Chapter 432: The 'Retreat' in the Plan

Zhong Heqing's Azure Heaven Dharma Aspect stood towering behind him, like an insurmountable mountain.

The Eight Trigrams Soul-Suppressing Halberd in his hand danced like the wind; each swing brought a fierce gust, keeping others at bay.

Zhu Que's eyes flashed, and she pulled her Vermilion Bird Heaven-Burning Bow to full once again.

This time, her target was Zhong Heqing!

"Whoosh—"

The crimson arrow once again tore through the sky, hurtling toward Zhong Heqing at an unimaginable speed.

Zhong Heqing's gaze tightened as he sensed an unprecedented danger.

He flickered, trying to dodge this deadly strike.

But Zhu Que's arrow seemed sentient, closely following his movements.

Just as the arrow was about to pierce Zhong Heqing's chest, his Azure Heaven Dharma Aspect behind him suddenly struck, slamming a palm toward the crimson arrow.

"Boom—"

A loud boom rang out as the Azure Heaven Dharma Aspect shattered the crimson arrow with a single palm.

Seeing her arrow blocked by Zhong Heqing's Dharma Aspect, Zhu Que raised her phoenix eyes, a smile appearing on her heroic face.

She was not discouraged; instead, her fighting spirit grew stronger.

In a swift turn, she lightly drew a special arrow from her exquisite quiver behind her.

This arrow was no ordinary one; its shaft bore exquisite hundred-bird patterns, each bird lifelike, as if about to take flight from the shaft at any moment.

Among the hundred birds, one stood out—its wings spread high, leading the flock, displaying supreme majesty.

This was Zhu Que's unique "Hundred Birds Arrow".

The Hundred Birds Arrow, though not Zhu Que's ultimate killing technique—the Zhu Que Arrow—still had its own uniqueness.

This arrow was made from a rare, light yet tough wood; its shaft was light and resilient, while the arrowhead was forged by Mohist craftsmen from a rare metal called "Heaven Star Iron," razor‑sharp.

The hundred‑bird pattern on the shaft was not only beautiful; it also embodied a blessing power added by the Mohists.

When Zhu Que infused the arrow with her aura, those hundred birds seemed to lend her strength, making her attack swifter and more precise.

At this moment, Zhu Que held the Hundred Birds Arrow, her whole body suffused with an increasingly intense crimson aura.

She drew a deep breath, nocking the Hundred Birds Arrow onto the string of her Vermilion Bird Heaven‑Burning Bow.

The bowstring was taut, like a full moon, ready to unleash a heaven‑shaking arrow at any moment.

On the battlefield, the atmosphere suddenly grew tense.

While fighting Zhao Yun, Zhong Heqing felt the aura emanating from Zhu Que behind him, and his expression turned solemn.

Gripping his Eight Trigrams Soul‑Suppressing Halberd tightly, the Azure Heaven Dharma Aspect behind him shone brighter, readying itself to counter Zhu Que's next strike.

"Whoosh—"

With a soft cry from Zhu Que, the Hundred Birds Arrow shot forth like a meteor.

The arrow's piercing whistle as it tore through the air seemed capable of rending any obstacle.

"Ding! Zhu Que's Mausoleum Light effect triggered again!

Martial power increased by another 4, bringing Zhu Que's martial power to 142!"

The crimson aura enveloping the Hundred Birds Arrow surged toward Zhong Heqing at an unimaginable speed.

Zhong Heqing's eyes narrowed as he felt the unmatched aura carried by this arrow.

He flickered, trying to evade this deadly blow.

However, Zhao Yun opposite him clearly also sensed this mighty Hundred Birds Arrow.

The Dragon Gall Bright Silver Spear in his hand coiled like a snake, tightly entwining Zhong Heqing and preventing him from breaking free.

Seeing the Hundred Birds Arrow about to pierce Zhong Heqing's chest, his Azure Heaven Dharma Aspect behind him struck again.

