This wasn’t because Liang Qiang’s hand had actually blocked the blade, but because an arrow had pierced through the blade-wielding soldier’s throat.
Liang Qiang froze. That soldier hadn’t reacted at all—his mouth still carried a savage smile as he died just like that.
“Who’s there!” The other soldiers instantly snapped to attention, grabbing their weapons and looking behind them.
Only then did they see that at some point, a group of people had appeared in the undulating ravines behind them. They lay prone on the ground, a row of bows and crossbows densely arrayed.
In an instant, it made one’s scalp tingle.
……
……
Reinforcements.
Although they couldn’t see their banners, with one glance they could recognize these were Da Xia’s forces.
Liang Qiang and the soldiers on this side all reacted as well.
“I—” The blade-wielding soldier opened his mouth for an instant, but suddenly didn’t know what to say.
Since these were reinforcements who had silently approached and soundlessly shot dead their own comrades—
Had they been exposed?
Even if they hadn’t been exposed, this would certainly arouse suspicion.
After all, their actions just now—no, even more terrifying was those Xi Liang soldiers who had stopped ahead!
How to explain?
This was too sudden. By rights there shouldn’t be reinforcements. The soldier broke out in a cold sweat.
Liang Qiang suddenly shouted loudly, charging at the soldier before him: “They’ve turned traitor! I’ll fight you to the death!”
A clang rang out. The long blade in his hand slashed horizontally at the soldier before him.
That soldier raised his hand to block. The long blade pressed against it, striking sparks, barely blocking his throat. His eyes bulged as he stared at Liang Qiang.
“I’m worth a lot of money,” Liang Qiang looked at him, enunciating each word in a voice only the two of them could hear. “The arm wasn’t taken, but if this business deal isn’t to lose money, you all must die.”
The soldier obviously understood too. Looking at him, the corners of his mouth pulled into a strange smile. He shouted loudly: “Kill—”
He pushed Liang Qiang away and raised his blade to slash at Liang Qiang—
The other soldiers also sprang into action.
The humming sound of arrows cutting through air came from behind as well.
Liang Qiang stood in place, feeling countless arrows fly past him, watching the soldiers before him instantly get struck by arrows and fall to the ground dead.
At the same time, the Xi Liang soldiers blocked ahead also surged forward like a bursting dam.
Behind him too came the thunder of hoofbeats, accompanied by battle cries: “Kill—”
The ground shook. Dust and fierce wind swept through. Countless soldiers charged past Liang Qiang from behind, quickly colliding with the bursting dam, splashing up countless blood flowers.
The earth once again plunged into slaughter.
Whether from the tremors or the fierce wind, Liang Qiang could no longer stand. He staggered and half-knelt, barely using his right hand to stab his blade into the ground for support.
His left arm bled like a fountain.
That soldier hadn’t severed his arm, but the blade had cut deep into his flesh.
He lowered his head, watching his blood drip onto the ground.
“Liang Qiang.”
Hoofbeats stopped beside him, and at the same time a female voice descended.
Liang Qiang raised his head and saw the girl riding a black horse, wearing a half-worn red robe, bow on her back and blade in hand.
Her hair was disheveled. Her originally fair face was also covered with a layer of dust, but her eyes shone bright as stars.
“Liang Qiang,” she said. “Are you alright?”