137. A Brotherly Heart-to-Heart

"Before we go in, let's divide the tasks. Big Brother and Tiger, you two will slip to the front gate immediately. Take out the guards, open the gate, and let Uncle Tong and Uncle Yang in. Once they are inside, we will have much more security. Second Brother and I will head to the children's cells to eliminate the guards there. After that, you stay to protect the children. Remember, we are here for silent assassinations tonight; avoid open combat whenever possible. Do not feel any burden when striking; these men are heinous criminals. Any mercy you show them is cruelty to yourself and a betrayal of your brothers. If any emergency arises in the stronghold, you two must also make your way to the cells immediately to protect the children. Understood?" Zhang Xuan said, looking at the other three.

The others nodded. The four moved to the hole made by the Nie brothers, cleared away the firewood used to conceal it, and crawled through one by one.

As Zhang Xuan and his companions entered the stronghold, Nie Zheng looked at his older brother from their hiding spot. "Brother, what are your plans for the future?"

Nie Rong was puzzled by the sudden question. "Why do you ask? Aren't we always going to be together?"

"Brother, we promised Brother Xuan this afternoon that if he helped us get our revenge, we would follow him. You agreed, but I know you were only humoring me. You have never challenged my decisions. Now, I want to know your true thoughts, because after tonight, our vengeance may finally be fulfilled." As Nie Zheng spoke, he gazed at the stronghold he loathed; he believed that after tonight, it would cease to exist.

"You have such faith in them?" Nie Rong followed his brother's gaze. In truth, Nie Rong did not believe that four children—two of whom were younger than he—could dismantle a stronghold that had tormented them for over a year. They had practiced martial arts, but that was all. If he had trained for as long as they had, he would be just as capable. They were no match for the vicious traffickers inside. However, since Zhang Xuan and the others were already acting, and he and his brother remained safe, he had kept his doubts to himself.

"Yes, I have great faith in them." Nie Zheng recalled how Zhang Xuan and Yang Zaixing had dispatched the four traffickers in the blink of an eye. That sight had solidified his confidence. He smiled at Nie Rong. "Brother, I have decided to follow Brother Xuan and the others. If you have other plans, we might have to part ways. Although, I would hate to leave you."

"What? You’ve made up your mind?" Nie Rong frowned. His own plan had been for the two of them to find a martial arts school, study hard, join the army, and eventually, after years of service and gaining their own men, return to raze this nightmare to the ground. He had held no hope for Zhang Xuan’s group, and as for Uncle Tong and Uncle Yang, he had never seen them fight; they seemed like ordinary, aging men.

"Yes, I have. And I’ve realized that I may never have to wait for Brother Xuan to reach his full potential to see what he can do." Nie Zheng recounted how Zhang Xuan and Yang Zaixing had executed the traffickers, handed the ones who had abducted them over to his mercy, and dealt with the perverse overseer of the stronghold. "Brother, after hearing this, do you think I’m exaggerating? Do you think they just got lucky because the traffickers were fighting amongst themselves over loot?"

"How did you know that was what I was thinking?"

"Brother, how long have we been together? I know your mind. I saw the whole process with my own eyes. In such a short time, they took down four men we considered 'powerful.' I believe their claim that they can take on five at once isn't just talk. I am certain they will avenge us tonight and save those who were locked up with us."

Nie Rong listened, knowing his brother had no reason to lie. Could his assessment of this group be wrong? Could they truly be extraordinary enough to raze this hell tonight?

Nie Zheng watched his brother contemplate, not wanting to disturb him. He touched the bamboo scroll Zhang Xuan had given him and silently made a vow.

"Zheng'er, I trust your judgment. Ever since you were old enough to understand, you’ve rarely been wrong. So, I will choose to believe you this time. Whatever we face, we face it together. But first, they must make it out safely!" Nie Rong looked toward the stronghold, hoping they would prove his initial skepticism wrong.

Hearing the phrase "you’ve rarely been wrong," Nie Zheng whispered a self-deprecating remark, "I was wrong once a year ago, and the lesson from that mistake was agonizing."

"Brother, trust me—I won't be wrong this time. I have faith in Brother Xuan and the others."