Chapter 46: Come With Me, We'll Go Home at Dawn

Hum~

Regardless of whether Ling Yunkai was thoroughly dead, Wang Lu tore off his mask and dropped into the courtyard, instantly drawing the attention of Shen Lian and the burly man.

"You've come!" Joy flashed in Shen Lian's eyes.

Ling Yunkai was a complete waste of space; with Wang Lu's help, their chances of winning had increased from four-tenths to seven-tenths.

Drawing his blade, Wang Lu said, "Looks like I have to save your life once more."

Without explaining how he had arrived, Wang Lu stepped straight forward to join the fray.

Upon seeing Shen Lian's reaction, the burly man knew which side Wang Lu was on, and brandishing his heavy saber, he roared, "Whoever comes, you're all going to die!"

Wang Lu's long saber flowed like water as it clashed with the burly man. Before the latter could react, Wang Lu pivoted and slashed with his blade!

The burly man let out a muffled groan, retreated a step, and clutched his stomach, where a shallow wound had already appeared.

"The Qi family saber technique! Ding Baiying really has betrayed the noble lord!" the burly man raged.

"If that is your last word, then you can go and die!"

Wang Lu had no intention of playing a turn-based game.

Strike while the iron is hot!

Wang Lu reset his saber into the optimal striking stance and charged fiercely forward.

After a brief respite, Shen Lian also charged in from the flanks.

Coordinating seamlessly, the two blades practically sealed off all paths of survival for the burly man.

The courtyard was filled solely with the ringing sound of clashing steel.

The longer they fought, the more panicked the burly man became!

Compared to the one before, this newcomer was operating on a completely different level.

More crucially, the Qi family saber technique was wielded with a perfection even more refined than Ding Baiying's. Strike followed relentless strike; the very moment one blocked his blade, another wave of murderous intent was already brewing.

As for the other man, despite having sustained two wounds earlier, he now acted as if nothing had happened, his embroidered uniform-guard saber dancing with ferocious momentum.

One was an absolute tank, while the other unleashed relentless combo attacks. The facial nerves of the burly man twitched violently as he realized this task, which he had initially thought so little of, was likely going to cost him his life.

Clang!

The instant Shen Lian parried the burly man's strike, Wang Lu's Miao saber slashed toward him.

The burly man hurriedly retreated, only for Shen Lian to sweep his blade toward his leg.

Under their joint assault, they were virtually invincible in the entire Embroidered Uniform Guard world.

Eight years of sparring had long since allowed the two of them to achieve complete synchronicity of mind and intent.

After the space of a burning incense stick.

The burly man had concluded that Shen Lian was the true weak link; as long as he killed Shen Lian first, he would find a way to survive!

By then, whether he chose to flee or slaughter, he would have room to maneuver.

The moment Shen Lian was sent flying into the air by a fierce slash, a flash of excitement crossed the burly man's eyes.

An opportunity!

The burly man thrust straight ahead.

Yet a flicker of cunning crossed Shen Lian's eyes.

The burly man's hair stood on end.

However, everything was already too late.

"Die!"

Wang Lu swept his blade across the burly man's neck, sending blood spraying into the air.

Shen Lian smoothly switched his grip to parry the burly man's final, desperate strike, then landed in a half-kneeling position.

Thud!

The burly man crashed heavily to the ground, his eyes filled with lingering resentment and defiance.

"Thanks," Shen Lian said hoarsely, chest heaving as he gasped for breath.

Wang Lu glanced back at the thoroughly dead Ling Yunkai and strode into the house.

At this moment, the doors were flung wide open, and Ding Baiying was surrounded by dozens of men. She had already sustained multiple injuries and looked utterly tragic.

Her face and body were covered in blood. Even though her expression remained detached, it bore no resemblance to her previous elegance.

Though Ding Baiying's martial prowess was sufficient to instantly kill any of them in a one-on-one duel, there were fully over a dozen enemies here.

Whenever she killed the ones in front, the ones behind would slash at her.

At the same time, she had to protect Beizhai and Ding Tai.

Most of her wounds had been incurred precisely while shielding these two.

Ding Baiying raised her Japanese-style sword, looked at the nicked blade, and a desolate look filled her eyes. The threat of death and the double betrayal weighed heavily on her complicated mind.

However, the sudden appearance of a figure only provoked her further.

