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

Chapter 601 Ambush in the Wilderness
Beneath the stars and moon, murderous intent lurks.

A massive army, like a silent serpent, slowly writhed in the thick darkness of night.

The starlight was dim, the moonlight was obscured by thin clouds, and the world was shrouded in gloom. Only the heavy footsteps and suppressed breaths echoed in the silent wilderness.

These are government officials and soldiers.

They were dressed in uniform dark military attire, their armor gleaming with a cold, hard light in the dim light, and their swords and spears were like a forest, flashing with a menacing glint.

The entire army carried straw in their mouths and their horses had gags in their mouths, maintaining an almost deathly silence as they marched.

Only the occasional faint sound of weapons lightly touching armor, or the suppressed snorting of warhorses, revealed the presence of this behemoth.

Under the perfect cover of night, they were silently making their way to their designated hunting ground—the wide, strategic pass at the foot of Yanshan Mountain.

At the very front of the group, a lone rider led the way.

The man on horseback was tall and slender, with a face as handsome as jade, and even in the dim light, he exuded a solemn and dignified air.

He was dressed in a well-tailored black outfit, with three lifelike eagles embroidered in fine gold thread on his shoulders, as if they were about to burst out of his clothes and soar into the sky.

This person is none other than Qin Feng, one of the four most famous constables of the Six Doors!
He sat upright on his horse, his figure as steady as a mountain.

His deep eyes, sharp as a hawk's, scanned the dark night while his mind rapidly calculated the time and location.

His fingertips tapped lightly on the reins unconsciously, a habitual gesture when he was thinking.

"Judging from their pace, Lord Yan Zian's team should have already arrived at the western foot of Yanshan Mountain, blocking the 'One Line Sky' that is the only way down the mountain."

Qin Feng silently recited in his mind, his thoughts as clear as a mirror:

"The arrogant and fierce troops of the Prince of Pingcheng should have reached the 'Soul-Breaking Slope' in the south, blocking the shortcut to the official road... As for the north, the sheer cliffs are so high that even monkeys cannot climb them; it is a natural dead end."

A cold, sharp smile curved his lips, radiating an air of complete confidence.

"Surrounded on three sides with one side open, the turtle in the jar is now trapped. Yin Leiling, you big fish, you will eventually be forced into this carefully woven net. In less than an hour, those frightened birds of Yanshan Village will be driven into the graveyard I have prepared for them in a panic."

Qin Feng looked up at the sky, then loudly gave the order:

"Everyone obey orders!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a clear power that pierced the night, instantly spreading throughout the vanguard:
"Take cover where you are and set up an ambush as planned! Make no sound whatsoever!"

Surrounding a mountain is different from surrounding a city. The mountain range is vast, making it inevitable to divide the troops.

Despite their forces being dispersed, Qin Feng was full of confidence for this battle.

He knew all too well that Yanshan Village was a fierce tiger, and that it was not easy to take it down when it was curled up in its den and defended itself by taking advantage of the terrain.

Only by driving it out of its nest and exposing it to the open plains can its claws be completely severed and it placed on the chopping block.

The core of this battle is to intercept and kill Yin Leiling, the "tiger king" who is about to leave the nest!
Once this core group that has been transferred is eliminated, the destruction of Yanshan Village will only be a matter of time.

Tonight's ambush was a deadly trap he had meticulously planned, specifically designed for Yin Leiling!
At Qin Feng's command, the well-trained soldiers scattered silently, like drops of ink thrown into still water, disappearing into the darkness on both sides of the road.

They skillfully used the terrain, lying in ambush in the grass, hiding behind embankments, and concealing themselves behind sparse trees.

The sword was drawn, the arrow was nocked, and a chilling killing intent spread silently, silencing even the night insects.

Qin Feng rode his horse up a slightly higher mound nearby, reined in his horse, and stood still, gazing into the distance at the massive, undulating silhouette of Yan Mountain in the darkness, resembling a prehistoric behemoth.

At the most precipitous and steep part of the mountain, a few faint lights stubbornly flickered in the night, like the eyes of a giant beast.

