Chapter 25: Surrounded

From the content of the letters, it could be inferred that Prince Ning was far from complacent. He had already gained control over Qingya County’s Magistrate, Lou. The choice of Qingya County was not due to Magistrate Lou’s exceptional abilities but rather because of its valuable mines!

The specific type of mine was not mentioned in the letters. However, it was evident that these ‘mines’ held immense value, prompting Prince Ning to dispatch numerous skilled experts to secure the area. Wei-gonggong, whom Chen Luo had killed earlier, was one of Prince Ning’s personal eunuchs sent specifically for this purpose.

“That dead eunuch even tried impersonating someone from the palace,” Chen Luo muttered under his breath and continued reading.

Apart from Wei-gonggong, Prince Ning had also collaborated with a military general from the southwest. This individual was none other than the brute General Fan, whom Magistrate Lou had referred to as fit only for begging on the streets. The remaining contents mostly consisted of transaction records, such as tribute payments and supplies being transported.

Chen Luo skimmed through them briefly before moving on.

“Just what kind of mines would drive these people so insanely obsessed?”

Even after examining the last letter, Chen Luo found no information he sought.

At that moment, faint sounds could be heard outside, indicating that the late-night meal Magistrate Lou had ordered was likely ready.

“Never mind, I should find He Shimei first.”

Chen Luo blew out the candle on the table and swiftly leaped through the hole he had created earlier.

Shortly thereafter, a scream echoed from Magistrate Lou’s courtyard.

After leaving Magistrate Lou’s residence, Chen Luo changed direction and headed straight for the location of the remaining powerful aura. With no one present at Magistrate Lou’s quarters, this was the only other place left to check. Using his perception as a Third Realm cultivator, the skilled individuals within the prefectural yamen were as conspicuous as fireflies in the night.

Having crossed three courtyard walls, Chen Luo slowed his movements.

This courtyard surpassed even Magistrate Lou’s Warm Autumn Pavilion in luxury. Not only was it more spacious, but the architectural style was significantly more intricate. Torchlight illuminated every corner, casting away any shadows.

Every few meters, armored soldiers stood guard, making this area far more heavily fortified than others.

Chen Luo concealed himself behind the eaves, observing the courtyard from afar.

At the center of the yard, a burly man sat at a stone table, intensely studying a booklet wrapped in yellow cloth. Nearby, He Shimei and several young women were tied up, immobilized like penned pigs.

From their appearance, it seemed they hadn’t suffered any harm, although their situation looked peculiar.

“Why can’t I master this technique? I’ve clearly followed every step.” The burly man was completely engrossed in the booklet, as if grappling with a difficult problem.

No wonder he didn’t notice Magistrate Lou’s earlier commotion; given his absorbed state, he likely wouldn’t have cared unless directly threatened.

This must be that General Fan Chen Luo had heard about.

Instead of acting hastily, Chen Luo took a moment to carefully observe him.

General Fan possessed considerable strength, though not yet reaching the third realm. However, the aura emanating from him far surpassed that of ordinary jianghu warriors. The presence of military fighters differed significantly from those of the jianghu. If Chen Luo were to eliminate such a skilled individual, he would undoubtedly take the brain for analysis.

Curious about the differences between military warriors and jianghu practitioners, Chen Luo continued his observation.

‘Danger, duck down!’

As Chen Luo pondered how to make his move, the thoughts of the imperial strategist suddenly surged within him. A command appeared in his mind, and without hesitation, he instinctively lowered his head, performing a swift roll at an incredible angle.

Bang!

A black sleeve dart whizzed past his cheek, striking the tiled wall behind with immense force. The remaining half of the arrow trembled slightly, emphasizing the narrow escape.

Chen Luo felt a chill run up his spine.

‘Was I discovered?’

‘When did this happen?!’

An unprecedented sense of danger overwhelmed him. Had he been even half a beat slower or hesitated, that sleeve dart would have pierced his forehead, penetrating straight through his skull.

“Eh?”

A sudden voice caught his attention. Looking towards it, he noticed the burly man who had originally been reading in the courtyard had swiftly ascended onto the roof, though Chen Luo hadn’t seen when exactly.

Cold glints emanated from the man’s sleeves, indicating that he was the one who had launched the earlier attack with the sleeve dart.

In the jianghu, aside from swords and spears, hidden weapons and poisons were responsible for the most deaths.

“Not bad reflexes.”

General Fan pressed a mechanism at his sleeve, offering a brief remark as he retracted the concealed weapon.

At that moment, soldiers below had surrounded the rooftop. A large group of archers drew their bows full moon-like, aiming at Chen Luo’s last known position on the roof before unleashing a volley of arrows.

Thud, thud, thud.

Another torrential rain of arrows ensued.

No one wasted words; unlike the verbose villains often seen in movies and dramas, this General Fan did not indulge in unnecessary chatter. Clearly holding the upper hand, he shamelessly called for reinforcements, displaying none of the decorum expected of a skilled martial artist.

“I was too careless.”

Inside the building below, Chen Luo’s expression turned grim.

His earlier roll wasn’t blind evasion but rather an instinctive move, using the nearby window to tumble indoors. For a fleeting instant, he truly felt the specter of death looming over him.

The overconfidence stemming from his recent cultivation breakthrough vanished instantly.

One-on-one, these individuals were no match for him. However, they didn’t engage him directly in martial combat but instead employed a sea of numbers and ranged attacks. With his location exposed, even with all his strength, it was difficult for him to counter effectively.

In the end, it all came down to martial prowess; carelessness could prove fatal.

Regaining his composure, Chen Luo began assessing his current situation.

Outside, at least fifty individuals had surrounded the area, with even more hidden unseen, making their exact numbers uncertain. Additionally, there was General Fan, whose true capabilities remained unknown. Rescuing someone under these circumstances seemed as daunting as ascending to heaven.

First, he needed to escape the encirclement and then circle back for a surprise attack.

Assassination would be the best strategy!

With just a moment’s thought, Chen Luo formulated a plan.

Within him, over a hundred brains sprang into action, enhancing his clarity of mind significantly. He felt no impulse to recklessly engage using his weaknesses against the enemy’s strengths.

Bang!!

Before Chen Luo could move, the door outside burst open.

‘Left side, behind the partitioned corner, safe from arrows.’ A brain adept at evasion swiftly provided guidance, clearly well-versed in survival tactics, faster than even the imperial minds could react.

One of Chen Luo’s survival-oriented brains swiftly provided guidance. Clearly adept at evasion, its quick thinking outpaced even the royal minds.

Without wasting a moment, Chen Luo rolled to the side, grabbing a nearby chair as he moved.

Thud! Thud!

Several arrows pierced through the wooden chair, their gleaming tips visibly protruding from the other side.

Fortunately, Chen Luo managed to take cover behind a wall corner, rendering the hail of arrows ineffective against him.

“Cease fire!” General Fan’s voice echoed once more outside, realizing they couldn’t kill Chen Luo this way.

“You two, go inside and capture him alive!”

Standing firmly at the doorway, General Fan showed no intention of entering himself. Avoiding personal risk while holding a high position is customary for those in authority, and General Fan clearly embodied this trait.

Upon receiving the command, two soldiers immediately drew their swords and cautiously entered, hugging the doorframe.