483: Chapter 483 Taking on a Critical Mission

These two swordsmen were brothers, Ma Jianlong and Ma Jianfei.

The two hailed from the Sword Forest, born into a prestigious family of swordsmanship.

Over twenty years ago, they had both fought their way into the top four of the Tianwu Grand Tournament, which was considered a legendary tale in the martial world.

Although Hu Wengui was greedy for wealth, he was also afraid of death, so he had spent a fortune to hire these two brothers to protect the Hu family.

Over the years, the two brothers had never failed. In Hanyang City, The Ma Brothers possessed the highest martial arts prowess.

"This official will not leave! You go and protect my wife!"

Feng Yuzhang immediately understood that it must have been his wife who asked Hu Wengui to send The Ma Brothers to protect him in secret.

"Sir! Forgive our bluntness, but this city cannot be held tonight! Run quickly!" Ma Jianlong said in a deep voice.

"What do you mean?" Feng Yuzhang was startled.

"If we aren't mistaken, that man is the former Grand Shaman of the Khitan who should have died nine years ago, Yelv Heqi!"

"That old scoundrel has returned from the dead; it's hard to say if he's human or ghost. Coupled with his years of cultivation as a Martial Arts Grandmaster, even if he isn't a Great Grandmaster now, he is very close!"

Ma Jianfei urged, "Our coming here is already risking our lives. Sir, please do not hesitate any longer!"

Feng Yuzhang felt as if he had been struck by lightning, frozen on the spot!

What!? Yelv Heqi!?

Even if he didn't know much about the Khitan, he knew this man was General Yelu Chuku's master and a key figure in the Yelü Family's unification of the Khitan.

At the thought of someone who had been dead for nine years suddenly leading troops to attack the city, Feng Yuzhang's legs began to go weak.

But the integrity in his bones would not allow him to be a deserter!

"Great Heroes of the Ma family, this official implores you to escort my wife out of the city!"

Feng Yuzhang clenched his trembling hands.

"Tell her that this official has failed her. Today, as the Inspector of E Prefecture, I shall live or die with Hanyang City!!"

Before his voice could fade, a black shadow attacked like a ghost!

"What a fine Inspector of E Prefecture! Then this old man shall take your head!!"

Yelv Heqi's white hair and beard were now dyed red with blood. Like a demon under the night sky, his eyes glowing red, he charged toward Feng Yuzhang.

The Ma Brothers dared not be careless and hurriedly stepped forward, executing the Flying Cloud Sword Technique almost simultaneously.

Although the two were not yet Martial Arts Grandmasters, they coordinated perfectly, complementing each other so that the lethality of their combined strikes was no weaker than a Great Grandmaster's.

Two waves of Flying Cloud Sword Qi formed sword wheels, whistling forward to intercept.

Yelv Heqi crossed his twin blades and delivered a fierce outward-eight slash. His domineering Yin-Fiend True Qi shattered the sword qi!

The Ma Brothers felt goosebumps all over; this eerie and gloomy aura did not seem like that of a living person at all!

Feng Yuzhang's face turned pale with fright, and he only managed to keep from fainting by relying purely on a scholar's integrity.

"Yelv Heqi! Whether you are man or ghost, this official is not afraid..."

Before he could finish, Feng Yuzhang's head was severed by a blade.

The Ma Brothers had no time to act because Yelv Heqi was even faster!

"Let's go!"

The two brothers leaped directly off the city wall almost at the same time.

Yelv Heqi didn't bother to pursue them. He jumped down to the city gate, slaughtered the guarding soldiers like chopping vegetables, and directly let the Khitan Army into the city!

"Kill! Kill them for me!"

"Leave no one alive!!"

The Khitan Holy Water Army was like a tide of death, surging into the city from outside.

Upon learning that Feng Yuzhang had been killed, the defending troops fell into chaos and retreated steadily.

