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Chapter 144: Chapter 144 Fierce Battle
As night fell, Zhan Lan and her companions waited for the peddler to leave before flipping over the wall into Liu Jinxiu’s backyard from the alley behind her house.
Inside the house, Liu Jinxiu had prepared dinner, and a man cursing and complaining slammed down his chopsticks, "Why are we eating radishes and cabbage again, and even eggs? Are we that poor now?"
Liu Jinxiu responded with a smile, "Son, these past few months, mom has been a bit tight on money. You’ll just have to make do with this for now!"
The man, impatient, said, "What about her, has she not given you any money? After such a big favor you did, she just leaves you hanging?"
Liu Jinxiu also felt uneasy but comforted herself, "She lives in Ding’an City. There must have been some delay."
She wondered why Mrs. Li hadn’t sent her any silver these past few months.
Their household was completely dependent on Mrs. Li’s silver to survive!
Hearing this, Zhan Lan speculated that the person mentioned by Midwife Liu must be Mrs. Li.
She gently pushed open the door and stepped inside. The mother and son were shocked to see Zhan Lan.
"Who are you?" asked Liu Jinxiu’s plump son, Li Huan.
"Mrs. Li sent me to deliver some money to you," Zhan Lan said softly.
Li Huan asked excitedly, "Why have you only come now!"
Liu Jinxiu suspiciously eyed Zhan Lan, "Isn’t the money always delivered through the silver bank? Why come in person?"
Zhan Lan said somberly, "Because Mrs. Li was injured and has been bedridden for months. Worried you might be in urgency, she entrusted me to come in her stead."
Li Huan excitedly reached for the silver in Zhan Lan’s hands, but she smiled and stepped back, saying, "Wait, Mrs. Li’s daughter has made a fortune, she has lots of silver now, and to repay your past kindness, she wants to take you with her to enjoy a prosperous life in Ding’an City."
Liu Jinxiu’s face lit up with joy, but then she asked, "Do you have any proof that you’re one of Mrs. Li’s people?"
Zhan Lan produced a jade pendant from her bosom, "This pendant has been with Mrs. Li since childhood, never leaving her side."
Seeing the jade pendant, Liu Jinxiu’s eyes gleamed.
It was the proof of identity for the Li Family.
However, she recalled Mrs. Li once saying she should never set foot in Ding’an City again.
Liu Jinxiu’s eyes darted around, feeling the situation must be fishy.
Her foolish son, thrilled by the prospect of such good fortune, said gleefully, "Great, let’s pack our things and leave now!"
Suddenly, Liu Jinxiu blocked her son, looking at Zhan Lan, "Wait, let’s discuss this a bit and pack our things first."
Zhan Lan could tell by Liu Jinxiu’s gaze that she was suspicious.
Zhan Lan stepped closer, tossing out a sleeping powder, knocking the mother and son unconscious instantly.
"Take them away!" Zhan Lan commanded coldly.
The Hidden Guards appeared and carried the mother and son to the carriage.
Zhan Lan, mounted on her horse, led the way, with Xiao Chen following behind the carriage, the group leaving.
Although the night journey was slow, it was inconspicuous, and they made a smooth departure from Phoenix City.
As they passed a rapid river, abruptly, a barrage of arrows shot out of the woods.
"Be careful!" While Zhan Lan deflected the arrows with her sword, she snuffed out the lantern.
In an instant, their position was concealed from the enemy’s view.
Rustle! Rustle!
From the fallen arrows, Zhan Lan estimated that their enemies numbered three times their own.
A group of people dressed for night travel gradually neared them.
Under the moonlight, the two groups clashed suddenly.
The enemies seemingly aimed to seize their carriage, but Zhan Lan skewered one with her sword.
Suddenly, another adversary with a glaring spear thrust at her with a whooshing sound.
Zhan Lan met the attacker head-on but soon realized their spear skill was formidable.
She had never encountered an opponent with such deadly spear technique in her past life.
"Protect the Master!" Xiao Chen and the Hidden Guards moved to shield Zhan Lan, her Soft Sword clearly outclassed.
