Chapter Forty-One: Bloody Battle at the Guanyin Hall (Third Update)

The Two-Headed Snake felt as though he had been played. He felt utterly and viciously humiliated!

He grabbed the outer layer of his clothing and gave it a violent yank. With a sharp rip, the cyan outer robe tore into two halves, revealing a white inner garment beneath.

On the chest of that white robe was embroidered a blood-red lotus platform.

The Two-Headed Snake's face twisted in a ferocious sneer as he shouted harshly, "Maitreya protects me, slaughter them!"

"Maitreya protects me, grain grows from the earth, fine wine springs from the branches, bless all our living beings, shield us thoroughly... Maitreya protects us, Maitreya protects us!"

The bandits frantically stripped off their black outer robes, revealing white garments underneath one after another.

Zheng Yanqing nearly choked, coughing repeatedly. "Damn it all, these bastards are all heretical rebels! Everyone, be on your guard."

Good heavens, they were actually a pack of rebels...

Zheng Yanqing leaped onto the carriage with a single bound, his arrows flying in a continuous, uninterrupted stream as he targeted solely the bandits wielding hunting bows. On the other side, Xie Hong and Xie Ke, uncle and nephew, wore solemn expressions as they continuously nocked arrows and drew their bows. *Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh*, arrows pierced through the air.

"Fall back into the main hall! Bring the arrows, retreat into the main hall, everyone!"

Zheng Yanqing shouted at the top of his lungs while continuously shooting down the bandits.

In the blink of an eye, six or seven bandits had already died beneath his arrows, while many more were wounded and left writhing on the ground. His quiver was rapidly emptying. Xie Hong's uncle-nephew duo and the three Dang brothers also began retreating into the Guanyin Main Hall. Over a dozen bandits had already rushed to the foot of the mountain wall, brandishing their sabers and charging straight at Zheng Yanqing.

Zheng Yanqing exerted force through his legs, suddenly stepping back and flipping backward. Mid-air, he smoothly drew an arrow, and the instant his feet touched the ground, he let fly. The arrow struck the face of a bandit who had lunged onto the carriage directly. Two bandits seized the opening to rush into the ancient temple, brandishing their sabers as they lunged forward. Yanqing ducked hastily, swept his foot out to kick one bandit squarely in the groin, and then collapsed backward. Hitting the floor, he executed a lazy donkey roll to evade the second bandit's strike, rose to his knees, and thrust his hand up to loose an arrow.

"Yanqing, fall back immediately!"

Xie Hong and his nephew stood on the steps outside the Guanyin Main Hall, firing a rapid succession of arrows that flipped two bandits lunging at Zheng Yanqing onto the ground. Yanqing could no longer care about his posture; he tossed his emptied quiver onto the floor and bounded up the steps.

He reached out, snatching up a large broadsword leaning against a corridor pillar with a metallic clanging sound, and forcefully hurled his rigid bow forward with his other hand.

"Dang Shijie, shoot! Stop them!"

Dang Shijie and the other warriors who had already retreated into the Guanyin Main Hall immediately unleashed a rain of arrows. Over a dozen heavy bows forcefully suppressed the mountain bandits' advance. Zheng Yanqing slashed down a charging mountain bandit with his large broadsword and retreated into the main hall alongside the Xie family uncle and nephew.

"Give me a bow and arrows!"

A household guard immediately handed over a bow and arrows, and without a second word, Yanqing let loose a rapid volley of arrows.

*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...* One piercing, shrill whistle after another echoed as sharp arrows flew through the air. The courtyard of this ancient temple was not large; Zheng Yanqing no longer bothered to observe the bandits' movements, relying entirely on instinct. With every arrow shot, a bandit fell, and his arrows never missed their mark.

The battle lasted for a brief moment before the bandits, unable to withstand the heavy bows and powerful crossbows firing from within the main hall, retreated out of the ancient temple one after another.

Zheng Yanqing panted heavily, slumping down directly into a puddle of accumulated water on the ground, seemingly unaware of it.

That was entirely too close! If the bandits had persisted for just a moment longer, his side probably would not have been able to hold out...

Yet now, although the bandits had retreated from the courtyard of the ancient temple, they were not far from the main hall. Relying on the mountain wall for cover, their next attack would surely be supported by hunting bowmen, and their assault would be even more ferocious. He wondered if they could hold out until reinforcements arrived.

Had he known earlier that the opposing force was not a rabble of untrained scum, but rather heretical cultists, Zheng Yanqing certainly would not have stayed here to fight them to the death.

His arms ached terribly from continuously drawing the bow.

