The Yellow Mountain bandits had breached Ninghe County.
They were determined to repay the humiliation suffered in Gangshi Town with tenfold vengeance!
No one named Xie or Xu would escape!
The Xie family member had left for the capital too suddenly before, and they had missed their chance. This return trip to Ninghe would be his burial ground!
Since the Xu family member was the magistrate of Ninghe, then Ninghe County would be his tomb!
Ninghe County had fewer than a thousand soldiers, and with their people inside acting as informants, it wasn't impossible to breach the city.
Things unfolded as they had envisioned. Despite suffering some casualties, they had successfully captured Ninghe County.
However, what they never expected was to be greeted by an empty city. Apart from the soldiers, there wasn't a single soul in the city!
By the time they realized something was amiss, the city gates had already closed, and countless soldiers poured out from every street and alley.
A battle commenced at dawn and concluded only after the sky had fully brightened.
As Xu Hengyan was still in his armor, Guang Bai rushed in with news.
"Young Master Xie was ambushed at Nanlong Slope. The Yellow Mountain bandits certainly think highly of Young Master Xie, deploying over five hundred men for the ambush."
"When did this happen?"
"This afternoon."
"How many people were with her?"
"When she left for the capital, besides Aunt He and two maids, there were only six people."
Xu Hengyan's expression turned grave.
Six people against over five hundred bandits.
Even if Da Chui and Nie Tong had followed her from the capital, she would only have eight people.
Eight people against five hundred.
Even with their superior equipment, they stood no chance.
"Leave the后续 matters to Guang Qing. Immediately gather three hundred men and follow me."
...
By the time Xu Hengyan arrived, it was already evening. The setting sun over Nanlong Slope was also stained crimson.
Numerous bandit corpses littered the slope, both above and below. Fortunately, Xie Jiang and her guards were not among them.
Xu Hengyan led his men, following the sounds of battle, and rescued Nie Tong, who was at the end of his strength, from the encirclement.
"Where is your young master?"
Nie Tong pointed in a direction and then fainted.
Xu Hengyan's expression grew even more somber. The few people with her had also dispersed to draw away the bandits.
Leaving a contingent to deal with the remaining bandits, Xu Hengyan led the rest of his men towards the direction Nie Tong had indicated.
The further she went, the heavier Xu Hengyan's heart became. The path she had chosen indicated how precarious her situation was at the moment.
Before long, the sounds of fighting could be heard. Xu Hengyan, filled with urgency, whipped her horse and charged forward like lightning.
Da Chui, surrounded and trapped, was already fighting with bloodshot eyes. Even as men fell around him, the sheer number of bandits prevented him from stopping them from reaching Xie Jiang.
The moment Xie Jiang appeared in Xu Hengyan's sight, she was seen leaping onto a suspension bridge on her horse.
Arrows rained down behind her like a swarm.
No matter how fast the horse ran, there was no room to maneuver on the suspension bridge. Halfway across, the horse was inevitably hit by an arrow.
With a neigh, the horse plunged headfirst off the bridge. Xie Jiang skillfully dismounted just as the bandits' arrows became even more rapid and fierce.
Xu Hengyan's heart leaped to her throat, and she also noticed the unusual skill of the archers among the bandits.
Having identified the hidden positions of the archers, Xu Hengyan said in a deep voice to Guang Bai, "Take your men and deal with the archers personally."
Guang Bai: "Yes, sir!"
The suspension bridge, aged and weathered, had rotten wooden planks. As Xie Jiang fell, the planks broke apart.
As she rolled and dodged arrows, the wooden planks on the bridge continued to break.
Suddenly, an arrow shot towards her. As she dodged and rolled, the plank beneath her feet snapped, and Xie Jiang fell.
"Xie Jiang!"
Xu Hengyan cried out in alarm.
Fortunately, Xie Jiang managed to grab onto the chains of the suspension bridge, temporarily stabilizing herself and preventing a fall into the abyss below.
