Chapter 230 – Lost a Son and Grain (Part Six)
“You mentioned it’s normal…” Jiang Pengji smiled, revealing a few white teeth, and tilted her head, “I’ve never been normal.”
Not only could Jiang Pengji swiftly take down these cooks and elite soldiers, but she could also clear out the grain supplies. By the time that leader returns for a second reckoning, he would face another ambush… Efficiency was key, and did those weaklings think they could outmaneuver her?
On her territory, everyone had to dance to her tune.
Qi Guanrang fanned himself leisurely.
Jiang Pengji suddenly asked him, “What does Wen Zheng think is the best time to strike?”
“Naturally, we should wait until they’ve moved all the grain and extinguished their torches; that will be the best moment to make a move.”
Jiang Pengji chuckled, “In that case, we’ll follow Wen Zheng’s cue: when the fire goes out, we act!”
“With that, Young Master will have plenty of time to wait.”
Thousands of stones of grain piled up—this would not be a quick job.
“I value results over the process.”
Facing enemies that vastly outnumbered her, Jiang Pengji didn’t rush in recklessly; instead, she remained composed.
She was indeed very confident, but that didn’t mean she lacked brains or patience.
On the contrary, she was like the most seasoned hunter, patiently lying in wait for her prey.
The audience in the livestream watched quietly. Even though the screen only showed the cooks moving grain, the heavy, tense atmosphere felt almost tangible; they could sense the looming storm even from across the screen, leaving them on edge.
At this moment, a viewer sent a comment in the chat.
【Musician Zhuge Qinmo】: Host, are you planning to recruit these people? Give me a clear answer so I can brace myself.
What kind of preparation?
Regular viewers knew well that Jiang Pengji, this host, could go from zero to killing in an instant. It wasn’t just fake drama with blood spray or ketchup; it was life and death, with blood splattering and brain matter painting the ground—heads could fly!
The reality was terrifyingly vivid.
Some viewers with weaker stomachs might puke just from witnessing it, forever haunted by the stream.
Of course, many thrill-seekers were eagerly trying to get in.
In peacetime, how often could ordinary people witness a murder scene?
Jiang Pengji’s sharp eyes caught that comment, and after a moment’s thought, she sent a reply.
【Host V】: Kill!
Alright, many viewers could start bracing themselves with their eyes covered.
“What should we do now, sir?”
After the grain was moved, the lead cook wiped his sweat, panting as he asked the soldier temporarily in charge.
That soldier held up a torch, surveying the surroundings, but nothing seemed out of place.
“Everyone pretend to retreat, extinguish the torches halfway, and then quietly hide inside to prepare an ambush.”
The torchlight was limited, visibility was low at night, and everything outside the light was pitch dark.
They held their torches, having not spotted any ambush; it was evident the enemy was watching from a distance. As long as they pretended to retreat, quickly extinguished their torches, and sneaked back into the bandit’s hideout to set up, they would surely catch Meng Hunyun off guard.
The ideal was plush, but reality was painfully thin.
As everyone followed orders and the torches were extinguished one by one, the livestream audience had wisely chosen to shut their eyes.
Buzz buzz buzz—
The fine twang of strings erupted as arrows sliced through the air.
A chill surged through that soldier’s heart; just as he began to consider where this omen of doom was coming from, screams echoed around him. His heart dropped as he opened his mouth to shout “enemy attack,” but suddenly, his arm was pierced by a sharp pain that felt like having flesh torn away.
Instinctively, he lifted his other hand to feel—it was a long arrow piercing through his arm!
They were ambushed!
But hadn’t they already checked the area before and found no signs of the enemy?
In that instant, thoughts flooded his mind, but Jiang Pengji clearly wasn’t going to give him a moment to ponder.
Whoosh—whoosh—
As the first volley barely finished, a second rushed in rapidly.
The sound of arrows piercing flesh broke the midnight stillness, sending chills down the spine.
The hiding scouts couldn’t see the enemy’s location; they didn’t need to aim specifically, just firing wildly toward the places where the torches went out was enough. Dying from stray arrows was common; being left alive was the stroke of luck, but untouched?
They’d be moving in for the kill too!
Jiang Pengji’s plan was crystal clear; she would leave just a handful of survivors to take Meng Liang’s corpse back to Cangzhou Meng County!
Ironically, these folks, in their cleverness, decided to split up, giving Jiang Pengji an excellent opportunity to strike.
She joined the ambush herself, her crossbow steady, drawing and firing with terrifying speed. The livestream audience had the luxury of watching her land headshot after headshot, each arrow piercing through foreheads in a single strike.
Round after round, ten volleys later, the wails had completely subsided.
Jiang Pengji coldly commented, “For those still breathing, send them on their way.”
The soldiers weren’t new to killing, yet their hands and feet felt a bit unsteady. Even those from bandit backgrounds had never so easily claimed the lives of hundreds, as if they were harvesting not lives, but just another crop of rice.
But with blood-stained blades, they didn’t dare hesitate or retreat. They sprang from their hiding spots, some searched for the barely alive, while others swiftly heaved the grain, moving it all to the cellar.
The cellar wasn’t far; they could swiftly transfer everything in no time.
Nong Qin was among the former group, her hands stained with sticky blood, yet she remained calm as she broke one enemy’s neck after another, resembling a demon, making the others shiver. The bandits would have preferred to take a longer route to avoid her.
In less than a quarter-hour, all the grain had been moved completely.
Jiang Pengji pulled her lips into a cold smirk. “Nong Qin, bring me a pen.”
Without delay, she dipped the nib in the blood coating the ground and scrawled bold, crimson words on a piece of rough cloth.
【Those untrustworthy, are the lapdogs of the Meng Clan. The Meng Clan wishes to use Meng as a raft to humiliate my wife and daughter, making them suffer even in death. Such vile actions do not befit the Ming Dynasty’s Meng Gong! If you want to play nice, don’t blame me for being unkind. If Meng Liang does not die, how will I face my deceased wife and daughter’s spirits? This is the trace left by Meng Hunyun, the traitor of the Meng Clan.】
After writing, she tossed the pen aside, letting the rough fabric fall onto Meng Liang’s face, covering him.
The body of Meng Liang, formerly locked in the ice cellar, was now wrapped in a tattered cloth, thrown amidst countless other corpses.
The man might be dead, but Jiang Pengji still had plans to make him shine and take his final value!
“Let’s go! Intercept them one more time! Let them see who the real stray dogs are!”
Meng Hunyun remained silent, his teeth clenched, as if holding back something.
In the end, his eyes turned slightly red, and the pent-up frustration in his heart came pouring out.
Qi Guanrang noticed, gently fanning himself, and contemplated silently.
Young Master Liu… was exceptionally protective of his own.
