Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
"Crimson gates and white bones, the salt cart overturned."
"Night fires burn the granary, gods and ghosts weep."
Those were clearly the nursery rhymes sung by the storyteller in the teahouse, and he had memorized them after just one hearing.
A heavy weight settled in my heart, and I hadn’t even had time to stop him.
A sharp whistle pierced the night sky.
Immediately after, the sound of marching footsteps echoed from the mouth of the alley.
"Thud, thud, thud..." It was like a death knell.
A battalion of patrolling soldiers surged into the alley, surrounding our small courtyard.
Had they come following the song? Or had they been waiting all along?
There was no time left.
Xiao Yuan reacted swiftly, scooping up Xiao Yan and shouting at me, "Run!"
He pulled me toward the back door, which led to a secluded path that would take us to the ferry outside of town.
At the ferry dock stood our prepared carriage.
The path was shrouded in darkness, with only a flickering light illuminating one corner.
In my ears rang the relentless shouts and the sound of galloping hooves.
Once we reached the carriage, Xiao Yuan urged the horse forward, and it shot out like an arrow released from its bow.
The wind rushed in, cutting against my face like a cold knife.
Xiao Yan clutched my clothing tightly, his small body trembling uncontrollably.
The light from the ferry terminal grew closer, hope shining just ahead.
"Whoosh—"
With a sudden halt, the carriage came to a jarring stop.
We hadn’t arrived; our path was blocked.
Under the moonlight, a dozen dark figures stood on the narrow bridge leading to the ferry.
The Death Warriors of Liu Manor!
They brandished their weapons, bloodthirsty glints flashing in their eyes.
Xiao Yuan placed Xiao Yan in my arms and whispered, "Hold him tight, don’t come out."
He grabbed a broken spear from the carriage, the remnant of our last encounter.
Though it was only half, it appeared exceptionally fierce in his hands.
The warriors charged forward, and the clash of blades erupted instantly.
Xiao Yuan faced multiple opponents without losing ground; each swing carried the force of thunder.
Behind us, the pursuers drew ever closer.
A burning salt cart was pushed forward, seemingly to block our escape route.
Flames licked at the cart, releasing a pungent smell of charred wood.
Xiao Yuan spun around, and with a precise thrust of his spear, he sent the salt cart flying.
The cart, ablaze, whistled as it plunged into the river with a loud splash, sending up a massive spray of water and a cloud of mist.
The river seemed to boil, bubbling and gurgling ominously.
I held onto Xiao Yan tightly, my eyes fixed on Xiao Yuan's figure without blinking.
We cannot lose; he cannot lose!
Just as Xiao Yuan took down the last of the assassins, a chaotic sound of hooves echoed from behind.
More pursuers had arrived.
They did not stop, charging directly towards us on horseback.
Arrows rained down like a storm, whistling through the air.
Instinctively, I shielded Xiao Yan in my arms, bracing for the cold embrace of death.
"Stop!"
A pale and frail figure suddenly dashed out.
He spread his arms wide, positioning himself between the pursuers and the cart.
Liu Chu stood there, clad in a white robe that appeared especially fragile under the flickering flames and the moonlight.
"Stay back! Don't hurt her!" he shouted, his voice tinged with a sickly stubbornness.
The pursuers hesitated for a moment, but the arrows did not cease.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
The sharp arrows ruthlessly flew toward him.
In an instant, his white robe blossomed with shocking crimson stains.
Blood soaked through his clothing, resembling poppies blooming in the snow.
His body swayed slightly, and a mouthful of blood surged forth.
Yet he still spread his arms wide, using his frail form to shield against the overwhelming malice.
"Liu Chu..." I trembled as I spoke, my voice breaking.
His gaze pierced through the rain of arrows, landing on my face with a hint of relief and a trace of unwillingness.
Comment 0 Comment Count