Chapter 65 Reencounter with the Nemesis + Childhood Friends Reunion + Lian Qingzhu...
"Enemy attack!!!"
After the lookout finished speaking, the mountain walls on both sides of the waterway gradually narrowed, the river became turbulent, and the river surface narrowed.
The dragon boat sailed into the river gorge.
And at the other end of that narrow waterway—
A fast boat was heading towards the dragon boat, almost shrinking the distance to an inch!
The fast boat is slender and shuttle-shaped, resulting in low water resistance.
The boat carried twenty or thirty strong young men, all wearing only thongs, who were rowing vigorously to propel the boat forward.
Almost simultaneously, the dragon boat set up its crossbows!
The archers, who had been lying in ambush somewhere, only needed a moment to prepare for battle upon hearing the alarm.
The eagles cried out. The officers in the main cabin rushed out of the hatch!
Lian Qing led the emperor back into the cabin and took over the responsibility of protecting him: "Your Majesty need not worry. Perhaps after the ban on navigation between the north and south, river bandits from Jiangnan will take the opportunity to rob official ships. They're greedy for money..."
It doesn't seem like it.
The arrow stuck to the bulkhead, and Ying Xi analyzed the situation rationally.
Ying Xi thought, the government army has more than twenty warships, which are lined up in formation on the river. Even if the river pirates have the guts of a bear and the courage of a leopard, they can't think that they can devour an elephant with their small fast boat and plunder all the government army's supplies.
If it weren't for river bandits...
Ying Xi's heart skipped a beat: It was an assassin.
The lookout shouted at the top of his lungs, "Enemy ships approaching! Enemy ships approaching!"
Xie Qianli ordered the flag bearer, "The rear guard, move forward and block the enemy ships!"
The flag bearer began to signal with flags.
The flags fluttered in the wind.
Behind the dragon boat, several warships circled around it in neat formation and at high speed. The dragon boat then changed direction and quickly headed backward.
However, the gorge was so narrow that the boat could not maneuver properly.
The two boats could not sail side by side to protect the dragon boat.
The warships could only be placed one after the other in front of the dragon boat, but the effect of one ship in resisting was ultimately not good.
The narrow, fast boat narrowly missed the warship, avoiding it and closing the distance to the dragon boat once again.
We can't let the dragon boat be the last boat!
Otherwise, if the fleet is spread out on the narrow river, even if the ships at the front still want to rescue, they will be powerless to do so.
— "Surround the enemy ships and block their retreat."
The flag bearer gave another order.
Accompanied by the clattering of flags, the ships that had brushed past the enemy vessels immediately changed direction and turned back.
The sounds of wind, shouts, and arrows mingled on the river, mixed with the shouts of the strongmen on the boat as they pedaled the waterwheel.
Several official ships blocked the speedboat's retreat!
The Clippers are like a rabbit that has fallen into a giant beast's den; they are swift, but useless.
The smaller boat was squeezed from both the front and rear by the other boats.
It can't escape!
Lian Qing was overjoyed.
Lian Qing's voice boomed so loudly it made the main cabin buzz: "Your Majesty, look! Once the two sides hand over the ships, the naval battle will turn into a land battle. As long as our army boards the ships, victory is within reach..."
"……forward?"
Unexpectedly, more than twenty shirtless men wearing only trousers on the speedboat jumped into the river as soon as Long Wujun boarded the boat, causing waves to surge on the river surface.
Lian Qing raised an eyebrow, feeling utterly bewildered.
The speedboat was almost empty in an instant, leaving only its hull swaying precariously.
The Longwu Army was determined to quickly take control of the enemy ships, and the soldiers immediately boarded the decks of the fast ships, where the two sides engaged in close combat.
The remaining enemies on the speedboat were highly skilled, all wielding fast knives with thin blades, narrow blades, and short lengths, making them ideal for surprise attacks.
The Longwu Army soldiers who boarded the ship were dressed in heavy armor, which provided them with maximum defense, but they were at a great disadvantage in terms of agility. Once someone got close to them, their chances of survival were slim.
Before long, soldiers fell into the water, and more soldiers went to their aid. The battle gradually settled in the most chaotic part of the river.
Lian Qing stood in the cabin, gazing into the distance. He stood in front of the emperor, making room for His Majesty to watch the battle.
Lian Qing reported, "Your Majesty, rest assured, there are only a few bandits left. Even if they are fierce, they are no match for our army."
"Besides, General Xie is ordered to protect the Emperor. Even if it costs him his own life, he will not allow His Majesty to lose a single hair!"
"..."
These words were so cheesy that even Qing felt they were burning her tongue.
Amidst the tense battle situation, Lian Qing even took the time to express his strange loyalty on behalf of his superiors.
He turned around, and Ying Xi frowned slightly.
Lian Qing felt extremely guilty, as he couldn't figure out exactly what was going on between the two of them.
Lian Qing quickly changed the subject: "Your Majesty, why don't you watch the naval battle instead?"
"!!!"
Outside the main cabin, a figure moved with ghostly speed.
The assassin moved with incredible speed, appearing as if out of thin air, almost a blur.
