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

Chapter 596 The Opportunity for a Breakthrough

The sun rose high in the sky, its scorching rays baking the earth.

Li Xueqing eventually left.

Accompanying her were Han Tong and Fei Biao.

Three strong horses kicked up fine dust on the mountain road, their figures gradually shrinking until they disappeared below the sweltering horizon.

Liang Jin stood on the high slope at the edge of the mountain village, watching the green figure disappear.

The subtle "awkwardness" and "awkwardness" he felt due to the revelation of his identity vanished as Li Xueqing left, as if an invisible boulder had been lifted from his shoulders, instantly making him feel much lighter.

He no longer had to face that beautiful face that his alter ego hated to the core, nor did he have to bother playing the role of a deeply affectionate "Song Lang".

Liang Jin finally realized that the person the three of them were chasing was none other than "Blood Bodhisattva" Dugu Hen, one of the Ten Great Evils of the Martial World.

Liang Jin naturally knew the inside story.

Dugu Hen massacred the entire Tan family, which was naturally an irreconcilable hatred for Li Xueqing.

"It's better to leave."

Liang Jin silently recited in his heart.

He escorted her a long way, all the way out of the Yanshan stronghold's sphere of influence, just as a dutiful "lover" should do.

He only slowly withdrew his gaze when the sound of horses' hooves had completely disappeared into the mountain wind.

"She's finally gone!"

A loud voice, tinged with obvious dissatisfaction, rang out beside me.

Lei Zhen rode closer, his thick brows furrowed, gazing in the direction where Li Xueqing had disappeared. His tone was filled with a mixture of relief and pent-up resentment:

"When this woman was around, you were stuck in her room day and night, like you'd lost your soul! It was so hard for the brothers to even talk to you about anything!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, and his voice rose a few decibels:

"Brother, who are you? You're destined for great things! You're the backbone of our brothers! How can you let a woman delay your grand ambitions?"

"Besides, what kind of beauty is she!"

He had clearly only seen Li Xueqing's ordinary appearance after she was disguised, and knew nothing about her beautiful face that was hidden.

Liang Jin's recent "obsession" with Li Xueqing has caused this straightforward brother to feel deeply worried and dissatisfied.

Xiao Liu, who was standing to the side, was startled and quickly reached out to pull Lei Zhen's arm, whispering:
"Second Brother! Say less! Eldest Brother knows what he's doing!"

He was worried that Lei Zhen's outspokenness might offend Liang Jin.

However, Lei Zhen was a straightforward person, how could he possibly hold back?

He shook off Xiao Liu's hand and continued to pour out his grievances to Liang Jin:
"Brother! You don't know! While you've been staying indoors these past few days, Bai Yi hasn't been idle at all! He's been acting mysteriously all day, whispering with Chief Yin Leiling, he's definitely plotting something!"

"I don't know the specifics, but the smell is wrong, I can smell it!"

He took a breath, his voice becoming more urgent:

"You've neglected your brothers, but what about Yin Leiling? He's constantly hosting banquets, big and small, with feasts that never stop!"

"Especially those brothers from Black Crow Village who later joined him, he treated them like hot commodities! He showered them with good wine and meat, gold and silver rewards, and used a whole bunch of persuasive words to win them over!"

"Last night! While you were still guarding that woman, Yin Leiling personally gathered the elite troops of the stronghold and sent them out in full force! Judging from their posture, they were going to pull off a big heist!"

Lei Zhen's eyes were filled with anxiety:
"Brother! If they really succeed, achieve great merit, and win over the hearts of the people, then... then the brothers we worked so hard to gather will fly away with them!"

"At that time, will there still be a place for us brothers to stand in this Yanshan stronghold?"

He could almost see Liang Jin being ostracized and sidelined in the future.

Seeing Lei Zhen becoming increasingly agitated, almost to the point of shouting, Xiao Liu pulled him back forcefully again, looking anxiously at Liang Jin:

"Brother, Lei Zhen has a quick temper, please don't..."

