armed with weapons, intentions unknown."

Chen Wen spoke briefly and to the point.

That man also added:

"Judging by their movements, they seem like bandits accustomed to night operations, perhaps intending to rob under cover of darkness."

"Brother" frowned slightly, but did not panic.

He quickly gave the order:

"Extinguish the open flames, everyone take advantageous positions, ready the bows and crossbows."

"If they dare come in, we'll make sure they never return!"

His order was decisive and clear; his subordinates immediately sprang into silent action.

They quickly smothered the bonfire with earth, leaving only a faint reddish ember.

At the same time, they quickly set up a defensive formation relying on doors, windows, beams, and pillars.

Chen Wen also signaled his subordinates to get ready.

The hall instantly fell into darkness and dead silence, only the tense breathing and heartbeats audible.

The two groups, originally strangers, in the face of this sudden danger,

naturally formed a short-lived alliance to jointly resist the enemy.

In the darkness, Chen Wen could feel that steady gaze from across the room fall upon him again.

This time, the gaze held less scrutiny and more acknowledgment of standing side by side.

The night was still long; the danger lurking outside the village was like a sword hanging over our heads.

And this dilapidated house in the desolate village became the first proving ground, before the storm, testing both sides' courage and trust.

The air was filled with an intangible tension, waiting to be broken by the impending slaughter.