Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors
Chapter 404 - 242: The Fierce Battle of the First Stage_4

Chapter 404: Chapter 242: The Fierce Battle of the First Stage_4

The waiter immediately ushered Li Hongyun to one side with reverence and presented him with writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

According to the waiter, the Imperial Censor had requested that any visitor who came to match the couplet be provided with writing materials to compose their response, sign their name, and then wait in the inn. Moreover, they were not allowed to peek at the written couplets, which had to be sent straight to the Censor’s residence.

Li Hongyun became even more certain after the waiter turned his back. He picked up the brush, splashed ink across the paper, and wrote five characters in a crooked script that resembled chicken scratch:

Rusty Stove Exhaust Hood!

Afterwards, he left his own name, and once the ink on the paper had dried, he folded it, placed it into an envelope, and handed it to the waiter.

Before long, a carriage stopped at the entrance of the inn to take Li Hongyun to the great residence of the Imperial Censor.

It must be said, being a third-grade official, the Censor’s residence was indeed grand, which made Li Hongyun regret: Had he known, he would have chosen the scholar identity to begin the Trial Illusion!

If other assassin players knew of this thought, they would surely scoff: A traitor among assassin players!

And Li Hongyun would retort: I originally wanted to be a scholar too, I just changed paths along the way!

Before long, the Imperial Censor came striding over.

A green forest outlaw and an imperial official, appearing to be utterly incompatible and of vastly different statuses, now approached each other and firmly shook hands.

"Brother, I’ve finally waited for you!"

Li Hongyun was somewhat teary-eyed; ever since entering this Trial Illusion, he, a pitiful assassin with the identity of a green forest man, had also suffered enough under the tyranny of the Jin soldiers.

In Cen Bridge Inn, he found no kin, and had received countless "lunch boxes." Every time he was killed by the Jin soldiers, the tragic scene was still vivid in his mind.

But this time, he had finally found other players!

Li Hongyun asked, "I am Li Hongyun, what’s your name?"

He saw the Imperial Censor’s face take on a strange expression: "I... I am ’The Song of Chu’..."

Both of their expressions were somewhat awkward. They looked each other over carefully and discovered that they could actually see a bit of themselves in the other’s eyes and brows.

The Trial Illusion had disguised the players’ true appearances deeply. At a glance, it was not apparent, but upon closer observation, one could match them up.

Li Hongyun was frustrated: I wondered where my darned luck had gone! Why haven’t I encountered Wanyan Sheng even once! It turns out that it was all matched up with you!

...

With a "swoosh," Yun Ying flicked the fresh blood off her sword.

A few Jin soldiers, in panic, mounted their horses and galloped away.

Yun Ying wished to eradicate the roots, but the Jin’s horses were much faster than those of the green forest people. Even if she could pursue and kill one or two, the outcome would not be fundamentally different.

Looking at the green forest men, their eyes were now almost worshipful, as if toward a deity.

Yuan Zhiyong, known as "Iron Chains Securing Mountains and Rivers," looked at Yun Ying with full respect: "Mr. Duan, what should we do next?"

By this point, the green forest men and the gathered villagers were completely following Yun Ying’s lead.

Because of her previous series of performances, she had truly left these people incredibly shocked.

Describing her with "having strategies for every possibility" would not be an overstatement.

Yun Ying sighed silently in her heart, I didn’t want to make myself out to be a master of strategies and unmatched in martial arts, but there was no other way!

How would you all know how many times I’ve been abused by the Jin!

In the beginning, Yun Ying’s plans were perfect, but the execution was messy, leading her to repeatedly change tactics.

Based on the Jin’s timing, direction of arrival, the rough number of men, and various details while entering the small village, Yun Ying altered the battle plans again and again, to maximize the green forest men’s combat effectiveness and to avoid their recklessness from bringing too much unpredictability to the plans.

After trying all sorts of methods, they finally managed to save the entire village with many wounded but none dead.

But even so, it was not yet over.

Yun Ying had thought that by now the scene should have been shrouded in white mist, entering the second stage, but regrettably it hadn’t happened.

This meant that she still had to struggle on here.

"Why haven’t we entered the second stage?

"Could it be because a few Jin soldiers escaped?

"Saving one all the way, sending Buddha to the West... If it ends now, soon enough there will surely be more Jin soldiers coming for revenge, and by then this small village... would still face the fate of massacre..." Yun Ying reasoned and gradually figured out the situation.

Then, she turned to the green forest men and the villagers: "Everyone quickly pack up, only take valuables, clothes, and food.

"We’re going to the mountains!"

...

On the low walls of Pingding County City, Zhao Haiping gazed into the distance.

Dark clouds loomed over the city.

The vanguard scouts of the Jin had already reached the foot of Pingding County City, and further away, many Jin soldiers were setting up camp.

After executing several scouting missions, the tide of the battlefield began to turn drastically.

The worst news arrived: Taiyuan had fallen.

Indeed, after a brief respite, the Jin’s Western Army began to further sweep through the surrounding counties and the entirety of River East Road.

And the Peace Army, stationed on the only route from Taiyuan City to the capital, naturally became a target that the Jin sought to capture.

The terrain here was formidable, but the city was small, the population was not large, and the entire Peace Army amounted to only about 3,000 people.

Zhao Haiping, looking at the Jin forces that approached like dark clouds, quietly reflected, "If I can survive this battle... can I pass the first stage?"