novelAbuy Chapter 67 The Revenge for Killing His Father
Chapter 67 The Revenge for Killing His Father
"Is your village usually this lively at this time of year?"
Li Chong looked at Zhong Mei and the others.
Several people shook their heads.
Zhongmei said, "If it weren't for holidays like New Year's, everyone would go home after dark. Even if there were any exciting events, they would all be held indoors, unlike now, where everyone is making such a racket outside."
Seeing that Jia Zhuo and the others also agreed with Zhong Mei's statement, Li Chong couldn't help but frown.
Looking up at the village, flames were shooting into the sky all around, and a huge bonfire was burning in the middle of the village. In the distance, there were many figures, indicating that quite a few people were outdoors.
Their sudden appearance at this moment is tantamount to running head-on into the bandits. Although it may serve as a surprise attack, the firelight everywhere will also reveal their numbers.
If the enemy calms down and clearly sees who is attacking, they may regain their morale, and then it will be difficult to fight them.
But just waiting like this isn't a good idea either.
Putting aside the potential for low morale with so many people waiting, this place isn't exactly safe either.
Although we haven't officially entered the village yet, we're not far from those people. If someone wanders around and happens to spot them, it's better to just launch an attack.
Now, neither advancing nor staying is an option, and Li Chong clenched his fists in frustration.
"When two armies meet on a narrow path, the brave will prevail. Now that things have come to this, we have no choice but to fight with all our might."
Having made up his mind, Li Chong quietly raised his hand, his mouth slightly open, ready to order the entire army to attack.
At this moment, Hu Changyong's disdainful voice came: "So afraid of this and that. If you want to know what's going on down there, just send someone to ask!"
Everyone looked at him.
Li Chong withdrew his hand: "What do you mean?"
After so many days, Hu Changyong finally found an opportunity to retaliate, and grinned with a hint of smugness.
"You little brat, you've probably forgotten whose territory this was originally. Don't be fooled by the fact that we were chased down the mountain by those two scoundrels; if I wanted to, it wouldn't be difficult for me to go back to the village and question someone."
Li Chong looked at Zhong Mei, his eyes filled with a questioning look.
After a moment's thought, Zhongmei nodded solemnly: "I think it's a good idea. Let's find someone to ask about the situation first, and then make a decision."
"Then who should go?" Li Chong looked at Hu Changyong. "You're too conspicuous; it's best if you don't go yourself."
Hu Changyong waved his hand: "Tianfu, go down and find someone, bring Sun Er to me. That kid is too timid to make a sound."
Zhang Tianfu stood up and gave Li Chong a defiant look: "Alright, I'll be right back!"
"Wait." Jia Zhuo called out to him, grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground and wiped it on Zhang Tianfu's face a few times. "Go inside and keep your head down. Don't talk to anyone. Once you find someone, bring them out."
Zhang Tianfu then became more cautious and crept into the village with his body half-bent over.
Watching Zhang Tianfu leave, Li Chong said in a deep voice to everyone, "Get your knives ready. If anything unexpected happens later, just charge in."
Hu Changyong had confidence in Zhang Tianfu, but Li Chong still needed to make some extra preparations.
"There's no way anything could go wrong!" Hu Changyong said, somewhat displeased.
Li Chong looked over expressionlessly. He stared back for a moment, but couldn't help turning his head away.
Jia Zhuo stepped in again to smooth things over: "The county magistrate is just being prepared. Everyone should just follow orders."
As the message was relayed to others by those around them, Li Chong and his hundred or so men drew their weapons, ready to attack.
A group of people lay on the hillside, quietly watching the commotion below.
About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a dark shadow slowly approached them.
"They're here!"
Everyone was energized.
The group looked down, waiting for Zhang Tianfu to bring the person over.
Before they could even see who it was, a trembling voice reached their ears.
"Tianfu, your father and I have a long-standing relationship. I truly knew nothing about what happened to the old master. If you want revenge, go find someone else. We have no past grudges or recent conflicts, why would you..."
Before he could finish speaking, a petite figure darted out from beside Li Chong.
Zhong Mei's voice, laced with suppressed anger, rang out: "You, surnamed Sun, what did you say? How exactly did my father die?"
At this moment, Zhang Tianfu, holding the man hostage, had already arrived in front of everyone. By the faint moonlight in the sky, Sun Er could clearly see the faces of the people in front of him.
"The strategist? The third leader? And... Little Mei'er." Sun Er's tone was tinged with fear. "You're not dead?"
"Whoosh!"
A flash of cold light appeared as Zhong Mei pulled his small dagger from his boot and pointed it at Sun Er's heart.
"I'm asking you, did my father die of illness?"
Feeling the chill in his chest, Sun Er quickly shrank back, only to bump into Zhang Tianfu's chest and find himself nowhere to retreat: "I'll talk, I'll talk! The old master didn't die of illness, he was poisoned by someone!"
"What did you say?" Zhong's eyes widened in fury.
Sun Er hurriedly said, "It wasn't me who caused this. I only found out later. And..."
As if he had found a lifeline, he looked at Jia Zhuo and Hu Changyong: "The strategist and the third leader also know about this, otherwise the first leader... no, that guy surnamed Deng wouldn't have been so ruthless in trying to kill you all."
Zhong Mei turned around in disbelief: "Second Uncle, Third Uncle?"
"Sigh." Jia Zhuo sighed, "He's right, my brother didn't die of illness. Those two scoundrels took advantage of my brother's illness to suddenly turn against us. By the time we realized something was wrong, they had already struck first and attacked us. We had no choice but to take you with us and escape down the mountain."
"I didn't tell you before because I was afraid you would be blinded by hatred and secretly run back to seek revenge behind our backs. That's why I told you that my brother died of illness."
Zhong Mei bit her lip, listened to all this, and turned away without saying a word: "Those two scoundrels, I'll kill them!"
At this moment, Li Chong arrived beside her and stopped her, saying, "Revenge is definitely necessary. Find out what happened, and we'll go with you! You can't act alone!"
After struggling for a few moments, Zhongmei seemed to have lost all her strength and collapsed helplessly.
Li Chong quickly bent down to support her, and Zhong Mei collapsed into his arms, followed by sobbing.
Zhong Mei hated Du Heng and Deng Meng before because these two had stolen her father's business and wanted to marry her, in order to find the treasures left by her father.
Afterwards, he killed many of the brothers who were protecting her as she escaped.
This hatred drove Zhong Mei to take those revengeful actions.
But today, upon suddenly learning the true cause of her father's death, the guilt and anger instantly overwhelmed all her previous emotions.
The hatred for the murderer of one's father is irreconcilable.
Li Chong shook his head with pity, feeling sorry for Zhong Mei, and patted her back.
Looking up at Jia Zhuo and the others, Li Chong finally understood why so many people were willing to protect Zhong Mei and help her escape down the mountain.
Perhaps it was because they were grateful to Zhong Tieshan, but more likely it was because the mountain couldn't accommodate them.
As members of Zhong Tieshan's faction, after killing their leader, Du Heng and Deng Meng would naturally purge his men, forcing them to flee.