Chapter 77: Surrounded from Front, Back, and Right
“For the next few days, let’s make do with some dry food. As long as we can get out of Jiuchong Mountain, we can slow down and cook a proper meal. But every day we stay here is an added risk. We’ve already boiled hot water for you. Just eat a bit of your dry rations and get ready to move. Men, pack up the tents. Women, gather your belongings. Move quickly.”
With Yu Zhengqing’s command, a few people who were still half-asleep stumbled around in a daze, struggling to shake off their drowsiness. Even with his urging, they could barely muster the energy to get up.
“Commander, what time is it? Feels like we just fell asleep. The sky’s still dark!”
“It’s about Mao Hour (5-7 AM). If you’re still sleepy, wash your face with snow—that’ll wake you right up. Once we’re out of Jiuchong Mountain, you can sleep for ten hours straight if you want.”
Hearing this, those who were grumbling dared not complain further. They could hear the urgency in Yu Zhengqing’s voice. Recalling the bandits who nearly ambushed them yesterday, everyone moved quickly to pack their belongings and load them onto the horses.
Meanwhile, the men responsible for packing the tents sipped hot water to stave off the cold as they continued their march by torchlight.
“Something feels off…”
As they walked, Ye Jiamei couldn’t help but voice her unease.
“Huh? Mom, are you saying it’s strange that those bandits from yesterday haven’t come back for revenge yet?”
“Xiao Luo! Don’t scare me!”
Yu Qiao’er from the third branch of the Yu family turned pale at Yu Luo’s words, her face instantly drained of color.
The men walked on either side of the women, children, and elderly, holding torches and staying alert for any potential danger. Being roused at Mao Hour to march through the dark had already left everyone on edge. Yu Qiao’er’s nerves, already frayed, were stretched even thinner by Yu Luo’s ominous words.
“Don’t be scared. If they’re coming, they’re coming. If bandits do attack, just hide with the others. The men will handle them. If it really comes to that, it might just be our fate. Besides, Jiuchong Mountain is notorious for its bandits. The ones we saw yesterday are probably just one of many groups. There’s no avoiding them.”
Hearing Yu Luo’s blunt assessment, not only Yu Qiao’er but also her two sisters-in-law, Wu Hongping and Wang Ying, turned even paler. Wang Ying, in particular, clutched her young daughter, Yu Xiaoqing, tightly, not daring to let go for even a moment.
“Xiaofeng, if something does happen, be smart. Don’t run off alone. It’s easier for bandits to grab someone who’s separated from the group.”
“Got it, Mom. You just focus on protecting my little sister. I can take care of myself.”
Seeing how frightened the women were by her words, Yu Luo felt no guilt at all. Better they be mentally prepared now than to be caught completely off-guard by a sudden attack.
“Here, take this. If you get caught, just unscrew the cap and throw it in their faces. But be careful—this stuff will make skin rot instantly. Don’t get even a drop on yourself, or you’ll regret it.”
Having spent over a month together, the third branch of the Yu family had grown closer to Yu Luo’s family. Seeing that they had nothing to protect themselves with, Ye Jiamei hesitated briefly before handing them three small bottles of concentrated sulfuric acid.
“This stuff is very strong? I hope we never have to use it.”
Yu Qiao’er and her sisters-in-law took the 100ml bottles with trembling hands, listening carefully to Ye Jiamei’s warning. None of them dared to touch the bottle caps for fear of the liquid inside.
“It really is that strong. Just don’t splash it into your eyes. If it gets on your skin, it’ll hurt like hell and leave scars. But if it gets in your eyes, you’ll be blinded for life.”
Afraid they might underestimate the danger, Ye Jiamei emphasized the risks again.
“Good to know. If any bandit dares to grab me, I’ll splash this right in his eyes!”
As a mother determined to protect her child, Wang Ying’s resolve hardened instantly. Seeing her reaction, the others felt a bit more at ease.
But just then, a warning echoed in Yu Luo’s mind.
[Ding! System Alert: A group of bandits is approaching from the east. Another group is coming from the north, and a third is behind you. They are only 200 meters away. Please prepare for battle!]
Yu Luo, “!!!”
The moment she heard the alert, Yu Luo quickly handed a crossbow to Ye Jiamei. Instantly, Ye Jiamei’s heart leapt to her throat.
Experience had taught her that whenever her daughter handed her a crossbow, danger was imminent. She immediately regretted bringing up the bandits in the first place, as if they had somehow spoken them into existence.
“Everyone, watch out! We’re surrounded! The bandits are coming from the front, back, and right! Head down the left slope, quickly!”
Not caring if this revealed how she knew, Yu Luo shouted at the top of her lungs, pulling Ye Jiamei along as they rushed to the left.
Hearing the warning, some instinctively followed. Wang Ying scooped up her daughter and ran, while Wu Hongping and Yu Qiao’er grabbed Yu Xiaofeng and followed close behind.
But before some could even react, arrows rained down from three sides—front, back, and right!
People screamed as they were struck, but they had no time to tend to their wounds. Desperation drove them to follow Yu Luo’s lead, fleeing down the slope.
The men of the Yu family, leading the horses, also moved swiftly. Though many were baffled at how Yu Luo had known about the ambush, survival instincts outweighed curiosity.
Yu Xiaoran, tasked with leading the horse that carried the paralyzed Yu Hui, was a bit slower to react. In that brief moment of hesitation, arrows came whistling toward them!
Caught off guard, Yu Hui was struck in the shoulder and calf, while Old Madam Chen, who was trying to hide behind the horse, took an arrow in the back!
