Chapter 134: Do Not Pursue a Cornered Enemy

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Never before had Zhou Zhi witnessed Qi Yanwu display his martial skills. Stepping aside, he watched intently, a quiet joy welling within him. Qi Yanwu’s prowess was clearly inherited through generations, his movements swift and agile as he darted and twisted.

At this moment, Qi Yanwu was engaged in combat with a man, wielding a wooden staff with lightning speed and precision. Each strike was merciless, targeting the man’s head or legs, evidently aiming to bring him down in an instant.

Eager to prove himself before his young master Zhou Zhi, Qi Yanwu’s mood was somewhat impatient; he wished to quickly dispatch the thief before him.

The lone thief was a slightly stout man, yet surprisingly nimble. He held a cleaver, slashing and hacking with fierce, ruthless blows. Clearly, he too possessed some martial skill. Under Qi Yanwu’s relentless staff strikes, the thief seemed able to hold his own for the moment.

The fight lasted less than the time it takes to finish a cup of tea when suddenly, a dense crowd of villagers appeared on the southern path. Some carried shovels, others wooden clubs, and some even brandished axes and kitchen knives, all shouting chaotically, “Catch the thieves! Don’t let them escape!”

Bolstered by their numbers, the villagers charged forward, soon arriving at Zhou Zhi’s courtyard gate.

Leading the charge were several household retainers, each brandishing curved knives or long swords.

Seeing so many closing in, the thief’s confidence wavered. He swung his cleaver wildly a few times before turning and sprinting northward. Qi Yanwu wasn’t about to let him go; he quickened his pace and brought the staff down hard on the thief’s back. The thief winced in pain and stumbled forward but stubbornly stayed on his feet, ignoring Qi Yanwu to flee desperately ahead.

“Catch him! Catch him!” the villagers yelled, surging forward as one.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from within the crowd, “Don’t pursue a cornered enemy; beware of ambush!”

The shout was loud and clear, causing the crowd’s advance to momentarily falter. Qi Yanwu paused as well, knowing his foremost duty was to protect Zhou Zhi. He scanned the crowd until he found Zhou Zhi.

Originally standing by the gate, Zhou Zhi had been pushed back inside by the chaotic mob. Qi Yanwu quickly found him and cautiously stood close, whispering, “Brother, the thief got away.”

Zhou Zhi glanced at Qi Yanwu and saw the anxious, apologetic expression on his face—clearly worried about being blamed for failing to catch the thief.

In truth, Zhou Zhi had hoped Qi Yanwu would catch the thief to uncover their origins—why they targeted only Baiyue Village and why they spared the Zhou family.

But from what Zhou Zhi had just witnessed, Qi Yanwu had done his utmost. Had the villagers not broken up the pursuit, the thief would surely have been caught. Now that he had escaped, there was nothing to be done but investigate further in time.

Zhou Zhi reassured him, “Little Wu, you did your best. If he escaped, let it be. Heaven’s net is vast and wide; the thief will surely fall into the law’s grasp one day.”

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Qi Yanwu felt somewhat relieved.

The thief ran farther and farther until he was completely out of sight, leaving the crowd with nothing but helpless sighs.

“Wang Ren’s house is on fire! Hurry, go see! Wang Ren might be dead!” someone shouted from the crowd, and everyone rushed toward Wang Ren’s home.

The fire now raged more fiercely than before. Though only three houses were aflame, the north wind howled; if left unchecked, the blaze would surely spread, threatening the entire Baiyue Village.

Zhou Zhi and Qi Yanwu followed the crowd to Wang Ren’s courtyard.

The house had already collapsed in flames. Aunt Li and her son, Wang Pangdun, clung to each other in the yard, wailing and crying for a long time. Now utterly drained, Aunt Li stared blankly at the roaring inferno, her face expressionless.

“It’s over, our home is destroyed!” Aunt Li muttered when she noticed the crowd.

No one comforted them—it was impossible. With death and fire stealing everything, no one could bear such sorrow.

The villagers stood silently, stunned by the scene, as if their souls had fled under the weight of Aunt Li’s grief.

In recent days, thieves had killed and burned with impunity, leaving everyone in constant fear. They secretly feared that if it was Wang Ren’s house tonight, their own homes might be next tomorrow or the day after.

“Fight the fire! Everyone, fight the fire!” Zhou Zhi suddenly shouted loudly.

His voice rang out strong and commanding. Zhou Zhi’s stature in Baiyue Village had steadily grown; his words sparked an immediate response. “Quick! Fight the fire! Saving the village is the priority!”

One by one, the villagers fetched buckets of water from the well and hurried to douse the flames.

The Zhou and Aunt Li’s homes were only about fifty or sixty paces apart. Qi Yanwu hurried home to grab a bucket before joining the firefighting effort.

The firefighting team swelled steadily, and within half an hour, the fire consuming Aunt Li’s home was extinguished. Amid the charred ruins, they found Wang Ren’s body, burned to a blackened husk. The sight brought tears to everyone’s eyes.

A strong, healthy farmer had been killed by thieves and then burned like this.

Upon seeing this, Aunt Li fainted on the spot.

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Long after, she slowly regained consciousness and burst into wailing sobs. “What curse has fallen upon my family? How did we come to such ruin?”

Wang Pangdun cried helplessly, resembling a weeping statue. Nearby, young Zhou Shaocheng—barely seven years old—quietly stepped forward and gently comforted him: “Pangdun, don’t cry. Your father is gone, but you still have me, your friend. From now on, you can live with us.”

Though a child himself, Zhou Shaocheng bore a serious, responsible air as he made this solemn promise.

They worked through nearly half the night before the villagers gradually dispersed at dawn.

Aunt Li now had nothing left. Though Zhou Zhi had long disliked Aunt Li’s gossipy nature, as a longtime neighbor, he offered her shelter in his home after her misfortune.

Aunt Li gratefully refused, weakly saying, “My son and I have no attachments left here in Baiyue Village. My daughter has begged me many times to go to the county. Now, we finally can leave. After burying his father, we will head to Qingdu County and never return.”

Her words soon gave way to uncontrollable sobbing.

Baiyue Village had become her place of deepest sorrow.

Zhou Zhi said nothing further and, following Aunt Li’s wishes, helped bury Wang Ren at the village’s western burial ground. Then, she and her son set out for Qingdu County.

After much commotion, Zhou Zhi and Qi Yanwu slowly returned home. Upon arriving at the courtyard gate, they found it packed with people.

Many were neighbors, some unfamiliar faces—almost the entire village had gathered.

As they saw Zhou Zhi return, the crowd erupted in clamoring voices: “Zhou Zhi is back! Today, he must give us an explanation.”