108: Confused Fan Xian: Which group are you guys from?

Chapter 108: Fan Xian's Confusion: Which Faction Are You Guys From?! (23)

Two bizarre short blades with chains instantly attacked Xiao En.

Fan Xian exclaimed, "Protect Xiao En!"

Zong Zhui and the Tiger Guards immediately stepped forward, engaging Lang Tao, a Ninth Rank Upper Level Master.

Seeing Lang Tao's skill, Fan Xian's heart pounded; this was a Ninth Rank Upper Level Master!

Lang Tao indeed possessed extraordinary strength. In a blink of an eye, he killed a Tiger Guard, seemingly without effort.

Before Fan Xian departed, Emperor Qing had met him privately at Taiping Manor, giving him the mission to seize the opportunity to kill Xiao En.

So, after he clarified Xiao En's connection to Ye Qingmei, he planned to kill Xiao En.

But before that, Xiao En could not die!

"Xiao En, who is this person? From his eyes, he doesn't seem to be here to rescue you!"

Xiao En sneered, "Master Ku He's eldest disciple, the top Master under the Great Grandmaster of Northern Qi, Lang Tao!"

This scene was somewhat bizarre: Southern Qing people were protecting Xiao En, while the Heaven One Path of Northern Qi wanted to kill Xiao En.

Xiao En glanced at Fan Xian with a profound look, "You went to great lengths, not to kill me?"

While dragging Xiao En to escape, Fan Xian said, "Who said I wouldn't kill him? I'm going to capture him and kill him slowly!"

Xiao En asked indifferently, "Do you know Danzhou?"

Fan Xian casually replied, "I grew up in Danzhou since I was a child, how could I not know?"

Xiao En's expression tightened, and he instantly felt he understood.

Just now, when Fan Xian came to hunt him, if Xiao En hadn't been old and frail, he would have been killed by this young man long ago.

Or if his body had been a little weaker, he would have been killed by this young man's poisonous short blade.

How insidious Chen Pingping is! He wants me to kill my own grandson, or have my grandson kill me!

"Did you notice that the Black Knights protecting you have already withdrawn?"

Fan Xian was inwardly cursing the unreliable Black Knights for not showing up when such a powerful enemy arrived.

Hearing Xiao En's words, he was even more startled; it seemed the Black Knights really had withdrawn!

Director Chen, what exactly do you want to do?!

Seeing the look of uncertainty on Fan Xian's face, Xiao En became even more convinced of his own conjecture.

"You must be careful of Chen Pingping, his heart is... Ugh!"

Xiao En had just spoken when he suddenly grunted, a short blade protruding from his chest!

It turned out that Lang Tao was too strong and had temporarily shaken off the Tiger Guards, throwing a blade that struck Xiao En in the back!

Fan Xian had no choice but to abandon Xiao En and attack Lang Tao.

Guo Baokun and Zhao Da were also hidden in the dark. Seeing Fan Xian at a disadvantage, Guo Baokun anxiously said, "Zhao Da, go help Fan Xian now!"

Zhao Da took a bite of a tomato, carefully observed the battlefield, then shook his head.

"No rush, good steel must be used on the cutting edge! If that prisoner dies, he dies. You want to save Fan Xian!"

"Saving a life is like sending charcoal in the snow. Only when Fan Xian is on the brink of death and we act, will he remember your kindness!"

Guo Baokun nodded solemnly, "Well said, stay alert at all times!"

Li Chang'an, watching the battle from the top of a distant stone pillar, saw Fan Xian, Zong Zhui, and the Tiger Guards Surroundattacking Lang Tao, thinking that Emperor Qing and Chen Pingping's plans had already gone awry.

Although Emperor Qing and Chen Pingping's plans were far-reaching, there were too many changes at the last moment.

"Haitang, go block Lang Tao. Xiao En cannot die, nor can he be taken by others!"

Haitang had just finished picking a flower, her face full of confusion.

"Why? What exactly are you here to do?"

