The Bodyguard King’s CEO Wife Chapter 1549: Escape from Danger

Ye Shikai’s Fire Element, a treasure coveted by many cultivators, originated from the Atlantis relic. The Qin Army soldiers, being mere mortals, had never witnessed such a phenomenon. Coupled with Ye Shikai’s sudden, seemingly supernatural revival, their shock was entirely understandable.

"A ghost!"

"Run, run!"

Hundreds of Qin soldiers fled in utter panic, discarding their helmets and armor as if they had seen a specter. In truth, Ye Shikai’s appearance hadn’t physically changed; they were simply misled by tales of "demons and spirits." It wasn't their fault; in an era devoid of modern science, such superstitious beliefs held strong sway.

"Report to Lord Han! General Ye... General Ye has returned from the dead!"

"What? How is that possible?" Han Hao, witnessing his soldiers scattering like frightened souls, nearly tumbled from his horse. A familiar figure was charging out from the meteor crater, baffling him. Ye Shikai, resembling a War God, effortlessly shattered the Qin Army’s encirclement. Soldiers who dared to approach him were disintegrated by Sword Qi before they could even get near.

"My lord, General Ye must be possessed by a ghost."

"Nonsense! Where is this ghost? Fire the arrows, kill him!"

A flicker of relief surged through Han Hao upon seeing Ye Shikai alive, quickly replaced by cold murderous intent. The meteor’s fall had struck a nerve with the emperor, and now, with the soldiers fleeing, if Ye Shikai also escaped, the emperor's fury would undoubtedly fall upon Han Hao for his perceived "failure to suppress."

The emperor’s wrath often led to swift executions.

"Quick, fire the arrows!"

Over a thousand soldiers unleashed a sky-darkening volley of arrows, all aimed at Ye Shikai.

"You Xi Sword!"

Ye Shikai drew the You Xi Sword from his Storage Ring, channeled his Inner Strength, and unleashed a formidable Sword intent. A crushing pressure descended upon the nearby soldiers, constricting their chests and stealing their breath. As the arrows rained down, they inexplicably halted three feet from Ye Shikai, suspended in mid-air as if time itself had stopped.

"This..."

"How can this be?"

Even Han Hao’s prior skepticism dissolved into disbelief. How could anyone possibly stop arrows in mid-flight? This was undeniably paranormal!

"Do not panic, General! Wan Qi Yuan is here!" A rallying cry echoed from the rear of the army. Wan Qi Yuan, leading the cavalry in a wedge formation, akin to a powerful chisel, pierced through the defensive lines and charged forward.

Hearing Wan Qi Yuan’s voice, Ye Shikai fought his way towards the sound. The Qin soldiers, already terrorized by his appearance, wielding flames in one hand and a sword in the other, found themselves compelled to part, creating a path.

"Kill him quickly! Advance and you live, retreat and you die! Take him down!" Han Hao bellowed. Wan Qi Yuan, a seasoned warrior, personally led the charge, his swift horse, long spear, and saber slicing through the enemy ranks with unstoppable momentum.

"General!" Wan Qi Yuan quickly located Ye Shikai amidst the chaos. Even this fearless Wolf Clan warrior was taken aback by Ye Shikai’s display, questioning if he was even human.

Wan Qi Yuan wheeled his horse towards Ye Shikai, his trusted aides following closely, scattering the Qin soldiers before reaching him.

"General, follow me!"

"Understood."

Ye Shikai leaped onto a waiting warhorse. Wan Qi Yuan didn’t hesitate, swiftly leading the group away.

"Cavalry unit, cover the General’s retreat!"

"Affirmative!"

"Affirmative!"

"Pursue them now! Do not let them escape! Annihilate them all!" Han Hao shrieked in desperation. However, the cavalry’s superior mobility allowed them to break through and disappear eastward towards the valley in mere moments.

........................

"Old Ye, are you alright?" Shortly after the cavalry escaped the formation, Shangguan Jian arrived with a small contingent of his most trusted personal guards to provide aid.

"Don’t worry, I’m fine." Ye Shikai, though visibly wounded with blood staining his armor and clothes torn, maintained a surprisingly strong spirit. Now possessing Inner Strength, his body’s regenerative capabilities were significantly enhanced. While his injuries looked severe, the bleeding had ceased, and healing was only a matter of time.

"Good, let’s make haste and leave."

"Report to the Generals, the Qin Army is pursuing us, with over ten thousand cavalry right behind us."

"Blast it! We must retreat immediately," Ye Shikai commanded.

"General, I will personally lead the Iron Armor Army to hold them back," Man Cang stated, returning with his soldiers; the group reconvened, relief evident.

"Excellent, Man Cang! You must exercise extreme caution. Retreat while fighting, and absolutely avoid prolonged engagements," Ye Shikai ordered. Man Cang commanded only a few thousand soldiers; they could serve as the rearguard but were ill-equipped to clash directly with Han Hao’s massive army.

"Understood, I accept your command."

"Old Ye, let’s make haste and retreat."

"Very well."

A short while later, at the valley's entrance.

"Shangguan, have the civilians been evacuated?" Ye Shikai inquired.

"For the most part, yes. The majority have retreated into the mountains; once they navigate the mountain paths, they should be out of harm's way."

"Splendid." Ye Shikai nodded, acknowledging the outcome. Despite the fierce battle claiming over ten thousand lives, they managed to save more than a hundred thousand, marking the operation as a relative success.

"The valley entrance is quite narrow, restricting Han Hao’s army's deployment. We have three thousand crossbowmen positioned here, which should be sufficient to hold them," Shangguan Jian explained, noting that events were unfolding according to their strategy. Meanwhile, Man Cang also led his forces in a strategic retreat. Upon reaching the valley entrance, Shangguan Jian promptly ordered the crossbowmen to unleash a volley of arrows, successfully repelling the pursuing Qin Army.

"Lord Han, the rebels have positioned substantial forces on both sides above the valley entrance, unleashing a relentless storm of arrows. Our troops were decimated before they could even get close; further advance is impossible." In front of the valley entrance, numerous defeated Qin Army soldiers retreated in disarray. This was indeed a valley where "one man defending could stop ten thousand from breaching," making it a formidable defensive position.

"Damn it all! Have the soldiers raise their shields! Even if we advance one step at a time, you must pursue them relentlessly!" Han Hao bellowed.

"Understood."

"Quickly! Hurl stones and seal the valley entrance!" Witnessing this, Ye Shikai immediately commanded his soldiers to gather large rocks and hurl them from the heights, swiftly constructing a "stone wall" that effectively blocked the Qin Army outside the valley.

"Shangguan, instruct the troops to retreat further into the mountains. The Qin Army will not easily abandon their pursuit; they will undoubtedly search the mountains. However, if we can hold out until nightfall, they will be rendered helpless."

"Understood, I will depart immediately."