General’s Gown

Chapter 19 Thousand mile Jiaolu Part 4 

He didn’t know how long he had been in deep sleep. Yan Changqing was still dazed sleeping,  when he suddenly heard a horrifying cry. It was like lightning that suddenly tore through the night sky, resounding through Jiaolu River: 

“Not good! There are water bandits!” 

Suddenly he opened his eyes. Yan Changqing took a few steps and rushed out of the cabin. His heart beated hard. 

Under the pitch-black sky like splashed ink in front of him, a weird and dazzling golden star was streaming down the Jiao Lu River at an extremely fast speed. The golden flames were getting bigger and bigger, closer and closer. 

They were flame arrows!

Whoosh whoosh! 

Hundreds of arrows tied with kerosene came through the cold milky white mist, and the last few cargo ships were instantly lit. The screams sounded, and several people couldn’t dodge, falling into the river with a thump. 

Under the firelight, the deep and clear water of Jiaolu River suddenly turned into a tragic scarlet. 

A cold light flashed into Yan Changqing’s eyes. He walked out with his sword. After not taking a few steps, the guard Ah Jing suddenly ran over with blood on his face and fell to his knees: “General! There are many, many boats from the water bandits! They’re just…behind!” 

Yan Changqing cried out in a deep voice, “How many of our boats are burned?” 

“Eight…Eight!”

Yan Changqing looked back, and saw that the last few boats were almost covered by the raging fire. Taking advantage of the night wind, they were spreading. The boat screamed and wailed continuously, and many people were scorched by the fire and became golden-red fire men, struggling to jump into the river. 

Obviously, such a big fire cannot be saved. 

Yan Changqing gripped the hilt tightly. His fingers trembled. He gritted his teeth and said: “Abandon these eight ships. All the guards immediately board the remaining twelve ships, and move forward at full speed!” 

“Then…then they… “Ah Jing tremblingly pointed to the black spot at the end of the Jiao Lu River. The cargo ship had a very deep draft and was very slow. Could they escape? 

Before he finished his words, there was a sudden scream of pain behind him. Helian Rongchuan was shot an arrow in the back and fell to the ground. 

Yan Changqing couldn’t help but feel a “thud” in his heart, regretting it. 

How could he forget this person!

He picked him up and ordered Ah Jing: “Hurry up and take His Highness to the boat. Take care him well!” 

Helian Rongchuan grabbed Yan Changqing’s hand with blood at the corner of his mouth: “Why aren’t you leaving?” 

Yan Changqing didn’t even look at him. He looked at the end of Jiao Lu River from a distance, and said, “I’ll follow soon.” 

“No”, Helian Rongchuan’s eyes fixated on Yan Changqing’s eyes. He could already read his mind: 

“You want to resolve those water bandits alone, right?” 

Yan Changqing pushed Ah Jing up angrily: “Hurry up!” 

Helian Rongchuan looked at Yan Changqing motionlessly as if rooted under his feet. 

Ah Jing was trembling and was caught between the two of them. He couldn’t stay or leave. He knelt on the ground with a plop and said, “General retreat with us! This… this many arrows, this many people, it’s sending yourself to death!” 

“Listen, even your little guard understands the truth, how could you not understand?” Helian Rongchuan said: “Under the sun, water bandits who don’t give us Dongyun people face, there are not many. But the ones that don’t are all jackals, tigers and leopards, eating people without spitting out the bones. If you insist on sending youself to death, I will stop you!” 

Helian Rongchuan spat out a mouthful of blood and continued: “If you refuse to go, neither will I. I will be pierced by a thousand arrows, and shot to death here!” 

“You…” Yan Changqing was silent, and a different emotion instantly surged in his heart. He watched the black spot getting closer and closer from the end of the Jiaolu River. He sighed, and said: 

“Okay, I’ll follow you.” 

The night wind whizzed in his ears, and Yan Changqing placed Helian Rongchuan’s arm over his shoulders. His feet tapped lightly the top of the cabin that was not yet burned. When they came down, he saw it was the same boat that Helian Rongchuan took when he came.

The target of the water bandits were on a slow cargo ship. This boat was the safest place at this time. 

Helian Rongchuan felt calm in his heart, and was about to say something, but his smile suddenly froze on his face. 

