Battle

Crison Castle, study.

"Milord, is it really appropriate for Commander Bill to take only four cavalrymen? I think that brat still has some helpers around him."

A disdainful smile spread across Viscount Ollie's fat face. He shook his head at the steward beside him, picked up a cup of honey water from the desk, and savored it carefully with a smacking sound. Then he leaned back against his mahogany chair and gestured for the maid beside him to massage him.

"Five cavalrymen are enough. I heard that wastrel sold off all his family's assets. Even his steward and servants ran away. When he left the city, he did not even have a guard at his side. The fact that he made it here safely already means he is lucky. With the hyenas outside the city added in, twenty or thirty men are more than enough. Sending too many of our own men would be inappropriate. At the very least, he is still a noble. If he dies at the hands of bandits, so be it, but I cannot bear the blame. Otherwise, it would be hard to answer to Marquis Twen, wouldn't it? I only want my grain back. Who told you to be so unlucky as to insist on buying my grain?"

"Milord, you have thought this through. There are so many bandits around here anyway. If that brat dies, we can pin it on the bandits, and Marquis Twen will not investigate."

"If he dies at the hands of bandits, what does that have to do with me?"

Viscount Ollie widened his eyes, putting on a puzzled expression as he looked at Steward Barry beside him. Then he burst into laughter.

The carriage convoy was traveling through a mountainous region when Ryman suddenly raised a hand, signaling everyone to stop. The hunters immediately grew alert. Nord was somewhat puzzled. Was there an ambush? But the forest before them looked no different from the ones they had just passed.

The area was filled with low mountains and forests. Only a winding road showed signs of human passage. The woods around them were silent, and no one knew how long these trees had been growing. Some were twisted and crooked, looking at first glance like demons and monsters.

Nord was about to ask Ryman what was happening when cries of battle suddenly rang out from the top of the forested hill to their right. Through the gaps in the trees, he could see a group of ragged bandits wielding wooden clubs and spears charging downhill. If one ignored their equipment and only heard their shouts and saw their momentum, they were quite intimidating.

Ryman ordered the hunters to stand by the roadside and shoot arrows at the bandits in the woods. However, the terrain and trees made the results far from ideal. Only a few men were struck by arrows, while the rest were shielded by the trees. Still, seeing their companions howl in pain after being hit, the bandits' charge gradually slowed. They hid behind the trees and advanced cautiously.

Nord stood at the rear and observed the battle. He found Old Mor remarkably calm. Unlike the other hunters, he did not shoot the moment he saw someone. He studied his target for a long while before each shot, yet nearly every arrow struck true. Before long, four or five bandits had fallen beneath his arrows.

The only one comparable to Old Mor was Ryman. Ryman's bow differed from everyone else's. Due to his towering build, the weapon he used could be called a longbow. Every arrow he fired carried tremendous force. Whenever Ryman drew the bow to a full moon and released it, it let out a booming twang. Any bandit struck by his arrows would visibly halt mid-run, then fall and never rise again.

As the bandits suffered casualties, the running figures in the forest gradually disappeared. The mountains grew quiet as well, as though frightened by the casualties inflicted by the hunters, or perhaps waiting for another opportunity.

Just as Ryman and the others focused on the woods and guarded against the bandits within, the sound of hoofbeats came in waves from the distant road.

Ryman's expression changed. This was bad. It was the cavalry led by Bill. They were not like those cowardly bandits. Not only were they well equipped, but with the speed of their horses and the bandits in the forest, the real battle was probably only beginning.

Nord also saw the cavalry approaching from afar. Though the winding road prevented them from moving very quickly, once they charged close enough, the ranged battle would become close combat, and the hunters' advantage would likely vanish.

They needed to find cover to block the cavalry's charge. Should they retreat into the forest on the left? But what about the grain? The grain carts? Nord's eyes lit up.

He hurriedly ordered Marco and the others to place two grain carts sideways across the road. In ancient China's Song Dynasty, there had been precedents of using war carts to block cavalry and create favorable terrain for archers and crossbowmen. He did not know how effective it would be, but with cover, the hunters could perform far better.

After setting the carts in place, Nord immediately shouted at Ryman and the others, "Get behind the carts, quickly!"

The moment Ryman saw the scene behind him, he understood. Overjoyed, he directed the hunters at his side to slowly retreat behind the carts.

"Everyone, stay behind the carts. Wait for the right opportunity before shooting at the enemy. And keep an eye on those bandits. Do not let them sneak up on us."

Nord also had Marco and Reed distribute the newly bought axes to the hunters who had not brought melee weapons. Although the axes were meant for chopping wood, they were still much better than short swords or bare fists.

Just as Nord and the others hid behind the carts and prepared themselves, Bill and his cavalry arrived not far away. With a wave of Bill's hand, the four cavalrymen behind him raised their shields and charged.

The hunters stood behind the carts, leaned out halfway, and fired arrows at the charging cavalrymen. Several dull thuds rang out as the arrows struck the cavalrymen's shields, accomplishing nothing. Seeing this, Ryman took a deep breath and gave a loud shout. His arms drew back the longbow, the bow becoming a full moon and the arrow a shooting star. With a heavy thud, the long arrow struck a cavalryman's shield. The rider on horseback froze unnaturally for an instant before falling from his horse with his shield.

"Good!"

Nord could not help shouting. It was incredible. What kind of strength was that? The other hunters were encouraged as well. Arrows rained down, and amid the barrage, one cavalryman's horse was struck deeply by an arrow. It toppled to the ground, and Nord's eyes lit up.

"Shoot the horses first! Kill the horses!"

Old Mor immediately understood what he needed to do. His hands moved in rapid succession, and with two whistles, the horses of the two cavalrymen charging at the front fell in response. The remaining two cavalrymen soon suffered the same fate, their horses shot dead by the other hunters.

The threat from the mounted riders had been removed. They only needed to eliminate them one by one with arrows. But another wave of battle cries came from the forest to the right. Seeing that the cavalry had arrived, the bandits in the woods had gathered their courage and charged downhill again.

They could not let the bandits in the forest rush down. Once the group was caught in a pincer attack and dragged into close combat, the enemy's superior numbers would inflict grievous casualties even if they managed to win.

Just as Nord hesitated, the cavalrymen who had been shot from their horses climbed back to their feet and approached with their shields raised. Though they looked somewhat bedraggled, their injuries did not seem serious, and they still had the strength to fight. Moreover, because of the cavalry's speed, they had fallen less than twenty paces from the carts. They could reach them in an instant.

Nord ordered Old Mor to take six hunters and use their arrows to suppress the bandits on the right. Ryman, meanwhile, picked up two axes and led the remaining hunters toward the dismounted cavalrymen.

Nord knew they had to deal with the enemies before them first. He had the steward take out a One-Handed Sword for Reed, then left the noncombatant steward behind to watch the carts. Nord and Marco followed Ryman and the others as they charged out.

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