Chapter 286: Chasing the Enemy for Six Hundred Miles
In Cangwu State, in Baoyi City.
After being hungry for so many days, this group of refugees stumbled as they walked.
"Hurry! Hurry!" Li Sancai hoarsely shouted, gesturing towards the back.
It had been a long time since he had last drunk water, but now the thought of the girl in the dilapidated temple made his mouth water and his stomach growl.
Li Sancai patted the bloody bag on his waist and tried his best to hold back.
Once upon a time, a group of people entered a temple and quickly noticed a young girl hiding beneath the altar.
The girl was completely naked, with long black hair flowing down to the floor, partially hiding her beautiful figure. Only her pointed nose and plump red lips were visible.
Her fair skin, when touched by sunlight, didn't darken but rather turned slightly red.
She looked like... a sacrificial lamb placed on the altar.
Li Sancai couldn't help but freeze in his tracks.
Since the demon realm and the realm of cultivation started fighting, the cultivators in Baoyi City had seen many things, but they had never seen someone as beautiful as her.
The group was taken aback and swallowed hard, trying their best to gather their thoughts.
What good is it to look beautiful when everyone is on the verge of starving? In their eyes, she was just a piece of meat, no different from any other.
In that moment of locking eyes, they could clearly see the young girl's widened eyes, her stunned expression, and the fear within them.
In an instant, Li Sancai bravely called his other brothers to join him.
Even a fool could see the greed in the eyes of these skinny men.
"No! Don't come any closer!" Mu Xiaoxiao panicked and desperately crouched under the incense altar.
Without blinking, Li Sancai grabbed her ankle and quickly dove under the altar to catch the young girl.
Mu Xiaoxiao flailed her arms in the air.
The man's hand tightly grasped her broken leg, causing Mu Xiaoxiao intense pain, as if she was being showered in sweat and waterfalls.
"Please..."
Crying and struggling did not help her. The men worked together and forcefully dragged her out.
In all her years of living, Mu Xiaoxiao had never been in such a desperate state. Tears streamed down her face as she knelt on the ground, trembling in fear.
"Please... I beg of you... please..."
The sound of her cries made Li Sancai and the others start to feel a little guilty.
They were just ordinary people with daughters and wives. If it weren't for this famine, no one would want to eat people.
I heard that women and concubines were selling their own children, but now they can't bear to eat their own children. They are eating other people's children instead.
Before the famine, Li Sancai was just an ordinary farmer. He knew he couldn't sell his wife and children. He had to walk around and find some food to bring home and feed his wife.
A hint of mercy flashed in Li Sancai's eyes, followed by a trace of ruthlessness.
"Don't blame us. Blame this messed up world."
With these words, he slapped the fair neck of the young girl, knocking her unconscious.
...
Mu Xiaoxiao woke up in pain.
Is she... dead?
She opened her eyes in confusion, noticing the sticky and gentle water beneath her.
Mu Xiaoxiao slightly lowered her head and looked in the direction of the pain.
A sharp knife stabbed into her thigh, and Li Sancai was cutting flesh downwards from the top of the thigh.
He didn't expect Mu Xiaoxiao to wake up so quickly and immediately froze.
His gaze fell on his own thigh, causing Mu Xiaoxiao's throat to tighten and her breathing to become rapid.
That didn't even count as a piece of thigh - it was bloody, with bones and flesh torn apart, and most of the meat shaved off, revealing the white and eerie X-shaped bone.
If she didn't resist any longer, she would die.
A big word crashed onto Mu Xiaoxiao's forehead, making her dizzy.
She didn't want to die, she wanted to live. Not only did she want to survive, but she also wanted to live well - living a life of luxury like she used to, just like the beautiful Mu Fairy.
Instead of the current situation, being dismembered alive by these ordinary people, boiled in a pot, and finally having her scattered bones silently dumped in the wilderness. Even in death, she wanted to die beautifully and dignified.
Not to be pulled out by someone else.
Mu Xiaoxiao lay on the ground, tears streaming down her face blankly.
Just as Li Sancai was about to knock her out again, Mu Xiaoxiao's right hand suddenly moved and firmly grasped the man's wrist!
With a quick move, Li Sancai grabbed the sharp sword from the man's hand. Taking advantage of his momentary confusion, he successfully took the knife away!
The man quickly snapped out of his daze and cursed under his breath. He immediately lunged forward to try and snatch it back!
"Cheers or punishment! Little girl—"
Before he could finish his sentence, the final word got stuck in his throat, unable to come out. The reason was the knife that had been thrust into his throat.
