Chapter 204: Enemies

The next morning, during the weighted running exercise, Shen Lie called Wang Yunzheng over and spoke to him for a few moments. By the end of the day, the running chant had changed from the familiar “Thousand Word Classic” to “The Analects,” which both Wang Yunzheng and Shen An preferred.

Sang Luo nearly laughed aloud when she remembered the playful remark from the night before.

On the other hand, Qin Fangniang, who had stayed outside the valley on the first day, was astonished when she heard the change from afar. She turned to Chen Youtian and asked, “Do they always run while reciting books?”

Chen Youtian’s dark face was all smiles. “Yes, not only do they recite while running, but they also write during their rest periods when they’re not practicing martial arts. Shen Lie requires this and will periodically have Qinghe test them. So, it’s better for the second mountain to stay outside. They improve their skills, and they also learn to read and write quite a bit.”

He added to Qin Fangniang, “In fact, it’s not just our valley. If you follow behind, you’ll see that the local young men and boys keep their distance but follow along and quietly learn stick techniques.”

Qin Fangniang clicked her tongue in amazement, feeling as though the world had changed after not being out for a while.

In the cave, Chen Dashan was still savoring the experience from the previous night. Now, he was teasing Zhou Ge, and with the cave door tightly shut, he had previously convinced Zhou Ge that it was still dark outside. However, with the loud sounds of reading coming from outside, Zhou Ge wasn’t fooled anymore. Embarrassed, she refused to continue and hurriedly got up to prepare tea for her in-laws.

By the second day after the three-day return visit, the wooden house only had Chen Youtian and Chen Ershan left.

Zhou Ge was puzzled and looked at Chen Dashan. He explained, “My grandparents, mother, and younger sister have other places to stay and have already gone back. Since you’ve married into this family, I won’t hide anything from you. I’ll take you there when the opportunity arises.”

Zhou Ge’s eyes widened slightly, and without thinking, she shook her head. “No, I’m fine here. Don’t tell me about it for now.”

She felt something was off. When the families left together, Zhou Village only saw Zhou Dalang and Zhou Silang, but not Zhou Cunzheng, the women, or the two younger children. The Shi family was also missing Shi Erlang’s wife and a few children, and the Lu family only had Lu Erlanglang and Lu Sanlanglang.

On the day Zhou Ge first moved in, she only heard that the people from the cave or house did not come out to join the fun. Over the next two days, no one appeared. While the adults could be said to be out hunting or gathering, it seemed unlikely that the young children were taken along.

However, Zhou Ge remembered what her mother had said when she first entered the inner valley and did not become too curious. This morning, her confusion grew as she noticed the absence of elder family members.

Chen Dashan, seeing her shaking her head so vigorously, was filled with affection. He genuinely liked her more and more and said with a smile, “You don’t need to go over there now; I wouldn’t want you to. But don’t mention our affairs back home. Although I think your parents might guess some things.”

Chen Dashan knew well that Zhou Ge’s uncles had sent her only to the edge of the village and then left. He was also aware of the mutual support and the maintained distance between the Feng and Gan families, as well as between Zhou’s family and others.

Maintaining some distance among different small groups had become an unspoken understanding in these times.

He held Zhou Ge and said, “That place is like another refuge for our families, a fallback in times of chaos. Don’t worry, if things really get dire, I wouldn’t ignore my in-laws. But ambitious people are mostly active outside. Those who come into the mountains are either seeking refuge or unwilling to cause trouble. There are indeed some wicked individuals, but they shouldn’t form a significant force. Both our villages are increasing their military strength, so self-defense should be manageable.”

Zhou Ge nodded, trusting her husband on this point.

…

On the fourth day after Chen Dashan’s marriage, Zhou Ge joined the martial arts training group. With almost no foundation, she was placed at the end of the line and taught individually by Chen Dashan, often practicing with Sang Luo.

With his own wife starting to train, Chen Dashan would not slack off. With Shen Lie focused on his studies, he gladly handed the responsibility over to him.

