SFS Chapter 1033: The Troops Charge the Formation, Long Shows His Power
Chapter 1033: The Troops Charge the Formation, Long Shows His Power
The two men hurriedly turned around, intending to look for the maid. However, when they arrived at the spot where the maid had just stopped, they found her lying on the ground, dead. Her face was purple and black, with black blood oozing from the corners of her mouth. It was obvious that she had committed suicide by taking poison.
Zhao Yun's face was filled with regret, and he blamed himself: "It's all my fault. If I had controlled her earlier, maybe I could have found out who was behind this."
Wang Yue squatted down and carefully examined the body. He found a small paper bag with light-colored powder residue in the maid's hand.
Zhao Yun looked at the small paper bag with light-colored powder in Wang Yue's hand and said anxiously, "Brother Wang, this powder is poisonous to the child. Let's quickly find the most famous doctor in the city to ask. Maybe they can find an antidote."
Wang Yue nodded in agreement, and the two of them, not wanting to delay, immediately took the powder and headed for the renowned Huichuntang Clinic in Xiangyang City. The resident physician at Huichuntang was a 70-year-old man named Sun, known as Dr. Sun, who had practiced medicine in Xiangyang for decades, possessing both superb medical skills and extensive knowledge.
After meeting Divine Doctor Sun, Wang Yue carefully took out the paper bag and handed the light-colored powder to him. He said solemnly, "Divine Doctor Sun, I beg you to take a look at what kind of poison this is and whether there is any antidote."
Doctor Sun took the paper package, held it to his nose and sniffed it gently. He then dipped a little of the powder with his fingertips and carefully examined its color and texture. Then he frowned slightly, lost in thought. After a while, he fetched some bottles and jars, placed the powder in them, mixed it with the juices of several herbs, and observed the changes that occurred.
After a long moment, Divine Doctor Sun finally raised his head and said gravely, "This poison is extremely rare. It's probably a chronic poison made from a mixture of several highly toxic substances. It will gradually erode a person's internal organs. The initial symptoms are not obvious, just causing mental fatigue. Over time, it will be life-threatening."
Zhao Yun asked anxiously, "Doctor Sun, do you have any antidote for this poison?"
Divine Doctor Sun shook his head helplessly and said, "This poison has a unique method of refining. Although I know a few things, I am powerless to prepare an antidote."
After some anxious discussions, Wang Yue and Zhao Yun knew how important this child was to Liu Bei. Liu Bei was determined to help him ascend to the throne in order to rectify the Han Dynasty's bloodline. If the child met with an accident here, the consequences would be disastrous.
They decided to take the child to see Liu Bei no matter what, let him know everything, and hope that Liu Bei could find other ways to save the child. However, just as they were about to leave Liu Feng's mansion with the child, an accident happened.
The guards in the mansion seemed to have received some kind of order and resolutely prevented them from taking the child. Tensions quickly turned violent, and a fierce clash ensued. Wang Yue and Zhao Yun were both highly skilled warriors, and the ordinary guards were no match for them. However, the guards showed no sign of retreating and continued to surge forward.
The person responsible for monitoring their every move had seen this and quickly reported it to Liu Biao. Liu Biao was horrified to learn that Zhao Yun and Wang Yue were planning to forcibly take the late emperor's orphan away. He knew the orphan was a crucial pawn in balancing Liu Bei's power, so how could he allow them to do so?
Liu Biao immediately dispatched additional troops to Liu Feng's residence to prevent Zhao Yun and Wang Yue from taking the child. A large number of Jingzhou soldiers surged toward Liu Feng's residence, completely surrounding it. Zhao Yun and Wang Yue, observing the soldiers surrounding them, understood that forcing their way out and taking the child would be extremely difficult, and would likely put the emperor's orphan in even greater danger.
Wang Yue whispered to Zhao Yun, "Zilong, the situation is dire. If we force our way out, we might hurt the children. We need to find another way."
Zhao Yun frowned, his eyes revealing determination. He said, "No matter what, we can't let the child fall into the hands of others. Let's think of a countermeasure."
Liu Biao, with his majestic presence, led Cai Mao, Cai Zhong, and a large army to surround Zhao Yun and Wang Yue. Liu Biao looked at Zhao Yun with a stern expression and said, "General Zhao, before his departure, Xuande asked you to stay here and leave the late emperor's orphan in our care. Yet, you now want to take him away by force. Is this Xuande's intention?"
Zhao Yun's hair stood on end in anger. He held the child tightly in his arms and shouted, "My lord knows full well that this child carries the authentic bloodline of the Han Dynasty, and his importance is self-evident. How could you not know this? Before leaving, my lord repeatedly instructed you to take good care of him. Now that this child has been poisoned, I cannot help but wonder if it was you who did it?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Biao was shocked and terrified. He quickly explained, "How is that possible? Since the child has been poisoned, we should have immediately sought treatment from a renowned doctor. Why are you trying to take him away by force?"
Zhao Yun said coldly, "Still stay here to treat him? If you delay any longer, I'm afraid the child's life will be in danger."
Each side held its own opinion, and the rift between them grew deeper and deeper. After a heated argument, Wang Yue, anxious and distraught, shouted, "Don't argue with them. If we don't break out now, it will be even harder to escape later."
Zhao Yun's expression was resolute. He immediately untied his armor and carefully tied the child tightly to his chest, his eyes full of determination. He pulled the reins hard, the horse neighing under his crotch, and he leaped towards the enemy troops, spear in hand.
With a flicker of cold light, Zhao Yun, like a tiger descending from a mountain, instantly broke through the enemy's first line of defense. The Jingzhou soldiers were intimidated by Zhao Yun's bravery, but under Liu Biao's command, they continued to advance and surrounded him. Not to be outdone, Wang Yue drew his sword and followed Zhao Yun, engaging in a desperate battle with the surrounding soldiers.