He looked at the people inside the hall. "What are our casualties?"

"Five dead!" Xie Hong said softly. "And two heavily wounded; I reckon they can no longer fight."

"Xiaonian!"

"Young Master, I'm here."

Mao Xiaonian ran over from the crowd, her small face as pale as paper, devoid of a shred of color.

For the young girl, she had probably never witnessed such a terrifying scene in all her life.

Zheng Yanqing pulled her into his embrace. "Xiaonian, listen to me. Later on, if things look dire, you and Brother Shen must take Jixiayao and Siyan to hide in the dry well in the back hall... Don't rush to refuse; you still have to help me exact revenge.

Remember, it was the Zhujing Hall and the Seventh Household joining forces, colluding with the White-robed Maitreya and the heretical rebels to waylay and assassinate me.

You must remember this. If you manage to survive, you must convey these exact words to my grandfather and my teacher."

Mao Xiaonian widened her eyes in terror, staring fixedly at Yanqing as one of her small hands gripped tightly onto his clothing.

"Did you remember it?!"

"...Xiaonian has remembered it!"

Zheng Yanqing thought to himself: *Damned Zheng Shanyuan, you bastard wanted my life; even if I die, I won't let you rest easy.*

"Everyone, check around yourselves for any handy weapons. If the main hall is breached, we will have no choice but to fight to the bitter end.

Xiaonian, Brother Shen, the two of you come with me."

Without looking back, Zheng Yanqing strode with large steps toward the back hall.

The two small Mastiffs followed closely behind, while Shen Guang and Mao Xiaonian also trailed Zheng Yanqing toward the back hall.

Everyone else began making preparations.

Arriving at the back hall, Yanqing motioned for Shen Guang to come closer, feigning the posture of whispering confidential instructions. "Brother Shen, come here. I have something to tell you... Xiaonian, watch out!"

Zheng Yanqing suddenly flashed a look of sheer terror. Shen Guang was startled and hastily turned around to look behind him.

***

Yet he saw Mao Xiaonian standing there perfectly safe and sound. He was startled for a moment before instantly reacting, silently shouting that it was bad. But before he could take any action, Zheng Yanqing brought his palm down hard against the back of his neck from behind. With a dull thud, Shen Guang collapsed onto the ground.

Yanqing found a length of rope, tied up Shen Guang with one end, and then turned his head to bark, "Xiaonian, come over and help."

Not daring to resist, Mao Xiaonian hurried over and, together with Zheng Yanqing, lowered Shen Guang down into the dry well.

"You go down too!"

"Young Master..."

"Did you hear me? Go down."

Tears welling in her eyes, Mao Xiaonian gritted her teeth, nodded gently, and descended into the dry well via the rope. Afterward, Yanqing lowered the two small Mastiffs down as well. Once everything was properly arranged, he climbed back out of the dry well along the rope.

"Xiaonian, if an accident truly befalls me, tell Brother Shen not to let my enemies go unpunished."

Mao Xiaonian replied in a trembling voice, "Young Master, Xiaonian has remembered..."

"Do not make a sound. Stay alive and avenge me!"

As Zheng Yanqing spoke, a brilliant smile bloomed across his face. He severed the rope, turned on his heel, and strode out of the back hall.

Xiaonian's weeping still echoed faintly in his ears.

Yet at this moment, Zheng Yanqing felt not a shred of fear.

*I've already died once. Having lived for a decade, I've already come out ahead... It's just a pity that, up until now, I still don't know who my real father is.*

He returned to the Guanyin Main Hall and exchanged a gentle nod with Xie Hong and the others.

"How is the situation outside?"

"Those fellows seem to be praying to Maitreya for protection... Worthy Nephew, have all arrangements been made?"

Zheng Yanqing knew that his recent actions could not possibly have escaped Xie Hong's notice. Hearing the question, he smiled and nodded.

"Mr. Xie, I am truly sorry for dragging the two of you into this mess."

"Haha, what is this to speak of? If you, the esteemed Banyuan Jun, are not afraid, what fear could the likes of us have?"

"If you aren't afraid, I certainly won't be either."

When Xie Ke finished speaking, he added with undeniable regret, "It's just a pity that I will no longer have the chance to finish listening to your *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*."

"You want to hear the *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*?"

"Heh, it's not just him who likes it; I am immensely fond of it as well."

Hearing this, Zheng Yanqing burst into hearty laughter. "Since everyone loves hearing it, I shall tell a segment today: The Fire at Red Cliffs."

His gaze swept toward the back hall. Xie Hong nodded slightly to signal his understanding.

