The day they pulled up this strange creature happened to be the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, when folk tradition speaks of “Kitchen God ascending to heaven.” Returning to Guiyang on New Year’s Eve, they surprisingly couldn’t find a practicing physician, so Fu Yuanying took over the diagnosis and treatment. Looking at the strange man’s general condition, aside from physical weakness and insufficient nourishment, there seemed to be no signs of internal or external injuries. However, this person remained in a dazed stupor, half-dreaming and half-awake, so it was unclear whether he had other ailments. This arduous journey had yielded no trace of “Number One Under Heaven” Ning Bufan, yet they had brought back a strange man instead. Everyone originally didn’t want to get involved in extra trouble, but Qiong Fang insisted on taking this person along, leaving everyone with no choice but to mistakenly treat this Feng Jing as Ma Liang, making do with the situation.

The group departed Guiyang and traveled north along the courier road. With New Year’s approaching and only a few days until New Year’s Eve, though everyone knew they definitely couldn’t reach Beijing within five days, the New Year festival was ultimately important. These past few days, with single-minded focus, they traveled day and night – being able to return home for reunion even one day earlier would be good.

This day they passed Changde, with the next stop being Jingzhou. When evening came and they saw they were still twenty to thirty li from Jingzhou, with no village ahead and no inn behind, having hurried for several stages, they finally reached a small town and decided to spend the night there.

The group drove their carts into town and saw that this town’s commerce was not prosperous – the village residents made their living through farming, with no inns or courier stations. Everyone in the group were seasoned veterans of the martial world, and even Juan’er had often traveled these roads in recent years. Since there was nowhere to lodge here, without further ado, they asked passersby for directions and headed straight for the temple.

Many jianghu strongmen were like this – these bandits either hid in temples or lived in the mountains, so whenever passing mountains or temples, one must travel in groups. However, this group had strong soldiers and fine horses, mostly people who could be counted among the notable figures in today’s martial world. If there were bandits and strongmen bringing trouble upon themselves, they could conveniently be put to work cooking and serving, which would save considerable effort.

Arriving in town, they didn’t even need to ask before spotting a large temple. They saw the temple’s entrance plaza was a hundred zhang long and wide, with blue stone flooring filled with surging crowds. Counting carefully, the plaza had gathered about a hundred stalls, with silk and bamboo music drifting from the east along with applause and cheers. Glancing over, they saw a black mass of heads – roughly three to four hundred people, men and women alike.

Feicheng Guai laughed heartily: “Wonderful! Temple theater! Tonight we’ll have some excitement.” With New Year’s approaching, this town surely had some customary celebration, which was why they had organized this New Year temple fair. The group had originally been sighing and complaining about traveling during New Year, but walking through the crowd, hearing the gongs and drums clamoring on the opera stage and vendors hawking their wares, with joyous atmosphere all around, naturally their faces broke into smiles with a refreshing feeling.

Arriving at the temple, it turned out to be a Guanyin Temple. Fu Yuanying found the monk in charge and explained their intention to stay overnight. Before the monk could speak, he saw Qiong Fang holding incense in her left hand while her right hand tossed three gold leaves into the incense donation box. The gold leaves fluttered down, causing the monk’s soul to flutter with joy. Overjoyed beyond expectation, he naturally provided the most attentive hospitality without daring to show any neglect.

The temple had been built by local villagers and was quite cramped in layout. Everyone could only sleep on the floor of the main hall. Though it wasn’t as comfortable as inn beds, it was still better than sleeping in the wilderness. The Three Staff Heroes placed the strange man on the ground and went about cooking rice, boiling water, and serving the young miss. Zhe’er Dan’s disciple also went over to help. The Huashan Twin Eccentrics, accustomed to having meals brought to them, conveniently enjoyed Qiong Fang’s favor and naturally lived like great lords.

Zhu Kang had never traveled far from home and had never spent New Year’s abroad, so naturally his heart longed for home. He immediately asked: “Master Fu, when will we be able to return to Beijing?” Fu Yuanying silently calculated in his heart – this Qiong Fang was the sole heir of a founding hero’s family, with many ceremonial obligations during New Year, plus she still had to enter the palace for New Year greetings after the Lantern Festival. The remaining journey should be completed as quickly as possible. He immediately took out a map to look for a shortcut north.

Song Tongming had served in the military years ago and was very familiar with geography. He said: “From Jingzhou back to Beijing, there’s no route faster than going through the courier road. Master Fu, if you want to hurry, you might take this shortcut.”

Everyone gathered around to look. On their earlier southward journey to Guizhou, they had first taken the canal waterway to the southeast, then crossed through most of China, passing through several provinces before reaching Guiyang. According to Song Tongming’s suggestion, taking the courier road directly north would be a straight route up, passing through four provinces to reach Beijing directly. Comparing the two options, though the courier road north would be arduous, the journey was much shorter. Zhu Kang was the first to clap and cheer, with the Twin Eccentrics and Three Staff Heroes also nodding continuously.

Everyone was in high spirits. Fu Yuanying couldn’t very well go against everyone’s wishes and was about to agree when suddenly a string of foreign words rang out in a thick, murky voice – undoubtedly Zhe’er Dan. Everyone looked at his disciple and heard him translate: “Master Fu, my master says the horses of the Qipchaq tribe run fast but easily jostle passengers. Mongol horses run slowly but can carry riders safely to their destination. Please think it over carefully and don’t act rashly.”

The disciple’s words were somewhat tangled, but the meaning wasn’t hard to understand – it was the principle of “careful sailing lasts ten thousand years.” Before Fu Yuanying could respond, Feicheng Guai was already laughing heartily: “Mongol horses are slow, Qipchaq horses are bumpy, but our Chinese horses are both fast and steady. Tell your master to obediently listen to us – what’s there to worry about?”

Among Chinese customs, the most important was the New Year. Wanderers would travel thousands of li to return home. Everyone was eager to return home and nodded in agreement. Fu Yuanying, Juan’er, and Qiong Fang all agreed as well. Zhe’er Dan listened to his disciple’s translation but only frowned without speaking. Zhe’er Dan had made many contributions on this journey – first capturing Little White Dragon, then rescuing Qiong Fang. Fu Yuanying knew he owed this man a debt and didn’t want to slight him, so he quickly said: “If the elder has any guidance, please speak directly.”

Zhe’er Dan sighed and took the map, placing it on a wooden box. Suddenly they saw him extend his finger, pointing directly at the map with such domineering finger strength that with a thud, he even pierced through the wooden box beneath the map.

Wood chips flew as his thick fingertip passed over the courier route on the map. The map’s text was already damaged beyond recognition, but where his fingertip stopped was undoubtedly the northwest. Feicheng Guai laughed: “What’s this about? Are you practicing the Powerful Vajra Finger?”

Zhe’er Dan didn’t understand Chinese well and ignored Feicheng Guai. He pointed at the provinces of Gansu and Shaanxi, his gaze fixed on Fu Yuanying’s face, saying solemnly: “Batur. Ordo.” The northern desert master’s expression was grave, and his gaze never flickered as he spoke these words. Suanpan Guai said in bewilderment: “Bald head hiding in the nest? Who’s hiding in the nest? Your mother?” As he spoke, he and Feicheng Guai looked at each other and laughed heartily.

But Fu Yuanying had no intention of laughing. He stared at the northwestern corner with hidden anxiety in his eyes.

“Batur” was also called “Badur,” called “Baturu” in Jurchen language and “Shajin” in Western languages, all translated into Chinese as “warrior” or “brave one.” Those three syllables “Ordo” meant “palace.”

“Batur Ordo” meant “Palace of the Brave.”

Fu Yuanying spoke these four words in a low voice, and in an instant, the hall fell silent. Everyone looked at Zhe’er Dan’s fingertip, thinking of that vast northwestern desert, and their faces turned somewhat pale.

After a long while, a spitting sound came from the great hall – it was Suanpan Guai showing his age and experience. He sneered dismissively and scolded: “We’re just a few passersby – we’re neither great generals nor grand marshals. We’re just walking a road, not going to war and die. How could we provoke any trouble?”

Feicheng Guai also said: “Exactly! The border is perfectly peaceful now, and we haven’t heard of any fighting. Why should we take a detour?”

The two elders chattered on. The disciple faithfully translated, but Zhe’er Dan paid no attention. His tiger eyes only gazed at Fu Yuanying, waiting to hear what he would say. The “Three Staff Heroes of Kongtong” nearby also stared gravely at the sword master.

With matters having reached this point, Fu Yuanying dared not act rashly. Thinking of the various rumors that had emerged about border defense in recent years, he felt apprehensive and nodded along with the conversation: “The elder’s concerns are indeed reasonable. On our northern return journey…” Just as he was speaking, he suddenly heard a woman’s gentle voice: “Master Fu, please don’t agree so hastily.”

In the silence, Qiong Fang slowly stood up. Facing Zhe’er Dan, she picked up the map and said with a smile: “Uncle, since the road is straight, I suppose you Mongols won’t ride crooked and slanted when traveling, right?” She folded the map and handed it to Fu Yuanying, saying: “Gentlemen need not worry. Let’s follow Song Tongming’s suggestion and travel directly along the courier road.”

Zhe’er Dan coughed, and his disciple advised: “Young Master, my teacher asks you not to act impetuously.”

Qiong Fang said lightly: “This isn’t impetuous action but a matter of principle. Roads are for people to walk on. I, Qiong Fang, am a court official who acts righteously and sits properly. First, I harm no one through my actions; second, I neither kill nor commit arson. Even if I were unarmed, I wouldn’t take a detour.” She blinked and said with a smile: “Moreover, now I have Teacher Zhe’er Dan with me – what do I have to fear?” The disciple was left speechless. When he translated these words, Zhe’er Dan could say no more and could only force a smile, agreeing reluctantly.

After traveling all day, everyone decided to eat and drink. Outside the temple gate, stalls clustered together with plenty of food, so the Three Staff Heroes brought back quite a bit. Everyone sat on the floor drinking. Though it wasn’t delicacies from mountains and seas, it was rich with meat fragrance and soup aromas. Watching them eat meat before the Guanyin Bodhisattva statue, the good men and faithful women, the monk in charge naturally cried out in distress. If not for the sake of the gold leaves, he would have driven them out long ago.

Though they hadn’t found Ning Bufan on this journey, everyone had worked hard and achieved much, so Qiong Fang personally toasted everyone to express her gratitude. They saw the young master’s conversation was bold and generous, dignified and graceful. For a moment, her cherry lips played drinking games and her delicate hands played finger-guessing games. She drained every cup offered and refused no challenge, truly like a man. Everyone naturally marveled and praised her. Qiong Fang, fearing she had earlier angered Zhe’er Dan with her words, continuously toasted him in apology. Zhe’er Dan hadn’t been angry to begin with, and after a few cups, he actually became quite talkative, keeping his disciple very busy.

After drinking a large pot of strong liquor, Qiong Fang had excellent alcohol tolerance and showed no signs of intoxication. However, her body inevitably became covered in fragrant sweat. Though dressed in men’s scholarly robes, her lotus-like skin grew slightly flushed, unable to hide her natural beauty and bashful charm. Juan’er handed her a handkerchief and said with a smile: “If you properly groomed and dressed yourself, you’d definitely be a devastatingly beautiful girl.” Hearing this praise, Qiong Fang only smiled slightly and poured Juan’er a cup of wine, saying: “Thank you.” Zhu Kang nearby quickly interjected with a laugh: “Sect Leader Juan is graceful and charming, while Master Qiong has the beauty of steamed rosy clouds – both are flower-like, jade-like beauties. This humble Zhu is delighted beyond measure to share a room with two such lovely ladies.” Juan’er laughed: “Look at that honeyed tongue of yours – your mother must be delighted being coaxed by you all day long.”

