Chapter 180
Chapter 180: He’s Here
“Separate!” the black-robed man hastily yelled at this time .
Forthwith, he carried Chen Rong and jumped down the hill .
The Hu began to holler and charge forth with abandon . But as they did, they faced a rain of arrows from the riders .
They were forced to cover their heads and dodge . As they were about to charge again, another rain of arrows flew at them . By the time they raised their own bows and arrows, the riders were already scattered at the sound of a whistle . They rode fast through the woods, yet they seemed to be extremely familiar with the terrain around here . The Hu’s arrows all fell into empty air .
The Hu ignored the fleeing riders and instead hurried to the hillside . By the time they got there, they saw the black-robed man leaping away – now 50 to 60 paces from them .
They watched the billowing smoke in front of them . After a moment of hesitation, one yelled, “Let’s also jump down . He can’t run far . ”
“Aye . ”
After less than ten steps, they quickly discovered that although the Jin were inferior riders, in this flat terrain, they were losing to a Jin man who was running with a woman in his arms .
They shouted and hollered, but the man got farther and farther away .
“Shoot that woman, kill her!” the Hu cried after the chase went on for some time .
At the same time, a stern shout also thundered from the hillside: “Ready, fire . ”
He was one of the captains who had come with Murong Ke . At his words, one of them drew his bow like a full moon .
The arrow was directly aimed at the red figure being held by the black-robed man .
The Yan captain stared at his target . When the bowstring was pulled back as far as it could go, “woosh –” the arrow shot out like a flash of light .
In the blink of an eye, it had gotten to the man in black . He shuddered, then threw Chen Rong forward and leaned to the left .
A “plop” sounded as the arrowhead pierced his flesh . It drove into his left flank and through his chest .
Chen Rong turned her head to see that the man in black was bleeding profusely, his body trembling .
When he saw her running to him, he opened his mouth and shouted after a cough of blood: “Run!” He pointed to the front then forthwith sagged to the ground .
Chen Rong glanced at him, gritted her teeth, turned her head and broke into a run .
She had barely taken three steps by the time another burst of wind followed her . However, it was weaker than the one before .
Chen Rong could not care about what was going on behind her, she could only grit her teeth and run as fast as she could .
A “rip” sounded . An arrow shot through her sleeve and fell to the ground .
The third arrow landed five paces from her .
Sweat beaded on Chen Rong’s forehead and rolled down her eyes .
But all she could do was hike her skirt and run like mad .
More and more Hu men joined the chase behind her . Chen Rong had a good physique and she was running on level ground, thus she wasn’t slower than the Hu . With dozens of Hu men chasing her for a while, the distance between them was still 80 to 90 steps .
From the hillside, Murong Ke watched her figure going farther and farther . He raised his thin lips to say: “She’s indeed important to w.a.n.g Hong . ”
That black-robed man was so capable that he must have been a very important person around w.a.n.g Hong . Yet he was willing to give up his life for a woman who wasn’t even his mistress .
“Your Highness, let’s retreat,” a Hu asked after stepping closer to Murong Ke . “She’s just a woman, we gain nothing even if we kill her . Your Highness, we still have time to retreat . ”
He stared at the billowing smoke in front of him — one that could only be formed by thousands of troops . Apprehension filled his eyes .
Not only him, but the other captains also seemed uneasy .
Murong Ke was still staring ahead .
After a while, he coldly said, “The people in front of us aren’t s.h.i.+ Xuan’s, but w.a.n.g Hong’s . ”
While his captains were still perplexed, Murong Ke slowly said, “w.a.n.g Hong’s men won’t exceed 2000 . ”
“However, there must be ten thousand Jins by the looks of things . ”
“So I want to have a clear understanding of the situation . ” Murong Ke stared at the smoke and grimly said, “We can’t retreat without even seeing w.a.n.g Hong’s face . This is something I, Murong Ke, cannot accept . ”
The captains looked at each other and had nothing more to say .
This translation belongs to hamster428 .
Chen Rong kept on running .
Her legs felt soft, and her body was heavy .
Not far, not far to go .
She knew she had to get there, she must . Otherwise, the black-robed man would’ve died in vain . Otherwise, w.a.n.g Hong would’ve wasted all this capital and manpower .
Fortunately, the topography was flat . Even though her long skirt was unconducive to fleeing, the Hu behind her were good riders, not runners . And as Chen Rong ran as fast as she could, she was able to maintain the 80-step distance between them .
