Chapter 80: Clear Weather Arrives Chapter 59: Killing Intent in the Mountains

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

That suddenly appearing flute sound and copper bell sound within this secluded deep valley in the dark night appeared ethereal and bizarre in the extreme, making one's hair stand on end with cold dread.

Zhu Zhi immediately reacted, realizing someone had set an ambush here playing ghost tricks, and at once shouted loudly, ordering his subordinates to draw blades and ready crossbows on guard.

However, an even stranger situation soon appeared; an Embroidered Uniform Guard cried out in alarm, shouting loudly: "... There are snakes!"

Snakes in such deep mountains are nothing to be surprised about; what was strange was that many snakes appeared simultaneously. Everyone held torches and looked down, only to see one long snake after another, varying in size, slithering over from all sides, spitting bright red forked tongues from their mouths.

This situation was already truly bizarre and terrifying; moreover, judging by their colors and shapes, most of these snakes were venomous. And what was even worse, they did not avoid people upon seeing them, but instead actively attacked the crowd.

Someone was bitten by a snake and let out a startled cry. Besides the venomous snakes, from all directions many venomous creatures such as insects and scorpions also rapidly swarmed over. They climbed onto people's bodies, causing the Embroidered Uniform Guards to all feel endangered, dodging and fleeing in panic. The formation fell into chaos in an instant.

Not to mention the Embroidered Uniform Guards who came from the Imperial City, even those local hunters who had been captured to guide the way had never seen such a bizarre situation. A hunter cried out loudly: "We shouldn't have entered the mountain at night with blades, startling and offending! This has provoked the Mountain God's anger and brought down punishment! Quick, quick, retreat and flee for your lives!"

"Seductive words confusing the crowd!" Zhu Zhi drew his blade and slashed at the back of that hunter who was trembling with raised hand shouting. The hunter screamed miserably and fell to the ground. This exceptionally horrifying and tragic cry made everyone feel their hair stand on end even more.

Amidst the chaos, an Embroidered Uniform Guard solemnly and anxiously proposed to Zhu Zhi: "Commander Zhu! The situation here is abnormal; in the night it is hard to discern! For safety's sake, we ought to first withdraw from this mountain, and wait until dawn to make plans!"

Zhu Zhi had just flicked away a long snake with his blade. Gritting his teeth, he said: "Did you hear that bell and flute sound? Rumors say there are strange people in Nanjiang who can control snakes and insects — there are no ghosts or gods at all, merely human trickery and mystification! To retreat cowardly now would be falling for the enemy's scheme of bluffing!"

As he spoke, his voice rose again: "If the enemy truly had the power to resist, why would they need to hide behind the scenes playing ghost tricks!"

Seeing several people had already fallen to the ground from snake venom, that Embroidered Uniform Guard immediately wanted to persuade further: "Commander Zhu, but..."

"The son of the criminal Ling Ke, Ling Congnan, is still alive. Right now he is in this mountain!" Zhu Zhi cut off that Embroidered Uniform Guard's words, holding his blade high, his expression solemn as he declared loudly: "If tonight we can slay Ling Congnan here, it will be a great merit, promotion and enfeoffment! Conversely, whoever dares shrink back before the enemy, all shall be regarded as accomplices of the rebel Ling Congnan helping him escape!"

Zhu Zhi is the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, but this does not mean all Embroidered Uniform Guards are his confidants. There are also factional divisions within the Embroidered Uniform Guards, among which there are no lack of eyes placed by the Son of Heaven to monitor him... Precisely because of this, tonight he could all the more not withdraw from this place in an unclear and unjustified manner!

He must capture Ling Congnan, and the person playing ghost tricks in the rear as backup, and by all means make the Son of Heaven punish Liu Qi!

As these words fell, all around was indeed shaken. Zhu Zhi's confidants followed with loud shouts: "Slay the rebel remnant Ling Congnan!"

