Chapter Thirty-Nine: Cao You's Surprise Attack

Amid the rustling sounds, a group of stern-faced men clad in black, each holding a short crossbow, began to enter the forest. Just as the man who had spoken earlier instructed, this group of thirty was divided into two ranks, spaced two or three steps apart laterally and interlaced six or seven steps apart front to back, ensuring that in the event of any attack, they could cover their nearby companions.

They pushed forward into the depths of the woods for twenty paces, until even the tall leader at the rear grew impatient. They had clearly seen their quarry enter this patch of forest, yet despite the search area being wide enough, apart from the traces left at the outermost edge, there was no sign that anyone had ever passed through.

"Something's wrong!" Suddenly, the tall man seemed to realize something. With a cry, he abruptly raised his gaze skyward, his shout startling those ahead who had been continuing their methodical search.

As all eyes followed his, everyone understood. The targets they had fired upon earlier were nothing but two short crossbows, tampered with and rigged with mechanisms. Now, after enduring the barrage of dozens of bolts, they lay quietly on the ground, as if nothing concerned them at all.

A piercing whistling split the silence just as the tall man looked up. In the next instant, two black-clad men, confusion written in their eyes, toppled backward. One's hand still gripped his crossbow, which crashed down hard upon his own face. Neither uttered a sound; at such close range, the bolts' lethality was overwhelming, cutting off even the chance to scream.

"There!" In a flash, the tall man aimed his crossbow toward the direction from which the bolts had come, while the others reacted just as swiftly, spinning around, raising their arms, and firing.

A volley of cold bolts flew toward a single direction, but the tall man again cried out, "Damn! We've been tricked!"

The others could not fathom why their leader had shouted so. As puzzled glances turned his way, the man at the very front suddenly heard a sound at his ear. Instinctively turning to investigate, he was met with the glint of a chilling Tang sword, its cold edge slicing through the air.

A spray of vivid blood arced forth. With lightning speed, Ding Li's Tang sword struck again at another black-clad man three paces away, using the first as a springboard for his leap.

"Ah!" The sudden peril sent the man into a panic. He tried to parry, but his weapon—a short crossbow—was far too small to shield him against the long, keen blade.

Another strike, another life claimed. Ding Li showed no intent to retreat; instead, he kicked up a fallen crossbow as he advanced. One of the black-clad men, just recovering his senses, was about to discard his crossbow and draw his saber, but was forced to dodge the thrown "hidden weapon" instead.

With a single sidestep—no longer than the blink of an eye—he turned back, only to see a field awash in crimson. Pain flooded his senses; he tried to cry out, but blood was pouring from his throat, while air rushed in from outside, making any sound impossible—only a low, muffled whimper escaped.

In the blink of an eye, three had fallen. The prowess Ding Li displayed stunned everyone, including the tall leader. But this was only the beginning.

After slicing a half-inch-deep gash in his third victim's throat, Ding Li paid no mind to the soon-to-be drooping head. Twisting his foot, he dashed straight toward the tall man's position.

"Stop him!" The tall man's voice was low and commanding, but he showed no fear, slowly drawing his saber as his gaze searched the trees behind Ding Li—for he had seen two figures enter the woods earlier.

Facing three black-clad men blocking his way, Ding Li's eyes remained calm. Even as all three attacked at once, he retreated a step and lifted his Tang sword in a reverse grip, easily parrying their blows with steel-like strength.

No one noticed when Ding Li produced a dagger, or perhaps its blade was simply too well concealed. Only when he suddenly lunged forward, his left hand flashing, did the others realize, as sprays of blood seemed to hang in midair, that a dagger had appeared in his grasp, its edge sharp and deadly.

Left hand held a short dagger; right hand, a Tang sword. Surrounded by more than a dozen foes, Ding Li moved like an eel at the edge of sword and blade, untouched by any attack. Whenever he countered, another enemy would fall.

"Cao You! So it was you!" Suddenly, the woods behind the group stirred, and Zhang Wu appeared like a wraith, his eyes blazing at the distant tall man. Without pausing his stride, he swung his Tang sword with lightning speed at an enemy whose back was turned.