That place was the core target of this encirclement and suppression: Yanshan Village.

After gazing intently for a long time, a barely perceptible hint of doubt flashed across Qin Feng's deep eyes as he murmured to himself:
"Even Yin Leiling chose to abandon the stronghold and flee to preserve his strength... So why did Song Jiang insist on staying behind to defend it to the death?"

"What makes him think he can stop my three armies? Is it arrogance and ignorance, or... does he have something else to rely on?"

This question, like a tiny thorn, pricked his perfectly crafted plan.

Qin Feng was not worried about Yin Leiling; on the contrary, he was most worried about Song Jiang.

That master thief who always manages to surprise everyone.

He suddenly turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on the rider who had been silently following behind him:
"Li Muyun".

The man with sword-like eyebrows whose name was called tensed up almost imperceptibly; it was Li Muyun, the commander of the Six Doors of Changzhou.

His sword-like eyebrows slanted upwards to his temples, his nose was high and straight, and his lips were firm. He wore a black outfit specially made by the Six Doors, with a golden eagle embroidered on the lapel, though its size and posture were far inferior to the three on Qin Feng's shoulder.

He quickly spurred his horse forward half a step, bowing respectfully:

"My subordinate is here."

Qin Feng spoke, his voice flat and emotionless:

"You've faced Song Jiang directly. In your opinion, what is this man really like?"

His gaze seemed to casually sweep over Li Muyun, yet it possessed a power that seemed to see into people's hearts.

Li Muyun's heart sank suddenly, and an indescribable sense of shame and embarrassment instantly surged onto her face.

The theft of the relief grain shipment was the biggest stain on his career!

Being mentioned in public by his boss at this moment is tantamount to reopening his wounds.

He suppressed his turbulent emotions, his Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice was slightly hoarse:

"Reporting to my lord! That Song Jiang... is no ordinary bandit! His ability to rise to fame and stir up trouble in Changzhou in such a short time is no accident! This man... is unfathomable!"

To cover up his cowardice and dereliction of duty that day, Li Muyun gritted his teeth and deliberately exaggerated Liang Jin's strength.

His tone even carried a deliberately feigned sense of lingering fear:

"That day... when I fought him, it was like an ant trying to shake a tree! He didn't even use his full strength, and I was already... utterly defeated! I was completely crushed by him!"

He took a deep breath, as if trying to suppress that "unbearable" memory:

"In my humble opinion, Song Jiang's martial arts skills are probably... probably already at the second rank! Even if not the second rank, he is definitely a top-tier existence among the peak of the third rank!"

"What's especially terrifying is his sonic power! He can injure my internal organs with just his voice. If he hadn't seemed to have held back at the time... I probably would have died on the spot!"

He paused, his voice becoming even more serious:
"Not to mention the divine eagle he rode, with wingspans like clouds and claws like hooks. With a flap of its wings, sand and stones flew, and hundreds of elite cavalrymen were instantly... reduced to ashes!"

"My lord, if this villain is not eliminated, he will surely become a major threat to our Great Qian Dynasty in the future!"

Li Muyun lied to some extent.

He simply didn't want to fight Song Jiang to the death; he didn't think Song Jiang was that scary.

However, Li Muyun could only exaggerate Song Jiang's power and terror in order to make his defeat that day seem justifiable.

Qin Feng listened quietly, his face expressionless, but his deep eyes narrowed slightly as Li Muyun described him in a slightly exaggerated way.

After Li Muyun finished speaking, he did not comment, but a faint, cold smile seemed to appear on his lips.

That gaze seemed to penetrate the skin and reach the depths of the heart.

Li Muyun felt that her thoughts were laid bare under his gaze, and a cold sweat instantly broke out on her back.

He hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to say another word, feeling his heart pounding wildly in his chest.

Just as this subtle silence was filled with the night breeze.

The rapid sound of horses' hooves grew louder as they approached.

A scout shot through the darkness like an arrow and galloped to the front of the Wind-Capturing Horse.

