I Rely on the Collapse of the Character Setting to Survive in the Hands of the Male Lead Chapter 156

Chapter 156

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Pei Jin hadn’t expected that there would be an ongoing battle ahead, and the bandits had enough resources to divert and intercept them.

It seemed that the area around Wu Xin Mountain was already filled with informants who closely monitored the situation in the capital. Any slight movement there could trigger an immediate response.

This time, they must have spotted the Pei family’s carriage, and with fewer people around, they saw it as a viable target to directly launch an attack. This not only prevented them from passing on any messages but also provided an opportunity to capture hostages.

These bandits undoubtedly had a cunning leader guiding them.

As three bandits charged towards them, each displaying some level of skill, and with only one guard by her side, it was evident that it would be challenging to fully protect herself. Pei Jin had no choice but to draw her own dagger.

Soon, one of the bandits found an opening and directly knocked Pei Jin’s dagger away. He reached out and dragged her out, clearly intending to capture her alive.

Pei Jin’s face turned pale, and she immediately struggled. However, her leg was already injured, rendering her powerless to resist.

At that moment, the sound of hooves erupted nearby.

When the bandit looked up, he was already knocked down by the hooves of a horse.

Pei Jin also fell to the ground, and before she could react, she felt someone jumping down. Looking up, it was Lin Qingyang.

Lin Qingyang quickly jumped down, picked up Pei Jin, and threw her onto the horse. She swiftly mounted another horse herself. Fortunately, there were other guards who temporarily held off the bandits, buying them some time.

Lin Qingyang pulled the reins and galloped away with Pei Jin.

Pei Jin lay uncomfortably on the horse’s back, but at this moment, survival was paramount. She tightly clutched the hem of Lin Qingyang’s clothes, preventing herself from falling off.

They had already escaped the immediate danger zone. Suddenly, up ahead, Mu Huichun shouted, and they saw his horse suddenly go mad. It turned out that the horse had been hit by an arrow, causing it to lose control. Mu Huichun, being small in stature and unable to control the horse, was carried away in a wild dash.

Not far away, Lin Qingyang noticed that one of the bandits was riding a horse and chasing after Mu Huichun.

If caught, Mu Huichun would be in mortal danger.

Lin Qingyang couldn’t afford to consider much at the moment and had to ride with Pei Jin to catch up.

Not far ahead was a dense forest on the mountainside. Suddenly, Mu Huichun’s horse stumbled and fell, throwing him off. Lin Qingyang’s heart skipped a beat, but thankfully, Mu Huichun managed to get back up and continued evading the pursuers.

Mu Huichun, being smart, cleverly hid in the woods. There were no paths inside, making it impossible for the horses to enter. The bandits had to dismount and go after him on foot.

By the time Lin Qingyang and the others caught up, there was no sign of Mu Huichun.

Lin Qingyang was about to dismount, but Pei Jin grabbed him, “Lin Qingyang, none of us know martial arts. If they catch up, we’ll all die. Don’t go. Let’s escape together.”

Lin Qingyang, however, didn’t listen and insisted on dismounting. He helped Pei Jin adjust her posture and said, “You go quickly. There are still horses here. We will definitely catch up later.”

“Lin Qingyang, you fool!” Pei Jin was furious.

“I’ll be fine!” Lin Qingyang directly slapped the horse with the back of his knife, and the horse quickly carried Pei Jin away.

Far away, the echoes of Pei Jin’s scolding could still be heard.

Lin Qingyang understood that in the eyes of people like Pei Jin, life had its distinctions and values. The life of a humble healer like an insignificant physician might not mean much to them. However, in Lin Qingyang’s perspective, the system had not issued any safety warnings. He knew that going to rescue someone wouldn’t pose a danger to him. Moreover, he had conversed and made agreements with Mu Huichun. He couldn’t knowingly ignore the possibility of saving him.

Holding a knife, Lin Qingyang pursued into the forest. Fortunately, recent heavy rains had left the ground damp, and he could still trace footprints.

