Chapter 283: Chapter 280: 280 Roaring Tiger in the City

“Martial Master Deng’s warning was timely. His words had not even passed two minutes when someone responsible for the lookout came running madly, reporting the appearance of unidentified martial cultivators outside the compound, who appeared to be people from the martial world, gathering in number.”

Martial Master Deng immediately ordered the doors to be closed, while glancing at Brother Tao, “Have you brought the ‘Ming Di’?”

Brother Tao nodded and replied with no small amount of pride, “I have the ‘Tiger Roar Arrow’.”

The Hall of Heroes reacted with incredible speed. Within seven or eight minutes, over a hundred people had gathered outside the Deng Family estate, with more continuously streaming toward the location.”

Among these people, martial artists were the majority, but there were also two junior martial masters. One of them shouted loudly, “Martial Master Deng, your esteemed self has returned home. Where are the Hall of Heroes’ Second Military Advisor and the ‘Yin Yang Blade’?”

Deng Yifu propelled his body up to the rooftop, and while voraciously tearing into a flatbread, he burst out laughing, “These two people you speak of, I do not know at all. However, we did catch some thieves who dared to intrude during daylight.”

Hearing this, the man’s expression darkened and he shouted loudly, “Deng, I respect you as an elder, don’t push your luck.”

“You think you’re enough?” Martial Master Deng looked at him scornfully, continuing to eat his flatbread.

Soon after, an intermediate-level martial artist arrived. The man was stout with broad shoulders and a thick waist, had stubby eyebrows and squinty eyes, and carried the powerful aura of someone from the martial world, unmistakably of the antagonist type.

The crowd greeted him in various ways; some called him Second Master, while others hailed him as “Second Dragon Head.”

Having apprised himself of the situation, Second Master looked up at Martial Master Deng on the rooftop and shouted, “Deng Yifu, if you know what’s good for you, come down and open the door quietly. Otherwise, once we break in, we won’t be so polite as we are now!”

Martial Master Deng snorted coldly, “Deng has been in the martial world for thirty years and has never surrendered without a fight.”

Second Master’s brows furrowed, and he raised his voice again, “Then first hand over our military advisor and the ‘Yin Yang Blade.’ I might then consider sparing you.”

“Kid,” Martial Master Deng roared with laughter, looking up to the sky, “When I was walking in the martial world, you were still drinking milk. And now you dare talk about sparing me? Truly shameless. Within this illustrious city, I really want to see what you can do.”

Second Master was so angry that his face turned red and his neck swelled. He waved his hand decisively, “Boys, attack! Swift and decisive!”

Swift and decisive meant that casualties were no longer a concern. In the prominent city, for a gang to act so brazenly was extraordinary audacity.”

Just then, another figure climbed onto the roof and shot an arrow into the sky, which immediately elicited a deep, resonant howl in the air.”

“A signal arrow?” Second Master sneered dismissively, then raised his voice again, “Boys, don’t be afraid, no one will come. Who in Xiyin City would dare to challenge the Hall of Heroes?”

He had organized people to come here after receiving the news of Deng Yifu’s release from prison and learning that the Second Military Advisor had not returned, specifically to inquire while conveniently luring the local constables away to facilitate their actions.”

However, some thugs recognized the significance of the signal arrow and murmured in low voices, “Damn… the ‘Tiger Roar Arrow’?”

Signal arrows originated in the military and were generally used for alerts or seeking reinforcements. Later, the technology spread and became widespread among the common folk, even hunters going into the mountains would use signal arrows to communicate and coordinate.”

In cities, signal arrows were rarely used. If the sound of a signal arrow went up, the official government must respond.”

Generally speaking, there were only two reasons for signal arrows in a city.

First, it was a call for help from someone of high status; second, the entire city was facing grave danger, and it was a way of raising the alarm.”

Of course, there’s also a third possibility, involving troublesome children pranking, but the government’s retribution would teach them what it meant not to court death.”

Unfortunately for Second Master, he had never served in the military and did not know that aside from signaling alarm and calling for help, signal arrows also signified the intent to strike.”

The ‘Tiger Roar Arrow’ served this very purpose, generally to inform allied troops – we’re about to attack.

Second Master was unaware, but there were quite a few brothers in the hall who understood, although their ranks were not high enough for their opinions to count. Even those with the right to suggest were worried about being disciplined by Second Master on the grounds of “cowardice in the face of the enemy.”

So, there were those who charged in quickly, those who charged slowly, and those who “rushed too fast and fell to the ground.”

After firing the ‘Tiger Roar Arrow,’ those within the Deng family estate were ready for a bloody fight, clearly signaling to the city’s arrest officers: We’re about to come to blows.

The next moment, they demonstrated just what a fight was as the enemy approached the gate. More than a dozen figures suddenly appeared on the wall, each holding a crossbow, drawing and shooting.

Upon seeing this, Second Master gasped in shock, “Damn, they really dared to strike.”

In the city, crossbows were regulated. In conflicts between vigorous social groups, they weren’t commonly used, and even if they were, they typically targeted less vital areas with the main goal of debilitating the opponent rather than killing.”

Even schoolgirls knew that one should not kill in the city; it was of no concern if it happened in the wilds.”

However, the duke’s guards had no such reservations. They were accustomed to regarding everything with contempt, and as they were defending the estate and had fired the ‘Tiger Roar Arrow,’ they were completely unconcerned about committing murder in public.”

