A man with a robust physique, casually dressed in coarse hemp cloth that couldn’t even fully cover his body. His disheveled hair was mostly hanging loose, and his clearly defined jaw was covered with bluish stubble. Having drunk wine outside earlier, his body still carried the strong scent of liquor. This appearance gave him a somewhat down-and-out, decadent air. However, those sharp eyes held not the slightest trace of expected drunkenness—keen as unsheathed blades.
In his hand, he held an ordinary simple blade.
What was extraordinary was the blood still carrying residual warmth dripping from the blade’s tip.
At this moment, Meng Yang was utterly a god of slaughter!
The Heavenly Teachings member who’d moved his blade earlier still had his eyes staring upward at the sky, but his body had already collapsed to the ground. His throat emitted several dry sounds. Moments later, he breathed his last.
Seeing this, everyone couldn’t help feeling cold dread.
In a flash, they recalled all sorts of terrifying rumors about Meng Yang. Though they had numbers and strength on their side, they weren’t truly vicious villains. For a moment, they were all frightened into standing frozen in place, not following up to attack.
Only now did Zhang Zhe stand up. Fresh blood had splattered on his robes, but seeing it, he didn’t even furrow his brow. He merely pulled the chair aside slightly, making way for himself, saying to Meng Yang in a bland tone: “Much obliged.”
Meng Yang didn’t turn his head back, quite carefree: “Don’t mention it.”
This posture truly showed disregard for everyone present.
If Feng Mingyu and others had been more shocked earlier, now they were more enraged. Fury surging up, they slapped the table and rose, saying in a deep voice: “Meng Yang, what is the meaning of this?!”
Having been imprisoned for so long, Meng Yang hadn’t stretched his muscles in some time. Having violently killed someone, all his limbs and bones awakened with long-missed satisfaction and a faint trembling.
When a person abandons humanity, only animal nature remains.
With a light twist of his wrist, all the blood coating the blade tip shook off onto the ground. His hoarse, unpleasant voice remained rough as he laughed: “Can’t you see? This old man isn’t on the same path as you lot!”
“Good, good!”
Feng Mingyu’s face had already turned extremely gloomy. In his heart, he only thought that killing a mere Meng Yang wasn’t worth mentioning. After all, the Heavenly Teachings had numbers and strength—he calculated that one small person couldn’t stir up much trouble.
So with a wave of his hand, he called for everyone to attack again.
However, having stepped forward, and knowing this time meant venturing deep into a dragon’s pool and tiger’s den, that the Heavenly Teachings were no kind people, how could Meng Yang lack even half a measure of preparation?
Almost simultaneously with Feng Mingyu shouting for people to attack, his voice also rang out.
He actually shouted toward one side inside the door: “What are you standing there for? Grab your weapons!”
One must know that this time the Heavenly Teachings’ prison raid had brought back a gang of desperados. Huang Qian and Feng Mingyu’s side naturally assumed that having rescued these people, they would submit to the Heavenly Teachings.
But who among those released wasn’t a fierce wolf?
How could a mere Heavenly Teachings make them submit?
Among these people, they only feared Meng Yang alone. Along the way, though they said nothing, they had to gauge Meng Yang’s mood in everything. Earlier when Zhang Zhe’s identity was exposed and the Heavenly Teachings suddenly launched an attack, Meng Yang struck—they’d watched in stunned stupor without reacting. But now that Meng Yang had spoken, who dared stand there stupidly?
In recent years, as the Heavenly Teachings developed and expanded, they merely absorbed believers from among common people. Even if some physically strong ones joined the teaching, they were just ordinary soldiers. Moreover, this wasn’t wartime—at most they gathered crowds to cause disturbances and fight. Those who caused deaths were the minority.
This gang from the prison was different.
Almost every one of them carried blood debts. When they became ruthless, never mind others’ lives—they didn’t even care about their own. Though numerically at a disadvantage, when they truly seized blades and swords and charged to kill, they had overwhelming superiority in momentum.
Though the entire Daoist temple was built against the mountain, the hall and temple interior was merely this small space. When fighting and killing erupted, no matter how numerous the Heavenly Teachings people were, most could only anxiously wait outside the door, unable to squeeze inside.
Thus the situation inside immediately fell into chaos.
Between flashing blades and swords, white light and red blood, figures in disarray—even Feng Mingyu and Wu Feng’s side nearly suffered disaster. With these death row prisoners from the Heavenly Prison protecting him, plus having experienced major scenes in his previous life like Xie Wei and Yan Lin’s rebellion and seeing Zhou Yinzhi’s head hung high at the palace gate, Zhang Zhe was a rare person who remained calm and composed in this chaotic scene.
While others were fighting, he suddenly remembered something. Amidst the chaos, his brow furrowed as he looked toward the original upper right position.
But where was any trace of Xiao Dingfei?
When he’d exposed Zhang Zhe with one sentence, he’d already been secretly preparing. Seeing both sides start fighting, he immediately realized this was a good opportunity to flee. Taking advantage of everyone’s attention not being on him, he immediately blended into the crowd. Making some vague, unclear sounds in his mouth, he slunk along the wall base, sneakily slipping out from beside the door.
