desperate situation

The dark clouds eventually turned into a torrential downpour, which came quickly and fiercely.

Three days later, late at night, everyone at the blacksmith shop had retired for the night. The tense atmosphere of the past few days had made everyone sleep restlessly. Gu Tieshan lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) fully clothed, his broadsword beside him, and the pair of dragon scale bracelets hidden close to his body. Shen Lanjun, on the other hand, held her child, her ears constantly listening to any sounds outside.

Suddenly, a series of extremely faint yet rapid footsteps came from all directions, quickly approaching the courtyard! It wasn't just one or two people, but at least a dozen, who had formed a well-trained encirclement!

"We're surrounded!" Gu Tieshan suddenly opened his eyes, shouted, grabbed his broadsword, and leaped off the kang (a heated brick bed).

Almost simultaneously, a violent banging and shouting came from outside the courtyard gate: "Listen up, you instigators inside! You are surrounded! Open the gate and surrender immediately!"

They're Japanese puppet regime spies! They really made their move! And they even directly called them "secret agents," clearly indicating they had precise intelligence pointing to them!

"Go through the back window!" Gu Tieshan shouted decisively to Shen Lanjun and Xiao Chen. He then drew his knife and rushed towards the courtyard gate to buy time for the others to break through.

Without the slightest hesitation, Shen Lanjun scooped up the child and urgently told Xiao Chen and Xiuniang, "Follow me!" She kicked open the back window and, with the agility of a swallow, vaulted out first. Xiao Chen, pulling the terrified Xiuniang and Shuanzi along, followed closely behind.

However, an ambush had already been laid in the backyard! As soon as they landed, four or five dark figures emerged from the darkness, wielding guns and military daggers, and pounced on them menacingly!

"You're asking for it!" Xiao Chen roared, raising the only rifle in his hand. Without even aiming, he pulled the trigger in the direction of the dark figure!

"Bang!"

The gunshots were particularly piercing in the silent night, and one agent fell to the ground. But this also completely exposed their position, and more agents poured into the backyard.

In the front yard, Gu Tieshan was already engaged in combat with the spies who had broken in! He knew he couldn't let them in; his broadsword swung like a wheel, forming a deadly barrier at the narrow gate. In a flash, the two spies at the front were instantly cut down!

However, the old wound in his left shoulder throbbed with excruciating pain during the fierce fight, inevitably causing a slight slowing of his movements. A cunning agent seized the opportunity, delivering a vicious dagger thrust straight into his left ribs!

Gu Tieshan twisted his body abruptly, the dagger grazing his ribs and drawing a trail of blood! He groaned, and with a swift motion, his right hand swept the knife back, severing the spy's arm at the elbow!

Screams echoed through the night sky.

However, the enemy outnumbered them greatly and were fearless. They seemed to have received a death order to capture Gu Tieshan at all costs. Bullets whizzed against the door frame and walls, scattering countless fragments. Gu Tieshan struggled to hold on, relying on the narrow terrain of the courtyard gate and his exquisite swordsmanship, but the wound on his left shoulder completely reopened, and blood quickly stained half of his clothes. His movements became slower and slower, and his breathing became heavy.

In the backyard, Xiao Chen's rifle, now out of ammunition, was reduced to a fire poker. He grabbed a military bayonet and engaged in a fierce struggle with two secret agents, the fight fraught with danger. Xiuniang and Shuanzi could only tremble in fear, unable to offer any help.

Shen Lanjun shoved the child into Xiu Niang's arms and said sternly, "Hold him tight and hide behind the woodpile!" The next moment, her hidden aura suddenly erupted! Facing a special agent who was aiming a gun at her, she moved like a ghost, using her Bagua Steps to close the distance in an instant. Her left hand moved like lightning, grabbing his wrist holding the gun and twisting it downwards. Her right hand, with fingers like a knife, precisely sliced ​​his Adam's apple!

With a soft "crack," the spy's eyes bulged out, and he collapsed to the ground.

Without pausing, she turned again, dodging another dagger thrusting at her. Her toes hooked a clod of frozen earth and kicked it hard at the third man's face. As he dodged, she closed in and delivered a fierce Bagua Palm "Single Change Palm" strike to his chest!

"Bang!" The man was struck as if by a heavy hammer, flying backward and crashing into the wall, where he fell silent.

Her movements were fluid, ruthless, and decisive, completely different from her usual gentle demeanor! Xiao Chen was stunned.

But Gu Tieshan's condition in the front yard was extremely critical! He had been stabbed in the leg again and could barely stand. He was only able to support himself with the broadsword and was about to be torn to pieces!

"Tieshan!" Shen Lanjun's eyes widened in fury, and she could no longer hide her rage. She suddenly pulled out three copper coins with sharpened edges from her waist and flicked her wrist!

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Three streaks of dark light pierced through the air and precisely struck the backs of three spies who were about to swing their knives at Gu Tieshan!

The three agents froze, staring incredulously at the lines of blood streaming from their chests, before collapsing to the ground with a thud.

This incredible skill with concealed weapons instantly stunned the remaining spies.

Taking advantage of the moment, Shen Lanjun rushed to the courtyard gate and supported the swaying Gu Tieshan. "Let's go!" she shouted to Xiao Chen in the backyard, "Xiao Chen, cover our retreat!"

Realizing what had happened, Xiao Chen picked up a knife from the ground and roared with bloodshot eyes, "I'll fight you to the death!" He blocked the pursuers like a mad tiger.

Supporting Gu Tieshan, Shen Lanjun, relying on her familiarity with the terrain and extraordinary agility, smashed through a gap in the side fence and staggered into the dark alleyway at the edge of the village. Behind them, came Xiao Chen's angry roar, the sounds of fierce fighting, and Xiu Niang's desperate cries...

In dire straits, they fought their way out, but at a heavy price. Gu Tieshan was seriously injured, Xiao Chen and Xiuniang fell into enemy hands, and the blacksmith shop, a hard-won stronghold, was completely exposed and destroyed.

A biting wind howled, and blood meandered along the snow-covered alleyway. Shen Lanjun, supporting the already fading consciousness of Gu Tieshan, glanced back at the direction of the blacksmith's shop where the firelight was beginning to flicker, her eyes filled with a deep-seated hatred and resolute determination.

That night, the peace of Linjiang Village was shattered. The flames of revenge had been ignited in blood and fire.