**Chapter 11**
During this period, displaced people had flooded into dozens of counties around Qingjiang County.
Things like this—chaos—were not uncommon.
But generally, when people fled their homes, they didn't carry much property with them. Since nothing had been stolen and no lives had been lost, the authorities didn't pay much attention.
For several days, Xu Chuan had spotted ghostly figures lurking around his home.
So he set up some traps near the walls—nails, rat traps, and the like.
If someone tried to break in, they would suffer.
He also set up warning bells.
At the same time, the bells would alert the neighborhood.
**Today's hexagram: Lower-mid fortune. Tonight, five men will climb over your wall, intending to kill and steal.**
Xu Chuan smiled coldly to himself.
The Xu family's reputation in Dongxi Village wasn't backed by armed guards like the Xu family's. Being targeted was very normal.
*"I wonder if there are any warriors among these men?"*
*"Even if the odds are low, one or two of them might be protectors."*
Those nails and rat traps were enough for ordinary people, but against a warrior, their effect would be limited.
He made some simple arrow traps and placed them on both sides of the eaves after nightfall.
The trigger mechanisms would unleash a volley of arrows, followed by the warning bells.
When he went out today, Xu Chuan made a simple survey of the area.
His mind was entirely on tonight.
"Shitou, there may be thieves coming to rob us tonight. In a moment, you'll hold a bow on the roof and shoot when you see an opportunity. Can you do it?"
His face was heavy as he spoke.
"Dad, is that true?"
"Trust your father. Do as I say—for the safety of our whole family."
Xu Mingwei didn't ask further. "I understand, Dad. I'll listen to you."
Though he didn't yet have the strength of a third-rate warrior, his inborn divine strength, coupled with his sharp eagle eyes and long-range bow and arrow, would make a sudden night attack a great threat even to a second-rate warrior.
"Dad, should I poison the arrowheads?"
"Does it trouble your conscience?" Xu Chuan looked at Xu Mingwei somewhat unexpectedly.
He could see that Xu Mingwei's eyes had grown sharp—like a blade—as if killing intent was condensing within them.
"Those who dare to threaten our family should suffer forever."
"Yes." Xu Chuan nodded. "Do as you see fit."
---
**The night.**
The moon hid behind dark clouds. The stars were dim and uncertain.
**In bed.**
Xu Chuan lay quietly, his blood and energy surging.
"Husband, your wife could help you vent some of that fire."
Xu Chuan was uncharacteristic tonight. He smiled. "This fire has another purpose. Better to keep it."
Bai Jing was a bit confused.
*What purpose?*
*Does he want to use it on someone else?*
In her imagination, "someone else" naturally meant another woman.
"Well, rest early tonight. We need to get up early tomorrow."
Bai Jing felt that Xu Chuan wasn't the type of man to stray. So she lay down at ease and soon drifted into sleep.
**In another room.**
A candle burned. Xu Mingwei wiped his bow and arrows, applying poison to the arrowheads.
The room was filled with the atmosphere of soldiers on the eve of battle.
Tense.
Suppressed.
---
**Around the hour of the Rat (11 p.m. – 1 a.m.).**
Xu Mingwei, following Xu Chuan's orders, carried a quiver of arrows and a bow. He leaped onto the roof in three quick bounds.
Xu Chuan walked outside and glanced up at the roof.
The moon was dark. Xu Mingwei had almost merged with the night.
Xu Chuan picked up a wooden knife and stood in the darkness beneath the eaves.
Like an assassin, waiting for the moment to strike.
---
**A quarter of an hour later.**
"Brother, this is the place."
"This man named Xu—he's gotten rich fast. In just a few years, he's become one of the wealthiest households in Dongxi Village."
"I heard the master of this house is good at farming. By luck, he managed to grow Green Jade Pears—an extraordinary product. Just that alone should bring in thousands a year."
"The family has five people—besides the husband and wife, there are three sons. The eldest is only nine years old."
A burly middle-aged man in gray cloth looked at the younger man beside him and said calmly, "Fifth Brother, this is a good target."
"Brothers, finish the job cleanly. Leave no one alive in the house. After we find the valuables, we leave Qingjiang County tonight."
"With all the displaced people crossing the border, a few missing people won't be noticed."
"Yes, Bear Boss."
Several men began climbing over the wall at the same time. Their movements showed they were old hands at this.
But they probably weren't advanced warriors.
Otherwise, even a third-rate warrior could have cleared the nearly four-meter-high wall in two or three moves.
**The moment they landed—**
*Ssss~*
Three of them sucked in cold breaths of air and couldn't help but yelp.
And that was them gritting their teeth.
"What's wrong with you three? Trying to get us killed?" Bear Boss was very displeased, a low warning rumbling in his throat.
"No, Bear Boss—we stepped on nails."
"Be careful. Whoever makes another sound, don't blame me for being rude."
They carefully took a few steps.
Suddenly, a taller man felt something brush against his wrist.
The next moment—
*Twang!*
Eight, nine, ten arrows shot out in a volley from beneath the eaves.
Two men were struck in the head and heart—dead instantly. The other three suffered varying degrees of injury.
One man took an arrow in the abdomen and another in the leg. He collapsed to the ground.
Another had his arm grazed.
"Damn it!"
Bear Boss shouted and hurriedly said, "It's an ambush! Retreat!"
The words had barely left his mouth when—
The figure who had been waiting on the roof for a long time had already drawn his bowstring into a full moon. His sharp eagle eyes were fixed on the man with arrows in his abdomen.
*Swoosh.*
The sound of the arrow cutting through the air rang out.
The black arrow pierced the night sky and instantly shot through the man's throat—exiting the back of his neck and nailing into the wall behind him.
"The second one."
Bear Boss looked up at the roof.
The moon emerged from behind the clouds.
The cold moonlight shone down, draping silver gauze over Xu Mingwei.
It was the face of a youth—cold as ice.
His eyes were like arrows.
*Just a teenager!*
Bear Boss was both furious and shocked.
Xu Mingwei drew his bow again, which drew Bear Boss's attention.
At that moment, Xu Chuan seized the opportunity. He suddenly exploded with force, leaping nearly to the height of the man's head.
The sharpened wooden knife, carrying the force of his descent, sliced directly toward Bear Boss's skull.
Decisive.
Ruthless.
Bear Boss barely managed to raise his hand and lift his axe to block—but under the tremendous force, the web of his hand split open. The axe in his hand clattered to the ground.
His whole body collapsed to the ground.
In the chaos, Xu Chuan spun and swung. The blade of the knife drew a sharp arc across Bear Boss's throat.
A spray of hot liquid.
Xu Chuan's body and face were dotted with blood.
Then came another *swoosh*.
The man who had injured his leg and fallen to the ground was pinned down by an arrow.
Seeing all the thieves dead, the tight knot in Xu Mingwei's heart finally loosened. He sat down heavily on the roof.
He looked at his hands. They were trembling uncontrollably.
He could barely feel the bow in his grip anymore.
His head buzzed incessantly, making him feel dizzy and disoriented.
As for Xu Chuan, he had already begun searching the bodies.
On Bear Boss, he found some silver, a book titled *Bear-Taming Fist*, and six porcelain bottles.
The rest of the men had nothing.
"It seems they've robbed quite a few wealthy people before."
Xu Chuan began cleaning up the scene. Xu Mingwei came back to his senses and hurried down from the roof to help.
"Let's take them to the mountain forest and bury them."
"Clean the arrows—we can use them again. Remember to wipe off the poison first."
"Yes, Father."
---