Liang Jin looked at Lei Zhen, whose face was flushed and who looked worried, and then at Xiao Liu, who looked nervous, and shook his head helplessly.

There was not a trace of anger on his face.

Lei Zhen's personality was all too clear to him; he was straightforward and said whatever came to mind. This sincere concern actually made him feel at ease.

Let Lei Zhen vent his feelings, and once he's done, everything will be fine.

"Alright, your eldest brother is back now."

Liang Jin's voice was calm, carrying a soothing power.

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over his two loyal brothers, a confident smile playing on his lips:

"Besides, do you really think our eldest brother is the kind of mediocre person who would be blinded by women?"

He paused, his gaze becoming deep and sharp, as if it could pierce through the fog before him:

"I won't explain too much. You can rest assured that everything is under control."

These few words, carrying an undeniable certainty, instantly calmed Lei Zhen and Xiao Liu's restless hearts.

After saying that, Liang Jin nimbly mounted his horse, flicked the reins, and turned the horse around, slowly heading towards Yanshan Village.

Lei Zhen and Xiao Liu hurriedly followed, riding alongside him.

Xiao Liu finally couldn't hold back and asked in a low voice:

"Big brother, what... should we do now?"

Lei Zhen also pricked up his ears, nervously awaiting Liang Jin's instructions.

Liang Jin's gaze fell upon the distant, layered mountains, as if he were looking out over a vast chessboard.

His decision to let Yan Zi'an and Cen Ruifeng go was like throwing two pebbles into a calm lake, meant to stir up the water and intensify the situation at Yanshan Village.

Judging by the time, those two guys should have already reunited with Qin Feng, the famous constable from the Six Doors.

Liang Jin used [Thousand-Mile Tracking] to check the location of these guys, and his guess became even more certain.

The movements of these people were exactly as Liang Jin had predicted.

A knowing smile appeared on Liang Jin's lips.

"Use stillness to control movement."

He answered calmly, his voice utterly still:
"We don't need to do anything, we just need to... wait quietly."

wait?

Lei Zhen and Xiao Liu looked at each other, their eyes filled with confusion.

Surrounded by powerful enemies and with the chieftain being aggressive, is there any way to sit idly by and wait for death?
Liang Jin offered no further explanation. He suddenly cracked his whip, the sharp sound echoing along the mountain path!
"drive!"

His steed neighed loudly and suddenly accelerated, galloping away like an arrow released from a bow along the way.

The mountain wind howled across Liang Jin's face, blowing the stray hairs on his forehead.

He burst into laughter, his hearty laughter echoing through the valley, and as he laughed, he sang:
"Watching him build a tall building!"

"Look at him hosting a banquet!"

"Look... the building is collapsing!!!"

The song was high-pitched, but was left far behind by the galloping horse.

Lei Zhen and Xiao Liu were completely bewildered by Liang Jin's sudden burst of singing and could only spur their horses on to catch up.

The thunderous sound of horses' hooves shattered the silence of the mountain path.

The two were filled with doubt and suspicion. What did their elder brother mean by singing?
Was it a confident prediction?

Or is it...mockery of what is about to happen?
Watching Liang Jin's retreating figure disappear into the distance, they could only suppress their doubts and speculations and follow closely behind.

………………

the other side.

Li Xueqing, Han Tong, and Fei Biao rode their horses at full speed.

As the sun began to set, it cast long shadows of the three people onto the rugged mountain path.

As dusk settled and only a faint red glow remained on the horizon, they stopped to rest in a sheltered mountain hollow, allowing their horses to drink and graze.

Li Xueqing jumped off her horse and walked to a flat, large rock.

She didn't rush to rest, but carefully took out the crystal triangular prism from her bosom.

The last rays of the setting sun pierced through a gap in the clouds and fell on the prism.

She slightly adjusted the angle, and a dreamlike, seven-colored beam of light quietly bloomed in her fair palm, shimmering and colorful, as if she had grasped a rainbow spirit.

