Chapter 397. Try pushing me away again (first update)

Kodak’s smug smile collapsed in an instant as he looked nervously at the men in black surrounding him.

His eyes shone with ferocity as he glared at Ye Jiuliang, his voice hoarse as he growled, "Impossible, stop talking nonsense."

"Me, talking nonsense?" Ye Jiuliang sneered coldly, "Then why don’t you have them save you?"

Already in disarray, he heard "What are you waiting for, take action now."

As the words fell, the men in black did not move an inch, and their cold gazes shattered Kodak’s last sliver of hope.

He was so angry he couldn’t speak clearly, "You guys..."

Just then, a white plane circled overhead.

"Hahaha."

The eerie laughter, tinged with a chill, reached everyone’s ears through the loudspeaker.

"Miss Ye is indeed extraordinarily clever."

Ye Jiuliang squinted at the plane above, the sunlight too dazzling, too far away, a faint grey figure in the distance.

"Save me, save me quickly, you promised you would help me," Kodak heard the grey-clothed man’s voice and immediately began to shout loudly.

"You useless fool, can’t even handle a simple task," the grey-clothed man turned on him, scolding harshly.

"Your own impulsiveness has nothing to do with me."

By now, Kodak couldn’t help but understand his meaning—he was going to be abandoned.

His eyes turned blood red, "You can’t do this to me, it was you who instigated me in the first place, I..."

Before he could finish, a hidden arrow shot out from the woods, piercing Kodak’s heart.

"Pfft—"

Kodak looked down at the dark arrow sticking out of his chest, the blood spilling from his mouth was black.

His eyes widened as he fell backward.

Wei Nan released his hand, and Kodak fell to the ground, dead.

Li Mochan reached out and pulled Ye Jiuliang to him, shielding her with his body.

"Li Wuye, since you’ve come here, then stay here forever," the chilly voice sounded again overhead.

"Fire."

A piercing whistle broke through the air and, as if on command, the circle of men in black drew their guns and unleashed a barrage of gunfire at Li Mochan and his people.

"Bang bang bang—"

Li Mochan, holding Ye Jiuliang, dodged the bullets and grabbed a gun from the ground, thrusting it into her hands.

"Be careful," he cautioned, worried.

Ye Jiuliang nodded, released Li Mochan’s hand, and her lean figure darted among the men in black, leaving a trail of blood in her wake.

As the bullets in the gunmen’s weapons ran out, they threw their guns away and, heedless of danger, lunged towards Li Mochan.

As if following some command, the successive waves of men in black all attacked Li Mochan, focusing their assault on him alone.

"Master, watch your back!" Wei Nan snatched a gun from the hands of a man in black and, looking back, saw a new group of men in black surging out from the woods, aiming for Li Mochan’s back, his face filled with horror.

Li Mochan gripped a man in black, aware of the movement behind him, and dragged the man in front to act as a mobile target.

"Bang bang bang—"

Without a care for their comrade’s life, the men in black did not hesitate to open fire.

To them, there was only one mission: kill Li Mochan at all costs.

Ye Jiuliang kicked a man in black away and lifted her gaze to see an unending stream of men in black flooding towards Li Mochan, her eyes darkening, "Damn it."

She took a medicine pouch from her waist, tore it open, and scattered it over the group of men in black, "Mohan, hold your breath."

The purple powder mixed with the air, the men in black caught off guard, one after another succumbing to it.

The gun in his hand wobbled, his body went limp and he collapsed on the ground.

Even so, it was nothing more than a drop in the ocean; waves of black-clothed assailants kept surging forth. They had long been prepared, intending to wear them down with a war of attrition.

Overhead, the piercing sound of a whistle blew once again.

The wind shook the leaves, and the sound of light footsteps rose from the forest, filled with murderous intent.

Ye Jiuliang’s sharp ears twitched, and he drew back his bow.

A hundred arrows were loosed, all targeting the direction of Li Mochan.

The disparity between the two forces was too great; the black-clothed men overwhelmingly had the upper hand.

Li Mochan’s brows furrowed tightly as he dodged an incoming hidden arrow, reaching out to pull Ye Jiuliang, pushing her toward Wei Dong and Wei Nan.

"Take her and go," he commanded in a deep and forceful voice.

He ultimately couldn’t bear to see her harmed, not even a scratch; he couldn’t stand it.

Ye Jiuliang stumbled, and Wei Dong reached out to support her, "My lady, you go first, I..."

Before he could finish, Ye Jiuliang shook off his hand, her gaze locked on the man not far away who was being cornered by hidden arrows at the edge of the slope.

Dropping the empty gun, she threw herself heedlessly into the fray.

Hidden arrows were hard to defend against, not to mention when one had to fend off countless hidden arrows on one side and fight the black-clothed assailants on the other, Li Mochan was gradually getting overwhelmed.

Meanwhile, Wei Dong and Wei Nan were also entangled with the black-clothed assailants, unable to break free to help.

Watching as those hidden arrows kept striking at Li Mochan, Wei Dong and Wei Xi were frantic with worry.

"Master, be careful!" Wei Dong threw off a black-clothed man who had stopped breathing, turned his head, and saw a hidden arrow heading for Li Mochan’s back, screaming out of his mind.

At the critical moment, a slender figure broke through the encirclement and stood behind Li Mochan.

A pained grunt spilled out, clearly reaching Li Mochan’s ears.

Flipping aside the black-clothed target in his hand, Li Mochan turned around, facing the girl’s pale face; his deep, ink-like cold eyes flickered with rare panic.

Avoiding the hidden arrow on her shoulder, he wrapped his arm around her, his eyes reddening with reproachful tenderness, "Didn’t I tell you to leave? Why are you so foolish?"

Ye Jiuliang, clutching her wound, spoke in a fierce yet tender voice, "Li Mochan, try pushing me away again."

She would remember him pushing her away just now; she’d settle the score with him later when they got back.

"Li Mochan, surrender. Maybe I can spare this Miss Ye," the man in grey’s arrogant words once again filled the air.

A violent streak passed through Li Mochan’s eyes, and when he looked down again at the person in his arms, his gaze softened, "Are you scared?"

"As long as you’re with me." Grasping the meaning in his words, Ye Jiuliang tugged at the corner of her mouth, managing a smile even in such a situation.

Li Mochan held her tightly and with a savage look, leapt down.

"Master..."

Watching them jump down from the mountain, Wei Dong and Wei Nan’s eyes were split with rage as they charged forward.

"Retreat."

Having achieved his goal, the man in grey curved his lips into a triumphant smile and gave the order once more.

In an instant, the swarm of black-clothed men left in an orderly manner.

Wei Nan and Wei Dong, not caring about them, stared into the unfathomable depths below, their eyes filled with red veins.

"Wei Nan, notify Wei Xi to bring people over to search the mountain," Wei Dong quickly calmed down, his voice steady.

Now was not the time for them to grieve; every minute they delayed, their master was in more danger.

Wei Nan nodded, glanced at the heavily wounded subordinates on the ground, and took out his phone to contact Wei Xi.

...

The dusk grew darker, the bright moon concealed behind clouds, appearing and disappearing intermittely.