The scout dismounted, knelt on one knee, and presented a small bamboo tube tightly sealed with sealing wax, his breath coming in short gasps:

"My lord! A breaking news report from Yanshan Stronghold! It's extremely urgent!"

Qin Feng's gaze sharpened, and he leaned forward to take the bamboo tube.

With a slight twitch of his fingertips, he easily crushed the sealing wax and pulled out a roll of silk as thin as a cicada's wing containing a secret message.

By the faint light of the torches held up by his personal guards, he read intently.

First intelligence report: [Yin Leiling has led his large force down the mountain, laden with supplies. Their destination is currently unknown, but they are moving in the predetermined direction.]

Qin Feng remained calm and composed, everything was as expected.

The most crucial step in his plan, driving the tiger out of its cage, was finally successfully completed.

This fierce tiger is stepping into the carefully woven net.

He lowered his gaze to the second piece of information.

however.

When Qin Feng saw the second line of tiny characters written on the silk, his usually calm face suddenly erupted into a storm of emotions!
His pupils suddenly contracted, and the knuckles of his fingers, gripping the silk, turned white from the force!
The intelligence report clearly stated:

The true culprit behind the murder of Princess Zhaoyang, the impersonation of one of the Four Great Constables, and the plunder of disaster relief funds has been identified as Song Jiang! The key witness, Xiao Liu, has been persuaded to defect and has successfully stolen crucial evidence!

"what?!"

Qin Feng was shocked. Even with his exceptional composure, he couldn't help but gasp in surprise!
The murder of Princess Zhaoyang! The killer impersonated Zhu Ying and robbed disaster relief funds!

These are all unsolved cases that shocked the court and angered the emperor!

This was the direct trigger that led to a fierce conflict between the Prince of Pingcheng and the Six Doors in Changzhou, resulting in heavy casualties!
This case has remained unsolved for a long time, like a dark cloud hanging over Changzhou, and it has always been a sharp thorn in Qin Feng's heart!
However, Qin Feng always had someone he suspected.

That's Song Jiang!
This inexplicably and suddenly appeared giant thief.

Not only is he highly skilled in martial arts, but his background is also mysterious. Neither the Six Doors nor the Investigation Bureau has been able to investigate his background to this day.

To be able to kill someone of such high status and strict guard as Princess Zhaoyang, one's martial arts skills must be extremely high.

However, there are not many people like this in Changzhou.

Most importantly, the murderer used Zhu Ying's identity token and other tokens to impersonate Zhu Ying!

This proves that the murderer is inextricably linked to Zhu Ying's death.

Most people suspect that Yan Shanzhai is the murderer.

However, Qin Feng knew that Yin Leiling and Meng Guang of Yanshan Village both had alibis at the time.

On the contrary, Song Jiang's whereabouts are unpredictable, making him highly suspicious.

He had been seen near the crime scene and was involved in the incident where Yan San Niang and her group robbed disaster relief funds.

Qin Feng had every reason to believe that this mysterious and powerful thief who suddenly appeared must be related to the murder of Princess Zhaoyang.

The only thing that Qin Feng couldn't understand was how the token of Zhu Ying, who was killed in Dongzhou, could travel thousands of miles and appear in Song Jiang's hands in Changzhou in such a short time.
This mystery has been troubling him, and he considers capturing Song Jiang the key to solving the case!
Although he had never met Song Jiang, he had fought with him once.

He had successfully predicted that Song Jiang would join a banquet at the mountain stronghold after committing the crime, so he planned to ambush and capture Song Jiang on the way.

However, Song Jiang was cunning and resourceful. He chose an unexpected path to escape Qin Feng's scheme and successfully reached Yanshan Stronghold.

In their first encounter, he was one move behind.

Tonight, he intended to avenge his previous humiliation by first beheading Yin Leiling, then breaking through Yanshan, and capturing Song Jiang!

But this sudden intelligence was like a poisoned dagger, piercing the core of his carefully woven plan!

"This case... has been unsolved for so long, why is it that at this crucial moment, just before a major battle is about to begin, such a conclusive clue has emerged?"

