65 Spring (2/2)

Suddenly Hartley whose eyes were shut, opened with a blue flash, his vibrant blue eyes glowed in concentration. ”Hold on to something” he barked loudly. Hartley immediately activated a gravity field 20 meters around the carriage and its escorts then applied zero gravity.

The carriage instantly floated upwards unsteadily with wheels dripping wet mud back down onto the surface of the slushy road. Qin Li lost balance and tumbled around in the spacious interior in surprise, Ryu Hang lost his balance on the driver's seat and almost fell off but at the last second managed to cling on to the side of the carriage for dear life. The wild beasts hauling the carriage howled out in panic echoing out into the empty air as Hartley held on to the screaming Zhi Ruo.

After the carriage floated up for a few seconds a volley of black bolts looking like a swam of flies came whistling through the air and under the carriage, most passing by harmlessly but several crashed against the underside of the carriage and clanged against metal wheels creating bright white sparks before reaping a shower of splinters jerking the carriage around in mid air.

The carriage slammed back down into the mud with a thump a few seconds after, shattering the pristine windows sending broken bits of glass flying everywhere, some showered the occupants inside the carriage and some pieces landed outside of the shaking carriage.

The violent collision with the ground shook Ryu Hang free and spat him about 5 meters away from the carriage where he rolled and groaned in the mud. Qin Li regained his balance in the still rattling carriage, the panicked wild beast attached to it were all trying to flee in different directions contributing to the turbulent non stop rattling , Qin Li shook his head to regain his orientation and saw Zhi Ruo still in the carriage with a look of absolute shock on her face, Hartley was already gone.

Hartley flashed outside the carriage mapping out the situation, the three guards at the front were the first to regain control of their neighing panicked horses as they landed. Hartley pointed to a spot about thirty meters up the street where there was a small muddy mound with thick shrubbery, that was where the attackers had laid in wait.

”Suppress them!” he shouted and then ran over to inspect Ryu Hang. Drawn swords caught glints of sunshine as the armored men made their way over to where a dozen men were reloading their crossbows. Hartley wasn't concerned for the safety of the soliders, they were fully armored and well trained as long as they made it over there before the men reloaded they would be safe enough.

Of the three armored soldiers travelling at the back, two were thrown from their horses and were now dismounted, they ran to grab the reins of the panic stricken horses and attempted to calm them down. The one still mounted drew his sword and rushed ahead to reinforce the others galloping off.

Suddenly Hartley got an eerie feeling prickling the hairs on the back of his neck, he grabbed Ryu Hang and threw him back onto the hard carriage driver's seat like a rag doll, the blonde hair youth screamed in pain as he landed. Hartley had no time for sympathy, he shouted ”get them out of here!”

Ryu Hang gingerly stretched forward to grab the reins, he shook it a couple times and the frightened wild beats started to calm down but at the same time the floor behind the carriage rippled like it was liquid and about six black smoke-like tendrils the width of a common sword burst from the earth flinging out muddy dirt and broken rocks then rose to about eight meters before curling forward bringing with it the loud screams of tortured and tormented souls.

Still trying to reassure their panicked horses, it shot towards the two soldiers twisting and wriggling like living creatures.