Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 592 Song Jiang is spreading alarmist rumors!

Bai Yi watched as one figure after another stepped out from the crowd, with resolute or fervent expressions, and gathered into the ever-growing "camp" behind Liang Jin.

The sound of approaching footsteps, like a dense drumbeat, struck his taut heartstrings again and again.

His face turned from ashen to deathly pale, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. His fingers gripped the broken half of the fan handle tightly, and his knuckles turned white from the force.

Finished!

The thought, like a cold, venomous snake, instantly gnawed at his heart.

The balance that he had painstakingly built and maintained at Yanshan Village was torn to shreds in an instant by this man named Song Jiang!

If we don't do something soon, today will not just be a misunderstanding or conflict, but the end of Yanshan Village, which will completely fall apart!

When Yin Leiling and Meng Guang returned, they found a complete mess. How could Bai Yi explain this?!

An unprecedented panic gripped him.

He forcibly suppressed the surging blood and the turbulent waves in his heart, forcing a smile onto his face that was extremely strained, even somewhat obsequious, and stiff as a mask.

"Hehehe..."

Bai Yi chuckled dryly, his voice clearly unnatural, trying to dispel the suffocating tension:
"Song Yingxiong! Look at this, this joke has gone a bit too far!"

"Brothers, what are you all doing, making a fuss? Stop joining in the fun, everyone disperse, disperse!"

"Who is Song Yingxiong? Would he really hold a grudge against us?"

As he spoke, he quickly walked up to Liang Jin, deliberately lowering his voice, his tone filled with unprecedented earnestness and vulnerability:

"Hero Song, it's not that bad, it really isn't!"

"For...for a woman, to the point of abandoning the stronghold? Wouldn't that make us a laughingstock among the heroes of the world?"

"Miss Mu is an honored guest invited by you, so she is an honored guest of our Yanshan stronghold! The entire stronghold will certainly welcome her with open arms and treat her with the utmost hospitality, and will not dare to be negligent in the slightest!"

He was almost pleading:
"Please, Hero Song, take back those angry words you just said!"

"Just consider it a small favor for me, Bai, and for Yanshan Village?"

He adopted an extremely humble posture, his eyes filled with urgency and compromise.

Clearly, faced with Liang Jin's formidable cohesion and the threat of division, Bai Yi chose to back down.

"Uncle Bai!!"

A shrill, unwilling, and venomous roar came from the side.

Meng Wei was being held up by two of his men. Half of his face was swollen like a pig's head, a bloody mess, and he could barely speak. But his eyes were fixed on Liang Jin and Mu Shanqing, filled with deep-seated hatred.

"We can't let her into the stronghold! This woman is a menace! Song Jiang... he's plotting a rebellion! He's trying to usurp the throne! Look how many people he's won over!!"

"Uncle Bai, are you out of your mind! How are you going to explain this to my father and the chieftain when they return?!"

At this moment, Meng Wei was completely blinded by jealousy and humiliation, and only wanted to stop Liang Jin from succeeding at all costs, even if it meant sacrificing the entire mountain stronghold.

Bai Yi suddenly turned his head, the forced smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, unquestionable majesty.

He usually indulged Meng Wei, but now, with the survival of the stronghold at stake, Meng Wei's stupidity and shortsightedness made him completely lose patience.

"enough!"

Bai Yi's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling aura, like an ice pick piercing Meng Wei's eardrums:

"This is none of your business! I'll handle explaining things to your father and the chieftain! Now—"

His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept over the group of trembling subordinates Meng Wei had brought:

"Hurry up and help Young Master Meng down so he can receive proper medical treatment!"

The cold gaze and unyielding tone sent shivers down the spines of his men.

They dared not hesitate any longer. Ignoring Meng Wei's frantic struggles and incoherent curses, they hurriedly lifted him up and practically dragged him away from this suffocating place of trouble.

Watching Meng Wei being dragged away, Bai Yi took a deep breath, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

He turned back to Liang Jin, his face once again displaying that professional, shrewd smile, as if the conflict had never occurred:

"Hero Song, it was just a small misunderstanding. Please forgive us for making our distinguished guests laugh."

"Please, please take your friends into the village to rest!"

As Liang Jin watched Bai Yi's excellent performance, a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

He didn't refuse.

Of course, he could raise his arms now, lead his followers away, and establish his own independent power.

