across the Quartet

Broken Chapter [-]

South Korea, one of the Seven Heroes of the World, has been wiped off the map forever.It was replaced by Yingchuan County of Qin State.The first thing the new Yingchuan county magistrate did after he took office was to issue reward portraits to arrest two important criminals: Han Cheng and Wei Zhuang. If you don't find these two people, you will never give up.

Puyin is one of several larger villages in the north of Xinzheng and south of Dahe.A slender and rugged path passes through the village. Although the yellow mud on the road surface has become potholed after being exposed to wind and sun, it is still much easier to walk than the nearby reed-strewn swamps.Two days ago, there were suddenly more than a dozen Qin warriors in full armor in the village.They erected a fence at the head of the village, and they worked in shifts day and night, and all pedestrians and vehicles passing the road were checked.However, two days later, they searched group after group of pedestrians who had fled from the vicinity of Xinzheng, and mule carts carrying grain, farm tools and seeds one after another, but they found nothing.

In the evening, the soldiers had just changed their guard.An old corps leader with a stern face and shriveled like a goat stood in line at the entrance of the village with four brothers under his command.In the night shift, he hardly met anyone; but if he was really on his way late at night, he would be the most suspicious target, so he didn't dare to neglect at all.One of the youngest soldiers couldn't help but yawned, and was immediately flinched by his stare.

A cool wind blows."Dingling, Dingling" came from the wind.

The voice was clear and sweet, from far to near... Only then did the corporal see clearly that what came was a hearse.A bamboo cage hangs from one corner of the car, and a copper fish hangs below it; when the car moves, the copper fish shakes from side to side and makes a bell.On both sides of the coffin, there are three people in plain clothes and sackcloth pulling the ropes tied to the coffin.The hearse was followed by three carriages, the horses pulling the carriages walked slowly, and there were many people in mourning on both sides.

The initiating procession came to the fence and was forced to stop.A young man who looked rather slick and sophisticated stepped forward and saluted the Qin soldiers.The corporal noticed that he had only one arm, and the sleeve was bulging, and he always felt as if he was hiding some sharp weapon.

Although suspicious in his heart, the corporal leader still said in a business-like manner: "Who are you?"

"My lords, my master is a jade merchant in Puyang. He accidentally contracted a fever when he bought goods in Nanyang, and went away. The villain was ordered by him before his death to send the master's body back to the family tomb in his hometown for burial. Please do your best. convenient."

"...Who is in the carriage?"

"It's the mistress and the young master. Because of the long distance, they can't help the spirit to walk all the time, so they rest in the car."

Wu Changchong made a gesture to his subordinates: the four Qin soldiers immediately formed a pair, holding the opened portraits in their hands, and ordered the mourners to raise their heads and compare them carefully one by one.After that, he roughly opened the curtain and checked the inside of each car.In the first car were two women in white clothes, a child and a baby, and the other two cars were full of goods.They searched again and again, but still couldn't find the slightest fault, finally jumped out of the car and shook their heads at the corporal leader.

Honglian sat in the car with her head bowed deeply, her palms hidden in her white robe were sweating.Although Huo Mei slightly modified her appearance with the hu powder on her face, she still had a thin thread hanging in her heart, fearing that someone would recognize her as a Korean princess.

Fortunately, this hurdle is finally over.She moved her sore neck, and heard the Qin man outside the carriage ask: "Are you the housekeeper? I see that the callus on your hand is not like a steward who writes and settles accounts, but looks like wielding a knife." A veteran of sticks."

The one-armed man made a bitter face, and said: "Your Excellency has good eyesight. It's not because there have been too many bandits in this area in recent years, so the master hired a villain and a few men who have learned martial arts to escort him in and out. Goods." He pointed to the end of the line with his hand, and there stood a giant with chains all over his limbs, "That southern barbarian was bought by my master from Chu State to protect him; unfortunately, it hasn't been used yet, master But I have already taken a step ahead. Hey, things are impermanent..."

The corporal looked over the funeral procession for the last time, and finally nodded and said:

"... let's go."

