Chapter Seventy-Four: The Cat Teases the Mouse
Lu Hu reached under his pillow and pulled out his electric baton and the charging shield.
Quietly, slowly, he moved to the edge of the bed, slipped his feet down, and bent to put on his boots.
He lay prone on the ground, pressing his ear to the floor, focusing intently to listen.
Among the many footsteps, he gradually distinguished those of the night walker.
By now, the night walker had reached the tent of Quan Dou-nan and his wife, very close by.
He was moving stealthily around the large tent, avoiding the patrolling guards, and naturally evading the roaming sentries, both hidden and visible, guarding each major tent.
Around the main tent, the defenses were dense and strict, making it almost impossible to find an opportunity or gap to slip in.
Lu Hu turned on the charging shield, gathered his breath, and tiptoed to the rear entrance of the tent.
He waited patiently here, knowing the night walker could also hear his footsteps and would observe for a long time before making any move.
Lingding Xiao Wu watched Lu Hu calmly, exchanging glances: Don’t rush; wait patiently...
A tiger’s patience in ambushing prey is innate.
Lu Hu caught the faint sound of a sharp weapon slicing through the air...
Sure enough:
“What’s going on? The lantern fell to the ground—what an idiot!” The angry voice of the patrol leader came from outside.
“My hand suddenly went numb...” The explanation was cut short, followed by the sound of several people stomping on the lantern.
The patrol, led by the foremost guard carrying the lantern, saw it fall, spilling sheep fat oil, which would surely ignite the cover.
This was the night walker’s move, using some hidden weapon to create chaos.
“Hurry up and light the spare lantern!” Amid the confusion, the leader remembered his duty.
Footsteps seized the opportunity, advancing swiftly to this tent, the night walker pressed tightly against the outer layer.
It was a three-layered grand tent: the inner layer made of stitched horsehide, wrapped in sheepskin, and the outermost layer was exceptionally tough cowhide.
All were meticulously selected premium pelts.
The night walker moved lightly along the cowhide outside, dodging the roaming sentry.
A soft sound came from the tip of the tent’s central pole.
Lu Hu judged it was the night walker throwing a long rope, wrapping it around the half-foot protruding pole at the tent’s peak.
With a light sound, the night walker pulled himself up the rope.
If he didn’t act now, the night walker would surely slice open the tent top with a sharp tool and spy below.
Lu Hu lifted the tent flap, leaped onto the tent top.
The instant he landed atop the tent, he crouched low, hiding behind the charging shield.
A series of crisp metallic clashes rang out as Lu Hu’s shield sparked under attack.
Another round of sharp sounds followed; the shield blocked all incoming hidden weapons.
“Assassin! Assassin! The assassin is on the god’s tent top—surround the tent, don’t let him escape!” The tent top glittered like fireworks, alarming the guards below.
The tent was quickly surrounded, impenetrable.
“If you’ve got more hidden weapons, let them fly,” Lu Hu had anticipated the night walker’s arsenal, hence his shield.
The night walker was not flustered, drawing twin blades from his back.
Dressed in tight black attire with a black cloth over his face, only his eyes were visible.
He flourished his blades as if to charge at Lu Hu.
Lu Hu raised his shield with his left hand, gun in his right, advancing to meet him.
But the black-clad man feinted, suddenly spinning and leaping, twisting through the air to land on the ground.
The moment his feet touched, he cut down two guards, then kicked another away.
His movements were swift and ruthless.
With twin blades, he parried and countered incoming weapons, striking back with precision.
His attacks were fierce, never missing, each strike found its mark.
Screams echoed.
His figure was ghostly, weaving through the gaps in the encirclement, almost breaking free.
“All of you step aside, let me handle him,” Yakexi ran over, still half-asleep.
Frustrated, after a day’s toil, trouble had struck in the blink of an eye.
He swung a heavy club at the night walker.
With agile movement, the night walker dodged, the club smashing into the snow.
A crack sounded—the club broke in two.
Yakexi, overexerting himself, tumbled forward.
In the chaos, two brave Changli guards rushed to help, but were swiftly cut down by the black-clad man.
Yakexi seized the moment to hurl the broken half of the club at the night walker’s head.
The wooden piece whistled through the air...
The night walker dodged with ease.
A miserable cry rang out—the club struck a Changli soldier within the circle, sending him flying, blood streaming from his head.
The night walker lunged, swinging his blade at Yakexi, who was just about to rise.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept overhead. The night walker reacted instantly, slashing upward...
But the white-headed eagle king was even faster, spinning elegantly in the air, talons retracting swiftly, dodging the lethal blow.
The night walker missed the eagle king; his blade descended, cleaving through a charging Changli guard.
These guards were no match for the night walker.
“Clear out!” Lu Hu jumped down from the tent, annoyed by the guards’ interference.
He did not immediately pursue the black-clad man, wanting to see what manner of opponent he faced.
The night walker had already broken free of the encirclement, feeling secretly delighted, sprinting with both feet like wheels...
A soul-shaking tiger roar echoed—White Da Bai blocked his path.
The night walker tried left, White Da Bai blocked left; tried right, White Da Bai blocked right, always quicker by a step.
He slashed at White Da Bai repeatedly, but the tiger dodged skillfully, persistently barring his escape.
Lu Hu watched coldly from behind, shield in his left hand, spear in his right.
The night walker tried to break through the rear.
Lu Hu guarded himself with the shield, moving swiftly to block every attempt.
The night walker’s blade only sparked against the shield.
The white-headed eagle circled overhead, shadowing him, harrying but never striking to kill.
Man, eagle, and tiger worked in perfect harmony, toying with him like a cat with a mouse.
The night walker was panting, his fighting spirit ebbing, for his opponents only defended—the spear was never thrust at him.
He decided to try his ultimate move—if it failed, only death remained.
Finding an opening, he clamped the right-hand blade between his teeth, reaching into his chest.
Suddenly, his vision blurred, his right wrist was seized by a sharp pain, his whole body went numb, weightless, then he crashed to the ground.
He never saw how Lu Hu made his move.
He lay there trembling uncontrollably...
In a daze, he was firmly bound by the Changli guards.
“Brother White Head, White Da Bai, thank you for your efforts, go rest now!” Lu Hu said politely to the eagle king and White Da Bai as he stowed his spear and shield.