The Tofu Beauty’s house was located at the westernmost end of the village, standing alone like an isolated island. Because of Qiao Zhao and the others’ residence there, not only at midnight, but even in broad daylight, the villagers were unwilling to approach it.

Those evil ghosts of the Qiao family were released by this group of people – truly unlucky!

A group of black-clad figures surrounded the Tofu Beauty’s house like a tide.

The walls of such village residences weren’t high. The leader of the black-clad figures waved his hand, and all the black-clad men jumped onto the walls, filing in one after another.

The courtyard was completely quiet, without a trace of light. As the black-clad figures jumped down one by one, when there was no longer any footing space left in the courtyard, suddenly, countless torches were thrown out, instantly creating bright illumination.

The torches fell among the black-clad figures, immediately igniting their clothing. Screams instantly rose one after another.

The black-clad figures surrounding the courtyard outside heard the commotion inside and shouted: “Keep watch! Don’t let anyone inside escape.”

“Something’s wrong – why is there such bright firelight inside?” someone wondered.

The leader, remaining outside, slightly changed expression and waved his hand: “Break down the door and go in!”

The courtyard was already in complete chaos.

After their initial panic, those black-clad figures attacked by the torches quickly reacted, rolling on the ground to extinguish the flames on their bodies before charging toward the house entrance.

In the cover of night, Shao Mingyuan’s brows were cold and stern: “They’re a well-trained army. This is interesting indeed.”

Qiao Zhao, hiding inside the house, couldn’t help but walk to Shao Mingyuan’s side: “An army? How was the governor able to mobilize the army?”

“I’m afraid we’d have to ask Governor Li about that. Zhaozhao, go back inside. It’s better to resolve these people quickly.”

To be able to mobilize the army, the forces behind Governor Li were not to be underestimated.

Qiao Zhao quickly swept her gaze around by the light of the lit torches and said in a low voice: “There are many people. General Shao, you must be careful.”

Shao Mingyuan smiled slightly: “Zhaozhao, if you call me Brother Shao once, I’ll be careful.”

“At a time like this, you still have the mood to joke?” Qiao Zhao twitched the corner of her mouth.

“At a time like this, can’t you call me Brother Shao once?” Shao Mingyuan asked in return.

His eyes were very beautiful, pure as black gems, sparkling with anticipation.

Qiao Zhao looked at him, and her heart suddenly softened. She quietly called out “Brother Shao” once, then turned and went back into the house.

Shao Mingyuan smiled, drew the long blade from his waist, and leaped into the chaotic crowd of fighters.

Returning to the house, Qiao Zhao listened to the intense sounds of slaughter in the courtyard and couldn’t help but reach into her bosom, taking out a dagger.

This dagger was given to her by Shao Mingyuan during the day for self-defense.

She drew the dagger from its sheath, and a cold gleam flashed in the darkness.

To avoid becoming a target for enemy attacks, no lamps were lit inside the house.

“Miss, be careful not to hurt your hand,” A’Zhu softly reminded.

Qiao Zhao carefully felt along the blade and said indifferently: “I won’t.”

Back then, if she had possessed such a dagger, perhaps Shao Mingyuan wouldn’t have needed to shoot that arrow.

“Where’s Binglu?” Qiao Zhao put away the dagger and asked.

“Just now, Binglu said she was going to get a fire poker for self-defense.”

Qiao Zhao shook her head: “Get a fire poker for self-defense? She probably took the fire poker to rush out and fight.”

A’Zhu’s expression changed slightly: “Miss, this servant will go call Binglu back.”

Qiao Zhao stopped A’Zhu: “We’ll just wait in the house. Don’t go add to the chaos.”

With Chen Guang there, Binglu wouldn’t come to any harm. Given the little maid’s temperament and preferences, perhaps some more training would be good for her.

The sounds of slaughter outside seemed even more fierce.

In the outskirts, not far from Baiyun Village, Governor Li stood with his hands behind his back, gazing west, his expression gradually growing grave.

“Why isn’t it over yet?”

The other side only had a dozen or so people, while the soldiers he had brought in numbered two hundred. Even if Marquis Guanjun had peerless martial arts, could he still sprout wings and fly away?

Logically, the matter should have been resolved long ago.

Governor Li couldn’t help but look up at the sky.

The deep night sky was ink blue, with the moon hidden behind dark clouds, so black it gave rise to ominous premonitions.

“Sir, the situation might be somewhat amiss,” his advisor approached and said in a low voice.

“What does Sir Han think?” Governor Li’s heart was similarly uneasy at this time. Hearing his advisor say this, his heart couldn’t help but jump, and that ominous feeling grew even stronger.

“According to our previous estimates, this battle should have been decided quickly, but it still hasn’t ended even now. There must have been some unexpected development.”

As the advisor said this, he saw a black-clad figure running over breathlessly: “Sir, there’s been a change in the situation!”

“What happened?” Governor Li’s heart sank.

“Sir, that courtyard doesn’t contain just the dozen or so people you mentioned, but at least dozens of experts capable of fighting ten men each!”

“What?” Governor Li’s color changed abruptly as he urgently asked: “How is the situation there now?”

The messenger said urgently: “Our people have already lost more than half their numbers and probably can’t hold out much longer!”

Governor Li’s body swayed as he cried out: “How could this happen?”

The advisor sighed deeply: “Sir, we still underestimated Marquis Guanjun. Marquis Guanjun didn’t bring only these few people on his southern journey!”

“This official was careless. Marquis Guanjun has dominated the Northern Territories for years – how could he be the type to let others manipulate him at will!”

The advisor suddenly bowed deeply: “Sir, we now have only two paths forward. You must make a choice quickly.”

“Please speak, Sir Han.”

The advisor straightened up, and cold light flashed in his eyes as he stared west: “The first choice is to completely pretend ignorance. When Marquis Guanjun reports to the authorities tomorrow, we’ll send some people to make a show of investigating the bandits and brush this matter aside.”

Governor Li shook his head: “This official won’t choose this path. Since we’ve made our move, there’s no reason to retreat. Marquis Guanjun isn’t a fool – he’ll settle accounts with us later.”

The advisor thought the same way, nodding repeatedly. A flash of killing intent appeared in his eyes as he said coldly: “Then we might as well go all the way – mobilize the entire prefecture’s forces to suppress the bandits!”

“Sir’s meaning is—”

“We can mobilize about a thousand bailiffs and prefecture soldiers. Bandits came to Baiyun Village, and villagers who fortunately escaped reported to the authorities for help. The Governor of Jianan led his forces overnight to suppress the bandits. Regrettably, Marquis Guanjun and the others died heroically while protecting the villagers in their fight against the bandits!”

“Good, let’s do it this way!” Governor Li clapped his hands. “This official doesn’t believe that under the siege of nearly a thousand men, Marquis Guanjun can still escape with his life.”

This way, the unfavorable factor of bandits appearing in Jianan territory could be offset by his timely suppression of the bandits.

Though Governor Li had been very confident in the people he had brought in, as someone who wasn’t a naive newcomer to officialdom, he had made preparations for the worst when deciding to move against Marquis Guanjun.

Those nearly a thousand bailiffs and prefecture soldiers had been assembled early on. Now that he had decided to burn his bridges, they naturally rushed over quickly, heading straight for Baiyun Village.

In the dark and windy night, the sounds of slaughter and deafening footsteps made every household tightly close their doors and windows, without even the courage to peek out.

This night, countless people shivered under their quilts.

With demons walking the night, was a great disaster about to befall Baiyun Village?