Shouting and Slaying

"Xiao Lu, did that person just mock us?" Zhang Shitou, clutching his Fish-head Saber, suddenly asked.

Xu Lu glanced at Zhang Shitou. *Did you only just realize?*

"No, that is your illusion," Xu Lu said with certainty. "He was envious of you. At such a young age, you already possess a precious saber worth eight taels of silver!"

Speaking of the precious saber, a simple smile appeared on Zhang Shitou's face. He could not help but caress the Fish-head Saber in his arms, his touch as gentle as if he were caressing his lover's hand.

Xu Lu, of course, knew what the apprentice of Wanbao Hall was laughing at.

How could a saber bought for eight taels of silver be a precious saber? Zhang Shitou was currently far from being a hero.

But regardless, to them right now, the Fish-head Saber was a precious saber!

"Shitou, there is not much time left before the curfew. We must work quickly," Xu Lu looked up at the sky and said with some urgency.

***

Before the final curfew gong sounded, Xu Lu and Zhang Shitou had returned to Ande Ward.

Because they had informed Zhang Bao beforehand, the two did not return home. They hid in a secluded corner beneath the ward wall, waiting until late at night before returning to the streets.

Ande Ward at night was devoid of any light except for the moon. In this place, no one dared to light an oil lamp at night.

"Xiao Lu, are we going to deal with someone in Ande Ward? Are there bad people in Ande Ward?" Zhang Shitou asked in a low, nervous voice.

"Shitou, you must trust me," Xu Lu said gravely. "If you do not trust me in the slightest, you can go home right now, and we shall pretend nothing happened! Consider the Fish-head Saber a gift from me!"

"I did not mean that," Zhang Shitou said quickly. "Of course I trust you. I was just curious."

Zhang Shitou was not foolish. From Xu Lu's behavior during the day, he had guessed the general situation. Danger paired with a reward—what else could it be but capturing a wanted fugitive? He just could not understand why Ande Ward would have a wanted fugitive.

"Shitou, trust me and do as I say. I shall explain the rest to you later," Xu Lu said seriously. "As long as you do as I say, I guarantee you will claim the reward and achieve merit!"

"I trust you!" Zhang Shitou said firmly.

"What do we do now?"

"When we arrive, I shall handle the shouting, and you shall handle the slaying," Xu Lu said casually.

"What?" Zhang Shitou looked utterly confused.

"My mistake," Xu Lu said with some embarrassment. "In a moment, when I shout, do not care who is before you—draw your saber and hack him to death!"

"Just that?" Zhang Shitou asked. This seemed too simple; was there no elaborate plan?

"This is enough," Xu Lu said confidently. "Do not worry about anything else. Use all your strength to hack him to death. Even if you cannot defeat him, I have a Plan B!"

"Plan... B?" Zhang Shitou did not understand.

"Do not mind the details," Xu Lu said. "Prepare to strike."

Zhang Shitou immediately grew tense, his right hand gripping the hilt of the Fish-head Saber, his palm slick with sweat.

"This is?" Zhang Shitou finally realized. "The wanted fugitive is hiding in the old scholar's house?" he whispered, looking at the red-tiled, blue-brick house before them.

Xu Lu did not answer. He stepped forward and pulled the iron ring on the old scholar's front door.

*Thud, thud, thud—*

The crisp knocking broke the silence of the night.

The sudden noise startled the animals in the ward, triggering a chorus of barking dogs, meowing cats, and crowing roosters.

Zhang Shitou was stunned. Wasn't capturing a fugitive supposed to involve scaling walls and launching a sneak attack? Doing this would surely alert the target!

"Shitou!" Xu Lu barked softly.

Zhang Shitou recovered and quickly stepped forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Xu Lu, his hand still gripping his saber.

"Who is it?" the old scholar's alert voice came from inside.

"Uncle Scholar, it is me, Zhang Bao's nephew, and Shitou," Xu Lu said. "My uncle asked me to bring you something."

"What is it?" The old scholar had walked to the door. He did not open it, but stood there, asking warily.

"I do not know. It is a package. My uncle said a Mr. Lu asked him to hand it to you. My uncle has trouble walking, so he asked us to deliver it," Xu Lu continued.

"Mr. Lu?" The old scholar's voice carried a hint of joy and surprise. "Why did he not deliver it to me directly?"

*Creak—*

As he spoke, the old scholar opened the door, reaching out eagerly to receive the item.

"Strike!" Xu Lu roared, throwing his hands forward. A cloud of white powder flew directly into the old scholar's face.

*Crash—*

At the same time, the sound of shattering porcelain rang out. Green vitriol splashed onto the old scholar's body, instantly causing white smoke to rise.

"Ah—"

A horrific scream erupted from the old scholar's mouth. Lime powder entered his eyes, and the green vitriol burned his flesh.