In that instant, the sword's edge illuminated the cabin. A cold, radiant light traveled from Ying Xi's chin to the tip of her nose.
"Go to hell, Ying Xi—"
Lian Qing was caught off guard and drew his sword to parry: When did this person get on the dragon boat? ???
Unbeknownst to Lian Qing, while everyone else was watching the naval battle, this man seized the opportunity to board the ship and, relying on his light-footed skills, arrived at the main cabin door.
The assassin wouldn't explain, and there wasn't time to explain.
As the assassin closed in, Ying Xi had no choice but to retreat!
However, the hatch was only wide enough that there was no room to dodge.
Lian Qing's sword strike was too late to save him.
At this moment, the assassin's appearance came into Ying Xi's view: an ordinary middle-aged man, thin and hunched over.
Ying Xi didn't recognize this person.
Yet, there was a strange, familiar feeling, like a bone-deep infection, surrounding the other person.
It felt as if several poisonous needles were piercing her from all directions in an instant. This person had stirred up a long-lost fear in Ying Xi, and her feet felt like they had taken root.
"Your Majesty!" Lian Qing exclaimed.
Then, a bright silver light flashed between the assassin and the emperor, and the Dragon-Edge separated the two!
The dragon-shaped blade made a heavy, muffled sound.
The force made it hum, piercing through the main cabin gun barrel and embedding itself into the cabin wall.
The assassins were thus brought to a standstill.
It turned out that Xie Qianli had thrown his weapon, and in less than the blink of an eye, he had made up for Lian Qing's slow sword movement.
Lian Qing was already able to reach the assassin's back.
"Look at the knife!"
The assassin had two choices: either take a step forward, kill the emperor, and then be killed by Lian Qing, resulting in mutual destruction.
They should either deal with Lian Qing immediately and temporarily release the emperor.
The assassin had given up on getting close because of You Long'e, so he was naturally careful to protect himself.
Those who value their lives reacted easily.
However, they neither killed the emperor nor retaliated against Lian Qing.
While seemingly dealing with the cabin, he actually floated backward, instantly reaching the deck.
Lian Qing shouted, "He's going to kill the general!!!"
Changes happen in an instant; the Fish Intestine Sword is incredibly fast.
At this moment, Xie Qianli was unarmed and had no cover in front of him. The assassin's skills were clearly superior to Lian Qing's, and he retreated for fear that the assassin would make a feint.
It's not that I don't trust Lian Qing.
Rather, he didn't want Ying Xi to encounter any danger.
Therefore, Xie Qianli advanced instead of retreating, and the moment he touched the Fish Intestine Sword, he extended his arm to block it with a gauntlet.
The metal of the arm guard is the thickest.
The assassin was stunned, seemingly never expecting this.
The sword can never be retrieved!
If the blade touched the armor, sparks would surely fly if it were night!
During the day, it emits loud metallic clanging sounds.
Zheng—
The two each took a few steps back, creating some distance between them.
The assassin's all-out sword strike left his arm completely numb and painful!
The middle-aged man clutched his trembling arm, his beady black eyes fixed on Xie Qianli, his gaze filled with disbelief.
Did he think his protective gear was good enough to withstand a sharp sword?
Or has he gone mad?
The assassin, who valued his life, could not understand Xie Qianli's behavior, which completely disregarded his own safety.
If it's about loyalty, that's laughable!
If it were something else, that would be even more ridiculous...
The assassin's mind flashed back to the countless times he had suffered at Xie Qianli's hands years ago because of Ying Xi.
Even now, recalling each and every incident still makes him feel uneasy and depressed.
So the man reversed his grip on the Fish Gut Sword, held it horizontally in front of him, and mocked in a hoarse voice: "It's been many years since we last met. Young Master Xie's martial arts have improved even more, but his infatuation remains as strong as ever."
That "we haven't seen each other for many years" confirmed that they had a past conflict.
But the way he thanked Young Master for his devotion left most of the people on the ship completely baffled.
Fanglan Palace is a secret from Ying Xi and Xie Qianli's childhood.
At this moment, Ying Xi had completely determined the identity of this assassin!
He is the shadow!
It was the same leader of the secret guards who had monitored him and tormented and mocked him for many years in Fanglan Palace.
Long-standing feuds have finally come to an end.
The shadow instantly evoked all the helpless and painful memories Ying Xi had when she was in Fanglan Palace.
After ascending the throne, Shadow fled overnight, fearing the new ruler's revenge.
Ying Xi nearly ground her teeth to powder, took a step forward, and shouted, "Kill him!!!"
The emperor was usually imposing and awe-inspiring, but he was always calm and rarely showed obvious joy or anger.
When Ying Xi is enraged, he gives people the feeling that no matter where you hide, you will be crushed by him!
Only the emperor in this era possessed such power.
In an instant, all the soldiers on the ship sprang into action!
Hundreds of silver-armored soldiers charged toward the shadow!
If it weren't for the mission of protecting the emperor, even Lian Qing would have been called upon and almost rushed out as well.
Lian Qing hurriedly drew his dragon-slaying sword and said, "General, catch!"
