Chapter 284: Sanniang Who Defeated An Army Alone

Chapter 284: The One-Woman Army, Sanniang

Assassinating Ubaru was not difficult in itself; escaping unscathed was the real challenge.

At the war's outset, Chili and Yue Hongling had both taken chieftains' heads while under guard. Back then, the defenses were lax, closer to a one-on-one duel. But after those two assassinations, everyone became vigilant.

Ubaru either stayed hidden in the beast grounds, heavily guarded, or ventured out only with a full army escort, surrounded on all sides. A decapitation strike was possible, but how could one escape the encircling army after the deed?

Batu believed Yue Hongling and Zhao Changhe couldn't do it—and even Yue Hongling herself thought it impossible. Such assassins were prepared never to return; Jing Ke had already said he would not come back.

The Human Roll was hard to climb. What of the Earth Roll?

When Xuanwu, ranked second on the Earth Roll, was willing to act, it was hardly a problem—perhaps not even worthy of a mention in the Chaos Chronicle, for it was simply something she could do. What was there to say?

Sanniang wasn't truly worried about the Chaos Chronicle speaking out of turn.

Sanniang's identity was that of a subordinate to Ying Wu. Ying Wu would never let her kill Ubaru and ruin everyone's plan to search for the secret realm. If she had to kill him, she would have to wear a mask and do it as Xuanwu.

But if Xuanwu suddenly appeared in Huangsha Ji to assassinate Ubaru, and word got out—especially that it was a woman—Ying Wu, Temur, and the rest would guess with their guts that it was her, Sanniang. She didn't want anyone to know she was Xuanwu; what was the point of all these years of hiding?

So Sanniang had always wanted to kill Ubaru but never dared to act rashly, only constantly coaxing others to do it. But others weren't fools—why would they risk their lives for nothing? So nothing had been done.

But this time was different. When Zhao Changhe reached an agreement with Ying Wu, she didn't even need to wear a mask. She could kill him openly as Sanniang. With someone to cooperate, she didn't even need to display too much strength as Sanniang—it was perfect.

Your little man is amazing, hee hee.

At that moment, Ubaru was by the lake in the beast grounds, surrounded tightly by his men.

"Yue Hongling actually showed up outside. This lake really has nothing to do with the secret realm," Ubaru said, exasperated. "Then why is it called Xuanwu Lake? It's led everyone astray for years!"

If a southerner were here, they would have told him that there was also a Xuanwu Lake in Jinling; the name meant nothing.

But Sanniang, a southerner herself, had also been misled. Tears were all that remained.

"Yuan Sanniang has coveted this lake for years. Turns out she and I are both fools." Ubaru sighed. "Pity. By now, she probably knows the lake has nothing to do with the secret realm. I had leverage over her with this lake but couldn't touch her; now it's even less likely..."

A subordinate laughed beside him, "Why not just capture her? The temple might not protect her. They only cooperated with her faction because they couldn't find the secret realm. Once it's found, the alliance will break. Now that the secret realm is confirmed to be in the mountains, it's the perfect time to turn on her."

Ubaru's eyes lit up. "Makes sense... but not now."

"Huh?"

"Yue Hongling suddenly challenged Chili, drawing all the temple experts away. My gut tells me something's off—maybe a diversion. In any case, now is not the time for any action. Safety first."

Ubaru was indeed a commander entrusted by Temur with heavy responsibility. His instinct for a diversion was sharper than Chili's; after all, he was a war general, with a mindset different from martial artists.

His subordinates all said, "We will defend the general with our lives!"

Ubaru laughed. "Once this blows over, watch me have my fun with that slut. Then I'll share her with you—everyone gets a taste!"

Just then, a subordinate rushed in with a report: "General, Batu's forces quietly marched out last night. Now only empty tents remain. No one knows where they've gone."

Ubaru was taken aback. "So many men, and they vanished overnight?"

He paced a few steps, frowning. "Scout again. If they're attacking another tribe, that's one thing. But if they're circling toward Yanmen, we must report to the Great Khan immediately and prepare to cut off their retreat."

He no longer wished to stay by the lake and turned to leave: "Let's go to the camp."

The camp was just north of the beast grounds, only a few arrow shots away. One street led there.

Ubaru left the tightly guarded, enclosed beast grounds, followed by hundreds of personal guards, and galloped toward the camp.

The street, once filled with stalls, was now empty. Shops were shuttered. Hooves thundered, cold wind blew, scattering debris—a bleak, murderous scene.

A graceful figure walked slowly from the end of the street.

"Yuan Sanniang?" Ubaru's mind raced. Before Sanniang could speak, he barked, "Charge! Capture her!"

Sanniang was dumbfounded as the cavalry charged at her.

She had come to block his path openly, intending to "speak a few words with the general," then strike when Ubaru, driven by lust, brought her close. But lust-driven he was—only he chose the more direct approach of sending troops to grab her.

