Chapter 79 - 77: The Assailants
Lu Zheng is the Patrol Captain most trusted by Xie Shihuan, while Song Changming was purely selected for his personal bravery.
The three remaining Patrol Captains are more seasoned and experienced, making them better suited to oversee the team than Song Changming.
After informing the Captain, Xie Shihuan and the three of them left the team, riding towards the opposing scouts.
As they approached, Song Changming quickly scanned them, realizing they were dressed just like ordinary Jianghu Guests.
Clothed in cotton robes and straw hats, each carrying a steel saber.
Xie Shihuan first displayed his identity token, then said, "The token needs to be seen by your master personally."
"Please wait a moment," said the scouts.
After the informant returned with instructions, Song Changming and the others were allowed to follow them.
Such cautious behavior made this important figure even more enigmatic.
After riding a few miles on horseback, they saw a convoy parked near the mountain stream.
About twenty to thirty people dressed as Jianghu Guests were guarding a carriage in the center.
The carriage was of ordinary design, not appearing prestigious.
Yet those Jianghu Guests glared at the three of them with hostility.
Undoubtedly, the person seated inside the carriage was the important figure they were escorting this trip.
As they neared the convoy, Xie Shihuan instructed Song Changming and Lu Zheng to stop, while he approached the carriage alone.
Song Changming saw Xie Shihuan bow in greeting to the carriage, though he couldn’t hear what was being said.
Subsequently, he personally handed the token to the person inside the carriage.
Shortly thereafter, a powerful voice came from inside the carriage.
"Alright, put away the swords, they’re one of us."
Upon hearing this, the heavy atmosphere surrounding the convoy instantly dissipated, and the Jianghu Guests obediently sheathed their swords.
"These people aren’t Jianghu people," Lu Zheng murmured softly.
"Indeed, they’re more like government soldiers or officials," Song Changming whispered in response.
Both of their observational skills were keen, quickly discerning the distinctive traits that set these people apart from Jianghu people.
Moreover, with Xie Shihuan’s previous deferential greeting, the important figure inside the carriage was likely a high-ranking official from outside the county, at least ranking higher than Xie Shihuan, perhaps even surpassing their Governor!
If that wasn’t the case, the Governor wouldn’t have resorted to such a major action.
After both sides confirmed identities and reached an agreement, the convoy joined the cavalry team led by the Captain to return to the County City they came from.
"Spread out," the Captain commanded.
The three hundred Cavalry Team immediately divided into formations, deploying in all directions to stay alert.
If anything suspicious happens on the road, they’ll be alerted in advance.
"Disperse some of your men too," Xie Shihuan instructed Song Changming and the others.
Compared to the cavalry team led by the Captain, he trusted the Patrol Guard he brought more.
"Zhao Long, take a few people and guard the north," Song Changming was arranging when suddenly signal smoke rose ahead.
Everyone reined their horses, their expressions changing.
"This signal smoke indicates enemy engagement ahead!" Captain Fan Yun said, squinting with a deep voice.
They had just received this important person when enemies came, and from the direction of the County City.
Such a coincidence, it’s easy to speculate that someone had received the message as they left the city and were now following them from afar.
Evidently, the opposing party was prepared, targeting the important individual inside the carriage.
Perhaps without the Patrol Guard and Cavalry Army making such a large-scale exit to meet the person, this group would have struggled to pinpoint the target’s route and timing, forced to hide and ambush the convoy outside the County City.
"Mr. Xie, we leave this to you!" Fan Yun, without hesitation, drew the Big Iron Spear from behind and raised it high with a shout.
The remaining two hundred cavalry under his command immediately followed him, charging forward like an iron torrent.
This was their specialty, storming the battlefield!
"What’s happening?" A voice emerged from the carriage.
It was a slightly aged voice, though the person inside remained hidden, it likely belonged to an elder, faintly revealing tones of authority.
"Master, enemy engagement," Xie Shihuan hesitated briefly but decided to speak the truth.
A sigh came from inside the carriage, "As expected, they’ve come. I place my life and safety in your hands."
"Don’t worry, Master, we’ll guard and not let those thieves approach!" The original convoy of dozens of Jianghu Guests drew their swords, with one of them speaking.
