PCA Chapter 164

Only when the high walls and spacious courtyards were hidden behind layers of houses, and the red-lacquered door was no longer visible, did Su Cen finally manage to relax a bit. He said quietly, “You’re really reckless.”

 

Though his voice was low, it entered Li Shi’s ears without reservation, nearly making him laugh in exasperation, “Who exactly is being reckless?”

 

Su Cen didn’t dare to talk back openly, so he could only mutter: “I was young and ignorant. How old are you now, still competing with me?”

 

“We older folks just like to hold grudges,” Li Shi narrowed his eyes slightly. “Am I deaf, or did I miss something? What was the meaning of those rhythmic ‘Li Shi is a bastard’ statements?”

 

Su Cen: “…” How did this person still remember that?

 

Knowing this topic couldn’t continue, Su Cen quickly changed the subject, “How did you know I was here?” He then looked toward Qi Lin, “What about Ling’er? Have you met him?”

 

Qi Lin nodded, “We encountered an ambush in Yingchuan, but fortunately, we were prepared. Later, we followed the trail here and happened to meet Ling’er on his way to Xuzhou to seek reinforcements.”

 

Su Cen smiled lightly, “At least he’s clever.”

 

Lu Family Village was under Chuanling County in Xuzhou’s jurisdiction. Though he couldn’t be certain if the County Magistrate was one of Lu Xun’s people, he couldn’t rule out the possibility either. After all, for a village to remain so isolated from the world, external barriers alone weren’t enough. Even if the County Magistrate was unaware, a county’s military forces were limited and far from sufficient to confront the entire Secret Door.

 

Xuzhou had recently experienced flooding, and the imperial troops borrowed from the court hadn’t yet been returned. The Governor, Liang Fang, was an old acquaintance who had shared hardships with them—someone they knew well—making him indeed the best choice.

 

Ling’er might seem carefree usually, but he was reliable when it mattered.

 

Thinking about this, Su Cen frowned again, “If Ling’er went for reinforcements, why are there still so few of you?”

 

Li Shi replied: “The imperial guards need time to get here.”

 

Su Cen was startled, but as understanding dawned, a warmth spread through his heart. This meant that upon hearing he might be in danger, Li Shi couldn’t even wait half a day and had unhesitatingly come with just these few men.

 

The tension that had been strung tight within him for days suddenly loosened, like being gently placed in warm water. Looking back, those life-threatening, terrifying moments now seemed distant, thin as smoke that would dissipate with a single breath.

 

“What about these villagers?” Su Cen looked back at the villagers following them. “When there was such a commotion at Lu Xiaojiu’s house, they didn’t dare come out to look. How are they willing to help us now?”

 

Li Shi simply shook his head, “It wasn’t me.”

 

As they were speaking, Qi Lin suddenly became alert, raising his hand slightly. The entire group immediately halted. Qi Lin stepped forward, sword in his left hand, sheltering Li Shi and Su Cen behind him.

 

Su Cen instantly became vigilant, “What’s wrong?”

 

“There’s movement.” Qi Lin made a slight gesture, and silence immediately fell over the group. With furrowed brows, Qi Lin scanned the surroundings. The entire village was eerily quiet, amplifying the faint rustling sounds a thousandfold.

 

It was like some crawling creature approaching along the ground, opening its bloody maw, ready to pounce on its prey’s throat.

 

“Underground!” Suddenly, Qi Lin drew his sword, rushing toward a coffin in front of a house. Almost simultaneously, the peeling red-lacquered coffin lid flipped up and flew straight toward the crowd!

 

Qi Lin’s sword cleaved the coffin lid in two, exposing three hidden people who quickly formed a formation and engaged him in combat.

 

At the same time, several nearby coffins were also upturned, with waves of black-clothed figures surging out from the underground passages.

 

Su Cen was immediately alarmed: “Did Lu Xun go back on his word?”

 

Li Shi surveyed the situation: “He must have discovered our ruse.”

 

Qi Lin didn’t linger in battle. With the help of the Tuduo Three Guards, he quickly disengaged and immediately arranged a defense: “Helan Zhe, take two men to hold them off. The rest of you, escort the Prince away.”

