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

Chapter 611 Reaching the Summit

Banquet at Yanshan Village.

The night was as dark as ink, pressing heavily upon Yanshan Mountain.

Inside the stronghold, the atmosphere was like a lit fuse, filled with the tension and anticipation of a major battle.

Shadows flickered, torches swayed, and hurried footsteps and deep commands tore through the silence.

Zhongli Han, with his towering figure, led a group of men, like a silent torrent of rocks, quickly disappearing into the shadows of the mountain path outside the village, heading straight for the various strategic strongholds along the path.

Xingniang, along with another group of skilled bandits, nimbly climbed the steep ridge on the east side and stealthily made their way towards the high ground.

The air was filled with the smells of sweat, leather, and the cold, metallic odor of metal.

Beneath the stockade wall, Lei Zhen's voice boomed like a bell as he directed the remaining men to reinforce the stockade gate, move stones and logs, and nock crossbow bolts.

But the key figure who stirred up the storm—Song Jiang—was nowhere to be found.

Bai Yi sat alone on the cold stone millstone.

He unconsciously opened and closed a brand-new stainless steel folding fan in his hand, making soft "click" sounds that seemed particularly abrupt in the somber atmosphere.

He watched the swift and dramatic mobilization with a cold eye, his brows furrowed into a deep frown.

"With the prisoner exchange imminent, instead of focusing all their efforts on defending the stockade, they've divided their troops elsewhere..."

Bai Yi deftly opened his folding fan, its surface gleaming with a cold light. His gaze followed the direction Xingniang had disappeared in, and doubts arose in his mind:

"Could it be... that Song Jiang is truly so arrogant as to actually take the initiative to attack, as he claims?"

The thought sent a chill down his spine.

He forced himself to analyze the situation calmly:
"A head-on confrontation? That would be like throwing an egg against a rock! The officers and soldiers are well-armored and their formation is impenetrable. Only by taking advantage of the terrain of Yanshan and setting up an ambush can we have a chance of victory..."

"The place Xingniang went to is the highest point on the eastern ridge. From this vantage point, one can unleash a hail of arrows and hurl rolling stones, making it an excellent ambush position."

“Zhongli Han rushed to the mountain pass stronghold, which is usually used to obstruct the enemy. If we launch a sudden attack now while the officers and soldiers are relaxed after exchanging troops, we can indeed disrupt their formation and divide their forces…”

Upon reaching this point in his analysis, a glint flashed in Bai Yi's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a deeper worry:

"However... although Yanshan has a dangerous terrain and a well-prepared ambush, it can only give us a temporary advantage!"

"The government troops are the elite of Changzhou, and they are also supported by many martial arts masters. Once they stabilize their position, how fierce will their counterattack be? At that time, it will be a rout!"

He gripped his folding fan tightly, his knuckles turning white, and his gaze turned gravely to the deep night in the west:
"The most fatal thing is... that the troops on the western route have remained inactive to this day!"

"If they coordinate with the main force of Qinfeng and launch a pincer attack from the east and west... our main force is out fighting outside, leaving the stronghold vulnerable. Wouldn't that mean... our gates are wide open, and we are doomed?!"

A sense of powerlessness swept over my entire body.

He slammed his folding fan shut with a loud "snap" and shook his head dejectedly.

In his mind, the only way out was to use the strong fortifications of the mountain stronghold to wear down the soldiers' morale and exhaust the inner strength of their top experts!
But now, he, the former "strategist," has long been marginalized.

In the mountain stronghold, only the name of "Hero Song" was known, and no one listened to the words of "Mr. Bai" anymore.

"Perhaps... only the return of the chieftain, who regains power, can restore order and unite the people..."

This thought became the only spark of hope in his heart.

at this time--

"Bang bang bang bang—!!!"

A heart-wrenching gong suddenly rang out from the top of the watchtower!

Sharp, rapid, and filled with a death-defying panic, it instantly pierced everyone's eardrums!

The entire village seemed to have been put on pause, with all activity suddenly coming to a standstill.

