Chapter Thirty: Women Can Also Be Murderers

  Fang Jie looked at the 500 elite soldiers in front of him and suddenly realized that this was an unsolvable predicament.

  He knew that personal strength, if it reached a certain height, could affect the outcome of a small-scale war, but he would never believe that there was someone in this world who could win against five hundred people. Not to mention facing five hundred heavily armed elite soldiers, even if they were facing five hundred thugs and hooligans, what kind of master could withstand a flurry of punches and kicks?

  Five hundred well-trained soldiers of the Sui Dynasty, how can they be compared to a similar number of hoodlums? Undoubtedly, in front of Fang Xian's such soldiers, fifty people can easily defeat several hundred hoodlums. If it is an elite soldier, maybe only three or five hoodlums can be defeated. So the combat effectiveness brought out by fifty people may not increase by ten times.

  The coordination between these soldiers has reached a flawless level, and once the small plum blossom formation of five people is formed, dozens of ordinary people rush up and may not be able to take advantage of it.

  Moreover, Fang Jie saw that all five hundred men had hard bows on their backs.

  The old cripple's strength was only a tip of the iceberg, and Fang didn't doubt that he was the kind of pervert who could take on dozens or even hundreds. But facing five hundred hard bows, where did the old cripple have any chance of winning?

  So it's not just Fang Jie's face that has become extremely ugly, but also Lao Quezi's face has become extremely ugly.

  "How do you see it?"

  He asked Mu Xiaoyao.

  Mu Xiao Yao stared at the 500-man steel-like phalanx and replied almost without hesitation, "Except for running, I can't think of a second way out. But now what I'm worried about is... we can't even run."

  The big dog was calmer than them at this time: "I think I can still run."

  The old cripple gave him a glance, took a deep breath and said in a low voice: "In recent years, it's been rare to hear that someone with a nine-grade cultivation base has made a move. Ten years ago was the most intense battle I knew of, where many nine-grade masters appeared. Apart from that time, there was only one other instance 15 years ago when Luo Manzi took out several strong eight-grade cultivators during the Great Sui's destruction of the Shang Kingdom. Upon careful reflection, these are the only two instances in the past 15 years where a nine-grade cultivator has made a move."

  "He coldly smiled and said: 'It's precisely because a ninth-rank person takes action so rarely that it makes people lose even the most basic respect.'"

  Upon hearing this, Fang Jie's eyes suddenly lit up.

  His heart suddenly gave rise to a few points of expectation, to be honest he really wanted to see what kind of style the nine-grade strongman who was said to have already reached the peak would show off his skills, and what kind of prestige it would be. He hadn't heard people mention the battle ten years ago where the strongest nine-grade masters fought, but the story of Luo Yao's victory over his enemies fifteen years ago had always left him with a stirring heart. Every man has a dream of becoming the strongest in their heart, even if it's just a legendary strongman showing off his skills, it would fill the hearts of men who have dreams with fiery expectations.

  It's not just Fang Jie, Mu Xiao Yao and Da Quan are also looking forward to it.

  They are cultivators, so they understand the meaning of a 9th rank strongman more deeply. It's not just about secular status, but also a challenge to break through human limits. As the old cripple said, it's been rare to hear about 9th rank strongmen taking action in recent years. Whether or not one can cultivate, strongmen of this level will always have an irresistible temptation when they take action.

  The old cripple picked up the wine gourd and took a sip, then handed it to Mu Xiaoyao: "Help me hold it."

  Mei Xiao Yao looked at the unremarkable old cripple for the first time, then solemnly accepted the wine gourd. For the first time, she felt genuine respect for this old man.

  The old cripple's throat gurgled once, and a large mouthful of strong liquor slid into his belly. Then he took a step forward.

  "Bow!"

  Just as he took this step forward, the iron-armored vanguard immediately raised the command flag in his hand. With a loud and clear voice like thunder, 500 soldiers uniformly took down their hard bows from behind. Their movements were almost completely consistent, and at the same time they changed from a square formation to a crescent formation. In just one or two minutes, the entire chariot team with red sleeves was enveloped within shooting range of the crescent formation.

  Without a doubt, all it takes is for that order to be given. Five hundred soldiers will shoot the wolf-fang arrows already mounted on their bowstrings without any hesitation. Similarly, without a doubt, as soon as the arrow rain comes down, even if the old cripple can kill some people and save some people, he absolutely cannot kill them all, nor can he save them all.

