met free Chapter 61 Footsteps in the Night, Hearts Revealed Under the Lamp
Chapter 61 Footsteps in the Night, Hearts Revealed Under the Lamp
As darkness fell, the road also became heavy.
After leaving the post station, the group moved slowly.
It wasn't that they were tired; it was that no one dared to mention "getting on the road" anymore.
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Chen He surveyed the terrain for a long time before finally choosing a gentle slope.
There is a small open area at the bottom of the slope, with water next to it, forest behind it, and a fairly clear view in front.
It's not a good place.
But it's not bad either.
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"Let's rest here."
He said in a low voice.
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Li Xuan nodded without asking any further questions.
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The line stopped.
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The guards quickly dispersed.
Some people led the horses, some people inventoried the goods, and some people began to set up a simple warning line.
His movements were noticeably faster and more practiced than in the morning.
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Li Yuanshan jumped off the car, and his legs went slightly weak as soon as his feet touched the ground.
He was stunned for a moment.
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"Am I... scared?"
He smiled bitterly to himself.
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He patted his legs, forcing himself to stand up straight.
Then, feigning nonchalance, he said to the person next to him:
"Don't touch that box of medicine yet, it'll easily lose its smell."
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The tone was fairly normal.
The voice was just a little lower than usual.
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No one laughed at him.
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Everyone knows that.
This day was not easy for anyone.
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Not far away.
Chenhe has already begun to deploy people.
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"You, the woods to the east."
"You two, keep an eye on the south slope."
"Don't make the fire too big, leave it dimly lit."
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He spoke slowly, but every word was clear.
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The guards responded one by one.
I didn't ask any more questions.
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Li Xuan stood on a slightly higher earthen slope, watching the entire camp slowly take shape.
The fire was lit.
Not big.
It just illuminates a person's face, but not far.
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This kind of fire.
It's not for keeping warm.
It's so that we can see each other clearly.
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He looked around.
Their gaze finally settled on Chen He.
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This person is very steady.
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It's not the kind that charges forward.
It's that kind of—
Someone who can "hold up" the situation.
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"These kinds of things will happen more and more often in the future."
Li Xuan thought to himself.
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If it weren't for Chen He.
This road will be much more difficult.
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Night fell completely.
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Sounds began to come from the woods.
The chirping of insects.
The sound of the wind.
There was also the soft rustling of leaves being gently plucked.
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Li Yuanshan sat by the fire.
He was holding a piece of dry food in his hand.
took a bite.
But they chewed very slowly.
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"It has no taste."
He frowned.
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It's not that it has no flavor.
He just couldn't eat.
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He looked up and around.
The guards are on patrol.
Chen He is walking.
Li Xuan sat not far away.
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Everyone is doing something.
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Only him—
Waiting.
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This feeling bothered him a bit.
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Am I... utterly useless?
The thought suddenly popped into my head.
He was stunned for a moment.
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He would never have thought this way before.
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In the Li family, he was the manager, someone who could control money and manage affairs.
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But now.
Once you break away from that system.
He discovered—
It seems like there's less and less I can do.
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"Tsk."
He muttered a curse under his breath.
He took a big bite of the dry rations.
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Not far away.
Li Xuan glanced at him.
He didn't say anything.
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Some things you have to figure out for yourself.
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Chen He walked over and stopped next to Li Xuan.
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"It's all arranged."
He said.
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Li Xuan nodded.
"I'll come tonight."
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Chen He was not surprised.
Just asking:
"How many waves?"
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Li Xuan thought for a moment.
His gaze fell into the darkness in the distance.
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"At least two waves."
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Chen He paused slightly in his breathing.
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"That group at the post station...will they move?"
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"meeting."
Li Xuan said.
"But this isn't the first wave."
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Chen He paused for a moment.
nod.
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"I'll go add another layer of security."
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He turned and took two steps.
It stopped again.
I glanced back.
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"Young clan leader."
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"Um?"
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"If there are too many people..."
He paused for a moment.
"Should we... retreat first?"
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This was the first time he had said "withdraw".
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Li Xuan looked at him.
There was no immediate response.
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A few breaths later.
他 说:
"If we have to evacuate—"
"Take your men and retreat."
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Chen He was taken aback.
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"And you?"
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Li Xuan's tone was very flat:
"I'll cover the rear."
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Chen He frowned.
"This is unreasonable."
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Li Xuan looked at him.
You are more important than me.
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That's a very direct statement.
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Chen He paused for a moment.
For a moment I didn't know how to reply.