For a moment, the air was filled with shouts and cries of battle, and the flashes of swords clashed. Zhao Yun, intent on breaking through the encirclement and bringing the late emperor's orphan to Liu Bei, unleashed every blow with unparalleled ferocity and ruthlessness. Wang Yue, on the other hand, provided full cover from behind, preventing any flank attacks on Zhao Yun and the child.
Liu Biao watched from afar as Zhao Yun and Wang Yue fought bravely in the battle, feeling both anxious and angry. He worried that the emperor's orphan would be taken away, ruining his entire plan, but he also felt apprehensive about Zhao Yun and Wang Yue's bravery. He repeatedly urged his soldiers to intensify the siege, making sure the two men didn't escape.
Seeing the encirclement surge in from all sides, Wang Yue was terrified. He knew the situation was critical and there was no time for hesitation. He turned to Zhao Yun and shouted, "General Zhao, your riding skills are unmatched. Take the young master and break through first. I'll cover your retreat!"
Although Zhao Yun was reluctant, he also knew that this was not the time to refuse. He gritted his teeth and replied, "Take care, brother! I will come back to find you after I have settled the young master!" After that, he poured all his strength into his arms, and the spear in his hand was like a dragon emerging from the sea, thrusting left and right, and fighting hard towards the front.
Wang Yue swiftly turned, longsword in hand, and charged the enemy troops pursuing him from behind. He disregarded life and death, each strike laced with resolve and fierceness, risking his life to cover Zhao Yun's retreat. His fierce fighting frightened the enemy, their position momentarily weakening. Seizing the opportunity, Wang Yue roared, and with lightning speed, he charged towards the enemy's weak point, barely managing to carve a breach.
Zhao Yun seized this rare opportunity, squeezed his legs against the horse's belly, and the warhorse neighed loudly. It shot out from the gap like an arrow and sped away.
Wang Yue continued his desperate struggle with the enemy in the rear, wounded and blood-stained. But he had only one thought in mind: to buy Zhao Yun enough time to escape. Seeing Zhao Yun successfully break through and escape, Wang Yue, with his last remaining strength, endured the excruciating pain and unleashed his light body technique, moving like a ghost through the enemy lines. Despite several more serious injuries, he managed to escape the encirclement and vanished into the night, his whereabouts unknown.
Liu Biao watched Zhao Yun break through the encirclement with his own eyes, his face turning ashen with anger. He looked at the direction Wang Yue fled and said with gritted teeth: "Chase! You must bring them back to me! I must see them alive or dead!" Cai Mao, Cai Zhong and others immediately took the order and led a team of elite cavalry to chase in the direction Zhao Yun and Wang Yue fled.
Zhao Yun galloped away, carrying the late emperor's orphan in his arms. Behind him, Liu Biao's army pursued him relentlessly like a surging tide, their cries of battle shaking the night sky.
Zhao Yun knew that he was in a desperate situation, but the orphan of the late emperor in his arms was Liu Bei's hope for restoring the Han Dynasty, and he had to protect him at all costs. He suddenly squeezed his legs against the horse's belly, and the warhorse, as if understanding human nature, neighed and rushed straight into the pursuing enemy army like a black lightning.
In Zhao Yun's hand, the spear wielded like a swift dragon, its tip flashing with a cold light, sending blood splattering wherever it struck. With one thrust, he knocked over an enemy soldier, then swept across, sending several more screaming and falling. The enemy, momentarily intimidated by his prowess, began to loosen their encirclement. Zhao Yun seized the opportunity, whipped his whip, and his horse leaped to life, charging through the gap between two enemy soldiers.
But before he could get far, the enemy quickly closed in on him. Zhao Yun, unfazed, turned his horse and charged into the enemy lines once more. This time, he charged like a tiger returning to the mountains, his figure flashing and his spear blazing. An enemy soldier attempted a flank attack, but Zhao Yun, as if he had eyes on his back, sidestepped and stabbed the attacker to death. His movements were fluid, seamless, as he galloped through the enemy lines as if uninhabited.
Seeing Zhao Yun's formidable opponent, the enemy generals hurriedly dispatched their archers, and arrows rained down. Zhao Yun wielded his spear to deflect the incoming arrows, searching for a chance to break through. Suddenly, with a loud shout, he unleashed his legs, sending his horse soaring high, and soaring over the archers. Landing, his spear once again transformed into a deadly blade, savagely harvesting the enemy's lives.
At this moment, a dense forest appeared ahead. Zhao Yun's heart moved, and he rushed into the forest without hesitation. The dense trees and branches in the forest were not conducive to the pursuit of large numbers of cavalry. This might be the perfect opportunity to escape the pursuers.
Entering the forest, Zhao Yun, keeping a keen eye on the situation behind him, swiftly weaved through the trees with his masterful riding skills. The pursuers behind him, restricted by the terrain, were forced to slow down, their formation becoming disorganized. But they remained determined, shouting and chasing after him.
Zhao Yun, seizing the perfect moment, suddenly reined in his horse and hid behind a stout tree. He held his breath, listening to the approaching footsteps of the pursuers. As the enemy cavalry drew near, Zhao Yun suddenly emerged from behind the tree, his spear swift and powerful, like a venomous snake emerging from its lair, aiming for the leading general. The general was caught off guard, struck in the shoulder by Zhao Yun's spear, and fell from his horse with a scream.
The enemy army was thrown into chaos, and Zhao Yun seized the opportunity to charge forward once more. He veered left and right through the forest, deliberately creating a chaotic trail to confuse his pursuers. He also exploited the varied terrain, sometimes crossing narrow valleys, sometimes crossing turbulent streams, leaving his pursuers far behind.