Chapter 63 - Close Combat

Chapter 63: Chapter 57: Close CombatGroups of fleeing citizens kept running past them. Seeing the last of them about to pass, Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand, and twenty people hid as arranged on both sides of the forest, with four horse-tripping ropes set up ready, lying on the ground, having been trampled by many.

Unfortunately, too many people were fleeing; otherwise, they could dig some pits or nail spikes on the road, not just for horses but could injure a few of the pursuing troops as well.

Zhao Hanzhang slung the quiver over her back, hiding behind a tree, her sharp eyes fixed on the approaching pursuers.

When they once again increased their horse speed, wanting to catch up and plunder, Zhao Hanzhang drew an arrow and placed it on the string, slowly pulling the bow...

She watched the dozen or so riders coming closer, calculating their speed in her mind, and released the arrow at full draw. It flew straight into the neck of the leading horse, causing it to whinny in pain and fall to the ground...

The two riders behind were unprepared, bringing them down together, but those further back quickly regained control, urging their horses to leap forward.

As Zhao Hanzhang’s arrow struck the horse’s neck, archers on both sides simultaneously released their arrows...

The pursuers quickly reacted, some dodging, others chopping down the incoming arrows with their blades. Seeing the vague figures emerging from the forest, they became furious, "Ambush! Damn them, cut them down."

With that, he kicked his horse’s belly and sped towards them. Zhao Hanzhang drew and fired three arrows in succession; only one hit a horse.

The others shot their three arrows as well but with miserable accuracy; in no time, the cavalry sped up, swung their broadswords fiercely at them...

Zhao Hanzhang spun around to hide behind a tree, its trunk catching the blade and momentarily trapping it...

A distant hiding guard wasn’t as lucky, with the pursuing cavalry slicing his head off, blood spraying out, the head rolling to Zhao Hanzhang’s feet.

Without time to glance down, Zhao Hanzhang threw her bow aside, bent over to slide under a horse’s neck, stabbed its neck with a dagger, and rolled aside.

The rider fell, but upon falling, he rolled and quickly got up, wielding a dagger, leaped toward Zhao Hanzhang.

Hearing the wind, Zhao Hanzhang didn’t look back; during the flip, she kicked out hard, hitting his waist. He grimaced in pain but didn’t dodge, grasping her calf to fling her into the air.

As Zhao Hanzhang’s body flexibly arched mid-air, the dagger aimed at his head and face...

He immediately released her leg, blocking with one hand while aiming his dagger at her chest with the other.

As soon as her leg was freed, Zhao Hanzhang wrapped it around his neck, leveraged a twist to dodge the dagger, and simultaneously forced him down hard.

With his neck caught, the man fell, reaching for Zhao Hanzhang’s leg, intending to stab with the dagger, but Zhao Hanzhang twisted his neck forcefully, his eyes widened instantly, and he slumped weakly...

Gasping for breath, Zhao Hanzhang didn’t dare to pause, quickly got up from the ground.

Though many moves were exchanged, in reality it was just seconds before Zhao Hanzhang stood and glanced towards the road. The horse-tripping ropes had successfully downed five horses, yet six others evaded the arrows and ropes.

They charged into the forest.

Foot soldiers against cavalry had little chance to retaliate; even in the forest, using terrain for cover didn’t allow escape for long.

Spitting slightly, Zhao Hanzhang picked up her bow again, found a hidden place, knocked an arrow on the string, aiming it at a rider maneuvering through the forest. As he turned after killing someone, she released the arrow, knocking him off his horse.

A guard hiding nearby sprang into action, taking three strides as one leaping onto the horse, kicking its belly to escape.

Zhao Hanzhang had changed position and knocked another arrow...

Instantly spotting her, they noticed a woman, incensed, "Damn wench, Liu Guang, kill her!"

In tune with their words, Zhao Hanzhang swiftly turned the arrowhead, and as the words faded released it. He tilted his head, and the arrow brushed his cheek, embedding in the tree behind.

Zhao Hanzhang collected her bow, turned to dash deeper into the woods, yelling at the dispersed guards, "Run—"

Though understanding her intention was to divert them so others could escape, the cavalry opted to pursue her since she killed four of them!

Moreover, she was clearly the leader among them; eliminating her was their goal.

The remaining cavalry turned their horses to chase her; the other guards took advantage to flee into the woods.

Zhao Family’s guards didn’t run. Seeing this, they were alarmed, "Third Lady—"

Gripping their swords, they raced after her.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t look back, diving into the woods, spotting her horse, grabbing the reins intending to jump on, yet suddenly her body twisted mid-air, falling to the ground as an arrow pierced through her shoulder, pinning her clothes to the ground.

Removing the arrow from her clothes, she felt a sharp pain, knowing she was grazed, yet refrained from looking closely. Seeing the frightened horse run off, she got up and dashed further into the forest...

The horses were restricted in the forest despite them closely following her, unable to strike for now; thus, they resorted to arrows.

Zhao Hanzhang zigzagged, trying to stay behind trees, nearly struck several times.

She felt inadequate, but the pursuing cavalry were astonished at her ability to evade so many arrows. Were it not for her being female, she could have been captured alive as a war slave.

Zhao Family’s guards pursued with swords, seeing Zhao Hanzhang in peril, one spontaneously used a tree to vault overhead, descending upon the cavalry...

The struck cavalry anticipated, wielding a broadsword upward...

Amid the chaos, Zhao Hanzhang turned to see the situation, quickly drew an arrow and shot, hitting the man’s arm which caused him to drop the blade, allowing the airborne guard to react, tackling him off the horse, slicing his neck...

Yet nearby cavalry swiftly reacted, sword raised and dropped, severing a head which fell beneath the horse’s legs; the man bent to pick the head, hurling it fiercely at Zhao Hanzhang, laughing, "Little lady, here’s a head for you."

Zhao Hanzhang’s face turned pale, she caught it, gazed at the wide-eyed face in her arms, gently closed his eyes, and looked up at the cavalry encircling her.

The other Zhao Family guards arrived, hesitating yet unwilling to retreat, slowly advancing with swords, surrounding the remaining five cavalry.