"As the story goes, Cao Cao had unified the north..."

Zheng Yanqing attempted to use his youthful voice to dispel the tension gripping everyone inside the hall. The story was captivating, but barely had he begun when a *whoosh* sounded. A short arrow pierced through the window, striking a household servant squarely in the chest.

"Yanqing, the bandits are beginning their assault!"

Zheng Yanqing stood up without interrupting his speech. Modulating his tone between rising and falling cadences as he continued the tale, he looked outward.

Relying on the mountain wall for cover and utilizing hunting bows and short arrows, the mountain bandits launched their offensive against the Guanyin Main Hall.

Presumably, the Two-Headed Snake also knew his time was limited. If Pei Zichong broke through the encirclement and everything went smoothly, imperial government troops would arrive to rescue them in two hours. Having already lost scores of men, he could not afford to lose another ten thousand strings of cash. Therefore, after taking the time to rest and reorganize for the duration of an incense stick burning, the Two-Headed Snake decisively launched an attack on the Guanyin Main Hall.

He was determined to resolve the battle within an hour and then swiftly withdraw, slipping away into Mount Shouyang before the government troops could mobilize.

A pack of mountain bandits high on spiritual opium let out shrill, ear-piercing howls.

Zheng Yanqing snatched up a rigid bow, nocked an arrow, and let fly with a wave of his hand. Yet he did not stop telling his story, continuing to chatter incessantly about the Fire at Red Cliffs. Was it his attitude that put the people in the hall at ease, or did this method of his share some wondrously similar effect with the slogans of the Maitreya Cult?

In any case, the people gradually forgot their fear.

The three Dang brothers led the household servants in tightly guarding the main entrance of the hall.

Meanwhile, Zheng Yanqing and the others used bows and arrows to retaliate, shooting down approaching mountain bandits while simultaneously hunting down the archers stationed behind the mountain wall.

This required a remarkably calm state of mind—a mentality bordering on glacial frost.

Zheng Yanqing himself did not know why, but as he recounted the tale of the Fire at Red Cliffs, his mind became utterly serene and empty. With arrows flying rapidly from his hands, he always managed to spot the vulnerabilities of the archers hiding behind the mountain wall. One miserable scream after another echoed across the ancient temple. Outside the doors of the main hall, countless mountain bandits had gathered, locked in a desperate life-and-death struggle with the three Dang brothers.

It was hard to describe precisely what kind of emotional state this was.

In any case, Yanqing felt that those screams had no impact on him whatsoever; instead, he grew increasingly composed.

With another arrow, he shot down yet another bandit. Zheng Yanqing took a step back and shouted sternly, "Arrows!"

A servant driving the carts rushed forward, handing over a quiver of arrows into Zheng Yanqing's hands. Yanqing pivoted in a spin, smoothly buckling the quiver around his waist, and raised his hand to loose an arrow, dropping a bandit who had scaled the doors and windows straight to the ground. The bandit hit the floor without dying instantly. Several household servants rushed forward brandishing sharp blades, hacking and slashing wildly until they instantly chopped the bandit into minced meat.

As for Yanqing, he continued narrating his *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*.

He had no idea how many people in the hall were actually listening to his story. Even Yanqing himself could no longer keep track of what he was saying. In short, his speaking tempo grew faster and faster, and in tandem with his speech rate, his archery speed accelerated as well.

A quiver full of sharp arrows was rapidly depleted.

Yanqing hurled the empty quiver viciously at a mountain bandit and roared, "Arrows, bring arrows!"

"Young Master, this is the last quiver..."

A household servant handed the arrows over to Zheng Yanqing and reported loudly. But before he could finish, his throat was pierced by a short arrow.

With eyes wide and rigid, he collapsed straight back into a pool of blood.

Zheng Yanqing acted as though he hadn't seen it at all. At this very moment, his vision was dyed entirely in crimson. The arrows in his hands fired with blinding speed, and his speaking pace showed no signs of slowing down. Xie Ke, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with him, was almost driven to a daze watching him...

Yanqing's shooting speed was simply too fast—so fast that it left him dizzy and struggling to keep track.

In the blink of an eye, three sharp arrows would launch, eliminating a mountain bandit each time. A single quiver held roughly fifty goose-feather-fletched arrows, and one could say Zheng Yanqing's current state achieved the absolute essence of accuracy, speed, and ruthlessness—hitting every single mark without fail.

Though Xie Ke was sitting so close to Zheng Yanqing, he couldn't make out what Zheng Yanqing was actually saying.

