Chapter 25: Pyrrhic Victory
Shouts of killing, clash of blades, and screams of agony mixed together, drilling into the cellar.
Dozens of old women and children crammed tightly in the cellar, scared pale-faced and trembling nonstop.
The eldest Madam Li shook for a moment, then her face calmed. She said in a low voice to the ashen-faced Madam Lu and Madam Chen: “If the villains find the cellar, we stand in front of the children first. If we really can’t hold, our whole family goes neatly to the Yellow Springs together.”
Madam Lu’s tears fell like rain, and Madam Chen’s eyes also reddened.
Pei Yue reached out to wipe his grandmother’s tears: “Grandmother, don’t cry.”
Pei Feng pursed his lips tightly, suddenly pulling a dagger from his bosom: “If the villains come, I’ll fight them to the death first.”
This dagger was the first weapon that Cousin Sister Qinghe had exchanged silver for. After getting the bow and arrow and long saber today, Cousin Sister Qinghe gave him this small dagger.
The seven-year-old boy gripped the dagger tightly, his tense handsome little face emitting killing intent not matching his age.
Madam Lu looked at Pei Feng like this, her heart growing even more desolate.
All the men of the Pei Clan were dead, and now those fighting desperately outside were the Pei Family Womenfolk. Next, it would be the Pei Clan’s old women and children!
What exactly had the Pei Clan done wrong?
Why must Heaven take away even the last way to survive?
Pei Xuan also had a weapon in hand, a sword broken off half its length. This was a weapon discarded by the big soldiers, quietly picked up by her. Though without a blade tip, it was still much better than a wooden stick.
“Pei Feng, the two of us charge out now.” There was no fear on Pei Xuan’s cute doll-like face, her gaze exceptionally fierce, just like a tiger cub not yet grown: “Kill one to break even, kill two to profit.”
Pei Feng was stunned: “Cousin Sister Qinghe instructed us to hide in the cellar and not go out…”
“What time is it now!” Pei Xuan interrupted Pei Feng: “The shouts of killing outside are getting closer, they surely can’t hold. If we wait for the villains to find the cellar, we won’t even have a chance to fight to the death.”
“Are you scared?”
“Forget it, I’ll go by myself!”
Pei Feng couldn’t withstand such provocation, immediately jumping up: “Who says I’m scared! Let’s go! We’ll go out now!”
Madam Lu was shocked pale, about to speak to stop him.
In her ears rang Madam Chen’s voice: “Go, this old woman is going too!” Then, turning to Madam Lu: “Eldest sister-in-law, you take care of Yue Ge’er and the others.”
Madam Lu wanted to speak, but her throat was like blocked by an egg, unable to make a sound. Tears fell rapidly, blurring her vision.
Soon, voices of several old women sounded in the cellar: “We’re all going.”
At this point, not fight to the death, were they to wait to die together?
Fight it out! Even in death, drag a villain down with them!
The cellar door was opened.
Cold air mixed with thick bloody smell rushed in. Pei Xuan and Pei Feng, the first to crawl out of the cellar, both perked up in spirit.
A newborn calf fears no tiger. The two half-grown children, hot-blooded and fearless, one gripping the dagger, one clutching the broken sword, charged out following the shouts of killing.
Madam Chen and five or six other old women, without weapons, grabbed wooden sticks and rushed out.
There were several villain corpses on the ground.
The postmaster had been hacked to death, the cook was dead too, two of the five posthouse attendants lay dead, only three left gripping knives and struggling bitterly.
Hearing footsteps, the three posthouse attendants were overjoyed, thinking reinforcements had come. But turning their heads, they saw two children only reaching waist height, and several white-haired old women.
The posthouse attendants’ hearts instantly sank.
Done for!
Villains kept rushing in, eight people had fought to death most, leaving these three, everyone wounded. The “reinforcements” were two half-grown children and a bunch of unsteady old women!
“Grab weapons first!” Pei Xuan shouted loudly, rushing first to the dead postmaster’s side, picking up a saber.
Pei Feng stuffed the dagger into his bosom, picking up a sword.
The other old women all went to pick up weapons. No matter the skill or strength, holding sharp weapons instantly gave them more courage.
Pei Xuan and Pei Feng rushed to the posthouse attendants’ side, waving saber and sword. The old women picked up weapons and joined the fight to the death.
The several despairing posthouse attendants were shocked to discover that the two half-grown children had decent skill and real courage, and the old women weren’t there to deliver themselves—they could actually fight!
Two villains who had held the upper hand were soon overwhelmed by so many besieging them. Pei Xuan seized an opening, stabbing with one saber stroke, piercing a villain’s thigh through.
The villain screamed and fell, stabbed through the chest by several sharp weapons.
The other villain couldn’t hold alone and was soon killed too.
The posthouse attendants gasped for breath, utterly exhausted, sitting on the ground.
Pei Xuan immediately said: “Can’t sit, get up quickly. There are still enemies outside!”
No sooner had the words fallen than three more blood-soaked villains rushed in.
This was a true fierce battle bloodbath.
Pei Feng, young and weak, soon faltered. A long saber chopped down, Pei Feng couldn’t dodge, watching wide-eyed as the long saber fell. In the crisis, a figure rushed over, blocking the fatal strike for him.
It was Madam Chen.
Madam Chen was chopped into a bloody gourd, not even a last word, and breathed her last.
The other old women reddened their eyes, rushing to fight the villains to the death… then one after another fell in pools of blood.
Pei Feng’s vision was all bright red.
He couldn’t cry out or shout, gripping the long sword tightly and fighting desperately.
But his strength was too weak; a villain’s saber came, he blocked with all his might. Another saber, and the long sword in his hand was knocked flying.
The villain grinned ferociously, closing in.
In the moment before death, Pei Feng felt not a bit of fear, only regret, annoyance, and self-blame. He was too useless! Couldn’t beat or kill these villains… He closed his eyes, awaiting death.
Pfft!
A shrill scream rang out.
Pei Feng blankly opened his eyes.
A familiar figure entered his view: “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”
It was Pei Qinghe.
After a night of bloodbath, Pei Qinghe was covered in blood. Unknown if her own or the villains’, her face also splattered with spots of blood.
Pei Feng’s nose soured, not knowing where the strength came from, struggling to stand and picking up the sword: “Cousin sister!”
Another posthouse attendant had died, two left, covered in wounds, already unable to fight. Pei Xuan was injured, Madam Chen and the others all dead.
Villain corpses on the ground had three more.
A tragic victory!
Now was not the time for grief or sighs.
Pei Qinghe exhaled a turbid breath, saying gravely: “The evil thieves outside have all been killed by us. But we can’t relax yet. Some might be hiding. We carefully search the posthouse, kill all the villains clean.”
“Pei Feng, you take Pei Xuan to find Doctor Bao, bandage the wounds well.”
Pei Feng nodded, supporting Pei Xuan to find the doctor.
Pei Qinghe steadied her mind, picked up the long saber, turned to instruct Guard Gao, Captain Sun, and the others: “Everyone don’t go alone, groups of five, search separately. No need to leave any alive.”
Going on shelves tomorrow, feeling a bit nervous. Hope readers support more ^3^