Two Qin soldiers moved the fence.The coachman shook his whip in vain, and the horses slowly pulled up; with the sound of the wheels turning and the copper fish swaying, the whole convoy slowly entered the village along the path.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they suddenly heard someone shouting from behind: "Wait a minute!"

The hearse stopped with a squeak.Wu Jiu took a deep breath, and when he turned his head, he had a smiling face again: "What's the matter, Mr. Jun?"

The corporal rushed over in three steps at a time, with his brows tightly furrowed, he pointed to the ground and said, "I just felt something was wrong... the last month has been sunny, even if you came here from Nanyang, the coffin will , how could it be wet?"

Wu Jiu looked in the direction of his finger, and sure enough, there was a line of dripping water on the ground, and it was obviously dripping from the hearse at the front.His chest tightened and he didn't answer.Corporal Qin Bing stared at his face and sneered, and casually wiped under the car, sticking out his tongue and licking his wet fingers.

"Salty. Could this be—the sweat of a living person?"

"I'm afraid it got wet when I was wading across the river today." Wu Jiu said.

"Hehe, I'm afraid it's because there are air holes under the coffin, so the contents inside will seep out. Whether it's true or not, you can tell when you open the coffin lid." The head of the corps forcefully pressed on the coffin, facing the other four Qin The soldier said: "You guys, come here and open the coffin." The four of them rushed up, drew out their short knives, and were about to cut the rope tied to the coffin.

"...The deceased has been in the coffin for many days, so it's probably not good to be so profane and disturbing." Wu Jiu said.Following the exit of the word "good", a pitch-black short knife slid from his sleeve to his palm like flowing water, and suddenly pierced into the captain's breastplate.And the people who were standing on both sides of the coffin holding the ropes also cut the throats of the other four Qin people.

Everything happens in an instant.When Guren opened the curtain and jumped out of the carriage, the battle was already over.

"It's bothering my brain, I didn't want to make a fuss." He knocked his head innocently, "There is no time to deal with these corpses. When their partners get up to take over, or Xinzheng sends someone to investigate, they will definitely find out Our clues, follow the traces."

"When we crossed the river, there were no traces of it."

Guren was concerned with another matter.Caressing the side of the coffin worriedly, she asked, "Is he okay after sweating so much?"

Huo Mei replied in the carriage: "Since the young master came out of the mountain, there have been two seizures in total: one before assassinating the chief officer Han Yu'an, and one after Young Master Fei entered the Qin Dynasty. Every time he had a seizure, it was so hard. The secret technique 'Xuanwu Breathing' suppresses the retrograde movement of true qi, all five senses are lost, and all five bodies are stopped; as long as it lasts for three to five days, it will return to its original state."

"It will take another three or five days?"

"If we can use true energy to help him adjust his breath, the symptoms can be alleviated. However, we don't have that leeway right now. Your lord has ordered that you must not open the coffin before crossing the river."

Guren had no choice but to board the car again.Wu Jiu hitched a strong white horse to the hearse, steered it himself, and let the horse trot.They plan to enter the mountain forest before sunset.

When the night is covered with stars, Puyin Village has disappeared.Guren stuck her head out of the car window, silently identifying the surrounding scenery.Bai Feng got out of the carriage a long time ago and sat on the roof of the carriage, with a few little blue birds perched on his shoulders.When the carriage was turning, he hooked his feet on the roof and hung it upside down, pointing to the southwest.

"There."

"what?"

"your home."

Guren looked back along his arm.A dark wilderness, fields, trees, but somewhere far away, faint fire and smoke can be seen.That is Xin Zheng.

She suddenly had the urge to cry.But this will only cause consternation and annoyance to fellow travelers, and it will also bring them potential danger.Fighting back the pain in her chest, she replied as nonchalantly as possible, "South Korea doesn't exist anymore. It's not my home."

Not a place to go back to.

She thought of the pond of lotus in the summer palace, which bloomed every year when she was born; she thought of the long summer heat in her childhood, the tired and gentle smile on her mother's face.On such a quiet night, when it was so hot that it was almost impossible to sleep, a cold water snake would swim up to the palace from the Hanyu Pond and wrap itself around her ankle secretly; but she never felt frightened, she would only do a long Safe dream.

