The Splendor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 32 Family Destruction
A sliver of dawn peeked through the window, and in the dormitory, Guo Xin's snores rose and fell.

Xiao Yi opened his eyes and, between the snores, caught a strange sound.

Like the sound of wind passing through ancient cypress trees, yet deeper and more chaotic, faint and intermittent, carried by the wind from a great distance.

He sat up, straining his ears to listen. Was that sound... a shout? An impact?
It seems to be coming from the direction of the Guo residence.

Startled, Guo Zongyi rubbed his eyes and got up.

On the other side of the curtain, Guo Wuniang also lifted the curtain and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I'll go out and see."

Xiao Yi put on his coat, got up, pushed open the door, and stood in the snow for a while. The sound was real and not his hallucination.

He turned around and saw Guo Wuniang and Guo Zongyi standing behind him, their faces pale.

"Is it at home? Has something happened?"

"Hard to say."

Xiao Yi looked up and around, and saw a towering five-story pavilion next to the octagonal glazed tile hall. He said, "I'll go up and take a look."

Guo Wuniang immediately said, "I'll go too."

Guo Zongyi said, "I'll go wake up Third Uncle."

"He's sleeping soundly, let him sleep, it's not necessarily going to happen."

Knowing that Guo Xin was impulsive, Xiao Yi deliberately did not wake him up.

The three closed the door and walked along the long corridor. The temple was filled with ancient trees, their shadows swaying gently, and there were few people around.

"Boom!"

"Boom-"

The morning bell had already rung, and the monks, each carrying a wooden fish, headed to the main hall for their morning prayers.

Xiao Yi suddenly stopped. Below the bell tower, two young monks were ringing the bell.

He went around the bell tower, climbed over a low section of the courtyard wall outside the pavilion, opened the small door, let Guo Wuniang and Guo Zongyi in, and then locked the door again.

Ascending the stone steps, one can hear the chanting of an old monk drifting from inside the pavilion, his voice as soft as spider silk hanging from the eaves.

They slowed their pace.

Looking up, the plaque was inscribed with the three large characters "Paiyun Pavilion," and the couplets on both sides seemed to be comforting them.

"The Buddha's teachings liberate three thousand beings; with unwavering resolve, one can transcend the sea of ​​suffering."

"His esteemed name is five hundred, and his description is difficult to judge, even among those who sail the ship of compassion."

Inside the pavilion, the Buddha statue lowered its brows and gazed at them with compassion.

The three dared not disturb the old monk in gray robes kneeling before the prayer mat, and slowly moved along the wall to the stairwell.

The wooden stairs were narrow, and the steps were cracked. When Xiao Yi stepped onto the fifth step, the mortise and tenon joints creaked.

Fortunately, the old monk was hard of hearing and did not react, continuing to chant sutras on his own.

The building appears to have only five floors from the outside, but it actually has seven. The last section of stairs is extremely steep, and one can only climb it by crouching down.

The door to the top floor was ajar. Xiao Yi pushed it open, and a gust of wind rushed in, making him squint.

He walked a few steps to the north-facing window, peered out through the window frame, and saw the city of Kaifeng unfold before him like a giant scroll painting.

His gaze swept over the rows of houses and quickly found the direction of the Guo residence.

The sounds of battle cries grew clearer in my ears.

The plaque of the Guo residence was shattered on the ground, the gates were wide open, and the imperial guards in bright armor swarmed in like ants, constantly pushing their way in.

The front yard was filled with figures, and the fighting was fierce. Arrows were fired at each other like locusts, and imperial guards fell to the ground from time to time, but more people rushed in with howls.

"Second brother?!"

Guo Wuniang let out a suppressed sob.

Xiao Yi also saw it: a man covered in blood, holding a long spear and guarding the gate like a rock—it was Guo Tong.

Guo Erlang was no longer as gentle as ever. His helmet had fallen off, his hair was disheveled, his armor was tattered, and blood was gushing from his wounds, staining him red. Only his spear danced like a dragon, and with each strike, an imperial guard would scream as he was sent flying or stabbed to the ground. The soldiers around him were also fierce and brave, forming a battle formation to fight to the death, protecting him with their own flesh and blood.

"Why...why haven't they left the manor yet?"

Xiao Yi felt a sharp pain in his shoulder as Guo Wuniang unconsciously pinched him, sobbing as she asked, "You clearly informed them a long time ago, why didn't they leave?"

