Chapter 26: Aftermath
After fighting to the death for half the night, Guard Gao and Captain Sun had both killed until their eyes were red. Few big soldiers under Captain Sun could still stand, and two Eastern Palace Guards had also been killed or wounded.
No matter who the master behind this gang of bandits is, blood debt must be repaid in blood!
The two responded and each led their men who could still move to search the posthouse.
Pei Qinghe was not idle either. She glanced around and pointed out more than ten who could still fight: “You few, follow me.”
Pei Yun had taken a saber cut to the shoulder, Pei Yan’s left leg was wounded, both needed to apply medicine packets and bandage. Mao Hongling had two light wounds on her body but could still walk, and she silently followed along without a word.
Corpses lay scattered all over the posthouse, some big soldiers, some bandits, and some women’s corpses.
No one cried.
After a night of bloody fighting to the death, everyone was desperately trying to survive, corpses everywhere. Bandits could die, big soldiers could die, even the postmaster and posthouse clerks in the posthouse had died—did that mean Pei Clan women couldn’t die?
Pei Qinghe was right. To survive, one had only to fight with all one’s strength.
Pei Qinghe wielded a saber, chopping off a bandit’s head: “Chop off all the bandits’ heads, in case someone is playing dead and hiding among them.”
Mao Hongling held a spear in her left hand and picked up a long saber in her right, suddenly wielding a saber and chopping off a head. Blood splashed onto her skirt hem, blooming like a blood flower.
At this moment, the former Pei family’s second young madam was completely gone; the one surviving was Mao Hongling.
The Pei Clan women each gritted their teeth and went to chop off bandits’ heads.
Suddenly, a cry of alarm!
A blood-soaked figure that hadn’t moved suddenly jumped up.
Pei Qinghe was prepared. Her right hand moved, and the long saber flew out.
The sharp long saber pierced the bandit’s chest, and with remaining force, embedded into the tree trunk.
That bandit playing dead let out a miserable cry and was firmly nailed to the tree by the long saber. Blood flowed down along the saber hilt.
The rescued Xu Shi was the cousin-in-law of the fourth branch, twenty-seven years old this year. Xu Shi had escaped death, her heart pounding like thunder, breathing rapid, her delicate face deathly pale.
Pei Qinghe said to Xu Shi: “Be more careful next time.”
Xu Shi was still shaken, mechanically nodding.
Pei Qinghe said again: “You go chop off his head.”
Xu Shi had never killed even a chicken in her life. During tonight’s fighting to the death, she had always hidden in the back and hadn’t fought much. Now directed by Pei Qinghe to step forward, she gritted her teeth, wielded a saber, and chopped down.
But she didn’t use enough force properly, and the saber got stuck in the bone seam.
Xu Shi didn’t know if it was shame or guilt, but her face flushed bright red.
Pei Qinghe didn’t mock Xu Shi. She took the saber from Xu Shi’s hand, gave a slight pull, and drew the saber back. Then she chopped off the bandit’s head.
As easily and naturally as a farmer chopping a head of cabbage.
Xu Shi moved her mouth but couldn’t say a word, turned her head, and vomited all over the ground.
A vague and distant scene flashed through Pei Qinghe’s mind.
Her first time killing was at fourteen. The Pei family exiled womenfolk had a hard time surviving in the exile land. From time to time, local thugs or bandits would come, either to demand grain or with ideas of taking advantage. After conflicts arose, fights were inevitable.
Her face disfigured, her mood gloomy, she struck without restraint and split a bandit dead with a cleaver.
After killing, she vomited once and had nightmares for several nights in a row. Later, after killing more, she got used to it.
After busying for more than half an hour, they caught two playing dead. All the bandits’ heads were chopped off and piled together, extremely horrifying, like Asura Hell.
There was something more important next.
“Pick up all the weapons.”
Pei Qinghe solemnly instructed: “Rinse them clean with water and pack them into grain bags. Hide them in the cellar first.”
Mao Hongling hesitated slightly and asked in a low voice: “Shouldn’t we discuss it with Captain Sun and Guard Gao?”
Pei Qinghe said indifferently: “Annihilating over a hundred bandits, all the military merit goes to them. I’m just taking some insignificant spoils of war—do I need to discuss it?”
That was true.
After a night of intense fighting to the death, the bandits were killed off completely. Pei Qinghe charged in front, killed the most, and most ferociously. The leading fierce bandit died under Pei Qinghe’s saber, which was a key turning point for this battle’s complete victory. Saying Pei Qinghe was the greatest contributor would not be an exaggeration.
Pei Qinghe didn’t want this merit and gave it all to Captain Sun and Guard Gao, only asking for some bandits’ weapons—which of them had the face to object?
There was a deeper meaning, which Pei Qinghe didn’t voice.
These seized weapons were all forged from fine iron. Better than the weapons in Captain Sun’s hands. How could ordinary bandits have such sharp weapons?
Hiding all these sharp weapons, getting through the official inspection, and taking them all away later. Let this gang of mysterious killers be treated just like real bandits, dying quietly without a trace.
This was also a good thing for the Eastern Palace.
The Eastern Palace didn’t need to do anything; just staying steady made them the real winners. Even Pei Zhongde and his brothers hadn’t made the Crown Prince lose his composure—how could he fall out with Prince Wei over Pei Clan female dependents.
Pei Qinghe handling it this way showed an attitude of self-preservation and a stance of not getting to the bottom of things.
Sure enough, after Guard Gao learned of it, he didn’t object and even proactively said to Pei Qinghe: “In this battle, many Pei family womenfolk were killed or wounded. Sixth Sister fought fiercely all night and must be very tired—why not rest first. Leave all subsequent matters to me.”
All smart people—words to the point, enough said.
The master behind this gang of bandits was someone the Pei Clan couldn’t afford to provoke. Guard Gao stepping forward meant the Eastern Palace backing them up. At least it could block some of the ensuing storm.
Pei Qinghe had to accept this favor: “Thank you, Guard Gao.”
Guard Gao looked deeply at Pei Qinghe: “I should thank Sixth Sister. Thanks to Sixth Sister’s calm command, decisive killing, otherwise, the corpses lying on the ground now would probably be us.”
After a night of fierce battle and fighting to the death, Pei Qinghe’s formidable strength needed no further proof. Guard Gao went from shock to admiration, and now calming down, doubts immediately surged in his heart.
Archery like a god, blade techniques fierce—all could be attributed to extraordinary talent. But that calmness in killing, like cutting melons and chopping vegetables—where did it come from?
Could there really be a natural born killer in this world?
Pei Qinghe clearly understood Guard Gao’s doubts, but such things couldn’t be explained, nor needed explaining.
Captain Sun’s excited, hoarse voice suddenly came into her ears: “He’s not dead yet! Quickly call a doctor over!”
Pei Qinghe turned her head to look.
The square-faced big soldier whose right arm had been severed lay in a pool of blood. Everyone thought he was dead and planned to lift him to pile with the other big soldiers’ corpses. But after lifting, the square-faced big soldier actually moved.
Not dead yet, still had one breath left!
Over half of Captain Sun’s fifty subordinates were dead; all the survivors were wounded. There was only one doctor. Captain Sun roared with red eyes, Doctor Bao responded verbally, but couldn’t get there for the moment.
Pei Qinghe stepped forward: “I’ll bandage his wound for him.”
It’s up, first update^_^