Everyone secretly glanced at Qiong Fang. By candlelight, they saw this beauty in her teenage years with lotus-like eyebrows – in terms of appearance, she was indeed one of the capital’s top beauties. Unfortunately, beautiful flowers that topple nations often come with mutual joy, making swordsmen smile knowingly. The young men present, remembering the great power of the “Three-Reach Sword,” could only laugh dryly and drink, thinking that no matter how beautiful Qiong Fang was, she was still the blade hanging over the character for “lust” – not something to be trifled with.

Fu Yuanying, listening nearby, sighed softly. This Miss Qiong had dressed as a man since childhood, wearing no rouge or ornaments. Even before Su Ying, she had never worn women’s clothing. In her lifetime, people only praised her high martial arts and fierce character – who had ever praised her appearance? It seemed that before marriage and childbearing, she couldn’t remove this male disguise.

While joking and talking, Qiong Fang noticed the abundant dishes but didn’t see the strange man’s shadow, so she asked the Three Staff Heroes: “Where is that person? Still sleeping?”

Before the Three Staff Heroes could answer, Feicheng Guai was already laughing: “He’s lying in the side hall sleeping. This monster looks like a zombie all day – if he got up and walked around, that would really scare people to death.” Qiong Fang sighed softly, drank a few more cups, then excused herself to go check on him.

After walking just a few steps, she heard Song Tongming ask behind her: “What do you think this old fellow’s background really is? Everything about him seems mysterious.” Feicheng Guai laughed: “Living in a Water Curtain Cave, he’s definitely a demon, not human. I think we’ve brought back a monster from the Classic of Mountains and Seas.” That strange man had crossed the valley on a rope with obvious excellent lightness skills, and his whistling had considerable power, showing martial arts of great sophistication. However, except for Qiong Fang, the others hadn’t personally witnessed his great divine skills of cutting water with a blade and breaking waterfalls with his palm. When they talked about it now, though interested, it was mostly in jest. The Twin Eccentrics were even more nonsensical in their wild speculation.

Qiong Fang ignored them and took a pot of wine, walking lightly to the side hall entrance. She stopped to look and saw the hall was pitch black with no sign of anyone. Qiong Fang felt somewhat afraid, so she “borrowed” a candlestick from a deity statue, lit it, and only then dared to walk into the hall.

By lamplight, she saw a stretcher placed on the floor with the strange man lying with his back to her, disheveled hair, bare feet, and dirty clothes. That figure appeared both lonely and desolate. Seeing this, Qiong Fang felt a stirring of pity: “A perfectly good person – why does he torment himself like this?”

Recalling their meeting in the Water Curtain Cave, that strange man’s martial arts were among the strongest she had ever seen. With Zhe’er Dan’s rigid boxing techniques and Fu Yuanying’s refined swordsmanship, both were probably far inferior to this person. Who would have thought that someone who could laugh and talk then would become like this now?

Thinking of Su Ying, Qiong Fang supported her forehead with her hand and couldn’t help staring blankly, thinking: “Men all seem to be like this – when they suffer grievances and hardships, they give up on themselves one by one. Sigh… I managed to invite back this physician for Ying, but who knew this person is also a patient himself.” In her vexation, she wondered about the man’s background. At the time, she had thought he was Ning Bufan, but later it seemed he wasn’t, so she had considered him a water demon. Seeing him now return to human form, she truly didn’t know his surname, given name, or life story.

The man seemed to be in deep sleep and remained motionless. Qiong Fang watched for a while and was about to call out, but when the words reached her lips, she didn’t know how to address this person. Looking at his full beard, he was certainly not a young man in his twenties, but to say he was over fifty, his hair was completely black without a single white strand.

Unable to guess his age, Qiong Fang shook her head and crouched beside the stretcher, saying gently: “Sir, we have a lively feast outside. Would you like to join us?”

After calling for a long time, the strange man paid her no attention – he must be fast asleep. Qiong Fang had expected this and wasn’t bothered. She took out a wine pot from her bosom and said to herself: “If you prefer to be alone, I won’t force you. But with New Year approaching, I’m leaving you this bottle of wine here. If you get thirsty, drink some to ease your boredom. If you get hungry, here’s a piece of gold leaf – buy yourself some meat soup, all right?” She called out gently, and seeing the strange man had no reaction, she gently placed the wine pot beside the stretcher and took a gold leaf from her bosom, tucking it into the strange man’s clothes pocket before feeling relieved.

Returning to the main hall, the plaza outside the temple gate was still bustling while inside, everyone had drunk quite a bit. Song Tongming, his face flushed with alcohol, was teaming up with the Huashan Twin Eccentrics to make trouble, the three of them holding down Zhu Kang and forcefully pouring wine down his throat. Nearby, Juan’er was yawning and chatting desultorily with Fu Yuanying. Looking at Zhe’er Dan, he was sitting cross-legged in meditation, circulating his qi. The Three Staff Heroes were cleaning bowls and dishes with the disciple, tidying sleeping arrangements. Everyone was busy with their own tasks, truly quite lively. Qiong Fang suddenly felt warm inside, thinking: “Though I can’t accompany Grandfather and Ying for the New Year this year, having so many good friends as companions on the road isn’t lonely either.”

Seeing Qiong Fang return to the hall, Juan’er had been waiting and now walked up with a smile. Just as she was about to speak, suddenly Zhe’er Dan’s eyes widened as he stood up and strode quickly to the temple entrance with a face full of murderous vigilance. Seeing him stand up for no apparent reason with a face full of killing intent, Qiong Fang was naturally startled and said in confusion: “What’s wrong? Everything was fine…” Before she could finish speaking, Fu Yuanying had also flipped up and stood, grasping his sword hilt and saying in a deep voice: “Everyone be alert – something’s happening outside the temple!” Qiong Fang murmured: “Something outside the temple?”

Everyone in the great hall looked at each other in bewilderment, not knowing what was happening. After a moment, a piercing woman’s scream came from outside the temple gate – “Ah!” – a loud cry that, despite the noisy temple fair in the plaza, could still be clearly heard.

This sound was so miserable that some disaster must have occurred. But there were at least two or three hundred civilians outside, while inside the temple, counting from Zhe’er Dan and Fu Yuanying, there were over ten experts. With numbers and strength on their side, they weren’t afraid. The temple gate was tightly closed. Fu Yuanying was about to open the door to investigate when suddenly a furious shout rang out from the plaza: “Men, women, elderly, and children, listen…” The voice was like a great bell, immediately silencing the entire plaza. Only the actors on the opera stage continued performing – it sounded like “Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage.”

Everyone in the temple looked bewildered as they heard that voice from the plaza continue to roar fiercely: “All people remove all clothing, regardless of gender, all line up in two rows and wait quietly for inspection!” That heaven-defying voice added another command: “Anyone who disobeys – death without mercy!”

These people spoke concisely and coldly, cruelly – more savage and fierce than bandits, causing Qiong Fang, Juan’er and other women to gasp and cover their mouths. A woman outside the temple asked in shock: “Remove clothing? Who are you? By what right?” These questions were crucial and also the common confusion in the hearts of all the people. Following a slap and a miserable scream, all the people’s confusion was resolved – so that’s what they relied on.

Stall carts overturned, men and women were forcibly separated, panicked cries rang out all around – “Don’t touch my wife!” “Ah!” “Mama!” – crying, shouting, calls for help, sound after sound reaching their ears. Though quite distant, the people in the temple still heard them and could imagine the scene of the weak, elderly, women and children running and wailing.

Song Tongming was the most righteous and immediately roared in anger: “Damn these dogs! Is there no law?” Regardless of who was outside, he drew his weapon and charged out with Zhu Kang. Fu Yuanying and Juan’er also drew their long swords, ready to join the battle.

With a bang, the temple gate was burst open first. Footsteps clattered as large groups of people surged in. Everyone could see clearly – hundreds of foot soldiers stood at the temple entrance, led by a man of tall stature and imposing appearance, wearing heavy armor but with a “Zhengtong Imperial Command” hanging at his waist. The newcomer was a court military officer. Qiong Fang’s heart trembled as she quietly commanded: “Everyone don’t rush to act – they’re our people.”

Military boots rang against the ground as swords and spears surged forward like ocean waves. At the temple entrance alone there were a hundred foot soldiers, with countless more in the dark mass outside. The leading military officer raised his command tablet and shouted: “By order of the frontline commander, we enter the temple to search for Liao bandits! You must not resist!” He drew his steel saber and shouted: “Summon the abbot!” The soldiers nearby shouted in unison: “Summon the abbot!”

The monk had already fallen asleep. Seeing the gate broken, he hurriedly brought several novices to investigate. But before he could enter the hall, he was knocked down in the courtyard with swords and spears at his neck. Several soldiers shouted: “Present your ordination certificate!” Their pressure aurashouts were enough to shatter a person’s soul. The monk was so frightened his whole body went limp, stammering and unable to speak. The soldiers grew impatient and immediately shouted: “No ordination certificate means you must strip! Strip!” They reached out to tear his clothing.

The monk asked in panic: “Why… why?” The soldier showed his command tablet and said sternly: “This is why. Will you strip or…” Before he could finish the word “strip,” he suddenly screamed miserably as his body was lifted high. Song Tongming could be heard sneering: “Of course strip – I’ll strip you, you son of a dog, and see if you have an asshole.”

As soon as Song Tongming made his move, the leading military officer roared angrily: “Audacious madman! Stop him!” With several swishing sounds, over ten steel sabers unsheathed and struck directly at Song Tongming. The Song family’s divine blade was renowned far and wide. “Soaring Eagle Sky Hero” struck out, and with several clanging sounds, he had already shattered many blade weapons. Song Tongming’s divine blade technique was naturally pressure aura.

Seeing the newcomer had high martial arts, the leading military officer wasn’t surprised and only nodded: “So it’s a martial artist. Very good.” He waved his hand and roared: “Men! This person is a suspect bandit! Capture him!”

In an instant, thunderous sounds came from the ground like beating drums. The soldiers who had been defeated earlier all retreated, and a second batch of soldiers rushed in from outside the temple gate. By candlelight, they could see brilliant flashes – the newcomers held steel shields. Running and stopping, they smashed the ground with tremendous noise. Those steel shields were as tall as two men, and in an instant they formed a shield formation, surrounding Song Tongming so tightly not even water could leak through.

Song Tongming held up that soldier with one hand and didn’t seem afraid, sneering: “What bastard army dares to stir up trouble at your grandfather’s head?” He pointed angrily and roared at the military officer: “I am Song Tongming, son of the Marquis of Fenglai in Shandong. Have your man report your name!”

Song Tongming’s roar was like thunder, but the military officer acted as if he hadn’t heard, saying coldly: “I don’t care what monkey you are. Put down your weapon and surrender on the ground – you’ve already caused great trouble.” Before Song Tongming could respond, Zhu Kang, supporting his friend, was already spitting “Ptui! Ptui!” several times. The military officer raised his right palm and commanded: “Shield formation… squat!” A thunderous crash echoed as countless shields simultaneously hit the ground, the unified sound especially deafening. The military officer shouted again: “Archers, rope handlers… advance and prepare for battle!”

Everyone could see clearly – from the gaps between shields, bright arrowheads protruded, and dozens of steel poles holding ropes were raised high above the shields, ready to entangle at any moment. The formation was terrifying, unprecedented. Looking at those steel shields several inches thick, even with precious sabers striking heavily, they might not break, let alone hundreds surrounding simultaneously. This was specialized equipment for capturing martial artists. Song Tongming and Zhu Kang, bearing the brunt, were already dumbfounded.

