Chapter 277: We've Taken the Wrong Path (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

Thump—

Three completely different martial energies collided.

The fifth-rank physician was forced to retreat two steps, while the two fourth-rank officials who were his adversaries were forced to retreat seven or eight steps before barely managing to regain their footing.

Even with such a significant advantage, the fifth-rank physician felt no joy whatsoever. His subordinates were either collapsing in pools of blood with a scream, utterly incapable of fighting again, or their heads were chopped off, their bodies mangled beyond recognition, resulting in rapid attrition.

If things continued like this, it wouldn't be long before he was all alone. He was so angry that his blood boiled, his eyes turned bloodshot and his eyes were about to burst. Sweat and blood mixed together and rolled down, soaking into his clothes. His eyes were so fierce that they could tear a person to pieces!

He now wished he could tear the two fourth-class guards who were blocking his way to pieces, into bloody chunks, and feed them to the dogs!

The two fourth-class servants were also panting heavily.

Although they hadn't been promoted to the fourth-rank Unregistered Physician for a full year, they had diligently practiced their skills and were considered above average among the fourth-rank Unregistered Physicians. The fact that the two of them were struggling so much together showed that the true strength of this fifth-ranked physician was not far from a breakthrough...

"Drink! Come on, you little brat!"

The fifth-rank doctor shouted provocatively.

His target, however, was Kang Shi, who had repeatedly caused him trouble.

Seeing the situation was dire, the two fourth-rank minor officials immediately rushed to their aid. However, this man feigned an attack, then unleashed a palm strike brimming with martial energy at one of them. The fourth-rank minor official had no choice but to retreat and dodge, a move that played right into the hands of the fifth-rank physician!

Kang Shi keenly sensed the true intention of the fifth-rank physician. He raised his hand and waved his sleeve, causing five walls of literary energy, each over ten feet high, to rise in succession along the path of the fifth-rank physician's attack.

The fifth-rank physician didn't expect to escape easily. Seeing the wall of literary energy blocking his way, he shouted, pushed off the ground, accelerated, and channeled his energy around his body, crashing into it like a cannonball!

Boom boom boom—

It smashed through three walls of scholarly atmosphere in succession.

Seeing this ease, the fifth-rank physician revealed a smug yet contemptuous smile—two fourth-rank physicians were far more troublesome, but this scholar with literary talent was nothing to worry about. His seemingly imposing wall of literary energy was actually quite vulnerable!

It's comparable to a substandard, unlicensed building.

Before the smile on his lips could fully form, the fourth wall of literary energy was right in front of him, and without thinking, he channeled his inner energy to bombard it.

result--

The anticipated collapse and fragmentation did not occur.

He was also jolted back several steps by the force rebounding from the wall of literary energy, feeling a tightness in his chest. Just as he regained his footing, the surrounding light grew dimmer until not even a sliver of moonlight remained.

The fifth-rank doctor's expression changed drastically, and he suddenly looked up!

Above him, in all directions, and even beneath his feet, everything was sealed off by walls of literary energy, forming a thick cage of literary energy that was shrinking toward him at a visible speed! The fifth-rank physician roared in anger, "This rubbish thinks it can trap you, sir!"

The spiked club slammed down with tremendous force onto one of the sides.

To everyone's surprise, the previously fragile, shoddy construction project remained completely intact, its quality impeccable. Even the fifth-rank physician's powerful strike only created a visible ripple. Only then did he truly panic, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Commander Yang had been keeping a close eye on the situation. Seeing that the outcome was about to be decided, he stepped out of the carriage and said to the cluster of scholarly figures resembling a spiderweb, "Is he planning to just leave his men behind and go back to report?"

Kang Shi said calmly, "Fortunately, we managed to stop it."

He muttered "Fortunately," but his expression showed no joy whatsoever—a martial artist with such a strong will to flee is indeed difficult for an ordinary scholar to stop, but that only applies to those of equal skill. If a mere fifth-rank physician were to escape, wouldn't Kang Shi lose face?