Li Chang'an ordered, "Hurry up! You are my subordinate now. Were you always so whiny about your Master's orders before?"

Haitang put away her flower basket and drew her axe, muttering, "To my Master, I never whine; I just chop him with an axe!"

Li Chang'an emphasized again, "Xiao En cannot die, nor can he fall into anyone else's hands. Don't pretend you don't understand later."

Haitang said irritably, "Alright, alright, I got it!"

Lang Tao was determined to kill Xiao En and didn't fight Fan Xian and the others head-on. In a flash, another blade was about to pierce Xiao En's back.

Just then, Haitang Duoduo's axe was thrown over at just the right moment.

"Clang!"

The small axe forcefully deflected the small blade, scaring Xiao En and making him break out in a cold sweat.

Lang Tao was completely bewildered to see his Junior Sister suddenly appear.

"Junior Sister, what are you doing? Master strictly ordered us to kill Xiao En, why are you stopping me!"

Haitang Duoduo picked up her axe and stood in front of Xiao En, "Senior Brother, don't ask me."

"Because, I don't even know why I'm stopping you!"

Lang Tao was completely stunned. Could it be that Ku He had given Haitang another order?

That's right, the Empress Dowager wanted to keep Xiao En to interrogate him about the secrets in his heart.

Because Southern Qing had imprisoned Xiao En for more than twenty years without killing him, precisely because Xiao En held secrets.

Lang Tao, while fending off the Tiger Guards, said, "Junior Sister, don't mess around. Compared to the imperial family, we still have to obey Master's orders."

Haitang Duoduo pouted helplessly, unable to explain.

"Senior Brother, stop talking nonsense. Quickly defeat those Tiger Guards, then you can kill Xiao En."

"You are still a bit stronger than me, you will definitely defeat me, that way we can both report back properly!"

Hearing Haitang's words, Xiao En became even more convinced that she was fulfilling the Empress Dowager's instructions.

"Junior Sister, you're confused!"

Listening to their strange conversation, Fan Xian and Zong Zhui were truly perplexed.

Fan Xian saw Haitang Duoduo's doll-like face and immediately recognized her.

"Holy Maiden of Northern Qi, we meet again!"

Haitang kicked down Xiao En, who was trying to sneak away, and angrily frowned, "Who are you? Have we met?"

Fan Xian pointed at Haitang and said, "You're the one who snatched Si Lili from my hands, what? Are you afraid to admit what you did?!"

Haitang Duoduo dared not reveal any of Li Chang'an's secrets, because the secret of the young Emperor being a woman was simply too important.

Once that rumor was released, Northern Qi would instantly fall into chaos.

"Yes, I snatched her, what are you going to do about it?!"

In a flash, Lang Tao's short blade was sharp, once again beheading a Tiger Guard!

But at this moment, the ground suddenly began to tremble slightly.

Zong Zhui reminded, "My Lord, it's the sound of cavalry!"

Fan Xian said with surprise, "It must be our Black Knights arriving!"

Soon, dozens of cavalrymen emerged from the stone forest. Although they wore black armor, it was of Northern Qi style.

A burly general led the charge, a steel spear radiating power.

Haitang Duoduo recognized the newcomers, "Great General, what are you doing here?"

She was asking the obvious; Shang Shanhu was, of course, here to rescue his adoptive father, Xiao En.

Because the imperial family also feared Xiao En, if Xiao En fell into their hands, he would surely not survive, let alone offer advice.

Shang Shanhu saw Lang Tao and Haitang Duoduo and naturally assumed they were sent by the Empress Dowager to kill Xiao En.

Because these two were overtly aligned with the Empress Dowager's faction.

Shang Shanhu couldn't help but snort coldly, "It seems the Empress Dowager doesn't even want adoptive father to return to Shangjing alive. Truly the most venomous woman!"

As he spoke, fearing Haitang would harm Xiao En, he already held his long spear and leaped onto his horse!

Haitang Duoduo remembered Li Chang'an's order: Xiao En must not die, nor must he fall into anyone else's hands.

