Chapter 76

The iron arrows drew black lines through the air as they flew. They seemed like long poles hurtling through the sky. Zhang Jian was running, easily deflecting the incoming "poles." Of course, it wasn't as easy as it looked. He wasn't just using brute strength and speed to deflect the arrows; rather, his movements were more akin to smoothly sliding them away from his blade.

This was a marvel achieved by his astonishing dynamic vision and the manifestation of Taiji Quan through his blade, which allowed him to block the iron projectiles without feeling fatigued. However, the archers, either unaware of Zhang Jian's skills or simply trying to keep him in check, continued to shoot arrows.

As the horses galloped towards each other, Zhang Jian and the archers quickly closed the distance. During this time, the five archers each fired at least four arrows, and Zhang Jian deflected all of them, remaining unscathed.

When the distance between them had narrowed sufficiently, the five archers split into two groups of two and three, moving to either side. They circled around Zhang Jian, reloaded their bows, and continued shooting. Zhang Jian clicked his tongue.

"You're being a nuisance."

They were highly skilled archers, able to adjust their bows to the direction they were moving, whether to the left or right. Those moving to the right held their bows in their left hands, and those moving to the left held them in their right hands.

Zhang Jian dodged the arrows flying from both sides and gently tugged on Zhaosun's reins. Zhaosun, as if taking a deep breath, exhaled deeply and then began to accelerate. The three archers he was chasing were the first to be caught.

A chaotic cavalry battle began on the not-so-wide ridge. The three archers fled while shooting arrows at Zhang Jian, and the remaining two archers pursued him from behind, also shooting arrows. Zhang Jian, using his single blade, deftly blocked the arrows coming from both directions while gradually increasing Zhaosun's speed.

The archers' faces showed signs of bewilderment. Their horses were of good bloodlines, carefully selected from the Shen Shang region, and were not much inferior to the imperial army's horses. However, Zhaosun, like a legendary horse, was fiercely galloping and catching up to them.

When the distance between Zhang Jian and the archers had closed sufficiently, he lightly lifted his leg, crouched on the saddle, and whispered to Zhaosun.

"Let's go."

Zhaosun snorted once. Hearing this, Zhang Jian straightened his bent legs and launched himself towards the archers.

At the moment of his leap, he spun his body, and the arrows flying towards him all missed. Simultaneously, his blade, spinning like a whirling arrow, swept past the three archers. After passing through them, Zhang Jian soared a bit further, then lost his momentum and fell, with Zhaosun waiting beneath him.

As he landed back on Zhaosun's saddle, the three archers, whose upper bodies had been cleanly severed, fell to the ground. Without looking back to confirm, Zhang Jian turned Zhaosun's reins and smoothly steered him around. As they turned, the remaining two archers, who had been pursuing them, now faced them.

Seeing their three comrades die in an instant, the two archers, upon seeing Zhang Jian rapidly approaching, hurriedly tried to draw their swords and whips from their waists. However, before their swords could leave their scabbards or their whips could be fully uncoiled, Zhang Jian and Zhaosun had already passed by them.

"Whoa, whoa. Tired?"

After the intense acceleration, Zhaosun, seeming to feign exhaustion, began to walk slowly, as if malfunctioning. Of course, Zhang Jian knew Zhaosun was just pretending. He could probably do this acceleration a couple more times.

However, since they had run more than usual today, Zhang Jian didn't say anything and just patted Zhaosun's neck. He wiped his blade and sheathed it, then turned the reins to check something.

Scattered around the gentle ridge were riderless horses and the bodies Zhang Jian had created. He approached those who had been about to draw their weapons. One had been killed instantly by a blade, but the other was still alive.

He lay on his back, clutching his bleeding chest, and gasping for breath. When he saw Zhang Jian and Zhaosun approaching, he trembled and looked up at Zhang Jian.

The dying man said, "Is your comrade safe?"

"No."

"…I thought so. To feel such a presence from so far away… In your group, only the old masters have such skills…"

Zhang Jian leaned forward, resting his elbow on the saddle, and said, "You're not from the Shen Shang. Why did you try to kill everyone here?"

"…Because it was my mission. To create a legend and mystery, everyone involved in the Changbao Island affair must die… And to weaken your group's power."

His breathing grew slower, and his eyes turned back to the blue sky.

"…But… in the end, it comes to this… To die in this wilderness after crossing the sea…"

He finished his mumbling and his breath stopped. Zhang Jian, who had been quietly observing him, dismounted and picked up a fallen bow. It was heavy, with a thicker string than a regular bow, and he could tell it was a composite bow made from various materials. Clearly, a bow capable of shooting iron arrows was not a regular bow.

This indicated that the archers belonged to a very powerful group, likely an ancient clan.