The weapon pierced the air, and the silver light returned to Xie Qianli's palm.
The dragon-sword swept over!
The rising moonlight was like frost and snow emerging from a pot, and the Milky Way hung upside down.
The boy's marksmanship had become incredibly skilled, and few in the world dared to challenge Xie Qianli's power.
The shadow knew it could not withstand his sharp edge.
He easily pushed off and climbed to the top of the three-story ship, his shadow looking down arrogantly:
"Two greenhorn brats think they're something special and want to kill me."
"I've roamed the imperial court and the martial world for over a decade, and the number of people I've killed is more than the number of people Bill and others have ever seen."
"The ship is sinking!"
"Hahaha, the ship is sinking!!!"
Lian Qing was greatly alarmed. He listened carefully and indeed heard some noises coming from inside the cabin.
He crouched down and pressed his ear against the ship's deck. He heard a thumping sound and shouted, "Someone's scutting the ship!"
It was those men who jumped into the river...
These assassins split into two groups, supporting each other from above and below.
The assassins on the ship attracted attention and made a commotion, thus concealing their intention to stab the ship.
The assassins below the ship are working hard to destroy the dragon boat.
The actions were all interconnected!
Having figured out these key points, Lian Qing broke out in a cold sweat!
No wonder the enemy soldiers hid in the river when they saw the official boat; they had planned this all along.
If the dragon boat sinks, it will be a great disaster!
Lian Qing said, "Your Majesty! This humble general will immediately escort Your Majesty to the other ships."
"No."
Lian Qing was taken aback.
On the deck, General Xie remained as steady as a mountain, and the emperor showed no sign of panic. The two did not exchange any words, yet Lian Qing sensed an unspoken understanding between them.
Lian Qing thought that His Majesty might trust the general a lot.
But there's a boat, a boat, there are people underneath the boat!
With limited visibility from the main cabin, corpses had already begun to float around the dragon boat, each wearing a water jacket—they were the people who had dug the boat.
As time went on, more and more corpses surfaced, gradually forming a large number.
The emerald green river water mixed with bright red, and the paleness of the corpses, created a vast and eerie sight.
The noise from shoveling the boat gradually subsided.
What happened?
Lian Qing looked outside.
Suddenly, a man surfaced from the water, wiped his face, and exclaimed, "I can't take it anymore! My lungs are about to explode!!!"
Before he could finish speaking, the man was sniped by the Longwu Army's crossbows and instantly riddled with arrows, joining the floating corpses in the water, the river surface around his body turning blood red.
It turns out that underwater movement requires the use of reed tubes for breathing. Xie Qianli had already realized that the enemy soldiers who jumped into the water were treacherous, and arranged for arrows to be fired to destroy the reed tubes.
Holding your breath means death, exhaling means being killed by a hail of arrows.
Xie Qianli said coldly to the shadow:
"This dragon boat is made entirely of ironwood, which is as sturdy as steel. If it were any other boat, this wood would only be used for critical components."
"Whether you chisel faster or I kill faster today, you are welcome to give me your opinion."
Thus, the silence continued, resulting in a stalemate. However, the situation on both sides suddenly changed, because the time a person can hold their breath is limited, and the longer it dragged on, the more advantageous it would be for the imperial army.
Shadow's throat bobbed, and finally sweat broke out.
"you……"
"you--"
No matter how furious he was, he was unwilling to lose his former status as a respected figure in the martial arts world in front of a junior who was twenty years younger than him.
He couldn't help but recall that Xie Qianli, who seemed so upright and honest, was actually quite scheming when he wanted to plot against someone!
Xie Qianli once performed a double-edged sword dance in front of Emperor Yuantai.
His sword dance was as swift as thunder, and when he sheathed his sword, he deliberately cut himself. This caused great concern among all the elders of the royal family, including Emperor Yuan Tai.
Emperor Yuantai was so angry that he wanted to melt down the sword and turn it into sheet metal to cover the threshold, so he could kick it hundreds of times every day.
The young Xie Qianli presented the sword, saying, "Double-edged swords are sharp and difficult to control; they can harm others and oneself. Uncle, I'm afraid I won't be able to grow up to fight for you, so I will never practice this kind of sword again."
Countless times.
With his innocent and seemingly unintentional remarks, Young Master Xie planted seeds of doubt in Emperor Yuan Tai's heart.
After hearing this repeatedly, Emperor Yuan Tai finally became wary, and the secret guards gradually lost the emperor's favor.
Their secret rivalry gave Xiao Yingxi of Fanglan Palace a chance to breathe and grow up.
Today's plans have completely fallen through.
The shadow said menacingly, "Hello, you're quite something. As expected, a merciful general cannot command an army, and all's fair in war. Thank you for your lesson, young master!"
Shadow leaped off the roof of the boat, intending to dive into the river from the height, but his momentum was cut off by a hail of arrows from the Longwu Army.
The shadow suddenly stopped.
Planks were laid on top of the boat!
Xie Qianli had already arrived.
You Long'e seemed to unleash the power of wind and thunder, stirring up a chilling aura of light and shadow: "Halt! His Majesty has ordered me to kill you."
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