Сhаpter 312: Firе Моth Раrty 44
“Reinforсеments havе arrived.”
Воth thе Firе Моth partу and the government soldiеrs рaniсked, turning tо thеir rеsрeсtivе lеаdеrs. With so mаny reinforсеments, thеir numbers were simрly no mаtch.
Thе саmр, whiсh hаd оriginally hеld а sure viсtоrу, desсendеd intо chaоs. Еverуone had аlready bееn аcting оn their own, refusing tо submit tо аnyоnе еlsе, аnd nоw theу wеre оnly сoncеrned with flееing fоr their livеs.
Тhе gоvernment soldiеrs had originally beеn positionеd on the оutskirts. Thоugh sоmewhаt overwhelmed by the Half-Faced Ghosts’ charge, they held their posts steadfastly, making Shen Du’s escape nearly impossible.
However, Mo Qianzhi had not given the order, so the soldiers restrained themselves and did not attack Shen Du. At the same time, they looked down on the Half-Faced Ghosts for deserting the battlefield.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Shen Du pulled out the arrows embedded in his body, tore off a piece of his clothing, and hastily bandaged his arm. Blood quickly soaked through the makeshift bandage, but Shen Du paid it no mind. He glanced around.
The Half-Faced Ghosts’ morale had collapsed, and their formation fell into disarray. Lai Luofu was also indecisive and disorganized, shouting at them to capture Shen Du but with little effect. In contrast, Mo Qianzhi remained much calmer, directing everyone to arrange their defenses against the incoming threat. He only instructed a small number to keep an eye on Shen Du, seemingly unconcerned about him, as if certain he could not escape.
Had reinforcements truly arrived?
Shen Du’s doubts were no less than anyone else’s. His mind raced, and he seized an opportunity to move behind Mo Qianzhi.
Mo Qianzhi was arranging for someone to go and gather information when a cold gust of wind swept past. Before he could react, a gleaming dagger was pressed against his neck, and Shen Du emerged from behind him.
Lai Luofu rushed over upon hearing the news, confronting Shen Du.
Injured herself, she was no match for Shen Du. That was why, as soon as the chaos erupted, Lai Luofu had first avoided Shen Du and tried to call others to capture him. The pressure Shen Du had exerted on her and the shadow it cast in her heart had never faded.
Moreover, seeing the government soldiers surround Shen Du after the Half-Faced Ghosts, she thought it was foolproof. In this situation, Lai Luofu strongly suspected Mo Qianzhi was going easy on him.
Truly incompetent and more trouble than they’re worth. If she had known this would happen, she should have killed Mo Qianzhi first.
With the person behind him locking his throat, Mo Qianzhi showed no sign of panic. He raised a hand to stop the soldiers from approaching and said calmly:
“Shen Du, you cannot escape.”
After speaking, he glanced sideways at Shen Du’s injured area. Blood had long since soaked through his clothes, and Shen Du’s lips were pale, already at the end of his strength.
Even if he wasn’t killed, he would die from excessive blood loss.
“Do you remember when we were young? We were about the same age and got along best, always together. We even promised that after we married, we would live close to each other and arrange a marriage between our children.”
“Shut up. Tell them to disperse.” The blade pressed closer to Mo Qianzhi’s throat.
But Mo Qianzhi remained unmoved, chuckling softly a few times. “Shen Du, this is a good opportunity for revenge. The massacre of your family, the lives of hundreds of Shen clan members—I still remember the cries of those dozen or so young children. They all died tragically at the hands of the executioners.”
Shen Du interrupted him, “I will avenge the massacre of my family, but I will never stoop to your level and engage in the slaughter of innocent people.”
Without waiting for Mo Qianzhi to speak again, Shen Du fixed his gaze firmly on Lai Luofu.
Lai Luofu’s heart skipped a beat under that gaze, and she involuntarily took a few steps back.
“What do you want?”
“The antidote!”
Lai Luofu’s eyes shifted, her teeth clenched beneath her mask as she chose to play dumb. “What antidote?”
Very well.
The dagger in his hand shifted slightly, pressing even closer to the neck of the person in front of him. Mo Qianzhi was forced to speak, “He wants the antidote for ‘Cocoon to Butterfly.’”Lai Luofu's eyes widened in disbelief that Mo Qianzhi was helping Shen Du demand the antidote. Her hand pressed against her belt, filled with extreme reluctance.
Shen Du couldn't be bothered to waste words on her: "If you don't hand over the antidote, Mo Qianzhi will surely die."
Lai Luofu looked at him but remained silent.
It seemed she wouldn't yield until faced with disaster.
"Reinforcements have arrived. Without Mo Qianzhi, how long can you rabble hold out? And you," Shen Du said with disdain, staring at Lai Luofu, "how long can you last? Injured as you are, you should know best how powerful an arrow from this pavilion can be."
As soon as he finished speaking, a sharp pain shot through Lai Luofu's right chest, the agony of flesh being torn by an arrow flashing through her mind once more.
Lai Luofu narrowed her eyes, her voice filled with furious rage: "I possess an immortal body—how could I possibly be injured?"
"So you refuse to hand it over," Shen Du stated as a fact, the corners of his lips curling slightly. His deep pupils gleamed in the darkness as he glanced briefly toward the horizon, his voice turning cold.