"because……"

Xiao Yi's voice was hoarse, and he didn't know how to answer.

How should we get through? Guo Tongbi must have sent people to scout ahead; all the city gates are closed. With so many women and children, how could we possibly lead them through the city gates?

The only option was to negotiate and try to find a way out before the imperial court took action against the Guo family. But now, the negotiations have finally broken down.

But why not keep the Guo family members to threaten Guo Wei? There must have been some changes.

"Second Uncle? What happened to Second Uncle?"

Guo Zongyi couldn't reach the windowsill and couldn't see outside. He was so anxious that his face turned pale and tears streamed down his face. As if in response to the child, Guo Tong's angry roar came.

"Those who break in will die!"

Even from a great distance, one could hear the boundless grief and despair in that hoarse roar.

Xiao Yi could even see his hair standing on end in anger, and his eyes wide with fury.

He roared, and with a single thrust of his spear, he pierced through the vanguard of the Imperial Guard, then lifted it high and slammed it down into the enemy ranks.

But there were too many Imperial Guards. Taking advantage of the situation, a fierce captain rushed out from the side and swung down with a large axe. Guo Tong parried with his spear, but his shoulder blade was shattered and blood gushed out. In the instant his body froze, several spears pierced his body from different angles, with the spear tips protruding through his flesh.

On the tower, Xiao Yi's pupils suddenly contracted, and Guo Wuniang let out a soft "clunk" sound in her throat, her fingers clenching even tighter.

Guo Tong had not yet fallen. He used the spear to steady himself, spread his arms, and thrust the spear out again, piercing the neck of the burly captain.

The surrounding imperial guards were startled for a moment, but then they reacted and slashed at him with even more swords and spears.

Guo Tong's figure was swallowed up by the surging crowd and weapons.

Xiao Yi's heart sank.

however,
"Those who break in will die!"

Guo Tong was still roaring, and the long spear that was surrounded by the chaotic enemies was raised high once again.

It didn't fall for a long time.

Time seemed to stand still on the tower.

"Do not……"

Guo Wuniang completely broke down and was about to scream.

Xiao Yi swiftly extended his left arm and grabbed her, while his right hand tightly covered her mouth, forcefully silencing her cries of pain.

"Ugh... Ugh!"

Guo Wuniang struggled frantically, her tears and snot quickly soaking Xiao Yi's palm.

She bit his hand and pinched his flesh, resisting violently like a wild beast, wishing she could jump out of the window.

Xiao Yi remained expressionless, his eyes were icy, and his arm remained motionless like an iron clamp.

Guo Zongyi didn't see what happened, and upon seeing this, he was so frightened that he burst into tears.

"Don't cry!"

Xiao Yi uttered a rebuke, his voice soft yet incredibly stern.

Guo Zongyi choked up and silently shed tears.

Xiao Yi held Guo Wuniang, who was struggling more and more, tightly and asked, "Did you see that person?"

Outside the Guo residence, there was a figure riding a tall horse and wearing a red cloak, arguing fiercely with another official in purple robes. Xiao Yi easily recognized the other person.

"Liu Zhu".

"Remember Liu Zhu, the Prefect of Kaifeng. If he lives, seek revenge."

For a moment, Xiao Yi recalled Li Zhaoning's eyes, filled with hatred and a strong will to survive.

His gaze fell upon the gate of the Guo residence, where an official in a purple robe angrily turned and left. Liu Zhu raised his hand and swung it down heavily.

Even though he was far away, he seemed to see Shi Hongzhao holding up three fingers.

Guo Wuniang convulsed, and even more tears gushed out.

Xiao Yi reacted quickly, striking her down with a heavy palm strike and knocking her unconscious.

"Pass on the order—"

"Kill them all without mercy! Leave no one alive!"

"Pass on the order—"

"Kill without mercy..."

The command echoed far and wide.

Xiao Yi squatted down and gently lowered Guo Wu Niang. Seeing Guo Zongyi trembling uncontrollably, he reached out and covered the child's ears.

"fine."

These two words stuck in his throat, and Xiao Yi ultimately couldn't say them.

A breeze carrying faint screams blew into the pavilion, brushing against the compassionate eyes of the Buddha statue.

The incense sticks in the small stove burned slowly.

Xiao Yi squatted there for a long time without moving, protecting the two people in his arms.

Occasionally, he would look up and see prayer flags hanging under the eaves outside the window, already tattered and faded, torn to pieces by the wind and rain.

(End of this chapter)