Chapter 312 The Cicada Awaits
The guards' screams, like thunder, shattered the brief calm.
The expressions of everyone in the depression changed drastically, and the few surviving guards and the guards brought by Sun Zheng immediately retreated into formation.
Swords were drawn, bows were nocked, and the air seemed to freeze, filled with an intense and oppressive atmosphere of killing intent.
Jiang Huan's heart leaped into her throat instantly, and she instinctively shielded Huo Lin behind her.
Even though she's so thin, she'd be the first one killed in a hail of bullets.
But Huo Lin was someone she had found after risking her life, and she absolutely refused to let her beloved, whom she had just regained, be trapped in a pot again before he could even catch his breath!
【fool. 】
A suppressed, intense emotion suddenly resounded.
Jiang Huan felt her wrist being gently gripped with a firm strength, which inexplicably reassured her.
She was just about to give Huo Lin a pep talk and boost his morale when she turned around and suddenly froze.
Although Huo Lin's face was covered in blood, his eyes shone brightly. He showed no panic in the face of being surrounded, but rather looked like a hunter who had seen his prey step into a trap.
"Don't be afraid." Huo Lin's voice was low and hoarse, but unusually calm.
He even curled the corners of his lips slightly, with a hint of calculated coldness: "I walked through the gates of hell this time, just waiting for them to walk right into my trap."
Jiang Huan: ? ? ?
What's going on?
Was all of this fake? Was it all a trap?
Was being trapped in a desperate situation a smokescreen? Was being critically injured the trigger?
The purpose was to lure the enemy here, and then launch a full-scale attack to achieve legendary status in one battle.
Before she could recover from the overwhelming information, Huo Lin had already pulled her behind him with a slight force of his wrist.
[Are you stunned? Deeply impressed by my acting skills?]
[But she was trying to protect me just now, right? Right? A woman protecting her husband is so cool!]
[Oh no, my heart is racing, I don't even feel the pain in my wound anymore.]
[Huo Lin, calm down! There are still enemies above us. Focus! Focus!]
Jiang Huan finally finished processing what she had just learned, staring intently at Huo Lin, feeling both amused and exasperated.
But relief and heartache still prevailed, after all, his injury was real.
Humans are made of flesh and blood; how painful it would be to use oneself as bait.
Just then, a series of chaotic footsteps and arrogant shouts from the Northern Di people came from above.
It sounds like there are quite a few people, and they are rapidly approaching the edge of the depression.
At this critical moment, a whistling arrow shot out from a hidden crevice on the other side of the depression, exploding in the air into a bright red cloud.
Almost simultaneously—
"kill!"
A deafening battle cry suddenly erupted from all directions, and several squads of soldiers dressed in Liang military uniforms suddenly appeared atop the seemingly empty rock face.
They descended like divine soldiers, unleashing a barrage of arrows that rained down on the Northern Di ambush troops who were preparing to charge down into the depression.
"Damn it! An ambush! We've fallen into a trap!"
"Retreat! Retreat!"
"..."
The Northern Di army above was thrown into chaos, with screams and cries filling the air.
They were completely stunned, never expecting that this seemingly hopeless depression was actually a carefully laid reverse trap.
Huo Lin was not the prey that was trapped, but the hunter who was waiting for them to fall into the trap.
Everyone inside the depression was stunned, including Sun Zheng and his guards, who stared in astonishment at this sudden reversal.
Jiang Huan had a complete grasp of the battle situation and could only sigh at how ruthless Huo Lin was to himself.
Huo Lin seemed to sense her shock and pity, and turned his head slightly, whispering, "Don't make a sound, just watch."
His voice carried a hint of weariness, but more so a calm and strategic composure.
The battle outside was almost a one-sided massacre. The Liang army, which was lying in ambush, was clearly well prepared and had an absolute advantage in terrain. Arrows and rolling stones kept falling, causing the Northern Di soldiers who tried to charge down to fall to their deaths.
Amid the chaos, Jiang Huan vaguely heard an angry roar from above, spoken with a foreign accent, seemingly directing a breakout, but it was quickly drowned out by the even greater chaos.
The battle lasted less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before the shouts of battle and sounds of resistance from above gradually faded, replaced by the shouts of Liang soldiers and the cries of prisoners.
A soldier dressed in the armor of a junior officer ran quickly down a path, rushed to Huo Lin, knelt on one knee, and spoke in a loud and excited voice.
"Your Majesty, the Northern Di army that was lying in ambush above has been completely captured by our army. Their leader, the Northern Di prince, attempted to break out in the chaos but has also been captured by our army. Please give your instructions, Your Majesty!"
Huo Lin showed little surprise, as if all of this was within his expectations.
He simply nodded, his tone calm and even: "Yes, bring them up first."
"Yes!" the general replied.
Before long, several soldiers brought up a Northern Di prince whose hands were tied behind his back and whose face was full of resentment.
When the Northern Di prince saw Huo Lin, his eyes practically spitting fire. He roared in broken Liang language, "Huo Lin, you're despicable! You're faking your injury!"
Upon hearing this, Huo Lin merely glanced at him indifferently, his tone even carrying a hint of sarcasm.
"All warfare is based on deception. You ventured deep into enemy territory alone, greedily seeking glory and acting rashly. You deserved this defeat."
He was too lazy to say anything more, and casually waved his hand, signaling the person to be taken away: "Keep a close watch on them. No one is allowed to approach without my order."
"Yes!" The general accepted the order and waved for the soldiers to take away the still-cursing Northern Di prince.
Only then did Huo Lin seem to finally breathe a sigh of relief. His body swayed almost imperceptibly, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead, clearly indicating that his previous act of forcing himself to stand had exhausted him greatly.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his physical discomfort, and slowly turned around, his gaze returning to Jiang Huan's face behind him.
He raised his uninjured hand and gently patted the back of her hand.
"Now, shouldn't we settle the score for you coming here without permission?"
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