Long ago outside that ruined temple, when he’d heard Zhang Zhe say Du Jun the Mountain Man lived in seclusion in the mountains, Xiao Dingfei had known this person absolutely had no deep connection with Du Jun.
After all, he knew too well what kind of person Du Jun was.
Only when he’d looked up and seen that Xiao Bao was also nearby, remembering having seen him somewhat around Du Jun, his heart had beat like a drum. He’d pondered—this little bastard Xiao Bao hadn’t come out to speak, so why should he stick his nose in?
What if someone surnamed Xie had some scheme, and he inadvertently destroyed it? Wouldn’t that be courting another disaster?
Until he saw that secret letter.
Then Xiao Dingfei knew clearly and distinctly: regardless of what schemes existed before, when this secret letter was delivered to the Heavenly Teachings, Du Jun didn’t want to keep this person Zhang Zhe alive!
He’d already caused enough trouble, fearing being resented by that surnamed Xie.
At a time like this, how could he not ingratiate himself?
If someday he fell into his hands and he dredged up old accounts, at least he could produce something to plead his case. That’s why earlier he’d reversed his words, stabbing Zhang Zhe with a surprise attack.
He treasured his life—first fearing death here, second fearing falling into Du Jun’s hands. Therefore, he’d long practiced an entire set of slippery escape skills.
All the way from inside the temple squeezing outside, it was surprisingly safe.
Shangqing Temple’s main gate was ahead. Running out would mean safety. Seeing this, Xiao Dingfei was delighted.
However, the smile had barely appeared on his face when the several acolytes originally guarding the entrance suddenly ran inside in a panic, shouting loudly: “Trouble, trouble! The court has brought people to raid us!”
At this shout, everyone inside the temple was shocked with alarm.
Xiao Dingfei was directly stunned. Before he could react for long, outside came mountain-shaking, sea-roaring sounds of battle cries that immediately entered his ears.
With a “bang,” the two large doors outside the temple, fastened with brass door rings, were forcefully knocked down from outside, crashing down and splashing up dust everywhere!
Immediately afterward, people surged in like a tide.
The attackers wore not the black garments of yamen runners, but chilling suits of armor. Looking up, one saw a dense black mass—truly awe-inspiring, making people’s courage fail!
Front soldiers charged to kill.
Somewhat to the rear, the Xiao father and son sat high on horseback.
Xiao Yuan hadn’t expected things to progress so smoothly—simply breaking straight into the Heavenly Teachings’ lair. He only thought capturing this gang of rebels was like catching a turtle in a jar, success at his fingertips. For a moment, he laughed triumphantly: “Bold enough to dare raid the prison in the capital—this time you’ve fallen into this duke’s hands! Not one will be spared! Kill them all clean!”
Xiao Dingfei still didn’t know who this fool was, but just hearing this voice, he already knew the court had truly come to raid. In his heart, he immediately cried out his bad luck. Originally he’d nearly reached the entrance, but now not only had he failed to escape, he was instead right in the line of fire. For a moment, he couldn’t help cursing: “Fuck your grandma’s leg!”
But cursing aside, he still had the quick wit to turn and run.
With his high status in the Heavenly Teachings, he simply dragged others over to block behind him while he fled toward areas with fewer people.
The Heavenly Teachings’ members had originally only been dealing with Meng Yang’s gang. How could they have expected that suddenly court soldiers would come to raid?
For a moment, everyone grew somewhat more panicked.
Everyone was utterly shocked.
“How would the court know about this place?”
“Really is a mole!”
…
The fear of death assaulted their hearts. Everyone’s faces became savage and fierce.
However, Feng Mingyu and Wu Feng exchanged a somewhat strange glance at this moment.
Unexpectedly, they showed little panic.
Huang Qian exchanged looks with the two of them, then blew a whistle and shouted loudly to everyone: “Brothers, don’t panic! Fight and retreat—we withdraw to the back mountain!”
To the back mountain?
The Heavenly Teachings’ reaction was not within Zhang Zhe’s expectations.
Having searched everywhere for Xiao Dingfei without finding him, he knew this slippery “Prince Dingfei” had likely already fled. His expression already showed severity. Hearing the court’s reinforcements outside, the voice carried some familiarity—clearly that Duke Dingguo Xiao Yuan—his brow furrowed even tighter.
Seeing Feng Mingyu and Wu Feng about to lead people in retreat, his intuition told him something was wrong.
However, the situation at this moment was truly too chaotic.
Originally Meng Yang’s gang and the Heavenly Teachings had clashed, already mixed in fierce battle. How could the soldiers Xiao’s side brought distinguish which side was which? Moreover, Xiao Yuan had said early on to kill them all, leaving none. They simply thought they’d fallen into internal strife and started fighting amongst themselves—either death row prisoners escaped from the Heavenly Prison, or rebels committing treason. No need to distinguish at all—just raise blades and kill.
