Fu Xin Ci glanced around, seeing that the people emerging from the woods numbered no less than fifty, and felt reassured.
She found a strategic high ground, concealed herself at the edge of the bushes, and set up her crossbow.
Then she saw Qi Yuan Shan swinging his saber, cutting down Tatar soldiers as if they were mere vegetables.
At this point, the already routed Tatars felt a stir of fear. Even those who were uninjured turned their horses, preparing to retreat.
The leader, however, stared intently at the saber in Qi Yuan Shan's hand, his greed undisguised.
He let out a string of guttural roars, quickly gathered several dozen personal guards, and began to encircle Qi Yuan Shan.
This scene was perfectly observed by Fu Xin Ci. "Heh heh," she thought, "what did that ancient poem we learned in elementary school say? Shoot the rider before shooting the horse, capture the king before capturing the bandit."
However, she thought differently from the ancients. Why shoot a horse? She chose to shoot the person.
Fu Xin Ci fired three crossbow bolts in quick succession. *Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh*. The bolts pierced the air, carrying a cold wind, and embedded themselves into the man's body almost simultaneously.
The greed had not yet faded from his eyes when his body began to lose its vitality.
With a thud, the leader's large frame unexpectedly crashed to the ground, headfirst.
Blood spilled.
The personal guards who had just gathered were shocked. In the blink of an eye, their master had fallen from his horse without them noticing.
They were confused and even more surprised. When someone dismounted to help their master up, they discovered he was already dead.
After a moment of panic, a flurry of activity ensued.
More incomprehensible roars erupted. Some turned their horses and fled, while others tried to drag their master onto a horse.
Even in death, they wanted to take their master back.
"Oh dear," Fu Xin Ci thought, "my apologies. I can't let you take him. My crossbow bolts are still in him."
She only had thirty bolts, and they were not easy to make. She couldn't let these people take them, not a single one.
With another volley of three crossbow bolts, the man attempting to carry away the master fell to the ground.
Seeing that their master and another man had both been struck down by three arrows, the others dared not linger.
With howls and cries, they spurred their horses and fled, terrified that they would be the next to fall.
Qi Yuan Shan, seeing the Tatars attempting to escape, was adamant about not allowing it. He immediately urged his horse and led his men in pursuit.
In a short while, the area became much quieter.
Seeing that no one was standing around, Fu Xin Ci teleported over. She swept her right hand, retrieving three crossbow bolts. With another flick, she recovered all six.
Unable to find a water source for the moment, Fu Xin Ci squatted down and wiped the crossbow bolts on the ground, still disliking the bloodstains.
"Squeak squeak."
"Xiao Bai?"
"Squeak squeak."
"Did you send a message to Uncle Qi?" Fu Xin Ci finally realized that Xiao Bai wasn't in her pocket.
"Squeak squeak." Otherwise, how would they have rushed out and messed with the Tatars like you?
"Xiao Bai, listen carefully. What do you mean by 'messed with the Tatars'? They are invaders, they are bad people. What we are doing is resisting, it's self-defense. Killing those invaders is what they deserve."
"Xin Ci is right."
Hearing a familiar voice, Fu Xin Ci turned her head and saw Yang Da Li and several soldiers from the garrison emerging from the woods, supporting each other.
"Uncle Da Li, are you injured?" Fu Xin Ci immediately ran over when she saw how difficult their progress was.
"Just a minor injury, it's nothing."
"It's nothing? Look at the wounds on your arms and legs."
Seeing that the bandages on their wounds were similar to those of the previous group she'd encountered, Fu Xin Ci took out an oil-paper package from her pocket (actually from her spatial dimension) and divided several pills into their hands. "Uncles, these are medicines my master left for me. This one reduces inflammation, and this one lowers fever. Take these first."
"Indeed."
"To receive such good medicine from Xin Ci's master, we are truly fortunate."
Washing down the pills with the ice-cold water from their waterskins, Yang Da Li and the others drank with contentment.
"Hey, do you guys feel anything? I feel much more relaxed after taking this medicine."
"Yes, I feel the same. Before, I was dizzy and couldn't even hold anything. After taking these two small pills, my mind feels much clearer, and I'm not as tired anymore."
"Yes, me too. Look at my leg, it doesn't feel so heavy anymore."
"Me too. Look at my shoulder, it doesn't hurt as much."
Fu Xin Ci thought, "I know I gave them ordinary traditional Chinese medicine. If they weren't strong-willed, they'd suspect I gave them elixirs from Taishang Laojun himself."
Fu Xin Ci didn't know that, solely because of the saber, everyone in the Yingzuoya Garrison now believed her master was an unparalleled master.
It wasn't surprising they thought that. The saber in Qi Yuan Shan's hand not only looked impressive but was astonishing to behold when it cut down Tatars.
In the past, every year around this time, they had to engage with the Tatars.
Those Tatars were cunning and usually launched sneak attacks, killing people, looting, and then fleeing to another location.
Usually, by the time they received news and pursued, the Tatars had already disappeared, leaving behind only devastation.
They chased every year, and the Tatars fled every year.
This year, they had encountered them twice, and the squadron leader had truly brought them honor. With a swing of his saber, he took them down one by one, as easily as chopping cabbage.
Watching from the side, they felt great satisfaction.
Even today, they understood what had happened.
The Tatar leader had coveted the saber in the squadron leader's hand and, out of greed, had gathered three to four hundred men to surround them.
However, the Tatar leader died a confused man, never knowing how he died.
Indeed, if he had known he was killed by an eight-year-old girl, he would have died of anger again.
"Squeak squeak." Go! Xiao Bai, eager to show off, kindly reminded her as the humans and the injured people chatted.
Fu Xin Ci, however, didn't move. These five men had no self-defense capabilities.
If some unexpected threat appeared, these five would be in trouble.
"Squeak squeak." Aren't you going? Aren't you going to mess with the Tatars?
"Xiao Bai, I've told you, that's not messing around, that's self-defense."
"Squeak squeak." Xiao Bai kicked the human hard. "This is provocation, I can beat you up anytime."
"Squeak squeak." This white one just wanted to confirm.
"Alright, I forgive you."
Xiao Bai: It's not easy to trick a human.