Chapter 23: Desperate Battle
“Sixth Sister Pei, be careful!”
The square-faced Big Soldier had been keeping a close eye on Pei Qinghe. Seeing Wu San charge over like lightning, he immediately shouted at the top of his lungs to warn her.
Wu San swung his saber in one smooth motion.
The square-faced Big Soldier’s right arm flew off along with a spray of blood, and he let out a miserable cry as he collapsed to the ground.
The fighting inside the posthouse was fierce and brutal, with death and blood everywhere as everyone fought desperately for their lives. No one paid any attention to the square-faced Big Soldier’s miserable state.
Pei Qinghe turned around, raising her long saber, which clashed against the long saber in Wu San’s hand in midair.
Both of their hands went numb at the same time.
Pei Qinghe’s expression remained unchanged as she flipped her right wrist, her saber strike fierce and swift.
Wu San’s heart jolted violently. Caught off guard, this saber slashed open the front of his robe. A burning sting followed, and blood quickly surged out, staining his robe red.
It was merely a flesh wound, not hitting any vital spots, but it ignited Wu San’s anger and ferocity.
He was a master under His Highness Prince Wei, and his long saber had almost never met an opponent. Countless souls had perished under his blade. To think his mission tonight had started poorly, wounded by a mere young girl—and using his own specialty, the long saber!
His Highness Prince Wei wanted her alive. He could not kill Pei Qinghe, but before capturing her alive, he would give her a bloody, lifelong lesson she would never forget!
Wu San’s face darkened as his long saber whirled, each strike fierce.
The long saber in Pei Qinghe’s hand shifted unpredictably, its strikes ruthless.
Those nearby risked being accidentally wounded. After two shrill cries of agony, the people around them all retreated, clearing out an open space.
While Captain Sun fought desperately, he hastily glanced over but could not tell who had the upper hand.
Captain Sun was also in a tough spot. His Big Soldiers were good at escorting the family of a convicted official to skim some oil and water, but when it came to real desperate fighting, few could hold their own. Tonight’s attackers were a band of bloodthirsty bandits. The Big Soldiers were no match for them.
Fortunately, they had previously guarded the wall and used arrows to kill quite a few bandits. Otherwise, they would not have held out for long.
Guard Gao fought fiercely with his saber while moving toward Pei Qinghe.
He was Prince Zhangwu’s Guard, ordered by Prince Zhangwu to protect the Pei Family Womenfolk. If anything happened to them, he would surely be held accountable.
Especially this Sixth Sister Pei. Everyone understood Prince Zhangwu’s subtle youthful feelings. If others were injured, it might be excusable, but if something happened to Sixth Sister Pei, he would have no face to return to serve by the prince’s side.
Several Eastern Palace Guards moved in tacit unison, fending off enemies with their sabers while converging toward Sixth Sister Pei.
No matter how powerful Sixth Sister Pei was, she was still an underage girl. Her opponent was nine feet tall, burly, with ruthless blade techniques—a true master.
In a long saber duel, victory and defeat meant life and death. There was no room for a moment’s distraction or hesitation. They had to rush over quickly to protect Sixth Sister Pei!
Pei Yun was frantic with anxiety, Pei Yan’s eyes were bloodshot, and Mao Hongling gripped her spear tightly as they all charged toward Pei Qinghe.
Wu Xiuniang, too far away to reach in time, raised her long sword and fought fiercely. She shouted loudly, “Everyone, grab weapons—kill them!”
Pei Feng and Pei Xuan were too young to fight. When the enemy charged, they had climbed down from the wall and hidden in the cellar.
The cellar was not large, originally used to store cabbage and radishes. Now it was crammed with young children and old women. The young children, frightened in the dark cellar and wanting to cry, had their mouths covered: “No crying. If you alert the villains, we’re all dead.”
Pei Yue huddled in his grandmother Madam Lu’s arms, clutching her robe and sobbing quietly: “What about Cousin Sister Qinghe? Why didn’t she hide in here?”
She was leading the clan in fighting desperately.
Madam Lu moved her lips but could not utter a single word, tears streaming from her eyes.
Qinghe was just a thirteen-year-old girl, not yet of marriageable age. Yet she had shouldered the heavy responsibility of Pei Clan Leader, holding up the Pei household and carrying the lives of hundreds of old and young Pei clansmen on her shoulders…
Not only had she failed to help her own granddaughter, she had constantly put on airs, tripped her up, and grumbled.
She really was a muddled old fool who deserved to die!
Madam Chen’s eyes also turned red. For the first time in her life, she held back her sharp tongue and clasped her hands in sincere prayer to heaven.
Heaven open your eyes, protect the Pei Clan, bless Qinghe, and help them survive this calamity.
Whoosh!
The long saber flashed, leaving a bloody mark on Wu San’s left arm.
In just a few brief clashes, Pei Qinghe had steadily gained the upper hand. Pei Qinghe had only one minor wound, while Wu San already had four saber wounds of varying severity on his body.
Wu San’s heart surged with rage, ignoring the pain from his wounds and completely forgetting the order to capture Pei Qinghe alive. With a ruthless exchange of life for life, he slashed down fiercely with his long saber.
The power of this saber strike was enough to cleave a teenage girl in half.
Guard Gao, who had rushed nearby, looked horrified. But at this moment, he could not reach her in time. In his fear, he threw the long saber in his hand with all his strength.
The saber flashed, heading straight for Wu San’s back.
Wu San did not dodge. His long saber slashed down without hesitation. A Dark Guard rushed over and blocked it with his spear. The long saber was deflected, flying obliquely into the air.
The sharp glint headed straight for her head. Pei Qinghe had nowhere to dodge and had no intention of doing so. She swiftly swung her saber to block the fatal strike. Her left foot shot out, kicking fiercely at Wu San’s crotch.
An indescribable agony assaulted him.
Wu San staggered back, tears flying, his face contorted in excruciating pain.
The next moment, agony exploded in his chest.
The sharp long saber pierced through his chest.
Wu San looked up in shock. The last image in his eyes was an extremely cold teenage face, icy cold with black eyes like cold stars.
No one knew what Wu San was thinking in his final moment before death.
It did not matter what he was thinking anymore.
Wu San collapsed limply, his eyes wide in despair, staring unblinkingly toward the direction of the Capital City Imperial Palace.
Pei Qinghe never wasted any time or energy on the battlefield. She pulled back her long saber and immediately charged at the nearest Dark Guard. Amid his horrified gaze, she severed a head. She also urged the stunned Guard Gao: “Quickly find a weapon and keep killing the enemy!”
Her side had plenty of personnel, but few true masters who had killed and seen blood. Besides her, Guard Gao had the best skills, the several Eastern Palace Guards were decent, Captain Sun was usable, and there were a few barely adequate Big Soldiers.
They had to take advantage of the enemy’s leader being killed and their morale dispersing to completely crush them!
Guard Gao snapped out of his shock, quickly crouching to pick up a saber.
Ahead, Pei Qinghe was like a God of Slaughter, killing every enemy she encountered! Almost no one could last more than ten moves against her!
The worship and pursuit of the strong was long etched in the blood of martial men.
Guard Gao gripped his long saber and followed behind Pei Qinghe.
Several Eastern Palace Guards silently followed along.
The nearby Big Soldiers also gathered over one after another, like fireflies chasing a brilliant flame.
