Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 162 - 86: Ambush, Encounter an Attack

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On the official road leading to Yongzhou County, the sound of galloping hooves was urgent and powerful.

County Magistrate Du Yuntong, who had already escaped the Inner City, rode swiftly without daring to pause.

Behind him, a group of disheveled officials followed closely.

Riding beside County Magistrate Du Yuntong, Wang Yanjun shouted, "Lord County Magistrate, we have broken through the county seat. Where shall we head next? There's a post station forty li ahead; should we rest there for a while?"

County Magistrate Du Yuntong slightly turned his head, his eyes resolute as he said, "No, we cannot! Taiping County has fallen into the hands of traitors; this place is no longer safe. We must reach the county town as soon as possible to report the situation to the county government."

His voice was not loud, yet every word was forceful. His long-standing position of power unintentionally exuded an aura of authority, calming the hearts of the officials following him.

In truth, despite his calm demeanor, County Magistrate Du Yuntong was inwardly in turmoil.

He knew that with the fall of the county seat, as the county officer, he could not escape punishment. Losing his position would be the least of his worries.

A single moment of carelessness, and he might even face severe punishment.

Fortunately, he had been secretly making offerings to the county governor over the years, amounting to no less than ten thousand taels.

If he could evade some responsibility, the governor might grant him a way out, given his past services.

In the future, at the right opportunity, he could restore his ties and perhaps make a comeback.

Therefore, what mattered most was reaching the county town as quickly as possible.

As County Magistrate Du Yuntong was thinking, a sudden shout erupted from ahead, "Kill!"

Without any hesitation or preliminaries.

As soon as they entered the range, the Cult Members of the Huang Tian Sect lying in ambush took action decisively.

"Protect Lord County Magistrate!" Wang Yanjun, as the leader of the Guardian Martial Department, roared, leading his subordinates to quickly form a defensive formation, tightly protecting Du Yuntong in the center.

Along with the rebel army's roar, a heavy killing intent pervaded the air.

Arrows rained down like droplets, arriving in the blink of an eye.

The many martial masters around Du Yuntong circulated their Qi-Blood, lying low on their horses to dodge the arrows.

Unfortunately, the arrows were too dense to avoid entirely.

"Whiz whiz whiz."

The arrows came down in a flurry.

The skin of the martial masters in the Skin Forging Realm had become as hard as cowhide, but against the arrows shot by the Huang Tian Sect, their flesh was still pierced.

"Crossbows! They're using crossbows!"

The ordinary officials and martial masters coming together were shocked.

The many horses, already large and muscular, nearly couldn't escape under this impenetrable rain of arrows, with over half of them hit.

"Neigh!"

The warhorses let out a series of mournful cries, collapsing with their riders in a cloud of dust, leaving those thrown from their steeds' backs in unknown states.

Du Yuntong held the reins tightly, surveying the surroundings before calming down and shouting to the remaining people, "In this situation, hesitating is death! Follow me and charge through!"

County Magistrate Du Yuntong, mainly focused on profit as a magistrate, was no fool to hold this position.

Faced with a sudden ambush, he quickly responded appropriately.

Wang Yanjun, being the head of the Guardian Martial Department, had cultivation just below County Magistrate Du Yuntong in the Qi Cultivation Realm,

After noticing a brief gap in the opponent's crossbow fire, she drew her blade and charged forward at the forefront.

"A general?"

The burly man in the lead spread his arms to block, "A female martial artist in the Qi Cultivation Realm from the county seat, that's rare. Let's test her mettle."

He casually drew a blade from a nearby Holy Sect Disciple and leaped forward.

With a low command, the two simultaneously struck with their blades.

The blade light, like a dragon, collided fiercely with their respective intentions.

Bang!

A deafening roar exploded in the void, scattering airwaves and kicking up dust and fallen leaves.

Wang Yanjun felt an indescribable force travel from the hilt, instantaneously spreading through her body, causing excruciating pain in her wrist.

Looking closely, she saw her hand had small cracks opening at the wrist, with blood seeping out, dripping along the blade's hilt.

No matter how much she tried to stay calm, she couldn't conceal the slight tremble of her wrist.

"This strength…" Wang Yanjun inwardly marveled, "Qi Hai Realm!!!"

However, her move this time was not to determine life and death with the opponent.

After forcing the opponent back with a strike, Wang Yanjun didn't stay and instead used the blade as a whip, striking the horse's rear, charging towards the Huang Tian Sect, attempting a breakthrough.

The burly man from the Huang Tian Sect curved a faint smile at the sight, pulling out a talisman and sticking it on himself.

Yellow light burst forth, enveloping him.

With a powerful kick, he shot forward like an arrow, reaching Wang Yanjun swiftly.

In Wang Yanjun's startled gaze, the long blade rose once again, slicing through a horse's legs.

Boom.

Under the powerful inertia, Wang Yanjun was thrown off her horse, rolling several times.

Before she could regain her footing, in that brief breath, a fierce killing intent suddenly arose from behind.

Wang Yanjun's heart tightened, instinctively wanting to turn, but the long blade behind had already followed.

A gleaming long blade, whistling through the air, descended at an astonishing speed.

Wang Yanjun, relying on years of combat instinct, raised her blade abruptly to meet the strike from behind.

The metallic clang was deafening, sparks flying.

The opponent's force, concentrated in this strike, exceeded Wang Yanjun's expectations.

She felt an unusual force course through her, as if hit by tidal waves, her innards seemed displaced.

Pain washed over her like a tide, nearly suffocating her into unconsciousness.

Li Linfeng, witnessing this scene, was greatly shaken.

He knew Wang Yanjun's cultivation was similar to his, both being martial masters in the Qi Cultivation Realm. Yet against this General of the Huang Tian Sect, she had no chance to retaliate.

Facing him would also mean no chance of victory.

He gritted his teeth and quickly made a decision.

Channeling Qi throughout his body, he swiftly moved towards several Holy Sect Disciples, shouting, "Go!"

The others, realizing the situation, acted without hesitation, climbing onto the carriages, cracking the whip.

Crack!

"Onward!"

Li Linfeng led two carriage teams in a rapid charge.

The remaining Huang Tian Sect Cult Members intended to encircle, but found the government officials also charging through in retreat.

The General of the Huang Tian Sect looked coldly at Wang Yanjun, swung his blade without a word.

Wang Yanjun's fragile body, like tofu, was easily decapitated, her head crashing heavily to the ground.

"Ignore these, eliminate those fleeing officials. Leave none alive."

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