Chapter 646: Dark Night Breakthrough (Part 1)

It was the third watch of the chou hour.

Chen Wen took the lead, charging into the southwestern night.

Behind him, eleven people split into three groups and followed closely.

First group: Chen Wen, Wang Ru.

Second group: Yue Fei, Yue Yun, Zhang Xian, Wang Gui.

Third group: Lin Chong, Wu Yong, Chao Gai, Ruan Xiaoer, Guan Sheng, Huyan Zhuo.

All twelve wore black clothing, gripped their weapons tightly, and moved as swiftly as the wind.

Just after leaving the alley behind the Bell and Drum Tower, they heard earth-shaking fighting sounds from the southwest.

That was Colonel Liu's three hundred wounded soldiers, using their flesh and bodies to crash into the Yuan army's first line of defense.

Firelight painted half the sky red.

Roars, wails, and the clash of metal blended into one.

Don't listen!

Chen Wen barked in a low voice.

Stay close to me!

He activated his Level 6 Fortune Momentum Insight.

In his vision, the energy field ahead was in utter chaos.

The pale green light points representing our wounded soldiers were blinking out at an astonishing speed.

The dark red light points representing the Yuan army, though scattered, quickly regrouped and moved to flank both sides.

Turn right!

Chen Wen turned into a narrow alley.

Everyone followed closely.

The alley ended in the rubble of collapsed houses.

Chen Wen led the way over the broken wall.

As they landed, a Yuan army patrol hurried past thirty paces ahead—clearly drawn by the fighting to the southwest, rushing to reinforce.

Conceal!

The twelve immediately dropped low.

After the patrol had run off,

Chen Wen waved his hand.

Quick!

Everyone scrambled over the wreckage in single file and entered another alley.

They repeated this over and over.

They threaded through alleys, scaled walls, and moved stealthily.

Using their familiarity with Luoyang's streets, they avoided the Yuan army's main movement routes.

Half a quarter-hour later, they reached a collapsed breach in the southwest corner of the outer city wall.

This spot had originally been blocked with bricks and stones, but three days earlier Wang Ru had secretly sent people to clear a slit wide enough for only one person to pass.

Go through one by one!

Chen Wen led the way, turning sideways to squeeze through.

Beyond the slit lay the dry riverbed of the moat.

On the opposite bank was the territory controlled by the Yuan army.

Go down onto the riverbed and walk close to the right bank!

Chen Wen said softly.

The riverbank has shadows, making it hard to spot.

The twelve swiftly slid down onto the riverbed and moved stealthily along the shadows of the right bank.

They had gone just over a hundred steps.

Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves came from ahead.

Conceal!

Everyone immediately lay flat in a depression of the riverbank.

A unit of Yuan cavalry galloped past on the bank, about twenty riders, heading straight for the southwest battlefield.

After the hoofbeats faded,

Only then did Chen Wen signal to continue forward.

They went another half‑li.

A fork appeared ahead in the riverbed.

The left fork leads to the front battlefield of Golden Valley Garden.

Wang Ru said softly.

The right fork is an abandoned supply route that can bypass the first line of defense.

Take the right.

Everyone turned into the right fork.

This supply route had long been abandoned, overgrown with weeds, but the roadbed was still fairly level.

High earthen cliffs rose on both sides, forming a natural barrier.

Speed up!

Chen Wen began a light jog.

Twelve people increased their speed, moving swiftly in the narrow grain passage.

About a quarter of an hour later, a faint firelight appeared ahead.

There were also indistinct human voices.

Chen Wen raised his hand.

Everyone immediately stopped and hid in the shadows of the cliff wall.

"It is a Yuan dynasty checkpoint."

Wang Ru narrowed her eyes to observe.

"There are two anti-horse barriers, four sentries, and one wind lantern."

"The exit of the grain transport road is blocked."

Chen Wen activated Fortune Momentum Insight.

Behind the checkpoint, there were also two hidden sentries concealed in recesses of the cliff wall.

Further away, about fifty steps off, there was another patrol of ten people heading this way.

"We cannot force our way through."

Wu Yong said in a low voice.

"If we alarm the patrol, things will become difficult from behind."

"I have a plan."

Ruan Xiao Er suddenly spoke.

He took out a small leather pouch from his bosom and poured out several black pills.

"Confusion Smoke Pills."

"When lit and thrown, they incapacitate anyone within ten steps within three breaths."

"But the wind is strong; we need to get closer."

Chen Wen looked toward the checkpoint.

"Lin Chong, Guan Sheng, you two climb up the left cliff wall silently and eliminate the hidden sentries."

"Ruan Xiao Er and Chao Gai, follow me and approach head-on."

"The rest stay put and await orders."

The four immediately took action.

Lin Chong and Guan Sheng climbed the left cliff wall like civet cats, using the shadows to approach the hidden sentries' position.

Chen Wen, Ruan Xiao Er, and Chao Gai kept to the right bank, crawling forward.

Twenty steps.

Ten steps.

Five steps.

Before the checkpoint, four Yuan sentries were gathered around the wind lantern, talking in low voices.

They were completely unaware of the approaching danger.

Two extremely faint thuds came from the cliff wall.

The hidden sentries were dealt with.

Chen Wen leapt up suddenly!

