Chapter 146: The Ji Brothers

The midday sun was always so dazzling. Even though there had been heavy fog over the South Sea early that morning, it quickly dissipated under the brilliant sunlight. Normally, such clear weather would lift anyone’s spirits, yet for certain individuals within the caravan traveling the official road from Fuxu Town to Guangzhou Prefecture, the day was far from pleasant.

The caravan stretched for over a hundred paces, tightly guarded at both ends and along the sides. Each laden cart bore a flag on one side, proudly marking the caravan as belonging to the Cao Merchants’ Guild. At the front and rear of the caravan, banners of the renowned Yangwei Escort Agency of Fuxu Town fluttered prominently.

Among these was an especially ostentatious gilded banner, its character “Ji” also gilded. Though a simple character, under the fierce sunlight, the mouth radical seemed to take on a terrifying illusion, as if it were the gaping maw of a ferocious beast.

“Big brother! I told you I shouldn’t have come today, yet you dragged me along!” On horseback, Ji Zhan, having stripped off his upper garments, puffed out his huge belly. From a distance, one might mistake him for a man cradling a fat child. Sweat glistened all over his body like oil as he glanced back, then spurred his horse closer to his elder brother Ji Chuan, lowering his voice to continue his complaint, “This batch of goods is only a bit more valuable than before—do we really need both of us to escort it? Look at me! Look at this stinking sweat all over me!”

Ji Chuan glanced at his younger brother and shook his head helplessly. Since founding their escort agency, their lives had gradually improved day by day. Ji Zhan’s weight had even doubled, his entire frame growing broader front to back and side to side. But Ji Chuan said little. They had lived hard lives growing up, and as for Ji Zhan’s reluctance to escort, after a moment’s hesitation, Ji Chuan quietly admonished him, “This is the Cao Merchants’ Guild’s cargo. The young master of the Cao family personally requested that both of us escort it. Are you saying you don’t want to do business with the Cao Guild anymore?”

“No, no, that’s not it…” Ji Zhan didn’t argue. He shifted his massive body, causing his horse to stumble slightly. He dared not provoke their elder brother into offending the Cao Merchants’ Guild. Although the Cao Guild’s influence in Fuxu Town had recently been repeatedly suppressed, Ji Zhan understood the old saying: a starving camel is still bigger than a horse. Besides, their Ji brothers owed their rise to the support of the Cao Merchants.

“Didn’t you hear? A few days ago, a shipment from the Zhang Merchants’ Guild was almost ambushed by bandits while traveling from Guangzhou Prefecture to Fuxu Town! Luckily, our town’s garrison happened to be nearby and saved it! Even the escort agency from the Miao family lost many brothers!” Ji Chuan softened as he saw his brother’s dejected expression. “Think about it—what relationship does the Zhang Guild have with our town’s garrison? The Miao Escort Agency is already connected to the bandit suppression forces! But what about us? If we run into hundreds of bandits, even if the garrison is lucky enough to come by, will they help us? Without the two of us, do you think our men can handle it?”

Ji Zhan nodded in agreement. Although their escorts were reckless and brave, skilled in fighting and cunning, if they faced hundreds of organized bandits, even doubling their numbers wouldn’t prevent total annihilation—none among them had the command to hold the line.

Suddenly, a horse whinnied sharply nearby. Ji Chuan instinctively tightened the reins. Those around him startled and turned their gaze toward the source of the noise ahead.

A lone rider appeared, his black veil concealing his face. As Ji Zhan and Ji Chuan looked on, the rider loosened the reins and drew an arrow from the quiver by his saddle. With a swift motion, he nocked the arrow and drew the bow to full draw in an instant.

“Bang!”

The arrow gleamed coldly under the scorching sun. Before the Ji brothers could react, the rider’s fingers released, and a sharp whistle pierced the air.

