Chapter 262: Four Riders Defeating Thousands

Chapter 262: Four Riders, A Thousand Foes

“You—how can you be here?” Yue Hongling swiftly withdrew her sword, hearing her own voice tinged with a surprise that even she found unexpected.

She had truly never imagined that after wandering the northern frontier for so long, at the end of her supplies and utterly spent, thinking she would have to give up and go back if this last job yielded nothing, she would run into Zhao Changhe on this very job.

That joy of suddenly gaining an ally in the midst of solitude, the feeling of a tightly strung heartstring suddenly loosening, was something truly beyond words to outsiders.

So you came here too... and amid this vast grassland and desert, among countless caravans, we meet.

At this moment she had even forgotten that others might have come together, for at this juncture the appearance of a Xia merchant caravan here was far too conspicuous. Even if others had come, how was it that she ran into Zhao Changhe first, right?

What she finally said was: “Why have you turned into such a sallow-faced fellow? I nearly cut you down.”

Zhao Changhe said: “Perfect timing—this is also the moment to wipe off the disguise. I can’t let Wang Daozhong take the credit for a good deed. Once this is done, we’ll start over.”

Yue Hongling: “?”

Then she saw Zhao Changhe swiftly remove his disguise and dive into the carriage: “You couldn’t have come at a better time. Come help me—first get these brothers out, then immediately go to support Situ and Old Han.”

Yue Hongling set aside her private thoughts and followed him into the carriage. Inside, she saw six people unconscious, their bodies stained with dried blood. She had no idea what kind of battle they had endured, but they looked utterly battered and weak. Without Zhao Changhe’s explanation, she understood—he must have come to rescue these people.

She asked no questions, quickly stepped forward to help one of them up, unblocked his acupoints, and massaged his meridians to restore blood flow. Soon the man slowly regained consciousness, still confused: “This is...”

Meanwhile, Zhao Changhe was doing the same for another, but found himself less efficient than Yue Hongling. She had already revived hers while his still showed no response—quite embarrassing. “We’re from the Chivalrous Camp. My brother-in-law... no, Old Cui sent me to rescue you.”

Yue Hongling glanced at him and continued briskly to save the others.

The man who had been revived heard the words “Chivalrous Camp” and missed everything after, bursting with joy: “I knew the Chivalrous Camp wouldn’t just stand by! Damn it, who are we fighting for!”

The mere concept of the Chivalrous Camp sending rescuers was enough to pull a man on the verge of turning bitter back from the edge.

Zhao Changhe felt relieved. Just then, the one he was treating also woke up. He tossed out a few pills and said urgently: “You explain to the ones just revived—I’ll keep saving the others. This medicine can restore some strength. See if you can muster any combat power?”

The man asked: “If I can take down Qiao Er, even if I can’t do much, I’ll go all out and die with him!”

“No need. Your top priority is to retreat. Just be strong enough to ride a horse. I’ll kill Qiao Er for you, and I’ll hold off the pursuers. Do you trust me?”

The revived men exchanged glances, looking at Zhao Changhe and Yue Hongling busy saving others. Their dazed minds grew clearer: “Could you two be... Zhao Changhe and Yue Hongling?”

Yue Hongling glanced at Zhao Changhe again, amused inwardly. So this is your way of not letting Wang Daozhong take the credit, huh.

Zhao Changhe clasped his fists: “Indeed. If you trust us, leave this matter to us. Your survival and return are the top priority.”

The men swallowed the medicine, looked at each other, and said: “Of course we trust Lady Yue!”

Zhao Changhe: “?”

Yue Hongling let out a chuckle.

Though she hadn’t discussed this with Zhao Changhe, she understood what he was thinking. She took over the conversation: “While our people are causing chaos to distract the stronghold, you take six horses and leave quickly. Leave the rest to us.”

The six men rose and bowed deeply: “Great kindness need not be spoken of in words. If ever you need us, just command.”

Zhao Changhe returned the bow: “What you fight for is what I fight for. There is no kindness to speak of.”

They all laughed: “Well said, Bloodthirsty Asura! Until we meet again!”

At the stronghold gate, Han Wubing had already fought his way out and joined up with Situ Xiao.

“Han Wubing?”

“Situ Xiao?”

“No time for pleasantries. The situation is bad—we need to break out immediately.”

Qiao Er still had many men outside moving goods, not all inside the stronghold. Now they were gathering from outside, blocking the gate and surrounding them.