Therefore, she also had to protect Xiao En from being rescued by Shang Shanhu.

What was originally just a simple assassination mission had become so complicated.

In a flash, Haitang Duoduo and Shang Shanhu, along with his personal guards, were fighting again, making the scene even more chaotic.

A Seventh Rank elite cavalryman tried to seize Xiao En, but was killed by Lang Tao's flying blade.

Fan Xian looked at the chaotic situation before him, unable to make sense of it. All the arriving forces were from Northern Qi, and they were fighting among themselves.

It seemed that Northern Qi was truly in disarray.

Although Southern Qing had internal strife, Emperor Qing was still able to maintain control.

Seeing Haitang Duoduo's formidable strength, Shang Shanhu loudly suggested, "Two Masters of Heaven One Path! Please hear me out!"

"Whether we want to save adoptive father, or you want to kill him or seize him, we are all people of Great Qi!"

"Why don't we kill these Southern Qing people first, then enter Great Qi territory, and then fight among ourselves!"

"Deal!" Lang Tao blurted out!

This suggestion had no problems, preventing any further intervention from the Southern Qing side.

"No!" Haitang simultaneously blurted out, her face showing self-disgust.

"Hu'er, leave that young man; he can be a bargaining chip to threaten Southern Qing!"

Xiao En shouted anxiously, fearing Shang Shanhu would kill Fan Xian.

Chen Pingping had subtly influenced Xiao En for many years, making him certain that Fan Xian was his own grandson. How could Xiao En let Fan Xian die?

Shang Shanhu, a famous general on the battlefield, immediately made a decision, "Tan Wu, I'll hold off the Saintess. You take the main force to support Master Lang Tao!"

In a flash, the battlefield situation changed again, and Fan Xian and the Tiger Guards were in crisis.

Zhao Da, hiding behind a boulder, threw away the carrot in his mouth, drew the sickle from his back, and wore a look of solemn determination.

"Young Master Guo, brothers, an army is raised for a thousand days to be used for an hour. Now is the time to strike!"

"Capturing and beheading the enemy Great General Shang Shanhu can be as meritorious as conquering cities and territories!"

Young Master Guo said with surprise, "Such a great merit, can it redeem my father's crimes?"

Zhao Da chuckled, "As long as your father didn't plan to kill the Emperor and rebel, he can be saved!"

Young Master Guo was overjoyed upon hearing this, picked up a short blade he had just found, and shouted, "All soldiers, charge!"

Hearing Young Master Guo's order, the old soldiers threw away the vegetables and fruits in their hands, each picking up their weapons and charging into battle!

"Kill the Qi dogs!"

An old soldier roared, actually splitting a cavalryman, horse and all, in half!

Zhao Da was even more valiant, forcefully embracing Shang Shanhu and pulling him off his horse!

The old soldiers struck fiercely, every move causing death or injury to the Northern Qi soldiers!

Guo Baokun was stunned, "As expected of my Great Qing's old soldiers!

I can casually find such elite soldiers. It seems I truly have the potential of a great general!"

As Young Master Guo's men charged out, the battlefield once again plunged into chaos.

Fan Xian neither knew why Haitang Duoduo was so determined to protect Xiao En, nor why Xiao En wanted to protect him.

Seeing Zhao Da and the others rush out, he shouted loudly, "Hey, hey, hey, which faction are you guys from?!"

Guo Baokun shouted from afar, "Brother Fan, it's me! I found all of them to protect you!"

Fan Xian looked at Guo Baokun in disbelief. This guy could actually find such reliable old soldiers!

Li Chang'an watched from afar. The stone forest was in chaos, and he could take Xiao En away now.

However, Xiao En was a cunning person and wouldn't tell the truth until he was in a desperate situation, and such a person wasn't afraid of torture.

So it was better to wait until he fell into Chen Pingping's trap and completely revealed the secrets in his heart; that would be true despair.

