Chapter 18: Sneaking Into Niu Xin Village At Night
After leaving Xie Yuzhu’s house, Su Yan’s gaze became a few degrees colder.
He had originally planned to first learn martial arts well at the martial arts school, then free up his hands to deal with Niu Han and his gang, and avenge his grudge.
But he hadn’t expected Niu Han and the others to rush over impatiently to cause trouble for him.
‘This is something you brought on yourselves.’
Su Yan first returned home, cleaned up the messy courtyard, rebuilt the bamboo racks, put the baskets and winnowing baskets together, and only then returned to the room.
He tidied up what needed tidying, cooked what needed cooking, put the rice in the pot, and then stood for an hour of Golden Ape Stance Training inside the room.
Time passed bit by bit, and finally night fell.
A round moon like a jade plate peeked out from the shadowy treetops and hung high in the sky.
The sky was pitch black, stars sparse, with only Silver Radiance accompanying the strange insect chirps in the mountain valley sprinkling down between the village and the paths.
Su Yan changed clothes, covered his face, and quietly flipped out of the courtyard.
His feet moved with light Monkey Leap Steps, quietly and quickly heading out from the most remote road in the village.
Su Yan didn’t light a lamp, relying on the night color, and headed straight for Niu Xin Village seven or eight li away.
Although Niu Han was a local ruffian who lent at high interest to mountain villagers in the surrounding ten li and eight townships, he didn’t have the ability to gain a foothold in Yun Cang Town.
First, he bullied the kind and feared the wicked, with all his skills on the gang of ruffians gathered around him, and all profits coming from this lending business.
If he entered the city, he couldn’t bring all his brothers along, and being far from the mountains, he feared another Zhu Han or Zhao Han type would emerge, losing his foundation.
So the guy still lived in his old home, which was Niu Xin Village.
‘Zhao Er Laizi and the others are injured and will surely complain to Niu Han and call for backup. Given their severed hands and feet, their pace is definitely not fast; this seven or eight li road should take them until dusk.’
Su Yan pondered in his heart, calculating his previous scheme.
If they arrived at dusk, even if Niu Han was furious, he wouldn’t be able to gather people overnight to cause trouble.
After all, besides reporting the news, they couldn’t ignore treating Zhao Er Laizi and the others’ injuries.
In this way, the night might just be the time to gather people for discussion.
Su Yan hurried quickly and soon reached the outskirts of Niu Xin Village.
Looking from afar, he saw a crude wooden archway built at the village entrance, with crisscrossing paths and fields of rice stretching out.
In the rice fields, frog croaks filled the air, and mountain wind made the rice fields rustle.
Su Yan stood on a small hillside, scanning the entire layout of Niu Xin Village at a glance.
“It’s quite a bit larger than Yun Qian Village, after all, it has a mountain stream and is right next to four or five mountain peaks.”
Using the moonlight, he roughly determined the location: Niu Han lived on the inner side of Niu Xin Village, under the cluster of bamboo groves at the foot of the mountain.
Although Su Yan had never been there, he had heard of the place many times, not knowing how many poor families had borrowed money here.
He didn’t enter the village directly but circled around a large loop, quietly approaching from the outskirts.
The village was quiet, but there were quite a few village dogs with sharp ears.
‘It’s quite spacious.’
Su Yan spotted Niu Han’s courtyard not far from the bamboo grove.
Gray brick walls enclosed a large area, plastered with white lime, starkly different from the surrounding yellow mud ground.
The courtyard was huge, with several brick-and-wood structured houses inside—black tiles, hardwood, red bricks—though not comparable to Yun Cang Town, far more impressive than other houses in the village.
At this time, the estate was brightly lit, with faint voices of many people coming from within.
Su Yan released the Yin Water Centipede, which climbed along the wall, flipped over the enclosure, and landed on the roof tiles.
As for himself, he looked around, found an inconspicuous spot, lightly leaped with Monkey Leap Step, grabbed with his hand, and using the crackling sound of mountain wind blowing the bamboo, flipped up silently.
