Chapter 47 Assassination

Zhao Dahu and his men could no longer be bothered to pay attention to this group of idiots. They had been close to wetting their pants while being chased by the Mongols just moments ago, and now they were jumping around here, acting all high and mighty.

Zhao Shantong approached Lin Shize with a look of gratitude, cupped her fists, and said, "Thank you, Brother Lin, for your help just now. Otherwise, I would likely be dead."

Lin Shize returned the salute and said, "Lady Zhao, you are too kind. For a woman to dare draw her sword against the Mongols is a truly admirable display of courage. Truly, a heroine standing shoulder to shoulder with any man."

Turning around, Lin Shize said to Liu Wu, "Old Liu, clear the battlefield and assemble the troops to return to camp!"

It was not until they returned to the Jingshan Military Fortress that Zhao Shantong learned Lin Shize was the one sent by the main camp to meet them.

The group immediately reorganized their military equipment and marched toward the camp, with Lin Shize and a hundred men taking the vanguard position to act as scouts.

It was not that Lin Shize actually wanted to be the scout, but rather that he distrusted this group of people. If his own men were not at the front, he would have to sleep with one eye open.

Having witnessed Lin Shize's valor, Chu Luolong proactively struck up a conversation, endlessly calling out "Brother Lin, Brother Lin."

Through this incident, he understood that establishing a foothold in the borderlands required a fierce warrior like Lin Shize. His own Thirteenth Protectors were, at best, a few barking hounds.

Before they even reached the main camp, Lin Shize felt the man had reached the point where they might soon swear a sworn brotherhood.

At noon, the group passed by a village, and Lin Shize decided to take a brief rest here and have some lunch.

Liu Wu and Dahu each led a small squad to scout the village. Shortly after, the two returned and reported that everything was normal.

Just as Lin Shize was about to lead his men in, he suddenly noticed a pair of siblings approaching from afar. The male was in his early twenties, and the female appeared to be under twenty.

The two were wearing tattered hemp garments and walking toward them with unsteady steps, looking very much like refugees.

"Lords of the military, we are starving to death. Have pity on us and give us some food."

Chu Luolong frowned deeply, a look of utter disgust on his face as he said, "These lowly commoners! Number Ten, tell them to get lost!"

Number Ten, riding atop a warhorse, cracked his whip with a sharp snap and shouted angrily, "Get lost!"

The brother and sister seemed frightened. The woman collapsed to the ground, sobbing loudly.

Number Ten impatiently walked over, raised his whip, and prepared to lash down.

"Stop!"

Lin Shize stepped forward to block Number Ten, then turned his head and said gently, "Don't be afraid. I still have some dry rations here. Have something to eat first."

Seeing the dry rations handed over by Lin Shize, the siblings froze for a moment, then immediately lowered their heads to conceal the strange look in their eyes.

Accepting the rations, they muttered, "Thank you, military lord."

Lin Shize asked, "Where is your home? Why don't you come with us to the military camp? It's too dangerous with the Mongols around, and I'll send someone to send you back later."

As fellow subjects of Daqi, Lin Shize could not bear to watch two young people out here in the desolate wilderness.

The young man said gratefully, "Thank you, military lord."

Lin Shize smiled and said, "We are all subjects of Daqi, no need for formalities. Come with me."

Seeing Lin Shize bring two refugees over, Chu Luolong said with disgust, "Brother Lin, if the Mongols chase after us while we're dragging them along, won't we be in danger?"

Just as Lin Shize was about to speak, the young man beside him asked in an unfriendly tone, "Are you Chu Luolong?"

Number Ten pointed his horsewhip at him and shouted, "How dare a lowly commoner address our young master by his full name!"

Watching the chilling look in the young man's eyes, Lin Shize instinctively tightened his grip on the saber at his waist.

A sudden change occurred. The young man's figure shifted, charging toward Number Ten like a ghost and pressing a palm squarely against his chest.

Bang!

Number Ten felt a massive force erupt from his chest, and his entire body was instantly sent flying backward.

Chu Luolong was stunned. With a flash, the young man drew a long sword, the blade tearing through the air with a sharp whistling sound as he lunged straight toward Chu Luolong.

