Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

”Did they take a detour?” Han Zhong’s face changed. The Song Army wouldn’t take a detour for no reason, and if they did, it would be a long extra journey. He pondered for a moment, seemingly understanding something, and said:

”How did the Song Army know we were ambushing here?”

Back when Han Zhong withdrew from Yellow Armor City, he didn’t even tell his personal soldiers where they were headed.

And once at Huayang Slope, Han Zhong had been constantly watching the army to prevent anyone from leaving the ranks to pass on information, ensuring utmost secrecy.

By logic, the Song Army shouldn’t have known.

Han Zhong frowned, staring at the scout, and then said, ”Did you see it clearly?”

”I saw it clearly,” the short man bowed his head, his eyes somewhat evasive, his heart filled with unease.

Fortunately, under the cover of darkness, Han Zhong didn’t scrutinize him and said, ”Let’s wait a bit more, to see if the Song Army will temporarily change their route, and eventually circle back...”

Han Zhong found it hard to believe that the Song Army had outguessed their ambush.

So he planned to wait a little longer to see if the Song Army would return.

This wait lasted all night.

Throughout the night, Han Zhong had the army keep their eyes wide open, waiting for the Song Army’s arrival.

But the whole night passed, and not even a shadow appeared.

Let alone the tens of thousands of Song troops.

If they hadn’t taken a detour, even at a snail’s pace, the Song Army would have arrived at Huayang Slope by now.

With the situation as it was, Han Zhong had to accept the fact that the Song Army had indeed detoured.

Looking despondently at the sky for a long while, he finally said, ”Give the order to return to Western Shu.”

”Understood.”

As the orders were passed down, the shadows in the dense forest on the cliffs surged, flooding down a narrow path toward the back of the mountain like waves.

When they reached the foot of the mountain, suddenly dense volleys of arrows shot from the opposite and side forests.

”Whizz!”

”Whizz!”

”Whizz!”

The rain of arrows poured towards the Rebel Army, who wailed and fell one after another.

Accompanying the arrow rain were endless drumbeats from the dense forest, creating a massive spectacle.

Having ambushed for a day without sleep even at night, the rebels, after experiencing the arrow rain, were confused and panicked by the deafening drum sounds, starting to flee aimlessly.

Even trampling incidents occurred.

”Kill!”

”Kill them all.”

”Capture the rebel leaders alive...”

Waves of war cries surged from the dense forest.

”Not good, run, it’s the Song Army, we’ve been ambushed... ah...”

”Ah, why is the Song Army here?”

”Run, run fast.”

The rebel army’s morale had already collapsed; after a night of stealthy vigilance, they were exhausted, unable to withstand the fierce onslaught of the Song Army.

With the charge led by Huangfu Hao, Chen Mo, Wei Xian, Quan Qiyang, and other generals, the already flimsy defensive line completely crumbled.

Amidst the crowd, only a few guards remained around Han Zhong, while other generals led their troops to resist the Song Army’s fierce attack.

Listening to the slaughter in front, Han Zhong’s face was dark.

How could this be?

How was it possible?

How could the Song Army be here?

How did they manage to cut off our retreat from behind?

”Where is the scout from last night, bring him to me!” Han Zhong roared in anger.

”General, he is already missing.”

”What? General, that guy must have defected to the Imperial Court.”

...

”The rebel leader is over there.”

Just as Han Zhong’s guard was speaking beside him, a loud shout suddenly echoed in their ears.

Immediately, Han Zhong saw several Song generals charging directly towards him.

His men couldn’t block them at all.

”Not good, Chief Commander, quickly retreat.” Han Zhong’s personal soldier stood in front of him and said, ”Retreat, cover Han Zhong’s withdrawal.”

Knowing the situation was hopeless, Han Zhong immediately retreated. Although there was a cliff behind, it posed no obstacle for him.

”Not good, the rebel leader is escaping, chase him!” A Song general shouted fiercely.

”The one in yellow armor, with a red cloak, he’s the rebel leader.” Chen Mo shouted.

Han Zhong quickly took off his cloak, letting a personal soldier wear it; as for the yellow armor, he wasn’t the only one wearing it.

”The one with a bun, wearing a wooden hairpin, is the rebel leader.” Chen Mo used his Ancient Heavy Pupils, Han Zhong couldn’t escape his gaze.

”Chase the rebel leader.” Song generals shouted, with Quan Qiyang taking the lead, leaping and stepping on a rebel’s head as leverage.

The rebel’s head exploded like a watermelon, then Quan Qiyang rolled and jumped close to Han Zhong, charging towards him: ”Your life is mine!”

”Block him.” Han Zhong had no intention of fighting Quan Qiyang because being delayed would mean he couldn’t escape.

He sent personal soldiers to intercept.

Han Zhong picked up a strong bow from the ground and retreated, letting his long hair down.

”The one holding a bow with loose hair is the rebel leader, quickly chase him.” Chen Mo shouted again.

A large number of Song troops surged toward Han Zhong’s direction.

Upon hearing the shout, Han Zhong ground his teeth in rage, but amid the chaotic battle, he had no means against Chen Mo.

With a palm strike, Han Zhong knocked away a Song soldier in front of him, then bent his bow with an arrow on the string, pulling the bowstring to its full extent, making a slight ”booming” sound.

Han Zhong first aimed in Chen Mo’s direction, just when everyone thought he was going to shoot that way.

Han Zhong suddenly turned half his body, releasing the arrow aimed at Quan Qiyang.

”Watch out!”

Chen Mo deduced the trajectory of the arrow, using Shifting Form and Position.

On the other side, Qi Yuanyang sliced through a Song soldier blocking his way, then he heard a sonic boom by his ear. As he turned his head, an arrow came rushing towards his head.

By the time he noticed, the arrow was already in front of him, making it too late to dodge.

Just sensing the arrow’s momentum, Qi Yuanyang felt as if his head was about to explode.

Just when Qi Yuanyang thought he was doomed, the arrow suddenly stopped dead in front of him.

Qi Yuanyang’s Adam’s apple bobbed, swallowing hard. The arrowhead was less than a centimeter from his eye, glimmering coldly in the sunlight.

He looked at the hand holding the arrow and turned his head to Chen Mo: ”Tha...thank you.”

”No need.” Chen Mo crushed the arrow in his hand into two pieces.

”Good job. Well done.”

Not far away, Huangfu Hao witnessed the scene and breathed a sigh of relief.

Quan Qiyang being one of his deputy generals was no ordinary person; he was Consort Yu’s brother.

Though Consort Yu wasn’t favored, she was still a consort of Your Majesty, making Quan Qiyang effectively the emperor’s brother-in-law. If he died, the emperor might blame it.

To prevent such a thing, he kept Quan Qiyang close whenever possible. But this time, the moment they were separated, a major incident nearly occurred.