Hundreds of eyes turned to the pale-faced sentry on the watchtower.

"Soldiers! Soldiers have come up the mountain!"

The sentry's voice was distorted with extreme fear, and his finger trembled as he pointed down the mountain:
"A dark mass! Fast! Too fast! At most... at most a quarter of an hour to the village!"

"There are...there are too many people! Three or four thousand...at least more!"

boom!
Panic swept through the entire mountain stronghold like a plague!

The air seemed to be sucked out instantly, and heavy breathing and a sudden acceleration of the heartbeat intertwined.

The shadow of death has never loomed so vividly over everyone!

Even the most valiant bandits would inevitably tremble with fear when faced with the impending onslaught of the imperial court's iron hooves.

"Why panic!"

A thunderous roar erupted again, forcefully suppressing the commotion:
"On your marks! Proceed as planned! Nock your arrows! Prepare the rolling stones! Hold the line!"

At his roar, the crowd, like a flock of sheep being driven, rushed in panic toward their respective battle positions.

With swords and spears gripped tightly and bowstrings taut, countless eyes were fixed on the darkness beyond the stockade walls. The air was so thick it seemed to drip water, and only heavy breathing and the pounding of hearts echoed in the deathly silence.

A chilling atmosphere permeated the surrounding area.

coming!

The heavy footsteps approached from afar, initially like muffled thunder, gradually merging into a roar like a landslide or tsunami!
The earth trembled, and dust fell from the earthen walls of the mountain village.

That was not a scattered charge, but a terrifying resonance formed by the orderly thud of countless iron boots and horse hooves, like an enormous war beast, stepping up the mountain to the beat of death!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Every step felt like it was treading on everyone's hearts!

The inky blackness of the night was torn apart, and a torrent of steel surged forth!

cavalry!

The tall horse was clad in heavy armor, and the rider on its back held a long spear. Only his cold eyes were visible beneath his visor. Like an iron cavalry emerging from hell, the horse's hooves smashed everything in its path!
Pikemen!
The densely packed gun tips gleamed with a deathly cold light under the torchlight, forming a chilling metal forest. The gun shafts, like a forest, leaned forward, exuding a suffocating sense of piercing!

Swordsman and Shieldman!

The menacing beast heads on the heavy shield seemed to come alive in the firelight, growling and howling. Through the gaps in the shield, countless pairs of murderous eyes and gleaming blades shone!
They were all drenched in sweat and panting heavily, clearly having run all the way from the foot of the mountain.

However, the imposing array, the overwhelming aura of iron and blood, and the crushing oppressive feeling of a regular army turned the faces of the Yanshan bandits on the stockade pale, their palms sweating as they gripped their weapons.

They had ambushed the guards of the Prince's Palace before, but that was under the absolute advantage of having a superior position and being able to injure the enemy with stones and wood.

At this moment, facing this torrent of steel, imagining the impending, unpretentious, bloody close combat, a fear originating from instinct gripped everyone.

This was a battlefield pressure they had never experienced before, a pressure they were driven to despair!

"stop--!!!"

A stern command resounded like a thunderclap.

The thunderous footsteps came to an abrupt halt!

In an instant, only the heavy snorting of countless warhorses and the suppressed, violent breathing of soldiers filled the world, creating a deep, unsettling background soundscape.

Thousands of eyes coldly focused on the not-so-tall walls of Yanshan Village.

Inside the village.

Bai Yi also observed the soldiers outside.

The more he observed, the more his brow furrowed.
"They are far from the east side and have left ample defensive formations, clearly recognizing that the east side is suitable for ambushes. Xingniang's ambush troops will probably not be able to play a significant role."

"The military formations are closely connected, and even if Zhongli Han leads his troops to break through from the stronghold, it will probably be difficult to divide them."

"Song Jiang, Song Jiang, is this your plan? You're leading us to our doom!"

He had already been ambushed by this group of soldiers once, and knew that they were a formidable force.

