The dull thud of the oar colliding with a human skull was teeth-gritting. The man's eyes rolled back and he instantly lost consciousness, floating on the water like a dead fish. Shen Niantang's chest heaved violently, and her palms stung from being pierced by wooden splinters, but she dared not let her guard down—three or four figures in the distance had already splashed into the water, dog-paddling toward her.
Seeing this, Gu Tingchuan's pupils constricted. He kicked away the enemy in front of him with a fierce blow and dove headfirst into the lake. Icy lake water poured down his collar, but he felt it not at all; he cleaved the waves with both arms, swimming desperately toward the small boat.
On the boat, two soaked ruffians had already clambered up, greedily gleaming in their eyes.
Chapter 63