C23 Control the Liu Mansion

Beneath the cloak of night, a black dog led the way, followed by a procession of six carriages. The people of White Dragon Fort trailed behind in utter silence.

Their destination was Longtou Village, near White Dragon Town, the childhood home of the black dog. He had shared tales of a wealthy villager, Magnate Liu, who was a blight upon the community, seizing land and committing countless atrocities.

Moreover, Magnate Liu's household possessed a stockpile of weapons, which were desperately needed by White Dragon Fort. Lee Fei resolved to raid Magnate Liu's estate to bolster their stronghold.

In a hushed tone, Zhao Ruyu remarked, "By now, the purple moth venomous insect should be taking effect."

Lee Fei chuckled, "Are you suggesting that Magistrate Hu has met his demise?"

"Exactly," Zhao Ruyu confirmed with a nod. "Once the purple moth venomous insect detects the blood of Hu Cheng's kin, it hatches, bursting forth from the stomach. It dies after fulfilling its purpose."

However, she had not anticipated the venomous insect encountering Hu Ren and bizarrely symbiosing with him, turning Hu Ren into an 'other'.

Lee Fei's mind conjured a scene not suitable for children, sending a shiver down his spine.

Zhao Ruyu flashed a mischievous smile, "Haha, fear not. I wouldn't use such a thing against you, dear brother."

Miss Zhao's jest elicited a hearty laugh from Lee Fei. "We're all part of the same crew, like family. We certainly wouldn't harm our own. Hahaha…"

Despite his laughter, Lee Fei harbored doubts about Zhao Ruyu's unpredictable nature. Her whimsical ways left him wondering if she might resort to poisoning him should he ever displease her.

Through their interactions, Lee Fei had pieced together some clues about her. Zhao Ruyu was unmistakably not a Central Plains woman. Her mastery of venomous insects and control over snakes betrayed her true origins.

She was likely from the Shadowlands, a Shadowlander herself. Her reasons for joining the fort remained unspoken, and Lee Fei had not pressed for answers.

"Hehe, we're all family here. That's exactly what I was thinking," Zhao Ruyu said with a playful wink at Lee Fei, her smile blooming like a flower.

A black dog approached Lee Fei and reported, "Head Honcho, we're approaching Longtou Village. The largest courtyard there belongs to Magnate Liu."

The night was deep, and the village was still. Lee Fei instructed the logistics team to wait outside while the rest followed him in.

Standing outside the imposing gates of the Liu Mansion, they were faced with a solid door and walls three meters high—a daunting barrier for most.

The mansion stood isolated, a testament to its dominance over the village. This solitude, however, was advantageous for Lee Fei's plans.

Yun Yan stepped forward eagerly. "Head Honcho, allow me to scale the wall and open the gate from the inside."

Agile and confident in his climbing abilities, Yun Yan was keen to impress Lee Fei.

Lee Fei dismissed the offer with a wave of his hand. "No need for such trouble. A simple gate is no obstacle for me."

Approaching the gate, he murmured an incantation and traced a rune on its surface.

"Lock picking."

With a gentle nudge, the gate swung open silently.

The onlookers were awestruck, their eyes wide with admiration for the spell's power and their respect for Lee Fei deepening.

Zhao Ruyu caught up to him and whispered, "That spell is incredible. You must teach me."

Lee Fei rolled his eyes and replied dismissively, "Spellcasting requires a certain talent. We'll discuss it when there's time."

The courtyard was expansive, with numerous rooms. Lights flickered as night watchmen patrolled with lanterns in hand—only two or three in sight.

Lee Fei addressed the group, "Magnate Liu has been wreaking havoc for years, likely surrounding himself with numerous henchmen. We'll take out the patrollers first, then search each room methodically. Show no mercy to those who resist. The archer squad will accompany me. We must secure this place swiftly."

Everyone nodded in agreement as Black Bear, Jiang Kun, and Yun Yan led their squads out on the rush. Their movements were swift, and their surprise attack caught the patrolling servants off guard. Accustomed to peaceful nights, the servants were subdued before they could even react.

Zhao Ruyu exclaimed with excitement, "So this is what they call hitting up the wealthy! It's such a thrill!"

Lee Fei cleared his throat and cautioned, "We still need to be cautious. Stick close to me later; we're heading straight for the main courtyard." After a moment's thought, he added, "Three-Eyed, you stay with me. Everyone else, secure the main gate to prevent escapes."

He had resolved to take over the Liu mansion and then spend two days there resting and rejuvenating.

The main courtyard's gate was locked from the inside, but that posed no challenge for Lee Fei. He cast a lock-picking spell and the trio entered the courtyard with authority.

Lee Fei's attention was drawn to the tallest building, its stature indicative of the occupants' status. Only Magnate Liu would reside in such a place, with his wife and children likely housed in the adjoining wings.

Suddenly, the clang of a gong and loud shouts erupted from the front courtyard.

Lee Fei's face tightened as he realized they had been discovered. The commotion woke the sleeping residents, and lights flickered on in every room, including those in the main courtyard.

Without hesitation, Lee Fei commanded, "Into the main house, now!"

As they approached, a side door flung open, and a towering figure emerged, brandishing a seven-ringed saber.

"How audacious! I am the Thousand Blade Asura, Luo Zixiao. You three have some nerve to intrude upon the Liu mansion under the cover of night."

Lee Fei scoffed, "You dare to claim the title of Asura? That's laughable. Shoot him down."

Upon hearing the order, Three-Eyed swiftly notched an arrow and let it fly at Luo Zixiao.