When Bai Yi looked at the soldiers closely, he realized they were much stronger than he had imagined.

This made Bai Yi feel even more desperate.

At this time.

Suddenly, a lone rider emerged from the midst of the army.

Li Muyun sat on his horse, his dark-colored outfit gleaming faintly in the firelight.

His gaze swept across the stockade wall like lightning, his voice infused with inner strength, carrying clearly throughout the mountains and fields:
"Song Jiang! The man has been brought! Hand over the prince immediately!"

With a wave of his arm, the army behind him parted to the sides like a tide, revealing a heavy iron cage in the middle.

Inside the cage, a middle-aged man with disheveled hair and his collarbone pierced by a vicious iron hook slumped down in a kneeling position.

It was none other than Yin Leiling, the chieftain of Yanshan Village!
Beside the iron cage, dozens of Yanshan bandit prisoners, dressed in tattered clothes and wearing heavy shackles, trembled like lambs to the slaughter under the cold gaze.

Li Muyun rode his horse to the iron cage and drew his sword with a clang.

The cold blade pressed mercilessly against Yin Leiling's neck, the edge even drawing a thin line of blood!
"I want your chieftain to live!"

Li Muyun's voice carried a strong threat, and he tightened his grip on the blade slightly:
"Hand over the Prince of Pingcheng immediately!"

A commotion broke out on the stockade wall.

A bloated, dejected figure was roughly shoved to the edge of the barricade.

It was none other than Prince Zhao Yan of Pingcheng!

Lei Zhen's large, fan-like hand suddenly reached out and grabbed Zhao Yan by the back of his collar, lifting him off the ground like a chick and exposing him to the sight of thousands of soldiers below!

"Let go!"

Lei Zhen's roar was like rolling thunder, full of arrogance and impatience.

Li Muyun's sharp eyes confirmed that Zhao Yan was still alive despite his disheveled state. Only then did he suddenly open the iron cage and roughly drag out the limp Yin Leiling.

He grabbed Yin Leiling with one hand and gripped the prisoner's chain tightly with the other, striding towards the open space in front of the two armies.

Every step kicked up dust.

On the other side, Lei Zhen, carrying the pale-faced Zhao Yan with his legs dangling in the air, leaped off the stockade wall as if dragging a sack of grain, and landed with a thud.

Then he strode forward, fearlessly meeting Li Muyun.

The two sides faced off in a deathly silence as they drew closer, each step tugging at the hearts of countless people.

The air felt like solidified oil, ready to ignite at the slightest spark.

Li Muyun remained on high alert throughout, his eyes fixed on Lei Zhen, not daring to relax for a moment.

Zhao Yan's life was of paramount importance and could not be allowed to be compromised in the slightest.

at last.

The two stood facing each other in the center of the open space, no more than ten feet apart.

Li Muyun looked at Lei Zhen, whose imposing aura was heavy and whose eyes were as fierce as a beast's, and a complex emotion flashed in her eyes:
"'Iron Fist' Lei Zhen? Hmph, back when we hijacked the grain carts, you weren't even worthy of my attention."

His tone carried a hint of condescension:

"In such a short time, he has actually risen to the fourth rank... He is now barely qualified to stand before me."

When Liang Jin led Lei Zhen and others to rob the grain carts, Li Muyun only had eyes for Liang Jin and didn't bother to look at Lei Zhen at all.

But who would have thought that Lei Zhen would now be qualified to exchange prisoners of war with him face to face as an equal?

Lei Zhen let out a disdainful snort, not bothering to waste any more words:
"Let go!"

The voice was firm and resolute.

Li Muyun's eyes flashed, and he suddenly jerked the iron chain in his hand and loosened it!
"Crack-!"

As the heavy iron chains fell to the ground, the captured bandits of Yanshan, like frightened birds, scrambled and cried as they desperately ran towards the gate of the stronghold!

The gate of the village had already been opened a crack for them.

The prisoners ran away, leaving Li Muyun with only Yin Leiling, whose collarbone was locked and who could not move.

