Chapter 623: 【Surprise Attack】(Part 1) Extra for Medical Union Alliance

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"Fan Ling'er! General Huo, we all admire and are grateful to you."

Huo Shengnan smiled faintly: "Defending home and country is the duty of every Da Yong citizen; it was originally what I should do."

"But you have brought honor to all our women; who says women are inferior to men? All the girls of our Da Yong hold their heads high because of you!"

Hu Xiaotian laughed loudly beside them.

Fan Ling'er thought he was laughing at her, her little face turned red.

Huo Shengnan glared at him, thinking this rascal shouldn't laugh so recklessly in front of a young girl. To say Huo Shengnan is truly good-looking, this kind of single-eyelid girl in ancient times probably didn't fit traditional aesthetics, but in modern times this appearance is absolutely graceful and charming, capable of killing countless beauties; she possesses a majestic beauty that traditional women lack.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Fan Ling'er, any news from the manor lord?"

Fan Ling'er shook her head, worry showing on her little face. At that moment, the sound of the Palace Bell came from afar; Fan Ling'er looked up: "My martial uncles have returned."

Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan turned simultaneously, only to see three riders approaching from afar, the central one being Liu Yucheng, the two beside him Hu Xiaotian didn't recognize, but from their attire they likely held official posts.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian return from afar, Liu Yucheng felt relieved knowing the Empress Dowager's condition had improved since Hu Xiaotian returned safely; his two companions hurriedly dismounted, rushed to Huo Shengnan's side, and clasped fists: "Your humble servant Bai Jingxuan pays respects to General Huo!"

Huo Shengnan said: "So you're Captain Bai, you came for the manor lord's matter too?"

Bai Jingxuan is the captain of the Jingzhao Prefecture constables; he also sought treatment from Liu Changsheng before. His relationship with the Liu father and son is good. Bai Jingxuan said: "Yes! The manor lord Liu Changsheng disappeared mysteriously; as the captain of Jingzhao Prefecture constables, I should, both publicly and privately, quickly find his whereabouts."

Liu Yucheng said: "General Huo, please come inside to sit."

Huo Shengnan asked: "Any clues?"

Liu Yucheng glanced at Hu Xiaotian but dared not speak; although Huo Shengnan is the adopted daughter of Weichi Chong, Liu Yucheng and she are not well acquainted.

Bai Jingxuan said: "What we can determine now is that the manor lord was abducted. Moreover, the kidnappers' martial arts are extremely high; they took him from the Divine Farm Society without alarming anyone."

Huo Shengnan said: "If not for revenge, then for wealth—did the kidnappers put forward any demands?"

Liu Yucheng said: "My father has been missing for a day and a night, and the kidnappers have sent no word." He frowned tightly, worried.

Hu Xiaotian said: "There is another possibility."

Everyone turned their gaze to him; Hu Xiaotian said: "Perhaps the kidnapping of the manor lord was for medical treatment."

Bai Jingxuan said: "Impossible. If it were for treatment, why not come to the door for a doctor? Why take such extreme measures? Given the manor lord's unbending nature, the more so, the less he would agree."

Hu Xiaotian smiled faintly: "Perhaps this person previously sought treatment from the manor lord, but was refused, thus holding a grudge. Hence he resorted to this vile means, intending to coerce the manor lord into submission."

Several people heard the implication in his words; Liu Yucheng understood, Hu Xiaotian suspects Prince Yan. Actually he himself suspects the same, but Prince Yan's status is what it is. Even if suspicious, he cannot openly say so.

Huo Shengnan slightly furrowed her brows: "You're so indecisive, why beat around the bush? Just say what you have to say directly."

Hu Xiaotian said: "General Huo truly doesn't understand me; I always say what I have to say. My words are merely an analysis of another possible existence."

Huo Shengnan said: "Then let's split up to search, hoping to find the manor lord soon. By the way, I'll go ask my adoptive father for help, let him also join the search."

Liu Yucheng said: "General Weichi has been summoned by the Emperor to the palace for discussions and hasn't returned yet." He had already gone to find Weichi Chong earlier.

Huo Shengnan said: "I'll gather people and search everywhere."

Liu Yucheng said: "Thank you, General Huo."

Huo Shengnan mounted her horse, Hu Xiaotian said to Liu Yucheng, then also mounted; he had been away for a day and a night, needing to return to South Wind Pavilion to check, lest those brothers worry.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian follow behind, Huo Shengnan thought he was chasing her, slowed her horse to let him catch up; Hu Xiaotian rode up beside her and laughed: "Where are you going, General Huo?"

Huo Shengnan said: "Where are you going?"

Hu Xiaotian stated his destination, which happened to be the same as Huo Shengnan's; the two rode side by side on Yongdu West Gate Avenue, Huo Shengnan said: "If I haven't misunderstood you, your earlier words seemed to have a hidden meaning."

Hu Xiaotian noticed Huo Shengnan, though decisive in action, her thoughts are extremely meticulous; he smiled: "General Huo, you overthink; I've just arrived in Yongdu, still not familiar with everything here, where would I get any authority to speak?"

Huo Shengnan looked at Hu Xiaotian half-believing, half-doubting, clearly not believing his words.