The dream is crushed in the void of the past, and can never be pieced back to its original form.

Guren shook her head to herself.As if he thought she wasn't bored enough, Bai Feng poked her bun from above again, and whispered: "Look ahead."

Hong Lian glared at him, but turned her head to look at the direction the carriage was heading——suddenly took a soft breath.

In the middle of the road ahead, there was a vague black figure, whether it was a person or a ghost, walking towards them quietly and erratically, as if being blown by the wind.

The horse still snorted unconsciously and hurried forward; Wu Jiu and the others were breathing tightly.

The black shadow was getting closer and closer, and Hong Lian finally saw that it was probably a person—a tall man in gray clothes, dressed like an ordinary passerby; the bamboo hat on his head was pressed down very low, covering most of his face.He walked with unhurried steps, and didn't seem to take a second look at the oncoming funeral convoy.

If it was an ordinary pedestrian who bumped into the funeral procession at night, would he feel somewhat apprehensive?Even if this person is daring, he should give way to the side of the road, so as not to be bumped into by the people on both sides of the hearse... However, the footsteps of that person seemed to be measured with a ruler, and he walked without dodging and avoiding. A person, but did not deviate an inch; just so happened to pass by the hearse.

I don't know if it was an illusion, but at that moment, the coffin on the car suddenly bumped; fortunately, the people on both sides pulled the rope in time to prevent it from tilting.

Although it was just a small accident, Guren was sweating for no reason.

The wheel must have accidentally caught a pebble.She consoled herself.In this world, how can there be any strange "induction".

In the middle of the night, the trail became more and more deserted, so quiet that only the sound of wheels rolling was left.Occasionally, it is accompanied by two crows, which makes people feel even more chilled.

"Someone is following us." Bai Feng said suddenly.

"……what?"

Wuxie stopped and listened for a long time. "Why... I can't feel the breath of a stranger at all."

"I also didn't notice any strange movements around." Wu Jiu said, "This person's concealment skills must be quite brilliant."

There was a sudden tension inside and outside the car.At this moment, Baifeng on the roof of the car pointed again:

"That's the man."

Guren opened the window.She felt chills down her spine for a moment, but her heart beat fast and anxiously.

The man who had just met on the road wearing a bamboo hat stood on the top of an old dead tree by the roadside, looking down at them from a height.

Didn't he go behind them?Why did it appear in front of the road again?Why is no one aware of his actions?

Besides, this person came from the direction we are going, so it should have nothing to do with Qin's pursuit? !

She gripped the hilt of the chain sword tightly.Needless to say, everyone in Quicksand also put their hands on the weapons they took advantage of.

Wujiu and Wuxie exchanged glances, and suddenly rushed towards the strange man like two arrows flying off the string.The two flanked each other from left to right, and cooperated very tacitly.

The strange man's body trembled slightly, like a ripple appeared on the surface of the water.Then he disappeared completely.

The two who flung themselves to the ground fell to the ground, looking at each other.Not only them, everyone had expressions of surprise, fear, and bewilderment on their faces.

Baifeng gave a "tsk", her small body soared into the sky, nodded like a swift, and jumped into the depths of the forest.In the blink of an eye, he circled back and continued to sit on the roof of the car without saying a word, as if sulking.

That person just appeared and disappeared suddenly, as if he had never existed.

But they had to keep going.Although everyone was full of uneasiness and doubts in their hearts, no one mentioned it tacitly.

At night, Quicksand set up camp in the forest, allowing people and horses to rest for a while.Of course he didn't dare to light a fire to make smoke, but Wei Zhuang made sufficient preparations before fleeing. The two carriages were filled with wine, water, dried vegetables, solid pastries and pickled meat, which was enough Everyone eats for half a month.Huo Mei filled her stomach indiscriminately, Huo Mei ordered everyone to take turns to sleep for two or three hours, Wu Jiu and the others took turns to watch the night, and Baifeng's bird was watching the wind from the tree.

With a piece of jerky in his mouth, Bai Feng said vaguely: "He hasn't left yet."

Wujiu, Wuxie and others all looked at him with a big frown, "You mean - that weird guy in the hat has been following us?"

