Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 230: Chapter 136: The Plan, Arrival of the Fire Worshipers

As a Centurion of the Red Cloud Guard, Mo Chen was, of course, highly skilled in mounted archery.

As he released his arrow, a terrifying whistle pierced the night sky. The arrow flew like a falling star, instantly penetrating a Blood Refining Realm member of the Black Sand Gang.

The struck man felt a sharp pain in his throat. As he lowered his head to look, he saw the sharp arrowhead already piercing through his neck, glinting with a cold light in the darkness.

”Boss...s-save...”

Before he could finish his words, his life ebbed away, and he fell off his horse.

Seeing his arrow hit its mark, Mo Chen rested the bow horizontally before him and laughed, ”Haha! Brother Liu, what do you think? Has my archery declined compared to before?”

Liu Yuanhu’s bow was already fully drawn. With eyes like sharp knives, he locked onto a Blood Refining Realm practitioner from the Zhao family.

”Whoosh!”

The sound of another arrow tearing through the air rang out. A flash of white streaked across the sky as the arrow precisely pierced the man’s head. With immense force, his skull burst open like a watermelon, scattering red and white matter everywhere. The arrow, undeterred, continued forward and struck another Jade Skin Realm practitioner in front.

The two men, severely wounded, didn’t make it far before falling off their horses, dead on the spot.

Liu Yuanhu also relaxed his draw and smiled, ”Brother Mo, your archery is truly unmatched, no less remarkable than in years past. But judging from this, it seems we’ll have to wait another few years before opening those bottles of Hundred Flowers Brew.”

Hearing this, Mo Chen’s competitive spirit flared up instantly.

”Too early to say! No matter what, I must have a taste of your Hundred Flowers Brew today!”

Mo Chen gripped his longbow and took aim once more.

Liu Yuanhu noticed and couldn’t help but smile faintly.

Though this wasn’t the ideal time for an all-out battle with the Black Sand Gang, weakening their forces as much as possible was still beneficial.

Both Mo Chen and Liu Yuanhu were Bone Refining Realm experts. Even without specialized archery techniques, the sheer power behind their arrows posed a lethal threat to the Blood Refining Realm practitioners!

His intention, after all, was to get Mo Chen to exert a bit more effort.

The two of them competed fiercely, their arrows whistling through the air without pause.

Each streak of arrow light was like the stroke of a judge’s pen, marking death for its target.

Zhao Honglie turned his head, looking at the Blood Refining Realm members being slaughtered. His heart bled.

In a place like Canghe County, Blood Refining Realm practitioners already constituted high-level combat strength, akin to the backbone of their forces.

If too many were lost here, it would deal a devastating blow to their foundation.

If it weren’t for Mo Chen’s gleaming bald head shining brightly in the night, Zhao Honglie would’ve turned around and challenged Liu Yuanhu to a life-or-death battle then and there.

Fortunately, both the Black Sand Gang and the aristocratic families had expected a swift engagement today and had come equipped with fast horses, enabling a quick retreat.

Within the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, the Black Sand Gang and the family forces had already withdrawn a mile outside Canghe County’s city limits.

Watching the Black Sand Gang gradually vanish into the night, Liu Yuanhu also refrained from mindlessly pursuing them.

After all, he had recently received information that Zhao Honglie had spent a fortune and captured many blacksmiths to secretly forge heavy armor.

Though the exact number of suits in Zhao Honglie’s hands was unknown, judging by the recent spate of missing blacksmiths, Liu Yuanhu conservatively estimated that Zhao Honglie had acquired at least a hundred suits of heavy armor!

Heavy armor significantly boosted a martial artist’s combat strength; if Zhao Honglie had laid an ambush, it would be disastrous.

Judging it sufficient for now, Liu Yuanhu promptly ordered his forces to pull back.

”Brother Liu, I’ve taken down six Blood Refining Realm practitioners and ten Jade Skin Realm practitioners! Meanwhile, you’ve only managed four Blood Refining and eight Refining Skin practitioners. Don’t you think it’s time to bring out that Hundred Flowers Brew for me to taste?”

At the thought of the Hundred Flowers Brew, Mo Chen’s eyes glimmered with excitement, his expression brimming with delight.

Liu Yuanhu clasped his hands slightly and chuckled, ”Brother Mo, your archery surpasses even its former glory! Impressive, truly! I’ll have someone dig out that Hundred Flowers Brew shortly, and we’ll drink to our hearts’ content!”

In truth, Liu Yuanhu’s archery was no weaker than Mo Chen’s. His loss to Mo Chen was entirely intentional.

This round, it was all about navigating human relationships with finesse.

Though Liu Yuanhu’s plan to lure his rival into a trap wasn’t wholly successful, he managed to eliminate the Lu family and killed a good number of the Black Sand Gang’s Blood Refining Realm fighters during the pursuit. It was still a significant victory!

After making some quick arrangements, the city gates were shut, and the invigorated guards resumed their patrols.

Following the battle, Liu Yuanhu and the other key figures returned to the County Magistrate’s residence.

Liu Yuanhu hosted a celebratory banquet, and the estate was filled with jubilant voices.

In stark contrast, the Black Sand Gang’s stronghold was dead silent, tense with unease.

Zhao Honglie’s expression was so dark that water seemed ready to drip from his face.

”Bang!”

He smashed his fist onto the table, the sheer force causing the cups to clatter and jump.

”Where’s Zhang Guangqun? Have they caught him yet?”

Niu Zidong, visibly uneasy, replied nervously, ”Boss, that guy ran off quickly. By the time we realized it, he was already gone. We still don’t know his whereabouts.”

Bam!

Zhao Honglie sent Niu Zidong flying with a kick, shouting furiously, ”Useless! A bunch of useless fools!”

Zhao Qingcheng, seeing this, remained silent.

They were all old foxes. Zhao Qingcheng knew full well that at least sixty percent of Zhao Honglie’s outburst was for show. Although the incident appeared to be an accident, he still felt uneasy deep down.

”Boss Zhao, now’s not the time to dwell on this. Our top priority is to lay out the next steps. Liu Yuanhu’s appointment papers are already on the way, and the time left for us is very limited.”

If only Mo Chen was causing them trouble now, once the appointment papers arrived, they’d be facing a full contingent of a hundred Red Cloud Guards!