Chapter 16: Afraid to Open the Door

Seven or eight bandits turned at the sound, gazing at the trembling villagers and letting out scornful laughter. For them, nothing was more enjoyable than seeing the villagers terrified by their arrival—it was like mice spotting a cat, and that sensation was exhilarating.

With their broadswords slung over their shoulders, the bandits sauntered toward Gu Feng's family courtyard, chatting and laughing leisurely as they went.

“Fourth Brother, look at these cowardly villagers. Do you think they’ll hand over the girl to us themselves?” one asked.

“Eighth Brother, you’re absolutely right. I’m sure they will. After all, our Fourth Brother isn’t just powerful, he’s dashing and suave,” another chimed in.

Fourth Brother basked in their flattery, smiling broadly, his head held high and chest puffed out, carrying himself with an air of superiority.

As they approached the Gu family courtyard, guarded by more than ten strong villagers, the bandits grew curious about what might be inside—what could be so special as to warrant such protection?

The villagers who knew the truth watched the bandits approach, fearful that if the bandits discovered their comrades’ corpses, they would lash out in anger. Without hesitation, they turned and fled.

“Hahaha!” The bandits burst out laughing as they watched the villagers, clutching their steel forks, run away.

Following the path, the bandits quickly neared the Gu family courtyard and circled around the wall, peering inside with curiosity.

Their eyes fell upon four blood-soaked corpses. The laughter on their faces vanished instantly, as if struck by lightning; their breath caught, panic flickering in their eyes.

With just one glance, they recognized the owners of the bodies, especially the burly bald man—it struck a nerve.

A warrior—a powerful warrior. Their chief had died a miserable death in the courtyard.

Shocked and unable to believe what they saw, the bandits rubbed their eyes and looked again. It was still the same.

Their bodies trembled. Even Wang Yuanwu, their warrior-level leader, had been slain here. Wasn’t it exceedingly dangerous for them to remain?

Immediately, the bandits began considering retreat. As for vengeance, that was beyond their ability; all they could do was report this incident to their superiors.

Just as they turned to leave the way they came, a crowd of strong villagers, wielding various weapons, approached from afar, clearly nervous but surrounding them nonetheless.

The villagers feared the bandits, too. Since bandits had died here, the Qianfeng Domain would never let the matter rest. All the villagers could do was offer compensation and negotiate.

But the bandits didn’t know that. Seeing the intimidating group of armed villagers, they assumed the villagers had killed Wang Yuanwu and the others, and now intended to slaughter them all.

“What are you planning to do?” Fourth Brother demanded, summoning his courage and shouting fiercely.

He was experienced enough to know that at times like this, one mustn’t lose their composure—otherwise, defeat was certain.

His shout startled the villagers, who looked at him anxiously and felt extremely uneasy.

Village Chief Zhou Yuan, forcing a smile, stepped forward and addressed the bandits, “Brave men, your brothers were slain in Sen Village by two passing heroes, the Black-and-White Duo. It has nothing to do with us villagers.”

Fourth Brother’s eyes darted, suddenly grasping the key point—it wasn’t the villagers who had killed their leader. In that case...

Having figured it out, Fourth Brother turned on the village chief and barked angrily, “Tell me, where are the Black-and-White Duo now? The Qianfeng Domain has already dispatched cultivators to hunt them down.”

Zhou Yuan was taken aback, never expecting Qianfeng Domain to track the Black-and-White Duo so swiftly.

Trembling, he replied, “We don’t know where they’ve gone. However, someone in the village saw them—they were in this courtyard. You may ask them yourself, and if you wish, you can take them away.”

Zhou Yuan had already decided to sacrifice Gu Yan and the others to get rid of these bandit scourges.

The bandits' eyes lit up; they hadn’t expected so many villagers to be subdued by just a few words from Fourth Brother.

Fourth Brother breathed a sigh of relief, ignored the villagers, and strode into the courtyard. His seven subordinates hurried after him.

Inside, all the doors were tightly shut.

Gu Yan, Wang Dalong and his wife, and Widow Li heard everything outside clearly. When they heard the bandits’ footsteps entering the courtyard, panic struck them.

Gu Yan muttered inwardly, “Brother, where are you? It’s already noon—why haven’t you come back?”

Widow Li grabbed Gu Yan, agitated. “Gu Yan, didn’t you say your brother would return? Why isn’t he back yet?”

Wang Dalong and his wife also looked to Gu Yan.

At this moment, they all pinned their hopes on Gu Feng's arrival.

“Eighth Brother, go and push open the door,” Fourth Brother ordered, wary of a trap.

Eighth Brother hunched his neck, not foolish enough to go himself. He turned to the youngest bandit, “Twelfth, you go check.”

Twelfth also shrank back, unwilling to go. His mind whirled as he looked to the villagers outside, pointing at one, “You, come here—go call them out.”

The other bandits glanced at Twelfth, secretly admiring his cleverness.

The chosen villager froze, too terrified to comply and shook his head vigorously.

Seeing his disobedience, Twelfth’s face darkened, and he shouted angrily, “I told you to open the door! Are you deaf?”

The villager, trembling, looked toward the village chief and the clan elders, hoping they’d say a word in his favor.

To open the door, one had to pass by the bandits; if they made a move, it would surely mean death. How could he not be afraid?

Zhou Yuan frowned, “Go on! It’s just opening a door. What are you afraid of?”

At his words, the villager’s heart turned cold, cursing the chief inwardly, “If it’s just opening a door, why don’t you go?”

With no other choice, the villager shakily walked toward the Gu family courtyard.

“Hurry up!” Twelfth barked again.

With no alternative, the villager summoned his courage, shouted “Ah!” and charged ahead.

Such bravado startled the bandits, who all raised their broadswords.

Seeing the bandits lift their swords, the villager was so frightened he wet himself, abandoning all intention of opening the door and fleeing instead.

Everyone—bandits and villagers alike—was stunned.

No one had expected things to play out like this.

The bandits realized the fellow had been frightened off by their own presence.

Twelfth immediately pointed to another villager, “You go open the door—and don’t even think about running, or I’ll kill you.”

The villager, who had planned to feign a retreat, heard Twelfth’s threat and donned a crying face, his mind racing—what to do, what to do?

“Ah! I’ve got it.”

With a shriek, the villager convulsed and fainted, foam frothing from his mouth, so convincingly that no one could tell he was pretending.

The bandits and villagers stared at him, dumbfounded, unable to process what they were seeing.

Twelfth snapped out of it and called to Zhou Yuan, “You go open the door for us.”

Zhou Yuan was startled; it was clear this skinny bandit was angry.

As chief, Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and walked toward the courtyard.