"Strike!" Xu Lu turned and saw Zhang Shitou still in a daze, shouting in frustration.

*Thud—*

Without hesitation, Xu Lu kicked the old scholar in the stomach, sending him crashing to the ground. The old scholar clutched his eyes with one hand and flailed wildly with the other.

Zhang Shitou finally reacted. With a loud shout, he swung the Fish-head Saber. The blade bit into flesh, and blood splattered. Zhang Shitou closed his eyes, shouting as he hacked at the old scholar repeatedly. The old scholar had long ceased making any sound, but Zhang Shitou did not stop.

Xu Lu leaped aside to avoid the blood. The "Thunderbolts" he had hastily crafted in his hands were almost forgotten as he watched Zhang Shitou. *How brutal!*

"Shitou, alright, you can stop!" Xu Lu said.

Hearing Xu Lu's voice, Zhang Shitou finally stopped. He opened his eyes and saw the mangled corpse of the old scholar. His face turned pale, and he ran to the side, vomiting violently.

Xu Lu walked over, patted his back sympathetically, and comforted him, "You will become a Lishi in the future. Sooner or later, you must face this. Adapting early is good for you."

"I am fine. Let me vomit, and I shall get used to it, *urgh*—"

Xu Lu nodded. Holding his custom-made Thunderbolts, he searched the old scholar's house.

"Shitou, be careful. He might have accomplices," Xu Lu said warily.

To deal with the old scholar, he had prepared several plans, but when they actually struck, it was surprisingly simple. The old scholar had been hacked to death by Zhang Shitou without any resistance.

*Was he not a Secret Cultivator?* Xu Lu wondered. When he had killed Lu Tong'en, even though Lu Tong'en was blind, he had unleashed terrifying destructive power. Yet the old scholar's performance just now was entirely that of an ordinary person.

*Did I kill the wrong person? No! Even if the old scholar was not a Secret Cultivator, he was definitely connected to them! When he went to Zhang Bao's house to spy on me, he clearly carried killing intent. If I had not killed him, once he discovered my identity, I would be the one dead. This is self-defense! I only want to survive!* Xu Lu thought to himself.

He was no murderous maniac. He had killed Lu Tong'en and the old scholar solely to survive.

"Ah—"

Right at that moment, a cry of terror came from the doorway. When Xu Lu turned, he saw a figure fleeing in panic, shouting, "Murder! Murder!"

"Xiao Lu—" Zhang Shitou was also startled by the cry, looking at Xu Lu in panic.

"It is fine. We are on the side of justice!" Xu Lu said gravely.

Before taking action, he had anticipated this. Killing someone in Ande Ward could not be done silently. Since that was the case, they might as well make a scene, bringing everything into the open to prove their innocence!

"Shitou, listen to me!" Xu Lu said quickly. "In a moment, you shall..."

"Will that work?" Zhang Shitou asked skeptically.

"Trust me, there will be no problem!" Xu Lu said firmly.

Zhang Shitou thought for a moment and nodded.

***

"Ward Chief, it is just ahead. I saw it with my own eyes—blood everywhere, and the person was hacked beyond recognition..."

Amidst the commotion, dozens of people carrying torches appeared outside the old scholar's house.

The Ward Chief of Ande Ward, Old Liu, walked at the front, with a man chattering beside him.

"Zhang Shitou, guard of the Marquis of Bohai's manor and candidate Lishi, acting on orders to capture a rebel, has slain the rebel here! Ward Chief, open the ward gates and report to the authorities!"

Suddenly, a figure appeared at the doorway, and a thunderous voice rang out.

"Shitou?!" Zhang Bao's shocked voice came from the crowd.

"Shitou, is that you?" Ward Chief Old Liu also spoke.

Zhang Shitou had grown up in Ande Ward, and everyone knew him, but they were still frightened by his blood-drenched appearance.

"Father, I am on duty and cannot greet you properly," Zhang Shitou said loudly. "Ward Chief, this involves a rebel. Open the gates and report to the authorities!"

The latter sentence was directed at Old Liu. Old Liu's expression changed; opening the ward gates at night was no small matter.

"Shitou, are you certain he was a rebel?" Old Liu asked seriously.

"Certain!" Zhang Shitou's appearance was highly convincing; no one would believe he could lie.

"I am a guard of the Marquis of Bohai's manor and a candidate Lishi. I shall bear all consequences. Before the authorities and the Heavenly Palace arrive, no one is to approach the scene, or they shall be treated as rebels!" Zhang Shitou stood on the threshold, clutching his Fish-head Saber, looking quite imposing.

"Then I shall report to the authorities!" Old Liu was intimidated by Zhang Shitou's aura. He turned and ran toward the ward gates, nearly tripping in his haste.

Zhang Shitou remained still, acting as a guardian with his saber. Inside the door, Xu Lu's expression was grave. He knew that the matter had only just begun, and the true test was about to arrive.