When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist
Chapter 106 - 104: Another Path

Chapter 106: Chapter 104: Another Path

A cry like that of a monkey pierced the air as a Beastman was shot down by a long arrow, falling into a puddle.

Water splashed everywhere, and blood stained the puddle red.

The rest of the Beastmen continued to flee, howling and shouting.

Slowly, Bo Ao Lie withdrew the longbow in his hand, as the murky afternoon sunlight glinted off his forehead, revealing beads of sweat.

He turned to look at the mercenaries and militia who had been wounded by the Beastmen using throwing weapons and slings, a trace of disdain in his eyes.

As an Imperial Knight, besides passing the arena assessments, one must also master archery, swordsmanship, spear techniques, and the application of corresponding Extraordinary weapons.

Whether on horseback in battle or fighting on foot, all related Extraordinary skills must be mastered.

This is over twenty years of honing, and no one knows of the blood and sweat involved.

Yet these ordinary infantry think they can rely on equipment and formations to stop the charge of an Imperial Knight, even being jealous of their status.

It’s truly laughable.

What makes you think your group formations can match my twenty years of hard training?

If only he could have been born a hundred years earlier, back then, even the proud El Citizens of Fenglu City had to bow their heads before a Knight.

These common folk, instead of staying dutifully in the fields to farm for the Extraordinary, they aspire to be laborers, citizens, and even urban nobles or City Councilors.

Causing the earnings from his family’s land holdings to decrease significantly, forcing him to hone his battle skills, living by the sword.

Even so, those merchants and free cities continue to raise labor wages, attracting more Public Register Farmers to flee the land.

If you ask him, those citizens should be slaughtered completely, the free cities razed to the ground; returning to two hundred years ago would be ideal.

There might be some pain in the process, but shock therapy is the best treatment.

"Sir, the stats are out. Our Mountain Infantry has thirty-two dead and missing, leaving 315 currently."

"Uncle, our White Maple Mercenaries have seventeen casualties, leaving seven hundred seventy, militia casualties are fifty..."

"How many times have I told you, on the battlefield call me Company Commander!" Bo Ao Lie interrupted Belarte’s report directly.

He brought his little nephew with infantry to catch the Beastman for a show in front of His Highness the Prince.

He intended to impress His Highness the Prince with a bold move, but Belard ended up dropping a big mess.

1,500 soldiers letting 1,200 peasants escape, who would believe that?

Back home, a few dozen soldiers would chase thousands of rioters to death.

More importantly, because of this, he was forced to withdraw from the affluent Xiaochi City to pursue these worthless Beastmen.

Capturing them brings nothing but reputation.

"Cough, cough, Lord Bo Ao Lie." Cléante said in a low voice from the side.

"What’s up?"

Despite the conflict between Cléante and Belard, Bo Ao Lie did not make it difficult for him.

Nobles are sharp-witted, well-versed in human relations.

Handling someone like Cléante gives a perception of bullying small fry, especially since Cléante has Archbishop Banifus behind him.

If there’s an opportunity to trip him up, if not, just let it go.

This equal treatment made Cléante feel rather nervous.

"I just surveyed the site of their camp, they are about 40 to 60 Li away, what’s our next step..."

"The next step is obviously to continue the pursuit." Bo Ao Lie impatiently waved his hand, "Leave all the militia and wounded behind, keep only three days’ worth of supplies, those with breathing techniques, follow me forward."

Under Bo Ao Lie’s command, the 300 Extraordinary Knights, abandoning a thousand ordinary infantry, took the remaining six hundred elite infantry, and began the chase along the long path Horn had traversed.

At that moment, in the camp of the Pope Country.

Horn sat at the head of the council table, eyes closed, resting.

"I saw 300 Knights, a troop even longer than ours, in yesterday’s camping spot."

Diya’s words seemed to echo in Horn’s ears.

Those Knights, those high and mighty Knights, they have returned.

