Chapter 1406: Chapter 144 Small Village Turmoil_2
Night had deepened when Ah Dai awoke from his meditation, his vigilance against Mie Feng ensuring that he dare not linger in meditation for too long. After several hours of regulating his breathing and relying on the powerful life energy of True Qi, Ah Dai had mostly recovered his strength. He lay on a bed made of straw, now in a complete state of relaxation.
It had been a long time since Ah Dai had felt so comfortably laid down, and as his mind quieted down, many things came flooding back to him. Xuan Yue’s exceptionally beautiful face, despite his best efforts, was impossible to forget. Just thinking of Xuan Yue, Ah Dai’s heart, which had been frozen, still throbbed painfully. His love for Xuan Yue was already too deep, rooted and ingrained, unforgettable. Suddenly, a vague silhouette gradually emerged in his mind, startling Ah Dai—it was the girl from his childhood. The girl, breaking a hard Steamed Bun in two, offering him the larger piece as if to say, "Ah Dai, you eat!" Remembering the girl, Ah Dai couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion, but it quickly settled down, knowing that his own life no longer belonged to him. Once he avenged Owen and fulfilled his master’s wishes, he was to die at Mie Feng’s hands. He did not regret his decision, although it was a bit hasty, Ah Dai knew it was the best way to avenge Owen. Only this way could he find the mysterious Assassin’s Guild in the shortest time.
As Ah Dai’s emotions surged, the once quiet village suddenly became noisy, as if something had happened. Ah Dai sat up from his straw bed, wondering how it could be so lively so late, perhaps trouble had befallen the village? He lightly leapt out of bed, opened the door and walked out. It was nearing December, and despite being in the warmest part of the continent, the nights here still carried a chill. Ah Dai felt a rush of refreshment as the night breeze blew, stretching involuntarily. Suddenly, a thought struck him, and the chill in the air awakened him; turning his head, he saw Mie Feng standing quietly under the eaves, her eyes—like two cold stars—firmly fixed on him. Ah Dai transmitted his voice to her, "Did you hear the noise outside as well?"
Without any evident leaping movement from Mie Feng, she gracefully moved beside Ah Dai and said faintly, "Vigilance is a skill every thief must have. Shall we go and see?"
Ah Dai nodded, "It’s so late, I wonder what it could be." As he spoke, he rose into the air, deftly leaping over Harry’s fence, heading toward the source of the noise.
The clamor in the village grew louder, and as Ah Dai and Mie Feng quickly approached, suddenly a booming voice shouted, "Listen up, villagers! Hand over all your crops and come with us obediently, or you won’t live to see another day." The voice, clearly amplified with fighting spirit, was exceptionally loud in the silent village.
Ah Dai glanced at Mie Feng, puzzled, "Who could these people be? Could it be that even in the Empire of Huasheng there are such despicable bandits?"
Mie Feng glanced at him, "How should I know? If we go over there, we’ll find out. Do you want to get involved? I’m not interested in accompanying you."
Ah Dai snorted, "I alone am enough, you may go back first. We live here, how could we stand by when the village is in trouble? You thieves and these bandits are cut from the same cloth, just don’t get in the way." Having said that, he quickened his pace and headed in the direction of the noise without looking back. Mie Feng watched Ah Dai’s retreating figure, stomping the ground in vexation, but still followed him. The village was very small, and within a few leaps, Ah Dai arrived at the source of the noise, crouching on the roof of a house, staring ahead to see a vast array of torches approaching, nearly hundreds of soldiers entering the village. These soldiers were brightly armored but bore no national emblem; they searched from house to house. Dozens of villagers had already been dragged from their sleep, and in the hands of these ferocious soldiers, the villagers, aside from letting out calls for help, had no power to resist.
Mie Feng flew up to Ah Dai’s side, and upon seeing the soldiers before her, she frowned and said, "Aren’t these the soldiers of the Empire of Sunset City? What are they doing here in the Province of Light?"
Ah Dai was startled and whispered back, "How can you tell they’re from the Empire of Sunset City? Their armor doesn’t look any different from other countries’ to me!"
Mie Feng disdainfully replied, "What do you know? Each country’s armor has its own characteristics. Although these soldiers from the Empire of Sunset City have removed their insignias, the type of scale armor they’re wearing is unique to Sunset City. Look carefully at the hems of their upper Armor; they’re linked with small, leaf-shaped scales, which is absolutely different from other countries."
Despite not liking Mie Feng’s tone, Ah Dai still respected her knowledge, "So these bastards from the Empire of Sunset City have come to the Empire of Huasheng to plunder; aren’t they afraid of being annihilated?"
Mie Feng replied, "I’ve looked at the map; this place is within the Empire of Huasheng’s territory. However, it’s very close to the Dark Province of the Empire of Sunset City, situated in a remote hilly area. As long as they cover their tracks well, it won’t arouse any suspicion from the Empire of Huasheng. It seems their purpose is not as simple as robbery. This small village has nothing worth their pillaging."