"Ah."

"But before the few of us specially patrolled around the camp, it was clear that there was nothing..."

"That's because your lightness skills are too poor."

Hong Lian really wanted to slap him from behind, but the elders in Quicksand seemed to have gotten used to this poor boy, and asked patiently, "Where is this person?"

"I don't know." Bai Feng replied bluntly, "It's too dark in the forest, and Die Chi can't see clearly—it would be great if there was an owl."

"...I wonder if what I saw just now is a person or a ghost." Wu Jiu murmured looking up at the sky, "Perhaps, that thing is simply my illusion."

He said what most of the people felt.However, it is impossible for everyone to experience the exact same illusion.

"In the mountains and forests, infantry soldiers are too cumbersome, and cavalry can't use them well; only assassins with snares are the most capable." Huo Mei's voice came faintly from the carriage, "There are not many snares near Xinzheng, but they can be assembled together. There can be more than one or two hundred people. If you are entangled by them before the young master wakes up, it may not be easy to escape."

"If that person is a spy of the net and sees that we plan to camp and rest, such a good opportunity, he should hurry back and inform his accomplices, and bring more people after him; there is no reason to stop here."

"Maybe he left a mark along the road when he followed us, and now a large number of killers are coming here?"

Everyone in Quicksand exchanged glances.Wu Shi asked: "Then shouldn't we rest here, but pack up our things and drive overnight?"

Huo Mei sighed and said, "Walking in the forest at night is not fast, and it is easy to leave many clues that are easy to follow. It is difficult to completely shake off the pursuers. Besides, we have been walking for two days and one night. I'm very tired, if I continue walking, I'm afraid I'll fall into the Qin people's strategy of exhausting soldiers, and it's easier to become their prey when they're tired."

Wuming at the side spat, and said in a rough voice: "Just because of a kid who doesn't know where he is hiding, he can't sleep and walk, can't walk, when did Quicksand become so useless? Let me tell you, we should get rid of it as soon as possible." He found it and slaughtered it so that he could sleep peacefully."

"It's easy to say, how do I find it?" Wu Jiu waved his hand helplessly, "I can't even see Baifeng's bird, let alone us blind-"

Before the words were finished, a strong wind passed through the forest, rustling the branches.A large flock of birds of all kinds fluttered noisily from the canopy.A few of them swooped down to Bai Feng's side, screamed a few times and flew away.

Bai Feng's expression finally became serious, "There are people coming again. There are many of them. Some are flying in the sky, some are jumping on the trees—"

"Not good." Huo Mei covered her mouth in panic, "That's a group of special killers in the net, 'Teng Yuan' and 'Ye Xiao'. Everyone be careful."

"What's so special about these people?"

"As the name suggests, the person known as 'Teng Ape' is good at climbing on trees, using dense vegetation as cover, and assassinates as fast as lightning, while the person known as 'Night Owl' wears a mask with oak as the bone and cowhide as the membrane. Winged hands can glide for a certain distance in the air." Huo Mei said, "They are very fast, and if they miss a single blow, they will immediately run away and wait for the opportunity to deliver a second blow. So once you fight, you must find an opportunity to kill them completely. Never let the tiger go back to the mountain."

As if to confirm her words, the branches, leaves and shrubs in several directions rustled at the same time; as if several water snakes were swimming quickly in the dark green waves.It was too late to say it, and it was so fast at that time, suddenly a few dark figures sprang out from the canopy above the head, and rushed towards the quicksand crowd around the carriage.When there was no time to spare, Wu Jiu didn't even have time to draw out his sword, he blocked it with the scabbard in front of him, only heard a "clang" sound, and collided with a broad short knife.With a flick of his wrist, he finally pulled the blade out of the sheath, and with a move Wei Zhuang personally taught, "Bird of Prey Scattering", he slashed downward diagonally, but the slash was in vain; Far less fortunate than him, he was stabbed in the right chest with the first blow, his lung lobe was pierced, and he fell down without even being able to utter a sound.

