Chapter 734: Good Deeds Go Unrewarded

Inside the carriage, Mu Shulan answered with a smile: "Xiaoliang, why worry about this? What in Linqing Prefecture isn't kept from us? It's you, Xiaoliang, who's been dragged down by your big sister here — because they fear I'll find out, they keep it from you too."

Li Yuliang shook his head glumly and replied: "It doesn't matter whether I know or not. What I fear is that you, Sister Mu, don't know and end up delaying things, or that some harm comes of it. What galls me is I still have to wait years before I can take over the Patrol Inspector post — I can't help you with anything!"

"Xiaoliang, your heart's in the right place — your sister understands. But let me advise you: in the future, have less to do with the Smelling Incense Sect. No matter how good the dealings inside a sect look, they're all out to harm people."

"Sister Mu, you saved my life and have looked after me to this day. Even if I had to throw this life away, I wouldn't let anyone harm you."

"How could they harm me? They still need to use your sister's name to swindle people!"

In public she naturally had to put on a saintly and dignified bearing, but in private Mu Shulan carried a reckless, streetwise air. Li Yuliang was introverted; hearing this, he only smiled wryly and said nothing more.

When the wealthy household in the hamlet embraced the faith and burned incense, the tenant farmers beneath them usually followed suit — otherwise they couldn't hold their ground. The Holy Maiden Mu Shulan had come specially to pray and perform rites; this was not only a matter for that wealthy household but a major event for the entire hamlet. Mu Shulan's procession had barely left the city when the hamlet folk came out to greet them. About five li from the hamlet, all the prominent figures of the place turned out to welcome her, ushering her in with the utmost deference.

"... The refugees in the hamlet, hearing of the Holy Maiden's arrival, are all rejoicing and inspired. We must trouble the Holy Maiden to go and offer them solace first, to deepen their faith and devotion..."

The hamlet head spoke with great courtesy, and Mu Shulan raised no objection. The wealthy household here had always made generous offerings to the Smelling Incense Sect and handled matters with diligence and care. This visit was precisely to put on a show and bring honor and glory to that household.

Her face veiled in light gauze, Mu Shulan assented with demure reserve. At this moment, not a trace of her streetwise manner could be seen; her speech and bearing carried a natural authority and aloofness that kept those around her from any presumption. The wealthy householder and the other prominent figures of the hamlet dared not even raise their heads.

The wealthy household's estate was truly sizable — otherwise it couldn't have accommodated several hundred refugees. When Mu Shulan arrived with her retinue, the thirty-odd members of the Child Company, her personal guards, naturally had to follow. Those performing the prayers and rites also had to enter. And those so-called "escorts" who were actually watchers certainly couldn't stay far away either. With around five hundred refugees, the Holy Maiden's attendants alone numbered at least a hundred and fifty. With such a ratio, there was naturally no need to worry about safety.

Caught between the Liao levy and famine, common folk who had once barely scraped by saw their families destroyed and their lives ruined. Those who remained fled to Linqing Prefecture for a chance to survive. Along the road and through these days, they had endured terror and fear, gradually growing numb and indifferent.

Yet when they saw Mu Shulan's procession appear before them, they were still shaken. Quite a few even looked up in astonishment, prompting the wealthy householder leading the way to bark at them to kowtow.

Li Yuliang stood off to the side, utterly bored. All these years he'd been little more than Mu Shulan's attendant, and he knew perfectly well that these rites and prayers were pure fraud and playacting. He'd seen this spectacle more times than he could count; there was nothing remarkable about it. His thoughts turned to his father's admonitions to stay away from the Smelling Incense Sect, each warning harsher than the last. What was he supposed to do?

As his mind wandered, someone bumped into him. He turned and saw it was the head of the guards sent by the Mu brothers. Li Yuliang had no good feelings toward these men. To say nothing else, no fewer than twenty from the Child Company who handled matters for Mu Shulan had died at their hands. Before he could speak, the guard leader pretended to gaze absently into the distance, as if the collision had been accidental, but said in a low voice: "Go tell the Holy Maiden — something's wrong with this scene. Those refugees kneeling down there are too sturdy. They don't look like they've been starving and suffering. Their eyes are wrong too. Go, quickly — we should leave if we can!"

A jolt ran through Li Yuliang. When the refugees knelt, he had glanced over and noticed that some of their eyes lacked the numb indifference he'd seen before, but he hadn't paid it much mind — he'd never imagined there was something sinister.

At this thought, Li Yuliang felt every hair on his body stand on end. He turned to head toward Mu Shulan. The estate's main gate was already shut — could that be part of the setup too?

He had only taken a few steps forward when one of the kneeling refugees stood up and spoke: "They've probably noticed something's off. Move in and take them!"

The words were spoken lightly, but the action was swift and decisive. The moment the words fell, half of the refugees on the ground rose to their feet, each with a weapon in hand, and charged straight at them.

At prayer and rite ceremonies like this, attendants and guards were only there for show, a precaution against the unexpected. But after so long without a single mishap, everyone had long grown lax. The Child Company, by contrast, had been prepared all along. They drew their short blades and iron spikes and hurriedly formed a protective ring around Mu Shulan.

