Yu Jin Chang An (With Jin's Chang'An)

Chapter 4

The night was as dark as ink, and the bandit's stone fortress was built against the mountain, like a stubborn rock embedded in the mountainside.

Qin Lan had selected Li Shuang's personal guards to accompany her. Originally, Qin Lan intended to accompany Li Shuang, but she insisted on leaving him to command the Changfeng Camp.

At this moment, Li Shuang led ten soldiers dressed in dark black clothes, lurking on a hillside a hundred yards away from the stone fortress. Concealed by the darkness of the night they were observing the situation inside the fortress.

Viewing from a distance, the main hall in the stone fortress was brightly lit, but the most heavily guarded area was a small courtyard in the southwest corner. There were five or six guards stationed at the entrance alone, and with those on the rooftops and in the passageways, there were about twenty guards in such a small courtyard. Each one of them was sturdy and skilled, wielding large sabers whose gleaming edges reflected even at this distance.

Li Shuang was now certain that this must be where the bandits were holding Li Ting.

With a few gestures, her personal guards, who had been with her for many years, understood her intentions without the need for much discussion. Their figures moved as fast as the wind and disappeared from the hilltop in an instant.

As they reached the entrance of the stone fortress, several of them swiftly dispatched the unprepared guards, breaking their necks without a sound, not even disturbing the flames at the entrance.

Following Li Shuang's orders, three of them went to create a diversion in the main hall, while another three set fire to the provisions in the kitchen. As the flames erupted, chaos ensued in the east. Meanwhile, Li Shuang and the remaining four rushed straight into the southwest courtyard before the enemy could fully grasp the situation.

Li Shuang was nicknamed "The Jade-Faced Yama*" on the battlefield. Although she was a woman, when it came to striking, she was as ruthless as the fiercest wolves of the northern frontier. Now, with the fire raging to the east, Li Shuang entered the courtyard and swiftly dispatched the bandits who rushed towards her. Her blade was stained with blood, illuminated by the flames behind her, she appeared like a Yama from hell, striking fear into the hearts of those who saw her.

(*阎罗王(Yánluó Wáng) King Yan/King of Yama is the God of Death and the ruler of Diyu.)

Without hesitation, she marched towards the small house in the courtyard, her cold blade carrying an aura of death, anyone who dared to block her path met a grim fate.

As she approached the door of the small house, Li Shuang kicked it open. But just then!

The opening of the door triggered a mechanism, and several arrows with a faint blue glow shot out from inside the house. Li Shuang narrowed her eyes, but before she could react, she felt a sudden tightness around her waist and was pulled straight into a scorching embrace.

Amidst the chaotic sounds, Li Shuang caught sight of the arrows being swiftly deflected to the ground.

Who was this person saving her?

Li Shuang was taken aback, her hands pressing against the man's chest as she tried to push him away to get a closer look at his face. However, as soon as she exerted force, she felt the arm around her waist tighten like a steel band, pulling her tightly against the man's chest, where she involuntarily inhaled his masculine scent.

"You!" Just as she was about to reprimand him for being careless in the midst of the bandits' den. She suddenly felt a gust of wind whistle past her ear, and an arrow almost grazed the back of her head.