"Your turn, Lei Zhen!"

Li Muyun's blade remained firmly against Yin Leiling's neck.

"Release the prince! I'll release your chieftain immediately!"

Lei Zhen's lips curled into a cruel smile, his eyes flashing with murderous intent!
"Easy to say!"

Before he finished speaking, his huge hand gripping Zhao Yan suddenly tightened its grip!
A chilling cracking sound rang out!

"what--!!!"

Zhao Yan let out a bloodcurdling scream like a pig being slaughtered. His entire arm was dislocated by Lei Zhen's forceful twisting, and it hung limply down!

"Lei Zhen! You're asking for death!" Li Muyun's eyes were bloodshot, and he instinctively thrust his blade forward, slashing a bloody gash across Yin Leiling's neck!
He almost lunged at it!
"Move again, and I'll snap his neck!"

Lei Zhen's large hand gripped Zhao Yan's thick neck like an iron clamp in an instant!

With just a gentle pinch, this prince could be killed!
Li Muyun abruptly stopped in his tracks, his chest heaving violently, his eyes blazing with fury.

Lei Zhen's voice was icy cold:
"One last time, release them!"

Li Muyun gritted his teeth, squeezing out a few words through his clenched teeth:
Release them all at once! Otherwise, there's no point in discussing it!

Lei Zhen stared at him, a fierce glint in his eyes, and after a moment, slowly nodded:
"it is good!"

next moment.

As if by unspoken agreement, the two let go at the same time!
Despite the excruciating pain in her collarbone, Yin Leiling staggered and stumbled as she desperately fled towards the village gate!
Every step aggravated the wound, and blood stained the hem of his clothes.

Zhao Yan was terrified and scrambled to his feet.

Tears streamed down his face as his obese body tumbled in the dust, wishing he had two more legs to run towards Li Muyun.

Li Muyun's muscles were taut, his long sword held horizontally in front of him, his eyes fixed on Lei Zhen like a hawk, guarding against any possible surprise attack.

however.

After letting go, Lei Zhen didn't even look at Yin Leiling, who was running away behind him.

He simply spat a mouthful of bloody saliva at Li Muyun, then turned around without hesitation, strode forward, and walked towards the gate of the village without looking back!

It was as if he didn't care at all whether Li Muyun would kill Yin Leiling.

That contemptuous attitude that treated Li Muyun as nothing caused Li Muyun's face to turn a deep purplish-red!
"Bastard!"

Li Muyun cursed under his breath, suppressing the urge to immediately swing his knife and kill Yin Leiling.

Qin Feng said he would definitely release Yin Leiling.

What Song Jiang most wanted was for Yin Leiling to die in front of everyone at the hands of government soldiers.

In order to prevent Song Jiang from getting his way, Li Muyun was unable to take action.

He could only stomp his foot angrily and rush toward Zhao Yan, who was still tumbling and crawling.

"Your Highness! Let's go!"

He helped Zhao Yan, who was limp and emitting a foul stench of incontinence, to his feet, and cautiously looked around, preparing to quickly retreat to the army formation.

Zhao Yan clung to Li Muyun's arm as if grasping at a straw, his face smeared with tears and dirt, his eyes flashing with a deep-seated resentment, his voice shrill and distorted with fear and hatred:
"Kill them! Kill them all! Avenge my child!"

"I'll give you anything! Land, gold, silver, beauties... I only want them dead!"

"Leave no one alive! Turn their bones to dust!!!"

Li Muyun gave a perfunctory reply, half-dragging and half-pulling Zhao Yan, and under the watchful eyes of countless officers and soldiers, they retreated in a sorry state back into the heavily guarded military formation.

At the village gate.

"Zhaizhu!"

Bai Yi had been waiting anxiously for some time.

Upon seeing Yin Leiling return to the mountain stronghold, he immediately rushed forward, exerted his strength with both hands, and with two "crack" sounds, forcefully broke the vicious iron hook that was piercing through his collarbone!
The excruciating pain caused Yin Leiling to groan and nearly faint.

