Chapter 198: Moved

A large warhorse leaped over a corpse, carrying its master as it charged towards Li Huowang.

Li Huowang narrowly dodged it. Just as he raised his sword and turned to look, Peng Longteng brought down her heavy halberd directly at his face.

The whistling wind blew Li Huowang's hair back.

Given the immense force, Li Huowang didn't dare to block with his weapon; even if he could withstand the blow, his body would be crushed.

As Li Huowang evaded, the massive halberd, wielded horizontally, pursued him.

Suddenly, a tall figure surged forward from the side—it was Gao Zhijian.

Roaring, he raised his spiked mace and swung it at the halberd.

With a dull clang, the halberd was deflected slightly.

But with a hook, the halberd effortlessly sent the robust Gao Zhijian flying.

"Ring! Ring! Ring!" The bells chimed again, and Master You descended from the sky, flying towards Peng Longteng.

However, as the hands formed by lines were about to make contact, they quickly spun away and flew off.

Faced with the murderous, fully armored Peng Longteng, Master You didn't even dare to touch her.

Li Huowang quickly glanced back and saw a bone-deep gash on Gao Zhijian's right arm. Blood was gushing from it.

"I'll hold her off! You all run! She wants me!"

However, no one listened to Li Huowang. Everyone stood resolutely behind him.

Hoofbeats resounded again as Peng Longteng moved her horse back and forth a few steps.

Through the faceplate of her helmet, she saw the scene, and a mocking smile appeared on her ferocious face.

"Little brat, it seems these people value you highly. How about this: we'll have a one-on-one duel. If you can beat me, I'll let you take your people and go. What do you say?"

Before Li Huowang could answer, she pulled hard on the reins, and like a small mountain, she bore down on him again.

Facing Peng Longteng, Li Huowang struggled to lean to his left.

"No, I have to dismount her; this is too passive."

He quickly bent backward, dodging the heavy halberd's sweep. As they crossed paths, Li Huowang gritted his teeth and thrust his sword towards the horse's rear leg.

He wasn't sure if he was seeing things, but Li Huowang felt as though the horse itself had eyes watching him.

Immediately, the horse's veiny leg seemed to possess a premonition, first retracting, then kicking out.

Li Huowang was sent flying, collapsing a nearby low house. When she saw him stumble out, Peng Longteng smiled.

"Not bad, it seems you, a Siyun spy, have some skill. Come on, let's continue."

Facing the woman, Li Huowang spat out several mouthfuls of blood onto the ground. Her martial prowess was superior; he was practically being suppressed. If he didn't fight more aggressively, he probably wouldn't make it out today.

"Rustle, rustle," the bamboo slips quickly spread across the ground. Li Huowang steeled himself and placed his left hand on them.

Then, he pulled a dagger from the pile of torture instruments and cut into his wrist.

Peng Longteng's expression hardened at the sight, and she subtly raised her chin.

The next moment, a dark shadow shot towards Li Huowang's face. He barely turned his head to dodge, but then realized the dark shadow was merely a distraction.

"Thwack!" A long black iron spear pierced through Li Huowang's palm, pinning his hand to the ground.

Peng Longteng slowly rode her horse to Li Huowang's front, dragging the tip of her halberd across the ground. She flicked the Dagan Record, which had been spread on the ground, onto a nearby rooftop.

"I never thought a spy like you would be involved with the deranged Ao Jing fanatics."

"Is this what you call one-on-one?" Li Huowang asked, gritting his teeth as he glared at Peng Longteng.

"Heh, kid, did you actually believe that? Let me tell you, the first rule of warfare is 'deception is never too much.' Any method is fair game as long as it's effective. For example, right now... I'll teach you another trick: 'feint to the east, strike to the west.' Come on, lads, go kill those performers. And remember, don't kill them too quickly; torture them slowly. Make them scream as loudly as possible, so this brat loses his will to fight and becomes distracted."

Her words made veins bulge on Li Huowang's forehead, and clusters of anger rapidly ignited within him.

"You—" Li Huowang was halfway through his words when Peng Longteng raised her halberd and brought it down towards his face.

