After the meeting that day, Yuan Hao felt indignant. Sure enough, the gentle embrace of a wife was the downfall of a hero. He became timid and hesitant after getting a wife. If it were before, he would have come long ago.
He went to the pigsty with a sigh, only to encounter Xie Heng trying to steal his pig.
Xie Heng refused to admit it and even scolded him for being incompetent, saying that a fourth-in-command should spend his days with pigs, vegetable gardens, and cesspools.
The vegetables in the garden weren't growing well, and everyone said he was useless.
Yuan Hao was an impatient person to begin with, and after being provoked, he stole the Fifth Master's map that very day to study it.
He felt that every mission he had been on before was dangerous, and he had always contributed to the success of each one, so he refused to believe that this one wouldn't be any different.
Three days later, he arrived in Xuzhou with five hundred brothers under the pretense of his leader's orders.
They sent someone to scout ahead first, and after half a day, confirming there was no danger, they went to the location shown on the map.
The floodwaters weren't very cold yet, and the more than 500 brothers were in high spirits, so they took off their outer clothes and plunged into the water.
"Fourth Boss, we've found him!" The brother who surfaced couldn't hide his excitement. "There really is a big warehouse down there!"
Yuan Hao was extremely excited, but of course he didn't dare to let his guard down. He ordered some people to keep watch and others to go into the water.
They made a lot of straw ropes, tied them to the grain, and pulled them up one bag at a time.
Each person who went into the water was tied with a bag and then surfaced to breathe once. They went into the water in three batches, taking turns, so that the sailors would not become exhausted.
Of course, they were exhausted. Just as they had retrieved hundreds of bags, the once peaceful forest suddenly rustled as dozens of archers aimed at them.
At the same time, two boats sailed on the water and surrounded them from the front and back.
Yuan Hao was greatly surprised.
"Haha. Fourth Master." Standing at the bow of the ship, Chu Yunji watched all this. "Kill all those lackeys, leaving only Yuan Hao."
He waved his hand, his eyes filled with bloodlust, and shouted, "Release the arrows!"
The archers aimed at the Black Wind Stronghold brothers on the ship, and arrows rained down!
Many of his brothers were hit by arrows and fell into the water, and Yuan Hao was frantic with worry.
Suddenly, a strong wind blew by, and a faint "beep beep" sound could be heard in the wind. Behind the group of archers, a group of people rushed forward with a whoosh, led by Sun Ergou.
Xie Xiao has indeed arrived!
"Boss!" Yuan Hao's eyes lit up, but he was filled with regret.
A large ship sped across the water like a whirlwind. Xie Xiao stood facing the wind, holding a long crescent halberd. His eyes were dark and cold, yet burning with fierce intensity. He looked at the Prince of Jiangning and said, "You just wanted me to come, didn't you? Today, let's have a good fight."
Chu Yunji smiled, "Good, as expected of Boss Xie, that's great."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a commotion on the water. Right beneath Xie Xiao's boat, countless soldiers in black emerged, their sharp hooks gripping the hull. The soldiers, pulling on ropes, boarded the boat like ghosts.
Little Li immediately ordered his men to pour vegetable oil on the hull of the boat. The moment the soldiers slipped, the rope was cut, and they all fell into the water.
To Chu Yunji's surprise, another group of people suddenly emerged from the dense forest on the other side. The leader was none other than General Zhao, who was guarding the city of Yuzhou.
Chu Yunji was shocked. "General Zhao actually colluded with mountain bandits to rebel. How can you face the court you are loyal to?"
General Zhao said, "Your Highness, please forgive me. I was only repaying a debt of gratitude. Xie Xiao once saved my family and later gave me grain. His brother is in trouble, so it is only natural for me to help him. I am not rebelling."
Chu Yunji sneered: "That sounds very noble, but don't blame me for showing no mercy. Kill them."
Suddenly, dozens of assassins emerged from under Yuan Hao's boat, and a surge of blood appeared at the spot where they had been retrieving the bodies of their brothers who were still in the water.
The fourth leader's eyes were bloodshot with rage. "Chu Yunji, I'll fight you to the death—yes!"
"Fourth brother!"
"Fourth Master!" Sun Ergou and the others shouted.
Yuan Hao was hit by two hooks, and with a "pfft" he spat out a mouthful of blood. He was pulled to his knees and a sword was pressed against his neck.
Xie Xiao's gaze sharpened, and he cursed fiercely.
At this moment, a large ship suddenly sailed up from behind his ship, and on board was none other than the Marquis of Xinyang.
The brothers of Black Wind Stronghold were all shocked; there were at least two thousand people on the Marquis of Xinyang's ship.
"Haha, Chief Xie, the situation seems to be turning against you," King Jiangning laughed. "If you don't want Fourth Chief to die, how about we have a proper talk?"
Wouldn't it be more fun to recruit such a talented person than to kill him? It's a pity that Li Ruo didn't come.
Xie Xiao's lips curled into a sarcastic smile. "How do you want to negotiate?"
"I would like to invite the chief to join me on my ship," Chu Yunji said.
The brothers of Black Wind Stronghold shouted in unison, "Boss, no!"
Yuan Hao shouted hoarsely, "Boss, don't worry about me. In eighteen years, I'll be a hero again."
Chu Yunji looked at the fourth leader, gave the expert a wink, and then there was another "poof" sound.
Yuan Hao groaned as blood gushed from his thigh.
"No!" a woman cried out as she came out of the cabin, but it was too late. She watched helplessly as Yuan Hao was covered in blood.
Yuan Hao's pupils dilated in shock. "How could you—"
Everyone looked over, and Chu Yunji momentarily thought it was Li Ruo, but when he saw the look in her eyes, disappointment flashed across his face.
The woman removed her veil, revealing herself to be Guan Siyu, the veterinarian from Black Wind Village.
However, the medicine was no longer on her face; her face was now clean, fair, and extremely beautiful.
The next moment, another gasp rang out.
It was the Marquis of Xinyang who uttered, "Sisi!"
Guan Siyu, no, she should be called Mu Sisi, looked at the Marquis of Xinyang and called out, "Father."
At this moment, not only everyone else, but even Chu Yunji was stunned.
The wind howled, making people's robes flutter, and dark clouds rolled in, as if they were about to press down on people's heads. The atmosphere on the water was tense and eerie.
Xie Xiao stepped forward, his tall figure blocking Guan Siyu from view, and smiled somewhat casually, "Lord Xinyang, how have you been?"
The Prince of Jiangning on the ship was startled.
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