Chương 64: A Family Under Siege

Back in the hall that belonged to the Cang, the mother of little Cu was gritting her teeth, trying desperately to push through her fear as she stepped forward in front of the raid leader. She threw herself at the feet of the raid leader, her body trembling.

"Please, leave!" Siolen pleaded in Chinese.

"My husband is traveling with our daughter. I can't bear to have him raise her all alone!" The leader knelt, but his figure still loomed over her. He grinned, his voice dripping with mockery.

"Whoa. Your husband suure is a lucky maaan. Hahah." slight pause"Tell me, what's yoouur name?"

"Liu Siolen," she whispered, looking down.

"You sure have a beautiful naaame, Siolen," he sneered. Siolen's tears streamed down her face as she tried desperately to maintain her lie.

"I'm begging you!" she cried.

"Don't take me away! Just take what you want and leave!" The laughter of the raiders continued. Meanwhile, Aurelia felt a surge of rage coursing through her veins, her fists clenching in the real world. But that wasn't all. She realized she was acutely aware of everything happening around her, an all-knowing presence within the memory. With this glimmer of omniscience, she sensed Siféng hiding in the hot, dark writing chamber nearby.

A knife was holstered at his waist, his right hand gripping another so tightly the wrappings left their mark. He was preparing for the worst. Back in the hall, the raiders closed in on Siolen, their smirks wide as they savored the fear they instilled. The leader parleyed with Siolen as the memory skipped ahead. A hungry raider rose from the floor and demanded to know where the kitchen was.

Siolen pointed toward the hallway, and the man grabbed his sword and lantern, still laughing as he headed straight for the kitchen. Straight toward where Siféng was waiting. He was crouched in the dark writing chamber, drenched in sweat. But his mind was calm, focused by years of studying the Way of Harmony. He listened to the approaching footsteps, the rhythm a war drum for his resolve. A raider turned the corner, humming a low tune, his lantern casting long shadows.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Siféng took his chance. His left hand clamped over the man's mouth, muffling his surprise. In the same breath, he silently assassinated the raider, causing Aurelia's real-world body to convulse. Siféng then dragged the corpse into the deepest corner of the room. If I cook something, he thought, I could justify him missing... and even the odds. He moved to a heavy bookshelf and pressed a concealed switch.

A panel slid open, revealing the tools his father had insisted he master. To truly understand peace, my son, you must first understand the tools of war. He assembled a compact hunting bow and slung a quiver of arrows over his shoulder. He moved to the kitchen, lit the stove, and began to cook rice and dried meat. The smell of food wafted through the house, an irresistible bait for his hungry prey.

While he thought of the plan some more, Aurelia teleported to the main hall, where the scent of cooking meat reached the raiders.

"Ooh, what's that smell?" one asked, his stomach rumbling.

"Must be him," another said. The leader, meanwhile, barked an order.

"Go help with meeeal and get the rest of us some boowl and wateer!" Three men grabbed their weapons, eager for food, and headed for the kitchen, leaving their leader with the rest of their allies. Aurelia's vision snapped back to Siféng. He went from the kitchen's doors, then to the corner on the left, having set up everything for their demise. The three raiders marched down the hallway, passing the room where their friend's corpse lay hidden.

The savory scent of cooking meat overwhelmed the metallic tang of blood, masking Siféng's work. As they neared their final destination, the sound of sizzling food stirred their excitement, drawing them inexorably into the trap.

"It's right ahead," the third raider said, sniffing the air.

"Man, I can't wait," the fourth grinned.

"I'll chow down fast!" He hurried into the kitchen, leaving his friends behind.

"Hey, slow down!" the second raider called.

"How hungry is he?" he muttered.

"Go help him," the third chuckled.

"I'll keep watch." The second raider nodded and entered the kitchen, the double doors swinging shut behind him. From his hiding spot, Siféng drew the bowstring. He steadied his breath, aimed at the neck of the lone guard in the hallway, and released. The arrow struck true. The raider fell with a clank and a thud. Siféng set the bow aside and drew his knives, moving toward the kitchen doors with the silent grace of a predator. Inside, the second raider paused, hearing a soft thud.

"Hey," he called to his friend, who was busy eating.

"I'm heading out to check on him." He grabbed his weapon and turned back to the doors. They gradually swung open. Siféng was behind the opened door. Before the raider could react, he saw the dead body in the hall and froze. In that split second, Siféng lunged, taking him out in an instant. Inside the kitchen, the last raider was still chewing, oblivious to the slaughter behind him. Siféng crept low, closing the distance. With brutal precision, he ended the man's meal permanently.

Aurelia's real-world body convulsed, feeling the phantom strain of the kill. Siféng pushed the limp corpse aside and took multiple deep breaths, calming himself down for the next hunt.