Chapter 323 - 211: Initiative

Chapter 323: Chapter 211: Initiative

If she were to say that out loud, Fang Yue would probably be the first to cut her down.

Fang Yue frowned slightly. He didn’t feel like the woman was lying, but he was already biased against Li Mengyao and found her very odd.

"If that’s the case, then do as you please."

Fang Yue nodded, said nothing more, and continued on his way.

He didn’t believe in such coincidences—that he would leave the Prefecture City, and this woman would just happen to follow, and then a message from the Observatory would just happen to arrive asking for his help.

Besides, the woman’s attitude toward him was unusually warm. He couldn’t help but dwell on it.

This made Fang Yue suspicious. ’Does this woman have some kind of ulterior motive!?’

Fifteen minutes later,

Ahead of the convoy, several thick logs lay across the wide, flat official road, blocking their path.

Seeing this, Fang Yue immediately pulled the reins, bringing the convoy to a halt.

"What is it, Fang?" Li Mengyao couldn’t help but ask when she saw what was happening.

"Someone’s blocking the road," Fang Yue said calmly.

"Someone? Who?"

Li Mengyao’s expression changed instantly at his words. She quickly jumped down from her carriage and went to the front to see. A knowing smile immediately spread across her face.

’Who could it be? It has to be either Chen Kang or Yang Hao. Or maybe they’re both in on it.’

’Setting an ambush here... those two are certainly bold!’

Just as they were speaking, a series of sharp, whistling sounds tore through the air.

"Look out! Get down!"

The moment he heard the sound, Fang Yue knew it was Crossbow Arrows, and from the extremely powerful Forbidden Army Divine Arm Breaking Air Crossbow at that.

He had seen this type of Crossbow Arrow on the battlefields between the armies of Guangfeng Prefecture and Shanyang Prefecture. Their power was immense, comparable to a volley from a ten-dan heavy crossbow, and the special material of the shafts was designed specifically to break through Protective Primordial Qi.

Even an Innate Master like him would be severely injured if hit.

Li Mengyao, ’terrified,’ turned deathly pale and scrambled toward Fang Yue for cover.

Seeing this, Fang Yue couldn’t just push her away. Instead, he pulled her over, shoving Li Mengyao down into a small hollow on the ground. He ended up landing right on top of her soft body.

The next moment.

WHOOSH...

In an instant,

hundreds of arrows flew toward them at an unbelievable speed.

The arrows left terrifying afterimages in the air as they streaked past.

"AHHHH..."

In a flash, a dozen or so guards who couldn’t dodge in time were hit, their agonizing screams echoing without end.

The arrows pierced clean through their bodies, spraying blood everywhere in a gruesome spectacle.

They had no time to react, no chance to even resist, before they were shot dead. It was a ghastly scene.

"Run! Flee!"

"The rebels are here!"

"Run for your lives!"

After the first volley, the few lucky guards who survived fled madly into the distance.

But the arrows were too fast. No matter how quickly they ran, death was certain.

THWACK...

With a muffled thud, another glinting arrow flew past, pinning the man to the ground.

In moments, the ground was littered with bodies—a truly tragic sight.

Beside Li Mengyao, Fang Yue listened to the agonized cries all around him, his expression growing darker by the second.

Li Mengyao’s pretty face was flushed crimson; she could feel how close she was to Fang Yue.

The aura emanating from his body was intoxicating, making her want to take a bite. ’He definitely has Demon Dragon Qi!’

"...Fang..." Li Mengyao whispered softly.

Fang Yue froze for a second. ’Did she say my name on purpose, or was it unconscious?’

"What is it?" Fang Yue took a deep breath, suppressing the stirring in his chest. He slowly raised his head and looked into Li Mengyao’s eyes.

"N-nothing!" Li Mengyao shook her head, her face blushing slightly.

"Hah. Good."

Fang Yue looked away, immediately shifting his attention to the nearby woods.

The attackers had been in those woods. Just then, a group of men in pale yellow uniforms charged out. Their dress was similar, making them look like a cross between bandits and soldiers.

"Is this... the Changping Army? The army under King Changping, one of the three great Rebel Kings of Guangfeng Prefecture. Why are they here? And why are they attacking us?" Li Mengyao’s eyes widened in astonishment.

King Changping was the foremost of the three great Rebel Kings of Guangfeng Prefecture. He had operated in the prefecture for many years, amassing immense power. His own Martial Arts Cultivation was extraordinary; it was said he had already reached the Transformation realm.

Furthermore, for these attackers to be carrying so many Divine Arm Breaking Air Crossbows, they had to be elites from the Changping Army.

Fang Yue didn’t answer Li Mengyao.

In that short span of time, the Changping Army had already closed in.

They were indeed carrying Divine Arm Breaking Air Crossbows. Judging by their numbers, they had more than enough to surround and kill an Innate Grandmaster.

’They certainly hold me in high regard, sending a force like this after me.’

Fang Yue, however, had no idea how he could have possibly offended this Rebel King enough to warrant such an elite force being sent after him.

Or perhaps they were after Li Mengyao, and he was just caught in the crossfire.

"Search everywhere, and be thorough! Remember, kill the men and leave the woman alive!" a rough voice called out.

Fang Yue cursed inwardly when he heard that. ’So they *are* after Li Mengyao. Good thing I reacted quickly, or I’d be caught in the crossfire.’

"Hmph, these bastards are courting death! How dare they come after me! When I get out of this, I’ll annihilate every last one of them."

Rage boiled up inside Li Mengyao as she heard the coarse man’s words, and her beautiful eyes practically spat fire.