Chapter Fifty-Nine: Autumn Waters Sever the Light of Heaven

Dozens of long spears protruded from the wagon formation, gleaming coldly beneath the serene moonlight, their presence even more menacing and chilling. Behind the heavy wagons, dozens of powerful crossbows were neatly aimed at the bandits preparing for a nocturnal raid.

Faced with such a formidable defense, the bandits felt a chill run through their hearts; for once, they did not shout or jeer. Even their horses sensed the unease, pawing at the dusty ground and snorting nervously.

Scar Six, the bandit leader, spat disdainfully as he gazed at the wagon formation, bristling like a hedgehog. He could not fathom how this merchant caravan had arranged their camp so differently tonight. In the past, caravans would line up along the roadside in a long row; he and his brothers would charge, and the formation would disintegrate at once. Clearly, the Four Seas Trading Guild was a much tougher nut to crack than he had anticipated.

Yet, thinking of the generous reward promised, Scar Six stroked his bristly beard, resolved to take the risk.

“My brothers crave meat, wine, and women—what does your trading guild matter to us? This haul is ours!” he declared.

With those words, Scar Six signaled to his second-in-command, Chai Meng, instructing him to lead his men in the first charge. Chai Meng’s ranks had grown lately, and Scar Six saw this as the perfect opportunity to thin them out.

Chai Meng, a reckless brute, suspected nothing. He whistled to gather his men and wheeled their horses around. The fifty paces separating them from the wagons were far too close; the horses barely broke into a run before they were upon the defenders.

The captain of the guards saw the bandit formation falling into chaos and glanced toward Lu Jiu.

Lu Jiu hesitated, but Lu Liao spoke quietly, “There’s no room for doubt in life-or-death moments. Trust Captain Wu’s judgment.”

Lu Jiu nodded to Captain Wu and stepped back.

Fifty paces was a lethal distance for the crossbows. Captain Wu wasted no time, raising his hand to signal his guards to fire.

A volley of crossbow bolts erupted, dozens flying swiftly into the bandit ranks. Men and horses tumbled, with a dozen bandits dropping amid screams.

Chai Meng panicked, disregarding the distance, and howled as he led his men straight at the wagon formation. The horses, not yet at full speed, were caught in another storm of crossbow bolts from the wagons. By the time they reached the formation, only twenty of Chai Meng’s men remained.

These bandits were ferocious; seeing they could not break through, they leapt from their horses onto the wagon roofs, brandishing their weapons and shouting as they lunged at the wagon drivers holding spears.

The drivers, less trained than the guards, jabbed their spears haphazardly at the attacking bandits. Some bandits were skewered by five or six spears, suspended helplessly in the air, their heads lolling.

Captain Wu, seasoned and unfazed, ignored the bandits who had breached the formation and ordered his crossbowmen to unleash two more volleys at those outside.

Chai Meng hacked aside several spears, slashing down two drivers, and charged forward with murderous intent. Old Hu, terrified, squeezed his eyes shut and screamed, spearing Chai Meng through the chest. Blood drenched Old Hu’s face and head; with a final scream, he fainted.

Within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, nearly fifty bandits lay dead, including every one who had breached the formation. A thick, metallic scent of blood permeated the air.

Wang Eleven shielded Lu Jiu, who was sickened by the carnage, retreating toward the central campfire. Lu Liao instructed Zhou Six to check on Old Hu’s condition, then walked over to Captain Wu.

“Captain Wu, your command was admirable. I am deeply impressed,” Lu Liao said.

“Thankfully we had the wagon formation. Otherwise, we would have lost more than four drivers. I did have some misunderstandings about you before, Young Master Lu, but now, on behalf of all my brothers, I offer my apologies and thanks.” Wu Ming solemnly bowed to Lu Liao.

“We are all in this together—no need for such formality. The bandits have not retreated; who knows what dangers lie ahead?” Lu Liao said, shaking his head as he gazed at the distant shadows of the bandits.

Under normal circumstances, with so many losses and faced with our crossbows and wagon formation, the bandits should have withdrawn. Yet they remain, encircling us. I cannot imagine what they intend. At worst, we will meet whatever comes head-on,” Wu Ming said with disdain, staring at the bandits.

Just then, Zhou Six dragged Old Hu, covered in blood, over.

“No real injuries—it’s just a fainting spell,” Zhou Six explained.

“Blood-shy, perhaps? Don’t wash the blood off him. He’ll be fine in two days,” Wu Ming replied coolly.

“Damn it! Hiding in your turtle shell—what kind of skill is that? If you have guts, come out for a duel. If I lose, I’ll turn away and leave. But if you lose, pay me ten thousand taels of silver and return the bodies of my fallen brothers. I, Golden-Eyed Eagle Scar Six, always keep my word—my reputation on the Inner Road is renowned,” Scar Six shouted.

