Chapter 171: The Marquis
Chapter 171: The Marquis
Whoosh…
As expected, before the Sky-Reaching Guards outside could launch more fire arrows, a black shadow suddenly shot into the sky.
Carrying a small bundle over her shoulder and holding a sharp three-foot-long sword, she directly crashed through the rooftop tiles and burst out. Moving swiftly across the eaves and walls, she deflected the incoming crossbow arrows with her sword. After a few leaps, she passed right over the heads of the Sky-Reaching Guards and headed straight for the dark, mountainous terrain ahead.
It was none other than the mysterious Black-clad Woman!
“Audacious demon woman, put that down!”
“After her!”
…
The massed Sky-Reaching Guards roared angrily and swiftly spurred their horses in pursuit, radiating intense killing intent. They drew their bows and fired sharp crossbow arrows as they chased.
The warhorses they rode were all exceptional steeds, picked one in a hundred, astonishingly fast. Unfortunately, Cangjian Peak was high and steep, littered with scattered rocks. Even whipping their horses furiously, they couldn’t close the distance for a while. One after another, the sharp crossbow arrows were deflected by the Black-clad Woman’s sword. Left with no choice, they uniformly leaped from their horses and continued the pursuit on foot. The distance between the two parties not only failed to shorten but grew even larger!
Swoosh…
Just as the Black-clad Woman was about to escape and shake off her pursuers, a cold glint suddenly flashed through the dark night. Following that, an exceptionally fierce crossbow arrow appeared behind the Black-clad Woman. She swung her sword to block it instinctively. With a clang, the sharp arrow whistled past her scalp, the impact nearly wrenching the sword from her grasp and leaving her hand numb.
A Blood-Dripping Heavy Arrow!
On a distant hill, a man in a blue robe who had been coldly observing let out a cold snort and drew his bow again. Behind him, a row of over a dozen Sky-Reaching Guards quickly covered their ears. Following a piercing, sharp sound, another Blood-Dripping Heavy Arrow whistled forth. The next moment, it materialized behind the Black-clad Woman, aiming straight for her back. Its speed and power were so great that even Mu Feng, hiding in the guest room, couldn’t help but narrow his eyes sharply.
Clang…
Sensing the fierce wind behind her, the Black-clad Woman, unable to dodge in time, had to turn abruptly to block. Though agile, this time, she was not so fortunate.
Her sword accurately struck the onrushing heavy arrow, but the slash couldn’t deflect it completely. The terrifying Blood-Dripping Heavy Arrow veered slightly off course and, with a thud, violently pierced through her left shoulder. The sharp arrowhead protruded from the front, the force behind it immense. She stumbled, nearly pinned to the ground by the arrow.
Despite being severely wounded by the arrow, the Black-clad Woman was remarkable. She gritted her teeth without a sound, clutched her wound, and pressed onward.
Sadly, the blue-robed man’s arrow had injured muscles and bone, leaving her seriously hurt and greatly slowing her speed. Before she had gone far, she was heavily surrounded by numerous Sky-Reaching Guards. After a series of clashing sounds clang, clang, clang, several Sky-Reaching Guard corpses lay around her, and she herself sustained several more deep, bone-revealing wounds.
“Shuang’er, get on my back!”
Mu Feng was closely watching the situation outside. Seeing the Black-clad Woman about to be killed by the numerous Sky-Reaching Guards, he suddenly turned and crouched down.
If not for this mysterious Black-clad Woman’s subtle warning earlier, he and Jing Wushuang might have drunk that camellia tea and died at the hands of Poison Hand Xie Han. A drop of kindness deserves a flood of gratitude. These Sky-Reaching Guards were vicious and extraordinarily skilled, but there was no way he could just stand by and watch the Black-clad Woman die at their hands!
“Mhmm!”
Jing Wushuang nodded. At this critical moment, she was resolute and decisive, wasting no words, letting Mu Feng take charge.