When Zhou Ge practiced martial arts with Sang Luo, Mrs. Gan, having nothing else to do, would join in. Seeing Shen Lie and Wei Qinghe reading together from a distance, she would occasionally ask Wei Qinghe questions about anything she didn’t understand and write on the nearby sand table with a wooden stick. She remarked to Sang Luo, “Your Shen Lie seems even more devoted to studying than Yunzheng and Xiao An.”

Could Sang Luo say it was all due to her teasing?

Due to the limitations of the bamboo slips, a volume of “The Analects” contained only three sections and a little over two thousand characters, but many of these characters were not in the “Thousand Word Classic.” Shen Lie learned quickly.

Thinking back to how she had teased him the night before, Shen Lie had pressed her down on his lap, and although his breathing was disordered, he had done nothing but lightly rub his fingers on her lips and whisper near her ear, “Just wait; I still have two more sections to read.”

The gaze, voice, and warm breath on her ear made Sang Luo’s heart… race.

How many times had they crossed paths?

Shen Lie knew how to tempt her.

…

With food and shelter, martial arts practice, and reliable neighbors, life in the mountains was peaceful and serene, almost making one forget that the outside world was still in turmoil.

But this was only an illusion.

On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, snow began to fall in the mountains.

It wasn’t just at the peaks anymore but snowing heavily all over, with thick snow accumulation. Stepping down, one’s whole shoe would sink into the snow.

Shen Lie decided to stop the morning exercises and let everyone stay warm. Sang Luo and Shen Ning had prepared several fur coats in advance, and the family finally put them on.

The group of young boys would not stay idle in the winter. Catching mountain chickens in the snow was easier than before, and they would often head out to the nearby mountains early in the morning. They had some self-defense skills, so the adults left them to it.

The second year in the mountains was much colder than the first. The snow continued intermittently until the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month. Fortunately, despite the lack of many things in the mountains, firewood was not one of them. Otherwise, Sang Luo couldn’t imagine how people hidden in the mountains would survive such a cold winter.

Life outside the village was relatively better. On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, every family made traditional porridge, filling the air with the sweet aroma of mixed beans. It was a time meant for warmth and celebration, but the porridge was ready before Shen Jin and Shen An returned.

During the day, a fire burned in the cave, and without closing the door, Sang Luo and Shen Ning frequently looked outside. After several glances, they saw Erniu and Zhou Silang rushing back from afar. Zhou Silang went to another house, while Erniu came straight to their side, calling out for his master from a distance.

Sang Luo’s heart skipped a beat, and Shen Lie quickly went out to meet them.

“Master, outsiders have entered the inner valley. There are about forty to fifty of them. Xiao Jin seems to have recognized a few enemies who harmed Tianya and followed them. They’re heading towards Zhou’s village. I came back to report.”

Both Shen Lie and Sang Luo’s expressions changed. Fortunately, Xu Wenqing, Xu Wenhong, Zhou Sanlang, Ershan, and Daniu were also present. Although Xu Wenbo, Shen An, and Shen Jin were smaller and weaker, their months of training were not in vain.

Shen Lie immediately grabbed a knife and a bow and arrow, instructing Sang Luo, “I’m going out to find Uncle Lu Erlang and Uncle Lu Sanlang. Gather the remaining people in the village to our house. It’s unlikely anyone will come this way, but it’s safer to have everyone together.”

This meant that Chen Dashan and most of the able-bodied men would stay behind.

Sang Luo, seeing the group of forty to fifty people, frowned. She decided to take a long stick and a bow and arrow, calling Shen Ning. “Lock the door. We’ll go out together.”

The entrance to the valley was always well hidden, and with the thick snow covering it, there was little risk of it being discovered. There was no need for anyone to stay behind.

The families living even further out than Shen Lie’s had received the news earlier. Zhou Ge, along with Chen Dashan, hurried out, followed by Xu Wenyin with the Xu family.

There was no need for further mobilization; everyone quickly gathered their gear, locked their doors, and followed Erniu and Zhou Silang out.

Xu Wenqing and the others weren’t worried about finding help because the footprints in the snow were very clear.

