mesbooks Chapter 132 Perilous Investigation of the Escort Route
Chapter 132 Perilous Investigation of the Escort Route
The reconnaissance of the escort route was fraught with danger.
Su Yunlan put down the ledger, her brows furrowed. "I've decided to personally survey the escort route."
Xiao Yuhan frowned slightly, his worry evident in his expression.
"The journey is treacherous, Lan'er, let me go instead."
Su Yunlan shook her head, her tone firm.
“No, I must go myself. Only by seeing it with my own eyes can I formulate more effective defense measures.” She knew Xiao Yuhan was worried about her safety, but she knew even more clearly that only she herself could truly control the situation.
Xiao Yuhan couldn't persuade her otherwise, so he had to agree and personally selected elite bodyguards to accompany him, secretly strengthening their protection.
Before setting off, he held Su Yunlan's hand tightly, his deep gaze full of concern.
"Lan'er, be careful in everything you do."
Su Yunlan returned a firm look, "Don't worry, I'll come back safely."
The group spurred their horses and embarked on a journey to survey the escort route.
The atmosphere was heavy, and a tense atmosphere filled the air.
The woods by the roadside were eerie, and the rustling of the leaves in the wind sounded like ghostly whispers, adding to the unease.
The bodyguards also clearly felt the oppressive atmosphere. They gripped their weapons tightly and looked around warily, fearing that bandits might suddenly jump out from somewhere.
As expected, while passing through a dense forest, a group of masked bandits suddenly sprang out of the woods, brandishing knives and swords, and blocked their path.
"This mountain is mine, these trees are mine, if you want to pass, leave your toll!" The bandit leader's voice was rough and tinged with mockery.
The bodyguards panicked immediately, some even turning pale with fright, their hands trembling slightly as they gripped their weapons.
Wang the镖头 (bodyguard) and Li the 武師 (martial arts instructor) hid at the back of the group, their faces showing a gloating sneer, showing no intention of stepping forward to help.
"Hmph, a bunch of rabble!" Su Yunlan snorted coldly, her clear voice carrying an undeniable authority.
She dismounted, her eyes blazing as she surveyed the group of bandits without the slightest fear.
"Do you know that we are from the 'Lanxiao Escort Agency'?"
The bandit leader was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter, "Lanxiao Escort Agency? Never heard of it! Brothers, charge!"
Just as the bandits were about to swarm forward, Su Yunlan raised her right hand, signaling everyone to stop.
"Wait!" Her usually cold voice was unusually loud at this moment, piercing through the tense air. "Sixteenth brother..."
"Wait!" Su Yunlan raised his right hand, his voice exuding an unquestionable authority.
She dismounted, her eyes flashing like lightning as she surveyed the bandits before her, showing no fear whatsoever.
Sunlight filtered through the treetops, illuminating her clear and resolute face, making her appear even more strikingly heroic.
"Sixteenth Brother, take a few bodyguards and test the strength of these bandits." Su Yunlan's voice was clear and loud, piercing through the tense air.
Young Master Xiao responded immediately, gripping his longsword tightly, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.
He led several bodyguards and swiftly charged towards the bandits, their swords flashing and their attacks unstoppable.
"Kill!" Young Master Xiao shouted angrily, his sword dancing like a dragon and snake, unstoppable.
Several bodyguards followed closely behind, engaging in a fierce battle with the bandits.
Amidst the flashing blades and the clanging of metal, accompanied by the wails of bandits, the air was thick with the suffocating stench of sweat and blood.
Su Yunlan stood still, observing the battle situation with sharp eyes.
She felt a sense of relief as she watched Young Master Xiao and his bodyguards gradually gain the upper hand.
She knew that this was not only a battle, but also a crucial battle for the reorganization of the escort agency.
Seeing this, Chief Escort Wang and Martial Arts Master Li had no choice but to reluctantly step forward to help, but their resistance and unwillingness were still obvious.
"Great job, Sixteenth Brother, you did a wonderful job!" Su Yunlan praised loudly, his voice full of encouragement.
