Chapter 171: Point-Shot Formation (2nd Update)

Those Guard Team members, while riding horses and following Fang Yue's group as they retreated on horseback, shifted their formation and positions.

Their horsemanship was extremely practiced, as if man and horse were one.

The members at the front of the formation pressed themselves against the flanks of their horses.

The members in the middle sat normally on the horses' backs.

And the members at the rear stood on the horses' backs with both feet, and as the horses galloped and jolted, they steadily gripped their bows, drew arrows from the quiver, nocked them in place, and pulled the bowstrings taut.

If one looked from the direction of the Heavy Injury, one could see that as this mounted unit shifted formation, the positions everyone aimed at were staggered high and low, ensuring no arrow would accidentally wound a teammate, while maintaining the direct-fire power of the bow.

Although the Man Shui Cun Guard Team trained in archery, different from Gu Yue Cun's spears.

In terms of formation, however, the principles were similar — both maximized the effect of numbers, brought out the synergy of the formation, and amplified the power of their Martial Arts.

"Loose!"

At the second-in-command's shout, a rain of arrows shot toward the Heavy Injury like a dense swarm of black needles, whoosh-whoosh-whoosh.

Those arrows, during flight, actually moved at different speeds, and finally converged midair into a single massive black arrow-shape formed from over thirty arrows.

This transformation made Fang Yue gasp in amazement.

These fellows don't look like extras at all — they're elites!

Only now did Fang Yue realize that the squad Lan Yuntian had brought out should be top-tier even by Man Shui Cun's standards.

Unfortunately, what they faced was no ordinary monster.

Boom!

With a single explosive roar, the giant arrow that had just formed was forcibly smashed to the ground, dealing the Heavy Injury not the slightest bit of damage!

"How could this be?!"

"That thing… is no simple matter!"

"Our archery is being countered — everyone, draw swords with me! Switch to close combat!"

"But… Captain Lan himself fought it in close combat just now…"

Someone in the ranks clearly voiced doubt, but was quickly silenced by a fierce glare from the second-in-command.

"Anyone who's afraid, retreat to Man Shui Cun with Captain Lan immediately! No one will be held accountable — but those who retreat will all be expelled from the Blue Water Squad!"

"Also, I know the situation with Captain Lan, but Captain Lan is already heavily wounded — he's right behind us."

"If we retreat, who will protect him? If we retreat, who will protect Man Shui Cun!"

As he spoke, the man drew the longsword at his waist with a sharp ring, swung it hard, and urged his horse into a charge.

"Everyone, charge with me!!"

The others exchanged glances, drew their swords, and followed.

"For Man Shui Cun!"

"For Captain Lan!"

"For the glory of the Blue Water Squad!!"

They howled as they charged the Heavy Injury, and Fang Yue couldn't help muttering, "They're throwing their lives away!"

"Deputy Captain Ye, we don't have time to worry about whether others live or die. And although Man Shui Cun's Blue Water Squad is the village's most elite unit, they've always been stubbornly bullheaded — their reputation is well known — we can't talk them out of it."

As the Blood Hunter said this, the chaos here had already caused panic at the entrance of Man Shui Cun.

Man Shui Cun finally opened the village gate and let the escort team enter, but the pace was far too slow.

By the time Fang Yue and the Blood Hunter reached the village gate, only half of the escort team had made it inside.

"It's Captain Lan!"

"Captain Lan is heavily wounded!"

"Fetch a doctor at once!"

"You're not allowed inside!"

Fang Yue and the Blood Hunter were blocked at the gate by Man Shui Cun's Guard Team members, who regarded them with open hostility.

The escort team members were overjoyed and excited to see Fang Yue safe and sound, but Fang Yue only told them to hurry into the village.

While the Blood Hunter was still trying to reason with the gate guards, Fang Yue had already spotted the Heavy Injury charging wildly from behind.

As for those Blue Water Squad members, most were likely doomed.

In the firelight at the village gate, Fang Yue noticed that the hollow in the Heavy Injury's chest seemed to have shrunk considerably — only about the size of a fist remained.

He didn't know what would happen when the hole in its chest sealed completely, but it was most likely nothing good.

Moreover, the way it wanted to shrink that hole in its chest — or rather, fill in the missing flesh — seemed to be accomplished by killing humans and absorbing their corpses.

The Heavy Injury's terrifying oppressive aura made the chaos at the village gate even more obvious; the remaining members of the escort team began shouting and shoving to push their way into the village, and the Blood Hunter was growing frantic.

"Let us in! That thing is almost here!"

The Blood Hunter roared with veins bulging, while the Giant-Headed Blood Hound beside him bared its fangs and barked wildly.

At the same time, he didn't forget to lower his voice and speak to Fang Yue.

"Deputy Captain Ye, watch for my signal — if they still won't let us through, we fight our way in!"

"…Fight our way in? Does Man Shui Cun have a way to deal with the Heavy Injury? If not, what's the point of us fighting our way in? Make them our sacrificial shields so we can keep running?"

"I don't know about all that — I only know that if we keep standing at this gate, we're dead for sure!"

A ruthless edge laced the Blood Hunter's words.

Every man for himself, and heaven and earth destroy those who don't — questions like Fang Yue's, tinged with reason, simply weren't within his scope of consideration.

Just as Fang Yue was hesitating over whether to act with the Blood Hunter, he suddenly noticed that the violent commotion behind them had stopped at some unknown point.

Turning to look back, Fang Yue couldn't help his pupils contracting.

That thing was already standing at the rear of the panicked escort team!

Boom!!

The ground sank!

The dozen or so closest to the Heavy Pressure Ghost exploded into blood pulp.

Mangled corpses flowed like water along the ground, merging into the Heavy Pressure Ghost's body, filling the hollow in his chest, becoming part of him.

"The Ghost! The Ghost is here!!"

"Run! Everyone, run!!"

"Get out of my way! All of you, get out! Don't block me from entering the village!"

The panicked escort team members roared and charged into the village.

The people of Man Shui Cun couldn't stop them.

But the Heavy Pressure Ghost wasn't in a hurry; he walked forward as if strolling through a tranquil courtyard.

With each step, one person burst with a loud pop, crushed into blood pulp, becoming nourishment for his body.

The chaos grew worse; everyone screamed in terror and rushed into Man Shui Cun.

"Now's the chance, Deputy Captain Ye, hurry and follow me into the village!"

The Blood Hunter roared and lunged for Fang Yue—but froze mid-air.

Then came…

Boom!!

Violent pressure crushed the Blood Hunter's entire body, spewing blood; his limbs slammed to the ground, his eyeballs bulged, his bones cracked and shattered one after another with a flurry of snaps.

Thump-thump-thump!

His heart pounded wildly; the Blood Hunter felt death had never been so close—and beside him, lying face-down as well, was the stunned Deputy Captain Ye.

My final moment is dying alongside a human, not my beloved Ghost Hunter!

A fleeting sorrow flashed through the Blood Hunter's mind.

Then he saw Fang Yue snap out of it, screaming "Aaaahhh!" as he stood up under the pressure and kicked the Blood Hunter away.

(End of Chapter)