She gazed at the tiny miracle in her palm with unusual tenderness in her eyes.

She ran her fingertips along the cold, sharp edges, as if she could still feel the lingering warmth of last night... that unforgettable pain and pleasure.

"Miss Wood,"

After holding back for a long time, Han Tong finally spoke, his voice deep and serious, a stark contrast to his childlike appearance:

"You... have changed."

He kept staring at Li Xueqing as he said this.

Upon hearing this, Fei Biao couldn't help but laugh out loud, teasingly saying:

"Han Tong, what do you know? Miss Mu has found a good match and a good home with someone like Hero Song. Naturally, things are different now than before!"

"You'll probably never have the chance to understand the sweet sensations of love between a man and a woman in your lifetime!"

His intention was just to make a joke and lighten the mood.

In the past, hearing such blatant teasing would have made Li Xueqing feel embarrassed and ashamed, even if she wasn't angry.

At this moment, however, she was simply staring intently at the pillar of light in her palm, her expression calm and undisturbed, as if Fei Biao were talking about someone else who had nothing to do with her.

Having experienced that unforgettable night, she was no longer the closed-off Mushan Qing.

Now that she has given herself to Liang Jin and decided that he is her man, the opinions and words of the outside world can no longer shake her in the slightest.

Her composure stems from her inner choices and sense of responsibility.

Han Tong glared fiercely at Fei Biao, a seriousness beyond his years appearing on his youthful face:

"You fatso! I'm just smaller than you physically, but in terms of age and experience, you're probably not as much as I am! Is that what I meant?"

He turned his head, his gaze sharp, and carefully examined Li Xueqing again, his brows furrowed, as if he were examining a rare treasure:
"When I watched The Wooden Girl before, I felt like I was looking up at a peak that I could never reach in my lifetime. It was so high that I could only feel awe."

"But seeing you again today..."

He paused, his tone filled with deep confusion:
"Yet I only feel that you are as deep as the sea, vast and boundless! I can't see through you at all!"

"It's as if...you're in a state of about to break free from your cocoon and undergo a tremendous transformation!"

Fei Biao's playful smile gradually faded.

He looked suspiciously at Han Tong's extremely serious expression, then at the silent Li Xueqing, and a strange feeling rose in his heart.

Could it be... that Han Tong wasn't just flattering him?

Is it really that mysterious?

Just then, Li Xueqing gently closed her five fingers, and the seven-colored beam of light in her palm suddenly disappeared.

She slowly turned around to face Han Tong and Fei Biao.

The last rays of the setting sun sank just into the western mountains, and the heavy twilight instantly enveloped the earth like a curtain, dividing Li Xueqing's face into two halves of light and shadow.

The half of the face hidden in the shadows appeared unfathomable, while the half exposed to the last rays of sunlight carried a calm smile that seemed to see through everything.

"Han Tong, you're right."

Li Xueqing's voice was clear and melodious, standing out exceptionally well in the quiet mountain valley:
"I have indeed changed."

Her eyes shone brightly in the deepening night, like two cold stars, gleaming with excitement, sorrow, and an indescribable sense of enlightenment.

"To be more precise... I found the opportunity."

As soon as he finished speaking, a gasp of surprise rang out.

"Found it?" Han Tong and Fei Biao asked in unison, their hearts leaping.

Li Xueqing's voice carried a deep sense of remembrance, her gaze seemingly transcending time to see that figure who was both a teacher and a mother to her:
“Master is right. The word ‘love’ is the most hurtful, but it is also the most tempering of the heart.”

"Only when I truly experience love can I see through the illusions within, see my true self, and find the opportunity to break free from my cocoon and transform into a dragon."

She took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling slightly, and the excitement in her eyes could no longer be contained:
"Now, I finally understand my master's profound meaning! And I am finally about to break through!"

boom!
Han Tong and Fei Biao were struck dumb. They looked at each other and saw extreme shock and disbelief in each other's eyes!
They all turned to look at Li Xueqing, their voices trembling with excitement:

"Miss Mu...you...you mean...you've found the opportunity to break through...and enter the second rank?!"

