Chaotic World Book-Chapter 289 - 284: San Niang, the One-Man Army

Assassinating Wu Balu himself wasn’t difficult, escaping unscathed was.

At the outset of the war, both Chi Li and Yue Hongling had taken leaders’ heads amidst their guards; back then, the defenses were sparse, akin to a one-on-one duel. But after a few assassinations by these two, everyone else became vigilant.

Wu Balu would either hide in the Beast Grounds, heavily guarded; or he would travel with a large army, with escorts front and back.

Decapitating him was feasible, but how would one escape from the encirclement of his army afterward?

Ba Tu believed that neither Yue Hongling nor Zhao Changhe could achieve this without exchanging lives, and Yue Hongling also thought she couldn’t do it.

Such assassins were prepared never to return; Jing Ke had declared as much before he left.

The Human List was tough enough, but what about the Earth List?

When the second-ranked Xuanwu on the Earth List was willing to help, it was basically not an issue... she might not even qualify to be mentioned by the Chaotic World Book, as that was something within her capabilities. There was nothing to discuss.

San Niang wasn’t really worried about the Chaotic World Book talking nonsense.

San Niang’s identity was under Ying Wu’s command, and Ying Wu would definitely not allow her to kill Wu Balu and jeopardize their collective effort to search for the Secret Realm. If a kill was necessary, she would have to wear a mask and assume the identity of Xuanwu.

But if Xuanwu mysteriously appeared in Yellow Sand Market to assassinate Wu Balu, and if there were eyewitnesses, especially reports of Xuanwu being a woman, people like Ying Wu and Tie Muer could immediately guess it was her, San Niang. The last thing San Niang wanted was for her years of undercover work as Xuanwu to be known—what was the point of all her secrecy!

Thus, while San Niang consistently wanted to kill Wu Balu, she dared not act rashly and could only keep enticing others to do the deed. But no one was foolish enough to risk their lives just like that; thus, no solution had yet been found.

But this time was different; once Zhao Changhe reached an agreement with Ying Wu, she didn’t even need to wear a mask—she could openly go as San Niang to perform the assassination.

With someone collaborating, San Niang didn’t even need to display too much prowess—it could be perfect.

How great are your guys, teehee.

At that moment, Wu Balu was by the lake in the Beast Grounds, surrounded by people.

"Yue Hongling appearing outside? This lake really has nothing to do with the secret realm," Wu Balu commented disdainfully, "Then why call it Xuanwu Lake, misleading everyone all these years!"

If there were any southerners present, they would tell him that Jinling also has a Xuanwu Lake; a name means nothing.

Yet the southerner San Niang herself was misled, and speaking of it brought tears.

"Yuan San Niang has also been eyeing this lake all these years; turns out, she and I were both clowns," Wu Balu sighed, "It’s a shame, by now she probably also knows this lake has nothing to do with the Secret Realm. Even with this lake under my control, I can’t do much to her; it will be even less likely in the future..."

A subordinate chuckled, "Why not just capture her? The Divine Hall might not protect her; it’s only because the Secret Realm couldn’t be found that they had to reluctantly cooperate with her backing forces to search. Once it’s found, it’s time to turn against them. Since the Secret Realm has now been confirmed to be in the mountains, this is the perfect time to turn on them."

Wu Balu’s eyes flickered, "Makes sense... but not now."

"Eh?"

"Yue Hongling suddenly challenging Chi Li, causing Divine Hall’s experts to flock there, gives me an eerie feeling that something’s off—like a lure away from the mountain strategy... In any case, it’s not the time to make any moves; safety first."

True to his role as the leader appointed by Tie Muer for the war, Wu Balu’s sense for such trickery was even sharper than Chi Li’s, after all, he was a war commander, different in thinking from martial artists.

His subordinates agreed, "Swear to defend the general!"

Wu Balu grinned, "After this passes, watch how I deal with that sly woman; I’ll reward you all, and you’ll have a share!"

While he was speaking, a subordinate hastily reported, "General, the Ba Tu Tribe secretly decamped last night; only empty camps remain now, and it’s unknown where the people and horses have gone."

Wu Balu was momentarily startled, "With so many people, they disappeared overnight?" frёeweɓηovel_coɱ

He paced back and forth, frowning, "Investigate further. If they’re attacking other tribes, that’s one thing, but if they’re heading towards Yanmen, we must immediately report to the Great Khan and prepare to attack from behind."

Having lost interest in staying by the lakeside, he turned to leave, "Let’s go to the military camp."

The camp was not far north of the Beast Grounds, just a few arrows’ shot away. Just around the corner of this street.

Leaving the tightly guarded enclosed Beast Grounds, hundreds of trusted aides followed Wu Balu, galloping straight for the camp.

The street, usually occupied by many vendors, was now deserted, with surrounding shops closed up. Horses’ hooves stirred up whirling cold winds and chaotic debris, conveying a desolate and forbidding atmosphere.

A captivating figure slowly approached from the end of the long street.

"Yuan San Niang?" Wu Balu’s mind raced, and without waiting for San Niang to speak, he commanded, "Go! Capture her!"

Watching the troops rushing towards her, San Niang was stunned.

Initially, standing openly in the road, she had intended to "have a few words with the general," planning to strike when Wu Balu, blinded by lust, brought her close for conversation.

Indeed, his lust was undeniable, but the army charged straight in to capture her.

"Wu Balu, you really are something else," San Niang laughed bitterly, "It seems I came at just the right time, or later your army might have surrounded my inn."