He unleashed a palm, a vast surge of aura rushing toward the Hundred Birds Arrow.

However, this time Zhu Que's archery was more exquisite; the Hundred Birds Arrow traced a strange arc in midair, cleverly bypassing the Dharma Aspect's palm wind.

"Pfft—"

With a soft sound, the Hundred Birds Arrow traced a graceful arc in the air and firmly lodged into Zhong Heqing's shoulder; the hundred‑bird pattern on the arrow seemed to emit a mysterious light at that moment.

Blood spurted out, staining his battle robe red.

Zhong Heqing grunted in pain, his body swaying slightly.

Zhu Que did not stop; she drifted like the wind, drew another Hundred Birds Arrow from her quiver, pulled the bow to a full moon, and readied the next shot.

Her movements were fluid and graceful, like a dancer twirling across the battlefield.

"All right, Mausoleum Light……"

A warm, gentle voice sounded beside Zhu Que's ear; a steady hand lightly covered her drawing hand, blocking the Hundred Birds Arrow she was about to release.

Zhu Que glanced sideways to see Su Ye's smiling face.

It was Su Ye, who had been waiting in the rear, who—unknown when—had arrived at the front lines under the protection of the Mysterious Warrior.

"We should also retreat."

Su Ye said softly, his eyes hinting at some deeper meaning.

Zhu Que blinked, then immediately understood Su Ye's intention.

According to news recently sent by Su Ye's father, Prince Yun Su Kai, a force nominally belonging to the Great Qian Rebel Army was gathering strength, preparing to launch a fierce assault from the rear of the Cangzhou Army.

Their current task was to go along with the plan, feigning a "retreat" to open the defensive line the Cangzhou Army had been holding.

To lure the elite units of the Taiping Sect and the Yellow Turban Army into the prefecture—Qianzhou—where the capital of Great Qian, Qiandu, is located.

The reason Su Ye wanted to fight this group of the Taiping Sect was merely to show off his muscles.

Otherwise, they might get cocky and really treat the Cangzhou Army as a soft persimmon to squeeze, turning the feigned retreat into a genuine one.

Although I don't know whether this is Su Kai's intention or that of someone inside the capital of Great Qian.

But one thing is certain—this matter is known to both Su Kai and Si Xiao Fei!

This is also where Su Ye has been unable to make heads or tails of.

You damn it, Great Qian is on fire everywhere, looking like it's about to die.

Even the army sent to have Gu Changqing go north to fight the fire is just a mishmash of local garrison troops thrown together.

Where does this confidence come from, daring to let the main forces of the Taiping Sect and the Yellow Turban Army enter Qian Zhou?

Not mentioning anything else, after Su Ye again drew the Tiger Leopard Cavalry, a Dao Soldier unit, he then combined it with the White Horse Righteous Followers, another original Dao Soldier unit.

Moreover, with Meng Zhang, this traitor, among the Yellow Turban Army, Su Ye believes he can at least hold the gates of Lu Zhou for a period of time.

After all, if Great Qian collapses too quickly, it would still be somewhat unfriendly to Su Ye as he is now.

After all, Su Ye's forces have just been established; even taking over Qi Zhou would consume him for a long time.

Not to mention the legacy left after Great Qian's fall.

Now that Great Qian has fallen, Su Ye is definitely not going to get a big share of the meat.

Therefore, Su Ye now needs to keep Great Qian in a state that is strong but not too strong.

That is, a half‑dead, half‑alive situation.

But what do those people in the Great Qian court mean now?

They don't even want this free goalkeeper of theirs?

Unless Great Qian still has some other ace up its sleeve!

But now, throughout the nine provinces of Great Qian, beacon fires are everywhere.

Where do they get their hidden hand from?

Moreover, what kind of hidden hand could make those people in the Great Qian court so confident?

Who dares to match the Taiping Sect plus the Yellow Turban Army's hundreds of thousands of elite troops?

(End of Chapter)