But this is not the best approach.

What he wanted was never a divided Yanshan Village, but the complete Yanshan Village.

Including its treacherous mountain ranges, its vast wealth, its network of outlaws throughout Changzhou, and most importantly, its resounding reputation for "acting on behalf of Heaven and being righteous to the heavens!"

If he were to split now, his reputation among the outlaws would be greatly diminished, and he would be branded with the stigma of "betraying the Lord" and "splitting his brothers."

This is extremely detrimental to his long-term plans.

Besides, he saw it very clearly.

Those martial artists who did not step forward immediately were not entirely loyal to Yin Leiling; rather, they were observing, hesitating, and relying on the inertia of the old order.

Their awe of Yin Leiling had not completely dissipated.

Liang Jin knew that Yin Leiling's momentum had been thwarted, and the second-in-command Meng Guang was dead. Their core forces would inevitably suffer heavy losses in this operation against the Thief Saint.

Defeating Yin Leiling, who had lost his claws and his edge, was not a difficult task for him.

The challenge lies in how to swallow the entire Yanshan Village whole, skin and bones, legitimately and without bloodshed!
It requires patience, but even more so, it requires an opportunity.

Liang Jin's gaze swept over Mu Shanqing, Han Tong, Fei Biao, Zhong Lihan, and the others behind him, each with a different expression, and he said loudly:

"Gentlemen, please follow me into the village!"

"Don't worry, I'll take care of everything."

His voice was steady and powerful, carrying a calming and soothing quality.

Then, he turned to the martial artists behind him who had just pledged their allegiance, solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute, and spoke in a loud voice that echoed throughout the entire area:

"Song Jiang is here to thank all my brothers for their trust and for speaking up for justice!"

He looked around at everyone, his gaze sincere:
"Thanks to Mr. Bai's understanding and righteousness, the misunderstandings have been cleared up! Yanshan Village is still home for all the brothers!"

He then changed the subject, his tone becoming somewhat generous and forthright:

"To express my gratitude and to celebrate the arrival of our distinguished guests, I, Song Jiang, will host a grand banquet in the Hall of Gathering Righteousness tonight!"

"All brothers present today, please come and have a drink! I, Song Jiang, am by no means stingy!"

He paused, then offered an even more tempting offer, his voice suddenly rising in pitch:

"More importantly! Song Jiang recently acquired a mid-grade Xuan-level martial arts manual—'The Wind-Splitting Mountain-Breaking Hand'! This skill is fierce, domineering, and incredibly powerful!"

"At the banquet tonight, I will publicly demonstrate its essential principles, so that all of you brothers may observe and comprehend them together!"

"I wish to use this merit to repay the brotherhood and together enhance the prestige of our Yanshan stronghold!"

Liang Jin now has so many Xuan-level manuals that he can't possibly practice them all, so he can just pick one out at random to win people's hearts.

"A mid-grade Xuan-level secret manual?!"

"Displaying the essentials in public?!"

These two words were like sparks thrown into boiling oil, instantly igniting the atmosphere of the entire scene!

Those martial artists who originally supported Liang Jin, such as Lei Zhen, Xiao Liu, Dong Xiong, Xing Niang, and E Xuan, all showed wild joy and their faces turned red with excitement!

A Xuan-level secret manual!
That is a closely guarded secret among various sects, martial arts families, and powerful figures; it is forbidden for anyone other than a direct disciple or a member of the bloodline to peruse it.

Anyone present who wanted to obtain a secret manual would face immense difficulties and have to pay a huge price.

Even within the mountain stronghold, some martial artists have already reached the fifth rank, yet they still don't possess a single profound secret manual and can only continue cultivating yellow-level manuals.

This shows how precious it is.

Song Yingxiong is so generous, willing to share publicly?!
This spirit and passion made their unwavering determination even stronger!

Those who had previously hesitated or even stood by indifferently couldn't help but gasp in astonishment, their eyes gleaming with disbelief!

The allure of a Xuan-level secret manual is simply too great!
Even just observing the essentials is enough to give them great inspiration in martial arts, saving them years of hard work!

Their initial dissatisfaction with Liang Jin, sympathy for Bai Yi, and expectations for Yin Leiling instantly became fragile in the face of such a huge temptation of profit!
Countless gazes became eager, minds racing, as people began to re-evaluate the pros and cons.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the room became strange.