With a bellow, Luo Zixiao swung his saber, cleaving the arrow in two, and charged at Lee Fei and his companions.

Three-Eyed's brow furrowed when his first arrow missed its mark. Without hesitation, he released another, but Luo Zixiao skillfully dodged it.

"Hehe, I didn't earn my position as a guard for nothing."

Luo Zixiao was in high spirits, nearly reaching the trio when he noticed the young man gesturing to him.

"Rascal, what trickery is this?"

Moments later, a sharp pain pierced his chest, as if something had burrowed inside with considerable force.

"Ah!"

A cry of agony escaped Luo Zixiao as he staggered back several steps. Glancing down, he saw a tear in his clothing and his flesh turned inside out, yet the weapon was nowhere to be seen.

What in the world?

Clutching his chest, he glared at Lee Fei and demanded, "What sorcery have you employed?"

Lee Fei simply offered a chilling smile in response, then drew his bow, taking aim at Luo Zixiao's head.

The bolt whistled through the air and lodged itself firmly in Luo Zixiao's forehead, sending him tumbling lifelessly to the ground.

Three-Eyed bowed respectfully and admitted, "I have failed. The Head Honcho's intervention was necessary."

Lee Fei gestured dismissively, his gaze fixed on the main entrance.

Catching the cue, Three-Eyed charged toward the front door and delivered a powerful kick, swinging it wide open.

Boom!

A loud explosion erupted from within, and Three-Eyed was struck, a spray of blood blossoming from his shoulder as he collapsed.

Firearm!

Lee Fei deduced that the occupant inside wielded a firearm. Despite its lethality, reloading took precious time – an opportunity he wouldn't waste.

Without a word, he darted into the room to find an elderly man in his fifties cowering under a table, clutching a flintlock, terror etched in his eyes.

Lee Fei wasted no time. He aimed the crossbow at the man's head and commanded icily, "Come out now, or I'll put a bolt through your skull."

"Mercy, good sir! I'm coming out," Magnate Liu pleaded, hastily crawling from his hiding place.

In the face of true martial might, even a magnate was reduced to a docile lamb, devoid of any will to resist.

Zhao Ruyu followed him into the house and swiftly took the flintlock from Magnate Liu's grasp, asking with a hint of confusion, "Was that loud noise earlier caused by this lump of metal?"

Lee Fei nodded and peered outside, calling out, "Three-Eyed, how are you holding up?"

"Head Honcho, I'm not dead yet!" Three-Eyed's raspy voice quickly responded from outside, clearly shaken.

Relieved to hear Three-Eyed's voice, Lee Fei ushered Magnate Liu out to assess Three-Eyed's injuries. He saw that the shoulder was grazed, bleeding quite a bit, but it was nothing serious.

Despite this, Three-Eyed was acting as if he were gravely wounded, his eyes shut tight, body quivering.

Lee Fei couldn't help but remark, "Come on, get up. His aim was off. You're a long way from heaven."

Three-Eyed cracked open an eye, bewildered, "I thought I was a goner. It was terrifying, felt like a tiger had me in its jaws."

"You're obviously fine. This old man's aim is terrible," Lee Fei said with a chuckle. "A bit lower and it might have been a different story."

Upon hearing this, Three-Eyed quickly scrambled to his feet and landed a punch on Magnate Liu, wincing as the motion aggravated his wound.

"You old fool, using a hidden weapon on me and making a fool out of me. You deserve a beating, don't you think?"

Magnate Liu, wearing an expression of misery, murmured, "I deserve it, I was wrong."

With the firearm in hand, Zhao Ruyu called out, "Little White Dragon, this one's mine. Don't even think about taking it from me."

"Fine, but be careful not to point it at people carelessly. It could go off unexpectedly," Lee Fei said indifferently, then turned and headed toward the front courtyard.

The commotion in the courtyard was escalating, with the sounds of shouting growing louder. The resistance was minimal; most were in full flight. A squad of archers guarded the entrance, ready to shoot down any who approached.

They didn't dare make a run for the door, so they planned to form a human ladder and scale the wall to escape. But as Black Bear and his men advanced, ready to attack, they fled elsewhere, howling in panic. The commotion was quite a spectacle.

Lee Fei, with Magnate Liu in tow, stepped out and surveyed the chaotic scene. He couldn't help but raise his voice and command, "Everyone, hold your fire! Your master has surrendered. If you value your lives, stay still."

His command had the desired effect. Black Bear and his men promptly lined up in an orderly fashion, and the Liu mansion's servants collectively exhaled in relief.

The chase was finally over.

They were used to pushing around the common folk, but faced with these fierce bandits, they were petrified.

With Magnate Liu captured, the Liu family was like a dragon without its head, leaving the group standing around, stupefied and unsure of their next move.

Lee Fei bellowed, "Black Bear, take the first squad and tie them all up. Anyone who tries anything clever gets the chop."

"Yun Yan, Jiang Kun, each of you take your squads and comb through this place. Don't miss a single corner."

In such tumultuous times, he had to be severe. One oversight could mean the end for the brothers of White Dragon Fort.

Jiang Kun and Yun Yan exchanged a glance, then declared in unison, "Understood, Head Honcho." With that, they led their squads off to search for any hidden individuals.

Black Bear, drenched in blood, was an intimidating sight just standing there, which ensured that no one dared to pull any stunts. They submitted to being bound by Black Bear and his men without resistance.

Once they had tallied up, there were 34 servants in total. Lee Fei found a spacious room and locked them all inside.