"Beast! Pay with your life for those thirteen wrongfully slain souls!"

Chu Luolong let out a terrified scream, his entire body stiffening.

Just as Lin Shize moved to intervene, the woman's outer garments burst open in the sunlight like a blooming flower, revealing a tight black martial outfit underneath as she gripped a pair of short daggers in her hands.

Lin Shize instinctively drew his military saber, but he was a fraction of a second too late.

Clang!

The short daggers collided with the saber, sending sparks flying in all directions.

Caught off guard, Lin Shize was forced to take a step back.

Having driven Lin Shize back, the woman did not press the attack but instead spun around and charged directly at Chu Luolong.

Zhao Shantong was right beside Chu Luolong, and seeing the man charge over, she immediately drew her long sword to meet him.

With a flick of his wrist, the man swept his sword past Zhao Shantong, his momentum unbroken as he took a heavy step and launched himself entirely into the air.

Like an eagle spreading its wings to soar, he executed a side-spinning aerial kick.

This kick carried immense power and weight. Zhao Shantong only had time to raise her arms in a defensive block.

With a muffled groan, Zhao Shantong staggered back several steps, barely managing to keep her balance.

Now, not a single person stood in front of Chu Luolong.

"Release the arrows!"

Dahu was the first to react, issuing the command before charging forward with his saber in hand.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Three arrows shot straight toward the man, but his movements were exceptionally agile. While airborne to dodge the arrows, he lashed out with two consecutive kicks.

One kick struck Zhao Dahu's wrist, knocking his saber from his grasp, while the other kicked him squarely in the chest, physically knocking him down from his warhorse.

Zhao Dahu's sturdy frame was sent flying by the single kick, and he felt as though his internal organs had been violently jolted.

Before the man even hit the ground, another figure had already rushed forward.

Liu Wu drew his bow and nocked an arrow, loosing it straight at the woman's face.

Who would have thought the woman's movement technique would be even more bizarre? Her entire body coiled like a venomous snake, and the arrow whizzed past the side of her cheek.

With a loud shout, Liu Wu charged forward and brought his saber down in a furious, all-out slash.

The woman raised her twin daggers to parry Liu Wu's blade, her expression calm as she thrust both daggers forward simultaneously.

Clang, clang, clang!

The twin daggers flashed like shooting stars chasing the moon. In a flash, Liu Wu's armor took three successive strikes. Enduring the intense pain in his chest, Liu Wu swung his blade once more.

The woman sidestepped to dodge, looking somewhat astonished; she had not expected the armor on Liu Wu to be so remarkably sturdy.

Amidst the melee, Chu Luolong finally snapped out of his daze. With a miserable scream, he whipped the horse's flank fiercely. The warhorse let out a pained whiny roar and bolted desperately into the distance.

Zhao Shantong and the four protectors hurried to give chase.

Six soldiers formed a tactical formation and charged at the two assassins, but within three exchanges, all of them were forced back.

Just as the woman was about to mount a horse to pursue Chu Luolong, she sensed a fierce rush of wind approaching from behind.

Turning back, she raised her twin daggers to block. Lin Shize used his right-hand saber to pin the woman's daggers while throwing a handful of dirt with his left hand.

Ah!

The woman had not expected Lin Shize to resort to such a dirty trick. In an instant, her vision was completely obscured.

seizing the opportunity, Lin Shize batted the twin daggers from her hands. Just as he lunged forward, the woman spun around and kicked away Lin Shize's saber as well.

Lin Shize had not anticipated that this seemingly young woman possessed such rich combat experience, capable of kicking away his weapon even while her vision was impaired.

However, he was no novice either. He grabbed the woman's ankle with a reverse grip and yanked her toward his chest.

Wrapping his arms around her waist, the two tumbled to the ground and grappled fiercely together.

Seeing this, the young man's expression changed drastically. He turned back, intending to rescue the woman, but was tightly surrounded by Liu Wu, Zhao Dahu, and the soldiers. No matter how he tried to charge and break through, he could not pierce the dense military formation.

Back with Lin Shize, he was still locked in close-quarters combat with the woman, close enough that he could clearly see her crystal-clear eyes.