Most people only now truly understood the objective of this mountain entry. Under the torchlight, seeing Zhu Zhi leading men to charge forward and kill, the remaining Embroidered Uniform Guards, whether from obeying orders or other reasons, at this moment could only force themselves to steady their spirits and quickly follow: "Quick!"

Insects and snakes accompanied by bell sounds and flute sounds rapidly slithered and followed behind. Zhu Zhi noticed that those music sounds were becoming increasingly urgent. It could be seen the insects and snakes available for their control were also limited... As expected, it was merely a bluffing tactic. As long as one did not fear or panic, it fundamentally constituted no threat worth mentioning!

As Zhu Zhi led the Embroidered Uniform Guards forward, relying on those increasingly urgent music sounds he pinpointed the flute player's position. He seized a subordinate's bow and crossbow, quickly strung it, paused his footing, turned his body to the right. A sharp arrow whistled through the night, piercing toward a high slope on the right side concealed by grass and trees!

The flute sound abruptly stopped, replaced by a "clang" sound. Someone used a weapon to block and knock down the arrow Zhu Zhi had shot.

Behind the grass and trees on the high slope, the girl holding a bamboo flute looked at the mysterious-robed youth wearing a mask who had suddenly appeared before her. She immediately steadied her mind. She still wanted to continue playing the flute, but was stopped by that youth raising his hand.

The youth's raised hand fell. A whistle sounded. In the darkness atop the high slope, dozens of bows and crossbows opened simultaneously. Arrow rain flew toward the crowd below.

Zhu Zhi raised his blade to block, while ordering his subordinates to charge up the slope.

Some were hit by arrows and fell. Some followed Zhu Zhi killing their way forward.

In the dimness, torches swayed. Faintly, thick mist exhaled and inhaled.

As the distance between both sides shortened, bows and crossbows were no longer of use. Close combat was imminent. The people hidden in the dark of the high slope revealed their figures — yet it was a group of shadows wearing Nuo sacrificial robes and Nuo masks.

The Nuo masks bestowed with ancient solemn colors by the Son of Heaven's subjects bared fangs and brandished claws in the night.

Everything appearing tonight was too bizarre. This scene made many injured Embroidered Uniform Guards feel some dread. But Zhu Zhi let out a cold laugh, not fearing in the slightest. He raised his blade and once again took the lead charging forward: "I want to see whether behind this mask is a human or a god!"

Amidst the clash of weapons, Zhu Zhi keenly perceived an exceptionally sharp gaze fixed upon him.

Zhu Zhi turned his head, following that gaze to search. In his peripheral vision, he only saw a dark figure draw sword and attack a step ahead.

It was a youth's figure. Dark robes fluttered in the night. On his face was tied a White Ze Divine Beast Nuo Mask. In his hand a long sword like cold snow, carrying killing intent as it came.

Zhu Zhi immediately dodged, waving his blade to counterattack.

That youth's martial skill was especially neat and clean. Probably because his height and bones grew too fast, his figure appeared somewhat lean and slight. But his strength was still not to be underestimated. Every move and style was a ruthless killing technique.

The sound of blade and sword clashing was heart-shaking. Zhu Zhi was in his prime, full of murderous aura. The more he fought, the more excited he became. With the assistance of two confidants at his side, he forced back that youth who had already been injured in the fight several steps. His long blade chopped down vertically. The youth planted his feet deep, crossed his sword horizontally to block, and forcibly received Zhu Zhi's blade that had accumulated gravity.

Zhu Zhi slightly narrowed his eyes, a few parts amazement: "Good sword, good courage..."

As blade and sword confronted and resisted each other, Zhu Zhi stared dead at the eyes revealed behind that Nuo mask, and again amazed repeated: "Sixth Prince actually condescended to personally come deliver himself to death. Good courage!"

Among the entire Liu clan imperial descendants, there is no second Dragon Son with such courage!

Not only daring to set an ambush and throw himself into the net, but also daring to personally show himself — truly an unexpected delight!

However, tonight in this deep mountain, beneath the Nuo masks, who knows whether the one being killed is a Dragon Son or a rebel traitor?