Song Tongming held his prisoner high and shouted: “Don’t come closer! I have one of your men…” After shouting for a while, the man in his hands didn’t respond. In his urgency, Song Tongming hurried to look – the man’s mouth was full of blood, his eyes wide open – he had actually bitten off his own tongue and committed suicide! Song Tongming said in a trembling, panicked voice: “Rather die than surrender… This… you… what kind of army are you…”

At this moment, the archers were already prepared. With just a wild volley, they would surely turn the two into pincushions. Fearing something might happen, Qiong Fang quickly rushed out of the crowd and shouted: “Officers, please wait! We are from Beijing…” Before she could finish, with a shout, the military officer’s right hand had already dropped. In an instant, a hundred arrows flew together. Song Tongming, greatly alarmed, quickly used his Splashing Water Blade technique to protect himself. Zhu Kang also spun his spear in defense. Fu Yuanying, fearing the monk might die unjustly, rushed over and risked danger to pull him away. Everyone either relied on their exquisite movement techniques or profound sword skills to avoid injury.

Outside the temple gate, crying and shouting continued chaotically. Inside, battle raged. With New Year approaching, this unknown small town had been invaded for no reason, bringing unexpected disaster. Qiong Fang and Juan’er were covered in cold sweat, only able to hide in a corner of the great hall to catch their breath. Arrows flew past them, and the two beauties looked at each other, frightened and at a loss.

Seeing the arrow fire pause slightly, Qiong Fang quickly raised her voice and shouted: “I am the granddaughter of Beijing’s National Uncle, Ziyun Pavilion’s Qiong Fang! What kind of army are you exactly!” The leading military officer seemed unable to understand human speech. Hearing shield after shield crash to the ground, large groups of foot soldiers surrounded them step by step. He shouted again: “Have everyone strip completely and wait for inspection! You may be spared death!”

These people were so arrogant that Qiong Fang was both shocked and furious. Seeing this formation so orderly and well-trained, specialized for dealing with martial heroes, everyone hid in corners and dared not charge forward. Juan’er was frightened and murmured: “What should we do? Do we really have to strip?”

The military officer continued shouting: “Regardless of gender… strip off clothes and pants…” Outside the temple gate came corresponding shouts: “Form two lines… you may keep your lives!” The more Qiong Fang listened, the angrier she became, thinking: “You don’t understand human speech, but you’ll surely understand this.” She took out her firearm, pointed the muzzle skyward, and fired with a tremendous bang. Gunpowder smoke filled the great hall, the sound carrying for li and immediately drowning out the military officer’s shouting.

Firearms were time-consuming to make and were rare treasures. Short guns especially were precious – unless one was a court official, even wealthy civilians rarely had such defensive weapons. Qiong Fang’s action was naturally meant to suppress those people’s arrogance. She had bet her life on walking out from the hall and declaring loudly: “Please have your superior come to speak! Tell him Qiong Fang from Beijing wishes to see him!”

The leading military officer shouted: “Prepare to shoot arrows!” The archers, being military men, only followed orders regardless of other considerations. At the command, they had already drawn their bows and nocked arrows. Qiong Fang’s pretty face went pale as she thought: “Meeting madmen, my life is finished.” Qiong Fang was not only the direct descendant of a founding duke but also the current Empress’s niece. If these people shot her dead, not only would they forfeit their own lives, but their descendants would likely suffer as well. However, seeing their vicious appearance, their rank was probably not high, and most likely they had never heard of “Master Qiong.” Today she might truly suffer a terrible fate.

Just as the arrows were about to be released, two black shadows shot out from within – on the left was an iron fist striking, on the right was a cold sword flying. With a thunderous bang, one punch struck with enormous force, hitting and bending the shields under pressure, knocking down the shield-bearing soldiers. Seeing a gap appear in the shield formation, sword light immediately pounced toward the soldiers, instantly wounding over ten archers with sword technique so fast it was rarely seen in the world. Everyone in the temple cheered: “Excellent!”

Two great masters joining forces to attack – their momentum was indeed formidable. One was the northern desert master Zhe’er Dan, the other was Huashan swordsman Fu Yuanying. Only these two working together could overcome such a strange shield formation. Now the shields had been knocked over and the shield formation showed breaks. Zhe’er Dan and Fu Yuanying attacked freely, beating down archers and rope handlers who were all struck at pressure points and subdued. The others surged forward together. The Twin Eccentrics and Three Staff Heroes charged straight toward the temple gate. The leading military officer continuously commanded formations but was blocked by Song Tongming, Zhu Kang and others. Both sides cursed at each other in full close combat.

The leading military officer roared angrily: “Rebellion! Rebellion! Kill them all!” The opposition no longer showed mercy. Zhe’er Dan also saw red and began striking with deadly force. In a moment, he had severely injured several people. Anyone hit by his “Great Black Heaven Fist” would fly straight out, crushing over ten people in succession.

Not satisfied yet, Zhe’er Dan swung both fists straight toward the leading military officer’s forehead. With such force, he could crush his skull and spill his brains, killing him instantly.

Suddenly they heard a sharp shout from outside the gate: “Stop!” The voice came urgently and the figure came quickly. A military officer flew into the scene, using both palms against both fists. Internal energy and palm wind surge against each other. Zhe’er Dan’s upper body swayed as the newcomer retreated two diagonal steps, dissipating Zhe’er Dan’s fierce and unparalleled powerful internal energy.

Zhe’er Dan was one of the martial world’s few masters. His “Great Black Heaven Fist” already possessed the qi energy of splitting-air palms, enough to clash with “Shaolin’s Great Vajra Palm.” Even with Su Ying’s high martial arts, she wouldn’t dare directly face its cutting edge. Who would have thought an unknown military officer would have such skills? Everyone who witnessed this naturally showed expressions of amazement.

The crowd parted as that military officer stepped forward and sternly asked the leading officer: “Who fired the gun just now?” The leading officer pointed at Qiong Fang and shouted: “This woman!” The two were close together when answering, yet each raised their voices to shout hoarsely – apparently these military men were accustomed to such crude behavior. The officer looked toward Qiong Fang, having already recognized she was a woman, and shouted another question: “Do you know this woman’s identity?” The leading officer loudly replied: “She gave her name, saying she’s Qiong Fang!”

The officer looked at Qiong Fang several times and immediately exclaimed. Suddenly his single knee bent as he knelt down and declared loudly: “Under the Five Armies’ Grand Commander, Hedong Roving General Xiong Jun pays respects to Master Qiong!” The moment his knee touched the ground, clanging sounds rang from the hall as sabers touched the ground – large numbers of foot soldiers followed that officer in prostration.

The commanding officer knelt on one knee in the “Nine Bows” ritual – the bow of respect, a great ceremony performed by military officers in camp. The previous moment had been filled with killing intent, but who knew that when the superior bowed, without needing a single word of instruction, all the soldiers in the field followed suit in kneeling and bowing to their former enemy. Even that previously fierce and arrogant leading officer was no exception. Seeing this situation, everyone felt both joy and alarm – joy that finally someone sensible had arrived, alarm that this military force had such strict discipline, truly elite troops rarely seen in the world.

The first requirement of military governance was strict military law. When a general’s command was passed down, no explanation was needed. These foot soldiers took their superior’s thoughts as their own, having no individual thinking. In battle, the entire army would surely fight bravely without selfish motives. Qiong Fang secretly felt alarmed, thinking: “With such excellent troops, regardless of whose hands they’re in, anyone could establish themselves as king. Who exactly is this leader?” She hurried to examine Xiong Jun’s uniform. This man was in his early thirties, with a short mustache above his lips, dignified appearance, and broad shoulders and thick waist. Just as she was about to look further, she saw the dragon-patterned black belt at his waist. Qiong Fang exclaimed and quickly pulled Juan’er close, whispering: “These are your brother-in-law’s subordinates.” Juan’er hurriedly looked and indeed saw dragon carvings on that man’s saber – truly elite troops under the Five Armies’ Grand Commander. No wonder their orders were so coordinated and discipline so strict.

Qiong Fang pondered for a long while, then gave Fu Yuanying a meaningful look. This “Sword Master” was most astute – whenever major events occurred, she always had him speak first. Fu Yuanying sheathed his sword and stepped forward with pleasantries: “General Xiong, you’re busy with official duties yet still troubled to come from afar – how dare we accept such courtesy.” Xiong Jun paid him no attention, only saying flatly: “You have no official position. Step aside and ask Master Qiong to come forward and speak.”

The soldiers on both sides loudly relayed the command: “Ask Master Qiong to come forward!”

This tone was exactly like ascending to court for interrogation under military law – how could Qiong Fang willingly submit? The young master’s anger flared. Having barely suppressed her temper, now she couldn’t help but snap: “Master Fu, ask this rude madman about his background for me! When we return to the capital, I’ll report to the National Uncle and have them all investigated!” She never referred to herself as “this seat,” but since the other party wanted to put on airs, in her indignation she need not be polite either. Having received orders, Fu Yuanying was equivalent to having the Empress and National Uncle backing him. He immediately straightened his robes, cupped his hands in salute, stepped forward with a smile and said: “General Xiong, your military rank is insufficient. Please step down and have your superior come over. Tell him the National Uncle’s Qiong has something to ask – namely, why does he allow his subordinates to bully the Empress’s niece?” Fu Yuanying was always smiling and kind to others, but now his words were sharp as a blade – apparently he intended to put his opponent in a difficult position.

The National Uncle’s authority – Xiong Jun naturally knew its power. But he had no intention of saying much, only laughing lightly several times before turning to look at the corpse on the ground. That soldier had been captured by Song Tongming earlier, then bit off his own tongue and committed suicide – showing rigid character and fierce resolve. Xiong Jun’s expression grew solemn as he said in a deep voice: “Want to see Xiong’s superior? Not difficult at all. Whoever violated discipline and caused trouble, step forward and return to camp with me for trial!”

Fu Yuanying hadn’t even finished speaking on this side when the opponent had opened yet another case. Fu Yuanying sighed and said lightly: “General Xiong, are you truly unwilling to listen to reason?” Xiong Jun said coldly: “Military law is reason. Let whoever caused trouble step forward.” Both sides stared at each other, all knowing today’s matter was extremely difficult to handle. However, Xiong Jun controlled several thousand troops while Qiong Fang only had a dozen people – in a direct confrontation, they would likely suffer losses.

With a thunderous sound, a stone block flew from the ground straight toward Xiong Jun. It was Zhe’er Dan kicking with his foot. Seeing his face full of rage, he was ready to go on a killing spree. The flying stone’s force was fierce and powerful. Xiong Jun dared not catch it with his hands, only deflecting it with his steel saber. Sparks flew as the blade vibrated continuously. Xiong Jun retreated a step and said coldly: “You’ve made another mistake. Men! Except for Master Qiong, capture all the others for questioning!”

With dozens of swishing sounds, all the soldiers in the hall raised their weapons. Xiong Jun glared at Qiong Fang, waiting to hear her intentions. Qiong Fang assessed the dangerous situation and was reluctantly about to submit when Zhe’er Dan, beyond control, flew into a rage and tore off his upper garment. Seeing him stride boldly into the field with both fists raised high, black shadows looming with fist peaks – he clearly intended to beat a hundred soldiers to death to vent his anger. After all, he had the Khan backing him. When the time came, he could kill and flee back to Mongolia – what could the Chinese court do to him?

Seeing the two sides had reached an impasse, another fierce battle was about to begin. Fu Yuanying secretly calculated that their side still had one trump card that Xiong Jun couldn’t ignore. He kept making eye signals until Juan’er immediately understood and quickly jumped into the field, shouting: “General Xiong, I am the junior martial sister of the former sect leader of Jiuhua Mountain. Please hold off for a moment.”

