Chapter 1357

That said, where did their leader go? Seeing the giant elephant corpse puppet about to trample over, and the Green Turban Warrior still desperately entangling it, the scorpion-python finally had more brains than the two; it flipped over to face the giant elephant and slammed its two large pincers into the ground—

The ground where the giant elephant was charging suddenly turned into a quagmire! This was the innate divine ability of the Gaoling Python, which it could still use after being modified by the person behind the scenes.

The giant elephant had immense self-weight and its forward momentum didn't stop, so after running only two steps, it sank into the mud. Its four pillar-like elephant legs couldn't be pulled out, and the more it struggled, the deeper it sank.

This was what was called sinking deep into the mire.

Seizing this opportunity, the scorpion-python suddenly broke free from the Green Turban Warrior and burrowed toward the underground.

Several Black Armor Knights arrived and fired two crossbow bolts, which nailed into the scorpion-python with a thud. Behind the bolts were spider-silk grappling hooks; once hooked, the group drove their horses to pull backward with combined strength.

Dong Rui flashed out from the side and also fired a sleeve arrow, which went straight into the scorpion-python's open mouth; his accuracy was surprisingly excellent.

It was unclear what he had smeared on the arrowhead, but after the scorpion-python, which had been full of life, took this hit, its struggling and rolling strength gradually weakened, making it easier for the Black Armor Knights to drag it.

In a dark corner of the battlefield, someone had been staring fixedly at this spot, fully focused.

When the three monsters appeared together, he gripped a staff tightly, his eyes wide open, his face flushed red, and he muttered to himself. After only a dozen breaths of fighting, sweat was streaming down his forehead, and he didn't even have time to raise his hand to wipe it.

By the time the scorpion-python was subdued by Dong Rui using an unknown method, this person waved his staff to urge it several times, but the scorpion-python only became increasingly sluggish.

He stomped his feet in anger: "Impossible, this is impossible!"

What kind of background did this group of Black Armor shells have to dare to take away his scorpion-python!

It was a treasure he had spent over half a year meticulously honing!

He would definitely make them pay! Thus, a low roar erupted on the battlefield again. The other two monsters that had been hunting the manor guards abandoned their scattered prey and charged straight at the Black Armor cavalry.

Dong Rui glanced at them and knew that there was indeed someone manipulating them from behind.

It seemed that the person had already figured out the situation here and decided to deal with the Black Armor cavalry first to save his own demon puppets.

Dong Rui rubbed his hands, about to use some more tricks, when he heard He Lingchuan's voice transmission in his ear: "Wanzai Liang, block the two monsters."

Wanzai Liang loudly acknowledged, turned back to whistle, and led over ten Black Armor soldiers to meet them.

After being caught in the pincer attack from the scorpion-python and the Green Turban Warrior, He Lingchuan had disappeared, but none of the Black Armor cavalry believed their master had suffered casualties. Therefore, they fought as they should and pursued as they should, without panic or disorder.

This kind of confidence didn't know when it was established, but it formed very quickly.

He Lingchuan pointed at two more people and then said to Dong Rui: "There is a hillock on the side that can shield your figure; don't let anyone see you."

The main battlefield had already moved to the edge of the woods, and there was no one left near this hillock.

"Coming." Dong Rui didn't say a word, lowered his head, and charged toward the back of the hillock.

That hinge-tailed yellow tiger ran over from afar and even circled around to check behind the hillock first, clearly somewhat concerned about Dong Rui.

However, behind the hillock, it was completely empty, not even a ghost in sight.

After throwing out the Green Turban Warrior, Wuma Dan had already blown his whistle to retreat, no longer caring about any formation; he needed to return to his safe fortress as soon as possible.

With the leader like this, how could those below be any better? The hundred-plus people in front of and behind him heard the sound, turned around, and ran wildly toward the north. Who cared about formation, who cared about the rear guard, who cared about exposing their backs! The retreat was faster than the charge.

They were elite cavalry when they arrived, but became routed soldiers when they left.

However, they had only run a few dozen zhang when two rows of arrow rain shot out from the small woods ahead, followed by another team of Black Armor cavalry shouting as they killed their way out! This was the rear-guard unit assigned by He Lingchuan earlier, led by Wanzai Feng and Wang Fubao. They had been waiting here for quite a while, specifically waiting for Wuma Dan to flee in defeat from here.

In the earlier chaos, Wuma Dan hadn't expected He Lingchuan to have so few men and still be able to spare a rear-guard unit. These hundred-plus people were already routed soldiers, and being charged by Wanzai Feng, who had been waiting in comfort, they became even more panicked and chaotic. Before they could form any decent resistance, they were split into three groups, each seeking their own way to survive.

Beside Wuma Dan, there were less than thirty loyalists left.

Fortunately, he hadn't raised a flag, and it was pitch black in the woods, so Wanzai Feng and the others couldn't identify him as the leader and didn't pursue this group.

Passing through the woods, the tall courtyard walls of the North Courtyard were already in sight; it would take less than twenty breaths to run there.

Once inside, he would be safe. Wuma Dan finally breathed a secret sigh of relief.

However, before this breath was fully exhaled, two riders paced out from the shadow under the courtyard wall: four Black Armor Knights.

At the lead was that dragon-head mask again!

Wuma Dan's pupils suddenly contracted.

Just a moment ago, he had seen with his own eyes this guy being hit by the combined attack of the Green Turban Warrior and the scorpion-python, falling into the sky-filling smoke and dust.

How was he now full of life and blocking the way here? Moreover, he had run from the hillock to here without stopping; how could the opponent have arrived at the North Courtyard one step faster than him? The only thing he could think of was an escape technique.

"Who exactly are you!" Wuma Dan shouted sternly, "What grudge or enmity do you have with me to destroy my manor and kill my men? Where is my son!"

This guy had rushed out from the direction of Wuma Xu's courtyard; he hadn't had time to think whether his second son had met with misfortune! "Indulging in evil is committing a crime." The Black Armor leader's eerie voice echoed in everyone's heart, "Wuma Xu harmed young girls and deserves to die! Wuma Dan exploited the neighbors and harmed the region; he deserves to die!"

Wuma Dan stared: "You, you..."

He had many enemies in his life, but this was the first time he had encountered someone looking for trouble with such a reason.

However, his mind stirred, and he suddenly remembered some rumors from the south recently: a group of men in black were killing people everywhere, claiming to act on behalf of heaven. Some meddlesome villagers clapped and cheered, even calling the leader of this group something like the "Nine Nether Emperor."

Could it be that this group of people really existed, could it be that he had really run into them? But as soon as he thought about it, he decided the other party was spouting nonsense and immediately shouted: "Who hired you? I'm willing to pay double, no, five times the price!"

In this chaotic land, what was rare about hiring a killer? Wuma Dan himself had done it. Acting on behalf of heaven and so on was just an excuse.

He Lingchuan chuckled, tapped his horse's belly lightly, and charged toward him like an arrow.

His original mount had been smashed by the Green Turban Warrior and the scorpion-python; this one was shared from his subordinates.

The opponent was also afraid of him and hurriedly grabbed his bow to shoot arrows.

He Lingchuan's Soaring Dragon Spear came out, knocking away several incoming arrows, and in the blink of an eye, he charged close to the Wuma clan's ranks.

Before others could see clearly, two cavalrymen had already been picked off their horses by him one after another.

Wuma Dan shouted "Stop them" while spurring his horse to circle toward the North Courtyard.

No matter how strong the opponent was, there were only four of them; he still had a chance to rush into the courtyard and activate the formation.

(End of chapter)