Chapter 600: Slaughter Through the Pirate Lair

Pan Yun withdrew her hand and, seeing everyone dragged aside by Qu Le and others, nodded in satisfaction.

She stepped forward to stir the porridge in the pot, then turned to ask Miao He: "Did you bring sedatives? Give them a bit."

Miao He was about to reach into his pocket when shouts of battle rang from outside, followed by the rhythmic thudding of drums—"Dong, dong"—and the twenty-man squad immediately spun around.

Pan Yun immediately dropped the ladle, shoved open the kitchen door, and looked out to see the pirates in chaos, shouting and charging out with swords and knives.

Because the kitchen was at the very back, no one noticed this spot, and no one saw Pan Yun.

Hearing the cries of battle in the air, Pan Yun knew there was no time left for poisoning.

She turned to her teammates and said: "Let's go. Wrap the dumplings."

Another squad had also crept up from behind, like Pan Yun's group, but they were blocked by the rear of the hillside-built fortress; by the time they figured out how to climb up and jump into the compound, Pan Yun's team had already charged into the crowd from behind.

The pirates' attention was all on the men attacking the front of the fortress; they paid no heed to their rear—until they were cut through from behind, screams erupting, and only then did they see Pan Yun's group.

Wu Dahai turned his head, eyes blazing with rage: "These bastards launched a surprise attack! Da Feng, take a boat and turn back!"

A young man answered, but as he turned, a sword hilt struck his neck—he rolled his eyes and crashed to the ground with a thud.

Pan Yun swung a sword hilt, clanging it forward; anyone she met went down with a blow to the forehead or neck, whether alive or dead, she didn't know.

Xue Shao and the others charged forward in a pincer formation with her, allowing them to carve out a path.

This was Xue Shao's requirement when they broke out—it maximized mutual support and protection of teammates.

As the bandits dwindled, they found Xue Shao's method too slow; ahead, other heroes were slaughtering freely—one hero even fended off three or four at once—and they wanted that thrill too, so they broke from formation and charged straight into the enemy.

Gao Zhiming saw this and turned to Song Xuan: "Sister, let's go too."

Song Xuan nodded, greeted Pan Yun, then leapt into the midst of the bandits.

The others followed immediately, and the pincer formation shattered instantly.

Pan Yun reacted swiftly; seeing bandits rushing through the gap, she whipped her sword hilt—the blade slid free, shot backward, slashed the man's throat with a swish, then flew back.

Pan Yun reached out and grasped the hilt; the sword seemed to have eyes—killing gods when it met gods, demons when it met demons.

"Reform the formation!"

Fortunately, their original formation had always paired a strong with a weak, so Tao Yanbai and a few others were not far from Pan Yun.

Under the protection of Pan Yun's sword, the group immediately took position behind her.

The weakest, Xi Jin and Tao Yanbai, stood at her left rear and right rear; the seven of them reformed the formation.

Qu Le watched the heroes leaping into the bandit crowd, slashing wildly, his heart ached to join—but he glanced at Miao Zhen behind him, then at Xue Shao beside him, and knew if he left, no one would cover their rear.

He could only suppress his desire and silently follow Pan Yun, reforming the formation as they charged forward.

The pirates were no fools; seeing how fierce Pan Yun was, they instinctively avoided them.

But in battle, how could one avoid?

Pan Yun led her seven-man team through first, meeting Zhang Weiyi, who was slashing with his sword; before he could greet her, she gave a slight nod and turned to slash sideways—cut through, then vertical, then sideways again—slash, slash, slash…

An hour later, the battle ended; the pirates were defeated by the frenzied slaughter of the martial artists. The surrendered pirates squatted with hands on their heads, glaring resentfully at Zhang Ning as he came to count them.

Pan Yun walked over.

Seeing her, they immediately lowered their heads, hiding their fear, daring not even to show resentment toward her.

Pan Yun went to Zhang Ning for medicine: "Your Wu Lin Alliance should have prepared medicine for us, right?"

Zhang Ning had seen how efficient and brutal Pan Yun was in battle; he sized her up and asked: "Are you injured?"

"Not me—my teammates," Pan Yun said. "The medicine for Miao He and Tao Yanbai has been used up by others."

Zhang Ning scanned the field and saw Tao Yanbai and Miao He running around with two medicine chests, tending to the wounded.

He nodded: "There's still some left—I had it stored on the cliff. I'll send someone to fetch it."

Pan Yun muttered: "Why put medicine on the cliff? Shouldn't medicine go where the troops are?"

Zhang Ning pretended not to hear—he was commanding a battle for the first time, unfamiliar, naturally preferring to carry less baggage and focus on killing.

Pan Yun turned back, passed Gao Zhiming, who was sitting, then stepped back two paces and sized him up, staring at his hand pressed against his waist: "Oh? High Hero, you're injured?"

!

Gao Zhiming: "... Minor wound."

Pan Yun looked sympathetic: "Others are injured too. You're truly brave—charging straight into enemy ranks. You must've killed countless, earned great merit?"

Soon, the casualty tally was done; this middle-aged man named Bai Wantong had average martial skill but exceptional lightness skill, and most remarkably, he had sharp eyes—he could instantly tell from a wound or corpse what martial art, weapon, height, and strength the attacker used.

That is, he could glance at a fallen or seated pirate and know exactly whose kill or wound it was.

As he walked, he scribbled with a small brush on his notebook; when he passed Pan Yun, he stopped, smiling broadly: "Congratulations, Daoist Pan. In this raid, Daoist Pan Sanzhu ranks first—sixteen killed, twenty-eight wounded; all the pirates you wounded are completely incapacitated."

Indeed, none could fight again—twelve of the twenty-eight were still unconscious; the others had just woken, weak and trembling, and were bound before they could even pick up a sword.

Bai Wantong turned and saw Gao Zhiming, smiling: "High Hero's record is also good—six killed, twelve wounded—but half the wounded count must be shared with Miss Song."

Pan Yun asked: "What about Qu Le's record?"

Bai Wantong smiled warmly: "Young Master Qu is also formidable—nine killed, twenty-six wounded—but his wounded count must also be split with Young Master Xue. Even so, he ranks among the top; in my estimation, when actual merit is assessed, he'll place ninth—higher than High Hero Gao."

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow at Gao Zhiming, her expression clear: See? Follow me, obey orders—you get no injuries and still rank high!

Gao Zhiming: …

Pan Yun thanked Bai Wantong, then gently told Gao Zhiming: "High Hero, rest. I'll go urge Zhang Ning for medicine—I'll come back to treat your wound."

Gao Zhiming immediately said: "How could I dare trouble Daoist Pan Sanzhu? Let Daoist Tao handle it."

Pan Yun: "He's treating other heroes with worse injuries. I'm a Daoist physician too—I've studied medicine. I'll treat you."

Gao Zhiming knew Pan Yun was angry he broke formation, causing others to follow suit; he dared not let her touch him, sweat breaking on his forehead: "No, no need to trouble Daoist Pan Sanzhu—let my sister treat me."

(End of Chapter)