Chapter 198: Chapter 176: Attacked
It’s been over ten minutes past midnight, and the fireworks outside haven’t stopped.
The night alternates between green and red, with continuous crackling sounds.
You have to shout to be heard.
Hearing Uncle Quan’s shout, everyone went to the courtyard.
Gu Yanjing and Qiao Yuxian were a bit slower than the others. As soon as they came out, they saw the firelight from the East Courtyard.
Uncle Quan had already led the people guarding Qiao Mansion to extinguish the fire.
Aunt Zhao called 119.
Qiao Yuxian frowned, walking towards the East Courtyard while asking, "How did it catch on fire over there?"
Qiao Mansion also had fireworks, but they were set off in the main courtyard, so even if there were sparks, they couldn’t reach that far.
"Some families went to the small road on the east to set off fireworks, maybe a spark fell into the courtyard," said Aunt Zhao.
"Mr. Gu, Madam. We’ll go help, you two don’t go over," said Su Qi.
Qiao Yuxian continued walking in that direction, "It’s fine."
Gu Yanjing followed her toward the East Courtyard, glancing at the firelight, asking, "Is there anything flammable?"
He was worried that if there were fireworks or something explosive, the people going to extinguish the fire would be in danger.
"Nothing really," Aunt Zhao said anxiously, "Because it’s almost New Year, we were worried something might catch fire, so we specially cleaned up. How did this happen?"
Gu Yanjing’s expression tightened as he went to grab Qiao Yuxian’s hand.
Just as Qiao Yuxian also stopped in her tracks.
The two exchanged a look, both realizing something was off.
Qiao Yuxian’s expression grew cold as she said, "Yuan Wei, take Aunt Zhao to the main house. Have people surround the main house. Leave some to fight the fire in the East Courtyard, the rest go to the West Courtyard. Make sure to protect Uncle Quan."
"Yes!" Yuan Wei responded, immediately taking Aunt Zhao to the main house.
Aunt Zhao, seeing Qiao Yuxian’s serious expression, didn’t question anything, and did whatever she was told.
Qiao Yuxian immediately headed for the East Courtyard.
Gu Yanjing looked to Meng Yan, "Also take Uncle Quan to the main house, you guard there."
"Yes!" Meng Yan ran to the East Courtyard to find Uncle Quan.
Gu Yanjing took Su Qi and followed Qiao Yuxian.
Yuan Wei arranged everything on the phone as he escorted Aunt Zhao back to her room.
Qiao Yuxian, Gu Yanjing, and Su Qi quickly arrived at the West Courtyard.
When they arrived, there was also fire in front of the Buddha Hall in the West Courtyard.
It wasn’t a big fire, there were arrows with flames stuck in the window lattice.
By the look of those arrows, it seemed they were shot from a crossbow.
The firelight reflected in Qiao Yuxian’s eyes as she squinted, her whole demeanor instantly turning cold.
Gu Yanjing glanced at Su Qi.
Su Qi took off his jacket and used it to extinguish the fire.
Qiao Yuxian looked towards the wall, seeing a few people lying on top, holding crossbows and aiming to shoot at the Buddha Hall again. Another group dressed in black was climbing over under the cover of the crossbow fire.
A fire started in Qiao Mansion’s East Courtyard, as soon as Uncle Quan shouted, the guards around got chaotic. These people took the opportunity to come to the West Courtyard.
Qiao Yuxian immediately ran toward them.
The people on the wall, seeing her approach, aimed their arrows initially intended for the Buddha Hall at her instead.
Within a hundred meters, a crossbow’s lethality is extremely high.
An arrow was shot out, tearing through the air, rapidly approaching.
Qiao Yuxian dodged to the side, the arrow grazed past her, the wind it brought with it as sharp as a blade.
As she dodged, Gu Yanjing dealt with the person waving a dagger nearby, intending to harm her.
Just after dodging, another arrow came from the opposite side.
Qiao Yuxian noticed it from the corner of her eye, as she was about to duck, Gu Yanjing pressed on her shoulder, making her bend down, dodging the arrow.
She glanced at him while leaning over, and Gu Yanjing gently squeezed her shoulder.
The two stood upright, back to back, facing the people surrounding them.
Su Qi finished putting out the fire and quickly came over.
A brief standoff followed by swift action.
They wanted to burn the Buddha Hall, which truly enraged Qiao Yuxian. She struck with extreme fierceness, a series of elbow strikes, knee lifts, sidekicks, and round kicks.
One by one, taking her anger out on them.
Gu Yanjing was in the same situation.
He wanted to resolve the situation quickly.
Outside, more people kept climbing over.
And the crossbowmen on the wall.
In such circumstances, it was too unsafe, he was worried Qiao Yuxian would get hurt.
Gu Yanjing and Qiao Yuxian dodged another crossbow from the wall.
Both headed for the wall.
Yuan Wei brought reinforcements quickly. Once they arrived, things got much easier.
Qiao Yuxian and Gu Yanjing reached the wall together. As Qiao Yuxian was about to run up the wall, Gu Yanjing pulled her aside.
As she staggered a couple of steps sideways, Gu Yanjing was up on the wall in two or three moves.
Qiao Yuxian frowned, but as she prepared to climb, she was obstructed.
While dealing with the people below, she kept an eye on Gu Yanjing.
Watching Gu Yanjing engage them amid bursts of fireworks, quickly tossing them over the wall.
For a moment, two words flashed in her mind.
"’Ruthless’ and ’Dashing’."
His movements were clean and swift, striking extremely fast and hard.
His expression was calm, indifferent, yet every move was with lethal intent.
Qiao Yuxian handled a few of them below.
She caught their small leader, and after a few moves, when she pinned him to the ground with her hand on his neck, Gu Yanjing jumped down with a crossbow in hand.
Seeing that they couldn’t win, those who could run climbed back over the wall.
Yuan Wei wanted to chase them, but Qiao Yuxian didn’t let him.
With so many people, injured and fallen, during the New Year, it’s better to just let them run rather than dealing with them.
Just leave their leader behind.
Keeping the others is of no use.
Qiao Yuxian punched the leader to ensure he wouldn’t get up for a while, then stood up, looking at Gu Yanjing.
Her expression was quite cold.
Gu Yanjing looked at her.
Qiao Yuxian, in a fury, said, "Do you know how dangerous it was up there? You’re just turning yourself into a target up there. What if someone outside had a crossbow, what if there’s a sniper far away?"
Yuan Wei dragged the leader to the side, watching his sister scold someone.
Su Qi watched his own Mr. Gu getting scolded.
The others dealt with those lying on the ground, letting those who could walk leave, and carrying out those who couldn’t.
They all silently worked, saying nothing, not looking around.
"It was dangerous if you went up too," Gu Yanjing said.
"I’m aware of my own skills; I wouldn’t get hurt," Qiao Yuxian’s voice was cold.
"I wouldn’t get hurt either," Gu Yanjing’s voice was calm, cold, and very certain.
"What if?" Qiao Yuxian frowned, "The situation outside was unknown, what if you did get hurt?"
Gu Yanjing looked at her without speaking.
"You just swatted me aside. Even if both of us went up, we could look out for each other, but you..."
Listening to her speak, getting angrier as she went on, after two seconds, Gu Yanjing wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her into his arms, lowering his head to kiss her, stopping all her words with that action.