Moonlight filtered through the small forest, casting cold white beams on the patrol cavalry’s armor, creating an eerie atmosphere.

An Jiu concealed himself in the shadows, watching the shifting light patterns on the approaching rider. When they were less than fifty paces apart, An Jiu raised his arm and released the crossbow’s trigger.

The rider reacted with lightning speed, dodging right as soon as he heard the sound. The bolt grazed his right arm, sparks flying as it struck his armor.

An Jiu gave him no time to breathe, firing four arrows in rapid succession. Each arrow was aimed half a foot apart at varying heights, cutting off any escape route.

Seeing this, the cavalry soldier attempted to leap onto a nearby tree. However, before he could fully rise, the four arrows were upon him, one bolt striking his thigh.

He grunted, realizing his opponent excelled at archery. Maintaining distance would put him at a disadvantage; he needed to close in.

Gritting his teeth, he cut the hindering arrow and darted forward like lightning. His excessive force caused blood to spray from his leg wound, leaving a trail behind him.

An Jiu had underestimated the cavalry soldier’s speed. She retreated swiftly while drawing the twin swords hidden on her back.

A sinister smile flickered in the cavalryman’s eyes. His heavy blade flashed blood-red in the dappled light. Before the blade reached her, An Jiu felt a strong gust of wind.

The sword struck with tiger-like ferocity, its qi-infused wind capable of harm. An Jiu’s slight delay in dodging left a bead-sized blood droplet on her left cheek, trickling down like a tear of blood.

Sword and blade clashed violently, sparks flying. An Jiu’s twin swords were already showing cracks, seemingly on the verge of shattering.

Despite the dim light, An Jiu glimpsed the fractures on her blade. Her opponent’s sword remained unmarred.

An Jiu suddenly planted her feet, unleashing her full strength in a desperate counterattack.

The cavalry soldier felt both joy and suspicion. He was pleased that most external cultivators favored forceful, domineering techniques, with women naturally weaker than men in this path. Yet he was puzzled by his opponent’s ability to conceal her presence, wondering if her mental strength might prove troublesome.

In this moment of distraction, An Jiu’s twin swords shattered. She leaned back, the blade’s edge barely missing her nose.

An Jiu smoothly drew the dagger at her leg, leaping back ten paces.

They faced each other, weapons poised.

The sounds of battle outside gradually diminished. An Jiu had an ominous feeling—the Song army was retreating in defeat!

She needed to find a way to escape quickly!

With this thought, An Jiu fired seven or eight arrows at the cavalry soldier. As he dodged, she spun and vanished into the darkness, suppressing her presence as she fled swiftly.

A sharp whistle sounded behind her.

Immediately, An Jiu sensed six skilled pursuers closing in.

Though these six were not as formidable as the previous cavalry soldier, their speed was extraordinary.

An Jiu, naturally slower than internal cultivators, found the gap between them narrowing.

They hadn’t found her trail yet, but their encircling pursuit would soon reveal her location.

If escape was impossible, a desperate counterattack was her only option!

An Jiu suddenly halted, lowering her presence to its minimum. Following her spiritual sense, she nocked her Subduing Dragon Bow and fired several arrows in the perceived directions.

The forest echoed with the clash of arrowheads against weapons and cries of pain. Her pursuers hadn’t expected the fleeing target to suddenly stop and counterattack, let alone hit them without visual contact!

Someone shouted in Khitan. The remaining five suddenly doubled their speed.

Within two breaths, they appeared before the tree where An Jiu hid, forming a semicircle around her.

An Jiu leaped down from the other side, slowly emerging from behind the tree.

After a brief standoff, the five men charged at her with their broadswords.

An Jiu stood motionless against the oncoming force and qi. When they were just steps away, she unleashed a burst of mental energy. The impact and pressure were like a mountain falling from the sky. Unprepared for such a powerful mental attack, her assailants’ minds went blank, ears ringing with a sharp noise!

This mental attack was a technique An Jiu had long observed but never used. Its effect matched her expectations.

An Jiu drew her twin swords, coated with poison obtained from Mo Sigui. Upon skin contact, it emitted an acrid smell of burning flesh.

An Jiu watched as one cavalry soldier’s armor became an empty shell, collapsing into a lifeless heap.

In an instant, three fell to her blade.

The remaining two, just recovering from the mental assault, stepped back in fear at the sight before them.

An Jiu regretted not using all the limited poison on her arrows.

“The Song army has retreated. We have you surrounded. Surrender now,” one said in broken Chinese.

Fourth-rank and above martial artists were rare. Even if Liao had deployed all its martial artists to the army, there couldn’t be many.

An Jiu, unfazed by these words, felt a surge of emotion. She coldly replied, “You dare boast after invading our land!”

Before her words faded, she charged forward like an arrow.

Her mental energy fused her body with the twin swords, making her appear like a giant blade slashing through the air.

Before the sword fell, her mental force split the ground. The two men froze, feeling blood gush from their scalps, washing over their faces.

A li away, approaching Liao cavalry suddenly saw a massive flock of birds erupting from the forest, leaves rising in a dense cloud, nearly obscuring the moon.

Without orders, all the cavalry halted, staring in awe at this strange phenomenon.

The cavalry leader frowned, muttering, “Is this the power of a Song Dynasty expert…”

In the forest, leaves settled.

An Jiu coughed blood, supporting herself with her broken sword. After confirming the deaths of her opponents, she took medicine from her pouch, wiped the blood from her mouth, re-covered her face, and hastily departed.

After her recent reforging, the damage from her mental power had mostly healed. With Mo Sigui’s medicine, she was nearly recovered. Even An Jiu hadn’t expected such a powerful burst of mental energy! Her reforged body could barely contain it…

What could have caused this?