The crisis erupted so suddenly, and to make chaos worse, when those thirty-odd youths drew their weapons, the outer ring of Smelling Incense Sect guards' first reaction was not to deal with the "refugees" charging at them — they instinctively assumed the Child Company was staging a mutiny.

Caught off guard, their response to the attack a fatal misjudgment, disaster struck at once. No matter how large the courtyard was, nearly a thousand people were crammed inside it; they couldn't be far apart. The assailants surged forward and were upon them in the blink of an eye.

The guards sent by Mu Wuzhen and Mu Wujia were all seasoned fighters of the jianghu, but they had lost the initiative. Some couldn't even draw their weapons in time, let alone dodge. Those on the outer perimeter could do nothing but cry out in panic.

Blades and axes struck home, blood spraying. The wealthy householder retreated step by step until his entire body pressed against the wall, yet he did not lose his composure. His few trusted men were white-faced and trembling, but they still knew to shield him. The other prominent figures of the hamlet, caught in this sudden bloodbath, lost control of their bowels and broke down, weeping and fleeing in panic. But the estate gates were already shut — where could they run in such haste?

Aside from the two hundred-plus "refugees" charging in for the kill, the other refugees were also thrown into terrified confusion, running and wailing in chaos, equally with nowhere to go. Those who lost their heads and ran the wrong way were met with a single downward slash.

Buying time with the slaughter of their outermost comrades, the guards assigned to watch Mu Shulan finally managed to draw their weapons and fight. Men of the jianghu lived by the blade, eating from the bowl of life and death. Facing such a situation, they knew they had to fight for their lives. With roars and bellows, they raised their blades and met the charge.

But the "refugees" attacking them were even stronger. They formed small squads of three to five, and three to five squads coordinated with one another, dividing to advance and combining to strike. The Mu family's guards and fighters were no match at all. The enemy already had overwhelming numbers, and by working together they maximized that advantage — this was not something the guards could withstand. One by one they were cut down. What chilled their hearts even more was that the "refugees" at the front carried waist sabers and short axes, while those behind were actually wielding pole blades. In weapons, in valor, in coordination — they were outclassed in every way. How could they fight?

The ones who truly gave the ambushing refugees trouble were the Child Company. The youths let out no roars or battle cries. One would lunge with a short blade, looking utterly reckless, and be struck directly by the oncoming blade or axe — but the one struck would grab hold of the weapon with the momentum, while several others rushed in close and drove their short blades and iron spikes at the enemy's vital points.

After crushing those Mu family guards, the "refugees" instinctively looked down on the Child Company youths surrounding Mu Shulan — they never imagined the other side would be so ferocious.

No matter how fearless in the face of death, they were still only half-grown youths. After a sudden clash killed a few of the enemy, there were no more easy gains to be had. They couldn't even charge in for a mutual kill; they could only be cut down one by one.

"Miss Mu, we came this time only to take you away. We have no interest in anything else. The situation being what it is, why not have everyone stand down? I'll give them a way out alive." The man who had first stood and given the order spoke up.

Mu Shulan now stood outside her palanquin, a short sword about two chi long in her hand, watching the scene coldly. Li Yuliang had already drawn his goose-quill saber, holding it level before his chest, gritting his teeth and ready to fight.

The battle had not been going on long, but the courtyard was already littered with corpses. A dozen or so of the Mu family guards still lived, all kneeling and begging for mercy. Only ten of the Child Company remained, yet they still clustered together, shielding Mu Shulan, turning their heads again and again to shout at her to flee. The "refugees" who had ambushed them had lost fewer than ten so far and now surrounded them with murderous intent.

Mu Shulan swept her gaze across the scene. After a moment's pause, she reversed her short sword and pressed its tip against her own throat. Raising her voice, she said: "If you don't want me dead, then all of you stop."

At these words, the "refugees" showed no reaction, but the youths of the Child Company stopped at once. The only one who didn't comply was Li Yuliang. Panic-stricken, he turned and shouted: "Sister, you—"

"If they wanted to kill me, why go to the trouble of setting a trap for this moment? They must want me alive!" Mu Shulan's voice was loud — she was speaking not only for Li Yuliang's ears, but for everyone else's as well.

"All of you, stop!" the man ordered. The armed "refugees" obeyed his command just as readily, immediately retreating several steps in unison.

Every order given was followed without exception; their advance and retreat were disciplined and precise. Such troops had never been seen in Dongchang Prefecture. The mere display of that single command was enough to strike awe into anyone who understood such things. Even Li Yuliang let his blade drop helplessly.

The man among the refugees who had spoken and given the orders walked slowly forward. He looked Mu Shulan up and down, nodded, and said: "As expected of Mu Wusheng's daughter — you can figure out a crux like this. Put down the sword and surrender quietly, and I'll spare the rest a way out alive."

Mu Shulan's sword hand did not waver in the slightest. She asked coldly: "Can your word be trusted?"

"Do you have a choice? Still just a child after all!" The speaker laughed in spite of himself.

Mu Shulan's eyes flickered. In the end, she sighed softly, threw her short sword to the ground, and said: "No more fighting. Everyone, drop your weapons."

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