Xiong Jun had originally been imposing from all directions, speaking with full vigor, but suddenly seeing Juan’er, he exclaimed softly. The Grand Commander had just this one beautiful sister-in-law, whose reputation was widely known in the army. Even the officers who had never met her face-to-face had heard of this Miss Juan Er. Xiong Jun was the first to lead the way as all the soldiers in the field bowed respectfully and shouted in unison: “Miss Juan Er!” Seeing Juan’er stammering a half-bow in return, Qiong Fang frowned in surprise, thinking: “It seems Juan’er’s face carries more weight in the military camp than mine.”

The Grand Commander’s sister-in-law’s mere appearance silenced the large group of soldiers. Song Tongming observed coldly, seeing Xiong Jun’s face redden somewhat – apparently eight or nine times out of ten he harbored improper thoughts. He sneered: “A toad wanting to eat swan meat? Go die, you bastard.” Fearing the two sides would come to blows, Juan’er quickly smoothed things over: “General Xiong, how is my brother-in-law recently? Is his health still good?” Xiong Jun ignored the pointless mockery and cupped his hands in reply: “In response to Miss Juan Er’s inquiry, the Grand Commander is in robust health – eating ten jin of meat daily and drinking ten sheng of wine nightly, stronger than in his youth. We are all ashamed of our inferiority.”

Hearing crying that shook the sky outside the temple gate, Juan’er stole glances and saw man after man and woman after woman stripping for inspection. Large crowds were in chaos, with many naked women covering their breasts and weeping piteously while many men rolled on the ground, apparently having been beaten and injured. Seeing Qiong Fang and others repeatedly making eye signals, she quickly said: “General Xiong, doesn’t my brother-in-law want you to treat the people kindly? What are you doing? Stop this immediately.” But Xiong Jun stepped back and called over the leading officer, saying in a deep voice: “Explain your case.”

The leading officer declared loudly: “By superior orders! Bandits infiltrated Jingzhou and burned our grain supplies. We pursued the thieves all the way to this place. Therefore, searching the people is acting with discretionary authority.” Zhu Kang shook his head and sighed: “Even with discretionary authority, you shouldn’t strip women’s clothing. Such outrageous behavior, disturbing the people and bringing shame to the court – aren’t you afraid your Grand Commander will have your head?”

The leading officer’s eyes widened in anger: “Audacious wild words!” Zhu Kang was startled and hurriedly retreated, hiding behind Fu Yuanying. Fu Yuanying blocked the officer’s path but didn’t argue with him, only turning to Xiong Jun with a sigh: “General Xiong, I advise you – this officer acts recklessly. After you return to camp, you must deal with him according to law.” Fu Yuanying was always gentle and considerate. Unless the other party’s words and actions were extremely inappropriate, he would always leave them a way out. Even he spoke this way, so one can imagine the feelings of Qiong Fang and the others.

Xiong Jun’s gaze was profound as he shook his head without comment. Fu Yuanying was somewhat displeased and was about to act when suddenly he heard the leading officer’s eyes bulge with fury, his whiskers bristling as he stepped forward shouting angrily: “According to this dynasty’s legal code! Jingzhou is a frontline emergency war zone. This general acts under superior orders – rather die than surrender, with discretionary authority! With these three conditions, even imperial commands may be disobeyed! The bandits now have tattoos on their bodies – either fierce tigers or bears and horses – therefore we must strip and examine their bodies! Our discipline is strict – what improper thoughts do we harbor? How can we compare to low-class, chaotic, lawless evil armies? Even if the Grand Commander came here personally, what would I fear?” The soldiers raised their voices in loud cries, lifting their shields and striking the ground to demonstrate military authority.

Seeing Qiong Fang and others stunned speechless, Xiong Jun smiled slightly and explained: “Gentlemen, wartime differs from peacetime, and battlefields are not official courts. When we military officers campaign, we don’t engage in diplomatic subtleties. Whoever has the higher rank on scene must bear full responsibility. Also because of military law, as long as the Grand Commander is not present, every commander should courageously take responsibility and act as Grand Commander.” He pointed to the leading officer: “If he fails to catch the grain-burning bandits today, tomorrow morning he faces execution…” He asked the officer: “Zou Dong, are you afraid?” The officer, whose surname was Zou and given name Dong, stood at attention, looked skyward and answered loudly: “To die fighting for the country, I have no regrets even in death!” Xiong Jun smiled and said: “As the leader, if he can’t catch anyone tonight, naturally his head will roll. But now that I’ve come to take over, my rank is higher than his…” He raised his hand and pointed at himself with a smile: “If anything goes wrong, I alone am responsible. Gentlemen, once we step onto the battlefield, our heads are forfeit. Do you still have objections?”

Everyone was greatly shocked to hear military law was so strict. Qiong Fang pondered for a long while, thinking these officers were acting under orders and couldn’t really be blamed. But the people outside were so pitiful and had to be saved. She spoke diplomatically: “How about this – I’ll go with you to see the Grand Commander and speak on your behalf…” Before she finished speaking, Xiong Jun had already raised his hand and said sternly: “Silence!”

Qiong Fang looked bewildered as Xiong Jun’s tone turned severe: “Speaking on behalf, violating law and discipline – that’s not helping me but insulting my military reputation. If the young master mentions this again, don’t blame me for reporting you for military law investigation.”

Xiong Jun speaking this way was forcing Qiong Fang to lose face. Seeing these military men were all like iron, every one a stubborn hardhead, Fu Yuanying and others all complained bitterly, thinking of ways to extricate themselves. Qiong Fang suppressed her anger, gritting her teeth for a while. She regulated her breathing and said with forced patience: “Where is your Grand Commander? I want to see him immediately.”

“In response to the Master,” Xiong Jun turned his gaze to the ground and answered: “No information available.”

Qiong Fang’s eyebrows shot up, thinking she had misheard. She raised her voice and asked loudly again: “Forgive my poor hearing! Please say that again!” Xiong Jun also raised his voice and declared loudly: “This general acts under court orders to lead troops in Jingzhou’s cooperative defense! I only concern myself with military affairs, nothing else. Grand Commander Wu’s whereabouts are unpredictable – sometimes heading north, sometimes south. If the Master wishes to know details, you might return to the capital and ask the Ministry of War.”

Everyone was dumbfounded. This Xiong Jun either claimed ignorance or spoke evasively. These four words “no information available” made it seem as if he were treating Qiong Fang like a spy. Seeing Qiong Fang clench her fists, having reached the limit of her patience, Juan’er quickly tried to smooth things over: “It’s alright… I… I’ll go home and ask my elder sister…”

She turned to look at Xiong Jun, desperately blinking and said frantically: “Brother… Brother Xiong, with fighting at the front lines, can… can my brother-in-law come home for New Year?”

Xiong Jun lowered his head toward the ground and raised both hands cupped above his shoulders: “In response to Miss Juan’s question, frontline battle conditions involve military secrets that only Ministry of War officials may discuss. All other military matters cannot be disclosed.” Hearing him speak this way, even concealing things from Juan’er, was truly unreasonable. Feicheng Guai whispered mockingly: “Go to hell – did you take a shit this morning? Is that also a military secret?” Suanpan Guai whispered with a laugh: “His hemorrhoids are acting up and he has no strength to fight – if the enemy heard that, what would happen? Of course it’s a secret.”

The situation was truly too tense. These officers only recognized military law and completely disregarded human feelings. Everyone was speechless when suddenly Xiong Jun pointed toward the back of the temple: “Gentlemen, Jingzhou is already under lockdown. People may leave but not enter. Please exit through the back door and immediately head east from this town.” Though his tone sounded gentle, he had actually issued an eviction order.

Everyone stared speechlessly at each other. Seeing countless people outside the temple gate divided into two lines, all disheveled, Zhu Kang raised his voice: “Brother Xiong, I am a descendant of the Zhu family of Hebei with hereditary noble rank. Since you want us to leave today, we naturally dare not say much. But allow me to boldly plead – those people outside are very pitiful. Could you show leniency and let them go home?”

Xiong Jun shook his head resolutely and said in a deep voice: “On the battlefield, life and death happen in an instant. To protect the country and defend the people, we cannot show the slightest leniency. Wrongly releasing bandits today would ultimately make the people themselves suffer. They will thank me in the future.” Zhu Kang was left speechless, but Song Tongming erupted in fury: “Damn your bullshit! If I stripped your mother naked to look, would you thank me later or not?”

Xiong Jun said coldly: “I’ve shown you every tolerance – don’t be insolent again. Please leave immediately through the back door. If you linger and don’t go, I’ll treat you the same as the people outside.” He glanced sideways at Song Tongming and said lightly: “When the time comes, body searches and stripping will show no mercy.” Song Tongming pointed at Juan’er and laughed heartily: “Damn your ancestors eighteen generations! If Sect Leader Juan stays here, would you dare strip her too? If that bastard Wu Dingyuan were here, would he willingly let his sister-in-law be stripped naked by others?”

With the Grand Commander insulted, Xiong Jun roared in anger and drew his saber. All the soldiers in the hall shouted fiercely: “Audacious! You’re not permitted to mention the Grand Commander’s name!” Juan’er became frightened and quickly grabbed Song Tongming, saying frantically: “I’ll leave! I’ll leave! Don’t worry about me…”

Xiong Jun’s anger flared as he strode forward, gritting his teeth and waving his hand: “Officers, report loudly from one to one hundred. After counting, if any outsiders remain here, arrest them all for military law punishment!” The soldiers’ morale surged as they raised their voices in shouts, counting one by one in order. Several even grabbed the monk in front of Song Tongming and tore his clothing on the spot. The remaining hundreds of people all rushed into the main hall and side halls to search for bandits, treating everyone as if they were invisible.

The scene was intense. Everyone looked to Qiong Fang to see how she would decide. Juan’er, unwilling to conflict with her relatives’ subordinates, urged them to leave completely. Seeing the opponent had large numbers of troops, all well-trained, if they didn’t know to avoid their cutting edge now, they would truly be asking for trouble. She made an eye signal and everyone turned around, about to leave the temple.

Large groups of soldiers continued counting one by one. Just as they reached twenty, sudden loud cries came from the side hall, as if someone had fallen. The Huashan Twin Eccentrics cheered: “It’s that strange fellow!”

On this journey there was still one more person – a monster of unknown identity. That strange man lay on a stretcher all day, neither eating nor speaking nor moving. Not even the Heavenly King could wake him with shouting. All these days he had relied on the “Three Staff Heroes'” patient care, cooking thick porridge to feed him, just barely keeping him alive until now. But who knew how those soldiers would deal with him.

Hearing there was someone else in that hall, Xiong Jun gave a cold laugh. Large groups of his subordinates continued counting while heading toward the side hall with tremendous momentum. Fu Yuanying worried about the strange man’s situation and quickly said: “Let’s take the person and leave, don’t cause more trouble.” Recalling that strange man’s world-shaking divine skills in the waterfall, Qiong Fang smiled slightly. Her large eyes turned as she said lightly: “Don’t worry, I guarantee with my life they definitely can’t touch that person.”

Everyone still had doubts. With a snap, Qiong Fang opened her folding fan and waved it to create a breeze, laughing: “Ten thousand times don’t worry. The person I, Qiong Fang, have chosen definitely won’t disappoint.” She flicked her robe sleeves and led the way toward the side hall. Everyone looked at each other – you look at me, I look at you. The Huashan Twin Eccentrics, seeing there would be a good show, wouldn’t miss it and hurried to follow.