The sharp blade deeply pierced his throat, causing Li Sancai to widen his eyes and make choking sounds.
In the last second before losing consciousness, his thoughts were focused on... how much trouble he had caused. He had finally received his just punishment from the heavens. It was a pity that his wife and child wouldn't survive much longer.
Better to be a peaceful dog than a troublemaker in chaotic times...
The sharp knife pierced the man's carotid artery, and at that moment, blood gushed out like a waterfall. Li Sancai fell lifelessly to the ground, his eyes still open.
The remaining men were all startled by this sudden turn of events.
Mu Xiaoxiao's chest was rising and falling sharply. Her long hair covered her chest, flowing all the way down to her thighs, soaked in blood. There was a hint of coldness in her eyes.
In that instant, she suddenly understood. She... she was never a kind and soft girl to begin with.
She was skilled at observing others and taking advantage of their favor. Just like a morning glory flower, she would flatter men all the way up, pretending to be pitiful and acting foolish. Wasn't that her expertise?
She knew how to seduce men with sympathy and only sought to flatter those who were handsome and powerful.
When Zhou Yan came to her house, he originally intended to take her little brother along as well.
Mu Xiaoxiao tightly held onto the knife, lost in thought.
She had been bullied by her little brother since she was young. She was even more afraid that once they reached the mountain and her brother learned magic, he would surely bully her even more fiercely than before.
Since the first glance, she had fallen in love with the cold and ethereal fairy elder. Since her parents didn't like her, she couldn't let her brother snatch away this fairy elder as well.
And so, on that cold winter night, she pushed her little brother into the icy river with her own hands.
The weather was really cold.
Her brother struggled desperately in the river, just like their father, swearing loudly.
"You monster!! The parents will kill you!!"
But eventually, her brother's painful curses turned into desperate cries.
"Sister!! Sister!!"
He cried, with tears and snot streaming down his face, finally calling her "sister."
Meanwhile, the young girl in her ragged clothes stood on the riverbank, watching as her brother slowly disappeared in the water, turning pale from the cold and losing his breath.
Only then did she crouch down and pour some water over herself.
With each splash, her heart grew colder.
In the end, she hurried back home, wet and anxious, and threw herself into the arms of the immortal being, crying.
Her brother accidentally fell into the river while hitting her.
Of course, Zhou Yan didn't doubt her. When their parents wanted to kill her, he protected her and brought her back to Kunshan.
Gently wiping the dirt off her face, she showed a hint of sympathy in her eyes.
This was the best decision she had ever made in her life.
Later, filled with jealousy, she schemed against Qiao Wan and tried to take away everything from her. She did it with ease.
Thinking of this, Mu Xiaoxiao couldn't help but let out a sweet smile, revealing the dimples on her cheeks.
It was at this moment that she suddenly remembered.
She was a cultivator. Even if her dantian was shattered and she lost her spiritual energy, after years of training and refining her body, she was tougher than an ordinary person and her combat skills were more proficient.
Even in such a situation, she could still laugh?!!!
These men had cut up dead bodies before, but today was their first time killing. Now, they looked as if they had seen a ghost, their eyes wide with fear.
While cursing angrily, they couldn't help but glance at the lifeless body of Li Sancai from the corner of their eyes. Then, stumbling backwards, they hurriedly left the temple.
After the men left, Mu Xiaoxiao returned to Li Sancai's side and knelt down gently.
From evening to night, and then to daylight.
Some people had come to the temple, but they were frightened and quickly left when they saw Mu Xiaoxiao covered in blood, with disheveled hair and naked, beside Li Sancai who had already passed away.
Until a faint, timid voice suddenly sounded.
A skinny, pale girl cautiously peeked her head out from outside the temple.
She was clearly terrified, trembling uncontrollably, but mustered the courage to look up and asked hesitantly, "Sister...can I have some meat?"
The hungry and greedy gaze fell upon Li Sancai.
*
"Oil?"
After listening to Qiao Wan's words, Deng Saner asked in confusion, "What is that?"
Qiao Wan shook her head and whispered, "Nevermind."
According to her limited knowledge, in ancient times, ancient Egypt, ancient China, ancient Babylon, and ancient India had already learned to use oil.
And the people of this world still didn't know what oil was.
Qiao Wan was surprised but then quickly composed herself and silently pondered.
But this magical flame was only somewhat similar to the characteristics of oil, and it was indeed a product of her wild imagination.
