"Kill!!!"
Chen Yi was watching the celestial phenomena when battle cries suddenly shook the sky from the dense thickets all around!
Burly warriors emerged from the brush, swords and sabers in hand, and charged in swinging!
"Enemy attack! Form ranks! Shields up!"
Clack, clack, clack!
Arrows struck the shields and fell. Then cold flashes of steel burst from behind them!
Every member of Chen Yi's party was an elite, one picked from a hundred. Though caught by surprise, they kept their composure, advancing and retreating in order. In the blink of an eye, they formed a defensive line and fought the attackers!
"Mountain bandits?" The sudden turn startled Chen Yi, but he did not panic. He withdrew into the carriage to avoid a stray arrow and keep out of his guards' way. After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, a voice called from outside: "These bandits are no ordinary men! More keep coming, no matter how many we kill! Steward, please get down from the carriage. We'll break through with you!"
"What?" Chen Yi froze. He wondered what sort of mountain bandits could fight his guards to a standstill, but he wasted no time climbing out. The ground was covered in blood and corpses, and he stared in shock. Some were attackers. Others were guards who had traveled with him.
At the sight of him, the attackers howled and pressed forward!
"Take that man alive! Riches beyond measure!"
Several fierce-looking men charged straight at Chen Yi. Startled, he drew his sword to defend himself, but suspicion stirred in his heart.
Were these people truly mountain bandits?
"Steward, fall back, quickly!" Several guards intercepted the attackers, their voices growing more urgent.
Looking at the figures spread across the hills, Chen Yi shook his head with a bitter