Chapter 8

Wang Xian'er was fast asleep.

Her tent was not small, divided into an inner and outer space. The inner room was her bedroom, and the outer room was where the maidservants, ready to serve her at any moment, slept.

Her long eyelashes trembled, and her hands were tightly clenched...

The bandits were madly shouting at her, some brandishing sabers, others drawing their bows and arrows.

Second Uncle was anxiously moving closer to her, but then he vanished without a trace.

"Save me!"

Wang Xian'er shouted in her dream.

The guards were almost all gone, and the bandits were grinning as they closed in.

Wang Xian'er looked around in despair.

Then her body rose into the air, and those small eyes appeared before her again.

"Wild boy!"

Wang Xian'er was overjoyed.

"Enemy attack!"

Wang Xian'er, startled awake, opened her eyes and asked, "Who?"

A disheveled maidservant rushed in, "Young lady, there are bandits."

Outside, the sound of dense footsteps could be heard, and someone shouted, "Young lady, come out quickly."

Wang Xian'er quickly put on her outer robe and was escorted out. She looked up and saw Wang Douxiang and his advisor standing together, their faces calm.

The wind blew, and Wang Xian'er, who had just emerged from her warm bed, shivered and saw Yang Xuan.

Yang Xuan stood at the front of the camp, and in front of him were the guards in formation.

He carefully observed, "More than two hundred, with bows and arrows."

As he spoke, he subtly took a few steps back, just out of the range of the arrows.

"Xian'er!"

Yang Xuan turned at the sound of his name and saw Wang Xian'er lifting her skirt, rushing to Wang Douxiang's side.

The girl's eyes were like those of a frightened deer, but when she saw Yang Xuan's attention, they instantly turned proud.

Wang Douxiang also noticed Yang Xuan's gaze, frowned slightly, and said, "Daytime assassination, nighttime raid. It's clear they want to kill me. Interesting, who discovered the bandits? Reward them heavily!"

Huang Laoer bowed, "It was Yang Xuan."

Wang Douxiang lightly exclaimed and glanced at Yang Xuan. Wang Xian'er was somewhat surprised, "Doesn't he sleep?"

Huang Laoer felt even more ashamed, thinking that he and the guards were all good-for-nothings, "He was startled awake."

Wang Xian'er asked instinctively, "What about you?"

Huang Laoer's head was almost touching his chest, feeling even more ashamed.

He said urgently, "Second Master, quickly take the young lady and leave this place."

Wang Douxiang said calmly, "Tea!"

"Yes."

Someone brought a low table and a mat, and the maidservant set up a small stove to boil water.

Wang Douxiang sat down, and Wang Xian'er sat beside him, just in time to see the bandits approaching the camp.

"Fire!"

Jin Qiyi's voice was particularly loud at this moment.

Arrows flew out of the camp, and over ten bandits outside fell. Wang Xian'er clapped, "Good!"

The advisor smiled gently, "Young lady, your insight is remarkable."

Suddenly, the sound of dense bowstrings could be heard from outside.

"Shields!" Jin Qiyi roared, but he didn't use one, just swung his saber to cut down over ten arrows.

The guards raised their shields.

Even though he was out of the range of the arrows, Yang Xuan still held a shield cautiously. He saw some bandits taking advantage of the guards seeking shelter to rush forward. These bandits were slightly bent, reminding Yang Xuan of the guards' steps when they charged into the dense forest yesterday.

The bandits rushed into the gap.

"Kill!"

Jin Qiyi stood there, watching his guards charge forward.

The two sides engaged in a fierce battle, and it was clear that the guards were more skilled. However, the bandits were more numerous.

Yang Xuan didn't move, and neither did Jin Qiyi.

Yang Xuan felt a bit intimidated by the scene. He thought he had a chance to survive if he charged into the crowd, but the risk of being killed was also significant. The key was that he still felt the presence of that gaping maw in the darkness.

A wave of arrows rained down, hitting both sides, and five guards fell.

Jin Qiyi's face turned cold, "Beasts!"

Behind him, the advisor, who was waiting for his tea, rubbed his hands, "Those who can so disregard the casualties of their subordinates are either generals or merchants. Generals are iron-blooded, merchants are cold-blooded."

Wang Douxiang, watching the boiling water, said calmly, "Often, what you see is not the truth."

The water boiled, and the maidservant skillfully began to brew the tea.

Whoosh!

A sharp whistling sound came, and a guard shouted, "Second Master, be careful!"

A huge arrow pierced the night sky, aiming directly at Wang Douxiang.

Wang Douxiang said gently, "Brewing tea requires focus. If you are distracted, the tea will taste different."

The maidservant, who had looked up at the arrow, bowed her head, "Yes."

The tea leaves were thrown into the pot, and the arrow arrived simultaneously.

Yang Xuan saw the advisor casually pick up a piece of wood, smiling as he deflected the arrow, as if swatting away a fly.

Bang!

The huge arrow shot into the sky, disappearing into the darkness.

This is a master!

Yang Xuan was dazzled, thinking that Yang Lue's skills compared to this advisor... He felt that Yang Lue should be more skilled. He had previously compared Yang Lue's skills to those of the local ruffians, which seemed unfair. The ruffians were definitely not as powerful as Yang Lue.