The one who came to greet them was Peng Zhishan, who was in charge of guarding Xianyang City.
After being led into the city by this group of beast cultivators, the city gates quickly closed. Peng Zhishan, however, was not very interested in them, only exchanging a few words and offering some comfort. When he heard that they would go to Masui City, he ordered others to prepare a place for them to rest and put some food and water in their bags.
In this world, that's all he could do.
Li Hongyuan's face changed several times, but he didn't recognize Qiu Ergou and his companions as deserters. Qiu Ergou felt guilty and intentionally avoided him.
"But Masui City has been very chaotic lately," Peng Zhishan asked, "Are you really going there?"
As they spoke, the guards from various sects couldn't help but glance at Qiao Wan.
Without a word, Qiu Ergou quietly stepped forward and stood in front of Qiao Wan, protecting her.
Qiao Wan understood the danger of being a lone woman on the battlefield, so she wisely stayed silent.
To their surprise, they were stopped by a group of cultivators halfway.
Both Qiao Wan and Qiu Ergou were startled.
However, the two or three young cultivators in front of them smiled warmly, showing friendly expressions.
"Taoist Friend Lu, let us guide you," the young cultivators said.
With their rosy cheeks and sincere smiles, they didn't seem to have any ulterior motives.
They led them all the way to their lodging place, without giving any warnings about what to be cautious of in Masui City.
They arrived at the inn and didn't go in. They greeted them and quickly left.
Qiao Wan, who was worried that they might have ulterior motives, blushed with embarrassment.
Qiu Ergou laughed and said, "Are you ashamed?"
"Don't be ashamed. I think they just haven't seen a woman in a long time and want to spend more time with you."
Qiao Wan frowned, "Are women really that attractive to you?"
Qiu Ergou looked at her in disbelief and said, "Damn! Do you know how hard it is for me to hold back every day, staring at you? Ah!"
"Don't be fooled by Deng Saner's serious appearance!" Qiu Ergou pointed a finger, "Let me tell you, he must dream about you every day!"
Deng Saner, who was dressed like a gentleman, raised an eyebrow and blushed silently, with a slightly hesitant look in his eyes.
Qiao Wan said expressionlessly, "If you dare to think improperly, I'll send you to meet the Buddha."
Deng Saner quickly said, "I would never dare."
Just as Qiao Wan was about to enter the door, she saw several cultivators carrying a big bow towards the city wall.
Qiao Wan paused in surprise and said, "What is this?"
Hearing Qiao Wan's voice, the cultivator carrying the bow couldn't help but laugh and said, "This is the Red Sun Bow, weighing over a thousand pounds."
Then, he glanced at Qiao Wan.
"This taoist friend must be one of those from yesterday."
Over a thousand pounds! Qiao Wan was shaken by this revelation! Isn't that half a ton?!
Perhaps because they had been waiting here for a long time without seeing many girls, these cultivators were very friendly.
"These bows are meant for body cultivators," they explained with a smile. "The one we're carrying is the heaviest and the most powerful one here. It can take a person's life from dozens of miles away."
"By the way, taoist friend, what brings a young girl like you to Masui City?" one of the male cultivators exclaimed. "The battlefield is a dangerous place."
They continued talking back and forth.
"In my opinion, girls are delicate and should be protected instead of being sent to the battlefield."
Another companion was vigilant, saying, "Oh, take the opportunity to flirt! XX, don't you have any shame? Is it gross or disgusting?"
The person who spoke blushed and gave the other a shove, saying, "Stop talking nonsense."
Seemingly trying to show off his manly spirit, even Qiu Ergou got excited chatting with the cultivators in front of him. The conversation mainly revolved around how girls were not suitable for the battlefield.
Finally, he asked, "Let me give it a try?"
The cultivator with the bow grinned and said, "Taoist friend, you won't be able to pull it."
Qiu Ergou snorted and rolled up his sleeves, saying, "Nonsense, who said I can't pull it."
But as soon as he reached out his hand, his face instantly turned red.
Deng Saner chuckled without any politeness.
Qiu Ergou's face turned crimson, he pulled back his hand and jumped up, saying, "What's so funny!"
Damn it, is this something a person can handle?! He can't even lift it, let alone pull it?!
Qiao Wan calmly watched this scene unfold, knowing that everyone's comments about women not belonging on the battlefield were not meant to be hurtful.
But there was also a subtle desire to show off in her heart.
After Qiu Ergou, Deng Saner and a few others also tried, but without exception, they all failed.
Qiao Wan said, "Let me try."
