Blossom In Adversity - Vol. 2

C256. Taking What's Ours.

Chapter 256: Taking What's Ours

Hua Zhi looked up at the ceiling, the only movement she could make without strain. "It's different. If I were weak and helpless, I'd stay home in the capital and never step foot outside. But I can defend myself, so I chose to come south myself to ensure this deal is concluded to my satisfaction."

Perhaps due to her injuries, a wave of nostalgia washed over her, making her voice grow hoarse. "Caocao, do you know what my grandfather is like?"

Shao Yao looked up, unsure why Hua Zhi would mention this, but she shook her head honestly. She had never been interested in court officials.

Hua Zhi smiled, "Despite his age, he's incredibly naive, and he's a loyalist to the bone. He believes that there are no useless kings, only useless ministers. He says if all ministers do their jobs well, even a slightly foolish king wouldn't ruin a prosperous empire. He told me that when he was young, he hated reading. His grandfather punished him by making him kneel in the ancestral hall, count numbers, and label every object in the house. His grandfather tried everything to make him love reading, but it only made him want to vomit at the sight of books. Even so, his grandfather wouldn't give up. He said he wanted to run away from home and never come back."

Hua Zhi closed her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering slightly. "Once, he hid. He was actually hiding in the ancestral hall, but no one found him. Everyone in the mansion was frantic. No matter how much they called out, he wouldn't come out. Then he saw his grandfather kneel in front of all the ancestral tablets and cry, saying that if the Hua family line was broken, it was broken. He wouldn't force him anymore. He would go to the underworld and apologize to the ancestors after he died, as long as his grandson could return safely. That was when my Grandfather understood what the Hua surname truly represented. After that, no one forced him anymore, but he did better than anyone else. He was a clean old man. His clothes had to be spotless, without a single wrinkle, and his heart had to be pure, as if there was a filter in front of his heart that kept out all the bad things."

Hua Zhi opened her eyes and met Shao Yao's startled gaze. Her smile was gentle. "So, Caocao, I have to uphold the Hua family. Everything the Hua family owns must be earned by the Hua family through our own abilities. Even if we can only barely survive, even if we can only live in a remote corner, we won't take shortcuts, and we won't bow our heads. We will have a clear conscience. That way, when he returns one day, he can accept everything the Hua family owns with peace of mind. It's naive, isn't it? But how could I disappoint him?"

"Even if you're always covered in wounds?"

"To be honest, I never thought I would have to fight hand-to-hand and risk my life. In those peaceful times, it was something only those who carried heavy burdens had to endure." She was the victor, and that was enough.

Shao Yao bit her lip, feeling even more uncomfortable. She didn't know why. Perhaps it was because Hua Zhi spoke so lightly, or perhaps it was because she was moved by Hua Zhi's feelings for her grandfather.

Bao Xia brought in a bowl of water with alcohol. "I asked the innkeeper for their strongest liquor and added some."

"Good job," Hua Zhi praised her. "Xiao Liu is injured too. Remember to clean his wounds later."

"Yes."

Hua Zhi felt her vision blur, and she knew that cleaning her wounds would be painful. She decided to faint. She couldn't hold on any longer.

Her spirit scattered, and she knew no more. Bao Xia carefully helped her mistress lie down, turned her head to wipe away her tears, and joined with Shao Yao in tending to her mistress’ wounds. If she could, she wished these injuries were on her instead.

*

Meanwhile, as the battle here quieted, the situation in Yuzhou grew increasingly intense.

Gu Yanxi, his face concealed by a mask, stood in the courtyard, a longbow in hand. Beside him were bamboo tubes filled with arrows, one already empty, the other nearly so. The Seven Stars Bureau members surrounding him were similarly equipped, and they continued to fire relentlessly as wave after wave of attackers surged forward.

Each member of the Seven Stars Bureau was proficient in various weapons, but they were especially skilled in four: the whip, the bow, the twin hooks, and the sword. The first two were for long-range attacks, while the latter two were for close combat. Combined, their combat effectiveness was doubled.

At this moment, they were using the bow and twin hooks in tandem. Any attacker who managed to avoid the arrows was caught by the hooks and killed instantly. Their leader had given the order: no survivors.

The bamboo tubes were now empty.

Discarding his bow, Gu Yanxi drew his long whip, and the members of the Seven Stars Bureau followed suit.

“Faster,” he commanded.

Understanding, the others struck with even greater ferocity.

Gu Yanxi suddenly turned to look at the corridor. Haoyue stood there, Chen Qing at her side. Without hesitation, Gu Yanxi said, “Please leave.”

Haoyue smiled lightly and took a graceful step forward, her demeanor as calm as could be. “I am not a burden.”

Gu Yanxi flicked his whip, its tail stopping just inches from Haoyue’s face, blocking her path. “Please leave.”

As if she understood his unwavering determination, Haoyue gave him a deep look and, without arguing, left the courtyard.

Chen Qing was about to speak when he saw four bureau members leaping down from the rooftop and quickly fell silent.

“Leader, the enemy is making a move. The rearguard is beginning to retreat.”

“Do you know which direction they’re heading?”

“North.”

Gu Yanxi looked at the enemy still pressing forward. If they were truly retreating, they should be doing so together, rather than having the rearguard retreat while the vanguard continued as before. Retreating north...

Something was wrong.

“They know where Yuan Shifang is going. Leave these bodies here and reinforce Qingliu Camp.”

“Yes.”

However, when they arrived at Qingliu Camp, the situation was far worse than they had anticipated. The ground was littered with corpses, most of them wearing the uniforms of the Great Daqing Dynasty, outnumbered by the enemy by a ratio of ten to one or more.

A ratio of ten to one. Lu Yanxi was secretly alarmed. This was the difference between the Great Daqing Dynasty and the Chaoli tribe. Despite years of suppressing the Chaoli tribe, their combat effectiveness had not declined at all. This tribe was terrifying.

At this moment, he had no time to dwell on it. With a few gestures, he divided the members of the Seven Stars Bureau into groups of four and sent them in different directions. Chen Qing remained by Gu Yanxi’s side.

They found the main tent, where the battle was most intense. Lu Peiyue and her remaining deputy were back-to-back, fighting against nine enemies, both of them wounded. Another person emerged from the tent, carrying Yuan Shifang on their shoulders.

Gu Yanxi and Chen Qing worked together seamlessly. One attacked the person carrying Yuan Shifang, while the other entangled the others with his whip, snatching Yuan Shifang away in a single move.

Lu Peiyue’s heart finally settled. As long as Yuan Shifang was safe, they had not lost!

Throwing Yuan Shifang to the ground, Gu Yanxi swung his whip again, wrapping it around the man who had abandoned Lu Peiyue to attack him and slamming him into the ground. This move was a signature technique of the Seven Stars Bureau, created by Gu Yanxi himself.