Chapter 42, Scene Forty-Two

The city gates behind were tightly closed, and trying to climb over the wall to return would be tantamount to walking into a trap; ahead were thousands of soldiers, and breaking out would be extremely difficult.

This situation reminded Zhu Huantang of a lesson his master had taught him years ago. That lesson was also in a similar predicament: a cliff in front and a precipitous wall behind. He and his senior brother were thrown there by their master using his lightness skill.

The master stood on the opposite gentle slope, holding the Crimson Earth Sword, and looked at the two of them indifferently.

The senior student chose the safest but slowest way and slowly climbed down. When he got down, his hands and feet were covered with stones, blood, and blisters.

Zhu Huantang desperately jumped onto the gentle slope opposite and followed his master down the slope.

None of them received praise from their master. The master only said one thing: "Once you make a decision, do your best to achieve it. Don't choose one thing and then be unable to let go of another. If you are timid and hesitant, you will die a terrible death."

Master seemed to have foreseen today's situation. The only thing Zhu Huantang couldn't let go of was Jiang Linzhi. He turned back, but there were two dead ends ahead.

However, this dead end was also a dilemma. He would choose one: fight his way out. Zhu Huantang placed the unconscious Jiang Linzhi at the corner of the city gate, so that even if a fight broke out, she wouldn't be hurt.

Before him stood thousands of soldiers. Zhu Huantang drew his sword and said, "Then let's see if you have the ability."

Several officials mobilized all available resources and lay in ambush in the suburbs for three days, just to wait for this moment.

Rows of crossbows were arrayed and fired without hesitation.

Unlike bows and arrows, crossbows are powerful, accurate, and fast.

Zhu Huantang only caught about fifty arrows before his wrist went numb, but he dared not slacken his efforts and searched for any opening to break through with Jiang Linzhi.

Seeing that he couldn't hit Lu Huantang for a long time, the usually timid and scholarly Lord Zhang angrily shouted, "Add kerosene!"

They didn't believe it; if they couldn't kill Zhu Huantang by shooting him, they thought they could at least burn him to death.

Taking advantage of this opening, Zhu Huantang threw out a few arrows, attempting to break through from the side.

The moment three or four people fell to the ground to the side, ten crossbow bolts shot out from the shadows behind him, aiming in different directions and blocking his escape routes. Sure enough, it didn't work. Behind this volley of bolts was another volley, each bolt aimed at a different spot on him. It seemed the officials were really going all out; unless they killed everyone, he couldn't escape.

The kerosene had already been applied to the arrow. Zhu Huantang glanced at Jiang Linzhi out of the corner of his eye to make sure she wouldn't be hurt. That glance landed lightly on Jiang Linzhi's face, as if afraid that his emotions were too heavy and might startle her.

Just when the officials felt victory was assured, Zhu Huantang had already disappeared. When everyone saw him clearly, Zhu Huantang was still closing in on the crossbowman on the right, his sword almost sweeping towards the crossbowman's throat.

The crossbowman aimed at his left and fired an arrow instantly, but Zhu Huantang bent over and dodged it.

The arrows all struck the crossbowman on the right.

In an instant, the formation was thrown into chaos, and all the crossbowmen dared not make any rash moves. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zhu Huantang killed several more crossbowmen who were close to him.

Lord Zhang saw that Zhu Huantang's hesitation was all because of Jiang Linzhi. Without the slightest hesitation, he took a crossbow and fired several arrows at Jiang Linzhi in quick succession.

Zhu Huantang quickly retreated to shield Jiang Linzhi. His retreat created distance between him and the crossbowmen, and another volley of arrows rained down.

Having found Zhu Huantang's fatal spot, Lord Zhang's excited smile twisted into a grimace as he shouted, "Aim at that woman! Aim at that woman! Hahahaha!"

The two people beside him quickly grabbed his hands and whispered something to him. Although Lord Zhang was indignant, he still lowered the arrow he was shooting at Jiang Linzhi.

Round 1, Round 2, Round 3...

Under the relentless barrage of attacks, Zhu Huantang had five or six arrows lodged in his shoulder and legs. The arrows were powerful, each one piercing through him. Zhu Huantang's hands were numb from the rapid and forceful blocking; he only instinctively tried to block and protect the people behind him.

Zhu Huantang could not withstand the next volley of arrows.

The more arrows Zhu Huantang had, the more excited the officials became. As long as they captured Zhu Huantang, they could be promoted and even become equals with the Regent.

Seeing that his former ally was about to suffer even more than him, a strong sense of superiority made the rain of arrows stop. Lord Zhang said, "We were colleagues, so I'll give you time to say goodbye."

Saying goodbye is saying goodbye to Jiang Lin.

Zhu Huantang cut off the sword feathers from his body and staggered to Jiang Linzhi. He smiled bitterly and said what was on his mind: "I originally thought that after returning to Wu, even if you were unwilling, I would still treat you well until you were completely devoted to staying by my side."

He was riddled with arrows, unable to embrace Jiang Linzhi; the gap between them was like the divide between their nations and the deception that separated them. He could only touch Jiang Linzhi's cheek with his own, selfishly and despicably keeping her by his side.

Zhu Huantang was gambling, gambling that they wouldn't dare hurt Jiang Linzhi, gambling that he still had a chance to take her away.

Even if we can't live without each other, it's fine to go to the underworld together.

Even without people, the rain of arrows is still beautiful.

Under the starlight, Zhu Huantang suddenly recalled the poem he learned as a child: "The east wind releases a thousand trees of flowers at night, and blows down stars like rain." The dazzling beauty ultimately ends in a dim and desolate scene.

With that thought in mind, Zhu Huantang's body acted before his mind, and he still firmly protected Jiang Linzhi beneath him.

