They had just settled down when another group of people arrived. Dressed in simple, unkempt clothes, they looked like refugees. This group of over thirty people, upon seeing them, retreated to the corner of the main house.
The soldiers eyed them for a moment, and seeing that they were merely travelers seeking shelter like themselves, they relaxed and slept soundly.
No sooner had they fallen asleep than the change occurred. The group directly drew knives from their bosoms and plunged them into the soldiers in the center.
Yang Hanye had not expected that despite hiding among them and appearing similarly dressed, he would still be discovered. It seemed these people had come prepared.
The soldier beside him quickly drew his sword to counter. As he watched, he couldn't help but frown. Although his own men were well-equipped, they were clearly no match for the attackers. These people, wherever they had come from, were all highly skilled in martial arts, and outnumbered his own men. Was he to meet his end here today? He felt a sense of despair.
He didn't know who wanted his life. Ever since leaving his fiefdom, he had been subjected to constant assassination attempts. Of the hundreds who had set out with him, only twenty-odd remained. On their northward journey, they had encountered disaster-stricken commoners, and some areas were even occupied by rebel forces. The journey had been perilous indeed. They had finally arrived here, halfway through their journey. They had been exceedingly cautious, fearing discovery. They traveled only after dark and rested in the dead of night. Yet, they had still been targeted.
Despite the fierce resistance of his guards, due to the overwhelming disparity in strength, they soon fell one by one.
"Who sent you? Why do you want my life? At least let me die understanding why," Yang Hanye called out loudly, wanting to know who he had offended.
Unfortunately, the attackers offered no reply, which left him feeling helpless. To alleviate his fear, he continued, "I consider myself a decent person. I've done nothing against my conscience in this life, nor have I ever wantonly killed the innocent. I suspect I've simply crossed someone's path. Let me guess, whose men are you? Prince Ping? Prince Li? Or Prince Wu?"
They still paid him no heed. He watched as the guards protecting him dwindled. If he wasn't mistaken, besides himself, only two others were still standing. The next moment, a sword plunged directly towards him. He quickly dodged to the side and parried with his own blade, narrowly escaping and breaking out in a cold sweat.
The remaining two guards, seeing that their master was being targeted, wanted to help but were themselves entangled. Helpless, they knew they wouldn't fare well. They intended to take their attackers with them, fighting with reckless abandon. Their desperate tactics left many openings, and soon they were both wounded.
The commotion in the front finally stirred Hesheng and Xia He awake. "Mother!" Hesheng whispered tentatively, checking if his mother was still there.
"You two rest well and don't get involved in what's happening in front. If the children wake up, comfort them quickly and try to keep them quiet. I'll go see," Wu Caiwei instructed, made her decision, quickly put on the veil she had prepared long ago from her bundle, and left the small hut, sword in hand.
Hearing his mother's instructions, Hesheng reflexively nodded. Knowing he was powerless, he understood that going forward would only be a burden to his mother. He patted his wife, but neither of them could sleep.
When Wu Caiwei arrived, one of the two guards had a leg injury and couldn't stand. The other had an arm injury, clearly no longer a match for the attackers. Several of them simultaneously brandished their swords, intending to attack Yang Hanye from all directions. He closed his eyes in despair, knowing he could no longer evade. Although he possessed a little skill and could narrowly dodge one sword, the other seven would surely pierce him like a hedgehog. The two guards' eyes widened involuntarily in sheer terror.
The anticipated pain did not come. Instead, he heard screams from the attackers. Yang Hanye knew something had changed and quickly opened his eyes. To his surprise, a woman dressed as a commoner now stood before him.
Her swordsmanship was superb. Despite their numerical superiority, the attackers couldn't even graze her clothing in their exchanges, filling them with dismay.
Wu Caiwei had always adhered to a policy of not meddling in others' affairs when she was out. After all, the world was chaotic, and some people, who appeared honest, committed heinous acts. What moved her were the words she had just heard. A person who could say such things, while not entirely without fault, was generally kind and unlikely to be ungrateful.
Seeing that he was about to fall victim to their swords, she decided to help him. In this chaotic era, without support, she and her son would be vulnerable. This man's identity was clearly not ordinary. Perhaps saving him today would forge a good karma, leading to unexpected rewards in the future.
Judging by the bodies on the ground, these attackers were not benevolent. Wu Caiwei showed no mercy, delivering fatal blows with her sword. Soon, they were all eliminated.
One of Yang Hanye's guards, seeing they were saved, fainted with relief. The other guard quickly stepped forward, stood at a distance, and bowed deeply in thanks.
When Yang Hanye witnessed her superior swordsmanship, he had an idea. He stepped forward without hesitation and said respectfully, "Madam, how long have you been here? I assume you overheard my words. I don't even know who wants to deal with me. I've encountered countless dangers on this journey. Now only two guards remain. I don't know if I'll survive the next unforeseen incident. I observe that Madam's martial arts are extraordinary. Could you escort me further? I am the heir of Prince Yang. Upon arrival, not only will I offer a generous reward, but should you ever face difficulties, I, Yang, will not hesitate to help."
Wu Caiwei raised an eyebrow in surprise. She hadn't expected to encounter him. Recalling information about him from the original owner's memories, she knew that although he didn't ultimately seize the throne, he managed to retreat with his life and return to his fiefdom to continue as Prince Yang.
This indicated he was exceptionally intelligent and, crucially, had allied himself with the right people. However, she was not particularly interested in his request. Her primary goal was to ensure the safety of her son and his family. But taking them along meant constantly teetering on the edge of danger. While she believed she could handle it, what if something went wrong?
Prince Yang seemed to sense her concerns and quickly assured her, "Madam, please rest assured. Although our destination is the capital, I have my people in the next prefectural city. It would be sufficient if you could escort me there."
Given that he had gone this far, Wu Caiwei felt that refusing again would not only render her rescue in vain but also cause him to harbor resentment. After a moment's hesitation, she nodded.
For the first time in a long while, a smile appeared on Yang Hanye's face.