Ambush Encountered, Danger Lurks Ahead

Blood dripped onto the charred wood chips, and the few blurred symbols seemed to come alive, faintly glowing a dark red. Chen Wuya's pupils constricted. A surge of heat exploded from his dantian and shot through his meridians. The old wound in his right arm instantly tightened, as though iron wires were twisting beneath his skin.

Before he could examine it closely, Misaligned Force had already begun circulating through his body on its own. Five chaotic streams of true qi converged in reverse, sketching a phantom image within his mind—a trio of hillsides, grass trembling softly, bowstrings drawn taut, arrowheads catching the sunlight.

"Get down!"

Before the words had fully left his mouth, he hurled himself onto a tribal scout ahead of him and slammed the man into a dirt hollow. Almost at the same instant, whistling sounds tore through the air. Dozens of feathered arrows poured down from the crest of the left slope, embedding themselves in the earth, their fletching still quivering. A Central Plains soldier failed to dodge in time; an arrow struck his shoulder, and he let out a muffled groan before collapsing.

"Three o'clock! Shieldmen, form up!" Chen Wuya rolled over and rose to one knee, driving his shortsword into the ground to lever himself upright. His voice was hoarse but clear. "Archers, cover each other in rotation. Don't fire wildly! Wait for my signal!"

Bai Zhi had already leaped onto the top of an overturned supply cart. Her flexible sword spun in her palm, its tip knocking aside two hidden arrows aimed at the commanding officer. Her gaze swept over the disordered ranks as she called sharply, "Do as he says! Right now, trust only this one command!"

The words were like a basin of cold water thrown over them, and the restless crowd