Chapter 287
Chapter 287
“Where are you? Ji Yan’an, where are you?”
Jiang Yunsui searched the entire barracks.
Everyone there was rushing about with an air of urgency.
She caught sight of someone familiar and stopped him.
“Where is Ji Yan’an?”
It was Chiliarch Lin.
He jumped when Jiang Yunsui suddenly appeared before him, though he was not particularly surprised.
“Miss, why are you here?”
She answered obediently.
“I’m looking for Ji Yan’an. I’m worried about him.”
Song Jin was absent, and Shen Qingzhu was still preparing the antidote, so neither was beside Ji Yan’an.
Little Mushroom was terribly worried.
“This subordinate will take you to the Young Master,” Chiliarch Lin said.
Ji Yan’an was not in camp. He had gone to Old General Tang’s residence.
“Old General Tang was attacked last night. Someone bribed a dog keeper to poison the dogs’ food, killing several. During the confusion, the general was stabbed in the arm. The Young Master went to see him.”
“Why didn’t anyone call me?”
She worried about Grandpa Tang too.
“Let’s hurry.”
When they reached the residence, Jiang Yunsui abruptly stopped and looked toward one spot.
“Someone is hiding there.”
The instant she spoke, Ji Si appeared from the shadows and attacked where she pointed.
The corner was well concealed, and the intruder apparently carried something that masked his scent. Even Tang Qingsong’s dogs had not detected him.
The two hidden guards clashed evenly.
The noise quickly alerted the household and its dogs.
Chiliarch Lin held Jiang Yunsui and remained in place, issuing an order.
“Surround the intruder.”
“There’s another one over there,” Jiang Yunsui said.
Another Barbarian death warrior emerged. This time, his target was Jiang Yunsui.
“Zuozuo! Youyou!”
“Milk Tea!”
Ji Yan’an and Jiang Yunsui shouted simultaneously.
Zuozuo and Youyou, who had been beside Ji Yan’an, charged over.
Milk Tea plunged from the sky with astonishing speed. A rush of wind sounded; the death warrior sensed danger and turned his head, but the eagle still tore away a large piece of his ear.
Chiliarch Lin reacted swiftly and slashed with his saber.
“Ji Yan’an, three people are hiding near you!” Jiang Yunsui shouted in her childish voice.
Several hidden guards immediately surrounded Ji Yan’an.
“Ji Qi, Ji Er, protect Old General Tang,” Ji Yan’an ordered.
More Barbarian death warriors appeared, and Jiang Yunsui called out every hiding place.
“Damn it! That child!”
They had concealed themselves so well that even the Tang residence’s dogs failed to detect them, yet a child identified them precisely.
What kind of creature was she?
“Three of you-kill her!”
The death warriors glared viciously, determined to eliminate the child who had ruined their plan.
But with two dogs and Chiliarch Lin protecting her, she was not easy to kill.
“Chiliarch, put me down.”
He obeyed.
Jiang Yunsui darted around, and the death warriors soon discovered their target had vanished.
“Forget the child. Kill Tang Qingsong and that young man first.”
They did not know Ji Yan’an’s identity, but anyone guarded by so many hidden guards was no ordinary person.
“Little Pink, go.”
A small pink snake suddenly appeared and dropped onto one death warrior.
She bit him and fled.
The man quickly died.
Ji Yan’an did not merely remain behind his protectors. He carried many concealed weapons himself.
After more than an hour of fighting, nearly every assassin in Old General Tang’s residence had been killed.
Two escaped, but Zuozuo and Youyou led the other dogs after them, following the scent of blood.
Chiliarch Lin returned shortly afterward.
“Young Master, the dogs killed both fugitives.”
Ji Yan’an nodded.
“What happened at the other generals’ mansions?”
“They were attacked too. General Yang was wounded, and the wife at General Shen’s residence died protecting her child…”
Ji Yan’an’s face darkened as he listened.
Despite such strict defenses, so many Barbarian death warriors had infiltrated the city.
“Search thoroughly. Find every surviving warrior!”
“Take Zuozuo and Youyou. Heiwa goes too.”
Heiwa barked, then led a large pack of dogs alongside the City Guard to hunt the fugitives.
Jiang Yunsui was about to tell Ji Yan’an to return and rest for detoxification when someone rushed in with a report.
A Barbarian army had reached the city.
…
“Your First Prince promised my people three cities. Since he cannot fulfill his promise, we will take them ourselves.”
After confirming that every scout sent to map the routes had been destroyed, Fifth Prince Yelü Qi flew into a rage. He had sent the death warriors as retaliation.
Yelü Qi sat astride his horse with an ax in each hand.
“Mobei’s forces are far weaker now. Surrender obediently, or when this prince breaks in, I will vent my fury.”
By “vent his fury,” he meant massacring the city.
The Barbarians loved nothing more.
“Yelü Qi, what boasting! If you want Beizhen City, come and try taking it!”
Yelü Qi snorted. “Refusing a toast only to drink punishment? I’ll see how many troops Beizhen City has left!”
“Kill!”
Countless soldiers surged toward the walls.
The Barbarians brought catapults, intending to smash the fortifications as before.
After bombarding them, however, they discovered Beizhen City’s walls had become exceptionally strong.
“Fifth Prince, we can’t breach the walls!”
Yelü Qi’s eyes reddened. “Damn it! Is that cement truly this strong?”
“Forget the walls. Break the gate! I refuse to believe it is equally sturdy.”
More men raised ladders and charged upward.
The defenders held the advantage. They pushed ladders away and killed every attacker who appeared.
For the moment, the Barbarian losses were far greater.
Ji Yan’an listened to the thunderous battle cries beyond the wall and directed the defense from behind the lines.
He wore a silver-white wolfskin coat made from a snow wolf, a gift from Yelü Can.
“Yelü Qi has brought more than half the Barbarians’ military strength.”
After learning their precise numbers, Ji Yan’an smiled.
“Yelü Can surely won’t waste such a fine opportunity.”
“Yunsui, call Milk Tea. Deliver a letter for me.”
Yelü Qi wanted his city, so Ji Yan’an would replace the Barbarian khan!
Even if that could not happen immediately, chaos and fratricide at the royal court would suffice.
Jiang Yunsui whistled, and Milk Tea descended from the sky.
“Come,” Ji Yan’an said. “Let’s borrow poison and insects from Shen Qingzhu.”
If Yelü Can could not seize an opportunity this good, there was no reason to cooperate with him.