Just as Commander Yang was about to agree, he saw countless fine cracks seeping in from the inside out. He then smiled and said, "There are still variables."

As if to verify his words, not long after he finished speaking, the Wen Qi binding the fifth-rank doctor suddenly exploded. The shockwave from the close-range explosion stung people's skin, and even the nearest bandit corpses were blown half a meter away.

Sand and gravel flew, and horses neighed.

The grass bent over, and the leaves rustled.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Commander Yang immediately reached out and grabbed the wooden frame of the carriage, raising his other hand to protect his face and eyes.

Seizing the brief moment when everyone's view was obstructed, the fifth-rank physician pushed off with his feet, and grayish-yellow martial energy, like a thin veil covering his skin, shot into the chaotic forest.

He was certain that the scholar was too slow to react!

Once he entered the mountains and forests and became familiar with the terrain, he was free to roam as the sky and leap as the sea. Who could stop him? He needed to send the message back immediately! There were more than a dozen martial artists, all with great courage! And there was also a scholar with refined taste to back him up! This group of people had no good intentions!

Could they be private retainers of the He Yin family?

but--

Was it really a case of Kangshi's slow response?

Commander Yang could tell with his naked eye that the fifth-rank official had revealed his trump card and forcibly broken through the predicament. How could I, as a scholar who controls the flow of literary energy, not know this? And if I did know, wouldn't I have a backup plan? The reason I didn't is because—

Bang!

A large, grayish-yellow ball of light was drawn back.

It was the fifth-rank doctor whose smile had not yet completely faded.

"puff--"

His mind was buzzing, and he felt weak all over.

He tried to get up by pushing himself up with his hands, but failed repeatedly.

His throat twitched, and he spat out a mouthful of foul blood with a "pfft," in which were mixed two slightly yellowed broken teeth.

Fifth-rank physician: "..."

What happened?

He simply couldn't figure it out.

I only remember bumping into something, being pulled back by a crimson object, half my face going numb and losing all feeling, and even without touching it, I knew it was terribly swollen. I struggled to lift my head and could only see half of my leg, made up of mountain-shaped armor plates.

The latter approached him, and as it moved, he could clearly hear the clanging sound of metal clashing...

The fifth-rank doctor's heart sank.

The man stepped over him.

He raised a pair of four-sided bronze maces embroidered with demonic beasts, and in a few swift movements, he knocked down all the remaining bandits. Each mace weighed 120 jin (approximately 60 kg), so a pair would weigh 240 jin (approximately 160 kg). Combined with his strength, breaking bones was a given.

According to Chen Tang, the beef balls pounded with these two copper maces would be exceptionally chewy and bouncy...

Kang Shi jumped off the carriage.

He stepped forward and said, "General Zhao!"

The person who arrived was Zhao Feng, who had come earlier.

That unlucky fifth-rank physician just happened to bump into his hand—actually, he was quite bewildered at the time. Seeing something rushing towards him, he summoned his full set of martial armor without thinking, conjured bronze maces with both hands, and slapped the opponent back to where it came from.

"Mr. Kang," Zhao Feng sheathed his pair of bronze maces, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Kang Shi, and asked, "Is the matter settled?"

He was more concerned about whether he was too late.

Martial arts practitioners often have certain "occupational hazard"—they are unwilling to let go of any opportunity to make a contribution, and they feel uneasy if they miss it—they rush over as fast as they can, only to find that the lion's share has already been taken by others!

Then he made a wasted trip.

Kang Shi laughed and said, "It's not over yet. General Zhao's arrival is just in time. This group came to silence us. If they hadn't gone back, the group in the mountains would have made a quick getaway. Let's take our men up there now and we're sure to wipe them all out."

Zhao Feng's complexion improved considerably.

Kang Shi asked, "Where is Yuan Liangren?"

