Chapter 592: The Black‑Clad Men

"Black‑clad men?" Lu Yiman frowned, repeated it softly, his displeasure deepening, "What black‑clad men?"

"On the borders of Chang'an in the Zhou State it has always been peaceful, and the official road is heavily patrolled; there could never be mountain bandits or robbers blocking the road!"

He spoke while angrily reaching out to lift the Cheli, his gaze sharp as a blade, sweeping forward; as soon as he saw the newcomers, he would strike.

Chen Peinan inhaled deeply, his face full of grievance, raised his hand to point ahead, his voice trembling, "Brother Lu, how could I dare lie?"

"Look over there!"

Lu Yiman followed his pointing direction, his pupils suddenly narrowing, his anger instantly replaced by astonishment: "They really are black‑clad men!"

The night was as black as ink; at the end of the official road, countless black‑clad men stood, their numbers indistinct.

But it was no fewer than about a thousand…

They formed a neat formation, standing rigid as pines, each holding a uniform long Bow and Arrow.

The arrowheads glimmered with a chilling cold light in the faint sky, a sharp killing aura surged forward, pressing the breath from people.

Lu Yiman stared closely, his brows furrowing tighter, muttering, "What they're holding is…"

Before he could finish, a rapid "whoosh whoosh whoosh—" sound ripped through the air.

Sharp and piercing, as if tearing the heavy night.

The black‑clad men, without a word, unleashed a rain of arrows across the sky.

The dense arrows fell like a black cloud, whistling toward the convoy.

"Bad!"

"Quickly protect the Lord!"

Lu Yiman's complexion changed abruptly, and he cried out in shock.

He spun sharply, shielding Mei Renbi tightly behind him, while drawing the ringed Blade at his waist; the scabbard flew from his hand, flashing cold light.

"Charge!"

Chen Peinan and the other Jiang You Alliance experts on the carriage responded in unison.

They drew their blades and leapt to block in front of the carriage.

The arrow rain arrived in an instant.

"Clang clang clang—"

The clash of metal rang across the Wilderness.

As the Blade swung, sparks flew, many arrows were deflected, yet some slipped through; a few "pfft" sounds as arrows pierced the carriage's wooden wall.

The arrowheads lodged inside the carriage, their fletchings trembling.

Screams of agony rose in succession; several slower‑responding guards failed to dodge, were struck by arrows, blood gushed out, they collapsed heavily to the ground, barely breathing.

Lu Yiman swung his long Blade, chopping down the arrows aimed at the carriage, his arm trembling numb.

He gritted his teeth, growling angrily, "How many damn arrows are there?!"

Mei Renbi, tightly protected by Lu Yiman, could still clearly hear the clashing and screams outside.

He furrowed his brows, his eyes heavy, thinking to himself, "This is my first time stepping onto Zhou State's territory, I have no grudges here; who sent these black‑clad men?"

"So ruthless, not even willing to meet face‑to‑face, just firing a volley of ten thousand arrows to cut us down?"

The arrow rain continued unceasingly, like a torrential downpour, showing no sign of stopping.

The Jiang You Alliance experts gradually ran out of strength, their parries slowed, casualties grew heavier.

Mei Renbi narrowed her eyes, peering through the gap of Lu Yiman's blade, gazing at the black‑clad men's uniform arrow shooting, her heart suddenly sank, and she murmured gravely, "Their arrow technique is disciplined, coordinated, why does it resemble military troops?"

Lu Yiman's blade swung ever faster.

The blade's edge split the crisp arrow sounds in rapid succession, numbing his palm, veins bulging at his temples.

His brows nearly formed a furrow, his gaze sweeping the fallen alliance masters around, his voice tinged with urgency, "Passive defense won't work; we must counterattack!"

Before the words finished, he turned to Chen Peinan beside him, eyes sharp as an eagle, and ordered decisively, "You few, break out, charge into those black‑clad ranks, disrupt their arrow formation!"

"Yes!"

Chen Peinan and several top Jiang You Alliance experts beside him answered in unison, their voices resonant and powerful, bearing fearless resolve.