Qin Feng's heart sank suddenly. A strong sense of foreboding, like a cold venomous snake, instantly coiled around his heart, almost suffocating him!
"Besides... my original intention in having the spy contact Xiao Liu was to find out the whereabouts of Shen Wanshi's mysterious batch of silver."

"How... how did the case of Princess Zhaoyang have to be the one that was uncovered?!"

He suddenly closed his eyes, and countless clues, intelligence, and relationships between people collided and connected rapidly in his mind!
The Prince of Pingcheng's violent and arrogant face, Song Jiang's unfathomable eyes, and the perfectly timed intelligence before him, which directly hit the Prince of Pingcheng's sore spot...

In a flash, a thought exploded in his mind like a thunderclap!
"Not good!" Qin Feng suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze flashing with a sharp light that pierced the night sky like cold lightning:
"This is Song Jiang's wicked scheme! He's trying to provoke Prince Pingcheng... Che! To lure him into his trap!"

"What a brilliant counter-espionage tactic! What a clever provocation! This scoundrel... is indeed cunning, ruthless, and deeply understands human nature!"

Qin Feng instantly saw through Song Jiang's sinister intentions!

Qin Feng knew that since the intelligence sent by the spies planted in Yanshan Village involved Princess Zhaoyang, Prince Pingcheng would definitely also receive this intelligence.

Even though he is the commander-in-chief, all intelligence should pass through his hands first before being passed on to others.

However, he was only the nominal commander-in-chief. The three armies belonged to different forces, and his prestige as a mere constable was far from enough to suppress everyone.

Everyone wanted to curry favor with the Prince of Pingcheng.

It is likely that at the same time the intelligence was sent out of Yanshan Village, an identical secret report was already delivered to the desk of the Prince of Pingcheng at top speed!

And the Prince of Pingcheng...

Qin Feng felt a chill run down his spine whenever he thought of this person.

He was a madman whose mind was twisted by the grief of losing his daughter and the overwhelming power he wielded!

Back then, just because of an unverified suspicion of "Chasing Shadows," he was able to stir up a bloodbath in Changzhou and offer a bounty to hunt down all members of the Six Doors!

Now, once he learns that the real killer of his beloved daughter is right before his eyes, in that dimly lit mountain village...

What insane, violent, and reckless things might he do?!

Disobeying orders and acting without authorization?
That's probably just the mildest consequence!
More likely, he will disregard everything and recklessly lead his army to launch a strong attack on Yanshan Village!
It could disrupt the entire encirclement and suppression plan, or even... lead them straight into a trap set by Song Jiang!

"Li Muyun!"

Qin Feng suddenly turned his head, speaking rapidly with an unprecedented gravity in his voice:
"Immediately dispatch your most capable and fastest scouts to bypass the front and, at all costs, rush to Duanhunpo in the south to meet the Prince of Pingcheng!"

He took a deep breath, suppressing his anxiety:
"Tell him that this is Song Jiang's provocation tactic! It's intended to lure him into dividing his forces and advancing rashly! Tell him he absolutely must... absolutely must prioritize the overall situation! Without my military order, he must not act rashly! Remember, remember!"

In the end, Qin Feng's tone was filled with helplessness and bitterness:
"Of course...the words must be sincere and respectful. I...am not giving orders to Your Highness, but...I am merely offering heartfelt advice as a colleague! I hope Your Highness...will reconsider!"

He could almost imagine how pale and powerless his "advice" would be in the face of the enraged Prince of Pingcheng.

however.

Before Qin Feng could finish speaking, Li Muyun suddenly pointed into the distance and exclaimed in a low voice:
"My lord! Look! Those bandits...they've appeared!"

Qin Feng was shocked and looked in the direction Li Muyun pointed!

All that could be seen was the end of the deep night in the direction of Yanshan.

A long dragon composed of countless faint flames was slowly and meandering toward the open ground where they were lying in ambush!

The firelight flickered and danced in the darkness, like a dying fire serpent, illuminating the shadowy figures below, the elderly and children struggling to move forward in a panic.

coming!

Yin Leiling was indeed forced into this pre-set death trap!
Everything seemed to have returned to the original plan of Qin Feng.

