Chapter 163
Book 15 Chapter 05 – Mysterious Attackers
By the time the hunters returned from their night hunt, Xiang Shaolong has left with Ji Yanran, Zhao Zhi and the Eighteen Guardians. They rushed toward the Qin / Chu border to liaise with Teng Yi.
Since the death of Zhao Qian and the four maids, this is the first time he is enjoying true happiness.
Mo Ao is gone; Xiao Pan has the full support of the Qin military and even impressed the people of Qin in a successful battle.
Because of Lao Ai, Zhu Ji will be less supportive of Lu Buwei.
With these turn of events, he should finally enjoy some days of peace.
However, there is still a scar left in his mind.
When he left with Zhao Qian and the other ladies on the last mission, he did not antic.i.p.ate any danger to befall him. Out of a sudden, his nightmare began. It was only tonight when he defeated Lu Buwei soundly can he finally catch his breath.
Still, he was fearful of the uncertain future.
Following the travelling path he had decided earlier with Teng Yi, they travelled as quickly as they can for seven days and seven nights. They crossed the Eastern Ridge and the terrain has become flatter. On this night, they set up camp and lit a campfire beside a small river.
Somehow, Xiang Shaolong is feeling very restless. He did not have any appet.i.te for the food hunted by Wu Yan Zhu, Jing Shan and the other Guardians.
Ji Yanran was surprised: "Is something bothering Hubby?"
Zhao Zhi smiled: "Are you thinking about Sister Fang and Bao’er?"
Xiang Shaolong eyed the cackling fire suspiciously and replied in a deep voice: "No. I am feeling very uneasy recently. In fact, this feeling came about when we left Xianyang City. Tonight, this feeling is even stronger than before."
Ji Yanran’s face lost some colour and she warned: "Hubby is not an ordinary man. If you have this feeling, then something must be amiss." She turned to the Guardians who are cooking some wild animals over the fire and asked: "Did you guys hear what he said?"
Jing Shan stood up: "Let’s spy on our surroundings."
The Guardians respected Xiang Shaolong as if he is a deity. When they heard his words, everyone raised their self-awareness and left accordingly.
After the Guardians have left, Zhao Zhi remarked: "Logically speaking, there should not be anyone following us, especially Lu Buwei’s men. Little Jun and the Palace Guards should be watching them closely and it is almost impossible for them to slip away and attack us. This is a complicated issue."
Ji Yanran gently asked: "Is it possible that Hubby’s restlessness is due to other reasons? From the way it looks, it doesn’t seem like anyone is following us!"
Xiang Shaolong bitterly smiled: "I am not a superhuman who can detect things that are happening far away from me. But after so many years of living in a dangerous environment, I am extra sensitive to ambushes or stalkers. We will have our answer soon enough. Jing Shan’s nose is better than a hunting dog’s nose."
Zhao Zhi weakly leaned into his bosom, whispering: "I am scared!"
Xiang Shaolong understands that she is thinking about that terrible night when Zhao Qian was killed. Hugging her shoulder to calm her fears down, he a.s.sured: "With me around, no one can harm you."
Ji Yanran looked up to the dark sky and softly commented: "If there is really somebody following us, then it is a valid reason for Hubby to feel extra restless tonight. After all, this area is generally flat and..."
AH!
A tragic cry shattered the tranquillity of the wilderness, proving that Xiang Shaolong’s worries are not unfounded.
Zhao Zhi’s countenance changed: "Isn’t that Wu Da’s voice?"
Wu Da is one of the Guardians. He is known for his nimble limbs and his quick-wittedness. If he was ambushed just like this; either the enemy is very highly-skilled or the trap is very well-laid.
Xiang Shaolong and the two ladies jumped up on their feet. They proceeded to arm themselves and disengaged the horses from one another.
They dared not put out the fire or they will lose touch with the rest of the Guardians.
The burning fire serves to remind them about the impending danger because they are now the targets of some mysterious attackers.
Until now, they have no information about the enemies.
Suddenly, the Guardians returned in a state of panic and their faces are filled with grief. Wu Yan Zhu is carrying Wu Da on his back. Wu Da was heavily injured with one arrow through his back and another arrow through the side of his body. He was breathing laboriously and his clothes are soaked with blood.
An emotional Zhao Zhi began to cry after seeing the usually energetic Wu Da so badly injured.
Wu Shu is about to put out the fire when Xiang Shaolong stopped him. He instructed: "Yanran, please stop the bleeding first. Break the arrow but do not touch the arrow head."
Before he finished speaking, Yanran is already trying her best to save Wu Da.
Wu Yan Zhu and the other Guardians are close to Wu Da and their relations.h.i.+ps are like real brothers. Their eyes turned red and they spat at the fire which betrayed their location.
Xiang Shaolong knew that this is a matter of life and death. He cannot afford to be careless. He calmly asked: "Who are they and how did they attacked you?"
Everyone’s attention focused on Wu Yan Zhu. Apparently, he and Wu Da are a team and they ran into the enemies together while the others did not run into any enemies.
Wu Yan Zhu took a deep breath and suppressed his grief, explaining: "Wu Da and I headed to the east. Just when we wanted to climb a cliff and look down from there, the arrows were fired at us."
Xiang Shaolong was alarmed. The road to the east is the direction to Chu. In this case, the mysterious attackers may have surrounded them completely.
But it is pitch black now. He is certain that the enemy will not dare to attack them before the sun comes up tomorrow.
When the sun comes up tomorrow, they will all be killed.
Zhao Zhi suddenly cried out even harder. Everyone was shaken and looked down at Wu Da. True enough, Wu Da has stopped breathing.
Xiang Shaolong had a brainwave and prevented the Guardians from hugging Wu Da’s corpse in grief. He hollered: "Let me do something first!"
He thought hard about emergency resuscitation in the 21st century.
Wu Da has always been strong and fit. Moreover, the arrow did not penetrate any of his organs. He has stopped breathing because he has lost too much blood and the heart has temporarily stopped pumping. It may be still possible to resuscitate him.
First, he laid Wu Da on a piece of flat ground and strongly pressed down on the area where his heart is. After several pushes, Wu Da’s body shook once and he resumed breathing and his heart resumed pumping. In the end, Xiang Shaolong did not have to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Ji Yanran and everybody else were completely blown away. Exchanging glances at one another, no one can believe what they just witnessed. They even forgot to cheer