Wang Yang spotted the enemy riders closing in from afar and shouted, "Bingce!"
Chen Qing Shan and the four other riders moved at once, spreading out diagonally into three groups. Using their horses as cover, they opened the leather bags beside their saddles and scattered caltrops in the formation Wang Yang had prescribed.
Caltrops were iron spikes, each with four points: three rested on the ground while the fourth pointed upward. A horse that stepped on one would have its hoof pierced; a man, his foot torn open. Wang Yang had told everyone beforehand to coat them in wet mud, so they raised no dust when scattered and showed no cold metallic gleam afterward. As they laid the trap, a hiss like tearing silk suddenly rang out-a sharp arrow shot straight toward Chen Qing Shan's neck!
The Barbarian General had charged ahead of his men, drawing his bow and loosing an arrow at full gallop!
Its course was uncannily precise. He had actually anticipated the path of Chen Qing Shan's horse! She had barely advanced another step when the arrowhead was less than a foot from her neck!
The five fingers of Chen Qing Shan's left hand snapped shut, wrenching the reins!
Big Black Steed reared, his mane flying!
The arrowhead skimmed past Chen Qing Shan's raised chin, its tail stirring a sharp gust that scored a red line across her neck.
"A Throat-Biting Arrow! He cannot be allowed to live!"
Chen Qing Shan gave a sharp cry, hauling in the reins with her left hand as her right wrist turned inward, striking her horse's rump with the shaft of her lance!
She wheeled Big Black Steed around while he was still in the air. The instant his forehooves touched down, his shoulder dipped and his left hind hoof kicked