Zhao Feng replied, "Seeing the battle taking place on the mountain, I came ahead. Mr. Qi will arrive with his men shortly after."

In fact, he underestimated Kang Shi and his party.

They rushed over because they thought they were at a disadvantage.

Looking back now, he was overthinking things.

Don't underestimate Shen Tang's small team; their average skill level is high, and Mr. Kang Shi in front of you is no exception. In the situation just now, even if I hadn't arrived, Kang Shi would most likely have been able to toy with that fifth-rank doctor like a mouse.

Kang Shi then asked, "How much longer?"

Zhao Feng had traveled a straight line, rushing up the mountain, and had only covered the distance from the foot to the halfway point, hence his speed. However, it would take Qi Shan and his men at a rapid pace at least fifteen minutes to catch up. This speed wasn't slow...

Kang Shi made a mental calculation.

He plans to wait and pray for good fortune.

Once everyone is here, we'll charge forward together.

Who knew—

Commandant Yang said, "It's like grafting flowers onto trees..."

Kang Shi: "What move..."

Zhao Feng blinked and looked at Kang Shi with a puzzled expression.

What do you mean by grafting?

The next instant, Kang Shi and Commandant Yang disappeared before his eyes—no, to be precise, Zhao Feng disappeared from Kang Shi's sight, replaced by more than a hundred people and horses falling from the sky, piled on top of each other, creating chaos.

Kang Shi didn't recognize this group of people, but wasn't the one leading them Qi Shan, who was supposed to arrive in another 15 minutes?

Kang Shi's lips twitched.

For a moment, I didn't know whether to admire Qi Shan's desperate efforts—not even using the Word of Power to assist in traveling quickly, but directly "transferring flowers and grafting trees"—or to sincerely complain, "Su Shang may not be a cat, but Qi Shan is a real dog!"

Seeing Qi Shan's pale face and weak appearance, as if he might collapse at any moment, Kang Shi was so angry that he wanted to slap him!

He asked, "Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

Zhao Fengqin diligently climbed up, and in the process, he also crippled a fifth-rank doctor and beat those annoying bandits to death. Even if he didn't get any credit, he certainly put in the effort. Before he could even have a cup of tea, Qi Shan "switched" him to a different position...

Zhao Feng had to climb the mountain again.

Qi Shan dusted off her sleeves.

He said calmly, "How is it bad?"

"Say less and save your breath..." To "transfer" more than a hundred people at once is no easy task. He was certain that Qi Shan's spiritual energy was almost gone.

Instead of being stubborn, you should focus on recovering.

The soldiers can't grow legs and run anymore?

Even a bandit's den can't be emptied in a short time.

A while later.

Zhao Feng, whose complexion was as dark as the night, climbed up from the foot of the mountain. His gaze toward Qi Shan was indescribable.

How much—

I understand Mr. Qin Li's feelings a little better now.

Qi Shan, who plotted evil, is truly inhuman!

If Shen Tang were here, she would know that there is a word that perfectly describes Qi Shan—a super dog of a LYB!

After a short rest, we prepared to attack the military camp.

Qi Shan was too exhausted, so Kang Shidai extracted all the secrets from the fifth-rank doctor and then sent him to his death. It wasn't that he didn't want to subdue this fifth-rank doctor, but rather that the man's character was so despicable that it was better to kill him than keep him alive.

Zhao Fengdao: "...What a pity."

Although he was only a fifth-rank doctor, for Shen Tang, whose team was weak, having one more combatant was an extra guarantee.

Kang Shi: "It's not a pity; keeping it would be a major problem."

Bandits can be captured and taken prisoner. No matter how many evil deeds they have committed, they are weak and ignorant, and are very easy to fool. It doesn't matter how they are trained. If they can be completely subdued, they can be used for our purposes. If not—if they are killed, they are killed.

They simply considered it an act of justice on behalf of Heaven.

But this fifth-rank doctor was different.