Cheers, congratulations, gasps, and suppressed murmurs mingled together.

Some people excitedly patted their companions on the shoulder, some were calculating gains and losses with shifty eyes, and some still had cold faces, but their tightly pursed lips and slightly flickering eyes betrayed their inner turmoil.

The attitudes of the vast majority of people have quietly shifted under Liang Jin's combination of "gratitude and severity" and "winning hearts with benefits".

As Bai Yi watched the rapidly deteriorating situation, the relief he had just felt from temporarily avoiding a split was instantly replaced by an even heavier sense of powerlessness and chill.

He watched helplessly as Liang Jin effortlessly defused the crisis, not only protecting Mu Shanqing but also using the opportunity to win over people's hearts, turning a crisis of division into a peak display of his personal prestige!

How can this be considered a compromise?

This is clearly a prelude to a calculated move, a cuckoo taking over the nest!

Liang Jin seemed oblivious to the complex emotions in Bai Yi's eyes. He suddenly turned his head, his gaze fixed intently on Bai Yi, a playful smile playing on his lips.

"Mr. Bai, what do you think of the abilities of these friends I brought?"

Bai Yi's heart skipped a beat. Forcing himself to remain calm, he answered without hesitation, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible bitterness:

"Brother Zhongli's strength is astonishing, Brother Fei's skills are extraordinary, and young friend Han is a true prodigy! As for Miss Mu... her prowess as a third-rank martial artist goes without saying!"

"It is truly an honor for our Yanshan stronghold that Hero Song has befriended such a master!"

He deliberately emphasized "Yanshan Village" in an attempt to remind Liang Jin.

Liang Jin seemed oblivious to the implied meaning, his smile deepening as he continued, meaningfully:
"If they can sincerely join the stronghold, it will be like adding wings to a tiger, making the stronghold even stronger!"

"Mr. Bai is wise and resourceful, with a wide network of connections. We should try to get closer to him in the future."

Let's get closer?

Bai Yi's eyelids twitched suddenly!
The subtext in those words was as naked as a knife!
Was Liang Jin extending an olive branch to him? Or was it a blatant threat and attempt to win him over?
Sending Bai Yi to "get close" to Liang Jin's loyal followers is clearly an attempt to tie Bai Yi to Liang Jin's chariot and sow discord between him and Yin Leiling's former subordinates!

Bai Yi's heart began to pound violently.

He took a deep breath and suddenly opened the only remaining half of the folding fan in his hand. Despite the tattered fan, his movements still maintained the composure of a scholar.

His face once again wore that smooth, worldly smile, but his voice carried a sharp, confrontational tone:
“Hero Song is absolutely right! However…”

He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze becoming profound:

"The chieftain has been invited to participate in a groundbreaking operation personally organized by the legendary Thief Saint! As far as I know, all the participants are top-tier experts renowned throughout the region!"

"When the chieftain returns victorious, he will not only bring with him the immense merit of saving the people of Changzhou, but will also forge a deep friendship with the legendary Thief Saint and all the heroes who fought alongside him!"

Bai Yi's voice suddenly rose, carrying a hint of admonition and warning:
"At that time, the chieftain's prestige will surely be at its zenith!"

"At that time, I'm afraid I'll be busy getting to know those heroes who returned in triumph with the chieftain and became famous throughout the martial arts world, and learning a lot from them!"

He was implying that when Yin Leiling returned, he would not only bring back immense prestige, but also a group of powerful allies, enough to suppress the momentum Liang Jin was currently building!

Upon hearing this, Liang Jin showed no sign of nervousness; instead, he let out a low, mysterious laugh.

He leaned slightly closer to Bai Yi, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear, like a devil's whisper:
"Get close to the heroes befriended by the Thief Saint? Not a bad idea."

"But... Mr. Bai, have you considered what would happen if Senior Thief Saint's operation... failed?"

He paused deliberately, savoring the moment Bai Yi's pupils suddenly contracted, before continuing in that chilling tone:
"Even... a crushing defeat! Losses of soldiers and generals, a severe blow to our morale!"

"Even the best fighters from my Yanshan stronghold who participated... have been mostly lost?"

Liang Jin's gaze was like a cold probe, piercing into Bai Yi's heart:

"If it really comes to that, Mr. Bai... should also seriously consider his own future."

