Chapter 9, Breakthrough
These four individuals were originally twin brothers born of the same mother, sharing a deep bond since childhood. After practicing their sword formation together, they became even more formidable. Ordinary experts would find it impossible to withstand their combined assault. Yet now, they have been unexpectedly defeated by Fang Tianqiao, resulting in the death of one among them, leaving everyone filled with grief and indignation. One of them, disregarding his own safety, bravely charged towards Gongsun Yan, willing to sacrifice his life.
The dense forest to the south is the escape route that Fang Tian had long planned. Beyond the forest lies a range of mountains, with complex terrain that makes it extremely easy to evade formidable enemies. Now, the situation is more favorable to the enemy, and our side is injured, with combat effectiveness greatly diminished. Choosing to confront the enemy head-on is not the action of a wise person
As the setting sun descends in the west, weary birds return to their nests, and the dusk envelops the mountains and fields. Surrounding the dilapidated temple is a circle of wild grass, which grows to a height of over half a person and is exceedingly dense. A gentle breeze passes through, creating a rustling sound. Amidst the sparse trees around, shadows of figures occasionally flicker, clearly concealing a perilous threat beneath the tranquility of dusk
Ouyang Tian and Gongsun Yan both felt a chill in their hearts, realizing that the other had indeed set a trap to scheme against themselves. Who could be the one plotting against them? However, this was not the time to speculate on the matter.
The sound of "crackling" shattered the tranquility of the moment. A flicker of flame burst forth from the temple, and in an instant, it ignited the surrounding dry grass. In the blink of an eye, the fire surged, spreading towards the sparse woods in all directions
At that moment, two individuals burst forth from the forest, one tall and thin, the other short and stout. They charged in like the wind, and in an instant, the two tall men pursuing Haimingyue had already collapsed to the ground, evidently beyond saving. However, before they met their end, the long swords of both men managed to pierce Haimingyue, who fell to the ground after being struck. The short and stout man bent down to pick up Haimingyue, calling out "Miss!" as he fought his way out. The tall and thin man, seeing Haimingyue injured, was filled with uncontrollable rage. With a flash of movement, he struck like the wind, causing several nearby men in black to retreat repeatedly, following closely behind the stout man as they fought their way out.
Only those two twin brothers did not heed the command and continued to relentlessly pursue Gongsun Yan. Although Gongsun Yan's lightness of skill was exceptional, carrying a person inevitably slowed her down, and gradually, the two twin brothers caught up with her. Gongsun Yan could not help but feel anxious; in her panic, her speed suddenly increased, and she managed to shake off the two of them.
The leader of the man in black barely caught up and immediately spotted someone standing on a large rock nearby, causing him to shiver involuntarily. He hurried over and respectfully said, "Young Master, why have you come in person?"
At this moment, Gongsun Yan was already exhausted. Seeing the fierce enemy about to catch up, she found herself with no strength left to fight. Looking down at Fang Tian, she noticed that he had been pierced by a sword in the back. Although she had sealed the acupoints around him, blood continued to seep out. Due to excessive blood loss, Fang Tian's complexion was pale, his breathing weak, and his injuries were extremely severe
Ouyang Tian pondered for a moment and addressed the person: "Are you not the renowned 'Golden Spear' Shi Meng from the Northern Region?"
Seeing that everyone had successfully escaped the encirclement, there was great joy among the crowd. However, a loud voice suddenly exclaimed: "You have indeed escaped to this place; it is precisely that you do not take the path to heaven, yet you have entered the gate of hell. Hahaha..." A robust and powerful figure emerged, also masked with a black cloth.
At this moment, sounds of swords clashing and cries of anguish came from the south. The leader of the men in black remained in a state of hesitation, and for the time being, could only observe the situation.
Everyone was taken aback, as the earlier hopes were suddenly shattered; it turned out that the enemy had long since set an ambush in this place
Fang Tianxin felt a secret joy in his heart, having finally escaped. He had witnessed bloodshed and murder for the first time, and the death toll was in the dozens. Although he was not familiar with these individuals, he still did not wish to see anyone else lose their life over this matter
The leader of the Men in Black hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to disperse his forces to hold their ground or to concentrate their strength and wait for the opponent to reveal themselves before striking decisively
The black-clad figures hidden all around were taken by surprise, as countless shadows hurriedly leaped out from the overgrown grass, fleeing in disarray.