Following the footprints, Lin Qingyang chased for a while until he suddenly came across a bandit lying on the ground, unable to get up. Lin Qingyang was surprised and cautiously approached to check. Suddenly, laughter echoed around him. “You really came to save me? Don’t worry, he’s already dead.”

Turning around, Lin Qingyang saw Mu Huichun sitting on a nearby rock, watching him.

“How did you… I thought you couldn’t use martial arts?”

Mu Huichun held a silver needle, “But I’m good with poisons. I may not handle a crowd, but if it’s just one person, as long as I can get close to him, he’s as good as dead.”

No wonder the system didn’t give a warning; it turned out the person was already killed. Lin Qingyang immediately relaxed and took a deep breath.

“No wonder that person took an interest in you; you’re indeed a bit special,” Mu Huichun said, approaching with a smile.

“What are you talking about?” Lin Qingyang asked, glancing around and assessing the situation, still somewhat distracted.

Mu Huichun said, “It’s nothing, let’s go.”

Lin Qingyang didn’t think too much about it. They were still in danger, but as they were about to return along the same path, they heard someone entering the woods. The two quickly hid.

“What’s going on? Where are the people?”

“One rode away on a horse, and two entered here. Old Wu went after them, but after shouting for a while, no one responded. Could it be… they ran far away?”

“Old Wu can’t chase further inside. Set up an ambush and left a few people nearby to continue monitoring. If anyone comes out, capture and brought them up the mountain.”

Soon, the bandits split into two groups, with one staying behind and the other attempting to chase after Pei Jin.

Lin Qingyang could only lead Mu Huichun deeper into the mountains.

“What should we do? We can’t leave? Otherwise, I could create a large amount of poisonous smoke and kill them all? However… in that case, with the wind blowing, it might harm innocent people,” Mu Huichun said.

“We can wait for someone to come and rescue us,” Lin Qingyang quickly suggested.

“Are you sure that woman can escape? And wasn’t it said that the front line of the battlefield is intense? Would they specially send someone to find us? This place is so big, do they know where we are?” Mu Huichun asked three consecutive questions, expressing disagreement.

Lin Qingyang thought for a moment, then suddenly had a bright idea. Smiling mischievously, he looked at Mu Huichun and said, “We can just walk through the woods to the military camp.”

Mu Huichun chuckled, “Are you running a fever? The trees here are so dense and tall. Do you know the direction? Do you know where to go? Don’t get caught by bandits halfway!”

Lin Qingyang laughed, “Don’t worry, follow me. I have a strong sense of direction.” As he spoke, he looked up, and a green arrow had already appeared in the sky. The familiar navigation voice had started playing. With his navigation skills, walking out of the mountains was not only simple but also the most optimal route.

On the other side, Pei Jin managed to escape back to the camp in a critical situation and was rescued by others.

The atmosphere in the camp was tense at the moment. Many people were injured, and the injuries varied, clearly caused by different trap mechanisms. As soon as the Pei family members saw Pei Jin, they hurriedly approached her, seeking her advice. After all, the Third Prince and the Pei family confidants accompanying him had been captured, causing chaos among them.

However, Pei Jin did not immediately pay attention to them. Instead, she urgently went to see General Zhao. On her way, she encountered Wang Tong’en, who was injured and hastily looking for someone. The two briefly crossed paths, but Wang Tong’en suddenly emanated a strong murderous intent towards her. Pei Jin instantly became alert, but in the end, Wang Tong’en didn’t say much. He just wore a stern expression and immediately ran out of the camp.

“General Zhao, I encountered an attack by bandits on my way here. Lin Qingyang is likely trapped in the mountains. Please send troops to rescue.”

Zhao Cheng was studying the terrain map when he heard this and was immediately startled. He quickly responded, “They have been monitoring the nearby situation. Could it be that even my military report to the court has been…?” So, there hasn’t been any reinforcements yet because the information is delayed?

