The crisp clang of swords striking rang out over a great distance, echoing along the empty official road.
Before Tang Feng's carriage, a group of bandits dressed in night-traveling clothes in broad daylight, their faces covered with black cloth, spread out in all directions. They formed a fan-shaped encirclement around the convoy, their surging killing intent sweeping over them like a gale.
At the very front of the convoy, a traveling guard's sword gleamed beneath the sunlight as it collided head-on with the broadsword of a masked burly man. The powerful force and qi rebound sent both men staggering back several steps, seemingly evenly matched.
This was the afternoon of the fourth day after Tang Feng and the others had left Yongcheng. They had been traveling along the official road when a sudden barrage of hidden arrows ambushed them, followed by masked killers surrounding them, leaving Tang Feng and the others extremely tense. The four assisting civil officials seated in the same carriage might not have been trembling like sieves, but their faces were deathly pale and cold sweat streamed down them.
Though everyone knew that with Xiang Yang present, these petty vermin could not stir up any great storm, much less pose any danger to them.
But in all things, one did not fear ten thousand possibilities, only the one eventuality. What if Xiang Yang let down his guard for a moment and they were beaten to death? Where would they go to seek justice? To cling to life and fear death was only human nature.
"Sure enough, the Governor's plan to purge the forces within Yongzhou is merely an excuse. He still does not trust me and wants to use this opportunity to eliminate me. But why send Xiang Yang to protect me?"
Compared to the four cowards