Her swordsmanship was no match for the spear technique, and without her war spear, Wuming, she was suppressed and at a disadvantage.
From the opponent’s spear technique, Zhan Lan immediately thought of the opponent’s identity.
It was Hei Yu, the most formidable Death Guard under Si Jun!
But why would Hei Yu want to kidnap Liu Jinxiu!
Zhan Lan had no time to think, using her sword to counter the attacks from his battle spear.
If Xiao Chen hadn’t come to help, she might have been injured already.
During the fierce battle, Xiao Chen’s shoulder was sliced open by the battle spear, and Zhan Lan alone crossed swords with Hei Yu for another five moves.
"Your swordsmanship is not bad!" The man pressed Zhan Lan’s sword with his battle spear, his voice carrying a bloodthirsty smile.
Zhan Lan knew she was no match for him. Her Hidden Guards were desperately resisting against the enemy who had the numerical advantage and were pressuring her men.
At this rate, the outcome was predictable.
Zhan Lan’s eyes were cold as she said, "Your spear technique is also not bad!"
While saying this, she held the hidden weapon Blood Drop in her sleeve and triggered its mechanism.
Bang!
Hei Yu sensed the danger and dodged backward, but he couldn’t escape the three consecutive attacks of the hidden weapon.
Whoosh!
The silver needles shot from the dagger pierced into Hei Yu’s thigh, he felt his left leg go weak, unable to muster any strength.
Hei Yu let out a muffled grunt, and at the same time, three throwing knives flew out from his battle spear towards Zhan Lan. 𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘱𝘶𝘣.𝘤𝘰𝑚
Zhan Lan swiftly leaped aside, dodging two, but the last one was bound to thrust into her chest, so Zhan Lan could only use her arm to block it.
At the critical moment, a figure descended from the sky, knocking away the dagger, protecting Zhan Lan behind him.
In an instant, a dozen more Hidden Guards from all directions joined the battle.
Zhan Lan looked up, feeling the killing intent of the man in front of her, who coldly said to Zhan Lan, "Back off!"
Hearing this voice, Zhan Lan was stunned—it was Mu Yan!
He had arrived!
Brandishing his sword, Mu Yan pressed Hei Yu into a rout in an instant.
Hei Yu’s gaze fixed as he assessed the situation: his Death Guards were now evenly matched with the Hidden Guards brought by Mu Yan and Zhan Lan, and with one of his legs paralyzed, he could not defeat Mu Yan—there was no chance of victory.
Therefore, in the moment he thrust his battle spear, he triggered a mechanism, and as Mu Yan used his sword to block, a cloud of powder burst out. Mu Yan held his breath, but still, a small amount was inhaled.
Taking advantage of the situation, Hei Yu pushed Mu Yan back and shouted, "Retreat!"
In the chaos, his men had already taken the carriage carrying Liu Jinxiu and her child.
"Soft Bone Powder!" Mu Yan felt his legs give as the powder entered his body, and he immediately fell backward.
Zhan Lan quickly caught Mu Yan by the hand.
Together, they tumbled into the rushing river.
"Master!"
"Master!"
Zhan Lan and Mu Yan’s Hidden Guards panickeda.
Zhan Lan, in the water, gestured, "Go get the people back! Don’t worry about us!"
In an instant, the two were swept away by the current.
Vermilion Bird looked at Xiao Chen and said, "You lead our people to pursue the Death Guards, I’ll go look for our masters!"
"Okay!"
The two quickly made a decision and split up to take action.
The current was rapid; Zhan Lan held onto Mu Yan’s hand firmly, Mu Yan having no strength at all, floating along with Zhan Lan in the direction of the flow.
"Hold on to me tight!" Zhan Lan was glad she could swim; otherwise, they both would have been done for.
The two continued down the river until Zhan Lan grabbed a slanted tree and dragged Mu Yan to shore.
Drenched, Zhan Lan emerged from the water and gasped for breath, looking at Mu Yan, also soaked and strengthless, and asked, "Are you okay?"
