Another dozen or so mountain bandits charged forward, eager to claim credit, but more than half were cut down in a single move.
Several tumbled down the cliff, while others lay dying, struggling for breath.
Feng Dingchu, his wrist turning, ignored the great saber that had grazed his shoulder and thrust his sword forward.
The man who had wounded him, along with several others, rolled down the slope simultaneously.
Blood stained the ground.
He held his long sword, his eyes reflecting the thousand-strong throng ahead on the cliff path.
With heavy legs, he pulled himself free from a pile of corpses and took a step forward.
A single step sent the mountain bandits into a trembling retreat, scrambling backward in panic.
His own men trampled each other; nearly two thousand of them, and in their haste, several were injured.
"Archers, archers!" the gang leader immediately shouted.
The副帮主 (fù bāngzhǔ - deputy gang leader) also yelled, "Archers ready! Archers ready!"
Living off the mountains, many among the bandits were skilled archers.
Soon, archers from the rear of the formation surged forward.
Chu Qianli felt an unspeakable anxiety.
Feng Dingchu continued to emerge from the piles of bodies, advancing step by step towards them.
Those bandits close to him, unable to evade, could only fight back with all their might.
Before long, dozens more fell into the bloody mire.
He himself had also sustained several wounds.
Chu Qianli feigned a retreat with the bandits, but secretly moved closer to the gang leader.
Feng Dingchu knew full well that the archers would soon be in position, yet he showed no intention of leaving. Perhaps he hadn't even considered surviving.
But Chu Qianli couldn't just watch him die here.
Just as the archers arrived and prepared to loose their arrows, Chu Qianli suddenly roared, "Stop!"
No one had expected an enemy to be lurking so close to the gang leader.
The gang leader was caught completely off guard; his neck went numb, and before he could even react, Chu Qianli had grabbed him and leaped into the air.
The two quickly landed beside Feng Dingchu.
Chu Qianli shouted, "Put down your bows and arrows, or I will kill your gang leader!"
She tightened her grip, pressing a short dagger against the gang leader's throat.
The gang leader felt a sharp sting on his neck, and warm liquid immediately trickled down.
It was blood!
Terrified, the gang leader began to wail, "Put them down! Everyone put them down! Quickly! Quickly put down the bows and arrows! Forgive me, heroic lady, spare me!"
Chu Qianli couldn't help but frown.
This cowardly wretch dared to lead his men to attack Thousand Year City?
Impossible; there must be a more powerful force behind him.
But why would these people attack Thousand Year City? What was their objective?
However, the situation was dire, and Chu Qianli couldn't afford to ponder these questions.
She urged, "A'chu..."
But to her surprise, Feng Dingchu had no intention of stopping. He continued to advance towards the bandit ranks with his long sword.
"A'chu!"
Chu Qianli cried out, "You don't care about your own life, you even want to die here, and I don't blame you. But do you not even care about my life?"
Feng Dingchu's tall frame suddenly stiffened.
Chu Qianli pleaded, "If the archers really loose their arrows, you will surely die, and I won't survive either!"
Feng Dingchu's chest heaved violently.
Yes, he had wanted to die fighting here, but he hadn't expected this girl to follow him.
If they loosed their arrows, she would undoubtedly perish.
Feng Dingchu's long sword finally lowered. He turned and looked at her.
"A'chu, let's leave first," Chu Qianli urged.
He looked at her, his fingertips clenched tightly, his gaze devoid of warmth, reflecting only her.
Chu Qianli knew he was resolved to die.
He no longer wished to live.
But she couldn't give up on him.
If she gave up, he would truly die here today.
She looked at him, her eyes filled with pleading, "A'chu, no matter what, let's go back and talk, okay?"