Before he finished speaking, Liang Jin reached out and patted Bai Yi's shoulder heavily, with an unquestionable, almost elder-comforting-a-junior demeanor.

Those two slaps, though not very forceful, seemed to carry an immense weight, causing Bai Yi's body to sway slightly.

Then, Liang Jin said nothing more, as if his earth-shattering prediction had been just a casual remark. He turned around, naturally picked up Xiao Yu who had been quietly waiting to the side, and placed her steadily on his broad shoulders.

The little girl seemed to sense the change in atmosphere and obediently hugged Liang Jin's neck.

"let's go!"

Liang Jin gave a clear shout, his voice regaining its usual boldness.

He took the lead and strode ahead, leading the large and diverse crowd behind him toward the tall and imposing gate of Yanshan Village, which at this moment seemed to be shrouded in invisible dark clouds.

Bai Yi stood frozen in place, as if he had been frozen in place by a spell.

Liang Jin's whispered words were like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, instantly extinguishing the little flame of hope that had just ignited in his heart.

He felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and his limbs and bones felt cold and stiff.

Failure? Utter defeat?
Mostly damaged?

How can this be? !
With so many top experts gathered together, how could the Thief Saints' operation possibly fail?!
Song Jiang is exaggerating!

That's definitely alarmist!

However, a detail he had deliberately ignored suddenly surfaced in his mind like a ghost—the City of the Dead!

The brothers from the mountain stronghold who were able to enter the City of the Wrongfully Dead mentioned with great concern yesterday: yesterday in the City of the Wrongfully Dead, they were unable to see the stronghold leader Yin Leiling, the second-in-command Meng Guang, and several other core leaders who participated in the operation as usual!
Not long after the City of the Wrongfully Dead opened, the chieftain mysteriously disappeared, as if deliberately avoiding everyone!

Some even claimed with certainty that they saw Yan San Niang looking extremely anxious, and even recklessly wielding her sword to commit suicide, forcibly escaping the City of the Wrongfully Dead!
This anomaly has never occurred since the City of the Wrongfully Dead appeared!
Could it be... that something really happened?!
A huge, ominous premonition gripped Bai Yi's heart like a cold, giant hand, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

With the Thief Saint and so many top experts, if something were to happen to him... what a terrifying and earth-shattering event it would be, enough to overturn the entire Changzhou regime!

Bai Yi suddenly raised his head and looked towards the western sky.

The crimson setting sun slowly sank behind the mountains, dusk descended, and the light of day quickly dimmed.

"The time for the City of the Wrongfully Dead to open... is almost here."

He muttered to himself, his voice trembling almost imperceptibly:

"Today...no matter what, we must ensure that the brothers in the stronghold find the chieftain in the City of the Wrongfully Dead!"

"Ask clearly! We must ask clearly!"

………………

Outside Changzhou City.

Ten miles of slope.

A chilling atmosphere permeated the land, replacing the desolation of the past.

On the vast wilderness, banners fluttered, standing like a steel forest.

Countless soldiers are assembling and forming ranks in a tense but orderly manner.

The heavy footsteps, the clanging of metal armor plates, the neighing of warhorses, and the rough shouts of officers intertwined to create a chilling prelude to war.

The imperial garrison of Changzhou, dressed in dark red uniforms, stood in a distinct yet complementary formation, alongside the guards of the Prince of Pingcheng, clad in bright silver armor and exuding an even more imposing aura.

The swords and spears stood like a forest, gleaming with a cold, icy light in the afterglow of the setting sun.

The air was thick with the pungent smell of leather, rust, and sweat, so heavy it was almost suffocating.

Further away, there was a dense, dark procession of laborers.

Pushing wheelbarrows and oxcarts laden with provisions and supplies, they busily moved about under the urging of officers, like ants carrying food, providing a continuous supply of lifeblood to the massive war machine that was about to set off.

Under the makeshift, simple awning, the atmosphere was completely different from the hustle and bustle outside, carrying a kind of suppressed tranquility.

Yan Zi'an, dressed in a black police officer's uniform, sat upright on a hard wooden chair, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest, producing a dull "tap-tap" sound that betrayed his inner anxiety.

He picked up the rough porcelain teacup in front of him, and without even looking at it, he took a big gulp. The scalding tea burned his throat, but he was completely unaware. He simply slammed the teacup down on the table with a loud "clang".