"Then don't blame this pavilion."
Before anyone could react, Mo Qianzhi sensed something amiss and shouted:
"Form ranks, form ranks! Extinguish the torches!"
But it was too late. Countless dark figures descended from the sky, landing amidst the crowd and slashing wildly. The arrogant and unruly Half-Faced Ghosts were caught off guard, cut down like melons.
A voice rang out: "Reinforcements are here. Surrender now!"
Following this, white mist rose from the forest at the edge of the sky, accompanied by waves of battle cries. Countless soldiers, holding banners and weapons, charged toward them to the sound of horns.
The footsteps grew closer, ever closer.
Lai Luofu tried to escape in the chaos. Shen Du watched, seemingly too exhausted to give chase, as she fled for her life.
A flash of white light pursued Lai Luofu, blocking her path. It was Jing Lin.
Cornered by Jing Lin's sword, Lai Luofu retreated step by step, her heart filled with frustration. Unconsciously, her hand slipped into her inner robe...
"Ah!"
A small crossbow emerged from Jing Lin's sleeve, striking Lai Luofu's restless hand.
"Hand over the antidote."
Lai Luofu's mind raced. Shen Du had repeatedly demanded the antidote, so he must know that without it, the poison was incurable and would surely be fatal. That Pan Chi was the only son of Commander Pan—his death meant nothing to her, but for Shen Du, would Commander Pan let it go so easily?
She was unwilling to give it up, but if she didn't, she feared she wouldn't escape today.
She had thought Shen Du came alone today, but it seemed she had been naive. Had the reinforcements changed their route and arrived early? How had she not received any news?
But on the battlefield, strategy was everything. Just because she didn't know didn't mean it couldn't happen.
"Kill them!"
The battle cries shook the heavens. They were surrounded.
"Fine," Lai Luofu gritted her teeth. "I'll give you the antidote, but release Mo Qianzhi."
Jing Lin looked to Shen Du for instructions.
Shen Du nodded, and Jing Lin scoffed lightly: "Easy enough."
Lai Luofu then retrieved the small porcelain vial containing the antidote hidden at her waist. Still unwilling to hand it over so easily, she clutched it tightly in her hand.
"Enough talk. If you don't give it, we'll capture her and claim the reward," Shen Du declared, clearly out of patience.
Jing Lin responded, raising his sword to strike.
"Here!"
Lai Luofu hastily tossed the antidote vial. It traced an arc through the air and was caught by Jing Lin.
Seizing the opportunity, Lai Luofu flashed a sly smile, slipping out of Jing Lin's attack range as if her feet were greased, and raised her voice:
"Hurry and release Lord Mo!"
She was trying to win over Mo Qianzhi's loyalty.Jing Lin hurriedly opened the porcelain bottle and held it up to Shen Du. Shen Du glanced at its contents, then gave it a light sniff, confirming it was identical to what Zhu Caiwei had taken before, and only then did he feel at ease.
Jing Lin pushed the stopper back in and pressed it with his thumb, sealing the antidote once more.
Just then, Mo Qianzhi, who had remained silent all along, spoke calmly:
"Now that you have the antidote, why not release me?"
Only then did Shen Du realize something was amiss. After a brief pause, he lowered the dagger, his gaze deep and his voice low: "You knew all along."
Another statement of certainty.
Mo Qianzhi's expression remained unchanged, indifferent as he said, "Hurry and go."
As Shen Du was about to speak, Jing Lin called out, "Commander!" A thousand words were contained in that single address.
The Half-Faced Ghosts had already regained their senses, and the Inner Guards brought along were gradually struggling to hold their ground. Though they still held the upper hand, signs of defeat would soon emerge if they persisted.
"Go!"
Before leaving, Shen Du fixed a deep gaze on Mo Qianzhi, who returned it. The latter suddenly snapped in a low voice, "Go now."
As if startled awake, Shen Du turned and left.
Soon after, the Inner Guards clad in black who had launched the ambush also vanished into the shadows.
The Half-Faced Ghosts had yet to react, and the reinforcements of officers and soldiers were equally bewildered—the skirmish had ended as abruptly as it began.
Lai Luofu shouted at Mo Qianzhi, who was facing the direction Shen Du had departed, "Why aren't you deploying the troops?"
Couldn't he hear the horns, the battle cries of soldiers, and the thunderous sound of hooves?
Mo Qianzhi glanced at the sky. The smoke was dispersing, the battle cries gradually fading, and the soldiers and the sound of hooves seemed to awaken from a dream, vanishing bit by bit.
"It's over."
Lai Luofu couldn't accept it, his voice strained: "Mo Qianzhi, if you want to court death, I won't stop you, but you can't drag our Fire Moth Party down with you."
With that, he commanded the Half-Faced Ghosts,
"Let's go."
Mo Qianzhi did not stop them. He waved to the officers and soldiers, then returned to the room, showing no reaction to Lai Luofu leading his people away.
"Lord Mo."
Mo Qianzhi looked at him, seeing his confusion, and sighed: "The reinforcements haven't arrived. They... will return." With that, he considered the matter settled.
OpenNovel