After careful consideration, it was decided that any action against Phoenix Village must be planned meticulously.
Xiao Long and Wu De discussed the matter and concluded that the first step was to breach the pass defenses. This led to their efforts to befriend and drink with Fu Da Di.
Unexpectedly, Fu Da Di proved to be easy to deal with. A few words of provocation and he became enraged, leading to him being easily gotten drunk by Wu De.
Seeing that Fu Da Di was thoroughly intoxicated, Xiao Long took out ropes and tied him up securely.
The man was truly drunk. Xiao Long tied him up, and he merely grunted, making no other sound.
Xiao Long waited for another hour before getting up. He went to the sentry post and let out a few cuckoo calls, the agreed-upon signal for action.
Soon, a rustling sound came from the grass below. Then, the grass shook violently, and several figures emerged and began to ascend.
It was Wu De and his men.
Xiao Long descended to the pass and opened the gate. Wu De held a large saber, its origin unknown, while the men behind him carried sharpened wooden spears. Their armament and equipment were far inferior to the hunting party of Phoenix Village.
Wu De gave Xiao Long a thumbs-up and whispered, "Dr. Xiao, you're the best!"
Being called Dr. Xiao by Wu De made Xiao Long feel a sense of satisfaction.
He grinned and said, "According to plan, we strike at the head. We're going to capture Gu Qingcheng."
Wu De had been driven out of the village long ago and didn't know Gu Qingcheng's whereabouts. He had no choice but to let Xiao Long lead.
The group of over thirty people, their feet wrapped in rags to ensure silence, crept into the village.
The time was right. The village was quiet, everyone asleep, and not a soul was on the streets.
Wu De felt a prickle of unease.
But then he thought, fortune favors the bold. They had come this far, why be afraid?
He also instructed four or five of his men to spread out, planning to set fires throughout the village once Gu Qingcheng was captured, to intimidate the villagers and force them out.
"This is it. Who's agile enough? Jump in and open the door."
Xiao Long said to Wu De.
Wu De waved his hand, and a thin, agile companion indeed scaled the wall and entered the courtyard. Shortly after, the door creaked open.
Gu Qingcheng was roughly pulled from his sleep and onto the ground.
Before he could fully wake, someone struck a flint and shone the light into his eyes, then said,
"That's him!"
"Haha, heaven favors us! I didn't expect it to be so smooth!" Xiao Long laughed heartily.
Gu Qingcheng's hands were immediately bound behind his back, and he was escorted to the public square.
At this moment, fires erupted throughout the village. As the houses were made of wood and the fires were deliberately set, they spread rapidly. Villagers woke from their sleep and rushed to extinguish the flames.
Fortunately, due to their timely awakening and the fact that the wood used to build the houses was not completely dry, the fires did not spread too quickly. Within half an hour, they were largely put out.
Just then, the village bell was rung three times.
Huh?
What's going on?
The public square is summoning everyone?
After the fires were extinguished, the villagers converged on the public square.
Upon arriving, they were stunned by the scene before them.
What in the world?
Their village elder, Gu Qingcheng, was bound beneath the village's banyan tree. Mi Guo was also tied up beside him, and a burly man held a saber to Gu Qingcheng's neck.
"What is this?"
Dai Fa, who had rushed over, gasped.
"Haha, what is it? It's me, Wu De, back with a vengeance!" Wu De glared at Dai Fa and ordered his men, "Tie up this old man!"
Two of his subordinates stepped forward and bound Dai Fa as well.
"You? This is rebellion!"
Dai Fa was bewildered.
"What do you intend to do?"
The group, armed and facing Gu Qingcheng, were met with a calm question.
"Kill you and take over the position of Phoenix Village Chief!" Wu De snarled.
"Wu De was driven out, and he chose not to stay in Phoenix Village. He came to rob us, and we were unprepared. This is my failing.
But Xiao Long, we have wronged you in no way. Why have you betrayed the village?"
Gu Qingcheng asked, suppressing his anger.
"You haven't wronged me? You play favorites and are arrogant! You suppress my talents. Ask anyone, how many people in Phoenix Village have you suppressed?"
Xiao Long sneered.
Gu Qingcheng scanned the attackers. Apart from Xiao Long, there were no other villagers from their own community. This brought him some comfort, and he replied,
"Fellow villagers, tell me, is it as Xiao Long says? Have I committed such offenses?"
"No, Young Master Gu. If not for your dedication, where would Phoenix Village be today!"
Huang Wenming stepped forward and said.
"That's right. Without Young Master Gu, we wouldn't have our peaceful lives today. Xiao Long, you're not yourself. You want to destroy our good life, and you want to occupy Phoenix Village. We object!"
He Hua, Liu Cui, Qin Yue, and others spoke in turn.
Liu Yi Dao and Uncle Kang exchanged glances. Uncle Kang announced loudly,
"We are over a thousand people in the village, and you are just over thirty. What kind of audacity do you have to come and try to occupy our village?"
"Everyone, let's go! One stone each, we'll smash them to death!"
Liu Yi Dao roared, raising his arm.
The villagers, inspired by their leaders, felt their courage surge. Seeing Gu Qingcheng with Wu De's saber at his throat, in such a plight, they were heartbroken.
In their eyes, Gu Qingcheng had always been pure, suave, exceptionally intelligent, like an immortal. When had he ever been in such a predicament?
And it was all for the sake of the village!
The anger in everyone's chests burned fiercely. Under the leadership of Uncle Kang and Liu Yi Dao, they advanced with firm resolve.
Ah?
This?
Wu De hadn't expected the villagers to be unafraid and united against them. He instinctively took a step back, his legs trembling.
But an idea struck him. Didn't he have the most important hostages?
"Stop! Take another step, and I'll kill him."
Wu De plunged the saber into Gu Qingcheng's neck, drawing a trickle of blood.
Seeing this, the crowd truly halted their advance, afraid that he would actually harm Gu Qingcheng.
Wu De, seeing everyone stop, his eyes darted around. "Go search Gu Qingcheng's house and take all his gold and jewelry."
He realized his thirty-odd men couldn't control the Phoenix villagers. In that case, they'd grab what they could and run.
Gu Qingcheng bought so much food and drink for the villagers every day; he must be wealthy. A quick ransacking of his house would be enough for them to live on for a lifetime.
That was Wu De's thinking.
Xiao Long's thoughts, however, were different.
He believed that in these chaotic times, it was most comfortable to remain in Phoenix Village. His dream was to become the chief of Phoenix Village. How could he just grab and run?