Arriving outside the hall, they saw surging crowds – the side hall was already packed with no room to stand, full of soldiers. Qiong Fang and others stood on the altar to look. They could see clearly – one person sleeping on a stretcher, lying on his side, was exactly that strange man. Xiong Jun was beside him counting loudly, having already reached eighty. Around him were rope handlers ready to capture people at any moment.

Just reaching ninety, they heard Xiong Jun shout: “Audacious unruly citizen! Get up for inspection!” That strange man slept like Buddha entering nirvana, still closing his eyes motionlessly, like the sleep god Pengzu who had slumbered for eight hundred years. The soldiers counted faster and angrier. Xiong Jun shouted: “…Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, prepare the ropes!”

Five ropes shot out, already encircling the person’s head, neck and limbs in a five-horse dismemberment formation, binding head and limbs. Shouts shook the hall as dozens of soldiers held ropes awaiting orders. Xiong Jun smiled coldly and glanced at Qiong Fang, waiting to hear her plead. But this woman seemed completely unconcerned and even yawned. Xiong Jun’s anger was uncontainable as he waved and shouted: “One, two! Move!”

The ropes tightened with creaking sounds. Twenty soldiers jointly pulled five ropes, four per rope. They could be seen red-faced and gasping, upper bodies leaning back, everyone exerting force to pull toward the hall’s exterior. With tremendous force transmitted to that strange man, his throat constricted and limbs bound, he should have screamed and struggled miserably. But who knew he maintained a peaceful sleeping expression, sweetly slumbering, while the soldiers panted like oxen in vain, their feet only treading empty steps.

That strange man was clearly bound at head, neck and limbs by ropes, yet still lay on his side unmoving. Xiong Jun was secretly shocked and shouted: “Add twenty more men!” With clattering footsteps, twenty fresh troops were added. Forty people jointly pulled with wild angry shouts. Finally the strange man’s body trembled and his right arm lifted. The soldiers cheered loudly: “He moved! He moved!”

But they saw the strange man’s right hand reach toward his back to scratch an itch. After a while, seeming comfortable, he stretched it back again.

The Huashan Twin Eccentrics watched and laughed heartily. Xiong Jun was both angry and embarrassed, quickly calling for more people. Within the time for a cup of tea, Xiong Jun had deployed dozens more men. The hall had almost no place to stand as everyone exerted force pulling, yet they couldn’t make the strange man turn over. Bull-like panting sounds rose and fell – fortunately the strange man wasn’t snoring, or it would be even more humiliating.

Song Tongming laughed so hard he stumbled and shouted: “Hey Xiong, this old brother is my good friend. Only by licking his soles can you wake him up – please work harder!” Xiong Jun roared in fury like a fierce lion pouncing on a lamb, kicking heavily toward the strange man’s back. With a muffled sound, Xiong Jun showed a pained expression, supporting himself with his saber and gasping with his head down – apparently the internal force backlash had cost him dearly.

Everyone found it both funny and alarming. According to Little White Dragon’s account, if this person had truly stayed in the waterfall, when even the ten-thousand-jin great water of the White Water Falls couldn’t wash him away, what did the strength of dozens of soldiers matter? Seeing such strange phenomena, Qiong Fang was overjoyed, her face flushed with rosy clouds.

Fu Yuanying secretly observed and saw the brick and stone beneath that person were under too much force and showed faint cracking signs. He exclaimed and thought: “Borrowing and redirecting force – this is Wudang technique.” He had originally thought this person used “Thousand-Jin Drop Divine Skill” to resist the officers, but looking at this, the strange man was using internal martial arts to counter, directing the soldiers’ force into the ground, causing the brick and stone to crack under pressure.

Xiong Jun was both shocked and furious, shouting: “Draw sabers! This person boldly violates prohibitions and is heavily suspected – he definitely burned the grain supplies. If he dares resist further, we’ll kill him.” Blade light flashed in the side hall as dozens of steel sabers all unsheathed.

Qiong Fang let out a long breath and couldn’t help giggling, shouting loudly: “General Xiong, this person was lying motionless yesterday – how could he burn grain? Did you see it in a dream?” Xiong Jun’s face turned red as he was the first to draw his saber to strike, shouting: “Let’s see if you move or not!” Just at that moment, the strange man suddenly whooshed and instantly stood upright. The monster’s knees didn’t need to bend – with just slight force from his heels, he rose like a stiff corpse. Everyone who witnessed this felt greatly alarmed and all surged backward.

Motionless as a mountain, but once he moved, it was with heaven-shaking momentum. Standing up, that ugly bearded face flew up from the ground and nearly collided directly with Xiong Jun. In his panic, he quickly used “Zhang Guolao Riding Backwards” with Drunken Eight Immortals body technique, falling sideways to avoid the collision.

Fu Yuanying secretly calculated and knew this was application of internal sticky energy, using his heel as a pivot point to rotate and stand like a wheel. He thought he could barely manage it himself, but to do it as smoothly as flowing clouds and water like this man was absolutely impossible.

At this moment, about a hundred soldiers were still pulling on the ropes. When that strange man suddenly stood up, everyone hurriedly retreated. Using too much force, for a moment people and horses tumbled over. Following the falling momentum of about a hundred people pulling backward, the ropes around the strange man tightened and straightened, then bounced the hundred soldiers back. Looking at that strange man standing alone in the sea of people like a thousand-year-old tree with tangled roots, everyone cried out in panic, colliding and tumbling. The side hall was full of disheveled soldiers. Xiong Jun had never seen such a strange occurrence in his life. Raising his saber again, he said through gritted teeth: “You… you’re so audacious…”

As soon as the words “audacious” were spoken, that strange man suddenly opened his eyes as if awakening from a great dream. Though Qiong Fang stood far away, she could see the strange man’s gaze was extremely clear, just like what she had seen in the Water Curtain Cave that day – gentle and crystalline. His gaze swept over everyone in the side hall. Bearing the brunt, Xiong Jun was like a startled bird, panicking and retreating quickly.

That strange man looked at everyone, then glanced at the stretcher on the ground. Seeing there was a bottle of strong liquor, he picked it up and gently took a small sip.

Seeing he drank with satisfaction, he actually tucked the bottle into his bosom, holding it like a pillow and slowly closing his eyes as if wanting to lie down and sleep again. The soldiers cried out in alarm: “He’s sleeping again! He’s sleeping again!” Xiong Jun said urgently: “Move his bed away! Quickly!” The soldiers wailed: “Pull away the stretcher! Pull away the stretcher!” The officers and soldiers were forced into a frenzy by that strange man, making fools of themselves. Qiong Fang and others held back their laughter, shouting loudly: “When the Son of Heaven calls, he won’t leave his bed – claiming to be an immortal in sleep!”

The great hall was filled with clamor – cursing and laughter. That person paid no attention to anyone and had already lain back on the stretcher, wanting to sleep again. Suddenly he sat up once more, his eyes looking toward the temple gate, turning his face as if listening to something.

That person neither moved nor spoke, like a stone. Any expression or gesture was enough to make everyone hold their breath. Suddenly seeing his expression like this, they wondered what strange thing was happening. Just as they were finding it amusing, Zhe’er Dan also exclaimed and spoke a few words in his native language, turning his face toward outside the temple. After another moment, Fu Yuanying and Song Tongming’s eyebrows shot up. Even Xiong Jun and everyone else turned to look outside the temple. Qiong Fang was completely bewildered and was about to ask when suddenly she saw Juan’er raise a finger to her lips, signaling Qiong Fang to remain silent, then closed her eyes and said quietly: “There’s a sound.”

Qiong Fang frowned and was about to speak again when suddenly a low rumble reached her ears – she too had noticed it.

It was a kind of low sound, both muffled and deep. It was impossible to say what it was – unprecedented, not quite like anything of this world. Qiong Fang glanced toward the temple gate and the horizon. The sound seemed to come from very far away, but its origin was unknown.

Thump… thump…

The sound came again. At first hearing, it seemed like ancient demons stirring restlessly, or like celestial giants clapping their hands together, as if directly shaking into their eardrums, synchronized with their heartbeats. Even when people covered their ears, they could still sense the strange sound through their bodies. The two young women looked at each other, feeling something unusual in their hearts. Feicheng Guai said in panic: “What is this sound? Is it almost New Year – has the year beast crawled out?” Xiong Jun’s face was iron-gray as he said hoarsely: “The main forces of both armies have reached Jingzhou. Major battle could break out at any time…” Hearing these words, that strange man’s shoulders suddenly trembled as he stepped forward and walked straight toward the temple gate. Xiong Jun came to his senses and roared angrily: “Hold him! Don’t let him pass!”

As soon as the words were spoken, the ropes fell to the ground. That person had somehow instantly freed himself from the hemp ropes. Seeing that filthy figure disappear among the swords and spears, everyone was shocked and uncertain. In a flash, shouts came from outside the temple – that person had passed through like going through walls. All prohibitions were broken by the strange man. At this point, they couldn’t control Qiong Fang, Juan’er and the others at all. Xiong Jun was both shocked and afraid. His feet touched the ground and he leaped high over the temple gate, chasing straight into the field. Everyone was amazed and followed out of the temple gate one by one. Qiong Fang squeezed through the crowd and stood at the top of the stone steps, her beautiful eyes shifting, only watching that hunched figure. She saw that person holding a wine bottle in his right hand, lowering his head to drink, while his left hand pushed forward against more than ten shields standing like a wall, which kept being forced to retreat.

The crowd was packed, numbering in the thousands. That strange man moved forward silently like parting the sea. Behind the shields were hundreds of robust men, military elites. At this moment they were hoarse from shouting, straining with all their might, using shoulders and bodies to push back, but like dragonflies trying to shake a pillar, they couldn’t stop that person’s advance at all. Their formation was continuously squeezed and pressed, ready to collapse at any moment.

This scene was truly too strange. The men, women, elderly and children in the plaza stared blankly, all falling silent. This person moved with perfect composure – sleeping like the majesty of mountains, rising and walking like a great river rushing unrestrained. Seeing this, anyone would be filled with terror. Song Tongming laughed dryly: “This… how is this practiced?” Everyone was silent, but they heard Fu Yuanying say quietly: “Forged by the world’s greatest water, perhaps?” Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but nod. Without natural dangerous conditions to temper and forge, no one could cultivate to this level.

In a moment, that strange man raised his head and howled like a fierce tiger’s mournful cry. Under the shock of sound waves, people and horses immediately tumbled, and the formation was forced to open a passage for him. Seeing an opportunity, the common people carried their families and followed behind that person as he moved forward. The scene had become chaotic.

Suddenly that person leaped up, flying directly over the heads of the soldiers, frightening everyone into panicked cries. Feicheng Guai exclaimed: “Hey! That fellow is running! Should we chase him?” Qiong Fang was like a child encountering a novel toy, her face full of excitement as she kept shouting: “Can’t let him go! Everyone go catch him and bring him back to Beijing!” She was the first to rush out. The Twin Eccentrics looked at each other and laughed dryly: “If hundreds of them can’t stop him, how can we catch him?” Zhu Kang laughed: “Hasn’t he been following us all along? Why would we need to catch him! Let’s go!” Behind them, Fu Yuanying, Song Tongming, and the Three Staff Heroes rushed forward to escort, following Qiong Fang’s footsteps, pushing through the crowd and chasing after the strange man.

That strange man began running at full speed, his skills both fast and strange. When he leaped up, he kept jumping over the soldiers’ heads. At this moment, there seemed to be some disturbance in the direction of Jingzhou – not only was there faint firelight in the sky, but that deep, muffled sound could be heard for several li without cease. That strange man ran along the source of the sound, charging through everything. In a flash, he rushed out of the soldiers’ formation and landed to sprint. Xiong Jun was also leading troops in pursuit at this time. Everyone was shouting and chasing endlessly.