"Zhang Wu! I didn't expect you to bring a helper!" Cao You fixated on Zhang Wu the moment he appeared, his tone icy, yet unable to conceal his shock at Ding Li's performance. Still, his face betrayed no other emotion; he cast a contemptuous glance at Ding Li, who was already slaughtering his way through the ranks. Even as his men fell in droves, he showed not a trace of concern, as if their lives meant nothing to him.

"Cao You! You have some nerve, attacking our Second Master in Fuxu Town!" Zhang Wu's arrival drew the remaining black-clad men's attacks, but now outnumbered, they could not spare enough men to fight Zhang Wu effectively. Three or five attacked, but Zhang Wu easily fended them off, his voice cold as he questioned Cao You, who still stood motionless: "Cao You, aren't you afraid that Old Master Zhang will personally destroy you when he hears of this?"

"Hahaha! Zhang Wu, you are laughable! Even if I did nothing, do you think that old man from the Zhang family would let me go?" Watching another three of his men fall, Cao You could restrain himself no longer. Indeed, it seemed he had been waiting all along to fight Zhang Wu. Yet after only a few steps toward him, something even more startling happened.

Ding Li, surrounded, had broken through the encirclement—and, to Cao You's surprise, the rate at which his men fell only increased as their numbers dwindled. Only six or seven frightened men remained near Ding Li, and none dared block his way.

"You are..." Cao You halted unconsciously, staring at the unfamiliar Ding Li. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind, and he exclaimed in shock, "You are Ding Li? The one who single-handedly stormed Master Liu's manor?"

"That's right! But you realize it too late!" With nothing in his way, Ding Li's speed surged. Blood still streamed down his cheek, his entire body spattered with gore, and as he sprinted, droplets flew from his Tang sword. When only a few steps remained between them, he leapt into the air, his blade drawing a dazzling arc as he sneered, "Cao You, is it? Remember, Cao Yin died by my hand last night!"

"What?!" Cao You, who had already raised his saber before his chest, shuddered visibly. He guessed at once that this might be a ruse, but Ding Li's attack was already upon him.

A blinding shower of sparks exploded as Ding Li's blade crashed against Cao You's, the latter caught off guard and forced back by the ferocity of the blow, his steps faltering.

"Just like Cao Yin—a worthless fool!" Ding Li landed without pause, instantly pressing forward. His Tang sword rained blow after blow onto Cao You's saber, sparks flying with each clash.

"Brother Li! Leave that one for me!" Zhang Wu, fearing Ding Li would finish off Cao You, called out even as he tangled with the remaining three black-clad men.

"His last breath—I'll leave for you!" Ding Li's eyes never left Cao You, their gaze cold and pitiless. He seemed to pity the man, as if Cao You were already dead.

Ding Li's words enraged Cao You, who could not recall the last time he suffered such humiliation. Seizing a chance to duck behind a tree, he gasped for breath, rolled sideways, then sprang to his feet. Glaring at Ding Li from a few meters away, he spat, "Ding Li, you're far too arrogant! You're nothing but a dog to the Zhang Commercial Guild—why work so hard for them?"

"You owe a debt to anyone who saves your life," Ding Li replied coolly, not the least bit angered. If anything, his demeanor grew calmer, his tone flat. "Cao You, who is the real dog here? I've never met Second Master Zhang, yet he saved my life without hesitation. But you, Cao You—what do you get, besides risking your life for the Cao Guild? If you fall here today, do you think your own master would give his life to save you?"

"Hmph! You talk a good game!" It was clear Cao You could not refute a word of Ding Li's accusation. Though he refused to admit it, he knew it was true. Even if he died before his master's eyes, his master would not risk his own life for him.

Most telling of all, everyone in Guangzhou Prefecture knew that among the city's young heroes, there were two paragons: Yang Hongwen and Yang Jingyi, Zhang Mingzhi and Zhang Shouyi. Zhang Mingzhi had famously stormed Liu's manor alone to rescue Ding Li—a story already known throughout the city. Cao You could not dispute a single word Ding Li had said.

Heeding Zhang Wu's earlier reminder, Ding Li did not press his attack. Instead, he cast a sidelong glance around, noting Zhang Wu's fight was nearly over. With a calm look at Cao You, he sighed, "Cao You, I'm afraid you won't be leaving here alive today..."