"Arm the crossbows," Song Changming ordered.
The forty Patrol Guards under his command immediately took out strong crossbows, loaded the crossbow arrows, and prepared.
Moments later, the sounds of slaughter from ahead, the sound of iron hooves galloping, continued endlessly.
"They’re coming!" Within the convoy, several observant individuals sensed the impending danger from the changing noises ahead.
Sure enough, a group of cloaked, mysterious individuals appeared before everyone.
They had breached the Cavalry Army led by the Captain, advancing to this location.
There were about thirty people, all possessing remarkable Light Body Skill, either flying close to the ground or gliding through the air like they had wings.
"Fire!"
Over two hundred Patrol Guards had been waiting with crossbow arrows ready and unleashed hundreds to thousands of crossbow arrows in dense, covering fire as the group drew near.
No matter how outstanding their Light Body Skill was, they ultimately had no place to hide and could only deal with the barrage of crossbow arrows.
After several rounds of relentless shooting, some within the group began to sustain injuries, and others were shot dead and fell to the ground.
This was the advantage of numbers, and the ranged firepower was sufficiently strong.
In such a rain of arrows, ordinary people would retreat helplessly even if they were Martial Artists.
But these attackers were fearless, bravely enduring the incoming crossbow arrows, quick to close in on the convoy.
Each of them fiercely swung their sleeves forward, a cloud of white powder blew toward the convoy with the wind.
"Not good, it’s poison powder!" Lu Zheng, experienced, was the first to speak upon witnessing this.
Song Changming frowned, held his breath, and led his team in retreat as the convoy also backed away.
However, some people were infected by the poison powder, and soon several faces turned bitter, feeling increasingly numb throughout their bodies.
For Martial Artists who had conditioned their bodies, ordinary poison powder generally couldn’t exert significant effects on them.
Unless it was a highly toxic substance taken internally, it would be difficult to avoid lethal danger.
While the poison powder floating in the wind couldn’t kill conditioned Martial Artists, it made bodies feel numb, significantly reducing effectiveness.
Gradually, some Patrol Guards fell in the blowing wind, unable to stand steadily.
Song Changming soon realized the subtle stinging on his skin and mild muscle soreness from the poison powder.
Yet the level of muscle soreness affected his capabilities only minimally.
His physique was sufficiently robust, and the poison powder had a negligible impact on him.
Seeing this, Song Changming felt slightly relieved. Before the attackers could massacre the fallen Patrol Guards, he chose to draw his saber and engage.
Meanwhile, Lu Zheng and several Guard Captains, joined by skilled members of their teams, charged forward.
They formed a second line of defense, engaging the enemies head-on near the official road.
Xie Shihuan stayed by the carriage with his ten Personal Guards, ensuring the safety of those inside, allowing no errors.
In the poison-powder-filled wind, Song Changming led the charge, his speed equally swift, not inferior to the enemies.
Soon, he closed in on one enemy, his eyes filled with unabashed, intense killing intent.
Planting his foot heavily, he powered up, extended his arm, and swung his Dragon Pattern Saber wide, flipping mid-air to deliver a downward strike.
The strike was like thunder erupting from the ground, accelerating with over five thousand pounds of giant strength.
The poison wind was ripped apart by his strike, the pressure exploded, resembling Mount Tai descending aggressively!
The enemy’s eyes widened in terror.
No time to dodge, the saber was only halfway up before Song Changming’s saber cleaved through most of their body, sending the shattered corpse flying.
Instant kill in one slash!
This made the other companions tense with fear.
Song Changming, young in age, demonstrated prowess that belied his appearance.
Landing on the ground, Song Changming immediately charged at other enemies.
The attackers scattered like startled birds, now wielding flying darts and Flying Sabers, launching them toward Song Changming as a downhill tiger.
Song Changming utilized his Light Body Skill, his footwork agile, dodging and blocking with ease.
His left hand brushed his waist, drawing the Official Saber, which he launched using a special technique.
The saber’s edge pointed straight, leaving one target behind.
As the target deflected the incoming saber, Song Changming closed in.
Soul-Breaking Blade Technique, Soul-Shocking Slash!