After examining the bow for a moment, Zhang Jian picked up an iron arrow and hung it on the saddle before remounting. The hidden struggles of the ancient clans were always present, though not always visible. This was a long-standing conflict that had continued since the Spring and Autumn period.

Zhang Jian turned Zhaosun's reins towards the base of the ridge. In the distance, he saw Lian and Yang Hong watching him.

* * *

"Zhu, Commander… Please… save me…"

Zhu Xian looked at the last Taiping soldier with a somewhat troubled expression. Except for this young man pinned to the wall, all the other Taiping soldiers were dead. The arrows from the black archers were fatal.

The mobilization of the Jegae forces, the Shen Shang, and the Taiping soldiers was the result of a consensus among the Wulin Alliance's leaders. However, the consensus did not include what to do with the treasure on Changbao Island. Therefore, the leader of the alliance ordered the treasure to be obtained to strengthen the Taiping forces.

However, the appearance of the archers suggested that the Jegae did not intend to give up the treasure. They likely also aimed to control the information that would reach the alliance leader. If the thieves hadn't intervened, the Jegae's arrows would have likely targeted the Taiping soldiers in the end.

"Commander… Please…"

Zhu Xian, lost in thought, soon lifted her head. The Taiping soldier, pressed against the wall, was pleading with tears in his eyes.

She peeked around the building to check the situation. It was around the time Zhang Jian and the archers finished their battle.

Confirming that the two thieves were distracted by Zhang Jian's fight, she turned to the Taiping soldier and covered his mouth with her hand. He gasped and struggled, but her grip did not loosen.

The Taiping soldier tried to push her away with all his strength, but when she pressed the arrow wound, he felt a sharp pain and lost his strength. Eventually, he glared at her with dimming eyes and died.

After finishing him off, Zhu Xian quietly turned and began to run away from where Zhang Jian and the two thieves were. Zhang Jian's appearance meant that Bai Shaojing had been defeated. She needed to inform her teacher. This also meant that the remaining Taiping forces were now under her control.

Although she was saddened by the death of Bai Shaojing, whom she had known well, the fact that she now had subordinates and power to control was not bad. A faint smile appeared on her lips as she ran.

* * *

Lian was pleased to see Zhang Jian approaching. However, Yang Hong, standing beside him, was not. He was smiling, but cold sweat was streaming down his face. He looked up at Zhang Jian's calm eyes and tried to speak first.

"Heh, heh… Did you sleep well? I found the way a bit earlier. The treasure is probably in the basement of that house."

Lian, standing beside him, looked incredulous. He seemed to think such an excuse wouldn't work. Zhang Jian, however, remained silent, just looking down at him.

Under this silent gaze, Yang Hong slowly lowered his eyes and continued.

"Um, well… I couldn't sleep well, so I started a bit earlier… You two seemed a bit busy…"

At that moment, Zhang Jian picked up the bow he had hung on the saddle and loaded an iron arrow, pulling the string taut and aiming it at Yang Hong. Yang Hong's face turned pale, and Lian, standing beside him, opened his eyes wide in surprise.

Yang Hong, spreading his hands, said in a trembling voice, "Zhang, Brother. Calm down… I did make a mistake, but… you and Li also did something wrong. Don't you think so? I mean, you two were clearly in the next room, yet you played along… Throwing away the treasure on Changbao Island… Showing such a big weakness to a thief is like putting food in front of a starving person and telling them to wait one more day…"

Lian, who had been looking at Yang Hong with a bewildered expression, was now even more confused. He wondered why he was being dragged into this. At that moment, Zhang Jian turned the bow to the side and released the arrow. The black arrow sliced through the clear sky and flew.

Lian and Yang Hong, who had been following the arrow's trajectory with blank faces, were startled. The arrow, which seemed to be heading in a different direction, was actually aimed at someone running far away.

Lian recognized the person.

"That woman… She was the Taiping soldier who was yelling at us earlier…"

"Zhang Jian said he would kill all the Taiping soldiers if he met them again."

Lian, seeing the woman lying motionless on the ground, wondered if this was a matter of consistency. To Yang Hong, it sounded like a declaration that he would be killed next.

So, he was trembling, and Zhang Jian, putting the bow back, dismounted. Without a word, he entered the house where Yang Hong said the treasure was. Lian and Yang Hong, looking at each other, quickly followed.

Inside the house, Zhang Jian surveyed the mess and gently pressed his foot on the floor. The slight tremor confirmed that there was a basement below. Nodding, he picked up a fallen chair and placed it in the corner. He sat on it and said to Yang Hong, who had followed him in.

"Rip it up."

"…Rip it up? The floor?"

Zhang Jian, still seated, nodded. After a moment's hesitation, Yang Hong laughed.

"Sure! I'll rip it up! There's Zhang Jian's treasure down there! Just wait a moment! I'll open it neatly. Hey, Lian. Help me a