Chapter 252: Facing the Battle (3)

He soon realized how wise his decision had been. Watching those people convulse and fall to the ground almost instantly, twitching even as they lay on the ground, it was as if they were making a final, desperate struggle.

"Were they all going to die?"

"No, I said I wouldn't kill anyone, so I went easy on them."

Jiang Huanran coughed awkwardly. He had only thought it to himself, but it had slipped out.

This person called Caocao was truly a formidable weapon.

So fierce!

"Pile them up."

Yu Tao and Wang Cheng obeyed, and the Sixth Prince also had his guards help. In a short while, they had piled up a small mountain of people. Apart from twitching, the people showed no other movement. At a glance, it seemed as if they were all dead.

A gust of wind carried the stench of blood mixed with various other odors, making Hua Zhi feel nauseous. Holding her breath, she silently endured it, and only exhaled deeply when the wind passed.

But the smell of blood would not go away, for there were blood stains on her clothes and on her hands.

"They're coming."

Heavy footsteps approached from a distance. Hua Zhi watched coldly, her eyes gradually becoming grave. These people...

"Miss, these people are not right." Jiang Huanran tightened his grip on the knife he had taken from the enemy. It was awkward, but it was better than being empty-handed.

"Yu Tao, can you tell? What kind of people are they?"

Before Yu Tao could respond, Shao Yao took over, "Half are local garrison troops, and half are from the regular army. Hah, this is interesting."

Though she said it playfully, Shao Yao's face was cold. She had received the most orthodox education since childhood, and certain things were deeply ingrained in her, such as principles and unwavering beliefs.

The garrison's duty was to maintain local security. It was understandable for Mu Yunyang to use them for personal purposes, but there was absolutely no reason for regular army soldiers to be here serving private interests!

Hua Zhi took a deep breath, "Our safety comes first. Let the dead be dead."

"Don't worry, Hua Hua. Even if it's just to seek justice, I'll leave some of them alive," Shao Yao said, her playful demeanor gone. "Be careful, Hua Hua. These people are not as incompetent as the ones before."

"I know," Hua Zhi tightened her grip on the hairpin, a weapon custom-made for her, longer and sharper than ordinary hairpins. It felt natural in her hand.

"Xiao Liu, don't rush forward. Keep an eye on Zheng Bei. Chen Zhen and Chen Shi, protect them."

"Yes."

The Sixth Prince nodded reluctantly. He was still too weak, far too weak!

"Young Master Jiang, are you ready to give it your all?"

Jiang Huanran lifted his chin, "I'll fight to the death with you!"

"Then, the left is yours. Wang Cheng, you take the right. Cao Cao, wide-range attacks. Yu Tao, you roam. Remember, every strike must be fatal. We can't afford a prolonged battle."

Everyone responded.

A fighting spirit ignited in Hua Zhi's eyes. It was time to fight for her life. Even with Yan Xi as her backing, she needed to stay alive to make any difference.

"Charge!"

The group on the other side stared at the pile of bodies, momentarily stunned. They hadn't expected such a ruthless attack. So many lives, and they were killing without hesitation?

When they realized the other side had charged first, they immediately settled down to fight. They dared not underestimate such vicious opponents, even if one of them was exceptionally handsome. At that moment, in their eyes, she was nothing more than a death reaper!

These adversaries were unlikely to be taken down with a single blow. The hairpin plunged into flesh, feeling dull as it pierced through skin and muscle. With a twist and a pull, the entire thigh was left mangled. As the hairpin was repeatedly driven into the other leg, no one could stand under such injuries.

Injuring the legs was the best attack method Hua Zhi could think of. Of course, it would have been better to stab into the throat or neck artery, but that would have resulted in death, even though it would have been less effort.

Her lack of strength was Hua Zhi's weakness. She was the one who could least afford to tire. The other side was not without sharp-eyed individuals, and in the later stages, she became their target. Once they discovered she was the leader, everyone focused their attacks on her.

Hua Zhi sneered. She, Hua Zhi, was no pushover!

Her response was to strike harder, no longer aiming for the thighs. Instead, she plunged the hairpin directly into the opponent's neck and slashed, sending blood gushing out. The man clutched his neck and slowly fell to the ground.

For a moment, everyone stopped their movements.

Hua Zhi had already attacked another person with her hairpin, in the same spot, with the same result.

Shao Yao, who had emptied her pouch of medicinal powder, laughed and, unfastening the whip she wore as an ornament, wrapped it around a man and slammed him to the ground, leaving him unconscious.

Only then did the other side seem to realize what was happening, but in just a few breaths, they had lost more than ten men. They had rarely encountered such tough opponents!

"Retreat!"

"We can't retreat, Young Master Zheng is still in their hands!"

Clearly, it was the soldiers who wanted to retreat, while the guards from the manor's estate insisted on staying, given that half of their original seventy-man force had already been lost.

But Hua Zhi had no intention of letting any of them escape. She would never give them another chance!

"Yu Tao, cut off their retreat."

Yu Tao hesitated not a moment before dashing to the rear, followed closely by the others. With Jiang Huanran, they numbered only five, yet they had managed to encircle the thirty-plus opponents, forming a tight perimeter.

Hua Zhi was the first to charge. Her strength was waning.

Without a word, the others joined the fray as soon as she moved. It was clear that they intended to prevent their escape. The thirty-plus men fought back with all their might, and for a time, neither side could gain the upper hand.

The Sixth Prince watched anxiously. "Chen Shi, go help them."

The brothers exchanged a glance, and Chen Shi quickly left.

At this moment, several people emerged from the house. Bao Xia looked at the scene with worry, wishing she could transform into the hairpin in her mistress's hand.

Wu Xiaoshuang's face was filled with tension, while Wu Dashuang hid behind him, secretly watching the scene outside. However, her attention was not on Hua Zhi but on the injured Zheng Bei lying to one side.

Zheng Bei noticed her gaze and winked at her discreetly.

Wu Dashuang quickly averted her eyes, but a moment later, she peeked out again. There Zheng Bei was, waiting for her and winking once more. She ducked back, repeating this pattern several times before finally remaining still. But when Zheng Bei tried to get her to do something, she refused to budge, even as his eyes seemed about to pop out of his head.

Meanwhile, more people were entering the dock entrance - about twenty, and clearly of the same ilk as the previous group.

The Sixth Prince snorted. A tiger reduced to such a state, hounded by dogs. But a tiger is a tiger, not to be trifled with. "Xu Ying, keep an eye on Bao Xia. Chen Zhen, come with me."

"The young miss said you mustn't leave this place..."

"And let them surround Sister Hua? No!" Drawing his sword, the Sixth Prince strode towards the fray. He couldn't let them ruin Sister Hua's plan. Chen Zhen had no choice but to follow.

Hua Zhi did not try to stop him. She was too weak. With Chen Zhen protecting the Sixth Prince, at most he would suffer some injuries. There was no danger to his life. Some things could only be truly understood by experiencing them firsthand.