NCCnovel Chapter 156 Breaking the Queen
Chapter 156 Breaking the Queen
The man in black clearly did not believe Liu Shan's words. Without saying a word, he brandished his sharp long knife and charged forward like a tidal wave.
Upon seeing this, Lü Ding roared, his voice booming like a thunderclap, as if he were an enraged lion, and charged into the enemy ranks first.
The bronze cauldron in his hand wielded with immense power, each swing generating a strong gust of wind. Any man in black who was grazed by the cauldron was either killed or seriously injured.
Liu Shan swiftly drew his sword and directed the men to form a defensive formation. Amidst the flashing blades, they engaged in a fierce battle with the men in black.
During the battle, Liu Shan discovered that the martial arts style of these men in black was extremely strange, their moves were ruthless and their angles were tricky, clearly indicating that they had undergone special training.
But Liu Shan was not afraid and, with close cooperation with Lü Ding and others, finally repelled the group of men in black.
However, this was not without cost; several trusted men were unfortunately wounded in the battle, their clothes stained with blood.
Liu Shan quickly checked the injured person and secretly rejoiced that no vital organs had been injured.
Immediately afterward, Liu Shan did not dare to delay and quickly led his men into the manor to begin a search.
The manor was dark and cold, with a stench of decay permeating the air.
Liu Shan and the others proceeded cautiously, taking each step with utmost care, for fear of triggering any traps.
The ancient portraits hanging on the wall have vacant eyes, as if watching their every move.
As one ventures deeper, the layout of the manor becomes increasingly simple, devoid of luxurious furnishings, leaving only mottled old objects.
Liu Shan frowned, and could only turn his gaze to Han Chengjia, hoping that this disciple of the Star-Picking Sect could find clues to the secret room using the sect's "skills".
Han Chengjia closed his eyes and concentrated, his fingers lightly touching the wall and moving slowly, as if sensing some subtle fluctuation.
A moment later, he opened his eyes and pointed to the portrait: "Something is amiss here."
Lü Ding, relying on his thick skin and tough flesh, stepped forward and moved the portrait.
As the portrait slowly moved aside, revealing a hidden door, Liu Shan and the others filed in. Suddenly, a bright and spacious room appeared before them, filled with ancient books, rare treasures, secret letters, and account books.
These letters subtly mention the deals between Fang Mingli and the Shadow Gate, involving large sums of money and collusion of power.
The ledger details the specifics of how Fang Mingli provided assistance to the Shadow Gate in some cases, as well as the generous rewards the Shadow Gate gave to the Fang family.
Liu Shan carefully read through the document and became increasingly aware that the power of the Shadow Gate far exceeded his imagination, and he had to report it to the imperial court as soon as possible.
Just as Liu Shan and the others were preparing to leave the manor, a sudden burst of noisy footsteps and shouts came from outside the manor.
Upon hearing the noisy footsteps and shouts outside the village, Liu Shan's heart sank, and an ominous premonition instantly welled up within him.
He immediately realized that the situation was not good. Judging from the formation, it was very likely that reinforcements from the Shadow Gate had arrived.
"Brothers, the situation is critical! We must evacuate through the back gate of the manor immediately!" Liu Shan shouted in a low voice.
Upon hearing this, everyone sprang into action, filing out of the back gate of the manor and disappearing into the dense forest in the blink of an eye, thus beginning a thrilling escape.
In the Gray Mist Mountains, the trees are tall and lush, the shrubs are dense, and the terrain is as complex as a maze.
Liu Shan and his men made full use of this natural barrier, carefully avoiding the pursuers who were hot on their heels.
Thick fog obstructed visibility, but Liu Shan, relying on his keen intuition, led the group through the depths of the dense forest.
They would sometimes tiptoe into the dense bushes, covering their mouths tightly, not daring to breathe, their eyes fixed on the outside, watching the pursuers hurry past them.
Sometimes, they would use the trees for cover and quickly move among the trees, trying not to make a sound so as not to reveal their whereabouts.
However, as time went on, the previously injured confidants gradually lost their strength and their steps became unsteady.
Seeing this, Liu Shan was anxious, but he remained calm and directed the others to help the wounded and continue moving forward.
As time passed, the number of men in black grew like a snowball, gradually forming a tight encirclement that trapped Liu Shan and the others. Despair spread through their hearts like a tidal wave.
At this moment, everyone was almost in dire straits. Each person could clearly feel the shadow of death gradually approaching, and a sense of despair permeated the air.
At this critical moment, Liu Shan took a deep breath, stepped forward, and said in a low voice, "This matter started because of me, and it should end with me. I will draw away these pursuers, and you can take the opportunity to escape from here, bring the evidence back to the capital, and we must not let our efforts go to waste!"
Upon hearing this, Lü Ding's eyes instantly turned bloodshot, like an enraged bull. He suddenly stood up and roared, "Brother, how could I, Lü Ding, be a coward who fears death! I will live and die with you, and face these pursuers together!"
Seeing Liu Shan and Lü Ding's actions, the other confidants were also filled with patriotic fervor and declared, "Lord Liu, we swear to follow you to the death and will never abandon you to escape alone at this time!"
The eyes of the crowd were filled with determination and resolve, a promise to stand together through life and death.
Liu Shan's gaze swept over the crowd, a warm feeling welling up in his heart, but the situation was urgent and he could not say more.
Moreover, at this moment, the evidence is more important than their lives. If they cannot bring the evidence back to the capital safely, all their previous efforts will be in vain.
After a brief but intense discussion, Liu Shan finally gritted his teeth and made a decision.
He commanded in a deep voice, "Han Chengjia, you have the best lightness skill. Take the evidence and go first. Make sure you arrive in the capital safely. The rest of you will follow me to cover the rear. Make sure you hold off the pursuers."
Han Chengjia clasped his hands in a deep bow and remained reluctant to rise for a long time.
A moment later, a resolute glint flashed in his eyes, and he resolutely turned around, leaped lightly onto the treetop, and disappeared into the thick fog like a nimble ape.
Liu Shan led his men to quickly set up a makeshift trap, preparing for a final stand against the pursuers.
The footsteps of the pursuers grew closer. Liu Shan gripped his long sword tightly and whispered, "Prepare for battle!"
Everyone held their breath, their eyes gleaming with a fearless determination.
As the first wave of pursuers stepped into the trap, Liu Shan and his men stopped hiding and took the initiative to attack.
In an instant, a large number of men in black swarmed in like wolves, surrounding them completely.
A fierce battle ensued, with swords flashing and shouts of battle echoing through the woods.
Liu Shan led from the front, and no one could stop him when his blade was pointed at him.
He had only one belief in his mind: to hold off the pursuers and buy time for Han Chengjia.
The bloody battle raged on, and every swing of Liu Shan's sword was filled with a resolute intent, fiercely slashing at the enemy.
With his strong physique and astonishing strength, Lü Ding swept through the enemy ranks like a tiger descending a mountain, each strike striking fear into the hearts of his enemies.