Immediately after, from deep within the peach blossom grove, behind the temple walls of the Peach Blossom Temple, came a faint sound, as if someone was running quickly, accompanied by a vague noise that sounded like the last gasps of a dying person, or the death throes of a wild beast.

Alice Benson glanced at the red temple walls hidden deep in the peach grove, estimated the location in her mind, and explained in that same lazy, unconcerned tone: “That’s the Lotus Courtyard, which has a pond inside. So in summer, the scenery is especially beautiful. But in winter, all the lotus leaves wither, and the courtyard looks desolate and cold. That’s why it’s always left empty in winter, and only a few days ago was it rented out to an old guest.

This old scholar has taken the imperial exam more than a dozen times, and every time he comes to the city, he stays at the Lotus Courtyard. The old scholar is over forty, his hair already gray. But he seems quite grand, always bringing six or seven family members, seven or eight maids, and there’s a constant stream of family members arriving by carriage to deliver things, asking after his well-being… Maybe, he’s just scolding his maids again, it happens often, everyone’s used to it.”

As Alice Benson spoke, the commotion deep in the peach grove temporarily subsided. But just as Alice Benson finished, the place where the noise had come from suddenly erupted with two or three loud shouts… as if someone was yelling, “Don’t mess with me,” or something like that.

The shouts were all from men, their voices filled with an indescribable anger, as well as fear, despair, and a kind of ferocity—this didn’t sound like someone scolding a maid.

With those shouts, there came a huge crash of metal, like a thunderclap on a clear day, completely unexpected, yet so loud that the women sitting in the peach grove nearly dropped their cups. Most of the young noblemen were also thrown into panic, jumping up and leaning against the peach trees, trying to act calm, but trembling.

In the chaos, Grace Harper cried out in alarm, “What was that sound? The whole ground is shaking… Heavens, what’s happening?”

With that loud crash, a few more shrill screams echoed from deep in the peach grove. Then, all sounds faded away, the world fell into a deathly silence, and time itself seemed to stop. It was so quiet that no one knew how long had passed before they were startled awake by another scream from the depths of the grove.

These two screams were from women, but just as their voices reached a high pitch, they were suddenly cut off, as if by a sharp blade—the screams ended abruptly…

And so, all that was left was the sound of the wind, the faint rustling, the chattering of teeth, the trembling of clothes, and the sound of leaves and petals falling from the trees, unable to withstand the people’s shivering.

In the peach grove, men and women had collapsed all over the ground, many women clinging tightly to their male companions, too frightened to speak. Some women had already fainted…

Of course, overall, more men than women had fainted—only two women had passed out, but half the men had: four of them.

Among the men, only Henry Brooks was still standing. When the noise erupted, he had leapt up like lightning, pulling Grace Harper behind him to shield her with his own body, then stood up straight, staring at the temple wall deep in the peach grove.

Among Henry Brooks’s attendants were six or seven Wu Wei Army soldiers, sent by his father under the guise of official business. When they heard the noise, they immediately surrounded Henry Brooks protectively, six or seven of them already drawing their swords. One of the soldiers whispered, “Young master, let’s fall back for now. This is a remote area, and there are many young ladies and maids here. Let’s retreat to a safe place first, then gather everyone to go check it out.”

At this moment, Grace Harper was clutching Henry Brooks’s hand tightly, looking very dependent.

With his girlfriend’s hand in his, still trembling, how could Henry Brooks retreat? He lowered his voice and gave a soft laugh: “Gather everyone? The whole county only has fifteen archers—where are we going to find more people? You all are seasoned soldiers, and I’ve learned a bit of spear and staff from my father. Right now, we have more people than the county yamen’s constables. If we retreat again, where would we find anyone stronger than us?

Edward Clark, are your hands cold? Keep your sword ready, let’s go check it out. Michael Bolton, take the others and stay here, protect the ladies, and listen carefully for our signal. If things get urgent up ahead, just focus on getting the young ladies out safely. We’ll fight as we go, covering your retreat.”

The first to hear the noise, Grace Harper, suddenly interjected, “It’s so quiet. So quiet it’s as if time has stopped.”

Henry Brooks nodded, released Grace Harper’s hand, and replied, “Haha, I feel the same… You stay here and don’t move, I’ll go check it out.”

He instructed his attendants to protect Grace Harper, then took two soldiers forward, shouting as he walked, “Edward Clark, take some men and circle around the side. Michael Bolton, look nearby and see if there’s a place we can climb over the wall.”

Actually, Michael Bolton wasn’t by Henry Brooks’s side; he was leading a few attendants to gather the young ladies together and was already setting up a defensive line.

Henry Brooks’s loud shouting shattered the deathly silence around them. The silence had been terrifying, and the sudden noise seemed even more jarring. Everyone felt that Henry Brooks’s voice was grating. Under the peach tree, a male companion, his voice trembling, tried to stop him: “Don’t, don’t shout… what if you attract bandits…”