Chapter 1199

First Volume, Chapter 1199: The Power of Armored Warriors

The three brothers split up; Ma Hong ran back to his courtyard, took out an iron shovel, removed the blade, and replaced it with a halberd head.

Because standard halberd shafts were made with extremely complex craftsmanship, combining toughness and lightness, ordinary Commoners found it nearly impossible to produce a standard halberd shaft.

Ma Hong could only make do: the iron shovel's handle was too short, hard, and heavy, but he had no other choice.

He gripped the crudest possible halberd shaft and ran to the village's main road.

At this moment, the village's able-bodied men had already clashed with the Enemy Army.

Over a hundred bandits gathered together, shielding each other with bows and arrows and shields, launching ranged attacks at the men on the rooftops.

The able-bodied men were no fools; they never showed their heads, lying flat on the rooftops, and if any bandit dared climb up, they shot him straight in the face.

Moreover, stones had long been piled on the rooftops, specifically to prepare for the day when a large bandit force would invade the village and they'd be forced into alleyway warfare.

Whenever bandits tried to approach the Ancestral Hall, the men on the rooftops would roll the stones down.

Because the village paths were narrow, soon seven or eight bandits were knocked senseless by falling stones.

But soon, the stalemate was broken.

The bandits brought a ladder, propped it against the wall, and Chen Yanzong, having already discarded his halberd, gripped his hand knife and climbed up the ladder.

As expected, the moment he showed his head, three sharp cracks rang out—"Papap!"

Three able-bodied men lying flat on the rooftop fired without missing; all three arrows struck Chen Yanzong's face.

Unfortunately…

Chen Yanzong wore Heavy Armor, complete with a helmet, eyebrow guard, and neck guard.

Two arrows hit the eyebrow guard, one hit the neck guard—all were deflected.

Chen Yanzong was fiercely formidable; even wearing eighty-tael Heavy Armor, he climbed onto the rooftop with ease.

The three able-bodied men could only drop their bows, grab their pickaxes and broadaxes, and launch a counterattack.

The moment they stood up, one was shot dead by bandits below; the other two, wielding pickaxes and broadaxes, charged at Chen Yanzong.

Chen Yanzong reacted instantly—not retreating or dodging, but charging straight forward.

The heavy armor delivered a devastating impact, knocking the man with the pickaxe aside, while two cuts landed squarely on his body.

Unfortunately…

How could a broad axe break armor?

Two cuts down, Chen Yanzong showed no reaction; he spun and slashed, killing that able-bodied man in one stroke.

As the other able-bodied man struggled to his feet, a shield was thrown up by bandits below.

Chen Yanzong picked up the Small Round Shield, strapped it to his arm, and stared coldly at the man: "Animals are animals—when it's time to take your lives, you should surrender and wait quietly to die."

"Dare to resist? Hehehe…"

"You cling to the Ancestral Hall—I know without asking that women and children are hidden inside."

"I could have given you a quick death, but since you refuse mercy, don't blame me."

"My comrades are starving for blood—perfect timing. I'll distribute the women of Maguan Village among them; as for the children, slaughter them like pigs and dogs!"

The able-bodied man's eyes turned bloodshot; he roared: "Beast!"

He swung his pickaxe at Chen Yanzong.

The pickaxe, due to its unique shape, possessed breakthrough capability—but it was a close-range weapon.

To fight an Armored Warrior up close, you must yourself be clad in Heavy Armor.

If you wear only cloth, even with a Breakthrough Weapon, charging forward is suicide.

Chen Yanzong raised his Small Round Shield to block the pickaxe, swept his blade sideways, and slit open the able-bodied man's belly; then he ignored him, turning and descending the ladder.

The able-bodied men on surrounding rooftops watched as Chen Yanzong effortlessly killed two of their own, filled with shock and terror.

Against bandits, they could still resist; against Chen Yanzong in Heavy Armor, they were merely prey to be slaughtered.

The men on the rooftops shouted repeatedly: "There's an Armored Warrior!"

"Village Chief, think of something—there's an Armored Warrior!"

An Armored Warrior was nothing short of annihilation for Maguan Village.

Just as Chen Yanzong prepared to assault the next rooftop stronghold, stones began raining down from both sides of the village path.

The bandits raised their shields above their heads to defend against the falling rocks.

While the bandits were defending, a crossbeam was pushed down, landing squarely in the middle of the path, separating Chen Yanzong from the bandits behind him.

Chen Yanzong glanced at the crossbeam—not a trace of fear, only contempt.

"Child's play!"

He abandoned his men behind, gripped his hand knife, and advanced alone toward the Ancestral Hall.

As the able-bodied men and bandits stood in standoff, three figures charged toward Chen Yanzong simultaneously—it was Ma Hong and his two brothers.

Seeing their halberds, Chen Yanzong was momentarily startled—but then he noticed something wrong.

The halberd shafts were short and thick—clearly… made from farm tool handles.

Realizing the truth, Chen Yanzong instantly calmed, sneering again.

"You've got some guts—but Commoners are still Commoners!"

Ma Dahai roared: "Give me back my father's life!"

Watching Ma Dahai charge at him, Chen Yanzong stood firm, adopting a posture as if ready to absorb the blow with his armor.

Only when the spear tip was less than two steps away did he suddenly shift his foot, sidestepping.

Unable to swing his knife in time, he slammed his Small Round Shield straight into Ma Dahai's face.

The impact sent Ma Dahai flying into the air, then crashing hard to the ground—his nose shattered, blood spraying.

Chen Yanzong had no time to kill Ma Dahai outright—Ma Hong and Ma Hu were already upon him.

"Third brother!"

"Damn it, I'll fight you to the death!"

Ma Hong and Ma Hu had both been on the Battlefield; they naturally knew Chen Yanzong's prowess and did not charge at him like Ma Dahai had.

Instead, when they reached Chen Yanzong's front, they immediately halted and, with their spears, probed him left and right in turn.

If they could seize an opening and pierce Chen Yanzong, perhaps they could inflict some damage.

But unfortunately…

Although Chen Yanzong was ruthless, he had risen through blood and fire—how could he be frightened by two retired Barons?

He did not retreat; instead, he stood firm in place, refusing to move a step unless absolutely necessary.

After all, wearing Heavy Armor, conserving strength was the most important thing.

Any wasteful movement was suicide.

Chen Yanzong was calm; it was Ma Hong and Ma Hu, the two Comrades, who grew anxious.

Their spears were too short; they had to remain utterly focused at all times, or one misstep could see them cut down by Chen Yanzong's blade.

Moreover, to pierce armor with a spear required striking at its weak points with full force.

In this stalemate, neither side could gain momentum—breaking through the armor became extremely difficult.

At that moment, Ma Hong seized the opportunity, as Chen Yanzong turned to look at Ma Hu, and thrust sharply at Chen Yanzong's left rib!