Chapter 78

Chen Yi He, surrounded on all sides, could only lower his head and run west.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard behind him pursued him like mad dogs.

"Giddyap!" Chen Yi He didn't dare look back, for fear that if he did the Embroidered Uniform Guard would catch up.

Countless long arrows shot up the road beneath Chen Yi He's feet and the trees on either side, leaving them in ruins.

Chen Yi He kept running until there was no road under his feet. Before him lay a tangle of weeds, an undeveloped stretch. Brambles tore his clothes and the horse's body, and in an instant the horse's back was streaked with blood.

But the horse dared not stop; it knew that if it halted it would lose its life, for the Embroidered Uniform Guard would kill it, slice it into pieces and roast it… so it could only run for its life.

Chen Yi He felt sorrowful; if only a few dozen or a hundred Embroidered Uniform Guard were after him, he could turn and slaughter them to his heart's content! But today's scene was just like that day among the white blossoms of Nanjiang City—Embroidered Uniform Guard from all directions, countless in number, their sea‑of‑tactics could wear him down to death!

"Damn it, if only I could fly on my sword!" Chen Yi He finally grasped the cruelty of the martial world—none of them could fly; they either ran on legs or were pulled by horses.

"Whoa!" Chen Yi He jerked hard on the reins; the horse's hooves could barely stop, and only at the crucial moment did it halt.

The view ahead was an empty expanse, faint clouds drifting above and large birds flying to and fro; pebbles underfoot fell without a sound of impact. Looking down, the depth was unfathomable.

Chen Yi He broke down—damn it, it's a cliff again!

The Embroidered Uniform Guard behind him seemed to have anticipated this; they dismounted, lowered their heads, hid in the weeds, and crept forward step by step, slowly and silently through the weeds, inching toward Chen Yi He.

Chen Yi He could not jump off the cliff as he had done a year ago!

The enemy was still some distance away, but not too far.

The foremost Embroidered Uniform Guard held bows and arrows; the first rank crouched, the second half‑crouched, the third stood, and those behind readied themselves in turn.

Shield‑bearers held huge shields in front of them, providing cover.

After the first three ranks loosed their long arrows, the following ranks stepped up—exactly how it's done in battle!

Today they used this tactic against Chen Yi He!

Chen Yi He was driven to a dead end!

Someone rode out from the Embroidered Uniform Guard on horseback, just like the deceased Qian Da—tall and massive, clad in armor, his helmet unable to hide the scar on his face, with both hands each gripping a massive axe.

He pointed his axe‑wielding right hand at Chen Yi He and shouted loudly, "Chen Yi He, you're at a dead end! If you have anything to say, speak now!"

"Despicable and shameless." Chen Yi He spat. Now his heart was cold; all he could think of was breaking through the encirclement by force.

Even if I die, I want others to be buried with me—the more, the better!

"Of course, if you cut off both your arms, we'll spare your life and take you to the capital to await Chief Eunuch Zhang's judgment." This man was also a deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, named Lu Qianchuan, skilled in winning battles through strategy and seizing the initiative, but one must never underestimate his personal strength because of that.

Without absolute strength, how could one become a deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a right‑hand man of Chief Eunuch Zhang?

Chen Yi He could also see that Lu Qianchuan's strength far surpassed that of Zhang Lan and Qian Da.

Chen Yi He was no fool; he knew that if he cut off both arms he would become a helpless prisoner, and once in the capital he would be paraded through the streets—after Chief Eunuch Zhang had his way with him, he would still be torn apart by five horses.

"Dream on!"

"Looks like there's nothing to talk about, huh?"

"Talk about a hammer?" Chen Yi He resolved to fight to the death.

The early summer breeze was unusually cool, as if it were bringing down the heat for the agitated Chen Yi He.

Chen Yi He raised the Purple Tempered Sword high and shouted, "Kill!"