  Bow!

  A simple word, yet it exudes a powerful and overwhelming killing intent.

  It's imaginable how many people were frightened by this single word.

  The captain of the guard looked at the old cripple with a cold gaze, and Fang Jie felt that he should be able to sense that the old cripple was a very dangerous person. But the captain did not show even a hint of respect, and his eyes when looking at the old cripple were no different from when he looked at Fang Jie and others, all with the same disdain.

  The old cripple's face changed color, apparently getting angry.

  In a fit of anger, the robes on his body suddenly puffed out. He took another step forward, seemingly without any fear towards the five hundred soldiers who had already drawn their bows.

  Indeed, it's the demeanor of an expert!

  Fang Jie couldn't help but praise him silently in her heart.

  "Don't shoot! I just wanted to come over and ask, what are you guys doing?"

  Just as Fang Jie was filled with admiration for the old cripple, the old cripple suddenly nodded and smiled at the general, making a bow: "We are all legitimate businessmen on our way to the imperial capital. We have official road permits issued by the government office and inspection certificates from the border military, I wonder what this general is doing surrounding us?"

  Na Ya was taken aback for a moment, then asked in a cold voice: "Which one of you is Fang Jie?"

  "He!"

  The old cripple didn't hesitate at all and immediately turned around to point at Fang Jie.

  Yajiang's gaze shifted from the old cripple to Fang Jie, his eyes narrowing: "You're Fang Jie, deputy commander of the Border Army Scout Regiment, preparing to go to the capital to take the Imperial Martial Academy exams?"

  Fang Jie first gave a disdainful glance at the old cripple, then took a deep breath, puffed out his chest, raised his head and said solemnly: "It wasn't me!"

  Now, those teeth will be really stunned.

  ……

  ……

  Li Luo, the deputy commander of the Youxiao Wei's elite infantry camp, had never met anyone who was so upright and honest that he even suspected that the old cripple might be lying. After being stunned for a moment, he beckoned to one of his personal soldiers to bring over a portrait, took two steps forward, looked at the portrait and then carefully examined Fang Jie again.

  "Fan Guya's evaluation of Li Xiaozong is that he is brave and resolute, which is quite disappointing."

  Li Luoleng let out a cold snort and immediately raised his right arm high up in the air.

  "Archers ready!"

  With a rustling sound, five hundred strong bows were drawn and aimed at Fang Jie.

  "Wait!"

  Fang Jie suddenly shouted, then asked Li Luo from a distance: "Since you know I'm the deputy commander of the border military scout team of Daxing'an's Biancheng Prefecture, and since you know I'm a candidate recommended by General Li Xiangzong to take the exam at Chang'an Martial Arts Academy, what do you mean by pointing so many bows and arrows at me?"

  "I have just received a document from the Ministry of War, which reveals that Fang Jie is actually a spy sent by the Mongols to Fan Gucheng, attempting to infiltrate the Martial Arts Academy to steal military information. Anyone who discovers Fang Jie's whereabouts should kill him without hesitation."

  Li replied coldly.

  "I never thought you'd be this kind of person!"

  The old cripple stared at Fang Jieyi with extreme righteousness, then took three steps back and stood beside Xiao Yao, saying: "As a loyal subject of the Great Sui Emperor, I will not stop the military from executing spies. There's nothing for us to do here, let's go."

  He pulled Mu Xiaoyao's waist with one hand, but found that Mu Xiaoyao's eyes were staring at him fiercely as if they could kill.

  "Big dog, you lead the way first, I'll follow behind."

  After Mo Xiaoyao finished speaking, the red ribbon around her waist automatically wrapped itself around her arm like a snake with spiritual energy. Her red ribbon was not a particularly sharp weapon for attacking, but it was just right for defense.

  "Good!"

  The big dog did not hesitate at all, grabbed Fang Jie's waistband and was about to retreat backwards.

  Fire!

  Before the big dog's footsteps moved, Li, who had just fallen, loudly shouted out this military order. He himself didn't remember how many people died under this military order. Since its founding, the Great Sui Empire has never lost any external war, relying on these well-trained and determined elite infantrymen. And the arrow array, has always been one of the most lethal means of the Great Sui army against the enemy.