Fang Tian's plan is very simple: first, use thick smoke to disrupt the enemy's deployment, then employ diversionary tactics to create disturbances in the west and north, and finally concentrate forces to launch a swift assault to the south with lightning speed
Fang Tian and the others exchanged glances, each seeing the fear in the other's eyes. Ding Rushan let out a deep roar: "Damn it, let's fight them to the end!" This instantly ignited the fighting spirit of the crowd
In just a moment, a noticeable gap appeared in the encirclement of the men in black, allowing Gongsun Wei and the others to slip away. The leader of the men in black looked anxiously at the young master and was about to choose a path to pursue them. The young master smiled faintly and said, "There is no need to chase them; let them escape." After saying this, a sinister smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Gongsun Yan turned to face the cliff, tightly embracing Fang Tian, and jumped down
Gongsun Yan was killing for the first time. Suddenly, she saw someone resembling the figure in the *illustration* die right before her eyes, the blood of that person splattering onto her. Her heart tightened, and she was momentarily stunned. When she realized someone was lunging at her, it was too late to evade, so she could only close her eyes and wait for death. Seeing the young lady standing there in a daze, Yue'er felt a surge of panic. She leaped forward and stood in front of Gongsun Yan. The furious assailant thrust his sword deeply into Yue'er's body, yet she clung tightly to the man's right arm.
At this moment, it is early autumn, and the trees and wild grasses still retain some greenery. This is not typically a flammable season, yet it is unclear what method the people in the temple employed, as the flames are growing increasingly fierce, resembling a sweeping fire across the plains
Indeed, moments later, the sound of clashing swords and screams came from the west. The leader of the men in black felt a surge of joy and thought, "They have indeed arrived." He led his team swiftly to the west, only to find a few corpses amidst the smoke, with nothing else discovered. In a state of confusion, the sounds of swords clashing and screams again emanated from the north, prompting them to rush towards that direction. By the time they arrived, everything had returned to calm. In a state of confusion, the sounds of swords clashing and screams again emanated from the north, prompting them to rush towards that direction. By the time they arrived, everything had returned to calm.
The plan was indeed successful! Fang Tian added some medicinal herbs amidst the smoke, successfully disrupting the enemy's ambush; he and Gongsun Wei carried out assassinations in the west and north respectively, creating the illusion of a breakout, which successfully diverted the enemy's experts. After that, he and Gongsun Wei regrouped with the others, concentrating their forces to break through in the south. With a single push, they carved out a path and finally entered the dense forest to the south
In that moment of distraction, the two twin brothers simultaneously thrust their long swords at Fang Tian, who immediately fell to the ground. Upon seeing Fang Tian collapse, Hai Mingyue let out a startled cry and rushed towards him. The two tall men who were engaged in combat with Hai Mingyue seized the opportunity and simultaneously launched their attacks, aiming for her back, putting her in an extremely perilous situation
Emerging from the dense forest, one is greeted by the continuous range of mountains ahead. One could circle around the mountains a few times and then find a suitable place to descend; alternatively, once everyone has recovered from their injuries, they could lie in wait to ambush those pursuing them, delivering a heavy blow to the enemy; or perhaps in a few days, that group of bandits may lower their flags and cease their activities, allowing our side to descend leisurely.
The death of Lei Hu left Fang Tian deeply saddened, as a renowned hero of the martial world met such a tragic end. Before breaking through, they hastily buried Lei Hu, and everyone shed tears. Even though Gongsun Yan and Ouyang Tian harbored some doubts about the unseemly role that the Xiongwei Escort Agency might have played in this conspiracy, they could not help but weep at the sight of Lei Hu's tragic demise. Lu Ping and the few remaining escort members wept bitterly; had it not been for the urgency of the situation and the perilous circumstances that prevented them from taking the body, they would never have allowed Lei Hu to be buried so hastily.
