Chapter 79: Carnage Begins, Arrows Fill the Sky

Chapter 79: Carnage Begins, Arrows Fill the Sky (Please Subscribe)

The moon shone bright, stars sparse in the sky.

Figures darted along the paths leading to Lianyun Fortress.

It was seven-thirty in the evening.

Su Chen and others crouched in a mountain trail northwest of the fortress, less than half a mile from their target.

As expected, the group would reach Lianyun Fortress in about half an hour.

This force wasn’t just Hong Martial Hall’s disciples—others from various martial institutes, including the Huang and Jiang families, were present.

Led by a dozen soldiers, they crept closer to the fortress walls. After roughly thirty minutes, they arrived outside the fortress.

The soldiers halted, signaling everyone to wait silently.

This sudden pause stirred confusion.

Su Chen scanned the area. Except for distant insect chirps, the night was eerily quiet.

Faint lights flickered in the distance, casting shadows of Lianyun’s guards.

“Master,” Qin Hao whispered, “weren’t we told to strike at the Hour of the Rat? Why start at the Dog Hour and wait here uselessly?”

A soldier snapped, “Wait if we say wait. Stop asking questions!”

Qin Hao’s face flushed with indignation, but Hong Ming silenced him with a shake of his head.

“Just wait. It won’t be long,” another soldier muttered.

Some exchanged uneasy glances, sensing the truth.

Su Chen studied the fortress ahead. The “Hour of the Rat” plan was likely a ruse.

“Be wary of the other martial institutes when we move,” Hong Ming warned, confirming Su Chen’s suspicion.

Before Qin Hao could speak, Wei Ping gripped his shoulder, whispering urgently.

“Signal! Attack now!”

As Hong Ming finished, distant torches flared—three sweeps left, four right—then vanished.

The soldiers sprang into action.

Faces darkened with tension. The assault had begun far sooner than expected.

“Move!” Hong Ming hissed, trailing the soldiers toward a side gate.

They found it already open, corpses of Lianyun guards littering the path, blood staining the ground crimson.

“Hurry!” the soldiers urged, rushing to join the main force.

Ten minutes later, they merged with the main group in the city’s main street.

Tao Dingfang, armored and commanding, led soldiers and martial cultivators from White Stone City. Hong Ming’s team blended into the ranks like streams feeding an ocean.

“Up ahead is the inner city of Lianyun!” Su Chen muttered, eyeing the distinct architecture. A strange unease prickled him.

The silence was oppressive—too quiet, like a ghost town.

Even if Lianyun hadn’t detected their early strike, this stillness felt unnatural. Worse, their infiltration had been suspiciously smooth.

“Master,” Su Chen murmured to Hong Ming, “let’s fall back. Stay at the rear.”

Hong Ming nodded, slowing his pace. Su Chen signaled the others, and they deliberately lagged behind.

Suddenly, Tao Dingfang halted.

“What’s wrong?” someone tensed, scanning the shadows.

Then—

Clang!

“Hah! The most formidable general under Hong Yue!”

Torchlight erupted as figures swarmed from alleyways and rooftops. Archers crouched, arrows poised.

“Unexpected, isn’t it? Tao Dingfang, it’s not you who’ll strike first—but us, waiting like hunters!” Zhu Hu strode forward, smirking.

Tao Dingfang’s jaw tightened. “I left two hours early. Still, you caught us.”

Zhu Bao scoffed. “Think your plan was clever? We knew White Stone had our spies. You tried to mislead us, but we turned the tables.”

Tao Dingfang’s voice hardened. “Clever enough. But do you really think you can trap us?”

“Let’s see! Archers—fire!” Zhu Hu roared.

Thwip-thwip-thwip!

Arrows rained from the sky, a storm of steel.

“Don’t panic! Fight through!” Tao Dingfang charged, spearheading the assault.

Zhu Hu held back, nodding to Sun Yun, who surged forward.

Arrows whistled, shattering the formation.

“Stay close!” Hong Ming shouted, snatching an arrow aimed at Qin Hao. Su Chen and the others huddled together.

“Hah, Su junior brother! Didn’t expect to fight side by side!” Li Mo grinned, deflecting tension.

“Watch out!” Su Chen returned, swatting another arrow aside.

“Thanks, junior brother!” Li Mo exhaled, shaken. That arrow would’ve wounded him without Su Chen’s reflexes.

Su Chen nodded, unfazed. His Turtle Shell Art and Iron Shirt made him nearly impervious—arrows couldn’t pierce his reinforced skin.

As Su Chen’s team fended off arrows, Tao Dingfang clashed with Sun Yun. After a fierce exchange, both leapt back.

“Pure Land Sect Guardian Lawkeeper Sun Yun,” Tao Dingfang chuckled. “You’ve got skill.”

“You’re not bad yourself,” Sun Yun replied, subtly shaking off the impact. “But tonight, you die here.”

“If you’re here to chat, save it. Your forces are crumbling. Soon, you’ll be alone.”

“Not yet!”

Sun Yun paused, but before he could ponder, screams erupted from Lianyun’s ranks.

Casualties mounted rapidly.

Sun Yun and Zhu Hu froze, their confidence cracking.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end