The monk who raised the bow was stunned, and Qiu Ergou and Deng Saner were also dumbfounded.
Qiu Ergou said, "Are you kidding, Lu Wan? This bow is no joke. If it hits your foot...you...Lu Wan?!!"
The rest of his sentence got stuck in his throat when he saw Qiao Wan pick up the bow.
Qiu Ergou's eyes widened, terrified at the sight!
This girl in a pink dress, so delicate and beautiful, effortlessly lifted the bow that none of the big strong men could lift.
Qiu Ergou silently supported Deng Saner, feeling a little dizzy and weak in the knees. "Gosh...gosh, am I seeing things?"
Deng Saner said, "...you're not mistaken..."
The group of monks who were raising the bow: ...
Suddenly, they felt a sharp pain in their faces. What happened?!!
Qiao Wan tilted her lips and smiled sinisterly, "Did I forget to tell you all that I seem to be a body cultivator?"
...
Ever since Qiao Wan showed off her skills in front of these cultivators, the guards of Xianyang City respected her and no longer looked down on her.
Qiao Wan was also very humble and learned many practical combat techniques from these cultivators. These techniques were all gained through battles and were the most useful.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and soon, Qiao Wan and the others had to set off again.
Peng Zhishan specially arranged a team of beast cultivators to escort them out of the city.
Before leaving, Qiao Wan turned her head to take one last look at the towering city walls of Xianyang City. Peng Zhishan stood on the city tower, nodding slightly towards them in silence, as if he wanted to blend with the distant snow-capped mountains.
To everyone's surprise, Li Hongyuan also decided to join them on their journey to Masui City.
Qiu Ergou, of course, had no objections, and didn't dare to have any.
They continued on their journey until it was almost evening, but they were stopped halfway by someone.
Qiao Wan recognized the person, it was the group of evil practitioners she had encountered a few days ago, but there was an additional person.
The person was sitting in the snow as if they had been waiting for them for a long time.
He was a middle-aged man with a thin, pale face, holding a sword in his hand.
The man looked up and without making any movements, a powerful sword energy swept towards Qiao Wan and the others like flowing water.
Deng Saner's face turned pale and he instinctively jumped in front of Qiao Wan, shouting, "Taoist Friend Lu! Be careful!"
But in the next second, the sword energy pierced through his waist and abdomen.
The sudden turn of events happened too quickly. As a handful of warm blood splattered on the snowy ground, Qiao Wan hadn't even had time to react!
When she finally realized what had happened, Deng Saner, the gentle and refined Confucian practitioner, had already reached his final moment, ruthlessly cut in half by this malicious, crimson sword energy.
Qiao Wan heard Li Hongyuan angrily shout beside her, "We're under attack!"
"Prepare to defend ourselves!"
Li Piaoxu always felt that his subordinates and superiors were useless. Even the defeated cultivators couldn't handle it, yet he was left to clean up their mess.
He slowly stood up, and the crimson sword energy once again surged towards Qiu Ergou and the others. Like a dart, the sword energy knocked down more than half of them in just a few spins!
Amidst the chaos, someone seemed to have pushed Qiao Wan.
In the blink of an eye, Qiu Ergou shouted angrily, "Quick! Go back! Find Peng, our taoist friend, and ask for help!"
Qiao Wan gritted her teeth and regained her consciousness. She immediately turned and ran towards Xianyang City, where the sun was setting.
When Qiao Wan, covered in blood, rushed back to Xianyang City, she seemed to have startled Peng Zhishan.
Qiao Wan's breathing was irregular as she spoke in a cold and stern voice, "There are demonic soldiers!"
"There's an additional person! A middle-aged man, using a sword with red sword energy!"
Peng Zhishan had been guarding Xianyang City for a long time. When he heard the name, Li Piaoxu, his mind immediately connected it to a crimson sword aura.
Li Piaoxu! The traitor of the cultivation alliance! The chief sword cultivator of Zhanyun Peak! No wonder they couldn't handle him.
Realizing something was wrong, Peng Zhishan's expression turned serious. Without hesitation, he ordered a group of cultivators to accompany Qiao Wan and lent her a few snow wolves.
Before leaving, Qiao Wan seemed to remember something and turned back to ask, "Taoist friend Peng, may I know where the Red Sun Bow is?"
Peng Zhishan was taken aback.
Qiao Wan, covered in dirt and with determined eyes, knelt down and said, "Please, taoist friend, lend me the Red Sun Bow for a moment!"
Riding on the back of a snow wolf, Qiao Wan urged the beast to run as fast as possible.