The morning sun had just risen when it was already hidden behind the clouds; the sky showed a heavy leaden hue, dark clouds covered everything, as if a storm were imminent. The street ahead suddenly narrowed; this place is called Waterlogged Lane, because of the low terrain, whenever it rains, water accumulates and makes passage difficult; today the temperature is low, pedestrians are scarce. Horse hooves clacked on the blue stone pavement, sending clear sounds far down the deep, narrow lane.

Huo Shengnan suddenly furrowed her brows, softly told Hu Xiaotian: "You go first!"

Hu Xiaotian was slightly startled, turned to look at her; from Huo Shengnan's suddenly solemn expression he sensed some danger approaching. Hu Xiaotian listened closely, there was not the slightest movement around; precisely because of this silence, it felt especially terrifying.

Huo Shengnan raised her chin, signaling Hu Xiaotian to speed through this area.

Hu Xiaotian nodded, kicked his stirrups hard, the chestnut horse neighed and galloped desperately toward the end of the lane.

Huo Shengnan gently drew a refined steel short sword from her saddle; the blade is only two feet long, yet three inches wide, its edge serrated. The sword spine is broad, ancient and heavy.

On the right roof, a black shadow flashed past. At the same time, three feathered arrows had already shot toward Huo Shengnan from the left. The black shadow was to distract her attention; the arrows are the true killing move.

Swish! Swish! Swish! Three feathered arrows in a pinpoint formation aimed at Huo Shengnan's vital points, arrow force fierce, tearing the air, accompanied by thunderous sound.

Huo Shengnan's eyes shot out sharp light; her short sword struck out, Peng! Peng! Dang! After two strikes she lifted with force, blocking all three arrows.

On the roof, a burly figure appeared; he leapt from the roof, both hands raising a six‑foot horse‑splitting blade, held high overhead, descending with thunderous force toward Huo Shengnan. An inch longer, an inch stronger; moreover, having just entered the fight he already held the positional advantage, high ground, striking down Mount Hua. He aimed to cleave Huo Shengnan and her horse in two with one blow.

Huo Shengnan shouted angrily, her delicate body leapt off the horse's back into the air; even if she could block this thunderous strike, she could hardly guarantee her beloved steed could withstand this pressure. After separating horse and rider, her body hovered completely in mid‑air. With no support beneath her feet, fighting this way clearly put her at a disadvantage.

In this situation, recklessly clashing with his blade would be unwise; Huo Shengnan did not adopt a head‑on tactic. The short sword's side edge collided with the opponent's long blade, erupting in a heaven‑shaking, earth‑shaking metallic clang; a powerful force surged from top to bottom, straight through, numbing Huo Shengnan's tiger mouth; her body plummeted downward, the toes touching ground then immediately drifting backward.

The assailant gave her no breathing space, like a shadow following form; after one strike, the horse‑splitting blade swept like autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves, horizontally toward Huo Shengnan's slender waist; this slash, if it landed, would surely cut her waist in two.

Huo Shengnan held her short sword flat before her, not rushing to meet the attack, but using stillness to counter motion.

The horse‑splitting blade surged like stormy waves, striking the short sword's blade; Huo Shengnan was like a lone leaf in wind‑tossed waves, riding the opponent's blade force, her delicate body borrowing power to spin and drift away swiftly, appearing to fall downwind, yet actually preserving her strength to the utmost while ensuring her safety.

On both roofs, four masked archers appeared simultaneously, drew their bows, aimed at Huo Shengnan amidst the gale‑tossed waves, and fired together.

Four cold lights chased wind and lightning toward Huo Shengnan; her short sword blocked back and forth, although she knocked the arrows aside, her escape speed was affected, forcing her to land on the ground.

Opportunity fleeting, the assailant waved his horse‑splitting blade again, closing in on Huo Shengnan; blade light flickered, weaving a sky‑covering blade net, descending toward Huo Shengnan's head. Huo Shengnan looked ahead, seeing countless blade illusions, chilling killing intent pressing from all directions; though the blade shadows had not arrived, the immense pressure had already approached first.

The four archers leapt and crossed on the roof, seeking better shooting opportunities.

At that moment a soundless figure appeared on the western eaves—none other than Hu Xiaotian, who had just ridden away. Huo Shengnan had told him to go first; Hu Xiaotian rode out of the encirclement, but hearing the continuous clashing of blades behind, he felt it would be too unrighteous to just leave and abandon Huo Shengnan; thus he turned at the corner ahead, jumped from his horse, climbed onto the roof, and silently approached the attackers.

The four archers' attention was wholly on Huo Shengnan, they hadn't noticed Huo Xiaotian's departure and return; by the time they realized, Hu Xiaotian was already within less than five zhang of them; the two on the western eaves reacted first, originally aimed at Huo Shengnan on the street, they hurriedly turned their arrowheads toward Huo Xiaotian and shot; these archers are all top‑tier, reflexes swift. Swish! An arrow had already shot toward Huo Xiaotian's throat. (My novel "Medical Unification" will have more fresh content on the official WeChat platform, plus a 100% draw grand prize for everyone! Now open WeChat, click the "+" in the upper right corner "Add Friends", search the public account "qdread" and follow, hurry up!)(To be continued~^~)