Her praise was like a gentle breeze, inspiring everyone present.
The morale of the bodyguards soared, their fighting spirit soared, and they fought even more bravely.
Young Master Xiao swung his sword and killed a bandit, a proud smile on his face. The other bodyguards followed suit, their morale soaring.
The battle gradually subsided, and the small groups of bandits scattered and fled, leaving behind a mess.
Su Yunlan looked around and nodded in satisfaction.
She walked up to Young Master Xiao, patted him on the shoulder, and her eyes were full of approval.
"Sixteenth Brother, you did a great job. All the brothers admire you."
Young Master Xiao smiled modestly, "Sister-in-law, this is what we should do. With you here, we feel reassured."
Just then, Xiao Yuhan stayed by Su Yunlan's side the whole time, his eyes never leaving her.
He gripped his longsword tightly, ready to deal with any unexpected situation.
Su Yunlan turned to look at him, her eyes filled with emotion.
Their shared understanding, mutual support, and trust made this perilous journey all the more resolute.
"Yuhan, thank you," Su Yunlan said softly, her voice gentle.
Xiao Yuhan gripped her hand tightly, his gaze unwavering.
"Lan'er, don't worry, I'm here."
However, at that moment, faint shouts of battle echoed from the distant dense forest, as if foreshadowing an even greater crisis approaching...
The shouts of battle grew closer, and the approaching hoofbeats made the ground tremble slightly.
Dust billowed from the depths of the dense forest, and a dark mass of figures surged forth like a tide—it was Zhang the Bandit leading a large band of thieves.
They were all fierce-looking, wielding gleaming swords and knives, their eyes gleaming with greed.
"Oh no! The boss is here!" The remaining few henchmen cried out in alarm, as if they had seen a savior, and scrambled to hide behind the main force.
Zhang, the bandit, rode a tall, imposing horse. His face was full of menacing features, and his eyes gleamed with a fierce light.
"Lanxiao Escort Agency? You've got quite the nerve! Today, I'll show you what I'm capable of!" His gruff voice echoed through the valley like thunder.
Su Yunlan remained calm as she surveyed the surrounding terrain.
She noticed that the road was flanked by steep slopes, covered with jagged rocks and dense trees, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.
"Sixteenth Brother, lead your men to occupy the high ground on both sides, take advantage of the terrain, and give them a good beating!"
Young Master Xiao accepted the order and, with several agile bodyguards, quickly climbed the hillside and took up advantageous terrain.
They used their high ground to hurle stones and logs down to stop the bandits' attack.
Xiao Yuhan stood beside Su Yunlan, his eyes full of admiration.
"Lan'er, your wisdom always helps you turn danger into safety."
Su Yunlan smiled slightly, "Now is not the time to praise me. Let's deal with the current trouble first."
Enraged that his frontal attack had been thwarted, Zhang the bandit shouted, "Fire arrows!"
A hail of arrows came whistling through the air, but Su Yunlan and his bodyguards took cover behind boulders and trees, thus avoiding the attack.
The bandits found it difficult to launch an attack and began to grow restless.
Seeing how effective Su Yunlan's command was, the members of the escort agency became even more convinced of her abilities.
Xiao Yuhan drew his longsword, its blade gleaming coldly, sending chills down one's spine.
"Brothers, follow me to kill the enemy!"
He charged into the enemy ranks like a tiger descending a mountain, his sword flashing, invincible.
The bodyguards also responded and engaged in a fierce battle with the bandits.
Su Yunlan stood at the rear, calmly directing and coordinating the operation, placing each bodyguard in the most suitable position to maximize their effectiveness.
The bandits gradually lost ground and began to scatter and flee.
With victory in sight, joyful smiles appeared on everyone's faces.
However, at that moment, a mysterious figure dressed in black and wearing a straw hat suddenly appeared at the edge of the battlefield.
He slowly raised his head, revealing a sinister and eerie face...
"Heh, interesting." He chuckled softly, his voice hoarse and grating, sending chills down one's spine.