Martial Saint through Reading

Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Betrayal on the Eve of Battle

”Heh, if I kill you all, who would know what happened tonight?” Black Pockmarks spoke leisurely, as if everything was under his control.

Yes, kill them all, who would know what happened tonight?

The Escort Masters of Thousand Miles Escort were pondering, but none were foolish enough to make a move at this moment.

They only stood in place, waiting for the experts from both sides to clash, ready to assist whoever gained the upper hand.

Even the few Commandery Mansion guards left behind showed a flicker of concern in their eyes upon hearing these words.

Black Pockmarks looked at Meng Zhen and Ye Hong, his tone suddenly turning sinister: ”Forgot to tell you, I’m nurturing my third organ. Tonight, even if another Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander comes, I, Black Pockmarks, will claim that brat’s life.”

Nurturing the third organ?!

Ye Hong’s face changed abruptly; in other words, Black Pockmarks was attempting to break through to the Late Stage of Refining the Internal Organs!

Even though Meng Zhen, who had seen mountains of corpses and seas of blood, heard these words, his brow furrowed. He was only at the Middle Stage of Refining the Internal Organs, nurturing two organs and one viscera, with the second viscera yet to be nurtured.

This bandit’s strength is greater than his.

Tonight, it seems truly difficult.

He and Ye Hong retreated half a step back, leaned against the carriage, and spoke lowly to the remaining three guards: ”When the fight starts, drive the carriage and take Lord Shen and Lord Chu away first.”

”Yes,” the three replied.

”Hmph,” Ye Hong suddenly snorted, warning, ”If you believe a bandit’s words, you deserve to die.”

He worried the three might be swayed by the ten thousand taels of silver to betray them in the heat of the moment.

Black Pockmarks’ words were clearly meant to sow discord.

The faces of the three guards changed slightly. Seeing the murderous intent emanating from Black Pockmarks, cold fear surged in their hearts, finally bowing solemnly: ”Rest assured, my lord, we vow to protect the two lords.”

”Ignorant fools,” Black Pockmarks shouted lowly, his hands flickered with cold light, instantly transforming into afterimages that rushed forward.

At the same time, Li Xingbai and Chen Shuo also wielded weapons to attack.

Clang, clang, clang—

Sparks flew!

Weapons clanged loudly, deafeningly ringing.

Meng Zhen wielded his spear alone; though his realm was inferior to Black Pockmarks, his battlefield experience allowed him to independently fight Black Pockmarks and Chen Shuo.

Ye Hong’s strength was lacking, barely contending with Li Xingbai.

For a time, five experts of the Refining Organs Realm were locked in fierce battle, difficult to determine the victor.

”Two lords, hold steady.”

A guard leaped onto the carriage.

”Drive!” The steeds galloped wildly.

The two guards shielded them on both sides.

Black Pockmarks, fighting Meng Zhen, glanced at the departing carriage, showing no intent to pursue; instead, he revealed a playful smile.

”Not good!”

Meng Zhen, perceptive as always, instantly sensed something amiss.

”Move aside!”

With a thrust of his spear, Chen Shuo, only at the initial stage of Refining Organs, was knocked back by brute force, while Black Pockmarks struggled to ward off the attack, a hint of solemnity appearing in his expression.

”The Tiger Armor Army is truly formidable.” Black Pockmarks wielded his twin axes with such density, leveraging his realm advantage to suppress Meng Zhen.

Meanwhile.

The three guards drove the carriage frantically with Chu Ming and Shen Yu.

Suddenly, Chu Ming’s gaze sharpened, sensing a dozen warrior presences ahead, among them two in the Strong Bone Realm.

Without voicing this, let the carriage continue moving forward.

He needed an opportunity to strike, likely just ahead.

Sure enough, after traveling over a mile, the carriage suddenly soared into the air, then crashed heavily to the ground.

Chu Ming reacted swiftly, grabbing Shen Yu, landing safely.

”Chu Ming, you...?” Shen Yu looked at Chu Ming in shock.

In that brief moment, he thought he would fall to his death but unexpectedly, Chu Ming seemed like a Martial Artist, protecting him, landing gently without shock.

”Brother Shen, let’s discuss later.”

Just as they landed, a dozen people with faces masked in black scarves, wielding gleaming long knives, surrounded them.

The three guards immediately shielded them.

”Careful!”

One suddenly shouted, but his knife stabbed at the guard beside him, while another guard raised a knife and turned towards Chu Ming and Shen Yu.

”You!” Shen Yu realized these two had betrayed them.

”Lord Shen, you shouldn’t have left the County City to follow; blame the brat.” One guard smirked.

”You believe Black Wind Stronghold’s words?” Shen Yu rebuked, ”Kill us, and don’t think you’ll escape!”

Shen Yu thought these guards were blinded by the ten thousand taels of silver.

”Ha ha,” one of them laughed, ”We don’t trust Black Wind Stronghold, but we’re set on that silver.”

In essence, if they killed Chu Ming and Shen Yu, they wouldn’t be silenced by Black Wind Stronghold and would get the silver.

It meant these guards had been bribed from the start!

The masked figures did not approach but encircled them.

In the pitch-black woods, an eerie and oppressive atmosphere overwhelmed Shen Yu’s heart, as if every tree and every branch were perpetrators ready to attack.

The old man’s face turned pale, yet he still wished to save Chu Ming.

”Kid, you should have offended anyone but him. You’re my boy’s age; I didn’t want to act, but for my boy, you must die.”

One guard lifted his chilling weapon, stepping toward them.

”Speak, any last words? If I can fulfill them, I will.”

This guard approached Chu Ming and Shen Yu, showing less mockery and more regret.

Shen Yu stepped forward, seemingly wanting to shield Chu Ming.

”No need.”

Chu Ming stepped out, his face calm as he regarded the crowd.

”If you have anything to say, say it quickly.”

So far, he hadn’t acted, waiting for more useful information, like which big figure orchestrated this ambush.

After speaking, silence descended throughout the woods.

The guards and the masked figures were momentarily stunned.

Then.

”Hahah...”

”That kid must be scared witless.”

”Finish quickly, collect reward, and head off for drinks.”

”...”

Mocking laughs erupted; none paid heed to Chu Ming’s words.

”Seems there’s nothing else to say.”

Chu Ming murmured, his gaze suddenly turning icy.

Hmm?

The nearby guards instantly felt a chill down their spines, a sense of impending death surging from their feet to their heads.

Boom, boom, boom—

In the crowd, bright red afterimages flashed, accompanied by the sound of bones shattering.

The wind from the depths of the woods swirled, carrying a strong stench of blood.

Shen Yu stood dumbfounded.

The guards and masked figures likewise stood motionless.

However, all their chests had collapsed, crimson liquid flowing from every orifice.

”You...”

Clang—

The guards’ weapons clattered to the ground.

Thud, thud, thud—

Then came a series of dull thuds as bodies fell.

Among them, four in the Strong Bone Realm, over a dozen in the Blood Circulation Realm, all to met their demise almost simultaneously.

Shen Yu looked at the corpses ahead, observing the disbelief frozen on their faces, his heart pounding like war drums.

”Chu Ming, you...”