Chapter 143: Astonishment

"Have our movements been exposed? Why are there so many people intercepting us and blocking our path?" Luo Tong quickly realized that the situation was turning sour.

At this rate, it would not be long before they were either killed or exhausted to death.

"Lord, could the affair in Hedong Commandery have leaked?" Lou Yi asked.

"With such a massive commotion on our part, how could it not leak? What astonishes me is how the aristocratic families knew our intended routes and managed to waylay us at every turn."

Luo Tong wore an expression of deep perplexity.

"Indeed!" Lou Yi found it equally bizarre.

Click, click, click...

Another faint sound of footsteps drifted from the distance.

The men peered into the dark.

Under the moonlight, countless shadowy figures flickered past.

Swords flashed, reflecting a chilling, cold light.

"Another hard battle!" Luo Tong drew a deep breath. "Brothers, prepare for combat!"

"Lord... we have been ready for a long time!"

"Draw your blades!"

As the enemy drew closer, Luo Tong gave the order, and the entire Golden Saber Guard drew their curved sabers simultaneously.

Clang, clang...

Without hesitation, they charged forward to meet the men in black head-on.

"Kill!"

Slash, slash, slash...

The Golden Saber Guard launched their attacks with ruthless efficiency.

Their fluid movements seamlessly integrated offense and defense, inflicting heavy casualties upon the enemy.

"These opponents are too tough, fall back!" This group seemed to have no intention of fighting to the death; after exchanging blows for a brief moment, they all retreated.

A dozen corpses were left behind at the scene.

Some were not yet fully dead, groaning in agony.

Blood splattered everywhere, presenting a gruesome and horrific sight.

Out of habit, the Golden Saber Guard administered a finishing blow to those remaining.

"Let's move!"

"Let's find an inn to rest first, conserve our strength and sharpen our edge while waiting for the right opportunity!" Little did Luo Tong know that the ones who had just engaged him were merely a small scouting party.

Although these men harbored murderous intent, they had no intention of throwing away their lives in a desperate struggle.

The moment they hit a snag, they decisively pulled back.

Taiyuan.

Jinyang City.

Luo Tong and his Golden Saber Guard settled down here.

For the sake of safety, they sought out the local magistrate, explained their purpose, and requested official assistance.

Given Luo Tong's status as a young marquess, the local officials did not dare to offend him.

Furthermore, Luo Tong was carrying out an imperial mission, making obedience mandatory for any local official.

"I wonder what the young marquess wishes this subordinate to do?" Inside the prefectural yamen, Li Longjiang, the Prefect of Jinyang, slightly cupped his fists and asked.

"Prefect Li, is your Jinyang prefecture... by any chance colluding with the aristocratic families?" Luo Tong asked, his guard up.

His worry was hardly unjustified.

Along the journey, they had encountered countless ambushes and blockades.

Had it not been for the covert support of certain officials, it was unlikely the pursuers could have operated with such smooth efficiency.

"Young marquess, you must be..." Li Longjiang was startled. "I beg the young marquess to see the truth clearly and not slander this subordinate!"

"I only wish I could slander you!"

Luo Tong gave a bitter smile and waved his hands repeatedly. "Never mind, never mind, just pretend I never said anything!"

This served as a warning to Li Longjiang!

If the man truly had ties to the aristocratic families, he would undoubtedly keep a very low profile during this period. If he did not, he would sever all connections with them altogether.

After all, the imperial court was actively cracking down on the aristocratic clans.

Being associated with them would jeopardize his future official career.

"Prefect Li, I need you to mobilize a batch of soldiers and lie in ambush at... Oh right, are there any particularly famous restaurants in Jinyang City?" Luo Tong asked.

"There are!"

"Where?"

"The Four Seasons Restaurant in the East City! It is owned by the Li aristocratic family and is the finest establishment in the city!"

...

An asset of the aristocratic families?

The corner of Luo Tong's mouth curled into an arc.

"Splendid! I shall stay at the Four Seasons Restaurant tonight! You are to secretly deploy a batch of elite soldiers to lie in ambush outside the restaurant. Once the assassins from the aristocratic families appear, we will capture them in one fell swoop... No, annihilate them entirely!" Luo Tong commanded.

