Descendants of the False Gods

Chapter 9: Escape to Survival (2)

After a brief moment of silence, Yan Bo was the first to regain his senses. He patted his elder brother on the shoulder and said, “Brother, the Divine Clan still has descendants. Let’s move out.”

Yan Tie adjusted the strap on his shoulder and muttered, “Yes, it’s time to go. It just feels like my shoulders have become heavier.”

Yan Yu, clueless as ever, chimed in, “Boss, do you need my help? I still have strength left.”

Yan Tie chuckled, “When I need help, you won’t be able to run away. Use that strength to clear the path ahead.”

“Got it!” Yan Yu quickly adjusted his gear and took the lead, heading toward the cave’s exit.

Yan Bo laughed, “Foolish people are always happy! Such a carefree life!” He then turned to the nanny and asked with concern, “Are you okay? The road ahead is still long, so take it slow.”

The nanny nodded silently and continued following the Yan brothers on their journey.

Exiting the cave, they found themselves on the eastern slope of an unnamed mountain. The incline was not too steep, but the dense grass and thick forest meant there was no visible path. They would have to carve one out themselves.

Leading the way, Yan Yu wielded a kukri knife, hacking away at the tall grass underfoot and cutting down branches obstructing their path. As he worked, he grumbled, “What a waste of a good knife! Using it to chop wood like this… Once we get home, I have to frame it as a keepsake.”

Hearing this, Yan Tie laughed, “If you like it so much, I’ll forge a few more for you when we return. You can cover your entire wall with them.”

The group continued to joke as they walked, easing the tense atmosphere. Before long, they spotted the north-south highway at the foot of the mountain.

Between the base of the mountain and the highway lay a sparse forest. Though not densely packed, the trees were scattered throughout, and flickering firelight could be seen within.

Yan Yu quickly raised his hand, signaling for the others to halt. He pointed toward the distant firelight hidden within the trees. Yan Bo gestured for him to stay put and indicated that he would scout ahead alone.

Moving stealthily, Yan Bo crept into the forest. He did not draw his blade, leaving it sheathed at his waist, but he did ready his repeating hand crossbow, loading a bolt onto the string.

Inside the forest, a small group of soldiers sat around a bonfire, drinking and eating while cursing under their breath. The flickering firelight made the darkness beyond their circle impenetrable, and they remained oblivious to the approaching figure.

Crouching in the underbrush, Yan Bo listened carefully to their conversation. From their words, he deduced that they were troops from Caizhou.

The Cai family had long been allied with the Qian family. This time, the Qian family had ordered a crackdown on mountain bandits, fearing that some might escape beyond their territory. As a precaution, they had stationed Caizhou troops along this stretch of the highway to prevent any from slipping through.

As a result, these soldiers had been forced to camp out in the wilderness, unsure of how many days they would have to remain on guard. Complaints and grievances filled their conversation.

The vulgarity of their speech made it clear that these were hardened men. Yan Bo had just grasped the full situation and was preparing to retreat when the quiet whimper of a child came from the basket on his back—a sound he had nearly forgotten after hours of silence.

Instantly, the Caizhou soldiers were on alert.

“Who’s there?! Come out! If you don’t listen, you’ll regret it!” shouted a soldier who appeared to be the squad leader. The rest of the soldiers drew their weapons, readying their bows and blades as they scanned the dark forest.

Realizing that concealment was no longer an option, Yan Bo stepped forward from the shadows. “No need to be alarmed! I’m just a hunter. I’ve been in the mountains all day without catching anything, so I thought I’d rest here for the night and try my luck again tomorrow. I didn’t mean to disturb you, officers! My apologies!”

His face bore a forced smile as he raised his right hand in plain sight. His left hand, however, remained hidden behind him, securing the hand crossbow under the basket as he cautiously approached the fire, studying the soldiers’ positioning.

The squad leader waved his sword. “I heard a child’s voice. What kind of hunter brings a baby into the mountains? Are you playing games with us?”

Yan Bo feigned panic, “I wouldn’t dare! My wife passed away early, leaving me alone with the child. There’s no one at home to care for them, so I have to bring them along. I wouldn’t dare deceive you, officers! With a mere flick of your fingers, my life would be forfeit!”

Seeing his flustered state, the squad leader’s suspicion eased.

Meanwhile, Yan Tie, watching from afar, feared something might go wrong. He instructed Yan Yu to stay behind and guard the nanny while he stealthily circled around to the south of the soldiers, positioning himself behind a large tree. If anything went wrong, he was ready to strike.

As fate would have it, just as Yan Tie settled into position, the child in the basket let out another soft cry.

The Caizhou soldiers froze in shock. Their leader turned toward Yan Bo, then suspiciously glanced south. “Who else is there?! Get out now, or I’ll cut you down!”

Yan Tie sighed, stepping out from behind the tree with a dark expression. “Just my luck. Stepped in dog shit coming down the mountain.”

The squad leader mistook this for an insult. “You bastard! You dare talk back?! Get them!”

Yan Bo quickly interjected, “Officers! Please don’t misunderstand! This is my brother, and the child on his back is also mine!”

But the squad leader had already drawn his conclusion. Noticing their tactical positions—one to the northwest, the other to the south—he suddenly realized they were flanking the soldiers. His gaze landed on Yan Tie’s military-style straight blade, and his expression darkened.

“You’re fugitives! Bandits who escaped the purge! Brothers, seize them! We’ll claim the bounty from the Qian family!”

At this point, there was no room for negotiation. The soldiers charged at Yan Tie, weapons drawn. With deception no longer an option, their only choice was to eliminate the threat.

Yan Bo swiftly drew his hand crossbow and fired a bolt directly into the squad leader’s throat. Simultaneously, he unsheathed his straight blade, slashing upward at an approaching soldier, severing his arm before cutting across his neck.

Yan Tie, moving just as swiftly, dodged a diagonal slash before driving his blade into an opponent’s ribs. Using the soldier’s body as a shield, he blocked another attack, then slid his sword beneath the corpse’s arm, slicing into a second soldier’s throat before continuing his relentless assault.

In mere moments, three men lay dead at his feet, and he was already facing his next opponent…