Chapter 158: Chapter 138: Three Against One

On the official road, three figures riding warhorses have arrived beneath Yizhou City.

All three on horseback are clad in armor, in full military attire; the leading figure is tall, with a solemn face, holding a large spear. Following him is a short person carrying a two-handed hammer. The third person carries a large bow, with eighteen feathered arrows at his waist, his gaze as sharp as a hawk’s, causing fear with just a glance.

This is the team dispatched from the Capital City to quell the rebellion.

Just the three of them.

This is a battle of external Evil Qi, having too many troops might not be beneficial—after all, most soldiers at best reach the level of Evil Qi entering the body. Although this might crush ordinary people, when facing a master of external Evil Qi, they would only serve as nourishment.

But with just three people, it’s a different story.

These three are skilled hands in the military, each having reached the level of external Evil Qi long ago.

The leading man with a spear is named Zhang Lan, officially appointed as a fourth-grade Jianwei General. Rising from a mere soldier to a fourth-grade general, he relies solely on the spear in his hand and the 3,672 enemy heads he has accumulated. Having killed until now, his heart is as hard as iron, and the spear in his hand as sharp as his heart; he remains unfazed regardless of whom he must kill.

Just like now.

"Yizhou has rebelled, the entire city is the enemy’s nourishment..."

Looking up at Yizhou City’s high walls and the seemingly unperturbed citizens at the city gate, Zhang Lan narrowed his eyes.

"Fine, then let’s kill them all."

"It should’ve been done earlier!"

On the second warhorse, the short man carrying the two-handed hammer grinned ferociously.

This short man is named Cai Yi, officially appointed as a fourth-grade Fengwei General. Judging by his stature, it’s easy to overlook him—but Cai Yi, known for his cruelty, is infamous in the army for being far more ruthless than Zhang Lan, who fought his way up.

The most evident example is the last rebellion, three years ago in the Southwest Wilderness of Da Chen, where an uprising occurred led by someone self-titled "Dragon Tiger General," claiming to save the people from suffering, breaking state capitals, and killing governors, creating a loud uproar with a tendency to spread like wildfire.

And the one responsible for quelling it was Cai Yi.

"Just mountain bandits,"

Leaving these words behind, Cai Yi went to the southwest alone, effortlessly suppressing the rebellion.

However, the entire state’s people were also completely slaughtered by Cai Yi in that battle.

Of course, Cai Yi claimed it was necessary during his fight with the "Dragon Tiger General," he had to kill everyone to ensure that the general could not surpass Evil Qi entering the body to external Evil Qi—but many familiar with Cai Yi knew all this was an excuse, that the general simply wanted to kill.

Whenever given the chance, he will savagely massacre everything before him.

And now, the opportunity has arisen again.

"These are all nourishment, if we don’t kill them, the rebels will,"

Laughing, Cai Yi turned back.

"So we might as well act first, kill them all... wouldn’t you agree?"

"...I still think we should only execute the main offenders."

On the third warhorse, the man carrying the bow and arrows frowned slightly.

The man is named Li Shanfu, officially appointed as a fourth-grade Jishen General, specializing in archery like his title—it’s not an easy task, as drawing a bow may work against the average person but when facing those with Evil Qi entering the body, far more physically capable opponents, the bow’s effectiveness diminishes drastically.

Facing masters of external Evil Qi, archery becomes laughable. Even if the arrows manage to penetrate the blade’s light, they might still be unable to pierce the protector’s invisible Evil Qi.

For this reason, real efforts are often on other weapons; even learning a shield is more useful than learning archery—as with other weapons, there is future promise, whereas archery merely remains a soldier’s skill.

Nevertheless, Li Shanfu continues using the bow.

Is it passion? Or perseverance? Li Shanfu isn’t sure, only feeling his bow needn’t be inferior to others.

In combat, though, archery’s limitations show; while others wield fierce blades, accepting Evil Qi into their bodies, charging to defeat hundreds, he from a distance with his bow has only the few feathered arrows. Once those are spent, his mission ends unless he joins the knife fight, otherwise with just an empty bow, he’s killing no one.

But he persists using the bow, not believing it lesser than other weapons; if anything is amiss, it’s his problem, not the bow’s.

He thinks there must be something unaccounted for, and upon realizing this, he conserves the use of arrows. The precious feathered arrows are saved for targeting enemy generals—though initially difficult, as he may not distinguish enemy leaders or successfully shoot those far surpassing ordinary skill.

But it doesn’t matter; he can train.

Common feathered arrows are reinforced into spear-like solidity, archery stance refined repeatedly for mechanical accuracy, and through continuous day-night practice, he manages to infuse Evil Qi into the arrows, even killing tigers in the forest with one shot.

He can pin down external Evil Qi with one arrow.

This is Li Shanfu’s second confrontation with masters of external Evil Qi, the previous so-called expert was pinned fifty paces away with one arrow.

Thus, he feels no need for extensive procedures this time.

No need for siege, no massacre necessary, ending it all requires just one arrow.

This is the confidence archery gives him.

"That must be the right person."

Speaking thus, Li Shanfu drew his bow and set the arrow.

The distant target, though clad in old robes appearing harmless, was seen through Li Shanfu’s sharp eyes for his unmatched ferocity!

Clearly, this person has killed, killed many, many.

Even just in number, enough to create several external Evil Qi.

Unfortunately, this time they encountered him.

"Then go down... huh?"

Aiming to draw the large bow, Li Shanfu suddenly furrowed his brow.

He clearly saw that although he and the one in old robes locked eyes, the opponent still showed no intention of drawing a weapon or even touching the saddlebag on the warhorse’s side.

Facing lethal arrows, that person remains barehanded.

"I came to reason."

Li Shanfu heard the distant voice saying.

Reason? Rebels discussing reason?

Li Shanfu shook his head.

The arrow on the string was already released, resembling a meteor over the moon.