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He instinctively wanted to refute.
But then they discovered—
I can't bring myself to say it.
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Because he knew.
From the perspective of "family structure", this statement is correct.
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From the perspective of "people"—
He couldn't quite accept it.
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"I will try my best to prevent this from happening."
That was the last thing he said.
The sound was even lower than before.
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Li Xuan nodded.
They didn't say anything more.
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The night grew deeper and deeper.
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The flames were lowered even further.
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The rotation begins.
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The first round of night watchmen has already started their shifts.
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Li Yuanshan was placed in the second round.
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He originally wanted to say that he could defend first.
But the words stuck in his throat.
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He knew he wasn't in the right state of mind.
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Don't be reckless.
He said to himself.
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He lay down on the blanket beside him.
Close your eyes.
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It didn't take a while.
Then it opened its eyes again.
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It's too quiet.
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The silence was so profound that all he could think about were the images from the daytime.
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That knife in the woods.
Those eyes in the post station.
And that line—
"Either pay up or risk your life."
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He rolled over.
She closed her eyes again.
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"sleep."
He gritted his teeth.
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But his body remained tense the whole time.
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I don't know how much time has passed.
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A very soft sound.
It came from afar.
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It's not the wind.
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Yes--
The sound of a twig snapping underfoot.
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Li Yuanshan suddenly opened his eyes.
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I suddenly became fully awake.
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He didn't move.
They even suppressed their breathing.
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"They're here."
The thought exploded in my mind.
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Not far away.
Chen He had already stood up.
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His hand rested on the hilt of the knife.
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He didn't shout.
He simply raised his hand slightly.
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The two night patrol guards stopped abruptly.
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The firelight remained still.
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But the atmosphere of the entire camp—
changed.
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Li Xuan also opened his eyes.
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He did not get up.
He just tilted his head slightly.
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In my ears, all sounds are amplified.
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pace.
more than one.
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direction--
The woods on the west side.
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"The first wave."
He made his judgment in his mind.
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A few breaths later.
in the dark.
A shadow moved slightly.
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It's very light.
But they can't escape those who are prepared.
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Chen He took a step forward.
The voice was kept extremely low:
"come out."
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no respond.
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The next moment—
Three figures rushed out at the same time!
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the goal--
The edge of the fire!
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"block!"
Chen He gave a low shout!
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The guards pressed forward instantly!
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Gunfire clashed!
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The battle erupted in an instant!
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Li Yuanshan's heart skipped a beat.
His hand had already grasped the knife.
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He didn't rush.
But he didn't lie down again.
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He stood up.
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My legs are still shaking a little.
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But this time.
He did not back down.
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Li Xuan had already stood up.
Their gaze fell upon the battlefield.
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He did not act immediately.
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look in.
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Observe the opponent's rhythm.
Look at his hand gestures.
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This is not a simple case of calamity.
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The movements are more synchronized.
The cooperation is even closer.
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"Not a rogue cultivator."
He was certain in his heart.
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Chen He has already blocked the first person.
A flash of light!
The other party was forced to take a step back!
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But there was no chaos.
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The second player presses forward with a backhand attack!
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"It's organized."
Chen He's heart sank.
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Li Xuan finally made a move.
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Step out.
His figure cut in from the side.
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the goal--
The person on the far right.
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Aoki's finger!
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call out!
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A direct finger strike to the opponent's side of the waist!
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That person reacted extremely quickly!
Forced to turn sideways!
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But we were still a step too slow!
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"stuffy!"
A muffled groan.
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The movement faltered!
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next moment.
Guards, please!
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The spear thrust out!
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puff!
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Blood splattered!
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The first person has fallen!
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The remaining two did not linger in the fight.
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They retreated almost simultaneously!
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"retreat!"
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The action was swift and decisive.
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Chen He did not pursue.
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Just standing still.
His breathing became shallow and deep.
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Li Xuan also stopped.
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Watching the two figures disappear into the darkness.
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"I'm not here to kill."
He said in a low voice.
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Chen He nodded.
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"They've come to test our reaction at night."
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Li Yuanshan stood at the back.
He was still holding the knife.
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This time.
His legs didn't go weak.
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My heart was just beating very fast.
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"This is only the first wave..."
He murmured.
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Li Xuan looked into the distance.
The darkness remains.
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But he knew—
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"The next wave."
He thought to himself.
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"That's the real show."
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The night is still long.
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And this road—
It's only just beginning to reveal its true form.
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Chapter Sixty-One (The End)