Normally, it took over twenty minutes to reach Zhou’s village from their location, but since they were accustomed to running with weights every morning, they reached their destination in less than fifteen minutes.

“Master, outsiders have entered the inner valley. There are about forty to fifty people. Xiao Jin seems to have recognized some enemies who harmed Tianya and followed them. They’re heading towards Zhou’s village. I came back to report.”

Both Shen Lie and Sang Luo’s expressions changed immediately. Fortunately, Xu Wenqing, Xu Wenhong, Zhou Sanlang, Ershan, and Daniu were present. Although Xu Wenbo, Shen An, and Shen Jin were younger and weaker, their months of training were not in vain.

Shen Lie quickly grabbed a knife and bow and arrow, instructing Sang Luo, “I’m going to find Uncle Lu Erlang and Uncle Lu Sanlang. Gather everyone remaining in the village to our house. It’s unlikely anyone will come this way, but it’s safer to have everyone together.”

This meant that Chen Dashan and most of the able-bodied men would stay behind.

Sang Luo, seeing the group of forty to fifty people, frowned. She took a long stick and a bow and arrow, calling Shen Ning. “Lock the door. We’ll go out together.”

The entrance to the valley was well hidden, and with the thick snow covering it, there was little risk of discovery. There was no need for anyone to stay behind.

Families living even further out than Shen Lie’s had received the news earlier. Zhou Ge, along with Chen Dashan, hurried out, followed by Xu Wenyin and the Xu family.

There was no need for further mobilization; everyone quickly gathered their gear, locked their doors, and followed Erniu and Zhou Silang out.

Xu Wenqing and the others weren’t worried about finding help because the footprints in the snow were very clear.

Normally, it took over twenty minutes to reach Zhou’s village from their location, but since they were accustomed to running with weights every morning, they reached their destination in less than fifteen minutes.

—

The group of forty to fifty people, mostly young men, had already confronted the villagers led by the Feng family.

Before they even began to fight, Xu Wenqing led his group of disciples into hiding in the bushes, ready to act. Shen Lie and his group arrived quickly, so there was no need to hide anymore. Xu Wenqing’s disciples emerged from the bushes one by one at his call.

Shen Jin, holding his bow and arrow tightly, was visibly tense. Seeing Shen Lie, he said with a quiver in his voice, “Big Brother, the family who married Wang Meiniang is among those people. The four brothers are there too. Tianya was taken to their house by my father.”

When the villagers first heard about the marriage with Wang Meiniang’s family, they didn’t know the details. But once they learned how Tianya had disappeared, everyone realized it was those who had taken her.

Chen Youtian and the others tightly gripped their long sticks, hoes, and axes. The group of attackers had no elderly or children—only young men, many of whom were mixed up with the four brothers. They had no intention of dealing with such a dangerous crowd.

Xu’s and Feng’s faces were grim as they looked at the opposing group. The four brothers were recognizable to them, but now they only saw the backs of their heads and couldn’t identify them.

The attackers also noticed Shen Lie’s group. Every person among them, whether young, female, or half-grown children, was armed, and many had bows and arrows in their backpacks. This setup was similar to the situation when they first saw the group of outsiders in the village.

These marauders, who usually preyed on others, had not expected that, upon entering the inner valley and just discovering signs of habitation, they would be surrounded by attackers from both sides. The combined force from both sides was significantly larger than theirs, causing them to hesitate and fall into a defensive triangle.

The leader of the attackers, who had initially shown greed upon seeing the fields, chicken coops, and houses, now put on a somewhat innocent face. “What’s this about? We’re just passing through. Is it not allowed to pass through here with sticks and weapons?”

Several elderly members of the Feng family scrutinized the group of attackers, who clearly did not seem like good people. Before they could speak, Shen Lie and Chen Dashan’s group had closed in further.

“Passing through is fine, but among you are our enemies. Leave the people behind first.” Shen Lie notched an arrow and addressed Shen Jin, “Draw your bow and shoot the four you recognize. If you can’t shoot them, just point them out to me. I’ll provide the arrows.”

