Vol 8 Chapter 14.1 (1/2)

VOLUME 8 CHAPTER 14 PART 1: DON’T TELL ME THIS IS A SKIRMISH AT JIANGXIA (4)

Liu Bei POV

Un, looks like it’s working.

“My lord! Our losses are too great! Almost half are no longer able to fight or dead!”

“Ah… I know…” I forced out a yell in reply despite my exhaustion.

The one who replied me was Zhou Cang, who sprang back to my side after delivering yet another slash. She was probably spent seeing how hard she’s panting now. I looked at the surrounding troops and saw that they were drained as well. Even those that weren’t injured had part, if not all, of their heavy plate armour damaged. I doubt we can hold on for more than 10 minutes.

“Zhou Cang! Has Huang Zu linked up with Liu Qi?!”

“Yes! They just did!”

Oh, that’s good then. It’s good that they’ve linked up.

“My lord, what do we do now?”

“Eh?” Zhou Cang’s question stunned me. It just so happens that I was just thinking about it.

“Ah?!” Seeing my troubled look, “My lord, don’t tell me you never thought about that!”

“Please give me a moment…”

“Ah…” Zhou Cang was still angry but she seemed deflated at my reply.

Beads of sweat formed on my head as I looked about and saw that Chen Dao and Chen Gong were not out of the woods and yet and had begun heading towards us, probably expecting further orders.

Th-th-this… What do we do now–

“Crooked leader! Hand me your life this instant!”

Just then, a voice came from my side. Before I could turn around, a long spear came flying for me, and was deflected back in the direction from where the voice came from with a *clang*. I looked up and saw that someone had blocked and deflected the spear and jumped in front of me.

“You dare a.s.sault us without even reporting your name, where is your honour?!” Zhou Cang was able to react in time despite her exhaustion and was now standing in front of me.

“Hmph! Repaying a debt of blood with blood is honourable. You owes a blood debt so is it wrong to demand repayment from you?!”

I only got a good glimpse when that person stood up after she leapt away from me. She had a pair of upturned eyes, and her long hair was coiled up with a long lock on her left. She wore a figure hugging long dress that showed off her slender figure. Her expression was ferocious and her face was filled with anger.

“I always pay my tab be it for food or rent!”

I don’t think that’s what she’s talking about.

“Cut the c.r.a.p!” The slender woman took a long step and stabbed at Zhou Cang as she yelled out.

“Step back, my lord!”

Zhou Cang yelled out as she raised her blade and deflected the spear. The woman pulled back and stabbed immediately again, forcing Zhou Cang to block once more. This went on over and over for about 5-6 times until Zhou Cang who was utterly exhausted began to falter.

“Zhou Cang! I’ll help you!” Just then, a voice came from the troops nearby.

*Neigh*~~~

Before I could turn to look, a horse’s neigh could be heard and a girl leapt up from it.

“Chen Dao?!” When I saw the chest guard, I was able to recognise her immediately and called out to her.

She roared out as she spun in the air and stabbed at the slender woman with her spear.

*Ding*

The spear was blocked with the slender woman’s own spear, making sparks.

“Ha!” Chen Dao flipped and brought the spear up with her momentum, forcing the slender woman back as she tried to regain some distance.

“My lord! I’m late!” I can’t believe she still has the time to apologise.

“No no no. Your timing was impeccable. I ran out of strength just now.” Zhou Cang said. I looked at her, and saw that her hand which held her blade had begun trembling. Looks like she’s really out of strength.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let that crook get her way.” Chen Dao looked at that person once more as she said so, “Are you the overall commander for this army?”

“So what if I am, and so what I am note?”

“Ah… No, I was just asking.” Chen Dao seemed a little taken aback when she got the question returned to her.

Are you going to be alright?

“My name is Chen Dao and I am a minor officer. May I ask who you are and to which faction you belong to?”

“…” The slender woman closed her eyes after Chen Dao finished and concentrated, and then–

“Cut the c.r.a.p!” She roared out before heading straight for me again.

“Kuh! d.a.m.n it!” Chen Dao seems to have gotten surprised by this sudden loud roar by the slender woman and wasn’t able to get into a proper position.

“Un?” Just then, the woman stopped, as though she detected something.

*Sou*!