She was unconcerned about the approaching soldiers, prepared to fight them head-on while her young man went after Wu Balu’s head.

As she stood alone on the long street against the chilling wind facing the galloping hundreds of horses, the scene looked incredibly bleak; many peeking from their houses couldn’t help but feel a trace of sadness for the tragic fate of a woman in these chaotic times... eh?

The leading horse was already upon San Niang, its rider sneering as he threw a lasso to capture her directly.

San Niang lazily stretched out a hand, catching the rope in her palm, then casually yanked.

The rider screamed as he was suddenly lifted like riding clouds and flew, hitting several horses in succession. In an instant, horses and riders were upended, dust billowing.

San Niang casually walked into the formation, lightly chopping a rider’s leg hanging beside his horse’s belly.

He had no idea what technique was used, he only heard a heart-wrenching scream, and that calf was directly severed by a palm.

San Niang’s figure flashed, ghost-like weaving through the warhorses, wherever she passed was a series of screams, soldiers falling off horses, and the horses running wild, the entire street sank into chaos.

Hundreds of military swords couldn’t even touch a single hair on her, her speed was faster than the wind, and her figure was more elusive than a specter. The more soldiers and horses there were, the more chaos ensued, trampling over each other, unable to stop her!

Wu Balu was dumbfounded.

Looking at it this way, it wasn’t a matter of whether a few hundred people could catch her or even stop her, it seemed like it was a question of whether these hundreds of people were about to be slaughtered by her alone!

She alone, was attacking an entire army, and it was his most elite trusted aides!

Wu Balu felt a chill all over, had he actually harbored lustful thoughts towards such a terrifying woman?

This wasn’t a human at all, she was clearly a Heavenly God from Longevity Heaven!

Wu Balu shouted loudly, "Sound the horn! Quick, quick!"

A trusted aide by his side, as if awakening from a dream, frantically blew the horn.

The military camp gates swung wide open, thousands upon thousands of soldiers charged from behind San Niang.

San Niang made a move to charge, trying to break through the interception and head straight for Wu Balu.

Wu Balu, terrified, abandoned his horse and ran, darting into a side alley of the street, trying to bypass San Niang and meet up with the main force.

If he could just hold off Yuan San Niang for a moment here, and manage to get into the main force, this woman, terrifying as she may be, surely couldn’t take on tens of thousands alone?

What kind of battle would that be!

Almost there, coming out of this street, the army will have surrounded him! Just a bit faster!

At that very moment, a broadsword fell from the sky, directly chopping at the fleeing Wu Balu.

Zhao Changhe, gods and Buddhas scatter!

"I’ve been waiting for you!"

"Clang!" Wu Balu drew his sword to block, using the force to leap forward.

Indeed, he was not just the Sixth or Seventh Level of Mystical Gate as it appeared, he was a Ninth Layer expert!

The two blades collided, producing a thunderous noise that even drowned out the chaos of the hundreds of horses nearby.

Wu Balu was once again frightened.

Zhao Changhe’s strength was also this great... He himself was at the Ninth Layer of Mystical Gate, but he was only just on par with him, and even felt slightly at a disadvantage?

Luckily, he didn’t need to entangle further, it was just a few steps to escape the alley.

Three steps later, the army would have him surrounded, and all would be settled!

Wu Balu laughed as he left, "Too bad, you don’t have two Yuan San Niangs!"

"Really?" Zhao Changhe flashed a slight smile, didn’t argue, but stomped powerfully, his Dragon Sparrow chopping again at Wu Balu’s back.

"It’s no use!" Wu Balu swung his sword wildly, their blades clashed again, and he leapt forward once more, half his body already out of the alley.

At this moment, a longsword, like a rainbow piercing the sun, shot straight down from above. The killing intent was so intense it seemed to seep into his bones.

Wu Balu was horrified, who was this now?

Caught midair without leverage, and Zhao Changhe relentlessly sealed him off with another swing of his blade.

No way up to heaven, no door into the earth.

He instinctively swung his sword to block the above attack but found nothing.

The opponent’s sword and Zhao Changhe’s blade were entirely different in style, ingeniously turning midair, gently brushing past his throat.

At the same time, Zhao Changhe’s Dragon Sparrow heavily chopped into his chest, splitting him into two.

"I guessed you might be at Ninth Layer of Mystical Gate already, how could I face you alone without backup?" Zhao Changhe sheathed his sword and sighed, "My brother has been lurking in the beast field for a month, almost getting moldy."

The sword light faded, Han Wubing slightly smiled.

San Niang broke through the army formation, sweeping by like the wind, "Go!"

Tens of thousands of soldiers trampled the street, but the three figures were already disappearing into the distance, nowhere to be seen.

Leaving behind the split corpse of Wu Balu, bearing witness to this street assassination, cutting down the chief in the midst of thousands.

Tie Muer, the most important trusted general at the Western Border, had been beheaded, and even the Chaotic World Book didn’t flicker.

A hundred miles away, Ba Tu’s army slowly advanced.

Soon after, a scout received the news, racing to report, "Khan! Wu Balu was assassinated, Yellow Sand Market is in chaos!"

"As a collaborator, Zhao Changhe is actually reliable." Ba Tu murmured, then took a deep breath, "Accelerate the entire army, straight to Yanmen!"

––––

ps: Last day of the month, seeking monthly ticket, let’s stay in the top ten!

The 𝘮ost uptodat𝑒 novels are pub𝙡ished on fre(e)webno(v)el.𝒸𝑜𝘮