Broken stones, thick tree roots, and piled-high earth completely blocked the path ahead. Because it was on a curve, they couldn’t even see Tianyuan and the others on the other side.
Loose soil continued to slide down, though it was no longer as perilous as before. Shen Xihe’s heart still raced slightly. "You did this on purpose," she said.
He had deliberately arranged for them to ride together, making it easier to conceal his actions earlier. With the light rain falling and the reins seemingly in Shen Xihe’s hands, anyone unaware would assume she had galloped them both here.
Xiao Huayong was now very close to Shen Xihe. Were it not for the bamboo hats separating them, their cheeks might have touched. Raindrops gathered at the edges of the hats and dripped down, glistening trails of water sliding past the corners of his eyes, as if veiling his gaze with a layer of moisture.
"You were the one who told me to hide behind you, Youyou," Xiao Huayong replied, not without a hint of grievance.
Wasn’t he just following his wife’s instructions?
Shen Xihe didn’t bother arguing with him about that and simply asked, "Why do this?"
This was clearly an attempt to shake off Xiao Changqing and the others. Now, only the two of them, husband and wife, had crossed this point. Once the landslide stopped, Xiao Changqing would have the road cleared. Shen Xihe glanced at the gradually settling rocks and soil, then considered the distance the debris had rolled down earlier—it would take at least half an hour to clear.
Xiao Huayong lifted his head, watching the eagles circling in the sky obscured by dark clouds, and curled his lips. "Time to give Little Eighth a small gift in return."
As his words faded, he nudged the horse’s flank, tugged the reins, and galloped off with Shen Xihe. After a short ride, they came upon a winding upward path. The slope wasn’t steep, nor was the path particularly wide. Though soaked by rain and somewhat muddy, the horse’s hooves had been specially treated to prevent slipping.
Xiao Huayong seemed intimately familiar with this route, turning at forks without the slightest hesitation.
Shen Xihe followed Xiao Huayong upward, unaware that shortly after they left, people arranged by Xiao Huayong had appeared at the blocked road. Dressed identically to her and Xiao Huayong, their appearances were nearly indistinguishable from the real ones.
Soon, amid the sound of rain, Shen Xihe heard the whistling of arrows and the rustling of people darting through the forest, brushing past rain-laden leaves. The noises came from ahead, growing closer, accompanied by the cries of eagles.
When Xiao Huayong brought her into a grove of trees, through the dense foliage and the misty rain, she saw a group of people in tight-fitting attire, wearing straw rain cloaks, holding crossbows, and carrying quivers, retreating steadily.
Some rushed ahead to scout, casually cutting through tangled shrubs with their blades. Others remained vigilant of their surroundings, while a few turned to shoot arrows behind them. Overhead, large birds circled, crying out, occasionally diving like giant arrows.
With a flap of their wings, they sent men tumbling; a swipe of their claws tore flesh open; a peck of their sharp beaks sent blood splattering…
As they drew closer, Shen Xihe recognized them as several bald eagles—massive in size, with wingspans longer than a grown man. They were agile and sharp, as if specially trained, easily evading the attackers’ assaults.
Xiao Huayong had a fondness for eagles; he used them to send messages. That these bald eagles appeared here and now, chasing this group from the direction of the earlier ambush on the hill—Shen Xihe didn’t believe for a moment that these eagles had nothing to do with Xiao Huayong."I have a falconry in Heishui, where I raise hundreds of eagles, each with its own purpose. When the time is right, I'll take you to see it." Xiao Huayong seemed to confirm Shen Xihe's speculation as he whispered to her, a hint of pride in his tone.
Shen Xihe knew Xiao Huayong owned a falconry, but she never imagined he kept so many eagles. How much silver must Hua Fuhai spend annually to support this hobby of his?
"Kraa—" Suddenly, a harsh cry echoed through the air. Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong turned to see the leader of the group demonstrating remarkable skill—he drew his bow and shot an arrow that pierced straight through a bald eagle's wing.
Fortunately, the arrow passed between the feathers without drawing blood. The eagle veered off course from the impact, and another person coordinating with the leader immediately nocked an arrow, aiming at the disoriented bird.
Xiao Huayong's eyes darkened. With a flick of his wrist, a small throwing knife shot from his palm like a streak of white light. It whirled through several trees and, just as the archer released his arrow, the blade sliced across his throat.
The man stiffened, his crossbow and arrow clattering to the ground an instant before he collapsed with a heavy thud.
Simultaneously, the trees pierced by the flying knife toppled with a loud crash, alerting the entire group. They swiftly drew their blades and aimed their arrows in the direction of the sound. But Xiao Huayong had already spurred his horse away the moment the knife left his hand.
Some of the men struggled to fend off the enraged bald eagle while others cautiously advanced toward the fallen trees, weapons drawn and guarding each other.
Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe silently repositioned themselves elsewhere, observing as the group split into two. He gently patted her shoulder in a wordless reassurance. Then Shen Xihe felt a lightness behind her—a blur swept past her vision.
A ghostly figure darted forth with speed beyond what her eyes could track. She couldn't discern how Xiao Huayong moved or how he closed in on the black-clad figures. All she saw was a shadow circling them once before the entire group fell like snapped branches, collapsing before they could react.
On the other side, the bald eagle had retreated, replaced by another far more agile and fierce figure. Even as a blur, Shen Xihe knew with certainty—it was Xiao Huayong's Haidongqing!
Silent as death, it spread its wings and dove straight down, sweeping an entire row of men off their feet.
Meanwhile, Xiao Huayong stood firm in the misty rain, his face hidden beneath a straw hat and rain cloak. Behind him lay the fallen... the dead.
Haidongqing wasn't finished after knocking the men down. It targeted each fallen figure, ramming into them with brutal force—tossing some high into the air to crash upon the ground, hurling others against distant trees or earth. Every one of them died spitting blood.
Having slaughtered them all, the eagle seemed almost dissatisfied. It landed on a large rock, shaking its head and scattering droplets of water. Its eyes scanned left and right, as if searching for more living targets. Finding none, it beat its wings and soared into the sky, vanishing swiftly. The other eagles had already disappeared without a trace.When Shen Xihe withdrew his gaze from the sky, Xiao Huayong had already strolled to his side. Difang appeared at some unknown moment, bowing as he stood beside Xiao Huayong, who then extended his hand to Shen Xihe.
Shen Xihe reached out and pulled him up, holding him close. Once Xiao Huayong was seated steadily, he said, "Retrieve the heads and deliver them all to Little Eight."
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