"Ubaru, you're something else." Sanniang laughed softly. "Seems I came just in time. Any later, and your army would be surrounding my inn."

She wasn't bothered by the approaching troops. She was here for the hard fight; her little man would take Ubaru's head.

On the long street, the cold wind blew. The woman stood alone, facing hundreds of charging cavalry. The scene was pitiful. Many watching from behind closed doors couldn't help but sigh—a woman in chaotic times... huh?

The foremost horse reached Sanniang. The rider grinned, swinging a lasso to snare her.

Sanniang lazily reached out, caught the rope in her hand, and gave a casual tug.

The rider screamed, flew into the air, and crashed into three or four horses, sending men and beasts tumbling in a cloud of dust.

Sanniang strolled into the formation like she was taking a walk. She reached out and lightly chopped at the leg of a nearby rider hanging by the horse's flank.

With some unknown technique, a heart-wrenching scream followed—the leg was severed cleanly by her palm.

Sanniang's figure flickered, weaving through the horses like a ghost. Wherever she passed, screams erupted. Men fell, horses bolted, the entire street fell into chaos.

Hundreds of cavalry swords couldn't even touch a hair on her head. She was faster than the wind, more elusive than a specter. The more men and horses, the greater the chaos—they collided and trampled each other, unable to stop her!

Ubaru watched, dumbstruck.

From the look of it, the question wasn't whether hundreds could capture her, or even stop her—it was whether she would slaughter them all single-handedly!

She was alone, fighting an army—and his elite personal guard at that!

A chill ran down Ubaru's spine. He had harbored lustful thoughts about such a terrifying woman?

She wasn't human—she was a god of the Eternal Blue Sky!

"Sound the horn! Now!" Ubaru shouted.

His guards snapped out of it, blowing their horns desperately.

The camp gates flew open. Thousands upon thousands of cavalry charged from behind Sanniang.

Sanniang made a move to break through and go straight for Ubaru.

Ubaru, terrified, abandoned his horse and fled into a side alley, trying to circle around and rejoin the main force.

If they could hold Yuan Sanniang for just a moment, he could reach the main army. Even she couldn't take on ten thousand alone, could she?

If she could, what was the point of war?

Almost there—once he turned this corner, the army would surround him. Just a little faster!

At that moment, a broadsword descended from the sky, aimed directly at the fleeing Ubaru.

Zhao Changhe! Gods and Buddhas scatter!

"I've been waiting for you!"

"Clang!" Ubaru drew his blade to parry, using the force to leap aside.

As expected, he was no mere Xuan Guan sixth or seventh level—he was a ninth-level Xuan Guan expert!

The clash of blades produced a deafening roar, drowning out even the chaos of the hundreds of men and horses.

Ubaru's heart shuddered again.

This Zhao Changhe's strength was actually this formidable... I myself am at the ninth level of the Mystic Pass, yet I only matched him evenly, and somehow felt I was even slightly at a disadvantage?

Fortunately, no need to linger—at most three steps from exiting the alley.

After three steps, the army would surround us, and all would be settled!

Wubalu laughed as he left: "Pity, you don't have two Yuan Sanniangs!"

"Is that so?" Zhao Changhe revealed a faint smile, did not argue, but merely stamped his foot violently, and Longque once again chased after Wubalu's back.

"It's useless!" Wubalu swung his blade back wildly, the two blades clashed again, and he once more borrowed the force to leap, half his body already out of the alley.

At that very moment, a long sword like a rainbow piercing the sun shot down from above. The killing intent congealed as if seeping into the marrow.

Wubalu was horrified in his heart—who was this again?

Now in midair with no leverage, and Zhao Changhe relentlessly sealed off with another slash.

No way to heaven, no door to earth.

He instinctively swung his blade to parry the sword above, but parried empty air.

The opponent's sword and Zhao Changhe's blade were entirely different in style—it turned nimbly in midair, lightly wiping across his throat.

At the same time, Zhao Changhe's Longque heavily struck his chest, cleaving his entire body in two.

"I already guessed you might be at the ninth level of the Mystic Pass—how could I come alone to kill you without a backup plan?" Zhao Changhe sheathed his sword with a sigh: "My brother has been lurking in the beast grounds for a month; he's practically moldy from hiding."

The sword light receded, and Han Wubing smiled faintly.

Sanniang broke through the military formation, rushing in like the wind: "Go!"

Ten thousand troops trampled the long street, but the three had already vanished like wild geese, disappearing without a trace.

Only Wubalu's body, split in two, remained to witness this assassination on the long street—taking the general's head amidst the multitude.

Tiemuer's most important trusted general stationed in the western frontier had lost his head, and even the Book of Chaos did not flash.

A hundred li away, Batu's army advanced slowly.

Not long after, a scout received the news and swiftly reported: "Khan! Wubalu has been assassinated, Huangsha Ji is in chaos!"

"Zhao Changhe as a collaborator is truly reliable," Batu muttered, then took a deep breath: "Full speed ahead, straight for Yanmen!"