"Ah?"

Li Longjiang furrowed his brow. "How does the young marquess know that the aristocratic families will dispatch assassins?"

"They certainly will! Because for some time now, I have been hunted relentlessly by the aristocratic families all the way to Jinyang City! Now that I am staying at the Four Seasons Restaurant—which you just mentioned is property of the aristocratic families—they will undoubtedly learn of my whereabouts shortly. How could they possibly resist sending assassins?"

"Prefect Li, let me make things clear beforehand. The fact that there are hidden troops at the Four Seasons Restaurant is known only to the two of us. If this leaks and causes the aristocratic families to hold back their assassins, you know the consequences of colluding with the enemy!"

"This subordinate wouldn't dare!" Li Longjiang understood the gravity of the matter.

He immediately pledged that he would thoroughly eliminate or capture all the assassins of the aristocratic families.

Deep into the night.

The Four Seasons Restaurant.

Everything proceeded precisely as Luo Tong had anticipated.

Word of his lodging here reached the ears of the aristocratic families.

In truth, the family assassins had never left Luo Tong's trail. They observed his every move from the shadows, including his visit to the prefectural office and his secret consultation with Li Longjiang.

Naturally, the assassins were entirely unaware of the ambush awaiting them tonight.

Inside the room, Lou Yi finished his reconnaissance and returned to report: "Lord... Li Longjiang has laid an ambush of over three hundred elite soldiers around the restaurant. The moment we blow our whistles, they will immediately emerge!"

"Good!"

With government troops stepping in, Luo Tong felt his anxiety subside.

"Tell the brothers not to act rashly! Wait for my command!"

"Understood, my lord!"

Luo Tong led the Golden Saber Guard to lurk on the top floor of the restaurant, climbing onto the roof and pressing themselves flat.

Catching sight of a flurry of shadowy figures darting past, Luo Tong nearly exposed himself and quickly lowered his head.

He was inwardly shocked! The speed of these shadows was so immense that even he lacked such exceptional lightness skills.

They were unquestionably top-tier martial artists from the pugilistic world!

To prevent any unexpected mishaps, Luo Tong decided to strike first to gain the upper hand. "Lou Yi, go prepare two large nets. Toss them down from the roof later to trap all the enemies, and then we will attack!"

"Yes!"

Lou Yi took two men to make the preparations.

A few minutes later.

The dark figures smoothly infiltrated the Four Seasons Restaurant.

Through the dim lighting, it was evident that the men in black numbered over fifty.

Guided by the restaurant's waiter, they prepared to ascend to the second floor.

Right at that moment, Lou Yi's large nets were ready.

Luo Tong gave a low shout: "Release!"

Swish, swish, swish...

A massive fishing net descended from the sky.

Passing through the open-air courtyard, it dropped directly into the courtyard outside the main hall.

All the men in black were gathered tightly in that courtyard, neatly lined up.

The net fell and enveloped them completely.

"What is this?"

"What is that thing?"

"Not good!"

...

They reacted swiftly, realizing there was a trap inside the restaurant!

"Spread out, scatter quickly!" shouted the leading black-clad assassin.

Everyone drew their swords simultaneously.

With a series of crisp tearing sounds, the fishing net was slashed to pieces.

At that exact instant, Luo Tong and the Golden Saber Guard leaped down into the courtyard. Moving with lightning speed, they launched the first wave of attack: "Swish, swish, swish..."

A volley of hidden darts materialized instantly!

More than a dozen men were slain in a fraction of a second.

Before anyone could recover—or rather, while they were busy hacking at the fishing net—they had no way to fend off the darts and were caught completely off guard.

The original force of fifty was instantly reduced to just over thirty.

"Luo Tong!"

All the assassins in black were consumed with fury!

"Using such despicable tactics, what kind of hero or fine fellow are you? If you have the guts, fight us man-to-man!" roared the leader in black.

He actually knew Luo Tong's identity.

Luo Tong could not help but feel astonished as well.