A second-grade warrior!
That is such an unattainable existence!
Looking across the entire martial arts world, there are very few second-rank experts on the surface, and each one of them is a peerless figure capable of founding a sect and influencing the landscape of a region!
Most of them live in seclusion, devoting themselves to pursuing higher peaks of martial arts, and rarely venturing into the secular world.

A third-rank martial artist is already among the top combatants in the martial arts world, and the insurmountable barrier between the third and second ranks has buried countless brilliant talents!
It requires not only talent and hard work, but also an elusive "opportunity" or "sudden enlightenment"—a complete leap in one's life level!
For them, witnessing the birth of a second-grade expert would be an immense opportunity and honor!

Li Xueqing met their burning gazes and nodded slightly.

This silent confirmation struck Han Tong and Fei Biao like a heavy hammer blow!

"hiss--!"

The two of them gasped in unison, as if they needed to inhale the icy mountain air into their lungs to calm the overwhelming shock!
After a brief silence, the two men suddenly clasped their hands in a fist and bowed deeply, their voices filled with unprecedented respect and excitement:
Congratulations, Miss Mu!

"When we achieve our goal, we will surely reach the pinnacle and stand out from the crowd! This will be our greatest fortune!"

Li Xueqing's gaze, however, passed over them and fell towards the direction of Yanshan Village, into the deep darkness of the night.

A barely perceptible hint of regret flashed in her eyes:

"It's a pity... that my time with Song Lang was too short, and this opportunity... is still missing the last bit of perfection."

Immediately, that regret was replaced by a chilling killing intent, and her voice was like a blade tempered with ice:
"But it doesn't matter!"

She whirled around, her gaze seemingly piercing the deep night, locking onto her enemy a thousand miles away:

"As long as we kill Dugu Hen!"

"His sinful head and blood can surely mend this last flaw!"

Her voice suddenly rose, filled with unwavering resolve:
"At that time, I will be able to... truly step into the second rank!"

Han Tong and Fei Biao nodded slightly.

Dugu Hen was also their enemy, and they wanted to kill him just as much as possible.

at this time.

Li Xueqing's gaze turned eastward, as if it had truly pierced through countless mountains and rivers, crossed the land to reach the ocean, and finally landed on an island in the sea.

A chilling ferocity suddenly appeared on her stunningly beautiful face in the twilight. Her teeth were clenched, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between them, filled with deep-seated hatred.
"And at that time, it's time to settle some old scores with someone!!"

The venom and determination in that voice sent a chill down the spines of Han Tong and Fei Biao, who were standing right next to each other, as if they had fallen into an ice cave!

A chill went straight from the soles of my feet to Tianling Gai!

They exchanged a horrified glance, their hearts filled with turmoil.

Even someone as powerful as Miss Mu has another enemy!
Just how terrifying is that enemy?

Is it only after Miss Mu breaks through to the legendary second-grade realm that she is qualified to seek revenge?
What earth-shattering secrets are hidden in her true identity and her past?
At this moment, they felt more and more that the woman in front of them was far beyond their comprehension!
"go!"

Li Xueqing said no more, deftly mounted her horse, and flicked the reins.

The horse neighed loudly, reared up, and carried her into the thick of the night.

We must travel day and night, there is no time to lose!
Han Tong and Fei Biao dared not delay in the slightest, and hurriedly mounted their horses, striving to catch up with that resolute figure.

Knowing that Li Xueqing was eager to break through, they were also eager to hunt down the "Blood Bodhisattva" Dugu Hen.

They dared not delay Li Xueqing's time.

The sound of horses' hooves shattered the silence of the forest once more, galloping towards the direction of Blood Feud.

………………

Banquet at Yanshan Village.

When Liang Jin, Lei Zhen, and Xiao Liu rode back to Yanshan Village, the scene before them startled them slightly.