To the attackers, Shen Lie said, “My brother’s archery isn’t perfect. If any of you are hit, it’s your own fault. If anyone tries to run, I won’t recognize the enemies. Whoever tries to flee, our arrows will follow.”

As Shen Lie readied his bow, Chen Youtian and the others, who were armed with hoes and axes, were joined by the disciples who also drew their bows. The formation changed rapidly, ready for battle.

On the other side, Feng Dalang, Feng Erlang, and Gan Erlang, who were Shen Lie’s formal disciples, quickly prepared their arrows. If the master said there were enemies among them, there was no need for discussion. They lined up and notched their arrows.

If these three were the disciples, then those who had learned from them were considered unofficial disciples. They moved almost instinctively with Feng Dalang and his group.

What had started as a tentative approach quickly escalated. In just a few moments, seventy to eighty arrows were aimed at them. Those who had been marauding outside, now covered in sweat from the cold, retreated instinctively, fearful of Shen Lie’s words and the impending attack.

“What enemies? We just arrived!”

Several people’s faces showed their distress. They knew well what their group had done before but didn’t recognize Shen Lie and the child with him. Frustrated, they wondered which of them had provoked such a deadly force.

“But now is not the time for internal disputes!” someone urgently said. “Don’t shoot arrows randomly. Point out who is who, and clarify the grievances first.”

Shen Lie didn’t waste time with words. He knew Shen Jin’s archery skills well, having personally taught him. “Draw your arrows.”

Several women among the attackers screamed, “Don’t shoot randomly! Let us disperse!”

The crowd was visibly in chaos. Behind them was a vegetable patch surrounded by wooden fences, leaving them with nowhere to retreat. They scrambled to spread out to the sides. Xu Wenqing and his group, aware of the attackers’ background, showed no mercy. Anyone trying to run was targeted, aiming for their legs to avoid killing them.

Cries of pain and confusion erupted. Shen Jin didn’t look around; he focused on the four brothers he finally recognized and shot an arrow at one of them.

From the moment Xu Wenqing fired the first arrow, the group fell into disarray. The leaders, wielding knives to block arrows, shouted in anger, “We’ll fight you!”

Within three breaths, their bravery faltered, and they scrambled for cover behind a tree, holding their heads. The arrows were too numerous. Fortunately, as long as they stopped moving erratically, they were not attacked, so they quickly raised their hands and crouched down.

After Shen Jin’s first arrow, Shen Lie quickly followed with a second. The iron arrows and bamboo arrows were different, especially with Shen Lie’s strength. His arrows even penetrated the thick winter clothing.

To avoid accidental injury, Shen Lie aimed most of his follow-up arrows at their legs.

When Shen Jin saw one of the enemies kneeling, trembling as he notched another arrow, the three brothers had already started fleeing in different directions.

This was a clear signal. Shen Lie and Chen Dashan each fired two arrows, while Gan Erlang and Feng Dalang each fired one. The three fleeing brothers found their legs barely able to move because Shen Lie’s and Chen Dashan’s iron arrows had nearly pierced their thighs.

At this point, Shen Lie asked Shen Jin, “Are these the four?”

Shen Jin, gripping his bow tightly, confirmed, “Yes.”

—

Given such deep-seated enmity, it was impossible to let this group escape. Shen Lie outlined the grievances with the four brothers. The faces of the Feng, Zhou, Gan, and Zheng families changed drastically. Those holding arrows and long sticks tightened their grips, and the encircling force began to close in.

As they closed in tighter around the group, the faces of Zheng Tuhui, who wielded a butcher’s knife, and his sons turned grim.

A young woman, hit in the leg by an arrow, recognized by the Zheng family, cried out in desperation, “In-laws, in-laws, I’m Daniu’s sister-in-law. Please save me!”

“Save you?” Zheng Tuhui’s murderous intent flared up immediately. With a fierce lunge, he swung his butcher’s knife down.

The knife only struck the woman’s leg, and Zheng Dalang stopped his father, casting a scrutinizing look at each person in the group.

“Monsters, a bunch of monsters. Not one of you will leave today.”