In fact, this newly appeared Fourth Grade expert didn’t even surprise him too much. Instead, it felt both unexpected and somehow inevitable, confirming a gut feeling he had.
After this confirmation, Fang Rui’s wariness toward the so-called "Taiping Bandits" and "Rebel Army" only grew stronger.
’Forget it. This has little to do with me, and now isn’t the time to dwell on it!’
Fang Rui pushed these thoughts aside. He had no intention of entering the Lin Mansion to do any looting.
He’d decided to stick to the outskirts, and that’s exactly what he would do.
Besides, he wasn’t an idiot. Entering the Lin Mansion to loot would be exhausting, troublesome, and potentially dangerous—who knew when a few Middle Grade Martial Artists might appear, or when he might get dragged into a fight between Fifth Grade Martial Artists!
Most importantly, the rewards were uncertain.
On the contrary, Fang Rui could simply wait outside from a high vantage point, a perfect setup for Waiting for a Rabbit by the Tree Stump. He’d let the freelance martial artists who had entered the Lin Mansion do the looting, and then he’d rob them when they emerged. Playing the role of the Yellow Finch stalking the mantis—wasn’t that a much better deal?
Safe and hassle-free.
Of course, the freelance martial artists who had entered the Lin Mansion to loot were still busy ransacking the place. They were a long way from emerging, laden with spoils.
’No rush. This line of work—ambushing people—requires patience. After all, if the fat sheep don’t eat their fill, how am I supposed to fleece them?’
’For now, I can just watch the battle and get an early look at the combat power of a Fourth Grade Martial Artist...’
Fang Rui found a high, hidden spot on the eaves of a building and leisurely gazed toward the distant battlefield, settling in to watch the fight.
...
In the central complex of the Lin Mansion.
Three figures chased and fought among the eaves. Under the bright moonlight, their movements were so fast they left trails of afterimages. Wherever they passed, tiles, bricks, and stones flew and tumbled as if the rooftops were being churned by an iron plow.
Just as Fang Rui had guessed, the Fourth Grade Martial Artist from the Rebel Army was named Zuo Boyang, and he had only recently achieved his breakthrough.
Among the three, Lin Xiong was in the prime of his life and at his absolute peak. Elder Xia was experienced, but his age meant his qi and blood were in decline. Zuo Boyang had only just broken through, and his Realm was still unstable.
Therefore, even with the other two fighting him two-on-one, Lin Xiong was able to hold his ground.
As Elder Xia attacked, his black, dragon-headed cane whirling through the air, he still had enough presence of mind to speak. "Patriarch Lin, you didn’t flee. I must say, I’m impressed!"
He knew, of course, that Lin Xiong was too big a target. Watched by spies from both the Xia Family and the Rebel Army, escape would have been difficult... but even so, with his strength as a Fourth Grade Martial Artist, it wouldn’t have been impossible for him to abandon his family and escape alone if he had truly set his mind to it.
But Lin Xiong, for the sake of his family’s survival, had resolutely chosen to stay. He would draw the attention of the Xia Family and the Taiping Bandits, allowing the younger generation of his family to break through and escape, thereby sacrificing his own chance at life.
"Haha! Why would I, Lin Xiong, fear a little thing like death?"
Lin Xiong laughed loudly. "It’s just... I cannot accept that some villain’s scheme to sow discord caused your family to surrender the city! Elder Xia, are you really content to be manipulated like this?"
"While Li Xuantong is away, why don’t our two families join forces? We can kill this Zuo Boyang, drive out the Taiping Bandits, and rule Changshan City together! Then, we can search the entire city to find the scoundrel who’s stirring up trouble from the shadows, and give him death by a thousand cuts, have him drawn and quartered by five horses! Wouldn’t that be immensely satisfying?"
"How dare you! Death is at your doorstep, and you still spout such glib nonsense?!"
Before Elder Xia could reply, Zuo Boyang, the Fourth Grade Martial Artist from the Rebel Army, heard these poisonous words and let out a furious shout, intensifying his assault.
"Indeed," Elder Xia added. "There’s no need for you to sow discord, Patriarch Lin. I have my own considerations. Since we have pledged our allegiance to the Rebel Army, my Xia Family will follow Grand General Xuantong’s lead without question!"
Elder Xia knew that once you boarded a pirate ship, there was no getting off. The worst thing one could do in such a situation was to be indecisive and try to play both sides.
Besides, he would find the person who had schemed against the Xia Family with that wooden plank himself. He certainly didn’t need Lin Xiong’s help.
At that moment, to demonstrate his loyalty, Elder Xia also intensified his assault. Lin Xiong was instantly put on the defensive, clearly at a disadvantage, and could no longer spare the concentration to speak.
...
’Death by a thousand cuts, drawn and quartered by five horses? Jeez! Am I really that hated? Thank goodness I’ve hidden myself so well!’
Fang Rui thought to himself as he watched the battlefield from afar, thankful that he had always been so cautious, always cleaning up after himself and leaving no loose ends.
After a while, Fang Rui suddenly turned his head. "Huh?" He looked toward a specific spot. ’A freelance looter is already coming out? The mantis, the cicada, and the Yellow Finch... the time is right. It’s my turn to make a move!’
...
THUD!
A masked martial artist vaulted over a wall of the Lin Mansion and landed on the ground. The large knife in his hand was still dripping with blood, and the bundle on his back bulged, a clear sign of a profitable haul.
"This is a robbery!" An unexpected guest had suddenly appeared before him.
"Hmph?!"
The masked martial artist frowned. "The Lin Family falls today. There are countless treasures inside—gold, silver, jade, Cultivation and Martial Techniques. Why don’t you go get some for yourself? Why must you insist on making trouble for me here?"
"So there’s no room for discussion, then!"
Fang Rui wasted no more words. With a SHING, he drew his blade, the movement possessing an indescribable grace under the moonlight.
If someone with Mastery in Swordsmanship had been present, they would have immediately sensed something was amiss and likely would have surrendered on the spot.
But this masked martial artist lacked such discernment. "You bastard! I tried to be reasonable, and you think I’m some kind of pushover?!"
He sneered and rushed forward, his large knife held high, moving like a great roc spreading its wings.
However, a single slash of a blade was all that met him.
This slash was without flourish. It was simply fast, precise, and ruthless.
SWISH!
The two figures crossed paths.
With a CLICK, Fang Rui sheathed his blade.
Behind him, a thin red line appeared on the masked martial artist’s neck. His head tumbled to the ground. The headless body continued to run forward a few more steps before collapsing with a THUD in a spray of blood.
As the man’s head rolled, the Ge Cloth mask covering his face fell away, revealing his true features.