"Release the arrows!" Lu Qianchuan returned to the Embroidered Uniform Guard ranks, gave the order without turning his head.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!" The long arrows shot forth, heading straight for Chen Yi He.

A figure darted out from among the Embroidered Uniform Guard, tapping the soldiers' heads as he passed—seemingly casual, yet actually faster than the flying long arrows, his feet stepping on the arrows!

"Pop! Pop! Pop!"

Unbelievably, when he landed before Chen Yi He and in front of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, all the long arrows fell down, each one crushed under his feet!

At least seven or eight hundred long arrows, all crushed underfoot the instant they were shot! What kind of speed is this!?

Chen Yi He had seen many very fast people, such as the Fifth Elder of the Qianzhong Sect, but this person's speed exceeded even that of the Fifth Elder.

That person floated down lightly to the center of the battlefield, arms outstretched, one hand reaching toward Chen Yi He, the other toward the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

At ease and carefree, drifting with self‑satisfaction.

What a light and agile body!

About forty years old, with a clean face, a slender physique, long thin legs, and a handsome countenance—a rare clear stream in the martial world.

But who is he? With such high cultivation and such superb lightness skill, he is certainly no ordinary person.

Chen Yi He did not know this person.

But Lu Qianchuan recognized him. "Situ Qing, what are you doing here?" Lu Qianchuan's tone turned hostile and nasty.

This person was called Situ Qing.

Lu Qianchuan's gaze at Situ Qing was far more contemptuous than his look at Chen Yi He—"You're not here to protect this brat, are you?"

"Exactly." Situ Qing lowered his arm and gave Lu Qianchuan a slight nod.

"Protect me?" Chen Yi He was also bewildered—where did this connection come from?

"You're probably overthinking it." Lu Qianchuan narrowed his eyes, seeming unwilling to back off, "You'd better step aside, or I'll take care of you too—don't muddy these waters."

"Heh, go ahead and try," Situ Qing's tone grew heavier, "if you're not afraid of dying."

"Heh, if you die here and this brat dies with you, I have ten thousand ways to explain it. Even the prince can't reason with me!" Lu Qianchuan sneered.

Chen Yi He heard the words "prince" for the first time. A prince means the emperor's brother, the brother of Emperor Wenwen.

"Then you can try." Situ Qing obviously didn't want to waste words with Lu Qianchuan.

Lu Qianchuan said, "If you want to try, let's try," waved his hand broadly, and shouted, "Release the arrows!"

Countless long arrows shot toward Chen Yi He and Situ Qing.

Chen Yi He had not yet made a move, but Situ Qing stepped forward first.

All that could be seen was Situ Qing's right sleeve rolling up, a surge of true qi spiraling out, growing larger and larger, drawing in all the long arrows!

The long arrows reversed direction in midair! Drawn toward Situ Qing's sleeve! Then he swept his arm, and the arrows all snapped apart, clattering to the ground with a "clatter‑clatter‑clatter"!

Situ Qing rolled up his left sleeve again, holding a black token in his hand engraved with the character meaning "subdue", and he shouted at the Embroidered Uniform Guard, "Seeing the Prince's order, why aren't you kneeling!"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard threw down their swords, bows, and huge shields, knelt on the ground, and knelt toward Situ Qing.

Lu Qianchuan panicked, he shouted at his subordinates, "What are you kneeling for!"

"Lu Qianchuan, aren't you kneeling? Seeing the Prince's order is like the Prince himself present!" Situ Qing shouted at Lu Qianchuan.

Lu Qianchuan glared fiercely at Situ Qing, then had no choice but to kneel while wearing his heavy armor, and he shouted, "Long live the Prince, long live, long long live!"

Chen Yi He still didn't know what was going on, waiting for Situ Qing to say, "Get up."

After Lu Qianchuan stood up, he pointed at Situ Qing and angrily said, "You ruined my plans, Eunuch Zhang won't let you off!"