Similar to most war developments, during the stalemate phase, it was often difficult to determine a winner, and casualties were not significant.
Once one side retreated, when it came time for reckoning, blood would flow like rivers, and the dead would be countless.
As the starlight of the night receded, and the first ray of dawn was about to break through the darkness, it was the darkest hour of the day.
Ning Yue stopped his blade in front of a vermilion-lacquered gate; the Xiaoqis behind him already had their pockets bulging, their eyes bloodshot, while the various minor officials had also drunk a bowl of 'hot soup,' their mouths slick with oil.
Tonight, he had not made too many moves, but rather monitored all directions, patching up any gaps. Since the He family had been wiped out, the remaining minor scoundrels held no interest for him.
Whispering Blade does not slay the nameless!
With a master like Ning Yue as their backing, the Xiaoqis no longer hesitated, fully attacking gates and smashing temples. By now, only one family remained un-purged...
The Zhang Residence—the family of Ning Qian, Ning Yue’s Elder sister!
“I should avoid suspicion, so I won’t go in. Finish it quickly!” Ning Yue gave the order and walked aside by himself.
Participating in the illicit sale of imperial military equipment, let alone Ning Yue being a mere Xiaoqi, even a Thousand Households or a Zhenfu would find it difficult to protect them, especially since Xue Zhenfu had reported it to Zhao City Lord tonight, who personally approved the action.
The few Xiaoqis exchanged glances, understanding Ning Yue’s concerns, and nodded tacitly.
They split into four groups, attacking the Zhang Residence from all sides!
Before long, shouts of killing echoed through the courtyard, growing more intense.
Ning Yue heard the desperate resistance of the protectors, fearless in the face of death; he heard his brother-in-law Zhang Qi Ming’s hoarse wails and his Elder sister Ning Qian’s faint screams.
He got up and walked further and further away, until the night swallowed him...
Soon after, the crowing of roosters was accompanied by the sound of the night watchman’s rhythmic three long and two short beats.
“Early to bed, early to rise, take care of your body!”
The night watchman’s melodious voice pierced through the darkness, spreading in all directions.
A few scattered travelers went their separate ways; breakfast stalls were set up one after another. Soon, hot oil sizzled, and the cries of vendors and porters gradually began to sound.
Ning Yue was wondering why the speed of this house raid was so slow.
Wei Xian, who had completed a specific task, rushed over, “Ning Yue, several protectors in the Zhang Residence are fighting to the death. Our Xiaoqis, out of consideration for your relationship with the master, dare not push too hard, so the battle is at a stalemate...”
“Is the lead protector the one with a large mole on his chin?!”
Wei Xian suddenly looked up, “Precisely!”
Whispering Blade hummed softly in its sheath, and Ning Yue’s lips curled into a cold sneer, “So it’s an old acquaintance. Let’s go, I’ll meet him!”
......
The crowd slowly parted to both sides. A hundred minor officials, dispersed to various residences to guard prisoners, now numbered less than fifty, orderly lined up on both sides.
Seeing this, several Xiaoqis also withdrew from the battle.
Only Li Protector remained, along with several burly strong men, slowly panting heavily in place.
Upon seeing this formation, Li Protector’s heart sank. He knew that an important figure must have come because the battle was deadlocked, but now his stamina was severely depleted, and he was powerless.
Just as he was about to feel helpless, he saw Ning Yue’s figure, and he smiled, “Who do I see? It’s my old subordinate, the one I defeated in the past!”
“We parted ways before the New Year, and I beat you so badly you ran away with your tail between your legs. How dare you show up at my door today?!” Li Protector’s fierce eyes, still bloodthirsty from the recent fight, overflowed with killing intent.
Finally, he threatened coldly, “If you dare take one step forward, today I will fight you for a hundred rounds and grant you another defeat!”
Upon hearing this, all six Xiaoqis, including Xue Youwei, were startled and immediately perked up their ears.
Facing this former colleague, who was destined to become their superior, this was a rare piece of embarrassing history.
Zhang Qi Ming finally recognized that familiar yet strange face at this moment and cried out, “Ning Yue! How have my Zhang Residence ever offended you? Do you intend to wipe out my entire family, destroy my whole clan? You *******...”
Facing the officials, he was submissive, but facing Ning Yue, he struck hard!
He began to hurl incessant insults!
Ning Yue’s gaze passed through the crowd, seeing his Elder sister already fainted on the ground, terrified.
He calmly lifted his eyes, his expression undisturbed.
“Clang!” Whispering Blade appeared, becoming the first ray of dawn that day!
In the blink of an eye, Li Protector’s eyes were wide open, his disbelieving head, accompanied by blood, rolled to the ground!
“Uh...” Zhang Qi Ming was like a rooster with its neck squeezed, unable to utter another word. Beads of sweat the size of beans ran down his neck, dripping onto his heart, chilling him.
He had seen Ning Yue in his youth, submissive and full of envy at the luxury of the Zhang Residence.
He had seen Ning Yue when he first became a Xiaoqi, full of spirit when he came to their door, and then fleeing in disarray when Li Protector kicked him to the ground.
But today, Ning Yue seemed like a different person!
Decisive in killing, the murderous intent in his eyes was like a monstrous glutton, devouring the entire Zhang Residence.
“Any further resistance will be met with death without mercy!” Ning Yue’s voice was as cold as ice, leaving the Xiaoqis stunned.
After Ning Yue finished speaking, he turned and left the house, leaving the battlefield to the others.
“Ning Yue, you can’t be so heartless and ungrateful! My Zhang family treated you not—Woo woo” Zhang Qi Ming’s words were cut short as his mouth was tightly gagged with a piece of cloth.
But Ning Yue’s steps did not falter; he walked further and further away.
......
Afternoon of April 8th.
“Are you really going to do this?!”
In the Zongqi’s office, Xue Ren looked at Ning Yue in surprise, “These are two second-class merits. How many people toil their whole lives and never get such an opportunity to earn merit.”
“Moreover, Ning Qian from the Zhang Residence is merely a distant relative of yours. Is it worth it?!”
Ning Yue, sitting opposite him, stared at the flickering candlelight, remaining silent.
Xue Ren could only nod helplessly, “Alright, I understand. You may go.”
Ning Yue used the military merits from this extermination of several small families to secure an opportunity for his Elder sister and his niece to avoid imprisonment and return to being ordinary citizens.
This was also a settlement between him and the original body; from then on, they owed each other nothing.
After Ning Yue left,
Butler Fu spoke up to persuade, “To give up military merits within reach for a distant relative, so indecisive, it’s truly absurd. He’s just risen to a high position, so he’s inevitably a bit arrogant. Young Master, please don’t blame him.”
Xue Ren said, “It’s good to be emotional; at least he won’t be ungrateful. If I were to encounter an ungrateful person, then I truly should be worried.”
Butler Fu nodded silently, “Young Master is right.”