In front, the guards spread out, forming groups of two or three, and charged out.

The two sides engaged in a fierce battle.

"Yang Xuan didn't move!" Wang Xian'er was disappointed, thinking the wild boy was too cowardly.

Yang Xuan couldn't move. He saw that the guards' seemingly chaotic formation actually had a pattern, and the groups of two or three worked together more effectively. This reminded him of the "chemical reaction" described in the scroll. If he joined in, he would disrupt their coordination.

He was observing, and a maidservant ran past him, thinking it was shameful that he wasn't fighting. She angrily said, "Still watching!"

I'm not watching you!

Yang Xuan rolled his eyes innocently, and then a chill ran down his spine.

A guard suddenly flew through the air, spewing blood. A bandit followed, passing by him in mid-air and flying towards Wang Douxiang like a large bird.

Wang Douxiang raised his teacup, took a sip, and nodded, "Not bad."

Before he finished speaking, the advisor leaped into the air, a long saber appearing in his hand.

The sound of weapons clashing echoed through the air, followed by an explosion.

Damn, how can weapons in their hands become like straw? Yang Xuan ducked, avoiding a piece of debris.

The bandit's punch was so fast that Yang Xuan couldn't even see it.

The advisor blocked with his right hand, and then he was thrown back. The bandit maintained his punching stance, and the advisor maintained his blocking stance, both flying past each other quickly.

As they passed over Wang Douxiang, the bandit suddenly plummeted like a large stone, aiming a kick at Wang Douxiang. Wang Douxiang glanced at Wang Xian'er and said gently, "Close your eyes!"

"No!" Wang Xian'er stubbornly kept her eyes open.

Wang Douxiang smiled and casually slapped his hand upwards, meeting the bandit's foot perfectly, neither too early nor too late, neither too high nor too low...

Bang!

The surrounding people's hair and clothes were whipped by the wind, and debris rolled on the ground. Everyone shielded their faces, but Wang Xian'er, standing next to Wang Douxiang, was unaffected, opening her eyes curiously.

The bandit, who had fallen, suddenly flew up, laughing, "The second master of the Wang family is a hidden expert. I have learned, let's retreat!"

The bandits, who were charging, retreated like a tide.

"Do not pursue the fleeing enemy!"

Jin Qiyi, though he wanted to annihilate the bandits, knew his primary duty was to protect Wang Douxiang and Wang Xian'er. He swung his saber, and two bandits fell with cries. Then he struck a palm, and the bandit in front of him flew away... No one could withstand even one of his attacks.

The bandits fled, and Wang Douxiang took a sip of tea, "It would have been nice to stay for a cup of tea!"

As he spoke, he lifted the heavy table.

The table whistled through the air, catching up with the bandit.

The bandit struck the table, and it shattered, but his body was jolted, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, falling to the ground.

Yang Xuan had been watching him closely and quietly followed. Seeing the bandit land, he pounced, using his hands to slide along the ground.

Jin Qiyi led two guards to pursue, and the bandit, upon landing, laughed, then coughed a few times, spitting out blood, and bowed, "Second master, your skills are impressive, but no one can stop me. We will meet again in Chang'an!"

Jin Qiyi couldn't catch up, and Wang Douxiang raised his teacup, a cold look on his face. Wang Xian'er said angrily, "How dare he be so arrogant, it's infuriating!"

The advisor stomped his foot, "What a bandit!"

Everyone saw the bandit turn and laugh.

A black shadow suddenly appeared behind him, saying, "You talk too much!"

Pfft!

A short knife stabbed into the bandit's abdomen, stirring it a few times, and Yang Xuan quickly retreated.

The bandit, perhaps not expecting to be ambushed, was stunned for a moment, then struck a palm. Yang Xuan quickly retreated, using his shield to protect himself, crouching behind it.

Bang!

The shield shattered, and Yang Xuan, without hesitation, lay flat on the ground.

Between losing face and losing his life, he chose to lose face without hesitation.

The wind swept over his body, and the bandit pulled out the short knife, raised it, and then let out a long cry, collapsing to the ground.

Jin Qiyi rushed over, cautious, and stabbed the bandit to ensure he was nearly dead, then looked at the wound with great relief. The bandit had intended to escape, but when Yang Xuan stabbed him, he had risked stirring the knife, and when the bandit pulled it out, his intestines were severed.

Yang Xuan slowly stood up, patting his sore and numb hands, still feeling the aftereffects.

Surprise was a rare emotion for Wang Douxiang, but at that moment, he turned and looked at Yang Xuan in surprise.

The advisor was also surprised.

Jin Qiyi looked up at Yang Xuan, regretting his previous foolishness. Such a quick-witted young man, if he refused the Wang family once, couldn't he be invited again?

Wang Xian'er was stunned for a moment, thinking that the wild boy was so skilled, but he had been afraid of death and lay on the ground. But she quickly forgave him, as neither Second Uncle nor the advisor could stop the bandit, but the wild boy had killed him on the spot. Though he was a bit cowardly, his skills were impressive!

This was the first time she looked at Yang Xuan with respect.

...

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