Chapter 71: Battle Under the Moonlit Night

Le’er cut himself a four-foot-long wooden staff, thick at one end and thinner at the other, made from the hardest sapling—a chestnut tree. Not only was this wood solid, but also heavy, making it an excellent tool for fighting. He didn’t dare be careless; during the day there was nothing to fear, but at night, returning home, he had to be cautious. Tao Gaolong wouldn’t dare kill him, but crippling him for life was not beyond consideration. If that happened, even if they threw him into jail, his life would be ruined.

He took the staff not only when he went dancing, but also brought along the yellow dog—another source of help. Without Gang Mengzi by his side, it was much harder to handle a fight, his strength greatly diminished.

“Sha Le’er, why are you bringing a wooden staff to the dance? And you’re leading the dog? Tie it up, don’t let it bite anyone,” Feng Shuya frowned at him.

“Sister Feng, you don’t know—lately everyone’s been saying there’s a wolf in the mountains, howling at night. If I run into it on the way home after dancing, and I don’t have something in my hand, wouldn’t that be terrible?”

“A wolf…? Are there wolves here?” Feng Shuya glanced at the surrounding green mountains. “I’ve never heard of wolves in this area, but if that’s the case, it’s good to have a staff. Just make sure nothing happens.”

Tao Youneng quietly chuckled, understanding why Sha Le’er was really carrying a weapon. Tao Haiying, however, frowned, her eyes full of worry. The joy she once had had faded; she was silent, and though she sat with the others during breaks, her mind seemed to drift far away.

Seeing her like this, Sha Le’er felt even more certain that what Tao Youneng said was true. She was probably worried for him, and even more for her own brother. She knew how ruthless he could be in a fight—if this heavy staff landed on someone’s head, who could tell what would happen? Besides, he was no longer the same as before; if he hit her brother, it would be as if nothing had happened, but if her brother hit him, jail would likely be waiting.

“Le’er, with your damned staff, you could kill a wild buffalo, let alone a wolf,” Tao Youneng laughed. “If you meet a wolf, don’t hold back—be ruthless. Kill it and we’ll eat wolf meat. We’ve had dog meat before, but never wolf. I wonder if it’s any good.”

There was a double meaning to Tao Youneng’s words. It seemed Tao Gaolong was deeply unpopular in the village, even among his own family. Le’er grinned, a sharp, knife-like glint flashing in his eyes.

Le’er knew well that Tao Youneng’s branch of the family had long suffered at the hands of Tao Wen’s branch. Now that Le’er was doing well, with Secretary Huang supporting him, they hoped to rise with him. As the saying goes, “One fence needs three stakes, one hero needs three helpers.” Le’er was already thinking of gathering his own allies in the village. Tao Youneng and Tao Huan had been his close friends since childhood—they were already united, and he’d long had plans to draw them in.

Though Secretary Huang had his back, the village had its own rules and primitive forces. Without his own group, including some tough characters, there were many things he still couldn’t accomplish. Tao Wen had made moves against him several times, but he had endured, lacking the strength to uproot Tao Wen completely.

“Whether it’s a wolf or a wild buffalo, so long as it crosses my path, I swear on this staff—if they come at me, they’ll be bloodied and ruined,” Le’er declared.

Hearing this, Tao Haiying turned pale. If Tao Wen really went all out this time, Le’er would have to do the same. If Tao Wen got caught up in this, he’d have to be rooted out entirely. The Tao family’s power in the village would be severely challenged, and only then would Tao Youneng’s group truly side with Le’er.

Tao Haiying’s heart was heavy with worry, and so was Le’er’s. He was no martial arts master—Tao Gaolong would surely call in reinforcements. Two opponents wouldn’t bother him, but three or more would be dangerous.

On the way home, the hazy moon drifted among the clouds, and the wind made the trees and bamboo whisper and sigh along the mountain path. Luo Yinxian, as before, wanted to take his arm, but Le’er moved aside.

“Are you looking to die?” Le’er’s gaze was frightening. “If someone attacks me, you run straight to the village and call for help, understand?”

“No… I’ll stay with you.”

“Why? Are you trying to get yourself killed and distract me? As long as you get away, they won’t dare do anything.”

Hearing this, Luo Yinxian finally nodded in agreement. Le’er gave her further instructions: she was to lead the yellow dog about a hundred meters ahead, with him following behind.

That night, their worry was for nothing—Tao Gaolong didn’t appear. The second night was the same. By the third night, Le’er came up with a plan: Luo Yinxian would take the dog along the main road, while he concealed himself among the roadside trees and followed quietly.

The stretch after leaving the school was safe—flat farmland. The most dangerous part was the section near home, all woods merging into his family’s bamboo grove.

Sure enough, in the pale moonlight, he spotted three men hiding in the woods—Tao Gaolong and his two cousins, Tao Xinhua and Tao Fushu. Each held a heavy wooden staff.

“Gaolong, it’s only that woman Luo Yinxian. I don’t see Sha Le’er,” Tao Fushu said.

“He’s definitely behind. We’ll wait,” Tao Gaolong replied coldly.

“Why not grab the woman first… heh, she’s got some flavor. It’ll be fun,” Tao Xinhua, ever the lecher, suggested. All three of them were the same. Pulling long stockings over their heads like masked bandits, they burst from the woods, blocking Luo Yinxian’s path.

The yellow dog barked wildly. Luo Yinxian glanced back, but saw no sign of Le’er, and her heart filled with dread.

“What do you want?!”

“What do we want?” Tao Fushu sneered. “We just want to sleep with you. Haven’t had wild fun in the mountains for ages—tonight will be a good time.”

“You… you dare? I’ll scream for help!”

Luo Yinxian backed away, her face pale, tears threatening. Inside, she cursed Le’er for not coming out to save her, but she still believed he would.

“Scream all you like,” Tao Xinhua jeered, “but we’ll only enjoy it more when you cry out under us. You’d better scream nice and loud.”

“You bastards—may you die miserable deaths…”

Cursing, Luo Yinxian kept glancing back.

“Grab her first—Sha Le’er must be behind!” Tao Gaolong was more cunning than the others. Even as he spoke, a dark figure emerged from the bushes, swinging the heavy staff at Tao Xinhua, who was standing closest.

“Watch out!” someone shouted.

Tao Xinhua reacted quickly, dodging his head aside. The staff crashed onto his right shoulder, drawing a scream as his own club clattered to the ground. Tao Gaolong’s staff came down towards Le’er’s head, but Le’er lunged forward, the blow landing on his back and staggering him. He pressed on, swinging his staff backward—he felt it connect solidly, and a cry of pain followed—it was Tao Gaolong’s voice.

“Yellow dog, kill them!” Luo Yinxian screamed. The dog leapt at the three men. Only Tao Fushu was unscathed. He charged at Le’er, staff raised, but the dog seized his calf in its jaws.

“Aargh!” Tao Fushu howled in pain, lashing at the dog’s hind leg with his club. The dog yelped and jumped away, its leg injured, but blood poured down Tao Fushu’s leg.

“You bastard, I’ll kill you!” Tao Fushu turned to strike at the dog, but Le’er had regained his footing, roaring in fury as he charged, swinging his staff.

“Scum! You dare try to assault my sister-in-law? I’ll kill you all!”

Luo Yinxian had already escaped, running ahead and shouting for help.

“Run!” Tao Gaolong was the first to flee into the woods. Le’er saw blood soaking through the long stocking on his head—clearly, he’d been struck hard and his scalp was bleeding.

Within two minutes, the three of them had vanished into the forest.

“You bastards think you can escape? Tonight, you’re finished.”

Le’er pulled out his phone and began to dial.