How terrifying was this?
Wanting to raise his voice to negotiate, he was drowned out by the shouting and killing, no one hearing.
The court reinforcements’ offensive escalated rapidly, extremely fierce, forcing Zhang Zhe and Meng Yang’s side to retreat. In the blink of an eye, they were sandwiched between the court and the Heavenly Teachings, actually falling into the disadvantage of being attacked from both sides!
Meng Yang had killed over ten people. With a “clang,” he blocked aside a sword slashing from a nearby Heavenly Teachings member. After killing the person with one blade, when the knife came back, its edge had already rolled. He said through gritted teeth: “Your court is really interesting—probably doesn’t even care about the life of you, an official!”
This gang of death row prisoners could still handle the Heavenly Teachings, even suppressing them.
But when court reinforcements arrived, they inevitably struggled to defend both sides.
Though Zhang Zhe wasn’t a martial person, at this moment he also held a blade in hand. But his mind raced rapidly, considering the Heavenly Teachings’ purpose in retreating. Not wanting to be distracted for a moment without noticing his surroundings, he was slashed on the left shoulder by someone. Immediately blood flowed profusely!
Meng Yang saw the opportunity quickly, taking advantage to stab that person through the heart with one blade.
Another fell on this side.
But Feng Mingyu and Wu Feng’s side, though startled, weren’t chaotic. In their expressions lurked actually several degrees of excitement: Since Master Du Jun had already warned in advance that among those who returned with them was a mole, how could he not know the court’s movements?
The secret letter they’d produced earlier was merely one of two secret letters delivered simultaneously.
The other secret letter had long informed them of the Xiao family bringing troops to raid!
Whether it would be catching a turtle in a jar or losing the chicken while trying to steal the rice—that depended on everyone’s capabilities!
The Heavenly Teachings’ side swiftly led people to retreat toward the rear of Shangqing Temple.
Feng Mingyu, seeing that Meng Yang and Zhang Zhe’s side was about to be unable to hold on, hatched evil intentions, saying sinisterly: “That Zhang Zhe traveled with us all the way, learning many of the teaching’s secrets. If we don’t kill him, he’ll be an endless threat!”
He directly ordered those around him: “Go—you must take this person’s head!”
Those guarding by these several decision-makers were all skilled fighters in the Heavenly Teachings. Hearing this, they went against the crowd toward Zhang Zhe’s direction.
The defensive pressure on Meng Yang and others immediately grew heavier.
In the blink of an eye, the ground was scattered with corpses everywhere.
Just when it seemed they couldn’t hold on, unexpectedly from the mountain forest behind the temple came a wave of battle cries. All three sides—the Xiao family, the death row prisoners, and the Heavenly Teachings—heard it and froze, seemingly none knowing the origin of this force!
In the rush, all three sides grew alert.
But this force was cutting in from Shangqing Temple’s flank, taking a shortcut, perfectly cutting off front and rear, fiercely wedging in. They all wore runner’s black garments, hands gripping simple blades. Leading them was a short, stout fatty. The official robes he wore had nearly been torn by branches along the way. The official’s hat on his head had tilted somewhat. Yet in his mouth, he shouted with righteous indignation: “Tongzhou prefecture yamen has come to suppress bandits! You rebels, why don’t you surrender quickly? Where is Zhang Daren? This humble official has brought people to rescue you!”
All who heard these words couldn’t help having their lips twitch slightly.
One glance revealed this person’s belly was full of common stuff.
But it couldn’t be helped that he’d brought truly many people. When they swarmed up, the Heavenly Teachings’ side immediately couldn’t support themselves, retreating backward in defeat.
In the clamorous voices, one could faintly hear that fatty ask: “Which one is Zhang Daren?”
A charming voice mixed among the sounds of blades and swords said urgently: “It’s so chaotic—how can I see clearly?”
Hearing this, Zhang Zhe’s entire body shook.
He whirled around abruptly to look toward the source of that voice.
That gang of runners, whether habitually tyrannizing the countryside or not, struck with extreme ruthlessness. Between slashing and killing, they’d already charged out a bloody path. Then came a cry of alarm. A slender figure flew toward him like an arrow.
Her plain face showed none of the deathly pallor from when he’d sent her to Yongding Apothecary earlier. Running all the way had dyed it with several degrees of flush. Taking the shortcut from the mountain at Shangqing Temple’s flank had left several fine bloody marks on her fair cheeks where branches had scratched them.
But she was completely unaware.
Seeing him, a pair of rippling eyes immediately filled to the brim with blazing radiance. Coming close to him, she nearly shed tears, calling him with a trembling, crying voice: “Zhang Zhe!”
Zhang Zhe’s left shoulder wound had already bled considerably, dyeing half his robe deep red. Seeing that Jiang Xuening hadn’t left Tongzhou but had instead followed people to rescue him, a ball of fire exploded open in his chest. Having not rested well for several days, bloodshot crawling through the depths of his eyes, he rarely became angry, severely scolding her: “What did you come back for?!”