Chapter 64: Fierce Battle in the Dead of Night

A slap transformed the arrogant Ai Wanhua into an obedient child in an instant. Especially after seeing the corpses of the servants scattered in the courtyard, his face was filled with terror, trembling and afraid to utter a single word.

The farmer and his wife, having narrowly escaped death, embraced each other and wept bitterly. Once their emotions settled, they both knelt together, kowtowing to Li Yi in gratitude. Li Yi helped them to their feet and spoke in a grave tone, “The Ai family will surely send people here. It’s not safe for you to stay. You should go hide with relatives for a few days.” The farmer thanked him profusely. After the couple gathered their valuables and departed, Li Yi wiped the bloodstains from his Tiger Fang spear, casting a cold gaze at Ai Wanhua.

Ai Wanhua, clutching his face, crouched in the corner, his cheeks bruised and swollen, eyes reduced to narrow slits. Seeing Li Yi’s stern expression, he shrank back, not daring to meet his eyes.

“Inspector, it’s too late now. Shall we detain Ai Wanhua at the Inspection Office for the night and send him to the magistrate in the morning?” someone suggested.

Li Yi shook his head. “If the Ai family gets word of this, they’ll surely send their men to reclaim him. We must head to Mizhi County at once.”

“But the city gates are already closed. We won’t be able to enter now.”

“By the time we arrive, dawn will be near.”

Li Yi gathered the archers, escorted Ai Wanhua, and found a donkey cart to carry the bodies, setting off toward Mizhi County.

Meanwhile, back at the Ai residence, the steward grew suspicious when Ai Wanhua did not return by midnight. He dispatched people to investigate, learning that Ai Wanhua had been seized by Li Yi, and immediately reported this to Ai Yingjia.

Ai Yingjia, who was sleeping soundly with two young maidservants, was shocked upon hearing his second son had been captured by Li Yi.

As Li Yi and his men made their way to Mizhi County, over a dozen swift horses thundered out of the Ai family estate, followed by nearly a hundred armed retainers clad in cloth armor, wielding firearms and crossbows, charging murderously toward the Inspection Office.

Upon arrival, they found no trace of Li Yi and his party. The armed retainers quickly set fire to the Inspection Office, then continued on toward Mizhi County.

Li Yi and his group, driving the donkey cart, were soon overtaken by the leading cavalry squad. The riders surged forward, hooves churning up mud as they charged directly at Li Yi’s group.

“Form a defensive line behind the cart and tie the donkey to a tree,” Li Yi commanded in a low voice, pulling out a short spear and hurling it forcefully.

The spear shot like lightning, piercing the chest of the leading mounted retainer.

He screamed in agony and tumbled from his horse. The other mounted retainers drew their sabers and charged, shouting furiously.

Li Yi sidestepped, twisting his waist, and drove the sharp tip of his spear through the back of a mounted retainer. Grabbing the reins, Li Yi dashed forward, leaping onto a horse and, brandishing the Tiger Fang spear, charged at the squad.

His strength was astonishing; each move thundered like a mountain, impossible to withstand. Several retainers rushed at him with long spears, but he swept them down from their horses with a single strike.

One retainer thrust his spear at Li Yi; Li Yi leaned back, gripping the saddle to dodge, then raised his Tiger Fang spear and stabbed the retainer in the chest. The retainer screamed, flipping off his horse, only to be trampled to death beneath the hooves.

Li Yi, wielding his Tiger Fang spear, charged at the other mounted retainers. He slew several in succession, his eyes tinged with blood as he swung the spear, propelled by the horse’s momentum.

The long, sharp spear flashed like a bolt of silk—retainers charging toward him felt a numbness in their necks as blood spurted forth and their bodies were hurled backward.

Thunderous cries filled the air as Li Yi pressed his horse forward, putting all his strength into every move. Screams and the sound of bones breaking echoed around him. The blood of the mounted retainers stained the spear’s tip and splattered across Li Yi’s face, lending him a cruel, fierce allure.

Meanwhile, Gao Jie led the archers in a paired formation to confront the mounted retainers. However, the cavalry’s overwhelming presence struck fear into their hearts. Gao Jie’s scalp tingled, and, faced with the charging horses, he hurriedly darted aside in terror.

The archers turned pale, and in an instant, the cavalry broke into their formation. The mounted retainers swung their blades, wounding several archers in moments.

Just as they sought to press their advantage, their path was blocked by the wooden cart, disrupting their momentum. Disoriented, one retainer was speared down by an archer; Gao Jie rushed forward, hacking off his neck with a saber.

“Life and death fly to the heavens, only the undying endure! Old and young, follow me and fight!” Gao Jie shouted, brandishing the severed head as he charged at another retainer.

His fierce display rallied the other archers’ spirits. Seizing the chance as the mounted retainers were blocked by the cart, they swarmed in to attack.

In moments, three horses were brought down, their riders thrown to the ground and killed before they could even rise.

Within a blink, half of the mounted retainers were slain or wounded. The survivors, seeing the tide turn against them, spurred their horses and fled.

“Don’t pursue. Tend to the wounded, gather the horses, and hurry to Mizhi County,” Li Yi called out, halting the bloodthirsty Gao Jie.

Gao Jie regained his composure and quickly led his men to collect horses and weapons.

Without daring to linger, the party hastened to the gates of Mizhi County.

The gates were closed, with only a few guards stationed atop the walls. In the darkness, Li Yi sent Gao Jie to call out.

Upon hearing that the Inspection Office had come to deliver a criminal to Lord Hong Chengchou, the guards immediately reported to the garrison.

The garrison wasted no time, sending word to the Hong residence.

As Li Yi and his party waited, shouts suddenly echoed from the north. Amid the dark night, a group bearing torches drew near.

Nearly a hundred armed retainers from the Ai family had caught up from the north. With a shout, they leveled spears, archers drew their bows, and several musketeers readied their matchlocks, aiming at Li Yi’s group.

Li Yi could see these men were trained like soldiers—no easy foes. Especially those muskets, which posed a significant threat.

The retainers’ leader was about to force Li Yi to release Ai Wanhua when an unexpected scene unfolded.

The guards atop the city gate, mistaking them for bandits attacking the city, turned pale with fear and, in panic, rang the alarm bell and scrambled down from the wall.

The sound of the alarm, signaling an enemy attack, echoed throughout Mizhi County, startling the entire populace awake.

Hong Chengchou, roused by his anxious steward, dressed and summoned his guards, sending men to investigate.

All the yamen runners and garrison soldiers were issued weapons, compelled by officials to man the city walls and defend against the enemy.

Under the watchful eyes of hundreds atop the wall, the Ai family retainers were stunned. In such circumstances, none dared to make a move.

Especially once more than two hundred of Hong Chengchou’s armed guards, clad in iron armor and wielding weapons, surrounded them with murderous intent, the Ai family retainers became utterly motionless, not even daring to breathe.