Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors
Chapter 403 - 242: The Fierce Battle of the First Stage_3

Chapter 403: Chapter 242: The Fierce Battle of the First Stage_3

However, he didn’t rest because of that minor injury, instead, he continued to push inward, his desire for gold, silver, and women had numbed him to any pain.

Arriving at a spacious mansion, the Jin soldier realized this might be the big fat sheep he had been waiting for.

What surprised him even more was that after slaughtering and plundering rampantly, he spotted the corner of a brightly colored garment amid the firewood pile in the woodshed.

"Come out!"

The Jin soldier swung his sharp knife with his right hand, while his left hand fiercely pulled apart the pile of firewood.

Then, he saw a woman crouched within the firewood, her face smeared with soot, deliberately making herself look somewhat ugly.

Unfortunately, this attempt at self-disfigurement was ultimately meaningless, as the Jin soldier could still tell from her facial structure and attire that she was likely a well-born lady of natural beauty.

A smug smile spread across the Jin soldier’s face, believing he would return fully loaded this time.

With the long sword rested against the woman’s neck, the Jin soldier triumphantly watched her tremble like chaff, then what seemed like the natural course of action followed—dragging her into a nearby wing room to wantonly abuse.

The Jin soldier didn’t sheath his sword, nor did he lower his guard, since other Jin soldiers had not yet stormed the city in great numbers, and resistance could still flare up any moment.

Thus, even in such a moment, his right hand firmly gripped the long sword.

After the two reached the wing room, the woman faced the Jin soldier’s relentless advance with resignation, being forced to lean in a little, and then, naturally, her left elbow fell onto the Jin soldier’s sword-holding right arm.

The next second, the Jin soldier suddenly saw a murderous intent flash across the woman’s face!

Xia Ruoling suddenly threw herself into the Jin soldier’s arms, her left shoulder firmly pressed against his chest. With her left elbow, she pinned down his right hand, rendering his sword unable to strike, and then hung her right hand low. The dagger that had been hidden in her sleeve suddenly slid out into the palm of her hand.

What followed was Xia Ruoling’s right hand thrusting out like lightning, precisely piercing through the gap in the armor over the Jin soldier’s chest and between the ribs, instantly penetrating his heart!

"Thump thump thump!"

The Jin soldier staggered back several steps from the sheer force of the attack. He couldn’t comprehend how a woman, seemingly akin to a well-bred lady, had suddenly unleashed such fearsome strength.

He desperately tried to fight back, but as he hit the wall, he felt the dagger twist viciously in his chest, quickly draining all his strength.

He wanted to scream, but at some point, Xia Ruoling’s left hand had covered his mouth, preventing any sound from escaping.

After a brief moment, Xia Ruoling gently pushed the Jin soldier’s body away and then withdrew her dagger, avoiding the spray of blood.

Then, she turned to look at the smoke rising over Cen Bridge Inn and melted into the crowd of refugees, continuing towards her next ambush location.

...

Capital city streets.

Li Hongyun carried his bow, arriving at the entrance of the capital’s largest tavern.

"Forget it, I’ll treat myself to a good meal first!"

This was Li Hongyun’s seventh life now.

Before, he had been trying to survive at Cen Bridge Inn, but each time he met a grisly end.

Not to mention killing Wanyan Sheng, even taking down a low-level officer was difficult!

For the first time, Li Hongyun somewhat regretted his identity as an assassin.

After all, his assassin skills were lacking, not as refined as Xia Ruoling’s and other top-tier assassins in terms of disguise, concealment, and preparation.

And he used long-range weapons, not short blades.

This meant that while assassinating one person might have a high success rate, he was at a disadvantage in situations requiring multiple consecutive assassinations.

So, after hitting the wall repeatedly, Li Hongyun finally decided not to be stubborn and, before the city was sealed off, he had fled from Cen Bridge Inn to the capital.

He figured that his way of doing things was not suited for going it alone.

After all, this world didn’t have advanced flintlock guns.

Perhaps in the capital’s defense, he could play his most significant role. And the enemies he would kill then would count, right?

Reaching the tavern’s entrance, as Li Hongyun was about to step inside, he stiffened, noticing a signboard on the doorstep with several lines of writing.

During the Qi Dynasty, commerce and brothel culture were highly developed.

On every holiday, students from all over would hold literary gatherings. And if any good verses emerged during these gatherings, someone would spread them throughout the city that very night.

Taverns and brothels displayed these students’ exquisite verses at their entrances for people to praise and pass on.

Moreover, the Oiran from these brothels would sing these verses to tunes promptly, much like how modern pop songs resonate.

However, what the tavern displayed at this moment was not a verse but a couplet’s upper line.

"Willows locked in the smoky pond!"

And right next to the upper line, it clearly stated that anyone who could match this couplet and had the will to resist the Jin could possibly meet directly with today’s third-grade official, the Imperial Censor, to discuss strategies against the Jin invasion and might even secure a recommendation for an official position.

Li Hongyun first looked puzzled, but then he had a sudden realization.

He thought of something, hurriedly entered the tavern, called over the waiter, and inquired about the couplet.