Feeling the biting cold wind cutting through her face and the stinging sensation of snowflakes hitting her, she couldn't help but think about her conversation with Deng Saner earlier.
She had asked Deng Saner, "You are not afraid of death. You were not afraid of fighting earlier. Why are you running away?"
Deng Saner smiled bitterly, "I'm not afraid of death, but what we fear is dying without meaning. Sometimes Qiu Ergou and I wonder if this battle really has any meaning. So many comrades, and they died like this, buried under the snow."
"Do we really have to fight to the death between the cultivation realm and the demon realm? Is it worth it for this so-called elusive position?"
"In the end, I feel like this so-called homeland has nothing to do with me. I just want to live and see my parents."
This was the first time the cruelty and malice of war smeared across the face of this girl from another world.
Qiao Wan pressed her lips together, trying not to think about Deng Saner lying in the snow, blood flowing from his waist.
The wind blew her hair back.
"Reinforcements!" After running for who knows how long, when she heard the sound of weapons clashing not far away, Qiao Wan immediately jumped down from her spiritual beast!
"The reinforcements have arrived!!"
She only had one thought.
To kill this sword cultivator and avenge Deng Saner.
In that moment, she suddenly wasn't afraid anymore. Killing was simply a matter of using a knife to attack and causing blood to come out. She remembered what the cultivator from Xianyang City had taught her about combat techniques.
"On the battlefield, you can't think too much. Just focus on killing and staying alive."
"I know. People need to think in order to be themselves, but thinking too much can drive you crazy."
With that, Qiao Wan stopped thinking and just focused on killing. She took aim with her bow and shot an arrow right into the forehead of the nearest demon soldier!
The immense force of the arrow pinned the demon soldier to the snowy ground, and Qiao Wan was splattered with its blood and brain matter.
But Qiao Wan remained unfazed and continued to shoot, targeting the next enemy. The blue lightning on her Red Sun Bow crackled, and the arrows made of magical power rained down like thunderbolts.
Everyone was stunned for a moment.
Even Li Piaoxu was stunned.
With each strike, there was a great power that seemed like the roar of the heavens. The girl stood alone and it was as if she had created a thunderstorm without needing any formation.
The lightning was dazzling, and every arrow hit its mark perfectly!
In front of this magnificent lightning, his proud and crimson sword energy was weak and easily crushed by the lightning.
Li Piaoxu was shocked and angry, knowing that he had provoked a formidable opponent. He quickly summoned a flying sword from his sleeve and fled in a panic.
Qiao Wan immediately followed closely behind, riding her horse.
Qiu Ergou, after being stunned by the lightning, saw the situation and was filled with fury.
"Lu Wan! Come back!"
"Don't chase!"
But Qiao Wan seemed not to hear anything. She ignored the warnings and urged her snow-white steed to gallop, quickly disappearing into the vast snowfield.
Qiu Ergou helplessly shouted in anger but was suddenly attracted by the voice of Li Hongyuan.
"Alive! Still alive!"
The cold wind whistled past their ears.
Li Piaoxu, holding a gleaming sword, charged forward.
Qiao Wan roared as she shot arrow after arrow.
The freezing North wind in this snowy region made her fingers stiff. The arrow missed its mark, hitting Li Piaoxu's left eye instead. He let out a howl of pain, blood flowing.
Li Piaoxu's heart raced, but he knew that stopping now would only lead to certain death. He spat out blood and continued forward.
The snow began to fall again. Qiao Wan realized that her body was becoming numb from the cold, and her aim with the arrows became less accurate.
With one hand free, she reached into her bag and pulled out a wineskin, taking a big gulp before bending her bow and preparing another arrow.
And so they continued, one fleeing, the other chasing.
Whenever they felt cold, they would take a sip of wine from the wineskin, enduring until dawn.
A blazing sun rose slowly from the towering snowy mountains, casting a radiant red light over the land.
Lost in their panic, Li Piaoxu found himself running all the way to the outskirts of Masui City.
The silhouette of the city walls could be seen faintly in the red light.
At that time, as the commander of Masui City's defense, Qi Feidao had just ascended the city wall when he witnessed a scene he would never forget in his lifetime.
He chased the enemy for six hundred miles.
Qiao Wan rode on a snow wolf, lowered her eyes, and calmly shot out her final arrow.
This arrow, traveling for several miles, pierced through the wind and snow, and struck Li Piaoxu directly in the chest. The force of the arrow pinned him to the gate of Masui City!
