Zheng Fan felt that these assassins possessed no professional ethics or ambition. If you’re here to assassinate someone, then just do it! Why make all this noise and fuss? And if you’re going to fuss, why shout the target’s name so clearly, as if afraid others wouldn’t know? It just puts me in an incredibly awkward position right now. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹•𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒•𝙣𝙚𝙩
Hui Wenzu and Zheng Fan locked eyes for a full three seconds; their long-awaited reunion was cut short by this sudden assassination attempt before any joyful sparks could even fly.
Hui Wenzu himself was utterly bewildered, so much so that he couldn’t tell if he should be thanking Zheng Fan or scolding him. Words caught in his throat, unable to escape yet impossible to swallow.
"Protect the Commander!" Zheng Fan, having seen his share of the world, immediately drew his sword and shouted to Hui Wenzu’s personal guards.
Some guards had already fallen. Hui Wenzu’s remaining personal guards didn’t waste time wondering who the assassins’ target was. When figures leaped down from the courtyard wall, the guards charged forward to engage them.
"Commander, let’s go inside first."
The courtyard erupted into chaos. Hui Wenzu, not hesitating, ran towards the house with Zheng Fan. The moment they were inside, Zheng Fan slammed the door shut and, without a second thought, kicked over a table to barricade it.
"Commander, squat here," Zheng Fan shouted, pointing to a spot beside a column.
Ancient wooden doors and windows offered pathetic defense; an arrow shot from outside could pierce them with ease.
Hui Wenzu readily followed the advice, promptly moving to hide behind the column.
"Commander, get down!" Zheng Fan shouted.
The originally thick column suddenly seemed rather inadequate with Hui Wenzu cowering behind it.
Hui Wenzu immediately dropped to the ground behind the column.
Zheng Fan also crouched behind Hui Wenzu, sword in hand.
Hui Wenzu glanced from the door to Zheng Fan and back.
"Colonel Zheng, no, Chief Zheng, you..."
What Hui Wenzu wanted to ask was, "Colonel Zheng, why did you hide behind me?"
In fact, the second time he’d met Hui Wenzu—when reporting to the government office—Zheng Fan had idly wondered if, should assassins suddenly appear, Hui Wenzu would make a perfect, ready-made sandbag for defense.
Of course, Zheng Fan wasn’t going to bluntly admit he was using Hui Wenzu as a human shield. Instead, he quickly made a hushing gesture and glanced upwards.
Hui Wenzu, startled, followed his gaze to the roof beams. He pointed upwards, silently asking if there were assassins on the roof as well.
Zheng Fan nodded gravely. He hefted the sword in his hand, steeling himself for the impending battle.
Hui Wenzu, meanwhile, remained prone on the ground, quite obediently.
The sounds of battle raged outside, and it was unclear who held the advantage. Zheng Fan wasn’t sure exactly how many personal soldiers Hui Wenzu had brought with him for this new post.
As for Hui Wenzu’s current state, Zheng Fan didn’t think it was shameful at all. It was perfectly normal for a civil official with no martial arts skills to hide in such a situation.
Yes, and it was also perfectly normal for a martial officer to be at the civil official’s side, protecting him.
Zheng Fan knew that Blind Bei and Xue Three would definitely be looking for an opportunity to act on the periphery. He had great faith in his two subordinates’ abilities, so it was best for him to lie low for now as well.
But didn’t those assassins outside shout that they were here to kill *me*?
Zheng Fan pondered. His decision to come to the courier station today to meet Hui Wenzu early had actually been made at noon while eating tofu.
If their target really was him, they had either spotted him among the refugees or likely had lookouts posted around Green Willow Fortress. However, his decision to visit the refugees today had also been spontaneous. Therefore, it was highly probable he’d been targeted for some time.
Who on earth wants to kill me?
Finally, the sounds of battle from outside died down.
Zheng Fan and Hui Wenzu exchanged a glance, each silently guessing which side had won. But after waiting for nearly two minutes with no one coming to knock, it suggested Hui Wenzu’s personal guards had likely all perished.
Just then, Zheng Fan suddenly heard a string of footsteps.
Zheng Fan immediately flattened himself behind Hui Wenzu. Even lying prone, Hui Wenzu’s massive frame provided an excellent makeshift barricade.
BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ!!!
Crossbow bolts shot fiercely into the room, easily penetrating the wooden doors and windows.
Fortunately, both Zheng Fan and Hui Wenzu had wisely dropped to the ground beforehand, so the arrows whizzed over their heads, causing no harm.
The next moment, however, the door was kicked open from the outside, and five men, all wounded and wielding broadswords, rushed in.
At this moment, escape was impossible.
Zheng Fan slapped a palm against the floor tiles, launching himself to his feet. A black glow instantly radiated from his body as he simultaneously swung his sword.
His daily archery practice with A Ming and sparring sessions with Liang Cheng had led to significant improvement in Zheng Fan’s skills these past days. At least he no longer needed to roar with every attack as he once did.
As he swung his sword, the foremost assailant tried to parry with his broadsword. However, he was clearly not a graded combatant and couldn’t withstand the ferocious power behind Zheng Fan’s blow. The man’s arm was jolted aside, and Zheng Fan’s blade slid down his right arm, shearing off a chunk of flesh, though it failed to sever the limb entirely.