Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting with a Chronicle of Tragic Love

Jiao Si shielded Ping'er behind him, his eyes flashing as he scanned the dozen or so men in black who had surrounded them.

Under the moonlight, the steel knife in the man's hand gleamed coldly, exuding a murderous aura.

There are only three possibilities for someone to lie in wait near Jinling City for so long, until they leave the city.

First, Liu Rushi and Die'er colluded with foreign enemies.

absurd.

When the Japanese pirates were hot on the top of Plum Blossom Mountain, it was Liu Rushi and Die'er who stayed with him to cover the retreat.

How could someone who would share life and death with you be the mastermind behind it all?

Second, Ping'er secretly informed the bandits.

That's even more impossible.

If Ping'er had any intention of harming me, she could have saved me when I was at the bottom of Plum Blossom Cliff. Why wait until today?

That leaves only the third possibility.

Someone instructed the Nanjing city guards to immediately send a message if they discovered that the city had left the city.

Of all the people he'd met so far, besides the Qian family, he couldn't think of anyone else...

Thinking of this, he took a deep breath and forced himself to remain calm.

"Gentlemen, do you know that on the summit of Plum Blossom Mountain, I, alone, slew more than a dozen Japanese devils?"

"Ask yourselves, are you tougher than those heavily armored Japanese pirates?"

The words echoed along the silent riverbank, carrying the lingering power of the battlefield.

Upon hearing this, the leader in black paused, his eyes behind his mask flickering slightly, as if he were somewhat hesitant.

Then, he remembered what his master had told him before he left, but he chuckled again, his voice hoarse.

"In Jinling City, the name of the Twin-Swords Hero Jiao has long been known throughout teahouses and taverns; who doesn't know him!"

"We've heard of the legendary Twin-Sword Hero atop Plum Blossom Mountain. One man with two swords, slaughtering countless demons—how magnificent! But now..."

He pointed to Jiao Si's empty hands.

Do you have a knife?

After saying that, his gaze fell on Ping'er behind Jiao Si, and his mockery intensified.

"Or are you going to protect this delicate young lady while facing off against these dozen or so steel knives with your bare hands?"

"If that's the case, then we'll have to see what they're really capable of today!"

Jiao Si's heart sank.

The leader in black was no brute; he immediately saw through his greatest disadvantage—being unarmed and having Ping'er, a weak woman who couldn't even kill a chicken, by his side.

His mind raced, and he spoke again, attempting to exert pressure from another angle.

"Previously, Jiao cut off Qian Yi's banknotes in front of a group of nobles and gentry at Huai Shang Yun Lou."

"At that time, with a 'Yellow Dragon Mandate Talisman', even if the Eastern Depot arrested someone, they could eventually escape safely and be summoned to the palace."

"You are acting on the orders of the Qian family, here tonight to ambush and kill us. Do you intend to oppose the imperial court?"

He deliberately steered the matter toward "Qian family revenge" and "defying the law," hoping to make the other party more cautious.

Upon hearing this, the leader of the men in black was taken aback at first, then let out an even colder laugh, as if he had heard something absurd.

"The Qian family? Hahahaha!"

"Do you think the Qian family can order us around?"

"also......"

His tone turned grim.

"Although you entered the palace with the 'Yellow Dragon Mandate Talisman,' you failed to gain any further favor from the court. Instead, they left you aside."

"Doesn't Master Jiao understand the implications of this?"

He paused, the tip of his knife pointing at Jiao Si.

"That jade talisman might protect you for a while, but it can't guarantee your safety forever, much less allow you to ascend to the highest heavens!"

"Tonight will prove it!"

Having said that, he stopped talking nonsense, swung his long staff, and shouted loudly.

"Attack! Finish this quickly!"

The men in black around him responded in unison, their blades flashing, as they pounced on Jiao Si from different directions.

The attack was swift and the teamwork was excellent, clearly demonstrating their high level of training.