Rather than saying he couldn't hear clearly, it was more that his mind was elsewhere.

*As expected of Banyuan Jun, as expected of Grand General Zhangsun's prized disciple, as expected of my idol Xie Ke...*

Xie Ke's archery was not as freakishly precise as Yanqing's, but it was still formidable. Hearing a miserable shriek, a household servant was sent flying straight into the main hall by a violent impact. Immediately following him, a man in white burst through the entrance—a sign that the main hall was on the verge of being breached.

Without a second thought, Xie Ke loosed an arrow.

The man in white spun his broadsword, *clang*, knocking Xie Ke's sharp arrow aside with a deflection.

With an angry roar, the man hacked down a household servant and lunged toward Xie Ke with a rapid step. Xie Ke's quiver was already completely empty.

Seeing the white-robed man charge straight at him, he froze in place.

At that exact moment, Zheng Yanqing drew his bow behind his back with a reverse grip, and *swish*, an arrow flew out, striking the white-robed man squarely in the throat.

With a dull thud, the man in white crashed face-first onto the ground, his broadsword flying out of his grasp and clattering down right beside Xie Ke's feet. This brought Xie Ke back to his senses. Without wasting another word, he discarded his heavy bow, picked up the broadsword, and charged toward the main entrance of the hall.

As for Zheng Yanqing, he acted as though possessed by a frenzy, loosing arrows in rapid succession until every single sharp arrow in his quiver was entirely spent.

Discarding his bow and arrows, he snatched up a cross-hilted saber, let out a fierce roar, and lunged straight at a mountain bandit wriggling his way in through the window.

The bandit was ducking his head and had yet to jump down from the windowsill when Yanqing arrived right before him. His large broadsword descended in an overhead chop while his small broadsword violently thrust out from within his sleeve, *squelch*, driving straight into the bandit's chest. Following closely behind the small blade, the large broadsword fell, and the bandit's head rolled onto the floor.

Warm, fresh blood splattered across Zheng Yanqing's face...

Why did this scene feel so terribly familiar?

Ten years ago, to protect him, his mother had desperately propped up her body as it was pierced right through by sharp arrows. Yanqing let out an involuntary cry, the blade flashing as he flipped yet another mountain bandit crashing to the ground.

By now, the main entrance of the hall had already been breached by the mountain bandits.

The three Dang brothers were surrounded by dozens of mountain bandits, locked in a desperate battle to the death.

As for the household guards and servants, those who were dead were dead, and those wounded were wounded; very few remained who could still continue fighting.

"Mr. Xie, light the fire!"

Zheng Yanqing vaulted fiercely toward a white-robed man, not even recognizing that the white-robed man was none other than the Two-Headed Snake.

At this moment, the Two-Headed Snake's face was ashen, and his heart burned with incomparable fury.

Originally, he had expected to easily secure ten thousand strings of cash, never imagining it would lead to such a disastrous and tragic outcome. Out of nearly three hundred mountain bandits, close to a hundred had been killed by a mere score of people... These were all his foundation and livelihood, and the anguish in his heart was beyond description.

Seeing Zheng Yanqing lunge at him, a ferocious expression twisted his face.

"Little bastard, go die!"

He pushed his broadsword forward, *clang*, deflecting Yanqing's strike. Crossing his steps with a slide, his robes fluttering, he delivered a crushing kick straight to Zheng Yanqing's chest. Zheng Yanqing felt as though his body had been struck by a massive sledgehammer; a mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips as he tumbled heavily to the ground, losing consciousness.

"Yanqing, watch out!"

Not far away, Xie Hong was entangled in combat with three mountain bandits while wielding a long spear. Seeing Zheng Yanqing collapse and lose consciousness after hitting the ground, he was struck with sudden, overwhelming panic.

Gritting his teeth, the Two-Headed Snake strode right up to Zheng Yanqing.

Raising his gleaming steel saber high, he slashed viciously down toward Zheng Yanqing's head...

If this strike landed, Zheng Yanqing's life would surely be brought to an abrupt end!

Too fast to ponder, a whirring *swish* rang out as a black iron ball flew in through the window of the main hall. With a loud *clang*, it struck the Two-Headed Snake's steel saber dead-on. The Two-Headed Snake felt a violent jolt shoot through his arm, nearly causing him to lose his grip on the weapon.

Startled, he hastily retreated several paces.

Simultaneously, a massive figure vaulted in through the window, executed a forward roll upon hitting the ground, and steadied his footing.

"Amitabha, why must the benefactor push things to a desperate and fatal end?"

***