Such a brave and ambitious yet overestimating youth ought to die under his, Zhu Zhi's, blade!

That dark-robed youth neither spoke nor responded. Wind swept past. Sword light reflected the hatred in his eyes with exceptional clarity. In those black-and-white distinct pupils, it seemed there still lingered the wind and snow that howled unceasingly before the palace gates that night.

Both sides' subordinates were entangled in combat beside the two.

Zhu Zhi's shoulder and arm sank. He poured full strength into his blade. That youth whose figure was still lean and still had growing to do was clearly about to be unable to block. He condensed power into his waist and abdomen. His upper body suddenly leaned back and lowered. The sword blade shifted. Sparks flew. Half the force dissipated. The sword body immediately withdrew —

Zhu Zhi's upper body holding the blade lunged forward slightly due to momentum. In that brief moment, the youth before him single-handedly propped his sword and dodged to one side. As Zhu Zhi steadied his figure, the youth also turned and rose. At the same time, the long sword in his hand swept to the side. Zhu Zhi could not fully dodge. Pressed close by that rainbow-like sword qi, his robe tore open a long gash.

However, beneath his robe he wore another armor. At the torn robe, silver light emerged.

Two Embroidered Uniform Guards had already surrounded to protect him. Zhu Zhi retreated a step. Looking at the torn trace on his chest, he knew in his heart that without this armor blocking, this one sword would have killed him if not severely injured him.

Zhu Zhi slowly raised his head, looking toward that dark-robed youth holding a three-foot sword, left arm injured.

Zhu Zhi tightened his grip on his blade. The playful interest in his eyes was withdrawn. Massive killing intent from feeling threatened surged in his brows and eyes.

Just based on that one glance back when that gloomy little ghost left Weiyang Palace that year, he was certain the other could not possibly remain law-abiding and peaceful. What disability, decline, and utter defeat — these appearances he had never believed... However, even with mental preparation, this gloomy little ghost's growth speed still exceeded imagination. It seems those towering hatreds truly are a sufficiently fertile soil.

Zhu Zhi had never wanted to kill a person as urgently as at this moment.

However, just as he was about to grip his blade and gather his qi, he felt his chest qi obstructed and not flowing smoothly. Faintly, there was some dizziness.

The other Embroidered Uniform Guards fighting here also gradually had the same feeling. One of them reacted: "Commander Zhu, bad. This mist is suspicious. I fear it contains poison smoke!"

From the moment they were blocked here by arrow rain, this poison mist had been releasing and spreading!

Only because this place is open, the poison gas cannot gather, and inhalation is limited. Therefore no major casualties were caused... But if they continue to entangle and fight with the enemy here, the consequences are unknown!

Several Embroidered Uniform Guards immediately covered their mouths and noses, shielding Zhu Zhi as they retreated, ordering a move downwind to avoid it.

The black-robed youth gripped his sword, wanting to pursue, but was intercepted by two subordinates wearing Wu Nu Robes; one of them, judging by the voice a middle-aged man, urgently advised: "... The Young Master insisting on coming here personally is already courting immense danger; you absolutely cannot disregard your own safety any longer!"

The other also said: "The Young Master is injured, and their reinforcements have arrived; this is absolutely not a good time to engage that jackal in close combat again; Young Master, do not forget the promise you made to your subordinates when you set out!"

How could they not understand this unwillingness to let go when the enemy was right before their eyes, hating only that they could not personally kill him; but the Young Master's life concerns the overall situation, this life has long since not belonged to one person alone.

The black-clad youth, blocked by the two, looked through the White Ze Divine Beast mask toward the approaching, swaying torches ahead.

Those were the other two groups of Embroidered Uniform Guards who had split into three routes with Zhu Zhi earlier; they were currently converging toward this location.