When did his hands get clasped together? The iron buckle was shining with silver light, and the other end was locked on the ship’s side. Obviously, for a while, he couldn’t solve it alone.

“I’m sorry.” 

Yan Changqing apologized very lightly. Facing Helian Rongchuan’s surprised and disappointed face, Yan Changqing couldn’t say anything except a “sorry”. There were too many things to bear on his shoulders. 

Helian Rongchuan raised his head, almost for an instant, he seemed to see a ripple in Yan Changqing’s black, mercury-like eyes, but after that, Yan Changqing dropped his eyes, turned his head and left without looking back. 

Helian Rongchuan slowly shook his head, with a tragic and ironic smile at the corner of his mouth. 

General Yan was indeed General Yan. 

The gust of wind blew up and Yan Changqing no longer looked back. His clothes fluttered, disappearing like an eagle into the dark night. 

“Bang!” 

A silver flame suddenly burst into the dark night, and a huge, brilliant firework burst into the night sky. 

On the cargo ship, everyone looked up to the sky. In the dazzling silver flame, dozens of commoner guards suddenly tore off their coats, revealing the hard, black armor, shining coldly in the night sky! 

Black armored troops! 

Ah Jing stood on the deck, dumbfounded. He didn’t expect that the brothers who joked with him usually was actually part of the famous Black armored troops. 

Helian Rongchuan slowly leaned his spine against the ship’s side, bright flames reflected in his dark brown eyes. He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. 

These thirty black armored troops were the elites of the black armored troops that Yan Changqing secretly transferred back from the border after the Battle at Hundred Cliff Stronghold. 

With an order, the black armored troops quickly assembled around Yan Changqing. He whispered a few words, and the black armored troops quickly dispersed again and disappeared into the dark night. 

Behind him, they were surrounded by flames. Even the large tracts of reeds on both sides of the river bank were lit. There was fire on both sides of the river, screaming constantly, blood shining into the sky, like h*ll. Yan Changqing bit the cold-hardened short knife in his mouth, and without hesitation, he turned over and jumped into the black Jiaolu River.

On the other side of the Jiaolu River, thirty thin black wooden boats were moving fast. On the foremost assault boat, all eight water bandits all dressed in black and masked, constantly urged loudly: “Keep on shooting arrows, be fast! Hurry!” 

Before the words fell, the long boat that had been traveling smoothly suddenly shook slightly. 

A masked man stepped forward and stared at the black river under the boat. 

The night was too dark to see anything. 

There seemed to be nothing strange.

The masked man breathed a sigh of relief, and was about to retreat. Suddenly, the long boat shook violently again! 

The blazing fire light instantly illuminated the originally gloomy river. The masked man’s eyes widened in horror. 

Why is there such a bright silver light in the river! 

But he had no chance to think about anything else. Yan Changqing leaped up from the bottom of the boat, and in a flash, a silver light had penetrated the black man’s throat! 

On the other black wooden boats, the elite black armoured troops also stood up and launched a fierce fight. Suddenly, blood flew across, and screams kept screaming. 

However, these water bandits were also well-trained. After a moment of panic, they quickly calmed down. Thirty fast boats turned around and surrounded Yan Changqing and the others in an attempt to kill them. 

A white lightning pierced the sky. 

Rumble! ! ! The big raindrops fell with the sound of thunder. 

Yan Changqing was panting violently. His shoulders, arms, and abdomen were all slightly or severely wounded. The blood penetrated his clothes, dripping along the corners of his clothes on the deck, mixed with rain making a bloody splash. 

One after another, the black armoured troops fell, but he still had to fight hard with his teeth gritted. It was as if he was a beast that didn’t know pain, fighting to the death! 

He was surrounded. All around were sharp swords, but every masked person did not dare to step forward alone. 

In this sudden fierce battle, their group of men in black was also badly injured. Obviously, there were nearly two hundred and forty of them, while the other party had a head count that couldn’t compare. But it was these thirty-odd people who killed nearly half of them in one fell swoop! 

How could they end up in such a sorry state? 

It seemed that everyone on the other side had undergone long-term, harsh training. Once they shot out, they had an unstoppable killing intent. They were not afraid of death at all!

Especially this young man who was surrounded by them. He was extremely sharp, fast and accurate. Several of their companions, often before they could see his movements, their chest cavity would be penetrated by the sharp blade in this man’s hand. 

