"How does this thing compare in power to the Sky-Thunder Bomb?"
In her memory, the Sky-Thunder Bomb was made of gunpowder. When Lu Zhenting was assassinated and poisoned, and was recuperating in Bai Xing Lin, he had also encountered an attack by a Sky-Thunder Bomb.
But just a few days ago, Xie Shichuan personally told her that Xie Shiyu had invented gunpowder. This made Lu Qingwan extremely puzzled.
If there was no gunpowder in this world before Xie Shiyu, then what was the Sky-Thunder Bomb?
Wu Ying, unaware of Lu Qingwan's veiled probes, merely pouted and said, "Naturally, it's much stronger than the Sky-Thunder Bomb.
That Sky-Thunder Bomb, though its name sounds formidable, is ultimately just a larger fire starter. At most, it ignites more rapidly.
This thing, as you heard just now, the commotion was so great it almost exposed our brothers hiding in the dark.
It's thanks to our brothers' excellent training that we didn't falter. My esteemed mistress, with your intelligence, could you perhaps devise a way to deal with this?"
Lu Qingwan did not expect the power of the Sky-Thunder Bomb in this world to be so vastly different from her recollection.
Abruptly hearing Wu Ying's request, she responded speechlessly, "Do you really think your mistress is omnipotent?
You've seen the power of gunpowder. Besides pouring water on it, there's no other way."
Wu Ying pouted reluctantly, "No wonder you instructed our brothers not to be too close to the enemy. I thought there was some ingenious plan, but it turns out you just wanted them to be cautious!"
Lu Qingwan didn't engage in her banter. Her eyes were fixed on the array of bronze mirrors covering the wall. She watched Li Su and the people from the manor desperately extinguish the fire, as more black-clad figures scaled the wall and entered. A satisfied curve formed on her lips.
"That's enough. Initiate the action."
As she finished speaking, she herself darted out through a hidden door in the wall, and Wu Ying quickly followed.
Watching as Lu Qingwan leaped onto the roof of the main courtyard like a monkey, she saw a group of people outside the ablaze Wan Ju, employing various methods to put out the fire.
"Quick! The Consort and the young heir are still inside! Save them!"
Li Su's hysterical shouts were hoarse.
Lu Qingwan inwardly chuckled at Li Su's good acting. Silently, she made a gesture, and hundreds of black-clad figures emerged from various vantage points around the manor, unleashing a barrage of fire upon the area where the attackers were concentrated.
The black-clad figures had assumed that everyone in the manor was busy extinguishing the fire and saving Lu Qingwan and Xiao Yuan'er. The sudden volley of arrows caught them completely off guard.
"Damn it, they were prepared!
Don't linger in battle, capture Lu Qingwan and leave, quickly!"
At the command, some formed shields, while others retreated. A few even charged into the burning area to rescue Lu Qingwan.
Lu Qingwan watched with amusement. "Tell the brothers in the outer courtyard to act quickly. Don't let any of them escape!"
As her voice fell, a firework shot up into the sky and then exploded.
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed, startling Lu Qingwan. "There are still people?"
A black-clad figure beside her spoke in a low voice, "Before the Prince left, he ordered his subordinates to protect the Consort. That sound should be our brothers from the Xuan Jia Army's Heaven Division arriving."
Lu Qingwan was startled and abruptly turned sideways. "Who are you?"
The black-clad figure, who had also been lying on the roof ridge, pulled down his mask and grinned at Lu Qingwan. "Your subordinate, Shen Qingzhou, greets the Consort."
In response, Lu Qingwan slapped his shoulder, pushing him flat against the roof tiles, while an arrow tipped with flame whizzed past Shen Qingzhou's scalp.
Lu Qingwan said angrily, "Slightly slacking off at a time like this, are you seeking death!"
Shen Qingzhou sheepishly replied, "Consort, please calm down. It won't happen again."
Lu Qingwan scoffed, "We'll see about 'again' when you have a future to speak of..."
She heard the chirping of birds, and Lu Qingwan's eyes sharpened. "There's a sneak attack at the back gate. Take your men and go, try to resolve them in the alley."
The rear courtyard of the manor was a large area with artificial mountains and gardens, as well as rows of rooms where the servants lived. If they were allowed to break in, just finding them would exhaust a large number of people.
Shen Qingzhou also understood this and immediately led his men away. Before leaving, he didn't forget to leave a few men by Lu Qingwan's side. "You few, protect the Consort!"
His deliberately lowered voice was not loud enough for the enemies to hear, thus not revealing Lu Qingwan's whereabouts, but it let Lu Qingwan know that someone was protecting her.
Lu Qingwan lay on the roof ridge, her eagle-like eyes sharply scanning every visible area.
The black-clad figures on the other side likely finally realized something was amiss and shouted sternly, "Lu Qingwan is not inside! Spread out and search for her!
Whoever can capture Lu Qingwan, I will personally ask the Master for a reward!"
"Master?"
A soldier from the Xuan Jia Army's Heaven Division beside her muttered, "These people are fanatics. If they don't succeed tonight, they won't leave."
"I never intended to let them leave," Lu Qingwan said. She drew her bowstring to its limit and shot an arrow, saying sternly, "Find suitable positions and turn these fanatics into hedgehogs!"
The soldiers of the Xuan Jia Army moved at her command. For a time, the sounds of shouting, the clash of swords, and the whistling of arrows intertwined, creating a passionate and stirring rendition of the "Po Zhen Qu."
But just then, a black figure suddenly descended from the sky, sword in hand, and charged straight at Lu Qingwan.
"Regent's Consort, you've made it difficult for this envoy to find you!"
Saying this, he rushed towards Lu Qingwan as if treading on level ground.
Lu Qingwan dodged, shooting an arrow from her hand. The person's free left hand waved lightly, and the arrow inexplicably vanished into the air without a sound.
"Seven streaks of Qi, you are a Level Seven warrior!"
Lu Qingwan was astonished.
After Feng Xiwu's old wounds healed, he had cultivated for so long, and was only a Level Eight warrior, yet he was already hailed as invincible throughout Da Gan.
This person was only one level lower than Feng Xiwu. This was a big problem.
The opponent reached her effortlessly. Lu Qingwan did not hesitate to unleash the King of Myriad Phoenixes.
She used everything she could: the wings, the ring body, the small needles within, and the invisible threads capable of killing.
Yet, it only delayed the attacker momentarily.
The opponent, wielding his sword, skillfully blocked all of Lu Qingwan's attacks, and said unhurriedly, "To even give you the King of Myriad Phoenixes, you are indeed the person he values most.
This is truly unfortunate news, because you now have one more reason to die."
The black-clad figure clicked his tongue and thrust his sword towards Lu Qingwan's heart.
The King of Myriad Phoenixes could no longer block the opponent. Lu Qingwan gritted her teeth in hatred. Was she going to die here today?
Just as she was preparing for a desperate battle, she heard a startled cry, "Consort, quickly escape!"
Immediately after, Lu Qingwan's body uncontrollably slid down the roof.
The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh was heard. The blood of the Xuan Jia Army soldier who had warned her that the black-clad figures were fanatics sprayed all over Lu Qingwan's face.
And behind him, a group of black-clad figures in similar attire were rushing forward, wave after wave.
They intended to do the same as the young soldier, sacrificing their lives to clear a bloody path for Lu Qingwan.