Fang Tian no longer dared to be distracted, carefully observing the combined attack techniques of the four. He found no flaws at all. At that moment, an opponent lunged at him with a sword, and Fang Tian felt a shift in his heart. The long sword was enveloped in a sinister energy, which he used to sweep against the opponent's sword, then followed through by striking at another person. The force of his strike disrupted the latter's sword stance, causing a momentary pause. Meanwhile, another opponent suddenly saw two long swords thrusting towards him. He attempted to evade, only to realize that there was someone in his path! Startled, he hurriedly retreated, causing chaos in their formation, which allowed Gongsun Yan to take advantage and stab one person to death. Thus, the sword formation was broken.
"Group One, stand guard! Group Two, extinguish the fire! Group Three, prepare to attack! Do not let a single enemy escape!" The leader in black shouted loudly
Fang Tianyan observed the four directions and saw that his companions had all fallen into perilous situations, yet he found himself at a loss, greatly anxious. The four individuals who had joined forces to attack were surprisingly difficult to deal with, entangling Fang Tian and Gongsun Yan, as well as Yue'er, leaving them to struggle in vain. Fang Tian's attention was drawn to Hai Mingyue, who was fiercely battling two men in black on the other side; for a moment, he was distracted and nearly fell victim to the opponent's sword.
The figure clearly paused for a moment, then suddenly threw back his head and laughed heartily: "Good! What a 'calculating machine'! You can actually recognize me, very well! I am Shi Meng!" He reached out to pull down the black scarf from his head, revealing a man with a full face of bushy beard.
Ouyang Tiandao: "I wonder what grievances the old man and his companions have with Hero Shi? Why is there such a calculated effort to deal with us?"
Gongsun Yan suddenly awakened, exclaiming "Yue'er," and swung her sword, severing the head of that person. She embraced Yue'er and cried out, while Yue'er looked at Gongsun Yan with a faint smile and passed away.
The wild grass was inherently dry, and after being set ablaze, thick smoke billowed forth. Amidst the flames, the smoke rolled and mingled with the dusk, creating a scene where the sky and earth were shrouded in mist, instantly enveloping the surroundings in smoke. The figure in black, lost in the haze, was utterly unaware of their location, and the smoke carried a peculiar pungency, suggesting that some other ingredients had been added to it. Suddenly, the area was filled with the sounds of coughing, tears and mucus flowing freely. The figure in black, lost in the haze, was utterly unaware of their location, and the smoke carried a peculiar pungency, suggesting that some other ingredients had been added to it. Suddenly, the area was filled with the sounds of coughing, tears and mucus flowing freely.
Fang Tian secretly blamed himself for being too careless, and as he spun his body, he managed to escape, but he also lost the opportunity to charge out.
Shi Meng declared proudly: "I am merely here on orders to take your lives, and there is no room for discussion. Surrender at once!" He then drew his renowned weapon, the Purple Gold Twin Guns, from m.hetushu.com. A powerful aura emanated from him.
The leader of the Men in Black finally realized that he had been deceived; the breakout to the south was the real one. He hurriedly led his team there, but it was too late, as he could only see the figures of the opposing side already disappearing into the trees on the other side.
The leader of the Men in Black was so furious that he nearly spat blood. He thought that if he let the opponent go just like that, his own master would surely have his head chopped off. He quickly commanded his subordinates to pursue.
Fang Tian and his companions were already in a state of exhaustion, and with the addition of the leader of the black-clad men, their situation worsened. Gongsun Wei and Ouyang Tian were jointly confronting Shi Meng and had the upper hand, but when Shi Meng's side added two more experts, the situation immediately reversed. Hai Mingyue was entangled by two black-clad men, forced to separate from Fang Tian, and her heart was filled with anxiety, leading to a series of dangers. Ding Rushan was fighting three black-clad men using only his right fist, already in a difficult position. Hai Mingyue was entangled by two black-clad men, forced to separate from Fang Tian, and her heart was filled with anxiety, leading to a series of dangers. Ding Rushan was fighting three black-clad men using only his right fist, already in a difficult position. Lu Ping and the other five bodyguards were also caught in a bitter struggle, losing two more men in just one encounter.
Gongsun Yan's potential for transport, after all, cannot be sustained. In a moment, those two twin brothers caught up again
When the flames flared up, he sensed that things were not going well. Sure enough, with the thick smoke rising, chaos ensued on their side, and the enemy was likely about to take the opportunity to break through. Therefore, he shouted loudly: "Everyone, stay calm! Each person must hold their position; we absolutely cannot let a single enemy escape!" Meanwhile, he personally led a team of skilled fighters to patrol the area, waiting for Fang Tian and others to break through, so he could lead his team to intercept and eliminate them.
