Ma San reacted quickly, and his moves were vicious and decisive enough. Using Zhang De as a human shield, he charged outward, planning to dash into the woods nearby—in that way, at least, he could rely on the trees to lessen the power of the arrow storm.
But it was all in vain.
Because the arrow storm stopped abruptly, and a squad of Xuanqing Guard soldiers appeared out of thin air before the woods, arrayed for a coordinated attack, pressing in on him slowly.
There was simply no chance to escape alive.
Seeing no hope for escape, Ma San wanted to kill the barely-breathing Zhang De with one strike and then take his own life. But an invisible whip lashed out from the side before he could react—his entire forearm suddenly sliced apart, and the True Qi Shield on him was useless.
After a dozen breaths, Ma San was captured. Once the board lock was put on him, he was stuffed into a carriage and whisked away at top speed.
"Lord, one of the three bandits was killed, two captured."