That person flew forward, but ahead was an opera stage with scaffolding built behind it, over a zhang high. Xiong Jun was delighted: “Surround him!” As the black shadow approached, the fake Zhuge Liang on stage was frightened helpless, hurriedly crouching down and about to scream when that strange man’s feet left the ground and actually flew over the high platform. This person’s leap was nearly several zhang high, naturally leaving the fake Zhuge Liang speechless with amazement. At this moment, the military officers came running, everyone leaping together but all crashing into the opera stage and falling down miserably.

The fake Zhuge Liang had just calmed his frightened soul and was looking at the fake Imperial Uncle face to face. The two were supporting each other and about to get up when suddenly another black shadow pounced over with a whooshing sound of fluttering clothes. The newcomer was about twenty years old, dressed in scholar’s robes with dignified appearance, flying over the high platform like a great roc spreading its wings.

This person was exactly “Purple Master,” the National Uncle’s granddaughter Qiong Fang.

Having flown over the opera stage, ahead was a flat plain. That strange man sprinted short distances across the flat ground, running faster and faster like an arrow from a bow, his silhouette becoming increasingly blurred. Qiong Fang panicked and chased desperately. Suddenly two figures beside her rushed ahead first – one flying gracefully like a butterfly, which was Juan’er, and another like a bull crouching with long legs taking great strides, which was Zhe’er Dan. Once these two caught up, in the blink of an eye they left Qiong Fang far behind. Long-distance running required internal breath regulation most of all. After five li, the depth of skill was already apparent. Zhe’er Dan’s steps were steady as he consistently chased behind that strange man, about a hundred feet apart. Qiong Fang was flushed red all over, desperately trying to regulate her breathing, but her chest and lungs hurt as if about to burst. Her steps involuntarily slowed down. Juan’er had originally been in the lead but had now also slowed her pace, overtaken by Fu Yuanying.

Qiong Fang and Juan’er’s lightness skills and mental techniques were outstanding – their methods for breathing and leaping far exceeded ordinary jianghu figures. But they were still young and their internal energy wasn’t as lasting as these masters. Now showing signs of exhaustion, they walked slowly while panting. Song Tongming, the Twin Eccentrics and others passed them one by one. Behind them, the “Three Staff Heroes” caught up and stayed beside the young master to guard against the unexpected.

The closer to the front lines, the more urgent the low rumbling in their ears became – one beat after another, increasingly heavy and deep. Qiong Fang saw that along the way it was already like ruins – houses burned, forests completely cut down, traces of fire damage visible everywhere. She couldn’t help feeling fearful. Juan’er saw this and her pretty face also turned pale. After slowly traveling another li, they could see Jingzhou city.

Qiong Fang and others saw Song Tongming and the rest standing on the road, having stopped moving forward. They quickly asked: “Why aren’t you walking anymore?”

Song Tongming pointed toward the horizon, indicating for Qiong Fang to look. Puzzled, she looked up and was shocked to see Jingzhou’s night sky filled with black shadows covering the entire city like demons descending from heaven. The two beauties were frightened and murmured: “What… what is this?” Song Tongming swallowed and said quietly: “This… this looks like wolf smoke…”

Everyone stopped to observe, hearing continuous muffled sounds as if some huge demon was hidden ahead, making them afraid to proceed rashly. While hesitating, they suddenly heard crying that shook the sky on the road. Hundreds of carts were hastily approaching – refugees. Seeing a woman carrying her family, crying and wailing as she came, Qiong Fang stopped her and asked: “What happened in the city?” The woman was terrified as if being chased by fierce tigers, only looking back continuously and crying in panic: “They’re coming again! They’re coming again! What are you standing here for? Flee for your lives quickly!”

The woman’s cries were extremely miserable, making everyone’s hearts even more panicked. Zhu Kang coughed and was about to speak when suddenly there was a buzzing in their ears – that deep, muffled sound had actually stopped. The woman had been crying but suddenly sensed the change and actually held back her tears.

The direction of Jingzhou was completely quiet, but at this moment it was only more eerie. White snow was falling from the sky, wind passed through the burned forest – the silence was frightening.

Zhu Kang couldn’t contain himself and laughed dryly: “So quiet.” These two words were clearly spoken in a low voice, but suddenly sounded somewhat jarring.

Qiong Fang saw the woman’s lips trembling and was about to ask more about the situation when suddenly there was a tremendous bang. The earth shook continuously, and sharp sounds came from the night sky – thousands of suona horns piercing the night sky with piercing, ear-stabbing sounds. It was clearly both enemy and allied forces with ten thousand troops beating war drums together, like thunder roaring, like volcanic eruptions, deafening. The low sounds everyone had heard in town earlier were exactly these deep, powerful drum beats.

The woman cried out in alarm: “They’re coming! They’re coming! Flee for your lives!” She pushed past Qiong Fang and fled urgently. The other refugees crowded together, pushing along the road, all fleeing toward the small town.

Seeing the Twin Eccentrics hugging each other and Zhu Kang also shrinking behind Song Tongming, the Three Staff Heroes guarded their young mistress, surrounding her in the center. Qiong Fang tightly gripped Juan’er’s hand, her palm full of sweat. Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to do, when suddenly they heard powerful singing from the direction of Jingzhou – tens of thousands of people singing in unison!

The singing was deep and couldn’t be understood. Only in the darkness could they see the distant black mist-like mountains and fields light up with patches of ghostly fires. The military display was unprecedented in magnificence. Fire snakes and long dragons gradually coiled down the mountain, winding along the way as if to strangle Jingzhou city.

Qiong Fang took out a telescope to look. What she saw was that the mountains and fields everywhere were full of demon soldiers and ghost troops. Some were bare-chested, holding large curved sabers; some wore Muslim clothing with white turbans; some looked like ordinary country folk, but regardless of their dress, all were singing continuously. Song Tongming borrowed the telescope and after one look, his body was already trembling slightly: “Haven’t seen them for years… they’ve grown like locusts… what can be done…”

Just at this moment, someone rushed up from behind – it was Xiong Jun. He brought large numbers of soldiers and shouted: “Stop interfering! The Nu Cang bandits are about to attack the city! Why don’t you turn around quickly!” Before Qiong Fang could speak, there was an explosive sound like thunder in her ears. The city walls boomed with explosions, and the southern corner began to collapse, dropping countless mud, sand and stone blocks.

The great battle had begun, with killing sounds rising. Qiong Fang and others squeezed on the road, seeing people continuously flowing toward them from ahead, while looking back, court reinforcements from the small town kept coming up. The two streams of people collided as soldiers used whips to beat and disperse the people, forcing them to crouch and scatter in panic, rolling into the field ridges beside the road.

Witnessing chaotic warfare firsthand, Qiong Fang and others looked at each other, all feeling uneasy. Zhu Kang became frightened. He gripped Song Tongming’s hand and gasped: “Song… Brother Song… I… I don’t want to… to face those people…” Song Tongming came to his senses and quickly said: “Master Qiong, the situation ahead is chaotic. Let’s return to the small town first!” Qiong Fang remembered Fu Yuanying and said in panic: “No good, Master Fu is still ahead…” Song Tongming shook his head completely: “With Fu Yuanying’s martial arts, he can definitely protect himself. We’ll go our own way.”

Everyone spoke one after another, all with panic in their words. Just as they were about to turn and leave, they heard a sharp scream. Juan’er somehow pushed everyone away and flew forward on her own. Everyone was greatly alarmed and shouted: “What are you doing? Stop!” Juan’er paid no attention. Her pace was extremely fast – in the blink of an eye she had run a hundred feet, heading straight toward the fleeing crowds, and in a moment disappeared from sight.

Qiong Fang, fearing Juan’er would have an accident, had to chase urgently. The two beauties – one running, one chasing – could rush into the battlefield at any time. Song Tongming and Zhu Kang had no choice but to fly after them. Soon the Three Staff Heroes had caught up too. Everyone pushed through the people along the way, shouting continuously. But the closer to the battlefield, the more the killing sounds were deafening. Later even their own shouts couldn’t be heard clearly, let alone Juan’er’s. Zhu Kang shouted loudly: “Why is she running forward? Does she want to find Master Fu?” Qiong Fang shook her head in confusion, not knowing the reason either.

After several hundred feet, ahead appeared sun and moon flags, palisades and trenches extending for several li. Tens of thousands of heavily armored foot soldiers with swords and spears hid in the trenches, waiting in strict formation. Though numerous, they were completely silent. When Qiong Fang’s group arrived behind the formation, suddenly someone shouted loudly: “Password!” Qiong Fang was startled. Before she could speak, large numbers of arrow points had already turned around, all pointing at everyone. A military leader saw they couldn’t answer and raised his right hand high. Everyone understood – when this person’s right hand fell, it would be the miserable situation of ten thousand arrows piercing hearts. Song Tongming hurriedly shouted: “We are the court’s subjects! Don’t act rashly!”

The leader ignored him and immediately shouted: “Body search!” Large numbers of soldiers surged up to search everyone one by one. Qiong Fang was unwilling to let these people touch her body and had to dodge backward. Suddenly blade light flashed, and over ten long sabers were already at her snow-white neck. The Three Staff Heroes stepped forward to rescue, but hundreds of long spears blocked the road while countless steel sabers pointed at vital points all over their bodies, making them unable to move at all.

This was a battlefield – tens of thousands facing each other in killing, emphasizing killing enemies and defeating enemy masses. Ordinary martial artists, unless skilled with long sabers and heavy halberds, relying only on close combat techniques, could hardly break out of the human sea. Those with weak physical strength had even less chance of survival.

Qiong Fang was already restrained. Seeing large numbers of men reaching out toward her, about to be humiliated at any moment, suddenly there was a delicate shout: “Don’t touch her! She’s the granddaughter of National Uncle Qiong, Qiong Fang! Who dares touch her body will have their entire family executed!” Qiong Fang looked carefully and saw a woman in the crowd shouting loudly, risking danger to help her out of the predicament – it was Juan’er. Looking at her left hand holding a sword while her pulse point was grasped by someone, that person wore monk’s robes and a steel helmet, originally sitting on a stool. Hearing the word “Qiong Fang,” he quickly stood up in panic: “Benefactor Qiong has arrived?”

Qiong Fang looked up at that person wearing monk’s robes and holding a steel spear over a zhang long. He walked up to her and gave her a meaningful look. The large numbers of long sabers left her neck as countless soldiers moved aside. That person removed his military helmet, revealing scars and a bald head – indeed a monk. Qiong Fang was still shaken, forcing herself to concentrate and smile: “Great… Great Master, what is your dharma name…” The bald man joined his palms and bowed, stating his dharma name: “This humble monk Ling Xuan pays respects to Benefactor Qiong.” Song Tongming and others were also released at this time. Hearing the words “Ling Xuan,” all were both surprised and delighted: “Master Ling Xuan of Shaolin Temple has come? Truly long admired!”

“Three Treasures of Bodhidharma Hall, Four Vajras of Arhat Hall” – though Qiong Fang had never been to Shaolin Temple, she had heard people mention that today’s Four Great Vajras were “Zhen, Xuan, Ru, Shi.” This Master Ling Xuan before them was exactly the first seat of Arhat Hall, ranked among the Four Great Vajras. Just as everyone began talking, a military leader climbed out of the trench and said loudly: “It’s you people again? The great battle is about to begin. Please leave early. If anything happens, how can we explain to the court?” Everyone heard this person’s resentful tone and turned to look – it was Xiong Jun again.

