Chapter 365: First Volume, Chapter 365: Night Owl Attack

First Volume, Chapter 365: Night Owl Attack

Qin Feng merely expanded his business into Jiangnan, conducted his trade diligently and cautiously—perfectly reasonable. Anyone who dared obstruct him would face Qin Shi Hu's ruthless, furious counterattack.

Qin Feng intended to plant a nail beneath the Lin Family's very eyes—enough to make them seethe with discomfort, though not enough to threaten their foundation.

Qin Xiaofu served as shopkeeper for Qin Shi Trading House; though greedy and often taking kickbacks, he was remarkably adept at handling affairs and utterly reliable in critical moments.

With him, Qin Shi Trading House's initial operations would gain vital support.

Before leaving Jiangnan, Qin Feng left Zhao Yulong behind along with Ning Hu and Wu Wei, since Qin Shi Trading House needed strong protection.

Additionally, two hundred county soldiers from Changping County and one thousand New Army troops from Beixi County remained stationed at Tangqi.

Once again, if the Lin Family wished to strike in the shadows, they would face a "large-scale bloodshed."

Strong deterrence equals peace.

With all arrangements settled, Qin Feng set out for Beijing with Xiao Xiangxiang, Jing Qianying, and Li Lang.

Since the number of accompanying personnel had decreased, defensive strength was greatly diminished.

Qin Feng knew he had made too many enemies; thus, unlike his flamboyant arrival, his return journey was as discreet as possible.

For safety, he switched to the Official Road, where traffic was dense, and insisted on entering the nearest County City before nightfall to rest, resuming travel only at dawn.

On the fourth day, Qin Feng's party left Daze County, heading for Minglan County.

The distance between these two counties was the greatest—fully one hundred twenty Li—and despite the cart's limited speed, even hurrying all day, they still failed to reach Minglan County before darkness fell. The Official Road now held only Qin Feng's two carts; even the drivers grew anxious, repeatedly turning to warn Qin Feng.

"Young Master, it's dark!"

"Twenty Li still to Minglan County. Night travel is unsafe. Let's set up camp here."

"Setting up camp here" was essentially playing hide-and-seek.

Hide the gear by the roadside, no lanterns, no fire—using darkness as cover.

After all, bandits and road thugs were just ordinary men; their night vision was poor, making it hard to spot the convoy.

If they kept riding on the Official Road, hoofbeats could be heard clearly from a full Li away.

Qin Feng didn't care—he had Jing Qianying and Li Lang beside him, so he felt no fear.

"Fine. By now, the gates of Minglan County City have long been closed. I don't even know what kind of temper the Minglan County Magistrate has—whether he'll honor my face. Better to risk nothing and camp here."

Upon hearing Qin Feng's reply, the driver no longer hesitated—he drove the carts to the roadside and made camp.

Night deepened.

The Zishi Hour Hour Hour Hour Hour Hour Hour Hour Hour Hour Hour Hour Hour Hour ended.

Just as Qin Feng lay sprawled on a soft blanket, hugging Xiao Xiangxiang, sleeping soundly, a sudden clamor jolted him awake.

Qin Feng rolled over half-asleep, muttered a few times, and mumbled: "What's all this noise at this hour?!"

The next instant, a furious shout rang out.

"Kill!"

Qin Feng's eyes snapped open. He froze for several seconds, then jolted upright.

Fuck, what's going on?

Qin Feng scrambled up and pulled back the curtain, peering through the gap—everything around was pitch-black, nothing visible, only faint sounds of fighting drifting in.

At the same time, Xiao Xiangxiang woke up, clutching Qin Feng tightly from behind, whispering: "Young Master, Fourth Miss isn't on the cart."

Huh?!

Qin Feng's heart lurched. He stared desperately into the pitch-black wilderness outside, nearly bulging his eyes out, barely making out a few dark shapes.

At that moment, within a one-Li radius centered on the carts, over a dozen corpses lay scattered.

These corpses wore leather armor and carried ox horn horns—Northern Di soldiers—and also wore tight black outfits—Brocade Uniform Guards!

As Qin Feng stood bewildered, a leather-armored man suddenly leapt onto the cart, said nothing, and swung his curved blade straight at Qin Feng's face.

Shit!

Qin Feng recoiled backward, instinctively kicking out.

His ankle was seized. The curtain ripped—leather-armored man swung his blade again, aiming for Qin Feng's vital points.

"No!"

Xiao Xiangxiang flung herself onto Qin Feng.

The attack came too suddenly; Qin Feng had no martial skill—even Xiao Xiangxiang reacted faster.

By the time Qin Feng regained his wits, hot blood had splashed across his face.

Xiao Xiangxiang collapsed like a broken kite into his arms, her back soaked and burning.

A wound twenty centimeters long gaped across her back.

"Xiao Xiangxiang!"

Qin Feng's eyes widened. He clutched Xiao Xiangxiang tightly, staring at the leather-armored man before him like a beast fully enraged, growling: "I don't care who you are—you will pay with blood!"

The leather-armored man ignored Qin Feng's roar—like a soulless Dead Soldier, his target was clear: kill Qin Feng.

But Xiao Xiangxiang had taken the blade for him—the opportunity was lost.

A short dagger shot out from the side, piercing straight through the leather-armored man's throat.

Thud!

With a heavy thump, the man collapsed. Brocade Uniform Guards seized his ankles and dragged him out of the cart.

A Brocade Uniform Guard lunged onto the cart, standing sideways to block the doorway.

Qin Feng held Xiao Xiangxiang, desperately pressing against her back wound—but blood kept gushing out.

Shock, fury, murderous intent—all surged at once.

But Qin Feng had no time to rage—he immediately pulled out a clean change of clothes and pressed it against Xiao Xiangxiang's wound. Every few moments, he loosened his grip to let pooled blood drain, then pressed again.

But Qin Feng had no time to be angry. The very first thing he did was take out a clean change of clothes and press them against Xiao Xiangxiang's wound. Every so often, he would ease the pressure to let the pooled blood drain out, then press down again.

"Young Master, I'm fine..."

Xiao Xiangxiang lay sprawled weakly on the carriage floor, feeling the boundless fury in Qin Feng's eyes, yet she forced a pitiful smile: "Young Master, I haven't married you yet, I won't die..."

Qin Feng glared: "Shut up! Save your strength, I won't let you die, absolutely not!"

Qin Feng turned and looked coldly at the Jinyi Guards blocking the door: "Who is the other party? The Lin Family?"

The Jinyi Guards stood at full Readiness, answering in low voices: "The Sage sent Black Guard to assassinate Chen Si, the Beidi retaliated, sending the Beidi Top-Tier Intelligence Organization Night Owl, to come assassinate the Young Master. These people are old nemeses of Black Guard, extremely dangerous. Young Master, stay hidden inside the carriage, absolutely don't show your head!"

Night Owl, Beidi...

Qin Feng swept away his usual flippant manner, his gaze growing colder: "If this grudge is not avenged, I, Qin Feng, swear I shall not be a man!"

The Battle outside the carriage continued!

But it was not a brutal frontal slaughter, but a lurking, probing covert fight where one wouldn't even know how they died.

Ten zhang from the carriage in a low-lying hollow, Li Lang clutched the wound at his waist bleeding profusely, gnashing his teeth: "Damned Beidi Imperial Spies, if you have the guts fight me, Little Master, out in the open fair and square — all you do is play dirty tricks, a bunch of rats!"