However, there was no joy on Qin Feng's face, only a deeper gloom.

The bandits were already close at hand. How sharp was the perception of a peak third-rank expert like Yin Leiling?
At this moment, sending scouts to bypass the bandits and inform the Prince of Pingcheng, who is far away on the other side, is not only to avoid the eyes and ears of the bandits, but also to stay far away from Yin Leiling's terrifying perception range.

The time wasted... the daylily buds were already cold!
Li Muyun instantly understood this cruel reality, her face turned deathly pale, and she asked urgently:

"My lord! What... what should we do now?"

Qin Feng gritted his teeth, a resolute glint flashing in his eyes.

Things have come to this point, the arrow is on the bowstring, and there's no turning back!

He abruptly waved his hand, his voice resolute and decisive, carrying an undeniable air of ruthlessness:
"Proceed according to the original plan! Launch a full-scale ambush on Yin Leiling's troops! Make sure to annihilate their main force here!"

His icy gaze swept over the approaching fire dragon, as if trying to pierce through the crowd and pinpoint its leader:

"Only by dealing with Yin Leiling and crippling Yanshan Village can we seize the initiative and be assured of victory!"

Qin Feng paused, his gaze fixed on the boundless darkness to the south of Yan Mountain, his tone carrying a faint hope and a heavy sense of helplessness:

"As for the Prince..."

"We can only pray to God for protection, hoping that Your Highness... can consider the bigger picture, not be blinded by hatred, and not fall into Song Jiang's treacherous scheme so easily!"

"Order! Expand the ambush zone! Everyone retreat another thirty paces! Hold your breath! Wait for the target to fall into the trap!"

Qin Feng quickly adjusted his deployment.

To ensure absolute safety when facing a powerful figure like Yin Leiling, the ambush must be set outside his perception range.

The scout, having received the order, vanished silently into the darkness like a ghost, taking a long detour to deliver that faint "advice."

Meanwhile, Qin Feng led his elite troops silently into the deeper darkness, merging with the army that had been lying in ambush on both sides of the road.

Time, in the suffocating silence, passed by second by second.

The air seemed to freeze.

Only the faint rustling sound of the night wind blowing through the withered grass could be heard.

And in the distance, the increasingly clear and heavy footsteps, the sound of wheels, the neighing of livestock, and the suppressed cries of children and the sobs of women and children...

at last.

The fire dragon, composed of despair and fear, had completely entered the core area of ​​the ambush zone.

The flickering firelight illuminated the fearful and exhausted faces of the people.

The procession, consisting of the elderly and children, stretched out for a long time, their steps faltering.

The man pushing the wheelbarrow had bulging veins on his arms, and the wheelbarrow was piled high with his meager belongings; the woman holding the baby tightly covered the child's mouth, afraid that the crying would bring disaster; the white-haired old man leaned on a wooden cane, panting with every step.

Several warriors acting as scouts mustered their spirits and vigilantly patrolled the perimeter of the group. Their eyes, like those of hawks, scanned the impenetrable darkness on both sides of the road. Their unease grew rapidly as they ventured deeper into the open area.

"Everyone, stay alert! Speed ​​up! Once we cross this open area..."

A warrior who appeared to be a leader urged them in a low voice, trying to boost morale, but before he could finish speaking, something unexpected happened.

"call out!!!"

A sharp, piercing whistle that tore through the night sky suddenly rang out without warning!

"what sound?!"

Some people looked up in alarm.

"There's something in the sky! Look!"

Many more people stared blankly at the dark night sky, trying to discern the source of the sound.

However, what responded to them was a torrent of deadly arrows!
"Ah—! My leg!"

"My wife! My wife!"

"Help! I've been shot in the stomach!"

……

Countless sharp arrows, like poisonous bees from hell.

They burst forth from all directions, from the inky black night sky, with chilling shrieks!

They tore through the air, striking the unsuspecting crowd with precision and ruthlessness!
The screams of the dying, the desperate cries of women and children, the heart-wrenching wails of kids... all sorts of sounds instantly shattered the deathly silence of the night, merging into a terrifying symphony of hell on earth!
The blood, illuminated by the firelight, was splattered in large, shocking patches of dark red!