"No! I can't die! If I die, who knows what they'll do to Bai Lingmiao and the others!"

Li Huowang tried to dodge, but his body was pinned by the iron spear, making him completely immobile. He could only watch as the halberd drew closer and closer to his face.

"Move! Move! Move, damn you!"

Amidst Li Huowang's furious shouts, the halberd struck his head. Yet, immediately after, the halberd re-emerged from his head and struck the ground.

Li Huowang's head, which should have been utterly smashed, showed no damage whatsoever.

Li Huowang suddenly realized he could move.

Ignoring everything else, Li Huowang swiftly raised his sword, powerfully stomped on the horse's body, and thrust it towards Peng Longteng's faceplate.

Peng Longteng raised her halberd to counterattack, but she merely chopped relentlessly at Li Huowang's left side.

"Clang!" A crisp, clear sound rang out. The Right House Sword, which had previously been ineffective, suddenly couldn't pierce the opponent's faceplate!

A flash of inspiration struck, and Li Huowang unhesitatingly pulled out the "True Scripture of Fiery Robes" and placed it over her face.

He looked at Peng Longteng with pity as he began to chant the unfamiliar incantations. The wax on the scripture melted, carrying flames that seeped through the gaps in her faceplate, seeking out the areas that needed healing.

A sizzling sound, like something frying, filled the air, and Peng Longteng let out a furious curse. "Damn it! It's in my eyes!"

She quickly opened her visor and reached inside.

Along with her hand, Li Huowang's sword also went inside.

Instinctively sensing danger, Peng Longteng sharply raised her chin and again swung her heavy halberd towards Li Huowang's side.

With such an open target, Li Huowang couldn't miss the opportunity. He stomped on the horse's head and forcefully thrust his sword inward.

"Thud!" Peng Longteng's body stiffened, and her tall frame toppled from the horse.

"My lady! My lady!" Both the bandit army and the short-weapon soldiers were utterly terrified by this sight. They immediately dropped everything and rushed forward.

Li Huowang leaped from the horse's back, grabbed the Dagan Record from the rooftop, and charged towards a nearby carriage.

"Quick! Get out while they're in chaos! That woman's bones are too hard; I didn't pierce her!"

Chun Xiaoman furiously shook her bells and her head. Dozens of Master Yous descended from the sky, charging at those blocking their path.

With Peng Longteng dismounted, the other bandit soldiers lost their will to fight.

With Master You's help, they successfully escaped.

However, they dared not relax their vigilance, as the bandit soldiers could pursue them at any moment. Li Huowang forcefully jabbed the carriages' hindquarters, sending them galloping towards the main road.

Then, Li Huowang led the others, taking some essential items, and rushed down a small path. The horse hoof prints could mislead their pursuers.

They ran for a long time, and only when the others could run no more did Li Huowang allow them to rest in a depression.

Li Huowang felt utterly surprised that they had managed to escape.

"What just happened? That woman seemed to go mad, attacking my left side repeatedly. Was there something on my left?"

Li Huowang turned his head to look at his left side, only to find nothing there but a rock face.

"Senior Brother Li! Senior Brother Li, where are you?!"

Seeing her expression, Li Huowang's heart fluttered with panic. Was something wrong with Bai Lingmiao's eyes? Could she not see someone as large as him?

He stood up and quickly walked towards her.

But after only a few steps, everyone gasped in alarm and retreated en masse.

Watching the direction of their fearful gazes, Li Huowang once again turned his head to look to his left.

This time, he saw something: a red-clad figure from behind, and the back of a head. Half of the person's body was outside, while the other half was strangely stuck in the wall.

Li Huowang instinctively gripped his sword hilt with one hand and retreated, creating distance.

To his surprise, as Li Huowang retreated, the figure also retreated, shifting out of the wall.

When Li Huowang clearly saw the figure's attire and the torture tool pouch at its hem, he suddenly understood: this was clearly his own body!

Li Huowang looked down, only to find that there was nothing beneath him. It was as if he was merely a camera floating in the air.

With a face full of shock, Li Huowang looked up again at the red-clad figure in front of him, muttering to himself.

"My god, it really moved."