Moreover, Situ Xiao had been here for a while and knew that the garrison troops under Uburu, who maintained order here, were no joke. With the fire and chaos here, the garrison would soon be alerted. He didn’t know how efficient they were, but if they got entangled here any longer and the garrison arrived, they’d be done for.

The two exchanged a glance, understanding each other’s thoughts. They were ready to fight to the death to break out.

Just then, more chaos erupted inside the stronghold.

Six horses burst out from the rear of the camp, their neighing clearly audible in the noisy night. As they passed, they casually knocked over torches. Now the fire spread not only in front but also in the rear, turning everything into a complete mess.

Qiao Er’s furious voice rang out: “Stop them! Stop them, damn it!”

Countless men from the rear mounted horses and chased the six riders, but then reined in sharply.

Under the moonlight, a red figure darted like a startled swan, sweeping past the leading riders. A flash of red, cries of agony—all fell from their horses, none lasting a single exchange.

A lone wild goose flew against the sunset glow; blood splattered in the night. Masterless horses charged through the flames, and the gate was so chaotic that even getting out was difficult.

“Yue—Yue Hongling! It’s Yue Hongling!”

A chill ran through the pursuers’ hearts. They had heard this woman was terrifying, but not this terrifying. With a single flash of red, over a dozen men tumbled from their horses. They couldn’t even see clearly—how could they fight?

It was as if she alone, standing at the gate, could hold off a thousand troops!

Qiao Er’s voice came again, frantic: “Yue Hongling is only one person! What are you afraid of? If they escape, we’ll all die without a—”

Before he finished, an arrow shot like a meteor piercing the moon, from no one knew where.

Just as he opened his mouth on the word “without,” the arrow drove straight through his mouth and out the back of his head.

Only then did the twang of the bowstring sound—the arrow had outpaced its own sound!

The Hu merchant who had been watching beside Qiao Er was dumbfounded.

What kind of divine archer was this!

Qiao Er’s guards were also stunned.

Was the Second Master dead just like that?

Looking up, they saw a great man wielding a broadsword, charging in: “The Xia Chivalrous Camp has come for the traitor’s head! Stand in my way and die!”

With his words, the blade rose and heads fell. Men and horses in his path were cleaved in two.

Damn!

The Hu merchant thought to himself: with chaos everywhere front and back, this must be an elite Xia army attacking. Only a fool would keep meddling in this. He immediately turned and fled with his guards, hiding behind a tent and not reappearing.

Zhao Changhe cut his way through, unstoppable. By now, no guard was willing to fight to the death. They all shouted and ran faster than the Hu merchant.

Zhao Changhe charged straight to Qiao Er’s side, chopped off his dog’s head with one stroke, and held it up with a roar: “The chief villain is dead! Who dares resist?”

His voice carried far, even to the Hu merchants in distant camps.

In front of the stronghold, Situ Xiao and Han Wubing felt the pressure suddenly lift. Looking up, in the blazing firelight, the great man held a broadsword in one hand and a head in the other, drenched in blood, looking truly ferocious.

“Damn it, we nearly killed ourselves, and this guy steals the show?”

Han Wubing panted and smiled faintly: “Let him have the glory. We’re safe too, aren’t we?”

That was true. In the chaos, few knew Qiao Er was dead. Now the news spread everywhere, the head held high. Panic spread like a toppling domino—who had any will to fight? They all shouted and ran back into the stronghold to loot and flee.

Zhao Changhe, still holding the head, stood dumbfounded. People rushed past him without even a glance, heading straight for the wagons to grab goods.

Soon, a great battle broke out around the wagons—fighting and killing, even more spectacular than the earlier siege.

Zhao Changhe: “...”

Yue Hongling drifted to his side, holding a young man by the collar: “This one tried to escape from the rear. His clothes look like he’s someone of rank. I thought I’d take a live captive?”

Zhao Changhe looked at the pale-faced youth—the same one whose teeth he had knocked out with a slap in the tavern.

He grinned: “Hand him over to Situ. He’s good evidence. We’ll need him to root out these traitors completely.”

Sima Xiao's voice came: "Fuck you, why hand it to me? I didn't take the chivalrous camp mission!"

Zhao Changhe gave an ingratiating smile: "I have other things to do, let's not dwell on this now. We need to leave immediately—the barbarian army is coming!"

In the distance, dust rose high as the army approached.

"To hell with all that!" Sima Xiao snatched the head from Zhao Changhe's hand. "What a thrill!"

The four of them exchanged glances and laughed.

The towering flames, the chaotic camp, the clamor of battle cries, the distant hoofbeats—none could stifle the laughter that spread beneath the moon, drifting over the yellow sands.