The gates of the village were wide open, and the inside was brightly lit and bustling with noise.

Many villagers were busy climbing up and down, hanging strings of red lanterns on the eaves and flagpoles, and planting colorful flags on the village walls.

The air was filled with a strong smell, a mixture of cheap liquor and barbecue.

But what's even more pungent is the fresh and strong smell of blood that can't be masked!

The stench of blood mingled with the apparent festive atmosphere, creating an extremely eerie and unsettling ambiance.

"What...what's going on here?"

Lei Zhen frowned and muttered in a deep voice.

The three rode their horses through the gate of the village, and the scene before them became clearer.

Most of the elite soldiers from the stronghold who had accompanied Yin Leiling on his expedition the previous night had already returned.

They gathered in small groups, many of them with injuries and blood-soaked bandages, their faces showing exhaustion, but their brows were filled with excitement and pride.

Weapons leaned casually against the wall, their armor covered in mud and dark red scabs of blood, and a strong aura of menace and blood emanated from them.

Clearly, they had just gone through a fierce battle, and... they were the victors!
A large crowd gathered in the square in front of the Black Tiger Hall, creating a noisy and chaotic atmosphere.

Most strikingly, many people were holding grotesque, foul-smelling human heads in their arms, queuing up to register at a makeshift registration desk and receive their war merits.

On the open ground next to them, there were bundles of knives and spears, broken shields, and even several sets of standard leather and iron armor stained with blood!

The distinctive style and the remaining official seals clearly indicate the origin of these spoils of war—officers and soldiers of the imperial court!
Dong Xiong's robust figure stood out in the crowd.

He spotted Liang Jin and his two companions who had just entered the village at a glance, immediately pushed through the crowd, and greeted them with a loud laugh, his voice booming like thunder:

"A resounding victory! A resounding victory! Hahahaha!"

"Hero Song! You've finally shown up! Where have you been hiding all these days? You've missed a great show!"

He patted his chest, spitting as he spoke, his face beaming with pride and excitement:
"Our chieftain! He personally led the team last night, and he was incredibly impressive! He led the brothers to pull off a huge heist!"

"We wiped out every last one of those government troops who were lurking around our territory! The scene was... wow, so damn satisfying!"

Dong Xiong's shout immediately drew the attention of everyone around him.

Only then did everyone realize that "Hero Song," who had disappeared for many days, had actually reappeared.

After a brief moment of surprise, a barrage of voices immediately followed:
"Yes, Hero Song! Last night's battle was truly satisfying!"

"Thanks to Mr. Bai's brilliant plan! And our chieftain, he was incredibly brave! He chopped off that corrupt official's head with a single stroke!"

"Exactly! After being so frustrated for so long, I finally got my revenge! It felt so good to chop them up!"

"Look at these spoils of war! These armors and weapons! Enough to keep us busy for a while!"

"The chieftain is mighty! Mr. Bai's strategies are divinely brilliant!"

……

Amidst the cacophony of voices, there was an overwhelming admiration for Yin Leiling and Bai Yi, as well as pride in last night's glorious victory.

This victory seemed to have completely washed away the gloom of the previous disastrous defeat in the Thief Saint mission and restored the glory of Banquet Mountain Stronghold.

Through the accounts of the others, Liang Jin and the other two quickly pieced together the whole story.

These days, Bai Yi has been secretly plotting a counterattack.

Last night, when the time was right, Yin Leiling personally took command and led the main force of the stronghold out in a swift and decisive attack on a government army camp near the territory of Yanshan Stronghold, annihilating it completely.

Hundreds were beheaded, and a considerable amount of military equipment and supplies were seized.

That's how this brightly decorated "triumphant return" celebration came about.

As Lei Zhen and Xiao Liu listened to these effusive compliments and looked at the bustling scene before them, their brows furrowed deeper and their faces darkened.

A strong sense of crisis gripped them.

