196 A Battle in the Fores (1/2)

As the sun set, the peach trees welcomed another lively night.

Groups of machetemen ran past the two killers and a small swordsman but did not seem to take notice of them. They continued to advance while brandishing their swords.

”What are you doing here?” Someone asked in a quiet voice. His large physique seemed to have blocked the last rays of sunlight.

”I'm here to collect information,” Gu Shenwei answered as he recognized that this person was Guan Houlin.

”That's not necessary. Joy Pavilion will turn into ashes immediately. Hope Alley will no longer be a paradise and, from now on, it will have to pay every month.”

Guan Houlin still did not forget how he was looked down at in Joy Pavilion. The only person he was jealous of was Immortal Peng. He wanted to use this opportunity to exact revenge.

Gu Shenwei led the way and did not say what was on his mind. If he could place his bets on this ambush, he would stake them on Hope Alley. Joy Pavilion might be divided with only thirty over disciples left. However, every single one of them was a martial arts expert. Those more than 200 machetemen were here only for the money and probably wouldn't be their match.

Guan Houlin couldn't think of these. He only saw one group of customers from the teahouse who were here to die. He never knew that they were learners of martial arts. He was sure that this was a battle that he would win and that he would score a victory for the Ninth Young Master.

”If you want to watch the show, you are welcome. Tuo Nengya couldn 't escape again this time.”

Gu Shenwei would not tell the other party that the old macheteman had already left Joy Pavilion. ”Congratulations to you for all of your wonderful work. The Ninth Young Master would be relying on you in the future.”

”Haha, I'm not bragging. The Ninth Young Master relies on me for many things. Oh yes, how did you manage to kill Immortal Peng?”

”He was terribly old. People couldn't see this. I just took my chance.”

”Just as I thought.” Guan Houlin did not believe the killer's words entirely. He regretted not being bolder because even he could be capable of killing that elusive old fellow. ”What a pity. A killer can't change his master. If not for this, I would have asked the Ninth Young Master to keep all of you. I don't look down on her but, I mean, a woman is still a woman. Kun Society might still be fine without her?”

Gu Shenwei smiled slightly and did not argue with him. Maid Lotus and Chu Nanping did not respond at all. One was indifferent and the other was heartless. They did not care about what others said at all. Chu Nanping did not even care about the safety of Joy Pavilion. He was still considering the killer's suggestion.

As the machetemen had all entered the peach forest, Guan Houlin was preparing for battle. ”Hey, we're visiting the lass at Xu family tomorrow. You won't put a dead person in her house again, will you?”

”I won't.”

”That's good. A brothel is still a brothel. Don't turn it into a coffin shop.”

Guan Houlin treated his killers as his subordinates. He had over 200 machetemen and there was nothing that he was afraid of.

Shangguan Fei's ”military counsellor” commanded the offense. Gu Shenwei followed him from afar.

This was a battle that began with a sneak attack. Guan Houlin was not completely ignorant. The 50 machetemen carried their bows and with at the command of the military commander, lit their arrows and fired together.

The arrows left their bows with a whizz and subsequently their sounds became fainter like a group of meteors. They flew high and fell in the direction of Joy Pavilion.

Inside Joy Pavilion, there was a lone burning lamp, as if it knew nothing about the ambush.

”Prepare the ladder.”

The burning arrows were still in its trajectory in midair when Guan Houlin issued the second order. It's time to start the massacre and to take care of the mess.

However, things turned out slightly differently from what he'd expected. The 50 burning arrows had just flown over the top of the wall before hitting a large invisible net. They promptly fell onto the ground.

One group of grotesque looking men leapt up onto the top of the wall, carrying all sorts of weapons in their hands. Without hesitation, they moved towards the ladder to kill the machetemen who were ready to attack.

This was indeed a massacre. However, the target seemed to have changed. After a few terrible cries, the machetemen seemed to be thrown into disarray. They were told that this was going to be an easy ambush and so they were not prepared for a difficult fight. Moreover, they did not want to lose their lives for no reason. The battle had only just started when Joy Pavilion showed its teeth and the machetemen began to flee for their lives.

Guan Houlin was stunned by the counter-attack of Joy Pavilion. After a long moment, he roared in anger and pulled out the dagger on his waist. He blocked the machetemen who were attempting to flee in all directions. ”Stop, you fools. They're few in numbers, and we're...”

The military counselor's voice was overwhelmed by the terrible screaming that did not end.

In less than the time it took for an incense stick to burn down, the neat formation of machetemen had become disarrayed. It was no longer a competition of machete skills, it was about who could run away the fastest.

Guan Houlin's defeat was so complete that he was dumbfounded. Upon recovering his senses, the first thing he wanted to do was to run away. He took big strides and even threw away the knives in his hands.

This was Joy Pavilion's first killing frenzy in so many years. Its disciples were like alcohol addicts who had not drunk wine for many years. Now, tasting the fragrance of wine again, they seemed to enter into a state of frenzy. This was the real rebirth of Immortal Peng. Even the strongest hypnotism might not be able to stop these people now.

The peach forest became a slaughterhouse. Only the lucky and the quick-footed could escape out of it.

Guan Houlin was obviously not the latter kind of person. However, he was lucky because there were two killers who were watching this ambush that had started spectacularly but ended in failure.

Gu Shenwei and Maid Lotus rushed to Guan Houlin's side. With each one supporting either side of his arms, they dragged him out of the forest.