This Ling Xuan’s status was far higher than Xiong Jun’s, yet his demeanor was quite modest. He spoke gently: “No matter, we haven’t charged yet. These benefactors still have time to leave.” With great enemies ahead, Ling Xuan maintained the true character of a Shaolin warrior monk, still greeting everyone with jianghu etiquette. He ordered Juan’er’s release and joined his palms with a bow: “Ten thousand apologies. In the battlefield, this humble monk cannot allow Benefactor Juan to take risks, so I had to offend.”

Qiong Fang saw Juan’er was completely unharmed and immediately felt relieved, quickly asking: “What… what exactly happened here?”

As soon as Xiong Jun heard Qiong Fang asking about military intelligence, he immediately kept making eye signals. But Ling Xuan had no reservations and said: “Won’t hide it from the benefactor. The Nu Cang bandits broke through Hanzhong last month and surrounded Xiangyang on three sides. As long as Jingzhou city is broken and transportation routes severed, Xiangfan will run out of supplies at any time.”

Xiangyang city was high with deep water, with residents numbering in the hundreds of thousands of households. It had always been the most difficult to attack, yet it was actually under enemy siege. If this first-class stronghold in the southwest were to fall, the whole world would surely be shaken. Everyone was shocked speechless hearing the battle situation was so urgent. Ling Xuan pointed toward Jingzhou and continued: “This Jingzhou city has been besieged repeatedly no less than three times in recent months. So far over twenty supervising generals have died in battle, and the people have been displaced. The bandits come and go, go and come – the city has long been in ruins.” Zhu Kang said in panic: “We were in Beijing and never heard this news… what… what’s going on?”

Hearing this, Xiong Jun immediately coughed repeatedly. Ling Xuan said: “The court doesn’t want the people to panic, so they concealed the news. Since you benefactors have nothing pressing, please return quickly.” Song Tongming asked quietly: “Can Jingzhou hold?”

Ling Xuan looked confused and turned to Xiong Jun. Everyone said tremblingly: “It won’t hold?” Xiong Jun said in a flat tone: “The city stands with the people; the city falls with the people. We few generals all arranged our affairs before heading south – what is there to fear?” These few words showed even more the fearless warrior spirit. Everyone thought of the comfortable years in the capital and looked at these soldiers’ battlefield hardships with solemn respect.

While everyone was talking, suddenly suona horns played in unison and war drums sounded together. In the darkness, enemy troops roared in unison – heart-shaking tremendous sounds came as heaven and earth darkened, no other sounds existing. Everyone’s hearts swayed as they looked far into the distance, seeing black shadows spread across the wilderness as cannon carts were dragged out one by one – the enemy was forming battle arrays. The great battle began – city warfare and plains warfare could break out at any time. Qiong Fang became frightened and was about to speak when suddenly she heard thunderous shouting from their own positions. For over ten li behind them, countless soldiers drew swords toward heaven and shouted wildly.

Qiong Fang covered her ears, but Ling Xuan’s shouting penetrated through her palms and struck directly into her ears. She heard him cry loudly: “All officers listen to orders! Destroy the cannon carts, topple the siege ladders! To protect the peace of people in all four regions, we sacrifice our lives for the country and will forever ascend to paradise!” All soldiers shouted loudly as they immediately opened the palisades and charged straight toward the battlefield. A military officer instructed Qiong Fang: “The siege battle has begun. Our army has already charged and has no power to protect you. Please leave quickly.” They could hear enemy foot soldiers shouting loudly as monsters several dozen zhang high emerged from the human sea – these were siege ladders, each like towers reaching to heaven, towering over the city head. Behind the ladders were cannon carts numbering in the hundreds, being pulled into the battlefield by soldiers fighting to clear the way, advancing foot by foot toward the city base. Once the city entered firing range, they would begin cannon bombardment.

The battlefield was chaotic with weapons clashing and killing everywhere. The attacking side rushed to set up their array and open fire to blast down the city gates, while the defending side charged with all their might against the enemy formation, absolutely not letting them set up their cannon carts. Xiong Jun, Ling Xuan and others were all fighting enemies, but the enemy was fierce and bold. Even with Ling Xuan’s high martial arts, there were actually people who could fight him one-on-one for dozens of rounds without falling behind – who knew who these people were.

Qiong Fang and others stared blankly when suddenly they saw the enemy turn their cannon muzzles around – apparently discovering the ambush here. With thunderous explosions and flashing firelight, Qiong Fang’s ears went numb. In the confusion, she saw blood and fire everywhere, smoke filling the palisade area, bodies flying into the sky in pieces.

Qiong Fang had always been bold and heroic, but now her face was ashen and her shoulders trembled slightly. She quickly went to pull Juan’er, only wanting to take her and flee urgently back to the small town. As for who would win or lose here, whether Jingzhou could hold or not – that wasn’t her concern.

Qiong Fang reached out to pull, but grasped only empty air. She panicked, her gaze shifting as she was shocked to see a young woman urgently trying to pass through the palisade, seeming to want to go toward the front lines. Looking at the silhouette, it was exactly Juan’er. Qiong Fang threw herself forward and pulled her down, screaming: “Stop! You’re not allowed to go over!”

In such a slaughter scene, this Juan’er seemed to have lost her mind, only wanting to be like a moth flying into fire. Qiong Fang held onto her tightly, but Juan’er kept struggling. One pushed, one pulled, and they rolled down from the small hill, falling straight into the battlefield. The Three Staff Heroes and Song and Zhu cried out in panic and also passed through the palisade to search urgently.

Qiong Fang and Juan’er rolled into the grass. Seeing her friend’s abnormal behavior, Qiong Fang gasped and held her tightly, saying sternly: “Calm down! What exactly do you want to do?” Juan’er burst into tears: “Go away! I miss Master so much, miss A’Sha so much! Don’t mind me! Don’t mind me!”

Qiong Fang exclaimed softly, finally understanding. So that was it. The two had known each other for ten years, and this was the first time she had seen her cry – it was for this reason.

“Imperial Bestowed Phoenix Feather” Tang Shiqian, second in command of Nu Cang Mountain, known as “Azure Robe Scholar.” This sorcerer who shocked the orthodox sects was none other than the former sect leader of Jiuhua Mountain, and also the direct master of this young woman before them.

Juan’er wept inconsolably, lying in her friend’s embrace and sobbing. Just as Qiong Fang heard her crying so bitterly and was about to offer comfort, she was shocked to see torch flames illuminating a bright sea of sabers and spears slowly approaching the grass, with flags embroidered with “Western Third Route” – clearly not court troops. This was Qiong Fang’s first face-to-face encounter with rebel bandits in her life, and her whole body couldn’t help but tremble.

Suddenly horn sounds rang out – the enemy troops had detected them. Black shadows rolled like waves, countless in number. Qiong Fang cried out in panic. Seeing their own position about several hundred feet behind them, if they wanted to survive now, they could only flee back urgently. She grabbed Juan’er and ran with all her strength back toward the small hill.

A fierce wind swept over as a great saber slashed horizontally from behind, striking toward her body. If it hit solidly, she probably wouldn’t be cut in two but rather killed by the impact of the heavy blade. Qiong Fang panicked and had to raise her iron fan to block. With a tremendous clang, this iron fan was cast from refined steel and wouldn’t be damaged, but the opponent’s great saber was truly heavy. With severe wrist pain, she could no longer grip the fan handle, and her protective weapon had fallen to the ground.

Wind whooshed as the great saber, having knocked down the iron fan, instantly gathered force and chopped straight down toward Qiong Fang’s head. Though the two sides had no grievances, the opponent was so vicious. Though Qiong Fang had traveled the jianghu, she had never seen such unprovoked murderous hatred. For a moment, she could only hold her head and scream, sitting and awaiting death.

With a tremendous clang, a long sword swept horizontally to block the attacking weapon. The one who struck was Juan’er. She protected Qiong Fang behind her, holding back tears in her eyes as she shouted: “Don’t touch her! Don’t!” The enemy general sat calmly on horseback. His face couldn’t be seen clearly in the darkness. Seeing him say nothing, he only applied more force in his attack. His great saber struck down from above with continuous added force. Though Juan’er’s lightness skills were superb, how could they be used in an enemy formation? The long sword in her hand was being bent and twisted by the tremendous force. Qiong Fang took out her firearm from her bosom and shouted: “Juan’er! I’ll help you!”

Just as she was about to fire, suddenly the earth shook and something flew from the night sky. In an instant, blood splattered everywhere, covering both beauties’ faces. Before them was a tremendous boulder that had actually crushed the enemy general into a meat pie. Before the two sisters could turn around to scream, a cannon shell exploded beside them, hitting exactly twenty feet away, nearly deafening both their ears with the shock. In their terror, the two women could only embrace each other and cry loudly.

“Kill!” Across the wilderness, court troops came charging, engaging the rebel bandits in full combat. Bloody hand-to-hand fighting began.

The two beauties supported each other and fled desperately across the battlefield. Killing sounds drowned out their hearing. Directly ahead was again full of firelight. Qiong Fang couldn’t distinguish between enemy and ally at all, only crying and calling out continuously: “Tell me! Is this the front lines?”

Jianghu fighting compared to this was like children’s play. These people before them had faces full of hatred and rage. Regardless of whether they knew each other, they killed on sight – no techniques, no rules. Everywhere could be seen heads, with severed limbs scattered across the sky and ground. The weak and small here could only die. As long as they fell to the ground, they would instantly be stabbed to death by those standing, while those standing soldiers would then be devoured by dragon-like war horses…

There were no heart-rending farewells, nor could one hear final words to wives and children. After being struck by weapons, the dying would grunt strange “gah-ah-ah” sounds from their throats, which were instantly drowned by fierce roars and angry shouts. Even crying sounds couldn’t emerge…

Qiong Fang was too shocked to speak. Instead, Juan’er became much clearer-headed after the stimulation. Most of the time, she protected Qiong Fang. The two relied on tall grass for cover, crawling along the ground throughout. Their beautiful legs and tender hands were all cut by dry grass thorns. Finally seeing the small hill near their own position, just as they wanted to charge back in one breath, suddenly they heard waves of cheering from the battlefield, as if some change had occurred. The two beauties were frightened and stole glances back, seeing among the corpses everywhere a siege ladder towering over the city head passing through the sea of fire. A mighty general stood atop the vehicle, raising his whip in command. The bandits cheered in unison, shouting like thunder: “Little Lu Bu! Little Lu Bu!”

Hearing these three words, Juan’er was struck as if by lightning. Her face covered in tears, she stared blankly at that lofty, imposing general on the siege ladder. She saw him take up a long spear and hurl it with force. The black lightning-like flying shadow shot straight toward the city head. In a moment, the spear point pierced through the huge hanging plaque. The three characters “Jingzhou City” crashed down thunderously, actually knocked to the ground by the long spear. The bandits’ morale surged as they shouted: “It’s down! It’s down!”

With overlord’s momentum dominating the city head, Little Lu Bu gathered his qi in his dantian, his voice carrying for several li as he declared: “Brothers! Today we take Jingzhou! Paving the way for the battle of Xiangyang!” Enemy troops cheered like thunder with cannon sounds exploding. “Little Lu Bu” raised his whip and cracked it in the air with a bright snap, shouting with abandon: “Push! Push down Jingzhou, occupy the Central Plains! Fight! Take down the city head, kill ten thousand enemies!”

The siege ladder slowly advanced as countless soldiers risked death to pull ropes. Instantly they sang in unison: “Morning in the hall, evening in bed, corrupt officials steal silver; Eat your mother, wear your mother, wealthy houses take concubines from your mother; No meat to eat, no tears to cry, all poor men in the world hang themselves; Kill cattle and sheep, prepare wine, open city gates early for one great rage – Nu Cang enters the city and pays no grain!”