At this range, a skilled archer could absolutely shoot her down with an arrow . Fortunately for her, no such person existed among the group of Hu chasers .
The sun was burning brilliantly .
A group of riders emerged from the surging smoke and gradually separated from the cavalcade, das.h.i.+ng straight for Chen Rong .
The one leading the way was dressed in a white attire .
The scenery was suddenly so clear and visible . As she ran, Chen Rong raised her head to take a good look .
“So dirty . ”
Her murmur was filled with joy, emotions, and tears .
Suddenly she was filled with strength .
She opened her arms and flew like an arrow .
The distance between her and the Hu extended to 90 steps .
Looking at the red-robed woman who seemed to be propelled by the G.o.ds, her speed suddenly increasing, the Hu glanced at each other and unknowingly slowed down .
When Chen Rong sprinted away, the rider also kicked his horse’s belly and galloped to her .
Closer and closer .
In the bright sunlight, she could see that his white clothes had been stained black and sooty . His face, one that was always spotless, was also sweaty and grimy .
He looked like a spotted cat .
Chen Rong’s eyes lit up at the sight of him . She wasn’t aware that the Hu had stopped chasing behind her . All she knew was that she needed to run to him .
His mount was evidently an excellent horse . It carried him to her in no time . When the dust from its hooves strewed over a bewildered Chen Rong, he hurriedly brought it to a stop .
He did not dismount, but lowered his head to study her, then frowned and softly sighed, “So ugly . ” His voice was very gentle, like a murmur — faint and smiling .
Chen Rong was grinning stupidly . Upon hearing his words, she glared at him before her eyes turned red .
The man offered his hand .
Onto which Chen Rong placed hers .
He pulled her onto horseback .
As soon as his warm and familiar scent entered her nose, Chen Rong’s throat constricted with emotions . She grabbed his front lapels to wipe her sweaty face and whispered, “You shouldn’t have come . ”
“You shouldn’t have come,” she choked .
His hands pa.s.sed her wound like the touch of spring’s breeze and at last wrapped around her waist .
He did not answer her but looked up ahead and muttered, “You want to see me? Then let’s meet . ”
“Keep moving,” he ordered .
“Aye,” his knights replied, having arrived behind them from a time unknown to Chen Rong .
She looked up and widened her eyes . More than a thousand riders appeared in her view, each dragging a tree branch behind his horse .
So it turned out they were dragging branches .
No wonder the smoke in the distance surged straight to the sky .
A rider rode up to w.a.n.g Hong and stared in Murong Ke’s direction . “Aye that’s right,” he grinned, “it’s time to let that face-hiding punk meet real Jin warriors . ”
Having said this, he turned to look at w.a.n.g Hong . “My lord, would you like to see him after a clean face and change of clothes?”
w.a.n.g Hong was patting Chen Rong who was still in tears when he agreed, “Alright . ”
As soon as he said yes, several riders had turned and dismounted . They took out a water bag, a towel, and an outer robe and soon surrounded w.a.n.g Hong .
Chen Rong watched in wonder as w.a.n.g Hong brightened from a spotted cat back to a ladies’ man . She quietly used her sleeve to scrub her face .
At this time, a water bag and towel were brought to her .
She promptly took the water bag to wash her face .
Next, a slender hand handed her a white robe .
Chen Rong looked up and came face to face with w.a.n.g Hong’s clear and gentle eyes . She reached for the robe but, for whatever reason unknown to her, did so with shaky hands .
She bit down her teeth and threw the robe on .
“Come up,” w.a.n.g Hong offered .
She raised her head, took his hand and leapt onto his horse .
The riders dashed forward and, in the blink of an eye, those standing on the hillside came into Chen Rong’s sight .
She lowered her head to see Murong Ke standing on the hillside with his bronze mask . She did not want to see him like this .
Staring at w.a.n.g Hong, Murong Ke slowly moved his thin lips to say: “w.a.n.g Qilang, you really spare no means for the woman sitting in front of you . ”
Having said this, he threw his head back in laughter, his eyes glancing to the black-robed corpse on his left .
Seeing that w.a.n.g Hong’s men did not make a move, Murong Ke raised his clasped hands at w.a.n.g Hong and said in admiration: “You disclosed the itinerary of the mayor of Mo’yang and sacrificed the life of your clan’s best guard for the sake of the woman you love… Aren’t you a romantic, w.a.n.g Qilang . ”