"This bandit suppression operation must succeed; failure is not an option!"

His voice was icy, like a blade tempered with ice, and his sharp gaze shot towards Qin Feng sitting opposite him:

"The silver! We must get it back!"

"Otherwise, neither of us will be able to explain ourselves to the imperial court!"

He was extremely anxious, wishing he could sprout wings and fly to Yanshan Village immediately to tear those audacious bandits to pieces.

But reason told him that the mobilization of tens of thousands of troops and the preparation of supplies and provisions were no trivial matters.

The wait these past few days has been like being cut with a dull knife, an unbearable torment.

Qin Feng was still dressed in his signature gray outfit, seemingly blending into the shadows of the shaded pavilion.

He sipped his tea slowly and deliberately, appearing much more relaxed.
"Lord Yan, please calm down."

"Lord Yan deserves great credit for successfully mediating the conflict between the Six Doors and the Prince of Pingcheng, and for persuading the Prince to provide full assistance. He has won the hearts and minds of the people."

"In addition, I have many fellow martial arts practitioners who have secretly provided support..."

He put down his teacup, a confident smile playing on his lips:

"With favorable timing, location, and popular support, wiping out Yanshan Village and reclaiming the official silver is a sure thing."

Yan Zi'an's tightly furrowed brows did not relax. He lowered his voice, a hint of worry in it:
"That's true, but things can change in the long run!"

"Any updates from your Six Doors spies in Yanshan Village? Has the village chief, Yin Leiling, returned yet?"

"We must crush the mountain stronghold with overwhelming force before Yin Leiling and the experts he took with him return! Delay will only lead to unforeseen changes!"

Qin Feng smiled calmly, a barely perceptible glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes:

Whether Yin Leiling comes back or not is no longer of any importance.

"The Criminal Investigation Bureau, the Six Doors, and the Pingcheng Prince's Mansion—the three have joined forces, gathering the Changzhou Prefecture troops and the Prince's elite forces, with the support of martial arts practitioners. If such a force cannot even take down a bandit stronghold, wouldn't that be the greatest joke in the world?"

"Lord Yan, you are overthinking it."

Yan Zi'an was about to speak again.

suddenly!

His body jolted violently, as if he had been struck by an invisible force!

His seated body stiffened instantly, and his eyes lost focus for a moment, becoming empty and blank, as if his soul had been ripped out.

Just a moment later, the confusion quickly faded, replaced by a sharp awakening and a trace of barely perceptible fatigue.

Qin Feng had been observing him, and upon seeing this, he immediately asked:

"The City of the Wrongfully Dead?"

Yan Zian took a deep breath, nodded, and raised his hand to rub his temples, which were throbbing slightly.

This eerie city of the dead opens every day. Although it does not affect real time, the dizzying feeling of having one's soul forcibly pulled out and then stuffed back in, as well as the fighting and death he experiences there, torment his mind and increase his fatigue day by day.

After a moment of silence, Yan Zi'an's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he said in a low voice:
"Progress! Through that bigmouth Dong Xiong from Black Crow Village, I've identified several key figures in the City of the Wrongfully Dead. They must be minor leaders of the Banquet Mountain Stronghold!"

"As long as we follow the clues, finding Yin Leiling hiding among them will be just around the corner!"

Thanks to the detailed intelligence network provided by Qin Feng, Yan Zi'an's identity identification work in the City of the Wrongfully Dead progressed rapidly.

Dong Xiong, that idiot who practically wants to have "I am Dong Xiong of Heijiao Village" tattooed on his forehead, is a natural beacon.

Those who surrounded Dong Xiong were most likely people from Yanshan Village.

Yan Zi'an and the spies from the Six Doors who had infiltrated the City of the Wrongfully Dead acted like hunting dogs each time they entered, using every possible opportunity to make contact, probe, or even create conflict in an attempt to extract the target's identity information.

However, progress was always ruthlessly interrupted.

That damned City of the Dead has never been a peaceful place for conversation!

There are always madmen who, without distinguishing right from wrong and with bloodlust, rush out to cause trouble.

Even more deadly was the archer lurking in the darkness like a ghost!

That man possessed superb archery skills and terrifyingly keen senses, and he especially enjoyed targeting and killing top experts like Yan Zi'an.