“Whoosh…”

Just as the rider reached for another arrow, he abruptly reined in his horse, turning sharply. From the slope below, he spotted a familiar figure—Cao Chen, with whom he had clashed not long ago in a Guangzhou music shop. The rider hesitated, fearing recognition despite the distance and veil. He trusted Cao Chen’s keen gaze too well to be careless.

“Watch out! There’s an ambush on the slope!” Ji Chuan shouted, drawing a ringed saber as he scanned the surroundings warily. Ji Zhan, though slower due to his bulk, calmly drew a nine-section whip, panting as he struggled against his encumbering flesh.

“Big brother, watch out for the sneak attack!” Ji Zhan straightened after drawing his weapon, eyes wide as he shouted, “Brothers, beware—ambush!”

As the rider withdrew his horse down the slope, the arrow he’d fired landed among the caravan. The gilded banner of the Yangwei Escort Agency snapped loudly as its pole cracked, the once-proud flag drifting downward.

Yet the most shocking sight was not that. At the arrow’s launch point, a sudden silver light flashed brilliantly, dazzling all who looked. The unexpected gleam sent a chill rising from the ground, piercing through the horses’ hooves to the very hearts of the men.

“Dodge! Arrows!” Ji Chuan yelled instinctively. The silver light suddenly expanded into a shimmering, icy screen. Ji Chuan vaulted from his saddle, pulling the reins hard to place his horse between himself and the deadly barrage. He crouched low, eyes tightly shut, unwilling to peek or assess the chaos around him.

The air filled with frantic shouting and panic. Ji Chuan could only guess how many of his brothers survived the deadly hail above. Just from that glance, he estimated at least forty or fifty arrows had been fired. Even he trembled before this sudden, formidable enemy.

As the arrows streaked downward like shooting stars, screams of pain pierced the air. The sickening sound of arrows piercing flesh was unmistakable. Though the torment lasted but moments, to Ji Chuan it seemed both an instant and an eternity.

When the cries finally ceased, Ji Chuan slowly opened his eyes. His body shuddered violently, turning sharply to see Ji Zhan lying less than five paces away. Half of Ji Zhan’s face was stained with fresh blood pouring from his mouth. His vacant eyes held only a flicker of fading light. His lips quivered as he tried to speak, but his body convulsed, expelling more blood.

Ji Chuan sat stunned, unable to move, as if trapped in a nightmare shattered by sudden lightning.

“Big, big brother... avenge...” Ji Zhan’s voice was faint and broken, blood choking his words, yet the meaning etched itself deeply into Ji Chuan’s heart. Ji Zhan’s outstretched hand suddenly went limp, dropping a jade Buddha in his palm.

Ji Chuan wore a matching jade Buddha beneath his shirt—tokens from their early days after founding their escort agency, obtained from the South Sea temple. Ji Zhan had always claimed his sweat and size would soil the sacred charm, so unlike Ji Chuan, he never wore it openly.

“Av—avenge!” Ji Chuan, as if dazed, collapsed onto the ground, pounding his head frantically against the earth above Ji Zhan’s lifeless form, repeating, “Avenge! Avenge!”

The arrow ambush was but a single wave. Cao Chen had already led armed men from the Cao Guild to the caravan’s front. Dozens held up wooden shields reinforced with cowhide and iron shields, forming a defensive line. Cao Chen approached cautiously under the protection of his trusted men. He glanced at Ji Zhan, pierced by four arrows and drenched in blood, and furrowed his brows deeply. A flash of pity flickered in his eyes, swiftly replaced by burning hatred.

“Go check on them! Be careful!” Cao Chen commanded coldly, gripping his unsheathed Tang sword. He took a deep breath, bending to lift the weeping Ji Chuan gently. “Ji Chuan, my condolences. Now is not the time for sorrow. We must avenge Brother Ji Zhan.”

“Avenge...” Ji Chuan repeated dazedly as he was helped up. Suddenly, he shook off Cao Chen’s arm with a fierce roar and charged toward a horse unmarked by arrows, shouting in rage, “Brothers! Avenge! Avenge!”