The final volley of arrows, carrying the sharp flames of death, hurtled towards Zhu and Lin.

Suddenly, a man descended from the sky, cracking his whip to deflect the rain of arrows and unleashing countless poisoned needles that blocked Zhu Huantang's path.

A whole row of crossbowmen fell to the ground instantly, turning into foul-smelling corpses.

Zhu Huantang, already at his limit, never expected it to be Fu Qianji. He never imagined that the girl he had casually flirted with would be so devoted. Just as he was about to thank Fu Qianji, he saw the three arrows in her chest.

Fu Qianji had intended to save people gracefully, but she didn't expect that the power of the repeating crossbow was more than ten times that of ordinary arrows, and she couldn't defend herself in time.

Fu Qianji wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, threw out all the poisoned needles, and finally fell into Zhu Huantang's arms.

She said softly, "I regretted not saving you last time for a long time, so there's no need to thank me. I just wanted to follow my heart... to save you this once. And then go back with... you... But now it seems... that's not possible."

As she approached death, Fu Qianji became increasingly talkative, seemingly speaking to herself: "What's so good about you? At first... you were so fierce, and besides... saying a few nice words, you did nothing... for me..." Fu Qianji released poisonous insects at the guards who were trying to surround her. She stroked Lu Huantang's face, as if sighing and lamenting, "But I just love you."

Those eyes that Zhu Huantang couldn't even remember slowly closed, and tears slid from the corners of her eyes into Lu Huantang's palms, icy cold.

Even colder was the fact that Lu Huantang felt no emotion whatsoever; he only felt sorry for Fu Qianji. This wasn't a matter of emotion, since falling for Jiang Linzhi had already exhausted all his feelings, leaving nothing to console Fu Qianji. His regret stemmed from the fact that she should have flanked the guards from behind, releasing some poisonous insects—a strategy that would have resulted in zero casualties for both sides.

Zhu Huantang slowly laid Fu Qianji's body down, carefully putting away the few poison pills Fu Qianji had given him as a last thing. He coldly glanced at the guards, as if they were all dead men in front of him.

The sounds of fighting had already alerted the garrison inside the city. In order to prevent the credit from falling into the hands of others, several officials pushed a few people in the foreground to block the poisonous insects and continued to order the firing of arrows.

Suddenly, Jiang Linzhi opened her emerald green eyes. Behind Lu Huantang's back, where he couldn't see her, she raised her hand. The officials who had just been basking in the glory of their promotions suddenly changed their expressions and subconsciously ordered the intensity to be increased.

Jiang Linzhi gently embraced Zhu Huantang from behind, speaking softly as if coaxing a young child to sleep: "That's enough." Before the words were finished, Jiang Linzhi pressed on Zhu Huantang's sleep acupoint and laid him down on the ground.

With anxious expressions on their faces, as if racing against death, the officials gave an order, and the third volley of arrows poured down like a torrential downpour in broad daylight.

Whether it's Zhu Huantang or Jiang Linzhi, the spies and anyone who witnessed their killings must die!

A strange excitement crept across every crease of Lord Zhang's face, but that excitement, along with the stagnant firelight in the sky, remained frozen in his eyes.

Jiang Linzhi gently raised his hand, and thousands of arrows stopped in mid-air, as if there were an invisible wall. The arrows had already stuck into the wall and were burning fiercely.

One by one, the poisonous insects turned into ash of various colors and scattered with the wind.

"Who dares to touch my men!"

One sentence silenced everyone, and also silenced the rain of arrows that turned night into day.

So magnificent, so eerie.

Jiang Linzhi slowly walked up to Lord Zhang, pointed at Zhu Huantang on the ground, and said with great authority, "Lock him in the deepest dungeon. I will personally watch over him."

"yes."

Jiang Yu looked in the direction of the sound and saw a group of men in black appear behind him.

Before he could even turn his head back, Jiang Linzhi slapped Lord Zhang across the face.

Lord Zhang spat out blood mixed with his teeth, wisely climbed off his wheelchair onto the ground, and said, "Please forgive me, my lord, please forgive me."

Jiang Linzhi glared coldly at Lord Zhang. She had already revealed the Emperor's token, but Lord Zhang actually wanted to silence her as well.

Jiang Linzhi knew his intentions all too well, but he was still useful, so she couldn't kill him now.

Jiang Linzhi gently raised his hand, and the three teeth rose out of thin air. With a flick of his finger, one of the teeth pierced through Lord Zhang's hand, and Lord Zhang gritted his teeth and endured the scream.

Jiang Linzhi slowly said, "This one is punishment for disobeying orders. I told you to intercept Zhu Huantang here, but I didn't tell you to kill him." Jiang Linzhi then pointed another finger, and another tooth pierced through Lord Zhang's shoulder. "This one is punishment for seeing the token and still trying to silence me." The last tooth floated in the air, remaining motionless for a long time.

Jiang Linzhi gently raised her hand and slowly sliced ​​off Lord Zhang's left ear with the jagged, sharp edge of the broken teeth, causing blood to gush out. She watched as Lord Zhang covered his ear, trembling on the ground, but dared not utter a sound. The hatred in her heart eased slightly. "This one, I'm in a bad mood, and you just happened to walk into the line of fire."

Jiang Linzhi felt disgusted by the person in front of her, but then she suddenly remembered something, stepped back in front of Lord Zhang, and said with a light laugh, "Let's settle today's grievances today. When we go to court tomorrow, I hope Lord Zhang will be strict and fair, and not lose his sense of propriety because of today's matter."

Long after Jiang Linzhi and the man in black left, Lord Zhang and the others remained slumped on the ground. After a long while, the oldest of the men stammered, "Is she...is she General Jiang? Is she...is she not dead?"