Li Man'er entered the spatial dimension, tidied herself up, selected two weapons to carry, and then exited.
She moved cautiously, stopping and starting, primarily to avoid any sentries the enemy might have placed. Being discovered would be problematic.
Clearly, she overestimated their security measures, as she reached their rear without encountering any resistance.
A dozen or so people were gathered around a fire, roasting meat, drinking, and in high spirits.
Not far away, tied to a poplar tree, was a person. The distance made it difficult to discern their features, but judging by their clothing, they appeared to be from the Zun Kingdom. Their body was covered in mottled bloodstains, clearly indicating they had been brutally beaten. The scent of blood in the air likely emanated from them.
Li Man'er advanced another dozen paces. Fortunately, the area around the group was littered with rocks that provided cover. Taking advantage of the large stones, she was able to observe them.
Their attire suggested they were Zun Kingdom people, but from their movements and facial features, Li Man'er deduced they were definitely not.
Round faces, slender, upward-sweeping eyebrows, thick body hair, and robust physiques—they were barbarians!
Amidst the group, Li Man'er spotted Li Wenchang. He had changed his clothes and wore a black scarf around his neck. He sat alone, seemingly ostracized by the barbarians.
Seeing Li Wenchang, Li Man'er knew he had surely defected to the barbarians. She just wasn't sure when.
Just then, the person tied to the tree seemed to awaken. He slightly lifted his head, and Li Man'er, catching the firelight, got a clear view of his face. She was astonished.
This person was none other than the garrulous guard who always accompanied Prince Jiu, Qi Yihan.
Li Man'er knew three of Qi Yihan's guards: one with a distinctive mouth, a chatterbox, and the one she and the third young master had tied together and dumped in an alley behind a brothel.
The person tied to the tree was Ah Qi, Qi Yihan's guard.
He had been knocked unconscious by these barbarians earlier. Now awake, he felt pain in his every organ, clearly suffering internal injuries.
However, he lived up to his "chatterbox" title. As soon as consciousness returned, he began cursing the barbarians, "Look at you all, with faces like pig's heads. You have strength but no brains, and you think I'll surrender? Dream on!"
"If you know what's good for you, release me quickly, or you'll all face dire consequences."
"Have the guts to untie me, and we'll duel one-on-one. Dealing with you scum, worse than pigs and dogs, would be as easy as slicing melons and vegetables. I'll spit blood in your faces."
"Grandpas, have the courage to release your grandpa."
His curses were weak, but his incessant nagging was like that of the Tang Monk, enough to make anyone's head ache.
A burly man with a large beard cursed a few times and told Li Wenchang to get a sock to stuff into Ah Qi's mouth. Upon seeing Li Wenchang, Ah Qi's eyes widened in fury, as if he had encountered an enemy who had desecrated his ancestors.
"Li, you traitor, you who have abandoned your master and forgotten your roots, acknowledging these barbarians as your father, you mongrel, what are you so proud of?" Ah Qi said, blood trickling down his lips, his voice growing weaker.
"I'll be waiting to see your fate."
"Could he have internal bleeding?"
Li Man'er felt a pang of worry, but it wasn't the right time to act rashly. She continued to observe.
Li Wenchang sneered at Ah Qi, holding the sock, "Regardless, you won't see it. Do you think these people will spare your life?" He then reached out to pinch Ah Qi's mouth, intending to stuff the sock in.
Ah Qi resisted desperately, shaking his head and asking, "Do you dare betray your lord, and you're not afraid that Lord Tie Dan's family will be implicated and executed for your actions? Lord Li saved your life."
Li Wenchang's hand paused in mid-air. As if recalling something, his expression turned pained. Li Man'er, from her distance, couldn't see clearly, but she could hear his words.
"No need for your concern, sir," he replied, and then stuffed the sock into Ah Qi's mouth.
Ah Qi nearly suffocated from the stench of the sock, whimpering incomprehensible curses, which no one could understand anyway.
Li Man'er took out a mask from her robes, covered her face, and drew a suitable weapon.
She had sleeping powder in her spatial dimension but didn't intend to use it here. The wind was strong, and the area was open. Dispersing a packet of sleeping powder would have little effect and would be a waste.
She hadn't unleashed her full power since arriving in the Zun Kingdom. Now that her body had recovered about eighty to ninety percent of its strength, it was time to demonstrate her skills.
She would use these barbarians and Li Wenchang to test her blade.
Li Man'er's Miao Dao was a masterpiece crafted by a master blacksmith from her previous life. His works at the peak of his career were priceless. Later, as he aged, he stopped crafting weapons, and Li Man'er obtained hers by chance.
She sought the sword not for collection but for actual combat. The Miao Dao is a long sword, named for its slender blade resembling a seedling. It requires two hands to wield and demands coordination of the user's strength and movement.
As the sword was unsheathed, Li Man'er's killing intent was no longer restrained. The moment she leaped from behind the rocks, the barbarians sensed something amiss. However, they were caught off guard and, having been drinking, their reactions were slower than usual. The two closest to her had just turned to see what was happening when her Miao Dao slit their throats. They fell to the ground without a sound.
Everyone was stunned by the sight. Li Man'er leaped high into the air, directly in front of a barbarian, and brought her sword down.
Sensing danger, the man rolled on the ground, narrowly dodging Li Man'er's attack.
But Li Man'er kicked an overturned wine jug towards him, striking him on the back. Before the man could get up after being knocked down, Li Man'er swiftly moved in and plunged her sword into his back.
The man screamed, spat out a mouthful of blood, and met his end.
Ah Qi let out excited yells, speaking volubly, but Li Man'er understood not a single word.
It was only then that the barbarians reacted, grabbing their weapons, intending to tear Li Man'er to pieces.
Li Wenchang remained still. Having spent considerable time with Li Man'er, he recognized her from her physique. He hadn't expected her martial arts to be so formidable. Could it be that the wolves had not harmed them at all?
The barbarians, accustomed to fighting on grasslands and deserts, were skilled horsemen and archers with considerable strength, but their combat techniques were limited.
Despite her slender build, Li Man'er possessed immense strength, and her Xuan medical skills offered numerous ways to kill. These few barbarians were no match for her.
As more fell, Li Man'er's body became spattered with enemy blood, yet her grip on the sword remained steady, and her footwork was precise.
In contrast, the barbarians, after drinking and underestimating their opponent, began to lose control of their fear as Li Man'er cut down several of their own.