Zhao Cheng immediately looked at Pei Jin, and she, being clever, directly said, “We used specially trained messenger pigeons from our Pei family to deliver the message. That’s how I learned about the situation here. I believe even if the court is a bit late, they should know from various sources by now. General, Lin Qingyang is the Fourth Prince’s study companion. You must rescue him!”

“We lack the manpower. If we send people now, it would be sending them to their deaths. The mountains are their cover; we have no idea where their forces are. We have to wait for reinforcements,” General Zhao said, coughing after speaking.

“Then what about… Never mind, what about Chu Lishu! I’ll talk to him!” Pei Jin said sternly.

General Zhao’s expression became even more grim. “At that time, the bandits not only repelled the forces attacking the mountain from three sides but also executed a strategy like a mantis hunting the cicada, with a hidden bird trapping the mantis. They ambushed the main camp here and abducted some people.”

“That…”

“Chu Lishu and Xu Wenze have both been captured.”

Pei Jin was immediately shocked, “You… so many of you came to eliminate the bandits, and you all got captured? It’s simply… embarrassing the entire court!”

General Zhao instantly glared, his eyes widening, “If it weren’t for letting these scheming princes practice, with half of my troops, I could clean up Wu Xin Mountain. Even with traps, they wouldn’t withstand the might of our Great Zhou’s strong soldiers! But all our manpower went to them. What have they achieved? I can’t figure it out either. Ask your Highness at home when you get back. How did we lose a battle that was supposed to be a sure victory?”

Pei Jin also became furious, “What do you mean by that? Even if my Highness lacks war experience, it shouldn’t result in…”

“Heh, did you encounter Wang Tong’en when you came here?”

Pei Jin was momentarily stunned, her eyes slightly flickering at the mention of Wang Tong’en’s attitude.

“Wang Tong’en and the remaining soldiers who came back indicated a situation. The originally assigned tactics were first temporarily changed by the Crown Prince, squeezing over to the side of the Eldest Prince. Then, the Third Prince also came over to join in the excitement on the Eldest Prince’s side. In the darkness, our own people, due to these sudden changes, repeatedly fell into traps, leading to an imbalance in the situation. The battlefield was lost, and they used a rolling stone formation, almost wiping us out,” General Zhao explained, his anger evident.

Chu Lishu had initially collaborated with General Zhao in studying the terrain and possible scenarios. Recognizing Chu Lishu’s military talent, General Zhao was pleased, thinking that this time they could surely fulfill the Prime Minister’s instructions. According to their analysis, they assigned specific locations for the three princes to act. Naturally, the largest advantage was given to the Eldest Prince. As long as the Eldest Prince didn’t act recklessly, victory was almost certain.

They planned to send people to monitor the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, creating obstacles for them. This would lead to the capture of the Crown Prince and the Third Prince as hostages, providing the Eldest Prince with the best opportunity to rescue them. This strategy aimed to create the most favorable reputation. Even if Wu Xin Mountain was eerie, with such military strength, it would undoubtedly be completely crushed.

Everything was going well, but unexpectedly, the Crown Prince and the Third Prince had last-minute changes of plans, disrupting the entire strategy. In the end, their people didn’t even need to intervene; the Crown Prince and the Third Prince fell into their own trap, getting captured. The Eldest Prince fought fiercely and refused to be captured, so his whereabouts were unknown. The mountains were vast, making it easy to get lost, and his fate remained uncertain. It was rumored that many of the traps they fell into were poisoned, and it was unknown if the Eldest Prince was still alive to help them complete the plan.

The most frightening aspect was that without the Eldest Prince leading sufficient forces for a rescue, the Crown Prince and the Third Prince’s survival was uncertain. If something happened to all three of them, General Zhao would undoubtedly be held responsible. Various factions within the court would definitely shift the blame onto the Fourth Prince’s faction. In that case, they would truly find it difficult to defend themselves.