He wasn't particularly bright, but he liked to act clever. He also possessed the strength of a fifth-rank martial artist, so he was very arrogant. Furthermore, he was treated well by the River Magistrate Zhang, making him difficult to subdue.

Even if they surrender, it might not be out of genuine affection; they could easily pull some dirty tricks behind your back. They might be fine most of the time, but they could cause trouble at a crucial moment. It's better to kill them than to face future problems.

That solves everything.

Qi Shan also said, "Better to have nothing than something of poor quality."

Young Master Shen is short of people, but not to the point of accepting anyone who comes. Even those whom Kang Shi looked down upon are dead.

Since both gentlemen said so, Zhao Feng said no more. He wasn't originally one of Shen Tang's people; he was only there to repay a debt of gratitude and was wary of speaking too intimately with someone he didn't know well. The group hurried to attack the military camp, but halfway there, they realized something was wrong! Something very wrong!

Is this the journey—

Too quiet?

In a place as important as Bingfang, with its rich mineral deposits in the mountains, patrols should be arranged, if not every ten steps.

As a result, they made no progress along the way.

"Look—it's on fire!"

Qi Shan raised his hand and pointed.

Kang Shi looked up upon hearing this.

A ray of orange-red light gradually appeared in the distance, illuminating the outline of the mountain peaks and spreading visibly.

Both of them felt a jolt of fear.

Could we have alerted the enemy?

No, no—

Considering the time and distance, these bandits simply didn't have enough time; their movements couldn't possibly be this fast. Zhao Feng felt a pang of regret. That was five thousand arrows, a military workshop, and a mine... Even someone as wealthy and powerful as his lord, Wu Xian, couldn't possibly pull them out all at once. If they missed out, it would be tantamount to losing a fortune.

He said, "Full speed ahead!"

Let's see if we can make it.

Even if you "lose money," you should figure out how you lost it.

Even from a distance of more than a hundred feet from the bandit stronghold, Zhao Feng could already see the gate of the stronghold burning with flames, and in the firelight, he could vaguely see the figures of people fighting each other.

As they drew closer, the shouts of battle became clearly audible.

Kang Shi roared, "Who is it!"

How dare they covet the peaches they've set their sights on!

Because of that treacherous scholarly way, Kangshi was particularly obsessed with "victory and defeat" and could not tolerate the fruits of victory being taken away by some wild monkey who came out of nowhere!

Qi Shan: "..."

He seems to—

I sensed a familiar literary atmosphere.

The closer you get, the clearer the heat wave becomes.

My cheeks were burning hot.

Kang Shi asked in confusion, "Why does this seem familiar?"

He had only known Shen Tang for a short time, and the lingering scholarly aura was rather faint. Coupled with the acrid smell from the burning flames, he didn't recognize her for a moment, only feeling that she was somewhat familiar.

Qi Shan's lips twitched: "My lord..."

Kang Shi didn't hear clearly: "What?"

Qi Shan said, "It is my lord."

The wild monkeys that picked their peaches—

It is Shen Tang.

Kang Shi: "..."

Kang Shi: "???"

Kang Shi: "How could my lord be here?!"

This is a question that Shen Tang also wants to know.

Why is she so unlucky?

As everyone knows, Shen Tang set off with her men as if she were on steroids. The bandits she led followed her wherever she went, not caring whether it was a main road or a side road... Plus, the Swift Movement Word Spirit was just too powerful.

I got carried away while running.

Shen Tang assumed the bandits knew the way.

The bandits assumed that Shen Tang knew the way.

As a result, we got lost...

('')シ┳━┳

Seeing this paragraph means it has been corrected.

Everyone can post their articles with confidence now.

Additionally, those without a fan title can participate in the book review section's activities; there are 20 fan title slots available, hehe.

Legplates: Protection for the lower legs of the armor.

Zhao Feng's weapon is a pair of bronze maces. As I was writing this, I suddenly thought that the beef balls he hammered out must be incredibly chewy and bouncy!

(End of this chapter)