66: Chapter 65: Deer Sled Galloping 3 66: Chapter 65: Deer Sled Galloping 3 The piercing short shriek signified that the young boy was about to accelerate!

Obviously, the young boy had made the same judgment!

It was their prearranged signal to charge forward desperately in critical moments, saving whoever could be saved!

Under these circumstances, there was no holding back for Lin Lu, no longer seeking broader paths but trying to navigate the more dangerous narrow trails and steep slopes!

Hou Niao also felt the change in the creatures of the forest.

If previously they hid in the shadows, attacking surreptitiously, content with a bite here and retreating if they couldn’t get one, now the unusual creatures’ attacks became ferociously unyielding!

From his first venture into the Poplar Forest, Hou Niao knew that, despite its limited size and not being in the depths of old mountains, and humans often passing through, the overall tier of the unusual creatures was relatively weak.

They relied more on overwhelming numbers, employing swarm tactics.

Most were Mortal Beasts, with occasionally Low Realm Demon Beasts mingling among them, characterizing the overall fauna of the Poplar Forest.

Demons of the same realm were slightly weaker than humans, so he hadn’t encountered a creature that required a second strike with his sword, but now, as they recklessly threw themselves into battle without regard for their lives, although he could still easily ensure his own safety, protecting six deer sleds proved beyond his strength.

Some border folks were already injured but still persisted, even petrified by the appearance of the Tiger God, yet the human desire to survive erupted in them with tremendous force, barely allowing them to hold on.

The young boy frequently looked back to shoot arrows.

His archery skills were extraordinary, no longer describable by “shooting a target a hundred steps away,” and might even be called miraculous; but no matter how skilled his archery, there were only so many arrows, so he could only target the most threatening Demon Beasts, leading the way and often looking back like a desperate beast at bay, having reached his limits.

Hou Niao was the busiest, needing to keep an eye and ear in every direction.

Striking wasn’t difficult; the swordsmanship refined in the Soul Realm allowed his Longsword to achieve unmatched sharpness, every attack needing only a single strike, invincible from any angle!

But his challenge lay in moving.

With six deer sleds, a maximum distance spanning scores of yards between them, he suspected he might collapse from running before his blade would dull, and moreover, he started to lose track of everything!

A wrapper had already been torn apart by a bear, and the elderly and weak couldn’t help but scream in terror.

At that moment, he had no opportunity to uphold his promise; whether he shouted or not, it no longer mattered as the unceasing roars of the tiger spurred on these forest creatures to never cease their attacks.

Thus, stumbling and staggering, they crossed the third ten-mile stretch, and at the beginning of the fourth ten-mile stretch, the first death occurred in the team—a Hunter entangled by a Ran Snake and dragged deep into the leaves, with Hou Niao far away.

Perhaps the elders of Ancient North Village were greedy, but these real transporters, the border people, were incredibly brave.

Rarely could Mortals show such courage against Demons, fighting bravely to their last breath!

Hou Niao didn’t try to rescue him, because he knew that even a moment’s absence would lead to more deaths among the sleds behind him.

As their Guardian, he was forced to treat these people as cold numbers, weighing the many against the few, worthwhile or not—a painful decision for any Swordsman, yet he must take that step!

It was the true cost of growth, not just a trial of a single scenario.

They could wait no longer; their plan hadn’t accounted for the Tiger God’s interference.

Hou Niao let out a mournful long howl, signaling the execution of their final plan!

The young boy slowed down, eventually stopping, slung his bow over his shoulder, and drew the war blade from his waist.

If this was the end, he cherished such a destiny!

The six deer sleds came to a halt one by one, forming a tight circle.

The border people nervously busied themselves, arranging everyone onto two sleds, with the remaining driver Hunters riding deer to guard the sides of the sleds; they may have been stubborn border people, possibly ignorant, perhaps greedy, but in battle, they were the finest warriors, never backing down!

Hou Niao jumped down from his horse, gave its hindquarters a slap, “Go and survive!”

The swordsman’s longsword could only unleash its greatest power when his feet firmly trod the earth!

As for how to make a run for it, he did not consider that anymore!

There are times when one has to act irrationally, and only after surpassing this phase can one truly claim to be a swordsman!

Iron must be tempered to become steel!

Blood also must burn to turn into the soul!

The youth shouted, “If we keep moving in a straight line, we have fifteen li to go!”

Hou Niao stepped forward, “This time, I’ll take the lead!”

The most formidable resistance was now ahead, they lost their speed and thus their mobility, giving the creatures of the forest ample time to surround them!

The team pushed forward again, but the two deer sleds, overloaded, staggered, yet the thicker protective surroundings actually provided them with increased security!

Hou Niao led the way in front, not needing to recognize the trail, just charging forward; the youth covered the rear, where his bow and arrows could be most effective!

Flanking them were nine border people, each wielding iron forks and large knives; the entire team’s pace depended on how quickly the pathfinder could kill!

The youth was surprised to find they were not moving slowly, almost at a steady jog; watching as various wild animals lunged at them from the front—Demon Beasts and Mortal Beasts alike, spiny foxes, red wolves, roaring bears, pangolins, Ran Snakes, spiders…

But all the ferocity of these demons was suppressed by an even greater ferocity opposite, where the sword light shone, nothing was indestructible!

There was no dazzling display of swordplay, no leaping back and forth, just firm steps: one step, one sword blow, a sword with each step, never showing a gap, as if each strike was the last…

This blunt, almost mindless assault chilled even the not-so-clever Demon Creatures!

The youth’s blood boiled, his arrows long spent, but his battle knife still swung, helping the border people to shield the central group of people…

He was not very successful, and despite his best efforts, one border person after another fell.

More and more of the old, weak, women, and children were dragged from the sleds, quickly disappearing without a trace!

How many had fallen?

It was impossible to count!

What they could barely keep track of was how many were left?

From the thirty-seven they started with, they dropped a few with each li they covered, until the border people on the flanks were completely exposed, until the deer sleds were empty, even the Lin Deers that pulled the sleds were completely devoured!

With less than one li to the edge of the forest, they could even see sunlight filtering through the dense foliage; the sunlight came too late, and danger arrived too soon…

Hou Niao felt the Spiritual Power in his body’s meridians had been drained dry, the miraculous Huangting Vortex, unlike in the legendary tales, did not bring him the transformative change, teaching him the fact that one should never trust in mysteries, the only thing one can trust is oneself!

The youth, utterly drained, could only lean on the sled frame, struggling to wave his broken knife…

They were still holding on!

Right next to the completely empty sled frame, even they did not know what exactly they were holding onto, it was just holding on for the sake of holding on…

They could not make it through the final stretch of the road!

The enemy’s Tiger God had not even appeared yet!