In the current situation, Lang Tao wanted to kill Fan Xian and Xiao En, Haitang wanted to protect Xiao En, Shang Shanhu wanted to kill Fan Xian and save Xiao En, and the old soldiers wanted to protect Fan Xian's life.

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

Just then, several arrows suddenly struck, all heading towards Fan Xian!

"The shame of the capital shall be repaid today!"

Yan Xiao Yi, holding a recurve bow, appeared on top of a stone pillar, and a troop of Southern Qing cavalry also emerged from the stone forest!

With Yan Xiao Yi's appearance, the scene once again became chaotic.

Fan Xian shouted loudly, "General Yan, let's put aside our personal grudges for now. Killing Shang Shanhu is a great merit!"

Yan Xiao Yi also saw Shang Shanhu, but he wouldn't fall for it.

With Fan Xian here, even if he killed Shang Shanhu, leaving the military camp without permission would still result in Fan Xian impeaching him.

Moreover, his goal was to kill Fan Xian.

"All soldiers, listen to my order, kill Fan Xian first!"

Hearing Yan Xiao Yi's order, Xiao En became anxious, "Hu'er, you must protect Fan Xian!"

Shang Shanhu had always respected his adoptive father's strategies. Seeing Xiao En speak so solemnly, he became even more convinced that Fan Xian held significant importance and could threaten high-ranking Southern Qing officials.

Although his starting point was completely wrong, his conclusion was correct.

Shang Shanhu's soldiers were originally about to fight the Southern Qing Tiger Guards, but now their opponents suddenly changed again, making the scene even more chaotic.

Northern Qi soldiers and Southern Qing soldiers were fighting again, but the Northern Qi soldiers were protecting the Southern Qing envoy, while the Southern Qing soldiers wanted to kill the Southern Qing envoy.

The situation was already very chaotic. Some soldiers who couldn't figure out their opponents only recognized the distinction between countries: Qing people killing Qi people was never wrong!

The starting point was also wrong, but the conclusion was correct again.

The tide of this battle gradually tilted towards the Southern Qing border army, because the Ninth Rank archer Yan Xiao Yi killed one with each arrow, and even Shang Shanhu was hit by an arrow!

As the situation seemed to be settling, Yan Xiao Yi's cold arrows began to target the old soldiers protecting Fan Xian.

Fan Xian looked at Haitang Duoduo, who was protecting Xiao En, and immediately had an idea.

"Holy Maiden of Northern Qi, that Ninth Rank archer is a major threat to Northern Qi!"

"If you don't act now, all those who die on the battlefield later will be your Great Qi's sons!"

"Miss Haitang, strike him down! For the sake of the nation's righteousness..."

He was shouting excitedly when Haitang Duoduo suddenly pulled a mushroom from under her foot and threw it into Fan Xian's mouth from afar.

"What are you shouting about? So annoying!"

Li Chang'an wanted her to protect Xiao En, and she dared not act recklessly. If she accidentally let Lang Tao kill Xiao En, it would be big trouble.

Yan Xiao Yi's arrow suddenly shot towards a Southern Qing old soldier!

"Clang!"

A flying blade suddenly shot out from an angle, actually deflecting Yan Xiao Yi's arrow!

It was Teng Zijing who had secretly acted. He was somewhat regretful that he hadn't knocked down Yan Xiao Yi's arrow.

Li Chang'an said, "No matter, you are only a Ninth Rank Lower Level. It's already enough to deflect his arrow. When you reach his cultivation, you will definitely be stronger than him."

Yan Xiao Yi was greatly alarmed. Could there be a Ninth Rank hidden weapon Master nearby?

While he was still wondering, a whooshing sound suddenly came from behind him, and an invisible Sword Qi struck his right arm.

Li Chang'an said to Teng Zijing beside him, "He has been severely wounded by me. Go practice with him."

Dueling with a Master alone greatly improves one's understanding of the martial Dao. This was Teng Zijing's opportunity.

Teng Zijing asked, "Yan Xiao Yi, should we spare his life?"

Li Chang'an casually said, "If you have the ability, kill him."