Seeing his men killed and wounded so quickly, Scar Six was already considering retreat. But having gained nothing after expending so much effort, he was loath to accept it. With so many dead, his authority would be undermined if he returned empty-handed. So he hatched a plan: challenge the defenders to a duel according to the rules of the underworld, kill their champion, and thus salvage his reputation and possibly gain some reward.

“I wondered who dared to rob the Four Seas Trading Guild. So it’s you, Scar Six, the sixth of the Thirteen Flying Eagles under Sick Tiger Hua Lin. The Four Seas Trading Guild has an agreement with Hua Lin: none of the Inner Road’s bandits are to touch our caravans. You dare to rob us—aren’t you afraid your boss will find out?” Wu Ming shouted back.

“I’ve lost so many brothers for nothing—I can’t worry about that now. If you have the guts, come out and duel me,” Scar Six tried to provoke him.

“If you’re so brave, bring your men and charge our wagon formation. Who wants a duel?” Wu Ming refused to fall for the trick.

“So you won’t play by underworld rules? Fine, I’ll risk everything and have my brothers surround you. If you’re so capable, stay in your turtle shell and don’t come out,” Scar Six retorted, coming up with another malicious plan.

Lu Jiu, upon hearing this, could not sit still. He hurried over to Lu Liao, anxious.

“Should I go and meet that Golden-Eyed Eagle Scar Six?” Wang Eleven stepped forward.

“Scar Six is one of Sick Tiger’s Thirteen Flying Eagles, highly skilled and notoriously cruel. He has a fearsome reputation on the Inner Road. A single mistake in facing him could cost your life—I don’t think it’s wise,” Wu Ming said worriedly.

“Let me go.” Lu Liao smiled slightly. No one noticed the flash of fire in his eyes.

“No! If something happens to you, who will pay the huge debt you owe me?” Lu Jiu refused firmly, then tried to explain his reasoning.

Lu Liao unfastened his Autumn Water sword at his waist and smiled, “Trust me, won’t you?” Without waiting for Lu Jiu’s response, he leaned close and whispered something to Wu Ming.

After Wu Ming assented, Lu Liao picked up Autumn Water and strode resolutely outside.

Ning Jiao darted after him.

“Why are you following me?” Lu Liao asked in surprise.

“Big Sister told me to watch over you, so I must come along,” Ning Jiao replied matter-of-factly.

“Are you not afraid?” Lu Liao asked with a smile.

“Not at all!” Ning Jiao answered boldly.

“Good! Watch my back and see how I slay this vicious bandit chief,” Lu Liao said, then walked slowly forward.

Reaching the space between both camps, Lu Liao drew Autumn Water, his gaze cold and sharp as he stared at his opponent.

Scar Six spurred his horse forward, laughing brazenly, “Ha! Has the Four Seas Trading Guild no one left? They send a young gentleman to duel me. I prefer women, not pretty boys. Watch as I slice you into four pieces!”

Lu Liao said nothing. Since learning Tang Seven’s identity in Chang’an, he had been brooding. Seeing Emil caged like a canary for four years, uncertain of life or death, filled him with a rage that wanted to cleave sky and earth.

He took a deep breath, gripped Autumn Water with both hands, holding it before him, his gaze cold as lightning fixed on Scar Six.

Scar Six, for some reason, shuddered involuntarily. He twisted his neck, drew a long saber, and bent low, urging his horse toward Lu Liao.

They were close; the horse had barely moved before Scar Six swung his saber upward at Lu Liao, expecting to split him in two and savor the bloodshed.

But his blade struck empty air, and blood splattered over him. Scar Six paused, only then realizing his horse’s head had been severed and was soaring through the air, the headless body yet to collapse.

He leapt from the slanted horse, wiped blood from his face, and understood he was facing a formidable enemy. He became fully alert, coldly watching the young man before him.

Lu Liao suddenly smiled—a sinister smile, chilling and wicked.

“I will cut you into five pieces,” he said.

As soon as the words fell, Autumn Water flashed like lightning in the night, slashing rapidly at Scar Six.

Autumn Water’s gleam flickered three times in the cold night. Before Scar Six’s head could hit the ground, his body was already in four pieces, sprawled amid the blood-soaked earth.

Even the battle-hardened bandits had rarely witnessed such horror. All eyes fixed on the young man at the center, like a demon god risen from hell. The silence was such that the drip of blood from Autumn Water onto the ground was clearly audible.

Suddenly, someone among the bandits cried, “Avenge the boss!” Scar Six’s loyal followers charged at Lu Liao.

A volley of crossbow bolts whistled into the attackers. Wu Ming shouted, “Kill all these bandits!” and led guards and spear-wielding drivers forward.

Lu Liao did not retreat, but advanced, raising Autumn Water and charging at the bandits.

“Mother! Run!” someone screamed among the bandits, and in an instant, they scattered and fled in all directions.