  The cavalry of the Mongol Empire feared nothing more than the heavy infantry of the Great Sui, except for this formidable arrow array. More than a hundred years ago, the Khan of the Mongol Empire led tens of thousands of troops and suffered greatly under the arrow arrays of the Great Sui's infantry.

  In the campaign to destroy the Shang State, under Qingfeng Mountain, the last branch of the northern border army of the Shang State launched a fierce counterattack against the Great Sui army, with 5,000 men being slaughtered by arrows without even reaching within thirty steps of the Great Sui army's formation.

  Nine years ago, the Eastern Chu army, known for having the most elite archers in the world, was unable to withstand the arrow formation of the Great Sui's northeastern border troops for even half an hour and suffered over 4,000 casualties before being forced to flee in disarray.

  Five hundred people draw their bows, but not five hundred arrows fly at once.

  The first row of about two hundred soldiers loosened their bowstrings, and more than two hundred feathered arrows almost simultaneously flew out. With the sound of the bowstrings, those feathered arrows came swiftly like flashes of lightning. No one doubted that as long as they closed their eyes and opened them again, Fang Jie, Da Quan, and Mu Xiao Yao would be shot into hedgehogs!

  Red silk moves.

  Just as the arrow left the bowstring, the red silk ribbon suddenly sprang out from Mu Xiao's arm like a spirit snake. The spirit snake writhed and twisted, forming a dazzling red wall in front of Mu Xiao. This wall did not look very solid or thick, but when the arrows touched the red silk ribbon, they all fell to the ground.

  "Looking for death!"

  Li let out a cold hum and raised his arm again: "Not one will be left, fire!"

  Buzz!

  The second round of arrows shot out again, dense like a violent rain shower.

  "Damn it!"

  At this moment, a furious curse suddenly rang out, and a grayish-black shadow quickly passed through the dense rain of arrows. By the time people reacted, they found that the old cripple who looked timid and despicable was standing in front of General Li Luo, nose to nose, just inches apart!

  ……

  ……

  Two-wheeled feathered arrows, Hong Ying's protection was still tight, but there were quite a few feathered arrows that leaked through. The big dog blocked the way behind him and quickly raised his hand to knock down those leaking feathered arrows with lightning speed. It is unknown what material the gloves on his hands were made of, as even the sharp wolf-tooth arrow could not pierce them.

  Even if the little waist has a red sash, and the big dog has steel claws, several hundred feathered arrows are not something they can all withstand. A wolf-tooth arrow flew swiftly past the big dog's side, shooting straight at Fang Jie's throat.

  Take a step back, draw your sword.

  The standard cross-shaped sword of the Sui dynasty border army.

  A flash of light, like a strip of white silk.

  With a crack, the wolf-tooth arrow that had already reached Fang Jie's face was chopped flying by him with one knife. This knife accurately cut on the arrow cluster, and in mid-air, it stirred up a small cluster of gorgeous sparks.

  At the same time, the old cripple finally made his move.

  In just the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of Li Luo.

  Eye to eye, nose to nose.

  The old cripple opened his mouth, and the smell of wine made Li Lu's stomach churn.

  "You want to kill Fang Jie, then just kill him. Why must you say that not a single one will be left? Although I, the old master, don't like to get involved in many things, it doesn't mean I'm afraid of trouble. You shouldn't have said 'kill them all', and even more so, you shouldn't have laid hands on my precious disciple!"

  Li was shocked and hastily retreated.

  Is there still a way out?

  The old cripple stretched out his hand and grasped Li Luo's neck, lifting him up like a small chicken. Li Luo was tall and sturdy, at least a head taller than the old cripple, but he was powerless to resist as the old man pinched his neck and lifted him back.

  "I'll count to one, if your men don't retreat, I'll crush you to death right now!"

  The old cripple carried Li Luo back to the side of Mu Xiao's waist, looking at Li Luo's face which had already turned into a pig liver color, and said viciously. Li Luo's eyes were full of horror, but he did not give the order to retreat.

  "Master Lu, don't kill him."

  At this moment, Little Ding ran over with a ponytail. She waved something in her hand in front of Li Luo's eyes and said in a clear voice: "My master said that if you've seen this and still want to take action, then she has nothing more to say. Although the Red Sleeve Army is mostly women, it doesn't mean they can't slaughter 500 elite soldiers!"