Chapter 198: Surrounded
Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
The two each thought that they had seen through the other's schemes. All this time, they believed that they were several steps ahead of the other, while also assuming that their own plans hadn't been seen through.
As Shangguan Ru had returned to the Kun Society, Gu Shenwei was still in deep thought while going over the whole plan to check for any flaws. Maid Lotus had been standing there the entire time, quietly spectating. She then felt that it was necessary for her to remind Slave Huan about some of the most fundamental problems.
"I can't figure out what the Ninth Young Master is thinking; I don't understand. He clearly knows that you didn't set any traps, why does he want you to entertain him? Why must he come to South City? He has always been very cautious."
Gu Shenwei shook his head. Many things that appeared normal to him were things that other people aren't able to even comprehend. He pondered for a while before answering Maid Lotus' query, "Although the Ninth Young Master is very sinister and cunning, he's a very cowardly person. He says he's not scared of his mother or his sister, but he's probably scared to death. He wouldn't dare take the initiative to strike the Tenth Young Master either and has most likely been waiting for an opportunity. Likely waiting for the Tenth Young Master to make the first move so that his counter-attack would seem to be perfectly logical and reasonable. He is definitely trying to be the victim here. Hmm, he's probably already thought of an excuse to explain his sister's death to his mother. Something like, "it was dear sister who is trying to kill me. I had no choice but to defend myself."
Gu Shenwei's imitation of the Ninth Young Master's voice was indistinguishable from the original. Acting shamelessly while in a dignified manner at the same time, he seemed like a completely different person. Maid Lotus could not help but giggle, but Chu Nanping looked utterly puzzled as he reached for the handle of his sword.
"The Ninth Young Master has always felt that he was a victim and that his sister betrayed him." Gu Shenwei continued so that he could straighten out his ideas, "Just like the way Master Yu died, he likes solutions that no one would expect. Through this game, he's hoping that the Tenth Young Master, Tuo Nengya, and I, all killed. So... "
As Gu Shenwei continued to speak, he felt that the more he did, the more he saw through Shangguan Fei's intentions.
During the following day, Horned Dragon Society continued to recruit more machetemen. Gold coins eventually reveal its lasting and enormous power, even sounds of troublemakers were getting weaker and weaker. Wildhorse's efforts to prevent the Horned Dragon Society's growing influence seemed to have failed.
Gu Shenwei had been sitting in the tavern for a while since early morning, before heading to the Kun Society under Shangguan Ru's orders.
The Kun Society consisted of seven killers, 50 machetemen, and about two dozen servants. Their forces were pitifully weaker compared to the Horned Dragon Society. Four of the killers, including Wildhorse, did not show up, leaving only Slave Huan, Maid Lotus, Liuhua, and the machetemen, who were mostly old and weak. They were confused because they heard about the rumors of an impending war between the two sides.
The whole plan was this: the meeting outside the peach forest was a "trap" set by the Kun Society. The trap would probably be three servants wearing cloaks and pretending to be the Tenth Young Master, killer Yang Huan, and Maid Lotus, another three machetemen disguising as Tuo Nengya and his servants. Inside the peach forest was an ambush set up by the Ninth Young Master, which will have ten machetemen leading ten servants to "fall into the trap." There was no real danger at the two sites; it was all purely acting.
The real "trap" and the checkpoint was located at the courtyard that was recently purchased by the Horned Dragon Society. There, the Tenth Young Master would personally lead her team to challenge her brother.
Machetemen only accepts missions and never asked about the details, but they all understood that a decisive battle was about to begin.
That afternoon, Wildhorse, who hadn't been seen for a long time, came back and with him was one hundred strong and powerful machetemen. This lifted the spirits of the members of the Kun Society, and confidence returned to those who were terrified and changed their minds about running away.
Every person was dressed like a killer, black masked with a red band tied to their heads.
At midnight, the Kun Society's members set out one-by-one to their designated positions to be on standby.
Dusk was the quietest and most desolate time in South City. The night was thick, noisy guests were now exhausted and casually looking for a place to sleep. Groups of black masks hid behind many dark street corners, as if they were one with the night, while quietly waiting for the signal.
There were no night watchmen in South City, but that night was not like any other night because there was a sound of banging gongs.
Near the checkpoint, there was a secluded residence surrounded by rundown brothels and small casinos near the riverbank.
From the sounds of gongs, many shadows appeared on the rooftops of the brothels and casinos. There were roughly 50 people, each holding sabers, traveling with soft footsteps that made little to no sounds. Those asleep would assume any noise were mice running around.
Groups of ten machetemen jumped into the residence and left some people outside to keep watch.
Slight noises were coming from the courtyard as if someone was cutting fabric with a pair of scissors.
Soon, the machetemen jumped out from the yard; many were holding human heads in their hands.
"Nothing."
"Nothing."
...
This word came from every member. The men in black inquired each other and seemed to be at a loss. As they were preparing to leave, they found that the roads had been blocked. A large number of ambushers were on the streets and rooftops; they were dressed the same as the other men in black except the red belts weren't tied to their heads, but tied to their arms.
The ambushers had been hiding inside the brothels and casinos, waiting for the enemies to fall into their trap. They were higher in number, over 200, four times that of their opponents.
All of the ambushers held their bows, and with a single order, the fifty machetemen in black were dead or wounded. Those who survived would not escape the second round of arrows.
"Wait, wait." A machetemen in black in the middle of the ambushed group spoke as he removed his mask. Some recognized this to be Kun Society's killer Yang Huan. "Golden Roc Fort's Tenth Young Master is here. Don't be rash."