In the midst of her busy schedule, Gongsun Yan picked up Fang Tian and fled outside. Upon seeing the enemy who had killed their two brothers escape, the two twin brothers immediately gave chase.
In a state of panic and without a clear path, Gongsun Yan unexpectedly ran up a high mountain. When she turned back and saw the enemy drawing closer, her anxiety intensified. Drawing upon her true strength, she sprinted rapidly. Before she realized it, she had reached the edge of a cliff!
In the blink of an eye, two of the four brothers had died, and the other two were in a furious rage. They lunged at Gongsun Yan like madmen, but Fang Tian managed to catch them. However, facing the frenzied assault, Fang Tian could only hold on desperately. In a flash, a shadow appeared, raising a knife to strike at Hai Mingyue from behind. Hai Mingyue was unable to evade, and in a moment of panic, disregarding her own safety, she shook her long sword, forcing back the two in front of her, and then threw the sword backward, hitting the shadow squarely in the back.
Ouyang Tian slowly took out his own calculating tool and faced Shi Meng.
Gongsun Yan, seeing herself in a desperate situation, looked at the Fangtian halberd in her arms and gave a bitter smile, "Little troublemaker, I will die together with you and the books." A hint of sweetness involuntarily arose in her heart
Gongsun Yan let out a cry, nearly fainting. Yue'er had accompanied her since childhood, and their bond was no less than that of biological sisters. Now, witnessing Yue'er's tragic death before her eyes, she could not help but be overwhelmed with grief.
Fang Tian, aware of the urgency of the situation, had no time for pleasantries and charged forward with Gongsun Yan and the others. At that moment, four men in black emerged to block their path. Taking advantage of the momentum, Fang Tian suddenly lunged at the leader. However, he saw that the four had shifted their positions, causing him to lose sight of his target, while swords were thrust at him from both sides. The four were surprisingly skilled in the art of coordinated attacks.
That Shi Meng is truly formidable. Ouyang Tian, due to his injuries, has unexpectedly fallen at a disadvantage. Gongsun Wei said to Fang Tiandao: "Brother Fang, please protect Yan Mei and the others and leave quickly. I will go help Uncle Ouyang!" After saying this, he brandished his long sword and joined Ouyang Tian to fight against Shi Meng, immediately gaining the upper hand.
However, the sounds of swords and blades from the south grew increasingly louder, and the cries of anguish multiplied, suggesting that the battle was extremely fierce
Seeing this opportunity, Gongsun Wei and Ouyang Tian, Ding Rushan, Lu Ping, and others who were in a fierce struggle immediately scattered and fled, taking advantage of the chaos among the group of black-clad individuals, disappearing without a trace
The leader of the men in black realized that he had fallen into the enemy's trap. He contemplated dispersing his elite forces to guard various locations, yet he feared that doing so might weaken his own strength and ultimately work against him. The thought that the enemy could remain unfazed by the formidable Seven Fiends Incense sent a chill through him; the enemy's power was becoming increasingly inscrutable, making him even more cautious. His side's plan had originally seemed foolproof, but with the poison strategy failing to take effect, it could no longer be executed flawlessly. Now, if they were to attempt to eliminate the enemy again, he could only wonder how many more of his own men would be lost. He was troubled by how to report this to his superiors. Nevertheless, he knew that they must eliminate the enemy; otherwise, it would be difficult to ensure his own safety.
The man let out a cold snort and said, "Hmph, just based on you, how many people have let you go!" The leader of the black-clad men did not dare to respond, only nodding in agreement, repeatedly praising the young master for his brilliance, for managing to corner the enemy here... It was evident that the young master was exceptionally intelligent, a natural talent, graceful and poised, the greatest sage in the world, throughout history. Even Zhuge Liang would have to concede defeat if he were alive... The young master, hearing this, was overjoyed and said, "Alright, you go and capture them all, do not harm that Gongsun Yan, the lives of the others do not matter. As long as you can turn your crimes into merits, I will not punish you!" The leader of the black-clad men was overjoyed and secretly wiped away a cold sweat.