This meant Ling Congnan's tracks were nearby; Zhu Zhi knew very well that Liu Qi leading these people disguised as Wu Nu to block the way here was precisely to buy Ling Congnan time to delay and exit the mountain—

Zhu Zhi was absolutely unwilling to give up just like that; however, he had inhaled the poison mist and could only temporarily retreat to catch his breath and exchange air, but he never gave the order to withdraw, insisting on ordering the interception and killing of Ling Congnan.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards who had split into two routes and converged one after another, before they could clearly receive Zhu Zhi's order, first suffered a volley of arrows raining down from the heights.

Amidst the chaos, Zhu Zhi's orders could no longer be executed well; the unfamiliar mountains, the sudden unforeseen events, poisonous snakes and scorpions scattering wildly, poison mist of a concentration that lacked lethality but caused dizziness and weakness to a certain degree, and those enemy figures flickering in and out like Wu Nu ghosts and spirits...

They could not confirm how many the enemy truly had, nor could they tally how many of their own had fallen; the dark night magnified the unknown, the unknown bred terror, and terror turned into thoughts of retreat.

Seeing the situation about to spiral out of control, Zhu Zhi was frantic with anxiety and vexed by anger; he shook his head, which had recovered a measure of clarity, gripped his blade, and wanted to turn back to take command of the battle; however, the moment he turned, he suddenly heard the sound of something tearing through the air sweeping toward him!

With a "swish," an arrow nailed into the back of an Embroidered Uniform Guard beside Zhu Zhi; that guard fell at the sound.

Another twang of the bowstring, and an Embroidered Uniform Guard before Zhu Zhi likewise fell.

Zhu Zhi's expression changed; he looked toward the direction the arrows flew from; since he was here avoiding poison and catching his breath, he had naturally already scouted the four sides and confirmed no ambush; where did this sudden cold arrow come from... and the archery was so uncannily accurate, two arrows felling his two confidants at his side!

In the split second of judgment, a third arrow whistled through the air; Zhu Zhi raised his blade to block, and unexpectedly discovered this arrow was actually his own Embroidered Uniform Guards' property!

Could it be there was an internal traitor?!

As Zhu Zhi dodged and retreated, two more Embroidered Uniform Guards following him were struck by arrows and fell.

Zhu Zhi ordered his men to return fire, but the enemy moved in the darkness, their exact position impossible to pinpoint.

Until the enemy stopped shooting; obviously, their arrows were exhausted.

But the person who had exhausted their arrows did not flee or leave; instead, they discarded the longbow and leaped out from the darkness, charging straight in with blade in hand to kill!

The torches in the hands of the fallen Embroidered Uniform Guards dropped, igniting a patch of damp dead leaves; amid the flickering, dancing firelight, it could be seen that the one who leaped out was actually a swift-figured young woman, and the blade she held was also unmistakably from the Embroidered Uniform Guards—

She gripped the long blade with both hands, murderous intent in her eyes; from above to below, the blade edge chopped down at Zhu Zhi.

Zhu Zhi gripped his blade horizontally to block, only feeling his tiger's mouth tremble, his body also pressed down several inches, his feet retreating repeatedly.

Zhu Zhi was startled; this immense strength surpassing his own absolutely should not appear on this ordinary, unfamiliar young woman; even though he never believed in ghosts and spirits, at this moment he also had a split second of shock and bewilderment—who is she? Human, ghost, or monster?!

The strange people and strange events in this mountain tonight are truly becoming more and more numerous... it really does have several points of an eerie, sinister feel!

As this blade fell, Shaowei's heart also held a few points of calculation; this Zhu Zhi dog thief's skills truly had many extraordinary aspects.

But the person is right before her eyes; having pursued and chased all the way here, secretly observing until this moment, there was no way Shaowei would let this opportunity slip.

This one chop was blocked by Zhu Zhi; she immediately withdrew her blade, changed moves, and swept sideways; however, several Embroidered Uniform Guards had already quickly stepped forward to surround and protect Zhu Zhi, one wielding a long spear stabbing from the side; Shaowei dodged, but another long spear came probing from the other side, and very quickly she was surrounded on all four sides.