Chapter 1687 – Subduing Nan Sheng, Slaying An Huan (Ninety-Five)
Jiang Pengji had discovered An Huan’s presence long ago.
As she had anticipated, he fled recklessly in her direction, everything unfolding just as he had calculated.
“Lord, the front lines have clashed. Should we send troops to support the generals?”
The speaker was an old subordinate of Yang Tao, but now, he was one of Jiang Pengji’s people.
Currently, he mainly handled the guard duties around Jiang Pengji, basically the head of security, with combat being a secondary concern.
Though this position didn’t involve much front-line fighting, it was vital to Jiang Pengji’s safety and required a reliable confidant.
Holding this position not only signified Jiang Pengji’s trust but also allowed him to establish his presence before the new lord, promising a bright future.
He was utterly moved by the trust and elevation given by Jiang Pengji; he was done doubting Yang Tao’s old comrades. After all, if Jiang Pengji truly harbored suspicions about them, she wouldn’t be entrusting her safety to someone from Yang Tao’s faction.
This was an outsider’s analysis; the truth of the matter was known only to Jiang Pengji and the audience.
Her combat prowess was so formidable that the guards were mostly just for show and practically useless; it wouldn’t matter who filled that role.
If promoting Yang Tao’s old comrades could foster greater internal harmony, Jiang Pengji wouldn’t mind letting them bask in her kindness a little longer.
“No need; let them fight it out. We have more important tasks ahead,” Jiang Pengji said, spitting out the dogtail grass she had been chewing. She mounted her horse and commanded, “Gather the troops; the whole army follows me. Today, there’s bound to be a big catch, and tonight’s supper depends on it.”
The “big catch” Jiang Pengji referred to was, of course, An Huan.
As the lord, everyone around her had to heed her orders; wherever she said to go, they went.
The head of security promptly gathered the troops and returned shortly, revealing hints of excitement in his eyes.
He had heard about this impressive lord before—someone favored by fate; following her was undoubtedly the right choice.
The night posed no hindrance to Jiang Pengji; her focus was firmly locked onto An Huan, carefully calculating his route to arrive at the destination ahead of time, laying in wait for An Huan to walk into her trap. The terrain here was fairly flat, with a shallow waterway nearby, attracting swarms of mosquitoes.
“Lord, are we here to…”
The head of security hesitated; with so many mosquitoes, were they merely bait for the bugs?
Even in his mighty and heavy armor, layered with thick clothing, he couldn’t stop the little pests from invading. Before long, his arm was itching, and he used his other hand to swat, crushing three mosquitoes in one hit.
He grimaced but didn’t dare complain about Jiang Pengji, not wanting to irritate her.
He pondered that his lord was clad securely, yet would surely attract those bloodsuckers more given her delicate skin, right?
Squatting in such an awkward place and still managing to maintain composure, back straight as a rod, truly indicated her unwavering confidence.
Little did he know that no mosquito dared to bite Jiang Pengji.
Having fished for over ten years without catching a single fish, it was evident how much animals feared her; what mosquito was bold enough to take a bite?
In the audience, they’d be arguing that Jiang Pengji’s blood was as toxic as she was.
“Here they come.”
Jiang Pengji placed her left hand on the hilt of her Slayer Blade, abruptly stating.
“What’s coming?”
Just as the head of security finished speaking, he felt a slight tremble in the ground, listening intently, as indistinct sounds of hooves reached his ears.
Soon, he knew exactly what was approaching.
The sound of hundreds of hooves grew closer and closer, leaving the head of security dumbfounded.
Thanks to their preparations and the cover of the reeds by the water, the enemy hadn’t noticed them at all. If not for Jiang Pengji’s orders to the archers to strike first and take down a wave of foes, An Huan and his men might have stumbled right up to her without noticing something was amiss…
The sudden rain of arrows caught them off guard, with the front-line cavalry falling from their mounts, only managing brief, sharp cries of terror.
“Is it not a pleasure to have friends come from afar?” Jiang Pengji swiftly unsheathed her Slayer Blade, its snow-white blade gleaming brilliantly in the darkness, seemingly glowing of its own accord rather than reflecting moonlight. “Duoxi, it’s been years since we last met. Do you still remember me? It’s not easy to encounter old friends; why rush things?”
Though her words were friendly, the murderous intent radiating from her was palpable.
Jiang Pengji’s voice wasn’t overly loud; there was a distance between her and An Huan, so logically, he shouldn’t have heard her.
Yet, not only did An Huan hear her loud and clear, but his remaining ragtag soldiers did too.
Responses varied among the crowd, but one thing was universally understood:
Fear!
An Huan’s breath was heavy; the exhilaration of escaping death had barely faded, yet the grim reaper was right on his heels, blocking his escape route.
With a hoarse, resentful voice, he nearly growled Jiang Pengji’s name from between clenched teeth.
“Liu Xi!”
An Huan roared like a wounded beast, pacing anxiously within his cage, his eyes brimming with rage.
As he uttered those two words, the soldiers around him felt a jolt of panic.
Liu Xi.
This name had haunted them like a shadow since the war began; hearing it alone was painful, let alone facing the real deal.
Jiang Pengji smiled, “Duoxi still remembers me.”
An Huan’s breath quickened even more.
How could he forget?
Could it be that today was his death day, the final resting place for him?
No!
He wouldn’t die; he wouldn’t lose!
An Huan took a deep breath, saying, “Liu Xi, you guard your Dongqing, and I’ll stay in my Nan Sheng. Let’s not interfere with each other; if there’s an external threat in the future, we can still lend a hand. Nan Sheng isn’t as simple as you think; in the end, you might find it’s not worth the trouble.”
As he spoke, An Huan signaled to a nearby commander, who understood and led their horses back slightly, hiding behind their ranks.
Readied with his bow and arrow, he shut his eyes, relying on sound to determine Jiang Pengji’s location.
This man was a renowned archer under An Huan, and identifying targets through sound was his forte.
The dark night obscured distance, making it difficult for the enemy to spot him as he pulled back his bow and shot.
Jiang Pengji couldn’t help but chuckle.
The two sides had fought to this point; it was already a fight to the death. Did An Huan think a few words could sway her?
“What do you mean by ‘I guard my Dongqing while you’re in your Nan Sheng?’” Jiang Pengji replied, bemused, “Dongqing is mine, but Nan Sheng does not belong to you. I aim to unite the world, and ultimately, Nan Sheng will be mine as well. Out of respect for our past acquaintance, I can offer you a way out. An Duoxi, if you bring your troops to surrender to me, I will make you a Baron of An Le, allowing you a lifetime of glory and fortune…”
No sooner had she finished speaking than the renowned archer released a secret arrow.
The bowstring hummed softly, and the arrow zipped through the air.
An Huan’s heart leapt to his throat.
In the next moment, an arrow pierced through his thigh, embedding itself deep into the horse beneath him.
