Chapter 148: Mu Family Army — Kill Every Last One

The child’s voice was young and clear, easy for anyone nearby to hear.

Mu Hu instinctively glanced at Bai Jiaxing.

But the young man acted as if he hadn’t heard a thing, a smile he couldn’t suppress spreading across his face as he pointed toward the direction of home.

“Brother Huzi, that’s my house just up ahead!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, several figures emerged from the courtyard. They varied in age and gender, but all shared the same look of excitement and longing.

“Jiaxing! It’s Jiaxing!”

“Ma! It’s our Jiaxing, he’s back!”

“My sweet grandson…”

Bai Jiaxing immediately dismounted and ran toward his family.

Mu Hu, however, tightened his grip on the reins. The hardest part had finally come.

If Bai Jiaxing had returned whole and unscathed, he would’ve been happy for the kid.

But now…

“My son! Your arm…”

At first, Bai Jiaxing’s second aunt hadn’t noticed anything wrong. The way he carried himself gave no hint that he was missing an arm.

It wasn’t until she reached out to take his hand that she realized something was off.

“Ma, it’s nothing. I went to war. Fighting and getting hurt is just part of it!”

Bai Jiaxing brushed it off casually, speaking with ease to comfort his mother.

But his words did little to ease their hearts.

The joy of his return was quickly overshadowed.

Bai Jiaxing made a quick decision. “Let’s go inside. It’s been ages since I’ve been home!”

As they walked toward the house, he didn’t forget about Mu Hu trailing behind.

“Dad, that’s Brother Huzi back there. Help him lead Tafeng and Taxue into the yard.”

Bai Jiaxing’s father nodded and turned back to greet Mu Hu.

Only then did the Bai family notice the man who had come with him.

“This is Brother Huzi. Don’t let his age fool you—he’s already a Squad Leader in the Mu Family Army!”

Bai Jiaxing introduced him with pride.

Upon learning that Mu Hu was a Squad Leader, the Bai family’s expressions grew more respectful.

Mu Hu greeted them politely, then pulled a prepared envelope from his coat and handed it to Bai Jiaxing’s mother.

“This is compensation from the General to the Bai family. Jiaxing is a good kid, and an outstanding soldier of the Mu Family Army. It’s our failure that we couldn’t bring him back whole.”

The envelope was light, but it had been bought with her son’s arm.

The second aunt, who usually loved money, accepted it in silence. Then she forced a smile and said, “It’s fine. He’s still alive and well, isn’t he?”

Mu Hu opened his mouth to speak.

But Bai Jiaxing cut him off. “Exactly! I’m back, and I can still keep my parents company, and spend time with Grandma and Grandpa.”

He did it on purpose—he didn’t want Mu Hu to say what came next.

Losing an arm, the family could accept. After all, he had gone to war, not to take a government post. They’d mentally prepared themselves for the worst before he left.

But if they knew he’d also been poisoned and didn’t have long to live… that was a different story.

The feeling of waiting for death—he would bear that alone.

Mu Hu fell silent. In the end, he said nothing.

Bai Jiaxing had much to talk about with his family.

Mu Hu chatted briefly with the men of the household, then got up and stepped outside.

There were still things he needed to say to the villagers, so they wouldn’t gossip behind Bai Jiaxing’s back.

He went to speak with the village head, explained Bai Jiaxing’s situation, and mentioned that if the village had any promising youths, Bai Jiaxing could recommend them to the Mu Family Army.

Then Mu Hu began walking back alone toward the Bai household.

On the way, he ran into a young man dressed like a scholar.

That kind of refined air was rare in the village, and Mu Hu instinctively gave him a second look.

The young man greeted him with a bow.

“I am Jia Mingyou, passing through on my travels. I heard from the villagers that a distinguished guest arrived today, someone from the Mu Family Army. Might I ask if you are one of them?”

Mu Hu nodded. “I am.”

Jia Mingyou’s eyes lit up, his face full of admiration.

“I’ve long heard that the Mu Family Army is well-trained, its soldiers exceptional and brave. I’m just a lowly scholar who’s never passed the imperial exams and can’t join the army. I thought I’d never get the chance to meet someone from the Mu Family Army in this life.”

Mu Hu thought, This guy really talks a lot—typical scholar.

But the man clearly admired the Mu Family Army, and he was one of the people they were sworn to protect.

So Mu Hu could only smile and listen as the scholar praised the army, occasionally responding with a polite word or two.

Fortunately, the scholar seemed to pick up on his discomfort—or maybe he truly had other matters to attend to—because he soon took his leave.

Mu Hu let out a quiet breath of relief and turned back toward the Bai household.

…

Outside the village, the same scholar who had just spoken so reverently of the Mu Family Army now wore a calm expression as he walked briskly with a group of people, giving instructions along the way.

“It was someone from the Mu Family Army. I didn’t get a chance to probe the one they brought back. Later, send a woman. Don’t bother questioning the men.”

“Go into the village, find the women from that household. Flatter them, keep praising them until they’re addicted to it. Once they’re hooked, they’ll spill everything.”

Jia Mingyou—or rather, Bei Lanfeng—hadn’t expected to run into someone from the Mu Family Army in a backwater place like this.

He had heard of Mu Hu before, so he couldn’t make a move directly.

His appearance here must have been to escort that soldier home.

A man in his twenties, the prime of life, personally escorted by a Squad Leader—clearly, it wasn’t just an arm injury.

The Mu Family Army valued talent and placed great importance on character. Every one of them was a tough, unyielding fighter.

One of the team captains had also lost an arm, but within six months, he’d trained himself to shoot with his left hand.

So…

“That returning soldier likely took a hidden arrow for Mu Family’s Fifth.”

Bei Lanfeng said it casually.

One of his men looked startled. “Zhiwei poison¹?”

“Mm. He won’t live long. When there’s time, bring him in. I’ve got some questions for him.”

Bei Lanfeng smiled faintly, then changed the subject.

“We’re short on manpower. Split up and find more people. Trick them, steal them, whatever works.”

“The saltpeter mine in the mountains needs to be emptied quickly. Kang An was a useless fool, and who knows who they’ll send next.”

One of the subordinates asked, “What about the rest of the villagers?”

“What do you think? Do I really need to spell it out?”

Bei Lanfeng’s smiling eyes turned cold in an instant, filled with murderous intent.

“And keep someone on Mu Hu. See who else he contacts. If there’s no one, then once he leaves Taoyuan County…”

“Take him.”

As for the Mu Family Army?

Kill every last one of them.

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Translator’s Notes