A low growl came from Wushuang's throat.He punched the lifeless assassin, but only hit Che Shi on the back, and the wood dross flew around in an instant.Regardless of whether they succeeded or not, all the assassins immediately fled far away after sending out a blow, and then drilled into the densely leafy place, disappearing in an instant.

The only light of the night was the full moon above the head, which was half covered by the clouds and the other half was blocked by the dense branches and leaves; the clearing in the forest was so dark that you could hardly see your fingers.In this case, it is extremely difficult to judge the enemy's position.Everyone in Quicksand didn't dare to take the risk to take the initiative to pursue them, so they could only wait passively in place.

Without even taking a breath, the people surrounding the carriage were attacked again.Wushuang, who was the biggest, was the first to bear the brunt and became the most conspicuous target.Three killers rushed out from the shadows and stabbed at his vitals at the same time. He twisted around to avoid a knife, and Wu Shi helped him stop the knife, but the third man stabbed him accurately on the back below the shoulder blade.Fortunately, Wushuang's muscles were thick and firm, and the short knife could not penetrate even half an inch.With a roar, he grabbed the arm of the assassin who was about to run, threw him to the ground, and hit the middle of his body with a punch—the man's breastbone sank immediately, and he died immediately.

However, at this moment, several people came to kill Wushuang from behind.This time they learned their lesson and changed from stabbing to slashing. Although they couldn't kill him with one blow, they made many bloody cuts on Wushuang's body.Wushuang was aroused by them, shouted loudly, picked up the dead body on the ground, and waved it in the air like a copper stick - and really knocked one of them straight.The rest of the people took the opportunity to run away, and he still wanted to chase, but he heard Wuxie yelling "Be careful!" Wushuang was too late to react, and a powerful feathered arrow flew from the air and hit him in the chest. calves.He staggered in pain, was hit by another arrow in the back of the ankle, and immediately fell to his knees.

It turned out that the killers who stabbed with short knives were "Teng Yuan", and several "Night Owls" did not fall to the ground at all, but hid on the top of the big tree, firing crossbow arrows down continuously.Hong Lian was about to pull out the chain sword, but was suddenly pushed by a dumb girl beside her, avoiding a wave of arrows falling obliquely from above; but the girl herself was hit in the neck and fell headlong into the soil.

"Ah!" Hong Lian screamed, before she could react, her ankle was grabbed again—she fell down and was dragged under the carriage—at this moment, several arrows stuck in her. where she had stood before.

"It's safer here."

She turned her head and saw that the person who pulled her just now was actually Bai Feng, with an expression of "you owe me one more time" on her face.Hong Lian didn't have the energy to argue with him, she crawled out an inch, trying to stretch her hand forward.

The girl who had saved her life was lying inches away in a pool of blood.Her hands were still warm.

too fast.

Whether I kill people or people kill me, it's all so fast.Too soon to fear, too late to mourn.

Guren trembled involuntarily.She looked at the positions of the treetops from which the crossbow arrows were shot, closed her eyes forcefully, and chanted silently.Soon, grass snakes, flower snakes, and vipers gradually gathered around her.Guren stared tenderly into their eyes.

"Go," she said.

The group of snakes seemed to really understand it, rushing towards all directions like a tide.They climbed up the tree trunks and climbed up the treetops-soon, there were wailing and falling sounds not far away.

"Hmph, there are two tricks." Bai Feng nodded solemnly.With an idea, he asked, "Which one of the snakes you called is the most poisonous?"

Guren glanced at him, and stretched out a hand - a small silver and black snake was wrapped around the wrist.Bai Feng's hand was like lightning, he grabbed the snake's seven inches, and found a stone from nowhere, smashed the snake's head on the ground with a slap.

"What are you doing?!" Guren shouted angrily.But Bai Feng ignored her, and waved his hand outside, and immediately several crows flew over and stopped beside him; he caught two of them, and put their paws into the pool of snake flesh and blood.Honglian suddenly realized, and finally resisted beating him; Baifeng released the birds with poisoned claws one by one, making them look for prey in high places.Soon, she heard a few screams from high above, and she was secretly happy in her heart.

Why do I rejoice in killing?At that time, Honglian didn't care about thinking so much.She just wanted to kill all the enemies, kill them all.