With her agility, Xie Jiang could have easily leaped back up. However, the arrows aimed at the suspension bridge were too dense, and she might have been injured during the earlier encirclement.
Xie Jiang held onto the chain with one hand and wielded her saber with the other, dodging arrows. She swayed precariously, in constant danger.
"Jiang Jiang! Jiang Jiang—"
Da Chui was anxious.
How could Jiang Jiang have fallen? Why hadn't Jiang Jiang come back up?
What if she fell from such a height?
Why hadn't Young Master Xu come over yet?
Even with fierce bandits in front and behind her, Xu Hengyan's attention remained fixed on Xie Jiang. Seeing an arrow flying towards Xie Jiang, who was hanging by a thread, Xu Hengyan acted.
Reaching the edge of the cliff, Xu Hengyan sprang forward, her sword deflecting the arrow in mid-air.
At this moment, Xie Jiang also spotted Xu Hengyan. Seeing him step onto the suspension bridge and rush towards her, she shouted loudly.
"Don't come!"
"Xu Hengyan! Don't come!"
The suspension bridge, battered by countless winds and rains, swayed as if it might break at any moment.
"Young Master!"
Guang Bai was going mad! How could the Young Master do this!
Just then, Da Chui could no longer hold on and collapsed to his knees. The pressure on his side instantly increased, and he couldn't break free!
These archers were not ordinary Yellow Mountain bandits!
They were well-trained soldiers!
Xu Hengyan's mind was blank; all she knew was that she couldn't just watch her die.
The arrow rain had noticeably slowed. Guang Bai was dealing with the archers.
Xu Hengyan dodged the arrows and rushed towards Xie Jiang.
The moment she grabbed Xie Jiang's wrist to pull her up, an arrow pierced her armor and lodged in her arm.
Blood dripped onto Xie Jiang's face.
"Xu Hengyan!"
The wind in the mountains was strong, causing the suspension bridge to shake violently. Xu Hengyan swayed and was thrown aside.
The Yellow Mountain bandits had a master archer capable of hitting targets at a hundred paces!
"Jiang Jiang—"
Alright, Young Master Xu was fighting his way over! Jiang Jiang, hurry up and come up!
Da Chui was multitasking, cutting down enemies like vegetables while keeping an eye on the suspension bridge.
When Xu Hengyan managed to regain her balance and prepared to pull Xie Jiang up again, three arrows simultaneously pierced the air.
He could dodge them, but Xie Jiang, with no way to escape, was doomed.
In a flash, Xu Hengyan leaped off the suspension bridge and lunged towards Xie Jiang.
He used his own back to shield Xie Jiang from an arrow.
Then, they both plunged into the river.
"Young Master!"
Guang Bai's blood vessels were about to burst!
Who could tell him why the missing father and son of the Marquis of Nanxiong were mixed up with the Yellow Mountain bandits!
With the addition of the Marquis of Nanxiong and his son, the bandits' combat effectiveness had increased severalfold!
The Marquis of Nanxiong's archery was renowned for never missing its mark!
Who else could have forced Young Master Xie into a corner and caused their Young Master to be hit by two arrows, if not the Marquis of Nanxiong, Lu Xuan, himself!
...
Feeling that the time was right, Xie Jiang was quite satisfied that Xu Hengyan had risked so much to rush to the suspension bridge for her. She was ready to wrap things up.
Xie Jiang had heard of the Marquis of Nanxiong, Lu Xuan's, archery skills. If she hadn't been confident in her ability to dodge, she wouldn't have chosen this path. She couldn't risk her life for Xu Hengyan.
Just as Xie Jiang was about to climb onto the suspension bridge and dodge the fatal arrow, an unexpected situation occurred.
Looking at Xu Hengyan, who was rushing towards her without regard for his own life, Xie Jiang's eyes widened, and she was completely stunned!
Xu Hengyan was throwing his life away!