Chapter 62: Assassination, The Empty City Stratagem

Shortly after Cen Song departed, a group of men dressed in black encircled the thatched hut as if they were beasts lying in wait, ready to pounce at any moment.

The autumn wind howled fiercely, rattling the window of the hut and brushing against the young boy’s face, causing his high-tied hair ornament to flutter in the breeze.

The boy sat upright, never turning his head. “Since you’re here, why not have a cup of tea before you leave?”

Outside, more than a dozen masked figures exchanged uneasy glances. The composure of the boy was so excessive, they suspected a trap.

“You, go up and take a look,” the leader of the black-clad men ordered, gesturing with his chin to the man beside him.

The chosen man swallowed hard and stepped forward, his gleaming blade in hand. He glanced around nervously, took another step, leaves crunching beneath his feet.

As everyone held their breath, the boy inside the hut slowly rose, still with his back to them, raising a hand slightly.

The group outside instinctively dodged, expecting a concealed weapon to fly their way.

But the boy merely shook his sleeve, exposing his tender white wrist. He bent over, picked up a cloth from the basin, wrung out the water, and laid it gently across the forehead of the person on the bed.

“Boss…” The scout was so frightened by the boy’s series of actions that sweat broke out across his brow, his face pleading, his feet involuntarily retreating.

Who isn't afraid of death?

The leader gave the man a hard kick. “Go on, grab him and bring him out.”

The man stumbled forward a few steps, his legs trembling as he steadied himself. “Boss, a kid this calm must be hiding something. Maybe we should go in together and tear down the hut.”

“When I tell you to go, you go! Stop your whining.” The leader shoved him forward again.

Left with no choice, the man took a reluctant step toward the hut.

Inside, the boy picked up the damp cloth from the forehead of the person on the bed and slammed it back into the basin. Water splattered everywhere, yet not a sound was heard.

The eerie scene sent the scout stumbling back, finally fleeing to the group. “Boss, there’s a master inside, we can’t get in. Cen Song is cunning—if we barge in, none of us will make it out alive.”

The leader narrowed his eyes, studying the boy’s silhouette in silence. After a moment, he gave a signal. “Withdraw!”

The group responded and retreated into the forest.

Chu Junhan glanced backward out of the corner of her eye. Sensing they were truly gone, she let out a long sigh of relief, her brows arching slightly. “The Empty Fort Strategy really works.”

She had exhausted all her internal strength to throw the cloth, taking a gamble that had paid off.

When Cen Song returned in the evening, the courtyard lay in disarray, the thatched roof scattered as if swept away by a storm.

“Oh no, Mo’er and Yan’er…” The old man exclaimed, dropping his herbs and pushing open the fence with his wrinkled hands.

Rushing into the courtyard, he saw the window forced open by internal force. Inside, the child was safe and sound; his heart finally settled.

“Teacher?” Chu Junhan cried out in delight, taking the herbs from Cen Song and sorting through them. “Did you find a way to cure the poison?”

“Boil these herbs in eight bowls of water. When it’s reduced to half a bowl, give it to Mo’er. The poison will be reduced by three-tenths.”

“And the remaining seven-tenths? How do we cure that?” Chu Junhan’s face was full of worry. Seven-tenths remained—what if the poison flared up...

Cen Song sighed, his gaze clouded. “As for the rest… Didn’t I already use acupuncture this morning?”

Uh... Chu Junhan was embarrassed. It seems you are a saint of quite a different sort!