While Mu Feng used his sword to block crossbow arrows, she had already put on her clothes and placed large bamboo hats on herself and Mu Feng. Just as she was about to climb onto his back, a thought struck her. She picked up the blood-soaked handkerchief Mu Feng had discarded and stuffed it into her bosom.
The moment she leaned against Mu Feng’s chest, half-naked, she secretly resolved in her heart that she would marry no one else in this life.
Once entering the Poison Sect, it was like plunging into a deep sea. Perhaps they would never meet again. When that time came, this small handkerchief, still carrying Mu Feng’s warmth and scent, would be her best memory!
“Orders from the Marquis, take her alive!”
“Capture her alive, seize her, attack!”
…
From the distant hill, a horseman galloped over, delivering the command from the man in the blue robe.
Immediately, the many Sky-Reaching Guards swarmed forward, launching even fiercer attacks, attempting to capture the severely wounded Black-clad Woman alive and take her back to the prison of Jiangling Prefecture.
“Capture me alive?”
The Black-clad Woman gave a cold laugh. A green pill, about the size of a small egg, suddenly appeared in her hand. She crushed it forcefully, and it exploded, releasing a thick cloud of green mist. The vicious Sky-Reaching Guards surrounding her only needed to inhale a wisp before their skin rapidly festered, revealing stark white bone in the blink of an eye.
“It’s poison, be careful!”
“Shoot, aim for her legs!”
…
The Sky-Reaching Guards on the periphery retreated fearfully to a distance. Drawing crossbow arrows from their backs, they soon sent a volley of sharp arrows whistling towards the Black-clad Woman’s legs. She retreated while blocking, but hampered by her injuries, her strength was far from what it used to be. Soon, her body jolted as a sharp crossbow arrow pierced through her right thigh, leaving it bloody.
Seeing her right leg struck and her movement hampered, the vicious Sky-Reaching Guards laughed heartily and intensified their attacks. They planned to slowly exhaust the Black-clad Woman’s stamina, cripple her legs to prevent retaliation, and then capture her alive.
Pop…
The Black-clad Woman crushed another pill. Using the cover of the poisonous mist, she desperately dragged her injured right leg, striving to run up the mountain. Her willpower was astonishing. Sadly, she hadn’t gone far before her body wavered, nearly causing her to fall. Looking down, she saw another arrow lodged in her wounded right leg.
To avoid her counterattacks, the ruthless Sky-Reaching Guards shot arrows from a distance behind her, their assault relentless. The poison mist was terrifyingly potent, but it could only hold them off temporarily. She couldn’t completely shake their pursuit.
Crash…
Just as the Black-clad Woman was on the verge of being captured alive, a figure suddenly burst forth from the inn, which was now a sea of flames, taking everyone by surprise. Before the many Sky-Reaching Guards could react, streaks of talismanic script glowing with bloody light suddenly appeared in the air.
At this critical moment, Mu Feng finally charged out from the blazing inferno. No sooner had he left than a heavy beam crashed down, causing the simple inn to collapse completely.
“Blood Lightning Talismans, explode for me, explode, explode!”
Mu Feng roared in fury, launching a fierce assault from behind the massed Sky-Reaching Guards.
Instantly, over a dozen Blood Lightning strikes exploded simultaneously, unleashing a violent shockwave and a vast, thick cloud of blood mist. Even more frighteningly, before the blood mist could dissipate, sinister-looking Blood Vines materialized in the air, whistling as they shot towards the bodies of the numerous Sky-Reaching Guards.
“Aren’t you going to leave?”
Mu Feng leaped to block the path in front of the Black-clad Woman, shouting loudly.
The Blood Lightning and Blood Vines were incredibly powerful, but they were merely a delaying tactic, temporarily holding back the many Sky-Reaching Guards. It was impossible for him alone to truly stop them all. For the Black-clad Woman, the chance to escape was almost instantaneous. If she didn’t leave now, it would be too late.
“Thank you, Young Master Mu!”
The Black-clad Woman quickly snapped back to her senses. She gave a slight bow of gratitude, then turned and fled. Gritting her teeth, she dragged her injured right leg, moving away faster and faster.