Jiao Si gave a low shout and shielded Ping'er behind him.

He then faced the two men in black who were the first to rush over.

Although he no longer had a knife, his martial arts skills, honed through countless battles, were far superior to what they once were.

He dodged the slashing blade to the side, then delivered a powerful punch to one man's wrist, sending the steel knife flying from his hand; at the same time, he kicked another man in the abdomen, forcing him back.

However, the men in black were numerous and their movements were well-organized.

As soon as the two were thwarted, four more people stepped in, their blades weaving into a net that firmly trapped Jiao Si and Ping'er in the center.

Jiao Si had to protect Ping'er while also dealing with attacks from all sides, putting him in a precarious situation.

There was something else that made Jiao Si even more alarmed.

After only a few exchanges, he discovered that these men in black not only used ruthless moves, but also had a subtle rhythm in their movements, echoing each other.

Beneath the clothing, there appeared to be a tough inner armor, and when punched or kicked, the force returned was exceptionally solid.

The manpower and financial resources required to make an inner armor piece are far greater than those required for an outer armor piece...

Clearly, these people were far more skilled in martial arts than the fierce Japanese pirates on the top of Plum Blossom Mountain; they were more like rigorously trained martial artists.

They might even come from the military or a tightly organized group.

The battle quickly became a stalemate.

Jiao Si had several bloody marks on his body. Although they were not fatal, the bleeding was incessant and his strength was being rapidly depleted.

Ping'er stood behind him, watching Jiao Si fight fiercely, tears welling up in her eyes, but she dared not utter a sound to disturb him.

It was at this moment.

The leader of the men in black never personally entered the arena, but instead calmly observed from outside the circle.

Seeing that Jiao Si, though brave, was already showing signs of fatigue under the siege and was constantly distracted by protecting the woman behind him, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

good chance!

Taking advantage of the darkness, he quietly bypassed the battle and suddenly launched an attack from the side and rear.

The long staff, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, pierced straight at Ping'er's back, who was being protected by Jiao Si!

This move was swift and ruthless, clearly the result of long-term planning, intended to relieve the siege of Wei by attacking Zhao and forcing Jiao Si to make a move!

"Ping'er, be careful!"

Jiao Si caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of his eye, and was filled with shock and anger.

He tried to turn around to help, but was held back by three men in black.

The flashing blades blocked all his escape routes.

Seeing that the long stick was about to reach her, Ping'er closed her eyes in fright.

At the critical moment!

"Ugh—!"

Suddenly, a muffled whooshing sound came from the air!

A huge, dark iron pot, as big as a tabletop, spun like a black frisbee, and with a terrifying force, suddenly flew out from the woods at an angle!

A loud crash!

The iron pot slammed heavily onto the long staff thrust out by the leader of the men in black!

The immense force caused the leader of the men in black to go numb, almost dropping the long staff from his grasp, and he was also pulled back several steps.

He stared in horror at the direction from which the iron pot had flown.

"Who?!"

From the woods, a large, ball-shaped figure charged straight out like a wild boar!

The man also had his face covered with a black cloth, but he was fat and moved with unusual agility.

He rushed into the scene, picked up the black pot, and then swung a huge spatula that he had somehow produced, smashing it down on the nearest man in black.

"Bang!"

The man in black raised his knife to block, but underestimated the weight of the pot and shovel. He was smashed and tumbled away along with his knife.

The large, fat figure joined the fray, instantly disrupting the black-clad men's encirclement formation.

His moves seemed haphazard, yet they were incredibly powerful.

The wok and spatula moved with a whooshing sound.

A black pot over the head, a large shovel underneath, specifically targeting the head, joints, and groin.

Jiao Si's pressure eased, and he took the opportunity to protect Ping'er and move back a few steps, getting a chance to catch his breath.

He looked at the large, fat figure. Although the face was covered, the familiar build and the iconic large black pot from earlier...

"Two pigs?"