diskusbooks Chapter 247 Escape
Chapter 247 Escape
The shield, this ancient and solid guardian, still radiates its indispensable light on the battlefield and demonstrates its unique value.
However, for those warriors who were unarmed, without the protection of shields or armor, the scales of fate undoubtedly tilted in a cold and ruthless direction towards them.
In this brutal and merciless battle, their casualty rate was as shocking as the falling leaves in autumn.
Even if the bullets from long-range rifles whizzed in and hit the tightly protected shield, it was like a huge rock gently brushing against a mortal body, leaving only some superficial scars, unable to shake the rock-solid defense.
Hou Lin, a battle-hardened general, felt a sense of foreboding when he saw this scene. He knew that the situation at this moment did not allow for a moment of hesitation.
So, he made a prompt decision and gave orders to leave behind more than a thousand elite shieldmen and archers as the last barrier and counterattack force, while he himself led the remaining troops and quickly evacuated this dangerous place like a meteor in the dark night.
Such a decision is not only a calm consideration of life and death, but also a deep cherishment of the lives of the soldiers under his command.
"Marshal Hou, look, there's a winding path faintly visible on the left. We might as well change our route. Otherwise, heading straight towards Lu County would be like walking into a trap."
Liang Changzhu, the sworn brother who had followed Hou Lin closely since he came to power, now had a gleam of determination in his eyes.
"As you wish, we will head towards that unknown road and act quickly..."
Hou Lin, known as the "Man Butcher," had to give way to his former fame in this life-or-death situation. Time was running out, and there was no room for hesitation.
The group hurried south. About five miles away, an ancient temple appeared among the mountains, quiet and mysterious.
"Go and check if there are any pursuers following us."
Hou Lin was still panting, but his voice was particularly loud due to his urgency. It carried some of the majesty of commanding thousands of troops in the past, but was also mixed with a trace of fatigue that was difficult to conceal.
These years behind bars had exposed him to the bittersweet world of life, leaving him physically and mentally exhausted. After regaining his freedom, every step he took felt like walking on a knife's edge, and now, every step was even more fraught.
Not long after, the soldier who went to investigate hurried back and said nervously:
"Marshal Hou, the ancient temple seems deserted, but there are many fresh footprints around it. I'm afraid it's not safe."
Hou Lin frowned, his heart growing increasingly uneasy, like a tangled mess: "What should I do? Is it really God's will to kill me?"
Liang Changzhu said, "Marshal Hou, why don't we continue forward and find a more secluded place to hide."
Hou Lin gritted his teeth, as if he had made a great decision: "This is the only way."
The crowd continued to move forward. The mountain road was rugged and every step was extremely difficult.
Hou Lin's heart was filled with anxiety and fear, as if an invisible big hand was tightly grasping his heart.
He didn't know how much longer he could hold on. Every step forward felt like groping in the dark, and he could fall into the abyss at any time.
Hou Lin walked with difficulty, observing his surroundings vigilantly. Sweat soaked his clothes, and his breathing became more and more rapid, as if he was pulling a bellows.
Suddenly, there was a commotion at the back of the team. Hou Lin looked back and saw several soldiers shouting in panic: "Oh no, General Hou, there are pursuers behind us!"
Hou Lin's face instantly turned pale, like a piece of white paper, devoid of blood. But he feigned composure and shouted, "Don't panic! Speed up!"
They quickened their pace, but the road became increasingly difficult, as if deliberately working against them. The sounds of the pursuers grew closer, like the beating of a death drum, hammering through Hou Lin's heart.
Hou Lin's heart sank to the bottom, as if he had fallen into an abyss. He thought in despair, "Am I really going to die here today?"
At this critical moment, Liang Changzhu pointed ahead and shouted, "Hou Shuai, look! There's a cave ahead!"
A spark of hope flashed in Hou Lin's eyes, like a drowning man grabbing a life-saving straw, and he shouted, "Quick, enter the cave!"
Everyone rushed into the cave. Hou Lin, breathing heavily as if he had just finished a long marathon, ordered, "Find something to cover the cave entrance so the pursuers don't find it."
Everyone started to act in a panic, while Hou Lin hid deep in the cave, his heart pounding as if it was about to jump out of his throat.
After a while, the footsteps outside gradually approached. Hou Lin gripped the weapon tightly in his hand, his palms full of sweat, ready to make a final desperate fight.
His heartbeat was particularly clear in the silent cave, and each beat seemed like a countdown to his life.
However, strangely, the footsteps stopped at the entrance of the cave for a while and then gradually faded away.
Hou Lin and others did not dare to go out easily, and waited in the cave for a long time, as if time had stopped.
His tense nerves dared not relax at all, and he lowered his voice and said, "Wait a little longer, in case it's a trap." Everyone held their breath in the darkness, their heartbeats seemed to be clearly audible, and every second was torture.
After a long while, Hou Lin made sure that there was no movement outside before he carefully moved towards the cave entrance.
He carefully observed the situation outside through the gap in the cover without blinking. After confirming that it was safe, he gently pushed aside the obstacles and walked out of the cave first.
Others followed closely behind, each face filled with fatigue and tension, as if they had just experienced a nightmare.
Liang Changzhu wiped the sweat from his face, which was mixed with dirt and looked utterly miserable. He said, "Hou Shuai, where should we go next?"
Hou Lin looked at the vast mountains and forests around him, his eyes confused and full of worry. He pondered for a moment and said:
"First, find a place where we can hide temporarily and observe the situation. Once we understand the situation, we can make plans."
So, they groped their way forward in the mountains and forests. The mountain path was rugged and difficult to walk on, with thorns everywhere, which scratched their skin and caused blood to seep out, staining their clothes red, but at this moment they no longer cared about the pain.
After finally finding a secluded spot on the mountainside, Hou Lin asked everyone to stop and rest. He himself stood on the high ground, gazing at the mountains in the distance, his mind a tangled mess of thoughts.
"Is this encounter destined?" Hou Lin sighed secretly, feeling unwilling and helpless.
At this moment, a sharp-eyed soldier pointed in the distance and shouted, "Marshal Hou, look, is there any smoke rising over there?"
Hou Lin took a closer look and felt a tightness in his heart. He didn't know whether this was a blessing or a curse. It was as if he saw a ray of light in the darkness, but he was worried that it was an illusion.
He hesitated for a moment, and finally decided to send someone to check it out.
"Liang Changzhu, take a few people to take a look and be sure to be careful." Hou Lin warned, his eyes full of concern and worry.
Liang Changzhu nodded and led a few agile soldiers towards the direction of the smoke.
Hou Lin and others were waiting anxiously on the spot. Time seemed to be extremely long, and every second felt like a year.
Finally, Liang Changzhu and others came back with complicated expressions on their faces, including surprise and worry.
"Marshal Hou, that's the camp of a group of bandits. They are making a fire and cooking. There are quite a few people, but it seems that their security is not very strict." Liang Changzhu said while panting.
Hou Lin frowned, pondering a countermeasure, as if two villains were fighting fiercely in his heart. "This could be an opportunity for us, or it could be a trap."
Everyone started discussing the matter. Some suggested avoiding the bandits, while others thought they could take the opportunity to seize the bandits' supplies to replenish themselves.
Hou Lin took a deep breath, as if to draw all his courage into his chest, and said, "Fortune and honor are sought in danger. We will sneak over quietly and act according to the situation."
The crowd quietly approached the bandit camp. Hou Lin's heart was in his throat, and he took every step carefully, as if he was walking on a tightrope.
Just as they were approaching the camp, a hare suddenly jumped out of the grass, causing a commotion.