Moreover, these guards were all experts in martial arts, proficient with bow and horse, aiming from dozens of meters away, their arrows always hit their mark—either the throat, chest, or even the face, but curiously never aimed at the legs.

After two rounds of archery, more than twenty people lay on the ground, some were still struggling, while others had breathed their last.

Seeing this, the Second Master’s eyes almost burst with fury, “Bastards, to actually deal deadly blows! Fetch the bows and arrows!”

Before his words fell, an arrow shot rapidly towards his chest, which he diverted with a wave of his hand axe, his arm trembling ever so slightly.

It was Brother Tao who had found him hopping around and couldn’t stand it any longer, so with a flick of his hand, he sent an arrow flying towards him.

Second Master was on the verge of exploding with rage, “This is a rebellion… Go report to the First Master to request the assistance of the County Soldiers in capturing the traitors.”

As he saw a hundred or so men hastily withdraw, Deng the Escort’s eyebrows furrowed, “Brother Tao, isn’t it time to reveal your identity now?”

It was clear that the Hall of Heroes had yet to learn they were battling the Yongyi Duke’s guards, or else, they wouldn’t dare to attack even if they were lent the courage to do so.

“They… are not worthy,” Brother Tao snorted disdainfully, “The Duke is known for his valour, and if his name is compelled to be revealed by such vermin of the city, it would indeed be a great shame and humiliation.”

Brother Tao was called to the Prefectural Government Office to bring back Deng the Escort, and flashing his Waist Token was a matter of course, as he was acting within official procedures. But what were these people in front of him? A ragtag bunch of idlers who bullied the innocent—did such a mob deserve to see his Waist Token?

While speaking, he raised his hand and released another Tiger Roar Arrow, then declared in a deep voice, “Gentlemen, are you ready to charge with iron and blood?”

In fact, the first Tiger Roar Arrow had already been spotted by the arrest officer of West City. His location was just a little over a mile from where Ming Di had been, and on seeing it, he was immediately taken aback, “Tiger Roar Arrow… Why is it being sounded within the city?”

A nearby constable spoke up, “Just now, I saw quite a few from the Hall of Heroes heading there; it seems they are causing trouble.”

“These damned rascals are getting bolder,” the arrest officer cursed angrily, “to dare to gather and attack within the city. I will certainly report this to the Sage of the Prefecture… Never mind, that’s a matter for South City, let Mr. Liang handle it.”

After a bout of shouting and killing, an eerie silence ensued. The arrest officer was deep in thought when he suddenly saw two fast horses coming from the front, the one leading was South City’s arrest officer Liang.

Pale-faced, upon seeing the arrest officer of West City, Liang shouted from afar, “Brother Qin, save me, there are ruffians in South City attacking the homes of civilians, and I beg for your assistance.”

“I have official duties to attend to,” Officer Qin replied coldly, “South City is not my jurisdiction, and I dare not overstep my authority.”

Liang had arrived on horseback, and speaking in a low voice said, “There are thugs attacking the Yongyi Duke’s guards, and if there are casualties, aren’t you afraid of impeachment?”

“The Yongyi Duke’s guards?” Officer Qin was astonished, “That was… Alright, how could such brazen villains exist in Xiyin City?”

Upon hearing this, Liang’s face flushed with embarrassment, and in a low voice, he said, “Brother Qin, this is no joke. Are you implying that West City is as pure as a white lotus, without a single fault to find?”

“Of course, West City is in perfect order,” Officer Qin retorted without mincing words.

However, he didn’t dare to pursue this topic and snorted coldly, “If you want me to go to South City, have the Chief Arrestor speak to me.”

Liang replied coldly, “The Magistrate has decreed, disperse the onlookers, capture the criminals.”

“Capture the criminals?” Officer Qin looked at him with profound interest.

Seeing that gaze, Liang straightened his heart and spoke the plain truth, “The Hall of Heroes has nothing to do with me, and this time they’ve blindfolded themselves by offending someone they shouldn’t have… Do you understand now?”

Upon hearing this, Officer Qin felt relieved, took his five constables, and joined forces with Liang’s people, totaling more than ten in number, and rushed towards the Deng Family residence.

As the second Tiger Roar Arrow sounded, they quickened their steps, almost reaching their destination when they abruptly saw a chaotic throng of hundreds running towards them, followed by the thunder-like sound of horse hooves.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

It turned out that during the Hall of Heroes’ second attack, each man had taken wooden boards as shields, but to their surprise, as they approached the Deng residence, the gate swung open abruptly, and six or seven martial masters burst out, creating a large open space.

Immediately after, a group of fine steeds charged out, their riders wielding long spears and sabres, sweeping through the stunned rabble like a raging tempest, causing a horrific scene of blood and flesh flying.

In such a confined space, a charge would not be very effective against official troops, but these vibrant members of social organizations, mostly a disorderly crowd used to bullying civilians, had never seen such an array before.

They threw away their weapons and turned to run.

Two martial masters, relying on their Cultivation Levels, tried to resist, but were quickly cut down.

Just as Officer Qin and Liang were about to be dispersed by the crowd, someone shouted loudly, “The Magistrate has arrived, defying orders will be met with death!”

(To be updated, summoning for monthly tickets.)