Farm Girl's Manor

Xiao Ruiyuan was on guard against King Heng, but he was not someone who failed to grasp the bigger picture. At such a critical juncture, he had no inclination to quibble over King Heng’s previous scheming that had placed him in mortal peril. His profound gaze swept over the restive fierce beasts, and he commanded in a cold voice, "Those skilled in martial arts form three lines of defense, surround those who cannot protect themselves in the middle, and try to hold out for as long as possible, waiting for reinforcements."

King Heng frowned slightly, deeply reluctant to protect those he considered a hindrance. In his view, they were utterly useless, and in fact, everyone should serve as stepping stones for him to break through the encirclement of beasts. But seeing Xiao Ruiyuan’s indifferent yet resolute expression, he ultimately held back his objections, "At this point, we have no other choice. Let’s do as General Xiao suggests."

Xiao Ruiyuan gave King Heng a meaningful look and quickly gathered fifty guards to arrange the next steps.

Several individuals who were not skilled in martial arts had thought they would be sacrificed, or even used as pawns to attract the beasts’ aggression, but they never expected things to turn out so contrary to their predictions. Learning that it was a strategy discussed by Xiao Ruiyuan and King Heng, they were indescribably thrilled, especially warming up to Xiao Ruiyuan, and cast him grateful glances.

Xiao Ruiyuan remained frosty, longbow in hand, Sharp Sword slung at his hip, standing with the thirty most agile guards on the outermost layer, directly facing nearly a hundred fierce beasts that could pounce at any moment.

In the middle layer were the remaining twenty guards, the third layer consisted of royals led by King Heng, such as Prince Qi and the Young Masters from prominent families, while the very center was occupied by the Thirteenth Prince and others who needed protection.

"Howl—"

"Aoow—" freeweɓnovel.cѳm

"Hiss—"

The beast horde, sensing the thick scent of bloodlust emanating from Xiao Ruiyuan and the others, became increasingly agitated. Their roars rose and fell, echoing far into the distance...

Just then, a piercing whistle sounded from all directions, coming from what seemed like a great distance yet appearing to be right at everyone’s ears.

The eerie whistle, with its strong penetrating power, passed through the eardrums and entered deep into everyone’s brains, causing great discomfort.

Several princes and Young Masters from prominent families with weaker willpower began to show a crimson glint in their eyes, their emotions becoming frenetic, filled with an urge to destroy everything.

If this was the state of humans, what more of the beasts, driven by instinct and already agitated, almost at the very moment the whistle sounded, over a hundred fierce beasts, as if obeying some command, let out ear-splitting roars. Then, as one, they lunged toward the crowd, their white, gleaming teeth bared.

Xiao Ruiyuan notched an arrow to his bow, and as one of the wolves sprang at him, he released the string with decisive swiftness. The Arrow shot out like a speeding star, aimed at the leader wolf’s head.

That wolf, exceedingly agile, barely swerved aside to avoid the deadly Arrow. Even so, the sharp point of the Arrow grazed past its forehead, the skin barely touched yet instantly missing a tuft of fur, blood seeping out, bright red.

The pain on its head further fueled the wolf’s frenzy. Its hind legs bent slightly, and in the next moment, it shot toward Xiao Ruiyuan like a bolt of lightning, its massive paw, barely smaller than a human’s, revealing long, black claws.

One swipe from those claws could easily tear apart clothes and slice through human flesh as easily as a tiger’s might.

The bow and Arrow were only suitable for long-distance attacks, and it was too late for Xiao Ruiyuan to use them again. He tossed the bow and Arrow to the ground with his left hand, while his right hand simultaneously drew the Sharp Sword from his waist. He didn’t dodge, charging forward with a fierce slash at the wolf’s head.

Xiao Ruiyuan’s sword stroke was too fast. The wolf, sensing danger but too late to evade, was cleaved into two halves in the next instant, its hot, sticky blood spraying across the ground.