A tall figure appeared on the rooftop said in a condescending and low voice, "Put down your sabers and surrender. If even one person has a saber in their hands, we'll immediately release the arrows."
"You really are a liar."
"Hey hey, same as you. If you believed me earlier, you would've been at the peach forest. Why come here?" Guan Houlin was delighted and did not forget this was to the credit of his master. "Ninth Young Master's foresight is beyond anyone else's. Slave Huan, you're no match for him. Lay down your weapons!"
There was nothing on the streets that could block the rain of arrows; surrendering was the only option. Without waiting for Gu Shenwei's orders, the machetemen had laid down their weapons. The machetemen that were holding heads in their hands were especially nervous as they placed the heads down and kicked them far away.
"Where's Boss Tuo, and the Tenth Young Master? Come out and meet me."
"Mind your words. You don't have the rights to speak to the Tenth Young Master."
In the silent night, miserable screams came one after another; it was clear and distant, but quickly subsided. Guan Houlin laughed and did not give his orders for his men to put down their bows and arrows.
"Hey, you knew that the Ninth Young Master might not be hiding here, so you must've launched attacks at several other locations. It's a pity, the places you predicted are all wrong. The Ninth Young Master is hiding somewhere you would never think of. Admit defeat, and prepare--"
Guan Houlin's words were long-winded. The machetemen below him became flustered.
"You dare to touch the Tenth Young Master?"
"Who doesn't dare? The Tenth Young Master wants to kill my Ninth Young Master, and we would naturally fight back."
"I advise you to wait a little while."
Guan Houlin was taken aback; killer Yang Huan was not expressing the fear that he led on. Moreover, he still has not seen the Tenth Young Master. "Bring the Tenth Young Master out here!"
From within the group of machetemen, one person walked out. Her body was slender, and she took off her mask, it was a middle-aged machetewoman.
"It's not her." Guan Houlin became furious. He was in control of this whole ordeal, and yet Yang Huan dared to play tricks in front of him.
The machetewoman turned and pulled someone else from their ranks; a shorter person, and took off their mask. It was still not Shangguan Ru, but a maid scared out of her wits.
Guan Houlin commanded his men to monitor this group of ambushers. He definitely saw at least two women among them, surely one of them must be the Tenth Young Master. He did not expect to be deceived and were furious. "Sly kid, without the Tenth Young Master, you'll die faster. Release the--"
Before the word "arrows" came out of his mouth, suddenly a sharp whistle came from the distance. The sound pierced through the sky, and could be heard throughout South City.
The whistle seemed to be coming from Hope Alley. Guan Houlin's face paled because this was not the signal he was waiting for.
"I did advise you to wait for a while."
"You, you... "
"I know where the Ninth Young Master is, he's in the hands of the Tenth Young Master. So, you'd better not release those arrows. If we die, the Tenth Young Master will surely avenge us."
Guan Houlin's body trembled. "You don't know. You're lying to me."
"Ninth Young Master was hiding inside the peach forest, am I right?"
As soon as the whistle was heard, Gu Shenwei knew that he did not guess wrong.
Shangguan Fei wanted to take everyone by surprise. He speculated that both sides would believe that the peach forest was an insignificant stage. Swallowing his usual cowardly demeanor, he led a few men to hide within the peach forest. After this ordeal, he could proudly promote his new found bravery.
Shangguan Ru assigned the mission to Kun Society, deliberately concealing it, letting any spies believe that the Tenth Young Master had been fooled and was preparing to leave with the main forces to the checkpoint to attack the Ninth Young Master. In actuality, the real Shangguan Ru and Maid Lotus had secretly swapped out of the team and headed toward the peach forest.
Guan Houlin did not stand firm. His foot slipped and he almost fell. A tile fell to the floor, making a clear shattering sound.
"Put down the bows and arrows." Gu Shenwei slowed his speech. Although the Ninth Young Master should have already fallen into their trap, he and dozens of machetemen were still in the middle of danger. "You should think about the future."
The archers were confused by the exchange of words between the two. They stared at the military counselor, awaiting his orders.
Guan Houlin was not good at dealing with these complex and unexpected situations. He needed the Ninth Young Master's instructions. However, the Ninth Young Master had fallen into their trap, and his life was now in someone else's hands.
"I, I don't want to die."
The words spoken by the military counselor made the archers feel deeply ashamed. They did not wait for his orders and lowered their bows. Some with foreboding feelings about the situation had secretly slipped away.
Gu Shenwei slowing bent down and picked up his saber, the other machetemen followed suit and also rearmed themselves.
"Why don't you come with me to see the Ninth Young Master?"
"You're just going to kill me."
"No, the Tenth Young Master has promised that she wouldn't kill you, because you're still of use to her."
"I'm still of use to her?"
"En, you can prove that the Ninth Young Master's death wasn't unjustified."
Guan Houlin only understood these words. He looked around, the archers began to retreat under his gaze. Those under their employers never had deep loyalties, the general trend was that no one was willing to die in vain.
"I'll go with you, but I don't want to see the Ninth Young Master."
His last remaining self-esteem had made him unwilling to face his old master.
Gu Shenwei nodded and waited for Guan Houlin to jump dow to lead the machetemen to return to Gui Garden's peach forest.
At this moment, at the edge of the peach forest, a group of people stood indistinctly in a circle. In the middle, a saber was placed on the neck of the Ninth Young Master and a coffin was placed beside him.
"Apologize to Master Yu," the person holding the saber ordered.