At this moment, another change occurred.Several glowing fireballs fell from the sky-it was a burning rocket!Fortunately, the coffin on the hearse was specially made, and its material would not drown in water or burn in case of fire; however, a certain rocket hit the curtain of the carriage, and it immediately burst into flames.

"Master!" Honglian exclaimed.Huo Mei jumped out of the carriage in time holding Lin'er in her arms; before she could hide it, several sharp arrows aimed at the gap and shot at her.At the very moment, Wuxie rushed over and chopped off those arrow branches with a sword, but the empty door behind him was exposed, and a certain "Teng Yuan" took the opportunity to send out a throwing knife, which hit the vest.

"No—" Huo Mei freed up an arm to catch the fallen body.Wuxie's body was heavy, and she also fell to the ground.He was spitting blood, his eyes were blurred, but he barely supported his body, trying to touch Huo Mei's face.

"mother……"

He murmured softly and swallowed.

Probably a hallucination when he was dying.

Guren bit her lower lip hard, almost bleeding from the bite.Taking advantage of the bright light of the fire, the chain sword danced in a fierce circular arc in the air, just enough to wrap around the neck of a killer hiding in the dark. "It's done!" She cheered in her heart, and was about to tighten the recovery force, but the sound of breaking wind came from behind her head.

"Not good!" At that moment, her heart became clear, and she realized that she had made the most common mistake for an immature killer-to show her flaws at the moment of catching the prey.The so-called mantis catching cicadas, the oriole was behind, she got out from under the carriage in order to use the chain sword more smoothly, but exposed herself in a vulnerable position.

She was holding her breath, her hands and feet were cold, and she could almost feel the icy cold blade was about to pierce her body—but saw a hand holding a dagger brushed past her side and flew away.

Only hands.

The hand fell to the ground with a plop, covered in dirt.At the same time, there was a scream from behind.Honglian jumped away in a hurry, only to see a killer who was still about to pounce on her from behind and fell down.Another person stepped out from behind him.

It was the strange man wearing a bamboo hat that he had met twice on the road before!

Hong Lian stared dumbfounded at the man jumping out of the hiding place, grabbed a handful of broken arrows on the ground, and threw them into the air again and again—he threw them quickly and accurately, and with just the strength of his wrist, it was as good as a bow and crossbow Strong, just as far.In an instant, several "Night Owls" were shot and fell to the ground.The rest of the "Teng Yuan" naturally regarded him as a confidant and enemy, and rushed out, screaming and attacking his vital parts; all of a sudden, his front, back, left and right sides were surrounded by enemies .

The strange man pulled out his saber, and cut several times neatly in the air. The cold blades met and the blood splashed in an instant, which was almost dizzying.

When the strange man retracted his sword and sheathed it, there was only a dead silence around.

"Are you—"

Who is it?What are your plans?Why kill the snare assassin?There were too many questions to ask, but Guren felt that her throat was choked and she couldn't ask a single word.

But he saw that strange man stepped over the dead body on the ground and walked straight to the coffin on the hearse.He knocked on the coffin lid, and suddenly pulled hard with his fingers, breaking a rope tied to it.

At that moment, the remaining members of Quicksand who were still able to move rushed forward with a tacit understanding, and all pointed their weapons at him.

Only then did the weirdo turn around slowly, took off his bamboo hat, and revealed a young and handsome face.His eyes swept over the faces of the people, and he said, "I'm a friend, not an enemy."

"You treat everyone else as fools, we will believe whatever you say?!" someone shouted.

"No matter who you are, don't move that coffin, otherwise don't blame me for being ruthless." Wu Jiu's face was ashen, covered in blood, he still supported and walked out.

The weird man said: "You don't know me, but do you know this set of sword skills?"

After speaking, he casually broke off a branch and danced it as a long sword.Although he deliberately slowed down his movements, he could still feel the aura of the sword.

Hong Lian's body shook, and she couldn't help blurting out: "Across all directions!"

The weirdo collected the branches and nodded.

"Who exactly are you?"

"I am a disciple of Guigu Sect, Wei Zhuang's senior brother."

TBC