Volume One: The King's Command Chapter Twenty-Two: Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place

How could they possibly let him go? Shen Zhong saw that even one of the iron fans had been knocked away; how could he willingly let the man escape? He brandished his iron staff and rushed in headlong. This time, calamity struck: at least two or three dozen enemies surrounded him from both sides, raising their blades to trap him.

“Brother Liu! Brother Hu! Help me!” Shen Zhong’s iron staff held off more than ten long blades, and fear nearly robbed him of his senses. Until now, their side had always held the advantage across the battlefield; he wondered what madness possessed him to dare pursue so recklessly.

Thinking it over, Shen Zhong realized it was his first time engaging in real combat. The thrill had clearly gotten the better of him. Pursuing the enemy so blindly had plunged him into a perilous situation.

Chu Chunqiu had not expected to encounter such formidable opponents here. Retreating back to his own lines left him shaken; his skills, sufficient for everyday self-defense, were no match for true heroes—he would surely lose. His martial arts, a notch above the average, earned him respect at the Prince’s residence and occasional praise, but losing an iron fan was the wake-up call he needed.

“I’m truly puzzled—where did these young brats come from, and why are their strikes so ruthless?”

Watching Shen Zhong recklessly charge into the fray, Chu Chunqiu could not help but smile inwardly. He had some skill, but his mind seemed less than capable, charging in alone. “Don’t kill him—capture him first!”

The weight of a dozen blades forced Shen Zhong to his knees; he could not escape, teetering on the brink of despair.

Liu Xiaoyi glanced back toward the corner of the street, meeting Xu Yin’s gaze. Seeing Yu Wenwan already protected by the city guards, he understood the meaning. A long sword swept in a full arc, carving a path through the enemy. None had ever seen such swordplay: radiant energy flowed, forming a circular barrier a yard wide. Any blade that struck it shattered instantly.

Within three paces, not a single enemy remained. The Blue Plume soldiers, gripping their broken blades, looked around in shock at the sword’s power.

After executing the move, his inner energy was nearly depleted. Fortunately, Xu Yin seized the moment, spear in hand, and pressed the attack. The Blue Plume soldiers hesitated, a beat too slow; casualties mounted, and the city guards regained control of the battle.

The Blue Plume formation collapsed, ending Shen Zhong’s crisis. He staggered to his feet