“Are you fucking telling the truth? Did that Su Yan really say he practiced martial arts?”
Inside the room, Niu Han’s eyes flickered with cold light as he stared intently at Zhao Er Laizi slumped on the bed.
Zhao Er Laizi had failed in his task, and now being stared at by the sturdy Niu Han like a bear, he panicked in his heart.
“Big Brother, I’m not lying. He really practiced martial arts; in just three or two moves, he took down me and Niu Daqi and the others.”
Niu Daqi with the severed hand and the others nearby chimed in: “Big Brother, he said it himself; you can find him at the Golden Ape Martial Arts School. He probably really practiced martial arts.”
Niu Han frowned slightly: “People from Golden Ape Martial Arts School—that’s tricky to handle; using heavy hands might offend someone.”
“Big Brother, why fear him? Golden Ape Martial Arts School requires a year as a registered disciple; he’s only been prominent for a few days, definitely not an outer disciple. Would Golden Ape Martial Arts School care for him…”
“You know shit.”
Niu Han directly scolded the fellow villager thugs he had summoned tonight.
“He just paid the tuition, and right after, we crippled him. Do you think Golden Ape Martial Arts School will let it go?”
The speaking thug didn’t dare make a sound; this was equivalent to smashing their place, and the martial artists of Golden Ape Martial Arts School wouldn’t let someone cut off their money line.
“Big Brother, then… what to do? Little Mountain Association is pressing hard, short on servants to enter the mountains, and that kid looks handsome; some lords in Little Mountain Association might want to…”
Niu Han was furious at this little brother, cursing inwardly: ‘A pig brain; that kid only learned for a few days and could already take down four or five men. If he enters the outer sect and reaches Skin Refining Realm, would he spare us?’
How Su Dahe died was inseparable from people here.
Su Dahe’s cheap life brought him a full three stalks of Black Rock Ginseng.
One stalk exchanged for twenty taels of silver, all divided among the little brothers.
The remaining two stalks became his stepping stone, given to big shots in Little Mountain Association, earning him a set of Earth Wolf Stance Training and becoming a peripheral member.
‘No, must find a method to deal with that kid. I’ve only barely reached Skin Refining Minor Accomplishment after months; if he keeps practicing…’
Niu Han’s heart chilled, unconsciously growing afraid.
“Niu Dang.”
“Brother, what’s up?”
“Go spread the word: come drink at my place tonight, and tomorrow morning head to Yun Qian Village to collect debts.”
“Cousin, what about Golden Ape Martial Arts School?”
“Bring more people, make sure Yun Qian Village folks keep their mouths shut. If that kid dies in the mountains, what does it have to do with us? Bribe a bit afterward.”
Niu Han was prepared to use dirty tricks; although selling Su Yan would be more valuable, he needed to be more decisive now.
For ordinary poor families, make an enemy and that’s it; no matter how fierce, they couldn’t turnaround.
But that dog spawn was different; having some talent, just send him to reunite with his idiot father.
Someone dying in the mountains was the most normal thing.
Niu Dang led two or three young men out under the moonlight.
Su Yan crouched on the eaves, hearing clearly, and saw the situation inside through the gap.
A cold smile like a knife on his face, his gaze icy as if looking at dead men.
‘Where’s the tiger rearing trouble? Even a lender is this decisive; it’s all man eating man, but just what I want.’
Inside the room now remained only seven or eight people: five wounded including Zhao Er Laizi, and two others with vastly different builds from Niu Han, easily distinguishable at a glance.
Su Yan’s gaze shifted slightly, sending a mental message to the Yin Water Centipede.
The Yin Water Centipede’s antennae twitched, memorizing the scents of Niu Han and the others.
With preparations ready, taking advantage of Niu Han temporarily leaving the room and going out.
Su Yan quietly flipped down and flipped over the wall to leave again.
A dark moon and high wind make a murder night, but unfortunately, not yet.
Not enough people gathered, and he had some loose ends not yet cleaned up.
When the third or fifth watch comes, then let the King of Hell claim their lives.