His body shot like an arrow straight at the checkpoint!

The four sentries had just raised their heads.

The sword light had already arrived.

Puff puff puff puff.

Four soft sounds; blood lines simultaneously burst from their throats, and they collapsed limp.

Ruan Xiao Er and Chao Gai followed closely, quickly dragging the corpses into the shadows.

Chao Gai picked up the wind lantern and hung it back as it was.

At that moment, the patrol's footsteps were already within thirty steps.

"Quick, go through!"

Chen Wen waved his hand.

The eight people behind swiftly rushed through the checkpoint and disappeared into the deeper darkness of the grain transport road.

Chen Wen, Ruan Xiao Er, and Chao Gai covered the rear, slightly moving the anti-horse barriers back to their original positions to create the illusion of no one passing.

They then turned and chased after the vanguard.

Having just run over twenty steps.

From behind came the patrol's conversation.

"Hey? Where are Old Scar and the others?"

"They might be slacking off."

"Damn it, I'll report them when we turn back..."

The voices gradually faded away.

Only then did everyone slightly relax their breath.

"Keep moving!"

Chen Wen did not pause at all.

The grain transport road wound upward, the gradient growing steeper.

After another quarter hour, a cliff appeared ahead.

The cliff was over three zhang wide and its bottom could not be seen.

A simple suspension bridge, barely wide enough for one person, spanned it.

The bridge deck was made of planks, with vine ropes on either side, swaying slightly in the night wind.

"This is the place."

Wang Ru said.

"Our people are waiting to receive us on the far side of the bridge."

"But we must cross one at a time, in turn."

Chen Wen looked toward Lin Chong.

"Instructor Lin, you take the rear guard team across first and establish a defensive line on the far shore."

"The vanguard team goes next."

"The core team goes last."

"General Yue, it would be safer for you to cross the bridge first."

Yue Fei shook his head.

"Mr. Chen should go first."

"You need to coordinate on the far side."

"Besides——"

He looked toward the southwest.

There, the sounds of battle had gradually grown sparse.

Lieutenant Liu's three hundred men were likely about to be wiped out.

Chen Wen declined no further.

"All right."

He stepped onto the bridge first.

The bridge swayed.

But Chen Wen's steps were steady, as if walking on level ground.

He reached the far side in three breaths.

From the shadows on the far side, two figures emerged—secret posts under Li Qi's command.

"Mr. Chen!"

"How is the situation?"

"Captain Li has prepared the horses, but the movements of the Yuan cavalry to the southeast are unclear; we advise withdrawing as soon as possible."

"Understood."

Chen Wen turned around.

"Next, Wang Ru."

Wang Ru crossed the bridge quickly.

Next came the six members of the rear guard.

Lin Chong, Wu Yong, Chao Gai, Ruan Xiao II, Guan Sheng, and Hu Yanzhuo passed through in that order.

They deployed a defensive formation on the far shore.

Then came the core team.

Yue Yun led the way, followed closely by Zhang Xian and Wang Gui.

Finally, Yue Fei crossed.

As Yue Fei stepped onto the bridge,

in the southwest, the final roar abruptly ceased.

Immediately after, the victorious horn of the Yuan army sounded.

Lieutenant Liu's three hundred men were all lost.

Yue Fei's steps hesitated slightly.

But he did not look back.

He continued forward.

Just as he was about to reach the far shore——

From the direction of the supply route behind, suddenly came the urgent sound of horse hooves!

"Yuan troops in pursuit!"

On the far shore, Wu Yong called out urgently.

Chen Wen's eyes turned cold.

"General Yue, hurry!"

Yue Fei quickened his steps, crossing the final three paces onto the far shore.

Almost simultaneously.

At the outlet of the supply route, a blaze flared up!

Dozens of Yuan cavalry charged out, their leader instantly spotting the swaying bridge and the figures on the far shore.

"Over there!"

"Fire arrows!"

A rain of arrows fell!

Cut the bridge!

Chen Wen shouted sternly.

Lin Chong already had his sword in hand; hearing the order, he fiercely slashed at the right-side vine rope!

First strike, the vine rope was half cut!

Second strike, it was completely cut!

The bridge tilted to the right.

The Yuan cavalry on the opposite bank had already rushed to the cliff edge, trying to seize the bridge.

But the bridge surface was severely tilted, making it hard to stand.

Cut again!

Chen Wen shouted.

Guan Sheng stepped forward, raised his giant axe, and chopped at the left-side vine rope!

Boom!

The rope bridge snapped completely and plunged into the deep ravine.

From the opposite bank came the Yuan army's angry curses, and the arrows grew even denser.

Retreat!

Chen Wen turned around.

Into the forest!

The twelve quickly disappeared into the dense forest on the opposite bank.

Behind them, the Yuan cavalry lingered at the cliff edge, temporarily unable to cross.

They could only watch helplessly as they vanished.

In the forest.

Li Qi had already brought people to hold the horses and wait.

"Master Chen, the horses are ready!"

"Mount up!"

"Head southwest, full speed ahead!"

The twelve swung onto their horses.

The horse whips rose.

Hoofbeats thundered, breaking through the night.

Behind them, the fires of Luoyang gradually faded.

But ahead, there were still two lines of defense, eighty li away.

The breakout had only just begun.