novelraw Chapter 98
Chapter 98
“Three breaths. Then we strike together.”
Qin Ming gave the command.
Zhao Heiniu drew his hunting bow and locked onto his target.
Su Wangchuan, acting as backup, stood ready within the forest with his iron-reinforced bow drawn, eyes fixed on the trees, missing not even the slightest movement.
“Kill!”
As Qin Ming gave a low shout, everyone moved at once.
Hall Master He drew with both hands and released two streaks of cold light.
Song Minshu and Fang Kui acted simultaneously.
Four hidden sentries lounging in the forest clutched their chests or throats and toppled from their perches.
Lin Xun and Zhao Heiniu were a fraction slower in releasing their arrows, but both struck vital points. One arrow sealed each throat.At that moment—
Someone deeper in the forest seemed startled awake by the disturbance. Before anyone could react, two pale, terrified faces emerged from behind a tree. They stared in shock at their falling comrades and cried out:
“Something’s wrong!”
“Enemy attack!”
These two were survivors who had fled the failed assault on Blackstone Village not long ago.
Shock rippled through the group.
There were additional lookouts.
Damn it.
One had slipped through.
Hall Master He’s hand moved instantly toward his throwing knives.
But Su Wangchuan was faster.
The iron-reinforced bow curved into a full moon. An armor-piercing arrow shot forth.
The two bandits turned to flee. For a split second, their bodies overlapped.
The arrow pierced through both of them and slammed into the tree behind, its blood-streaked shaft vibrating violently.
The two men rolled down the slope as if struck by lightning.
The group rushed forward and finished them off.
Hall Master He withdrew his knife with a look of astonishment.
“One arrow, two kills.”
“Helm Leader Wangchuan’s archery truly lives up to its reputation.”
A trace of uncertainty flickered in his eyes.
Su Wangchuan smiled lightly.
“You flatter me. It was luck.”
“Clear the traces. Move in.”
Lin Xun reminded them.
They concealed the eight corpses and quickly crossed the first defensive line.
Beyond the ridge lay Blackwind Stronghold.
The stronghold was hidden among the forest. The wide path leading upward was riddled with traps and mechanisms.
Sun Quan carefully checked each one, and the group advanced safely until they reached the base of the stronghold.
Voices drifted down from above.
“Old Third is dead!”
“How do you expect me to swallow that?”
“Today, no matter what, we slaughter Blackstone Village!”
“Otherwise how do I face Old Third’s family? How do I face our brothers?”
The voice was powerful, thick with murderous intent.
Others tried to restrain him.
“Chief, I share your grief. But the situation below the mountain is unclear.”
“Over a hundred brothers failed to take one village. Could this be a trap set by the county office?”
“With Nu Tao Gang gone, half our informants in Huishui County have been cut off. The more uncertain things are, the calmer we must be.”
The speaker was likely the Second Leader.
“The Second Leader is right.”
“Chief!”
“We have already lost a third of our men. If we do not proceed cautiously, we may follow Nu Tao Gang into ruin.”
“The bigger picture must come first.”
“Bastards!”
“Should Old Third’s death go unavenged?”
“We have been hiding in these mountains for months, dodging that Constable Yu. Now he is gone. If we still cower, how will our brothers respect me?”
The First Leader, Zhao Jinhu, roared loud enough for the entire mountainside to hear.
The Second Leader, Huang Zhihai, also raised his voice.
“The bigger picture, Brother!”
Even Su Wangchuan could tell the two were performing a public act to justify staying put in the stronghold.
Hall Master He and Hall Master Song exchanged glances and gestured for everyone to gather for final instructions.
…
Zhao Jinhu and Huang Zhihai had only just received word.
The Third Leader had led the attack on Blackstone Village and been killed by a mysterious archer. Seven Quasi-Martial Artist sub-leaders had fallen. Over a hundred men had died.
The report should have arrived an hour earlier.
But the returning bandits, fearful of punishment for abandoning the Third Leader’s body, had delayed along the way. They even dragged back a dozen newly recruited vagrants, causing further delay.
Zhao Jinhu was furious. He had executed several of the vagrants on the spot and prepared to rally the entire stronghold for revenge.
Huang Zhihai knew they could not afford to leave now, so he staged the argument publicly to restrain his elder brother.
They were still acting when suddenly figures vaulted over the wall.
Several flashes of cold steel.
Bandits nearby dropped instantly.
He Haisheng, Song Minshu, Lin Xun, and Fang Kui moved along the left side of the stronghold wall, cutting down enemies and advancing toward the two leaders.
At the same time—
Constable Yu’s subordinates, Constable Wu, Qin Ming, and Su Wangchuan scaled the right side.
Bandits saw officials in constable uniforms and hesitated, only to be struck down by precise arrows from outside.
Zhao Heiniu claimed the credit.
Su Wangchuan vaulted onto the wall and saw below a sea of people—two hundred bandits densely packed.
His heart trembled.
Without hesitation, he activated [Fish Scale Technique]. His skin, flesh, and bones subtly strengthened.
“Drop the ropes!”
Instructor Yu quickly secured ropes and threw them over the wall, then charged forward, cutting down bandits nearby.
Clang! Clang!
Before the blades of Instructor Yu and Constable Wu, the lesser bandits fell one after another.
Qin Ming guarded Su Wangchuan and the ropes.
The inner disciples of the Yulong Gang climbed up swiftly one by one.
On the other side, more ropes were lowered. Quasi-Martial Artist inner disciples surged up in succession.
Zhao Jinhu and Huang Zhihai were stunned.
They had not yet gone down the mountain for revenge, and the enemy had already stormed their gates.
Recognizing He Haisheng and the others, their expressions changed drastically.
“Hall Master He!”
“Elder Fang!”
“Our Blackwind Stronghold has never interfered with your Yulong Gang! You dare attack our stronghold? Seeking death! Brothers, kill!”
Zhao Jinhu raised his saber and charged at Hall Master He.
Huang Zhihai followed with several sub-leaders.
Hall Master He’s voice thundered.
“Zhao Jinhu! Over the years, your Blackwind Stronghold has killed many of our men and plundered our supplies. Do you think our Gang Leader was unaware of your dealings with Nu Tao Gang? Today, Blackwind Stronghold falls. I, He Haisheng, say so!”
“Arrogant!”
They clashed.
He Haisheng, a First-Rank Martial Artist, fought Zhao Jinhu evenly.
Huang Zhihai was formidable, but Lin Xun and Fang Kui held him in check.
The inner disciples of the Yulong Gang, each with Quasi-Martial Artist strength, charged into the bandit ranks with hundredfold steel sabers, cutting down enemies rapidly.
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