Chapter 219: Melee

Consider further ahead, from the most utilitarian perspective.

Gu Xixi hopes the great undertaking's world will be quickly reorganized and stabilized.

He Jinglan is the He family's legitimate daughter and He Jinghui's blood sister, his only close relative.

Although Gu Xixi does not know the specific schemes of Mu Nan Zhao, He Jinghui, and others.

But the He family's stirring up trouble in the capital must be part of the overall layout.

And to ensure He Jinghui has no rear concerns, we must protect He Jinglan well.

Arriving near the village entrance, before seeing the big locust tree, the first thing in view was a dense crowd.

Those standing at the back are all elderly people, women, and children.

Everyone holds weapons, glaring ahead with tiger-like vigilance.

Gu Xixi sees that fighting hasn't started yet, she lets out a breath, thinking she arrived just in time, both sides should still be standoff.

She and Qin Dasao step forward and stand with the crowd.

Because there are too many people in front, she can't see the bandits opposite.

She also doesn't know what's happening, and for now hears no sound.

Zhou Dasao unintentionally sees the two newcomers, quietly waves, "Over here! I have an open spot here!"

Gu Xixi and Qin Dasao also wanted to hear what just happened, so they carefully squeezed through the crowd to Zhou Dasao's side.

The three gathered together, communicating in extremely low voices.

Zhou Dasao: "Village Chief, plus my old Zhou, your old Qin, they're leading all the village's able-bodied laborers at the front."

Gu Xixi: "How many people came from the opposite side?"

Zhou Dasao: "We people standing at the back counted several times, twenty-one, no mistake."

Gu Xixi: "Do they have a leader?"

Zhou Dasao: "Yes! One with no beard, a wide round face, waxy yellow skin full of wrinkles, triangular eyes."

That sounds very distinctive.

Gu Xixi: "What actions did they just take, what did they say?"

Zhou Dasao: "When these people entered the village, they were pulling several empty carts. Coincidentally, patrolling Old Qin stopped them; when they disagreed, they tried to force their way in, so Old Qin then rang the bell."

Qin Dasao: "Then my Old Qin..."

Zhou Dasao: "Don't worry, Old Qin didn't suffer a loss, our people aren't pushovers either; a few youngsters rushed forward at once and clashed with that gang."

Then the Village Chief arrived, everyone gradually gathered, and the opposite rascals didn't dare act rashly, so they retreated, all the way to the front of the big locust tree.

As they were speaking, they heard Old Qian's loud shout from ahead: "A bunch of thieves!"

"Since we've already stopped you, if you still don't know what's good for you, retreat quickly!!"

A moment later, a man with a shrill, duck-like voice cackled wickedly a few times, arrogantly saying, "It's you who should know to retreat!"

Do you know who our grandfathers are? Say it out and scare you to death.

We are the Northwest Lone Wolf, bandits who came down from the northern slopes of Black Mountain!

As long as you obediently make way, my brothers will enter the village to load a few carts of grain, and then we'll spare your lives.

Old Qian gave a heavy cold snort: "Black Mountain bandits? I've heard of them."

Ten years ago, the Northwest Army eradicated bandits throughout its territory; Black Mountain's bandit chief was slain on the spot, his head hung in the prefectural city for three days as a warning, the remaining followers either died or scattered.

Since then, whenever bandits are mentioned within Northwest territory, even a three-year-old child feels no fear.

Old Qian's tone suddenly grew heavier, carrying an aura not inferior to the opposite side.

Old man, today I face you lot who don't know where you came from, those who fox‑borrow tiger's might—what do I have to fear?

A few youngsters behind him laughed loudly.

Someone loudly said, "Exactly, just riding a skinny old horse, pretending to be a mountain king!"

The bandit chief's face twisted with anger: "Right now we are bandits, you are civilians; we are wolves, you are sheep!"

You're only able to move your lips now because I haven't lost my temper yet.

If you really provoke me, be careful I slaughter your whole village!

Old Qian, as Village Chief, has always taken it upon himself to protect the entire Huachi Du Cun village.

Words like "slaughter the village" are what he hates to hear most.

Indeed, it's a beast that won't listen to human words, unafraid of blood spilling here—come try it!

He gripped in his hand an iron rod as thick as a clothes‑drying pole, fiercely slashed it through the air, pointing straight at the opposing bandits.

The briefly relaxed atmosphere instantly turned tense, swords drawn and bows bent.

Gu Xixi, Qin Dasao, and Zhou Dasao also stopped their conversation.

Qin Dasao brandished her long knife in mid‑air a few times to get a feel, "Hmm, no problem, I'm used to chopping medicinal herbs every day, this knife feels handy."

Only then did Zhou Dasao notice that Qin Dasao was actually holding a terrifying knife.

Where did you get this rare item? It looks just like the kind worn by government office constables.

A long knife forged of refined iron isn't cheap; rural households would never have such a thing.

Qin Dasao continued swinging the knife to find the feel, casually replying, "Picked it up."

The shouts of the men at the front rose as one, mixed with the clashing of metal.

This is when the fighting officially began. Gu Xixi's eyes turned cold, she tightly gripped her axe in front of her.

Zhou Dasao was shocked again.

Imagine a refined, genteel young lady suddenly picking up an axe with a clatter—its impact needs no elaboration.

Qin Dasao had already taken a charging stance, "Later you all follow behind me, we three must not get separated."

Xixi has little strength, so later you just close your eyes and swing the axe in a wide arc; I guarantee those people won't dare get close.

The melee gradually spread from the front line.

More and more villagers raised their weapons.

Gu Xixi was observing the situation, considering where to place poison so as not to harm her own side.

Suddenly, a shifty-eyed person ran over and fiercely jabbed an iron shovel into the back of a young woman.

Gu Xixi caught it out of the corner of her eye, without time to think, she truly closed her eyes and swung the axe with all her strength.

Ah~ awoo awoo aaa~~~

A series of shrill screams shot straight up to the clouds.

Gu Xixi's heart trembled; she dared not open her eyes, fearing to see too bloody a scene.

After all, it was her first time splitting a person.

Surely she didn't actually split him to death, did she?

Until Zhou Dasao gently tugged at her sleeve from beside her, "Hey, Xixi, look, open your eyes and look."

Gu Xixi opened a slit at the corner of her eye, then slowly widened them.

All that could be seen was the shovel-wielder sitting limp on the ground, a large patch of hair missing from his head, exposing his scalp.

His shovel had long been thrown to one side; his whole body trembled like chaff in a sieve, and, possessed, he shook his head while muttering, "Don't kill me, don't chop me to death, I don't want to be beheaded!"

Zhou Dasao looked down, pinched her nose, and disdainfully waved her hand in the air.

"That's enough to scare him into wetting himself—just like that, and you still want to learn to rob people?"

Almost at the same moment, Qin Dasao brandished her long blade, and a bandit running by was struck in the legs, blood spraying everywhere.

Seeing this, Zhou Dasao strolled over to the big locust tree.

The village had long been prepared; thick hemp ropes were hung on the branches of the big locust tree—wasn't this just the time to put them to use?

Zhou Dasao summoned two elderly women to help, and together they trussed up the fallen bandits like zongzi.

Lest they recover and start hopping about.

One, two, three...

The bandits still standing on the field grew fewer and fewer.

The bandit leader panicked, his eyes darting, and he fixed his gaze on the most delicate and slender girl in the chaotic crowd.