Because one cannot truly die in the City of the Wrongfully Dead, Yan Zi'an deliberately suppressed his strength and dared not use his full power in order to conceal his true martial arts style and trump cards.

This restrictive fighting style makes them like sitting ducks when facing those unpredictable, cold arrows!

Countless times, just when he was about to extract crucial information from a target or capture a person suspected of being a high-ranking official, that deadly whistling sound would suddenly rang out!

The cold arrow pierced his head or heart in an instant, mercilessly "sending" him back to reality, his efforts thwarted!
Just as Yan Zi'an was getting agitated by the interference from the City of the Wrongfully Dead.

A black-clad constable from the Six Doors hurried through the busy military formation and arrived outside the pavilion.

He bowed respectfully to Qin Feng, then quickly stepped forward, leaned close to Qin Feng's ear, and whispered a few words in a very low voice.

After the constable finished speaking, he immediately bowed and withdrew, his figure quickly disappearing into the crowd.

After hearing the report, Qin Feng's usually calm face showed obvious surprise for the first time, and his brows furrowed slightly.

“Interesting… My carefully prepared scheme to sow discord in Yanshan Village has actually failed.”

Yan Zian immediately cast an inquiring glance his way.

Qin Feng picked up the teacup, his fingertips tracing the rim, his gaze deepening.
"The scouts report that Song Jiang... is even willing to threaten to leave Yanshan Stronghold to protect Mushan Qing to the death!"

"They even actually gathered a group of people and almost split up the mountain stronghold on the spot."

"At the last moment, it was that old fox Bai Yi who compromised and personally let them pass, allowing Song Jiang to swagger into the village gate with Mu Shanqing."

Yan Zian frowned even more deeply.

The attempt to sow discord failed, which is not good news.

A shrewd calculation flashed in Qin Feng's eyes, and the corners of his mouth curled up into a smile again:
"On the surface, it was a failure, and Kiyama Ao was able to stay."

"But fundamentally... it succeeded! And the results were even better than expected!"

He put down his teacup, his voice carrying a hint of cold, controlling authority:
"After this incident, the rift that already existed between the 'new faction' led by Song Jiang and the 'old faction' left behind by Yin Leiling has been completely torn open, and there is no possibility of mending it!"

"The two sides are irreconcilable! Now, all that's needed is a perfectly timed trigger..."

Qin Feng's fingers tapped lightly on the table, producing a rhythmic, soft sound:

"That will set them off into chaos from within, making them fight to the death!"

"Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could just sit back and reap the benefits?"

"It seems I need to add fuel to the fire at Yanshan Village."

Just then, a deep and powerful bugle call pierced through the hustle and bustle of the military camp and resounded throughout the fields!

The mournful sound of bugles, carrying the chilling atmosphere of clashing swords and galloping horses, announced the completion of the assembly.

The prefect of Changzhou, a middle-aged man with a serious expression, wearing the official robes of a fourth-rank civil official, ascended the temporary platform surrounded by a group of officials and guards.

He unfurled a bright yellow proclamation, and with a deep breath, spoke in a loud and indignant voice.

The content of what they said was nothing more than a scathing denunciation of the "heinous crimes" committed by the Yanshan stronghold, including robbing disaster relief funds, murdering the princess, impersonating a famous constable, and wreaking havoc on the local area.

Finally, he called upon his soldiers to act on behalf of Heaven, annihilate the bandits, and restore order to Changzhou!
After the lengthy and inflammatory proclamation was read aloud, the prefect abruptly waved his hand.

Two fierce-looking constables immediately dragged a prisoner, who was bound hand and foot and had a rag stuffed in his mouth, to the front of the army formation.

The prisoner's eyes were filled with desperate fear as he struggled in vain.

This man was a low-ranking henchman from Yanshan Village who had been captured.

The executioner remained expressionless, his large, ghost-headed blade flashing a blindingly cold light in the setting sun!

"Pfft——!"

A burst of blood shot into the sky! A human head rolled to the ground.

"Raise the flag! March forth!"

The prefect shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Tens of thousands of soldiers roared in unison, their voices like a tsunami, shaking the earth slightly!

Swords and spears were drawn together, their cold gleam reflecting the sun!

The war drums sounded, heavy as muffled thunder!

Guided by banners, the army, like a giant steel dragon awakening, marched towards Yanshan with the force to crush everything in its path!
(End of this chapter)