In the very first volley of arrows, dozens of still-warm corpses and many more writhing wounded lay on the road, the pungent stench of blood instantly filling the air!
"Enemy attack! Ambushes! Quick! Put out the torches!"

The surviving leader's eyes were bloodshot, and he roared wildly, his voice distorted with fear.

The panicked crowd snapped out of their daze and frantically tried to extinguish the torches in their hands.

However, the brief sense of security brought by darkness is fleeting!
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!!!"

The second and third waves of arrows followed one after another!

More dense! More precise!
Like the scythe of death, it ruthlessly harvests the lives exposed in the instant before the flames die out!
"Run!"

"Spread out! Quickly spread out!"

"Don't abandon my mother!"

"Fight them!"

……

Utter panic and chaos spread like a plague!
The crowd scattered like ants from a disturbed nest, crying and screaming as they fled in all directions, pushing and trampling each other, with no order whatsoever!
Darkness became the best cover, but also the deepest fear.

The hunter in the darkness revealed his fangs.

The ambushing soldiers did not immediately launch an attack; they moved ruthlessly in the shadows like an experienced pack of wolves.

The archers relentlessly rained down deadly arrows, driving away and cutting through the chaotic crowd.

At the same time, elite cavalry squads, like arrows released from a bow, silently pounced out of the darkness, precisely targeting those who had strayed from the main force and were panicked and disoriented.

The blade flashed in the darkness, leaving behind sprays of warm blood, accompanied by short, shrill screams, before falling silent again.

They stalked the fleeing crowd like a pack of wolves, and once they spotted a weak or lone individual, they would swarm and chop them into mincemeat.

However, they always carefully avoided the core area where the crowds were densest and the defenses were most tight.

Because there lurks a deadly threat!
really!

As another dense rain of arrows descended like dark clouds upon the heavily guarded wagons laden with supplies at the heart of the column—

"Roar--!!!"

A deafening roar, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, exploded out!

A visible, violent, deep red shockwave shot into the sky, centered on one of the large vehicles!

The rain of arrows, powerful enough to pierce iron armor, struck this solidified airflow shield as if it had hit an invisible wall of bronze and iron!

A series of teeth-grinding clanging sounds rang out, and countless steel arrows were violently shattered into pieces, turning into iron filings that flew everywhere!
A towering figure, as imposing as a mountain and exuding an overwhelming aura of ferocity, suddenly lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out!
He stood atop the carriage shaft, his beard and hair bristling, his eyes bloodshot, and his robes fluttering and rustling even without wind!

A terrifying pressure belonging to a peak third-grade martial artist swept across the entire battlefield like an invisible tsunami, even making Qin Feng, who was in the darkness in the distance, feel his breath catch in his throat!
"'Proud Blade Master' Yin Leiling is here!"

The figure's voice was like a booming bell, containing unparalleled internal force, making people's eardrums buzz, filled with rage and domineering power:

"Who dares to hide like a coward! Do you dare to fight me to the death?! Show yourself—!!!"

This roar was like lighting a fuse.

The soldiers in the darkness were not afraid at all; on the contrary, their spirits were greatly boosted!
The target has finally appeared!
A cruel yet satisfied smile curved Qin Feng's cold lips.

He waved his hand gently, and the flag bearer beside him immediately gave the signal.

"Send the order! Target has appeared! Execute the 'millstone' tactic! Archers, take turns firing in volleys to maintain suppression! Scouts, continue to mop up the fleeing troops on the perimeter! Do not allow a single one to escape, leaving them no time to clean up the mess!"

"Waste him! Wear him down relentlessly! Grind down Yin Leiling's internal energy inch by inch!"

Qin Feng's voice was as cold as iron, carrying an undeniable killing intent:
"When his strength weakens, that will be the moment... when I personally take action!"

The night was completely stained with blood and slaughter.

The distant outline of Yanshan Mountain, set against the backdrop of firelight and blood, appeared even more ferocious and remote.

(End of this chapter)