The Bodyguard King’s CEO Wife Chapter 1468: 1468: Ominous Signs

“Very well, I shall deliver your head to Hades as a memorial,” Doris declared from the cliff edge, her voice laced with ice. A frigid snort escaped her as she tightened her grip on her trident. Infusing it with her internal strength, an aura of lethal intent radiated from her, her countenance shifting dramatically. With a sudden burst of speed, she lunged forward, her trident aimed at Wang Kai in a devastating thrust. This attack was designed to be lethal, its potent energy ripple affecting even the warriors of the War God Temple and the formidable experts of the Dark List engaged in combat nearby.

“My Lord, quickly evade!” Kui Tuo Si shouted, shoving Wang Kai towards the safety of the wall.

Hiss.

As Wang Kai’s eyes snapped open, he witnessed Doris’s trident have already impaled Kui Tuo Si, piercing his entire chest cavity and emerging from his back…

“It appears Ares’ followers exhibit considerable loyalty,” Doris mused, her brow furrowed. She had not anticipated Kui Tuo Si intervening at the last moment to shield Wang Kai from her fatal blow. Blood welled in his mouth, soaking his garments and dripping onto the trident.

“My Lord… hurry… go… to Yanjing… seek out Lord Moon God.” Severely wounded, Kui Tuo Si understood his end was near, yet his final moments were dedicated to buying Wang Kai precious time. He reached out, his hands gripping the trident embedded in his chest with all his might. Doris attempted to wrench it free, but Kui Tuo Si’s tenacious hold made it impossible.

“Hmph, you overestimate your strength. Before long, I shall send him to join you in hell,” Doris sneered, gathering her power and finally flinging Kui Tuo Si aside. His body slammed violently against the wall.

“Doris, dispatch Ares swiftly, lest prolonged conflict breeds unforeseen complications,” Aphrodite boomed. Wang Kai was critically wounded, and with Kui Tuo Si, his right-hand man, now deceased, the opportune moment to finish him had arrived. She was determined not to grant Wang Kai any further chances.

“Brother.” Tears of sorrow streamed down Wang Kai’s face. Enduring excruciating pain, he pushed himself up from the ground, his fists clenched tightly. Kui Tuo Si had been by his side since Wang Kai’s initial arrival in the underworld, gathering a band of loyal brothers and gradually carving out their territory. The loss of his comrade was an insult he could not bear. Witnessing Doris’s ruthless assault, Wang Kai longed to charge forward and end her himself.

Just as the thought of wielding his long spear crossed his mind, Wang Kai felt utterly depleted and collapsed onto the ground.

“Haha, I never imagined the mighty Ares would be reduced to such a pathetic state.” Doris observed her prey’s desperate struggle with the patience of a hunter. The intense battle had left Wang Kai’s internal Qi exhausted, rendering him vulnerable. The members of the War God Temple were largely injured, having sustained heavy losses. Facing the formidable experts from the Dark List, their defenses were crumbling, forcing a continuous retreat.

“My Lord, we must depart immediately. All three flanks of the temple have been overrun. We will escort you to safety via the rear access,” a few loyal retainers urged, rushing to Wang Kai’s side.

“Release me. Today, we either die here alongside my brothers, or we slay that woman and leave her here,” Wang Kai declared, struggling fiercely, unwilling to accept such a fate.

“My Lord, as long as the mountains stand, there will always be wood for the fire. Let us first retreat to Yanjing and return to fight another day,” his devoted followers insisted, battling valiantly to escort him away. The fall of the War God Temple seemed inevitable, and their primary mission was to guarantee Wang Kai’s safety.

“You believe you can simply leave? Not a single one of you will walk away from here today,” Doris hissed, a murderous glint flashing in her eyes as she charged forward.

“You all take our Lord and escape. I shall hold her off.”

…………………………

The Qin Dynasty.

“My Lord, must we truly split our forces?” Man Cang questioned.

“Indeed, it is a necessary strategic decision. We remain unaware of the rebel army’s movements, and they have been entrenched in the mountains for an extended period, giving them intimate knowledge of the terrain and allowing them to establish numerous strongholds. Committing all our forces to a single engagement could prove fruitless, and over time, yield no significant results,” Ye Shikai explained, organizing three thousand soldiers into eight distinct units, each led by a seasoned Five Hundred Master handpicked by Ye Shikai himself.

“My Lord, we are prepared. Shall we commence our march?” Xue San inquired.

“Let us proceed. Exercise caution, everyone.”

Rumble.

Suddenly, a deafening thunderclap echoed through the heavens. Dark clouds converged, and the sky turned an ominous grey, signaling the onset of a torrential downpour.

“Shangguan, has the rainy season begun already?” Ye Shikai asked, his gaze fixed upwards, a frown creasing his brow. Setting out under the cover of heavy rain was not considered an auspicious start to a military campaign. Ancient beliefs often held such natural occurrences as ill omens; for instance, a crow’s flight presaging misfortune, thus necessitating heightened vigilance.

“How could it be? At this time of year, any rainfall would typically be a mere drizzle. A sudden deluge like this is quite unusual,” Shangguan Jian responded.

“Then our fortune is truly ‘remarkable’,” Ye Shikai muttered.

“Old Ye, with this sudden deluge, within deep mountain forests, the terrain is complex with dense vegetation. It’s difficult to see clearly even in daylight during heavy rain. Furthermore, we are newcomers, and we are splitting our forces along multiple routes. If we continue as originally planned, unforeseen incidents might occur,” Shangguan Jian expressed his worries. The weather and terrain have always been critical elements influencing the outcome of any engagement. Ye Shikai also felt a sense of unease; indeed, the timing of this rain was too much of a coincidence.

Raindrops began to descend from the sky, starting slowly at first, then escalating into a torrential downpour within mere minutes. The soldiers quickly donned their straw raincoats. While not providing complete protection from the rain, they offered some measure of defense.

“Old Ye, I propose we delay our departure, at least… until the rain ceases and the ground dries before we set out.”

“This…” Ye Shikai hesitated. Remaining in this remote wooded area was making him increasingly anxious with each passing day. A delay could potentially lead to unexpected changes. However, given the current weather conditions, advancing recklessly presented too significant a risk. His objective was to resolve the issue with the rebels at the minimum possible cost.

“Very well, we will commence our journey after the rain stops. For the time being, everyone return to the camp and heighten your vigilance.”

Whiz.

“Ambush!”

The moment the word was uttered, a soldier crumpled to the ground, an arrow embedded directly in his head, claiming his life instantly. Everyone was startled and immediately raised their shields, forming a defensive perimeter.

“It’s the rebels attacking under concealment. Be vigilant, my lord,” Man Cang positioned himself in front of Ye Shikai, brandishing a shield in one hand and a sword in the other.

With the dark clouds overhead and swirling dust, visibility was limited to less than twenty meters, making it impossible to spot the rebels lying in ambush and firing arrows. The soldiers were gripped by panic, fearing that another arrow would suddenly emerge from the surroundings and strike their heads.

“It appears those rebel forces have been lurking nearby. They must already be aware of our postponed maneuvers,” Shangguan Jian stated with a cold tone.