Although the black armoured troops brought by Yan Changqing fell one by one, the black-clothed people were already afraid and did not dare to go forward and die without authorization. They just surrounded Yan Changqing in groups, and wanted to wait for the moment when he was exhausted and relaxed before encircling and suppressing him!     

Yan Changqing gritted his teeth to support his body. He looked back. The cargo ship full of temper snow stones could only be seen as a small spot. This group of water bandits was disrupted by them, and nearly half of them were wiped out. Even if they catch up with the cargo ship, they may not be able to succeed.     

Thinking of this, Yan Changqing put on a tragic smile at the corner of his mouth.     

The black-clothed man surrounded heavily moved slightly. In front of him, the masked people split into two sides, making a way out. A person in a black robe with most of his face covered by a wide hood had only a small part of his raised chin exposed. The black-robed man approached step by step, and took a close look at Yan Changqing, who was surrounded by many but still held his head high and refused to give in. 

Although he had suffered many injuries, the man in front of him was still like an angry and proud beautiful black panther. 

The black robe man couldn’t help sighing from the bottom of his heart. 

No wonder… 

He lightly raised his chin. The masked man next to him stepped forward and shouted: “The leader has ordered, if you are willing to surrender, I will spare your life!” 

Yan Changqing lowered his head and laughed slightly, his lips moved slightly. 

The black robed man asked: “What did you say?”

Black hair hung down to cover Yan Changqing’s eyes. He was unable to see his expression clearly. He knelt to the ground, and beckoned gently to the black robe man. 

The masked man next to him quickly reminded: “My lord , there is danger!” 

The black robe man hesitated. 

Yan Changqing raised his head and saw blood on the corners of his mouth. There was contempt in his eyes. His pale, bloodless lips moved again, but he still couldn’t hear what to say. 

It’s strange, this man was obviously surrounded and unable to retreat, but why is it that they seemed to be the ones at the disadvantage? 

Humph, after being chopped with so many knives, he can’t even stand still, so what’s the danger? Actually daring to provoke him?! 

Deeply pierced by the irony and contemptuous eyes, the black-robed man snorted coldly and took a step forward. He grabbed Yan Changqing’s collar. 

Yan Changqing raised his head, and the rain ran across his cheeks. He was clearly in a sorry state, but seeing the man’s pale face with a sword against his back without fear, the black-robed man felt his heart moved. 

No wonder… 

The black robed man’s mind flashed. 

It turned out he wasn’t just beautiful. This person was very stubborn. Both brave and stubborn. 

What can make him succumb? 

Looking in a daze, he saw Yan Changqing’s lips suddenly blooming with a smile. 

A panic flashed in the black robe man’s heart. He suddenly realized that he was too close to this dangerous man. 

Fearing a change, he hurriedly took a step back, but it was already too late—— 

Yan Changqing suddenly stood up. His palm flashed with silver light, as fast as lightning, then wind was blowing in his ears. He was approaching the heart of the black robe! The masked man next to him hurriedly tried to block it, but Yan Changqing was faster and sharper than them. 

Help! 

The black-robed man screamed, was shocked, and staggered back. He fell to the ground unexpectedly. 

The hood slipped off, revealing a waterfall of fine black hair, and a pale face——

Woman? ! 

Yan Changqing’s eyes widened in disbelief. 

The leader of the water bandits, how could it be a woman!?

Wrong! Something’s wrong!

When Yan Changqing was slightly stagnant, the pretty girl had already taken the opportunity to roll back an inch. She seemed to see something from behind Yan Changqing. Her eyes lit up and she shouted: 

“Brother Rongchuan, help me!” 

This sound was like a thunderbolt in a clear sky. 

Yan Changqing’s heart was shocked, and he heard the sound of air breaking coming from behind, but he could no longer escape. A pain in his right shoulder was caused by a slender short arrow that penetrated his flesh and blood. The arrow didn’t go deep, but almost instantly, his right shoulder was numb. 

The arrow was poisonous. 

Yan Changqing was very slow. He turned around very slowly, and stared at the direction the poisonous arrow was shooting from without blinking. 

What was reflected in his eyes was a familiar figure. 

Helian Rongchuan slowly lowered his bow, seeming to have said something to him, but Yan Changqing’s eyes went dark and he couldn’t hear anything.