As the smell of blood permeated the air, the Khitan soldiers became increasingly frenzied.

They bit through necks with their teeth, ripped open bellies to gnaw on internal organs, and even if an arm was severed, they continued to charge desperately as if they felt no pain...

Facing an inhuman enemy who knew no fear, the defenders were terrified, and deserters began to appear constantly!

"Run! They are ghosts! Not humans!"

"Don't kill me!..."

The commoners in the city who hadn't had time to flee encountered the blood-crazed Khitan Army as soon as they stepped out of their doors.

"Ah!! Father, save me!—"

"Wuwu! Mother..."

Under the night sky, the slaughter continued to play out, and tragic wails echoed through the heavens...

By the latter half of the night, in Hanyang City, there were almost no living commoners left, except for the blood-soaked Khitan soldiers who moved like the walking dead.

Yelv Heqi stood on a high platform in the center of the city, watching the Holy Water Army "feeding" below, revealing a crazed, hideous grin.

"Eat... eat, once you're full, we will continue killing..."

Meanwhile.

Xiangyang City, E Prefecture.

The ten thousand-plus Zhenbei Army led by General Zhao Kuan rushed as fast as they could and were finally about to reach Hanyang.

But just as dawn broke, they received news from the scouts that Hanyang City had been breached and Inspector Feng Yuzhang had been martyred!

"How could this be..."

General Zhao Kuan slapped his thigh in frustration. He had originally thought that Hanyang City could hold out for two or three days at least.

As it turned out, they didn't even last one night!?

"What about the people in the city? Were they evacuated?" Wei Dongxue asked.

The scout reported, "A portion escaped from the West Gate and are currently on their way to Xiangyang."

Hearing this, Wei Dongxue hurriedly proposed, "General Zhao, we cannot wait. This Khitan Army is different from any before. Although they don't ride horses, they are harder to deal with than those who do!"

"But we have been marching for a day and a night. If we continue to rush forward, the soldiers and horses will be exhausted. Can we really fight?" Wang Chong questioned.

"We must fight even if we can't! Most of those refugees who escaped are women and children. If they are caught by those Khitan mad dogs, they will surely die!" Commander Bai Buhei said anxiously.

The several generals each had their own opinions, speaking one after another.

After a moment of deliberation, General Zhao Kuan shouted, "All troops hear my command! No rest, continue advancing toward Hanyang to rescue the fleeing refugees as soon as possible!"

"General... this..."

General Zhao Kuan raised a hand and said, "Don't forget what the Prince himself established as the purpose of our Zhenbei Army!"

"To unite firmly with the people of the Northern Borders and serve them with all our heart and soul!"

"Now the people of Hanyang are longing for us to come. Even if we have to give up our lives, we cannot stand by and watch them die!"

"I believe that if the Prince were here, or if my uncle were here, they would both make this decision!"

Upon hearing these words, the soldiers had no more arguments.

Yes, as the invincible Zhenbei Army, what they should consider now was not their own life or death, but the safety of those common people!

A strong sense of mission, honor, and pride made their blood boil once again.

At that moment, Xie Juner, dressed in men's clothing and looking valiant, rode her horse to General Zhao Kuan's side.

"General Zhao, let my brother and the others go ahead. From Xiangyang to Hanyang, taking the cement official road, my brother and his group can be much faster than the main force."

"As long as they arrive first, they will have a way to protect some of the people first."

When Xie Juner said this, General Zhao Kuan remembered something, and a glint of brilliance flashed in his eyes.

"The Heir Apparent wants to be the vanguard? Won't that be too dangerous..."

"What's wrong with danger? Our Linyuan Marquis Mansion's ancestors also built their foundation on military merit. Being appointed in a crisis is the responsibility a noble should have!" Xie Juner said boldly.

General Zhao Kuan was deeply moved. "Good! Since the Commandery Princess and Heir Apparent Xie have such a righteous heart, then this general allows it!"