Horn had not even seen them, not even encountered them once.

Yet they persistently sought the lives of Horn and his fellow villagers.

Can’t be too quick to celebrate; just after the champagne was popped, the Knights caught up.

Horn knew he was deceiving himself, whether or not the celebration happened, they were bound to catch up.

Especially with the camp full of patients at the moment.

Only ten days of journey left, they’ve already covered half of the long road, only the last bit to go.

As long as they reach there, as long as they reach Joan of Arc Castle.

Madlan could open his bakery, Frick can continue singing his heroic epics, Grampwen and Diya can host a grand wedding, and Chervis can continue to sell his fake liquor.

Horn himself can leave gracefully, completely bidding farewell to this ludicrous past, entrusting these refugees to Duke Kush at Joan of Arc Castle.

With Qianqian’s recommendation, the protection of two Witches, and Horn’s strong Mana, securing the Secret Faction’s protection is basically certain.

As for what happens next, depends on the situation and prevailing trends.

But anyway, that would be like fish leaping in the sea, birds flying in the sky.

Dreamtime always comes to an end.

Returning to reality, Madlan and Frick were still bedridden with fever, Grampwen was wiping his wife’s tears with distress, Chervis frowned, laying on the table.

And Horn himself, sitting there, like a clay statue.

Behind Horn, within no more than a day’s travel, the Imperial Knights and over a thousand soldiers were about to charge through.

To run away?

This road is so narrow, what lies ahead is the uninhabited marsh, where can they escape?

To counterattack?

Looking at this group of patients, thinking about the combat power of the Imperial Knights, how can they counterattack?

"Bang."

Unconsciously, Horn slammed his fist on the table: "Damn it, how did the Pope Country end up like this!"

"Perhaps we can go back, if we walk fast enough, hide near the Beastman Kingdom; maybe there’s hope." Qianqian suggested.

"What if we run into the Imperial Knights on the way back?" Chervis slumped over the table, "Aren’t you aware of their speed, we took five days worth of road, they covered it in two, and we even have sick people.

Even without a direct encounter, those narrow paths over the puddles can only allow one person to pass through, queuing past that point, they’d catch up before we’re done."

The tent fell into silence immediately.

"Can we rush to the marsh area quickly? Ahead is swamp, they’re riding, maybe they can’t chase us." Busak suggested a plan.

Jeska pondered for a moment, then added another dash of cold water: "No, the marsh is more dangerous, moreover the long road leads directly to the marsh, we need to defend against creatures while marching, slowing us further."

The entire tent fell into prolonged silence once more.

"Maybe, I have a solution." Squatting beside Horn, Jia Li poked her head out from the table’s edge.

Horn forced a smile and patted Jia Li’s little head: "Quit fooling around, I have a spring-powered little frog here, take it and play somewhere else."

Jia Li took the little frog and puffed her cheeks: "But I really have a solution, to cross the uninhabited marsh area, there’s more than one route. I know another dirt road that can lead to the Wild Spider Forest, it’s just a bit risky.

That small road is extremely hidden, if we disguise properly, those nasty Knights will definitely not find it."

Qianqian asked in surprise: "How did you know?"

Horn scratched Jia Li’s chin, and Jia Li closed her eyes comfortably: "I just know, even though I didn’t know before, once I got here, I just knew."

"Did you recover your memory?"

"Um... kinda, I have to encounter familiar things to remember, maybe if I take that path, I’ll recall even more."

"Then take a Child Soldier to check it out, see if the path is still there, ride a horse."

Horn immediately stood up: "Instead of discussing here, let’s take action, get all the able patients moving, the rest load on the carts, the sooner we set off, the safer."

"Now that I’ve provided a map, do I get a reward?" Jia Li leaped to hug Horn and asked.

"What kind of reward do you want?"

"I want a kiss."

Glancing back at Jeanne’s face, turning grimly furious, Horn helplessly pinched Jia Li’s cheek: "Alright."