During the time when Liang Jin was "indulging in women", Yin Leiling and Bai Yi not only successfully won over the hearts of the people, but also completely established their absolute authority after their return through this carefully planned "great victory"!
Liang Jin's prestige and core position, which he had accumulated through several operations, are visibly dissolving under the impact of this wave of victory!

If this situation continues, and if Yin Leiling decides to take action against Liang Jin one day, the number of people willing to follow Liang Jin away will likely be far less than when Mu Shanqing first arrived at the mountain stronghold.

In stark contrast to Lei Zhen and Xiao Liu's deep concern, Liang Jin maintained a gentle and composed smile throughout.

He seemed like a detached spectator, observing the lively scene with great interest.

He even nodded to the villagers who were excitedly telling their stories from time to time, cupped his hands in response to their greetings, and said polite phrases such as "Congratulations" and "The village chief is mighty."

That composure, even carrying a hint of... appreciation?
It was as if all of this was within his expectations, or... completely irrelevant.

Just as Liang Jin was dealing with the crowd and preparing to leave the noisy center, his gaze inadvertently swept over a dark corner at the edge of the square.

There were three people standing there.

Leading the group was a distraught Meng Wei.

He stared blankly at the jubilant crowd in the square, his face filled with bewilderment and immense confusion, muttering unconsciously to himself:

"That's not right! Wasn't it said that the army would set off at sunrise, with their target being the government troops' outposts to the south?"

"How...how did it turn into a midnight raid on the northern camp? And...and they won?"

"What...what's going on?"

He scratched his head vigorously, as if trying to untangle the mess, but the more he tried, the more tangled it became.

Yesterday, Bai Yi personally told him the time and location for the advance.

Meng Wei went down to prepare for battle, but before sunrise, at midnight, Yin Leiling led his troops out of the camp to fight.

When Meng Wei woke up from his nap, the army had already returned victorious.

This made Meng Wei feel that everything was too mysterious.

His mind couldn't process it, so he could only try to find Bai Yi and ask him for clarification.

The performances of Ji Yan, "Starry Night Guest," and Ding Jia, "Iron-Faced Vajra," who stood behind Meng Wei, were even more appalling.

Although the two tried their best to straighten their backs and remain calm, their eyes, like those of startled rabbits, flickered with undisguised fear and unease.

Clearly, this resounding victory instilled fear in both of them.

Liang Jin took in the reactions of the three men, instantly understanding their intentions, and a playful smile curled at the corner of his lips:

"Heh... Bai Yi, Yin Leiling... do have some skills."

When he impersonated Zhu Ying and infiltrated Princess Zhaoyang's camp, he already knew that Ji Yan was a spy for the royal palace.

Ding Jia and Ji Yan went up the mountain and into the village together, not to mention the clone.

Previously, Liang Jin had used Ji Yan, an internal traitor, to repeatedly and precisely provoke Meng Wei's actions into the hands of the government, causing him to suffer heavy losses and lose face.

This allowed Liang Jin to take advantage of the situation and avoid the notice of the government troops, thus enabling him to win repeatedly.

Now it seems that Bai Yi and Yin Leiling not only noticed the "rats" inside the stronghold, but also precisely locked onto their target!

Last night's so-called "great victory" was probably a carefully designed trap to lure the enemy into a trap and to kill someone with a borrowed knife!
By using an insider to pass on false intelligence, the main force or elite troops of the officers and soldiers are lured into a pre-set ambush, and then annihilated in one fell swoop!
That's ruthless and vicious!
Amidst this clamor and restless atmosphere—

"Squeak——!"

A heavy, long sound of a door hinge turning clearly drowned out the noise in the room.

The two heavy, black-lacquered oak doors of the Black Tiger Hall were slowly pushed open from the inside.

The square fell silent instantly, all eyes drawn as if by a magnet to the open, brightly lit doorway.

An excited voice shouted:

"The chieftain and Mr. Bai have come out!"

An invisible atmosphere, a mixture of awe and anticipation, instantly enveloped the entire square.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the two key figures who had orchestrated this victory to appear.

(End of this chapter)