Wang Lu, having removed his mask, smiled faintly and asked, "Want to live?"

The anger churning within Ding Baiying's chest condensed into a single word: "Yes!"

A flash of blade light.

The armored soldier closest to Wang Lu clutched his throat and collapsed, blood gushing in streams.

A trace of surprise crossed Ding Baiying's eyes as her own long saber moved once more.

Despite their overwhelming numbers, the armored guards suddenly found themselves seemingly surrounded by just two people.

Surrounded so tightly not even water could leak through.

"Kill!" Ding Baiying roared, fully displaying the demeanor of a female martial arts hero.

Her blade plunged into the body of the man before her, tearing flesh and bone.

Bang!

Wang Lu used the hilt of his saber to knock down an armored guard attempting to sneak up behind Ding Baiying for a cowardly strike, then sneered, "If you're going to kill, just kill. Why yell so loudly?"

Ding Baiying cast a resentful, glaring look at Wang Lu, pulled her blade free, and slashed backward. The guard downed by Wang Lu instantly lost his life.

"I've come to help you!" Shen Lian, having rested for a moment, caught up as well.

Life was precious. After the space of another burning incense stick, more than a dozen lifeless bodies littered the room.

Breathing heavily, Ding Baiying confirmed there were no enemies left in the vicinity, leaned against a table, and asked, "You are not Ding Xiu. Where did you learn the true Qi family saber technique?"

"None of your business."

Wang Lu stepped forward to help Beizhai up, saying calmly, "You'd better think about how to run for your life."

Clatter.

Shen Lian pointed his long saber at Ding Baiying, looked at Wang Lu, and asked, "Which one is Beizhai?"

"Right here." Wang Lu motioned toward the woman beside him.

Beizhai leaned wretchedly against Wang Lu, relying entirely on his support to keep her trembling legs from giving out.

Shen Lian hesitated.

Could Beizhai really be the person who held the umbrella for him yesterday morning?

And she was a woman, to boot.

He couldn't bring himself to strike.

Therefore, Shen Lian looked at Wang Lu and asked, "Can you help me kill her?"

"Are you out of your mind? If you want her dead, kill her yourself." Wang Lu replied, turning to Ding Baiying, "You said earlier that you wanted to live. I helped you survive, so now you have to listen to me."

"What are you going to do?"

Before Ding Baiying's voice had even faded, Wang Lu tossed a key toward her. She forced her aching body to catch it in her hand.

"Wuyi Lane, Number Seven, West District. Go hide there."

Ding Baiying fell silent for a moment, then hoisted Ding Tai to his feet.

At this moment, Shen Lian spoke up once more: "I don't kill women. Help me kill her, and consider it a debt I owe you."

"A soft heart for the fair sex?" Wang Lu laughed lightly before declaring, "Neither of them can die. I still have use for them."

"Ding Baiying, what are you standing there dazing for? Take Beizhai and leave together. There are horses outside," Wang Lu urged.

Shen Lian clenched the hilt of his saber repeatedly, but in the end, he couldn't harden his heart to strike.

"Why aren't they here yet?" Wang Lu muttered to himself.

"There are others?" Shen Lian asked, a fierce internal battle raging within his mind.

"Mm, men from the Eastern Directorate." With that, Wang Lu looked under the table, dragged Guo Zhen out from beneath it, and said with a surprised expression, "Director Guo, what on earth happened to you?"

Guo Zhen had already regained consciousness; otherwise, he wouldn't have been smart enough to hide under the table.

Guo Zhen whimpered anxiously. Wang Lu removed the cloth tied over his face, prompting Guo Zhen to let out a furious roar: "Commoners! You're all a bunch of damned commoners!"

"What is the meaning of this, Director Guo?!" Wang Lu asked with faux concern. "You've been missing for days, and it worried Commander Lu and me to death. Let me untie you."

"Wang Lu!" Guo Zhen glared fiercely as he shouted.

"Here!" Wang Lu responded instantly.

"Don't think I don't know! It was you! I recognized you, it was you!"

"What was me? How come I don't understand a word you're saying?" Wang Lu asked with an innocent expression. "With all the chaos surrounding His Majesty falling into the water lately, affairs within the Embroidered Uniform Guard have been extremely busy. Could it be that Director Guo is blaming me for failing to protect you properly?"

Guo Zhen was instantly choked into silence, unable to utter another word.