Lu Yiman lifted his gaze toward the distant orderly black‑clad ranks, his blade sweeping, cutting a patch of arrow rain to the ground, and sternly instructed, "Remember, as soon as a gap opens ahead, rush in for close combat!"

"These men rely only on Bow and Arrow long‑range suppression; without that advantage, they'd become our dinner!"

"Yes!" the others echoed again, fierce battle fire igniting in their eyes.

They all knew that although the black‑clad men's archery was refined, once engaged in close combat, their long Bow and Arrow became a burden.

Then the situation would shift between offense and defense!

This ambush would turn into a one‑sided slaughter of the black‑clad men!

When the words fell, Chen Peinan and the others ceased holding position, using the carriage as cover to each employ lightness skill.

Their bodies shot like arrows released, soaring toward the black‑clad camp.

Their blades flashed cold light; each swing deflected several incoming arrows, their footwork swift, closing on the black‑clad ranks in an instant.

Within the black‑clad ranks, two figures stood with hands behind their backs, both clad in dark robes, faces stern.

One's gaze was fierce; it was Chen Yan.

The other's mouth curled a cold smile; it was Yuwen Ze.

Behind them stood three composed guards, Zhu Yi, Hongye, and Lu Zangfeng, also in black, each cradling a sword or a long Blade.

Not a single one had eyes like torches, all standing in strict formation, watching the battle ahead.

The surrounding archers among the black‑clad were elite troops of the Great Zhou Right Marquis Guard.

Skilled in bow and horse, with strict discipline, they now followed a unified rhythm, drawing and releasing arrows continuously, the rain as dense as a sun‑obscuring black cloud.

Just as Chen Peinan, blade in hand, body like lightning, barely ten steps from the black‑clad, a sharp "whoosh" rang, cutting the air.

In the ranks, a black‑clad commander drew his bow, nocked an arrow, which flew off the string with wind‑cutting speed, swift as a meteor.

This man is the Left Marquis Guard Wei Zhonglang General Lu Mingqian.

That arrow was perfectly on target, striking Chen Peinan's heart!

"Ah—!"

Caught off guard, Chen Peinan let out a mournful scream, his body jolting sharply, and the long sword in his hand clanged to the ground.

He lowered his head to look at the arrow lodged in his chest, his eyes filled with resentment and astonishment.

His body swayed, then collapsed heavily onto the ground, blood instantly staining the road beneath him.

Lu Mingqian slowly lowered his long bow, clasped his fists in salute toward Chen Yan and Yuwen Ze, a self‑satisfied smile on his face, and shouted, "Pillar of the State, Prince of the Commandery, the Subordinate General presents his clumsy display!"

Yuwen Ze, seeing this, couldn't help but clap his hands and laugh, his tone full of praise: "Old Lu, what fine archery!"

"To think you, kid, took the top prize!"

Chen Yan also gave a slight nod, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, and in a deep voice said, "Not bad, steady hand and keen eye, truly a star of this Duke's Left Marquis Guard Wei."

"Thank you, Pillar of the State and Prince, for the commendation!" Lu Mingqian bowed and replied, his smile widening.

As soon as his words ended, another "whoosh" of an arrow rang out nearby.

Right Marquis Guard Wei Zhonglang General Shi Huaxun had already drawn his bow and nocked an arrow, his gaze fixed on another Jiang Right Alliance expert rushing forward.

The arrow tore through the air, swift as lightning, heading straight for the man's brow.

A short, harrowing scream was heard; the Jiang Right Alliance expert had no chance to react and fell straight down.

A Feather Arrow was lodged at his brow, blood gushing out.

Yuwen Ze watched with eyes sparkling, loudly praising, "One arrow straight into the brow! Clean and decisive!"

He turned to Shi Huaxun, his tone full of admiration, "Indeed worthy of my Right Marquis Guard Wei's Zhonglang General! Excellent archery!"

Shi Huaxun sheathed his long bow, respectfully clasped his fists toward Yuwen Ze, his expression still steady, and modestly said, "Prince, your praise is mistaken!"

