Chapter Fifty-Seven: Lethal Intent in the Dark Night
After a hearty, indulgent meal, Gu Xiaopang had originally intended to settle down and cultivate, but unable to resist the entreaties of the two young women, he could only accompany them on a meandering stroll around the city. Or rather, it was the two women who, acting as gracious hosts, eagerly guided Gu Xiaopang about, pointing out this and introducing that as they wandered.
Only the Bristled Pig was left behind, snorting contentedly in the rear courtyard near a guest room of the City Lord’s mansion, rooting at the spirit fruit trees before falling into a deep slumber.
...
As the sun set behind the hills, City Lord Cang, having finished his affairs, set out a banquet in Gu Xiaopang’s honor.
...
“Changqing, you really don’t have to always call me City Lord,” he said warmly. “You’re barely a year or two older than my daughters... If you don’t mind, just call me Uncle Cang.”
“Uncle Cang, how could I possibly mind? I’d be delighted,” replied Gu Xiaopang.
“Excellent, excellent! Hahaha!”
...
A man in his early fifties sat at the table, dressed in a splendid brown robe. Though his beard was neatly trimmed, the years could not be hidden from his broad, weathered features, and silver was already creeping into his sideburns...
Relaxed and cheerful, he drank and chatted with Gu Xiaopang, laughter ringing out as the two young women accompanied them, smiling brightly.
By the latter half of the night, both City Lord Cang and Gu Xiaopang were somewhat tipsy.
...
Neither of them noticed as several figures clad in black, light and silent as swallows, slipped past the many guards outside the estate and concealed themselves in the branches of a nearby spirit plant tree.
...
“Xiaopang, be alert—something’s amiss,” a voice warned.
“What is it, Master?” Gu Xiaopang responded inwardly.
“Don’t turn your head! Send your spiritual sense directly toward the spirit plant tree to your left and behind you—see if anything is out of place!”
...
Heeding Old Qin’s warning, Gu Xiaopang knew his master would never speak without cause. Instantly sobering up, he spread his spiritual sense as instructed. The first sweep revealed nothing, so he expanded his perception fully for a second probe. At once, he saw it clearly: one, two, three, four, five... seven figures in black.
“Uncle Cang, come! Allow me to toast you once more,” Gu Xiaopang said, his voice bright with laughter.
“Haha, gladly!”
As they toasted, Gu Xiaopang quietly relayed what he had discovered to Cang Aotian. Though Cang Aotian’s spiritual senses had detected nothing, he did not doubt Gu Xiaopang’s words in the slightest.
When Gu Xiaopang returned to his seat, he drew the two young women once more to his side, silently preparing a defensive stance.
...
Suddenly, without warning, Cang Aotian kicked the stone table in front of him toward a shadowy corner, his figure soaring instantly toward the spirit plant tree nearby.
A startled cry rang out as the two young women were left bewildered by the abrupt turn of events.
“Stay close to me—don’t run off!” Gu Xiaopang shouted. Two gleaming rhino horn artifacts appeared in his hands in a flash, and the Meteorite Five-Spirit Bangle began to spin rapidly.
Instinctively, the two young women grabbed the back of Gu Xiaopang’s robe, just as, in the shadow where the stone table had crashed and in the direction their father had leapt, seven figures emerged from four different spots.
“Cang Aotian, it’s been a while,” a cold voice called.
“Indeed it has, Song Tianyu. You’re still the same petty wretch, skulking in the dark,” Cang Aotian replied.
“Haha, say what you like. Tonight will be the night your family of three meets its end.”
“But before we begin, I am curious—just for this ambush, I went to great lengths to obtain seven expensive Stealth and Concealment Talismans. How did you see through them?”
“That’s not for you to worry about.”
“Since you’ve come all this way, it’s time to settle both old and new scores.”
“I couldn’t agree more!”
“You two, go deal with those girls and the unknown boy. The other four—come with me to subdue Cang Aotian.”
“Yes, sir!”
The seven shadows split into two groups.
...