 

The Tuduo Three Guards swiftly changed formation, protecting Li Shi and the villagers in the inner circle, advancing toward a side path under Qi Lin’s leadership.

 

The maze-like village twisted and turned. Those once-silent empty coffins suddenly became uncannily strange, with people unexpectedly jumping out from them. Although the Tuduo Three Guards were valiant, they couldn’t withstand being separated one by one. In the end, only a dozen or so remained, having to protect both Li Shi and Su Cen as well as the villagers, stretching their capabilities thin.

 

“We can’t keep splitting up. He wants us to disperse and then defeat us one by one,” Li Shi instructed, “Contract the formation, we’ll break out together.”

 

Qi Lin: “Yes.”

 

The troops immediately contracted, following the order as if they had rehearsed it hundreds of times, with both sides coordinating perfectly, seamlessly.

 

Su Cen was being protected behind Li Shi, who held his hand. He stared in awe at the imposing figure before him. He was used to seeing this man navigate the complexities of court politics, but had never seen him on the battlefield. Glimpsing just this iceberg tip, he finally understood where that composed demeanor that looked down upon all things came from.

 

The group was caught in an alley, with the Tuduo Three Guards drenched in blood, eyes wide with a bloodthirsty light. At Qi Lin’s command, they raised a battle cry that seemed to reach the heavens as they all charged forward!

 

The men of the Tuduo Three Guards were all battle-hardened warriors; any one of them could easily take on ten opponents. Their curved blades swept through the air, each stroke leaving a trail of blood. The black-clothed men retreated repeatedly in the alley, and a bloody opening was forcibly torn through the surrounding encirclement!

 

“Hurry!” Qi Lin protected the villagers at the rear, looking back and holding his sword horizontally, frightening the black-clothed men so they didn’t dare advance.

 

Having finally gained a moment to catch their breath, Su Cen surveyed their surroundings and frowned, “This can’t continue. Every doorway here has a coffin connected to a secret passage. Underground is a sprawling liubo chess board with passages in all directions. Lu Xun has a gambling nature—in his eyes, we’re just pieces on his chess board. He uses these passages to launch surprise attacks. We have no chance of winning against him on his own turf.”

 

“Liubo chess?” Li Shi frowned slightly.

 

“Liubo is an ancient board game that’s now lost,” Su Cen explained. “Lu Xun is a master strategist whose chess skills are extraordinary. His favorite tactic is to lure enemies deep into his territory before surrounding and annihilating them.”

 

Su Cen carefully estimated their current position. In their haste to escape, they had unwittingly strayed from the path out of the village. If they continued on this course, they might fall into a trap set by the enemy.

 

Qi Lin casually lifted a piece of cloth to wipe the thick blood from his sword blade and asked, “What do we do now?”

 

Su Cen and Li Shi exchanged a glance, and only after seeing Li Shi nod slightly did Su Cen say: “Defend.”

 

Li Shi’s group selected a house as their stronghold. The men of the Tuduo Three Guards divided themselves to guard the courtyard gate and various walls. This defensive line, built of flesh and blood, left the Secret Door people at a loss, unable to advance even an inch.

 

The attacks continued from noon until dusk, when they finally began to weaken. Just as they were catching their breath, the house door was suddenly knocked upon.

 

The accompanying villagers were startled, trembling and huddling together in fear that people from outside might break in.

 

But the knocking was measured—two knocks followed by two more. During this standoff, Su Cen said: “Open the door.”

 

Qi Lin looked back, and seeing Li Shi’s tacit approval, stepped forward to unlock the door that had been protected at the cost of everyone’s lives.

 

Outside stood an old man with graying hair, slightly hunched, holding a pipe, silently accepting everyone’s scrutiny.

 

“Senior,” Su Cen was immediately delighted.

 

The old man entered, quietly surveying everyone before walking directly to Li Shi, kneeling and bowing: “Your old minister, former Minister of the Dali Temple, Chen Guanglu, greets the Prince.”

 

 

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