"Just a coincidence!"

Chen Yan watched the Jiang Right Alliance experts falling one after another at the front, his fingertips lightly grazing, a spark of eager curiosity flashing in his eyes.

He suddenly smiled calmly, turned his head toward Yuwen Ze beside him, his tone leisurely, "A Ze, idle is idle..."

"The two of us should join in!"

Before the words finished, Lu Mingqian had already understood, and with both hands he carried a Carved Bow and several wolf‑fang arrows, hurrying forward and respectfully presenting them before Chen Yan.

Chen Yan took the bow and arrows, his fingers brushing the cold bow shaft, his wrist flicking lightly, he swiftly set the bow on the ground, nocked an arrow, his gaze like a hawk fixing on the target ahead.

Yuwen Ze saw this, a spark of excitement lighting his eyes, and quickly nodded, replying, "Brother, I was thinking the same!"

He laughed loudly, his tone full of disdain, "No matter how mighty a martial world expert, in front of such an impenetrable rain of arrows, they'd be turned into porcupines!"

Shi Huaxun also hurried forward, offering the prepared bow and arrows.

Yuwen Ze took them, drawing the bow like a full moon, his movement seamless.

Two sharp "whoosh" sounds were heard, the arrows tearing through the air.

The arrow Chen Yan released flashed like a streak of light, striking the throat of a Jiang Right Alliance expert lunging forward.

Yuwen Ze's arrow, powerful and heavy, plunged precisely into another man's heart.

"Ah!"

"Ah!"

Two mournful screams rang out almost simultaneously.

The two had no room to struggle and fell straight to the ground.

Blood gushed out, and soon they fell silent, becoming two bodies that grew cold.

"Hahaha!" Chen Yan, seeing this, burst into hearty laughter, hefted the bow and arrows, turned to Yuwen Ze, and exclaimed with excitement, "Again!"

"Come!" Yuwen Ze, his face alight with excitement, his playful spirit rising, responded as he again drew his bow to full tension.

The two exchanged smiles, then once more nocked bow and arrow, arrows flying one after another.

Each time the sound of breaking through the air rang out, a Jiang Right Alliance expert fell to the ground.

After an unknown amount of time, the wails around the carriage gradually thinned.

As another Jiang Right Alliance ace fell, the sky‑full arrow rain finally ceased.

Lu Yiman, who had been protecting Mei Renbi, was now drenched in sweat, his hand gripping the sword trembling, his chest heaving violently as he gasped, "Huff! Huff! Huff!"

He stared fixedly at the black‑clad formation ahead, even though his strength was spent, he still forced himself onward, loudly shouting to the few remaining pale, exhausted survivors around, "This damned arrow rain has finally stopped!"

"Quick! Prepare to escort the Lord's breakout!"

"Breakout?" a low, mocking echo repeated.

Chen Yan, at some point, had already led Yuwen Ze, Lu Mingqian, Shi Huaxun and others, strolling forward.

Lu Mingqian's gaze scornfully swept over the wobbly figures beside the carriage, and he sneered, "Just you few broken soldiers, wounded and weary, where do you think you can run to?"

Lu Yiman suddenly lifted his head, raising his sword to shield Mei Renbi, the blade trembling slightly with his shake.

He stared intently at the leading Chen Yan, gritting his teeth, questioning word for word, "Who exactly are you!"

"Why set an ambush here to slaughter us!"

Hearing this, Chen Yan stepped forward, his gaze passing over Lu Yiman to land on Mei Renbi behind him.

He curled his lips in a half‑smile, his voice modulated with a hint of playfulness, "A qilin prodigy can claim the world!"

He paused, the teasing in his eyes deepening, and leisurely asked, "Mr. Mei, you have promoted yourself so ingeniously, your name renowned across the world, yet still cannot guess this Duke's identity?"

——

PS: This is the final update of the year; if there is a next update, it will have to be next year. Though I'm reluctant, I must say goodbye!

Everyone, see you next year!