Pei Jin, holding back her frustration, sought out members of the Pei family. Some had come down from the battlefield, so she inquired about the situation. The person, not daring to conceal anything, said, “The Third Prince heard from scouts that it seems like the Crown Prince wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to attack the Eldest Prince. He has already taken people to rush over. The Third Prince thought it was an opportunity and wanted to…”

“He still wants to kill two birds with one stone?!” Pei Jin was infuriated. If it were that easy, someone would have done it long ago. Moreover, the previous attempt to assassinate the Crown Prince failed, right? Why are they still not giving up? The current situation for the Pei family was already dire, and they should have played it safe. Now, they ended up getting captured themselves.

On the other side, Lin Qingyang was also contemplating the unfolding events while hurrying on the road. As the situation progressed, he found it increasingly challenging to understand the reasons behind the chaos. The butterfly effect had taken its toll, and people’s mindsets had changed. Now, he needed to quickly reunite with Chu Lishu and adapt to the circumstances.

While walking, he heard Mu Huichun complaining, “Why does it feel like we’ve been going uphill all the time?”

Lin Qingyang was about to respond when suddenly the system issued a warning. Quickly, Lin Qingyang grabbed Mu Huichun and crouched down to take cover.

However, after hiding for a while, they didn’t see any sign of people. The two exchanged puzzled glances, and Mu Huichun whispered, “Did you notice something?”

Lin Qingyang awkwardly replied, “I just felt a sense of danger.”

Mu Huichun had no martial arts skills, making him susceptible to deception. Hearing this, he became alert, observing their surroundings. Suddenly, Mu Huichun twitched his nose, “Poison.”

“What?” Lin Qingyang was confused. Mu Huichun pointed in a direction, and Lin Qingyang followed his gaze. Vaguely, he seemed to see something shiny. Upon closer inspection, he noticed ropes and some strange objects hanging on the trees on both sides of the path they were about to take.

Lin Qingyang pondered for a moment, then stood up and found a large stone to throw.

As the stone landed, they heard a series of swishing sounds, accompanied by various images flashing rapidly before them. Finally, there was a loud bang, and both of them were dumbfounded.

In front of them, a long trench appeared on the ground, extending to a point half a meter away from where they stood. The trench was filled with sharp pillars, and the trees on both sides were now pierced with short arrows shot from crossbows. Some arrows had even penetrated through the trees, emitting an eerie glow, indicating that they were poisoned.

The trap was made… it was made really too terrifying.

Mu Huichun, with wide-eyed amazement, tugged on Lin Qingyang’s sleeve. “You… sensing that danger was incredible. We were almost turned into human kebabs, pierced by a thousand arrows here.”

Lin Qingyang also swallowed hard, wishing he could kiss the intangible system out of relief.

They continued on, narrowly avoiding the occasional traps. By the end, Mu Huichun was no longer impressed; instead, he seemed annoyed. “Are we really heading towards the military camp? Why are there so many traps?”

“Those traps should be set up by the bandits. This… indicates that we’re getting closer to the military camp. We’ll definitely be heading downhill later,” Lin Qingyang said, feeling uncertain. Why did their arrows keep pointing upward?

Both of them were tired and decided to take a break. Mu Huichun wanted to continue downhill, but suddenly a sound rang out – the sound of concealed weapons.

Lin Qingyang was startled. There was some distance between him and Mu Huichun now, and his alarm was only effective for himself. It seemed that Mu Huichun triggered a mechanism.

Lin Qingyang hurriedly rushed over to save Mu Huichun, but it was too late. Dozens of arrows were shot from the mechanism, and Mu Huichun was so scared that he forgot to take cover.

In this critical moment, a black figure suddenly leaped from a distance, stepping on tree trunks, and effortlessly caught all the arrows mid-air.

Immediately, a melodious and pleasant male voice sounded.

“Lin Qingyang, what are you doing here? Did Chu Lishu also call you? How could he bear to do this?”

Lin Qingyang widened his eyes in disbelief, seeing two figures approaching from a distance—Yue Chen and Huo Luo descending from above.

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