The song was sorrowfully indignant with hidden passion, yet mixed with countless hearty laughs, making it even more terrifying. Finally with a tremendous crash, the siege ladder was properly set against the city head. “Little Lu Bu” shouted loudly: “Righteous men of the world, listen to orders! No conscription, no grain tribute, good wine and sweet dreams in splendid halls – have one great, satisfying rage!” His square-sky painted halberd cut through, killing dozens in succession as he shouted: “Entire army enter the city… plunder Jingzhou!” Large numbers of rebels climbed the city walls one by one, all charging to the death. “Little Lu Bu” guarding the siege ladder was even more vicious, killing everyone he saw.

The battle situation took a sharp turn for the worse. Jingzhou’s defenders urgently deployed “Eight-Ox Fire Crossbows” with arrow points ignited, firelight dancing as they shot toward the siege ladder.

This bow was said to weigh a thousand jin, requiring a hundred men working together to draw the string. It was also called “Three-Bow Bed Crossbow.” With just one accurate shot, it could topple a siege ladder. That “Little Lu Bu” charged ahead, striking out with his painted halberd to desperately smash the fire arrows. The arrow shafts thick as pillars were deflected by the forceful strikes, but the tremendous force transmitted also shook him until he staggered, nearly falling. The entire siege ladder, having received the fierce force, immediately tilted and swayed as large numbers of foot soldiers fell down.

“Little Lu Bu” was covered in fire but laughed heartily, appearing completely mad. Those around him removed water pouches and poured them over his body, but he ignored it all, only shouting loudly: “Break the city! Break through Jingzhou City! Western route army, put in more effort! First to step on the city head!”

The enemy general on the city wall was not discouraged at all and also responded loudly: “Burn them to death! Men! Entire army prepare fire crossbows to burn down the siege ladder!”

“Crazy… all crazy…”

The east gate collapsed as defenders fought to the death – not one surrendered. The west gate gained the upper hand as fire crossbows toppled the siege ladder, killing over a thousand enemy bandits, yet those who died miserably were still laughing heartily. Watching “Little Lu Bu” with an excited face leading his subordinates charging toward the city head, not caring about life in the slightest, Qiong Fang was speechless with dejection. She held Juan’er, who was covering her face and crying bitterly, and sat down on the ground in a daze.

The fighters had gone mad… the spectators had also gone mad… She stared blankly at both enemy and allied forces. Before her, that battlefield of slaughter and angry roars was like hell yet also like heaven, making heroes laugh heartily one by one before burning themselves to death on the battlefield. But what was this battle actually for? For the ruler? For the people? Or for some great and lofty cause? She knew nothing at all. She stroked Juan’er’s beautiful hair as tears fell unconsciously…

Suddenly a long whistle pierced the air, like clear spring water on stone, immediately cooling the hearts of ten thousand troops. Like a wild wind carrying away the battlefield’s shouts and killing sounds, this tranquility came strangely, as if muteness had become a plague infecting the throats of tens of thousands.

In a moment, wind sounds howled. On the battlefield remained only that vast, desolate whistle – no other sounds. Qiong Fang rose in confusion and was shocked to see troops approaching from the north of the city. In the billowing smoke and dust, Qiong Fang exclaimed softly and called out quietly: “He’s come…”

“Grand Commander! Grand Commander!”

The battlefield erupted in shouts again – some filled with joy, others full of amazement. From tranquility to tumult, those passionate cries were like swift thunder, instantly burning the entire battlefield red. Qiong Fang held her telescope and stared blankly at that figure. Not only her – the gazes of tens of thousands on the entire field were fixed on that person, as if he were a supreme deity, and only he could end this endless great war.

Grand Commander Longshou – a person worthy of warriors’ following, and only he could make the final judgment on the rights and wrongs of this war.

Leading troops on distant campaign, a hundred fine horses carried exactly seventeen men in a ten-by-ten formation. At the center of the fast horses sat the terrifying “Generation True Dragon,” that square-faced man with broad shoulders and thick waist wearing common clothes. That mournful long whistle that rendered everyone speechless was coming from this person’s mouth.

“The moment for Dragon Emperor to move the world and protect the country and people has arrived!” Sixteen subordinates joined in the long whistle. With the Grand Commander’s appearance, the entire city was already boiling. At this moment, no military tactics were needed, no schemes required. The four city gates opened as great armies killed their way out. Inside and outside the city, comprehensive street fighting and hand-to-hand combat began.

Victory was honor. Whether Xiong Jun or Ling Xuan, every court general was waiting for this moment, hoping to fight shoulder to shoulder with the invincible Grand Commander. In this passionate and stirring moment, everyone was a “Generation True Dragon.” Whether Jingzhou fell was no longer so important. What mattered was dying in the right place – dying gloriously in battle for the people, sacrificing oneself for the two characters of “righteousness,” thus achieving eternal fame and becoming heroic souls in the Hall of Loyalty.

The defending side’s morale surged greatly, everyone like madmen. The attacking side had no other choice – the only path to victory was to eliminate the source of morale and attack the “Generation True Dragon” with full force!

At this moment, the city was no longer the target of attack. If the True Dragon collapsed, morale would crumble and Jingzhou would fall on its own. The Nu Cang Western Route main generals joined forces to turn and advance, completely outflanking Grand Commander Longshou.

Under the gaze of ten thousand troops on the battlefield, the Grand Commander dismounted barehanded, alone leaping down from the formation of fast horses. His tower-like figure strode forward boldly, walking straight toward the enemy and beckoning with his hand, as if signaling opponents to come forward.

The Zhengtong Dynasty’s number one brave general had never met an opponent in single combat. The “Generation True Dragon” wanted to face many with one. The bandit Western Route main generals couldn’t show weakness, so led by “Little Lu Bu,” they surrounded and attacked with full force. They no longer rode horses – for top masters, mounts would only hinder their movements. The rebel army was full of experts. Blade light, sword shadows, qigong flying palms tightly surrounded that gray-clothed man in the field.

The encirclement gradually tightened as one exquisite technique after another was displayed. Sword, fist, halberd, spear, whip – over ten silent figures tumbled and rolled as the field exploded with sparks one after another. The True Dragon was not only attacked but constantly counterattacked. His martial arts had no fancy flourishes – fist was fist, leg was leg. Each move was direct and straightforward, both heavy and fast. One moment iron hands thunderously chopped down in direct confrontation with heavy palms; the next moment flying feet swept out viciously, deflecting hundred-jin golden sabers. Where his powerful internal energy reached, pained groans continuously emerged.

The most yang and rigid brave force combined with unmatched agile footwork and body techniques. Even the most plain martial arts were the world’s most pinnacle ultimate skills. After dozens of moves, one companion after another died silently, and one death warrior after another threw themselves forward again. But no matter how many came, none could harm him in the slightest. Even “Little Lu Bu,” as the main general, was repeatedly struck by palms and could barely protect himself. Most terrifying of all was that the world-famous dragon hand was still dormant in its iron sheath and had not yet been used…

In short…

With the True Dragon stationed here, the Zhengtong Dynasty was as solid as metal and stone!

The two beauties stood blankly in a daze, staring at the “Generation True Dragon” fighting freely. Qiong Fang had seen this Grand Commander Wu before, then only felt this square-faced man was broad and kind, unable to remember his features. But now with one glance, Qiong Fang could never forget his appearance.

Perhaps the Dragon God belonged to the battlefield. Only by seeing him on this Asura field could one see the True Dragon’s true face…

Qiong Fang muttered to herself, her body swaying as if about to fall, when suddenly she felt something tight around her body – someone was holding her in their arms. She came to her senses and was shocked to see scenery on both sides retreating past. Turning her head, she saw it was Fu Yuanying on horseback. Beside her, Juan’er was also lifted up by someone. Seeing him holding a great saber with a composed face, it was Zhe’er Dan. The two men protected with full strength and in a moment brought the two beauties back to their position.

At this time, Feicheng Guai, Suanpan Guai, and the Three Staff Heroes were all on horseback. Five people each rode a mount, fleeing with full strength toward that small town. Qiong Fang remembered the strange man and said in panic: “That… that person? Did you find him?” Fu Yuanying quietly comforted: “He should have returned to the temple. We’ll talk when we get back…” Qiong Fang was too shocked and for a moment stammered, unable to answer. Sitting on horseback, she heard the battlefield’s killing sounds growing distant. Looking back, under the weak dawn light, the enemy troops somehow seemed no match for the now-boiling court forces and were gradually retreating. Jingzhou’s defenders poured endlessly toward the distant hills, apparently to secure tonight’s battle results. That “Grand Commander Longshou” didn’t follow the army in pursuit, only standing proudly motionless in the battle formation.

Dawn was approaching. After a night of bloody battle, how many had died in the end… With New Year coming, would their families cry?

Qiong Fang turned back and sighed quietly. Just at this moment, she heard great killing sounds rise from the battlefield again, with continuous cannon fire. Qiong Fang and the others looked at each other in amazement, not knowing why there were new developments when the battle situation had been decided.

All the riders stopped together and looked back. They heard continuous panicked shouts as troops after troops fled back from the hills. Something seemed to be in the distance on the horizon, but they couldn’t see clearly. Qiong Fang again took out her telescope. Two Western lenses were clamped at both ends of a bamboo tube. She turned it slightly and suddenly a patch of black armor appeared before her eyes.

Blue, yellow, red, white, black – rising slowly on the horizon was a military flag, black background with red characters. That was… that was…

The “Nu” (Rage) character flag! The main camp military flag belonging entirely to Nu Cang headquarters!

Coming from the other end of heaven and earth’s balance, from the direct opposite of court law and order – that great rebel who made heroes of the world panic and lose composure, who made countless righteous men swear to bring him to justice, was finally about to appear on the battlefield!

Qiong Fang’s hands trembled as the telescope nearly fell to the ground. Seeing her expression, Fu Yuanying was about to pick it up and look when at this moment, tremendous laughter came from the distance along with passionate horse hooves trampling, as if wanting to crush the earth of Central Province with incomparable rage.

Light was light precisely because darkness existed in the world. With the Rage King appearing on the battlefield, all morale brought by the True Dragon was extinguished. Boiling hot blood gradually calmed, turning into sheets of icy cold sweat. Fu Yuanying’s lips trembled as he dared not take the telescope to look.

Court generals looked west with hidden fear in their eyes. Just as morale was about to collapse, suddenly a long whistle came from the city gate: “Jingzhou headquarters troops retreat into the city! Cooperative defense forces gather at the west gate!” With Grand Commander Longshou’s single command, Jingzhou’s great army reorganized their formation and waited in strict array. The generals remembered their dynasty’s war god was here – even if the rebel demon king arrived, they might not necessarily lose. The morale of all commanders and officers surged as the four city gates closed again and cannons on the city head were loaded and aimed, only waiting for enemy troops to arrive.

Fu Yuanying was uncertain with fear. Nu Cang’s main force had transferred from Xiangyang – how would this war end? He grabbed Qiong Fang and shouted: “Everyone quickly go! Head for the Yangtze River!”

The horses moved forward. Qiong Fang didn’t know if it was excitement or fear – her whole body was trembling, yet she still looked back.

It was said that when she was very, very small, she had once seen this legendary figure in court halls. She wanted to witness with her own eyes whether this great personage who had climbed through nine layers of heaven and fallen through boundless hell was as cruel and merciless as the rumors claimed. She was very curious and wanted even more to understand when black and white, light and shadow, right and wrong, yes and no completely collided, what color would this vast world…

Become?