Chapter 122: Ma Huixin

"This friend..."

Xu Qing's face turned cold; his Yangcheng Escort Agency had gone out of town, making it likely they'd meet bandits, but in Fengyin Prefecture, that was their turf— it was hard to encounter bandits there.

Now that they had encountered them, he felt surprised inside but didn't say much.

It's quite normal for accidents to happen!

He never would have imagined...

These black-clothed men before him were clearly not here to demand toll money; they were here to rob the escort.

Just as Xu Qing was about to boast about how formidable his Yangcheng Escort Agency was, urging them not to provoke it, to take the money and scram, and never to attempt robbery lest they forge an irreconcilable feud...

"Pfft!"

A faint whistling sound rang out; Xu Qing, highly alert, noticed it immediately and prepared to dodge, but he was still a step too late— an arrow struck his body, though not a vital spot.

The arrow's tremendous force knocked Xu Qing straight off his horse.

"Brothers, kill him!"

Seeing Xu Qing shot off his horse, the black-clothed leader shouted, then without further ado, spurred his horse forward with sword in hand, charging at Xu Qing.

"Whoosh!", "Whoosh!", "Whoosh!"

The next moment, the black-clothed men hidden along the road rose, drew their bows, and loosed arrows like a torrential rain, darkening the sky as they flew into the convoy.

Seeing this, the escorts in the convoy grabbed shield after shield from their wagons to resist.

Don't think this is an age of peace; the world is far from tranquil, with strongmen often committing murder and theft, and these escort guards are in the greatest danger.

Who makes them constantly transport valuable goods?

To be an escort, one must associate with all sorts of unsavory characters and maintain decent relations with Green Forest heroes— but it's all bought with silver.

In the face of profit, even blood brothers can turn against each other; let alone the so‑called Green Forest heroes, whose livelihood is murder and robbery.

Their moral standards are obviously lower than ordinary people's.

So.

Escorts always make thorough preparations before each run, even if they know the local Green Forest heroes have been appeased, just in case something goes wrong.

Shields.

They are the best defensive weapons— how could they not be prepared?

"Madam, I—I we need to get out of the carriage, quick, quick, quick!"

At the center of the escort convoy stood a tall, heavy carriage, its draft horses noticeably larger and more vigorous than the others.

Inside, a maid‑servant‑styled young girl, seeing the arrows darkening the sky like a storm, cried out in panic.

"Don't panic!"

Ma Huixin gripped the trembling maid's right hand and reassured her: "The Yangcheng Escort Agency is the largest and finest in Fengyin Prefecture; the guards on this job are all top‑notch. Even though we've been ambushed, they're prepared— at worst we'll get a scare with no harm."

Though she said that, Ma Huixin, looking through the carriage window at the sky‑darkening arrows, felt a faint unease rise in her heart.

How could she not know the state of the Yangcheng Escort Agency? Otherwise she wouldn't have spent a fortune hiring them to protect her and her property.

Elsewhere it's hard to say, but on this little patch of Fengyin Prefecture, whether Green Forest heroes or other unsavory sorts, they all give the Yangcheng Escort Agency face and wouldn't dream of robbing it. Now—

Yet some faction dares to slight the Yangcheng Escort Agency and fears no retaliation.

Either they don't know what's good for them, or they're utterly confident, holding the Yangcheng Escort Agency in no regard.

Ma Huixin watched outside as a volley of arrows was blocked by the escorts' shields; the black‑clothed ambushers lining the road lowered their bows, for the first wave had already closed in on the escorts with weapons.

Friendly fire being a worry, the remaining black‑clothed men drew their weapons and charged forward.

Like a wolf pack pouncing on prey!

The black‑clothed men and escorts fell into a chaotic melee; although the black‑clothed side suffered casualties and even deaths, the escorts sustained the worst injuries.

Hardly had the fighting begun when it was clear the escorts were losing ground.

Seeing this, Ma Huixin's heart sank to the depths; although she had anticipated such a scenario, deep down she still harbored a sliver of hope.

That hope was wishful thinking!

She never imagined—

She wasn't mistaken; those bold enough to waylay and rob— no, to murder and loot— how could they possibly fail against these escorts?

Ma Huixin let out a soft sigh: "Xiang Qiao, this time I've brought trouble upon you!"

You have arrived at this novel.

The maid Xiang Qiao's face instantly turned ashen.

"No wonder he's the chief of the Yangcheng Escort Agency— he still has some skill!"

The black‑clothed leader watched Xu Qing, whom he had charged at on horseback with sword, be flung away and roll across the ground; unsure whether to praise or mock, he jeered: "But it's about time this ended!"

Seeing the black‑clothed leader charge again on horseback, Xu Qing tried to pick up a fallen weapon nearby, but found his whole body aching as if his bones were broken, unable to muster any strength, and could only watch helplessly as the attacker bore down.

Xu Qing roared in resentment: "Don't get cocky— the Yangcheng Escort Agency won't let you off!"

"Yangcheng Escort Agency..."

The black‑clothed leader gave a "pfft" laugh, as if hearing a huge joke, and was about to sneer a few words while ending Xu Qing's life when a sharp eagle cry rang out.

The black‑clothed leader instinctively looked up and saw a black dot streaking across the sky.

As the dot grew larger, he realized it was a peregrine falcon swooping toward him.

"What's going on? Could this beast be taking me for prey?"

The black‑clothed leader frowned slightly, puzzled but still slashed his sword, sending a blade‑qi shooting like an arrow; yet he saw Peregrine Falcon Little Gray dodge effortlessly, and remarked: "What a beast— not bad at all!"

The black‑clothed leader slashed again, releasing a blade‑qi, but it was not aimed at the swooping Peregrine Falcon Little Gray; instead, he sought to exploit the distraction, aiming a sneak attack at Xu Qing.

"Bang!"

A loud explosion rang out—the black‑clothed leader's blade‑qi colliding with Xu Qing's true‑qi barrier before him, the blast hurling Xu Qing away once more.

"What a lucky life!"

The faction leader watched Xu Qing fly backward out, heavily fell to the ground, wanted to get up, but fell again, gave a cold laugh, and didn't put Xu Qing in his heart again.

It's merely a death struggle; the time of death depends on his mood.

"Now..."

The faction leader lifted his head, watching the Peregrine Falcon Little Gray swoop in, about to let out a cold laugh, but before he could finish his words, he saw the Peregrine Falcon Little Gray open its mouth and spit out a Sword Apparatus; instantly startled, he hurriedly circulated his true qi.

(End of chapter)