Bai Yi quickly took out the wound medicine and, with trembling hands, sprinkled it on Yin Leiling's bloody wounds.

Ignoring the pain, Yin Leiling immediately sat down cross-legged and forcibly circulated his internal energy to regulate his breathing.

A chilling, bone-deep coldness suddenly spread from his abdomen as he tried to expel the poison!
The chill, like a maggot clinging to a bone, cunningly evaded the encirclement of his powerful internal energy, and burrowed into the deepest parts of his bones and the ends of his meridians—corners that his internal energy could not reach!

It was Qin Feng who forced him to take the "Wood God Pill"!
"Damn it!"

Yin Leiling was both shocked and furious, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

His mind involuntarily recalled what Qin Feng had told him not long ago.

Not long ago…

Inside the cold iron cage, Yin Leiling was covered in blood, and his collarbone was throbbing with excruciating pain.

Qin Feng's figure loomed over them, exuding an absolute sense of oppression.

"If I can capture you once, I can capture you a hundred times!"

Qin Feng's voice was calm, yet it contained an undeniable power:
"Similar cultivation levels? What a joke! Killing you is as easy as slaughtering pigs and dogs for me!"

Yin Leiling gritted his teeth, his eyes burning with anger, but he couldn't refute her.

The feeling of powerlessness during the fight, the despair of being completely suppressed and unable to even fight to the death, is still vivid in my mind.

Although the difference in their skill levels was not too great, the difference in their martial arts prowess was quite obvious.

Even if Qin Feng didn't use his soldiers to wear down Yin Leiling's internal energy and allowed Yin Leiling to remain at his peak, defeating Yin Leiling would only require a little more effort from Qin Feng.

No wonder the Four Great Constables were so renowned in the martial arts world.

Only after fighting them did I realize that they were all monsters!

"Song Jiang wants to exchange you for him, and I agree."

Qin Feng's words were like a thunderclap.

Yin Leiling suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"But when you return, you must do something for me."

Qin Feng looked down at him, his eyes icy cold:

"'Proud Blade Hero'? I know you are not afraid of death. But what about your brothers? Don't you care about their lives?"

Yin Leiling spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva in anger:
"Bah! Don't even think about me becoming a lackey of the imperial court!"

Qin Feng remained unperturbed; his voice grew even colder.
“You, Yin Leiling, who gathers followers in the mountains and forests, are nothing more than a minor ailment.”

"But Song Jiang... killed a princess, slaughtered a prince, robbed imperial silver, and kidnapped a prince! Each and every one of these acts constitutes a heinous crime that would punish nine generations of a family and shake the entire court!"

"His Majesty is furious! If this scoundrel is not eliminated, I will not be able to report back. Your Yanshan stronghold... will surely be struck by lightning and left without a trace!"

He slowly opened his palm, revealing a pale blue pill that emitted an eerie chill.
"'Wood God Pill,' a secret recipe of the Mechanical Sect, is specifically designed to counter internal martial arts masters."

"Once the deed is done, the antidote will be presented to you, and I will guarantee the lives of everyone in your stronghold."

"If you are determined to die... humph, then there's no need to waste the antidote."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly struck, his iron-like fingers prying open Yin Leiling's mouth and forcibly shoving the icy, bone-chilling poison pill into his mouth, forcing him to swallow it!
Then Qinfeng left without saying another word.

It was as if whether to believe or not was left to Yin Leiling to decide.

……

Recalling this, Yin Leiling felt a chill creeping through his body, spreading slowly from his abdomen.

The coldness in his abdomen intensified, and the flow of internal energy became increasingly sluggish.

Yin Leiling suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes bloodshot, filled with a mixture of humiliation, anger, and fear!
"Dong dong dong——!"

A series of rapid and heavy footsteps interrupted his thoughts.

Yin Leiling looked up in surprise and saw a large number of bandits holding weapons silently gathering behind the gate of the stronghold.

Everyone's face was solemn, but their eyes burned with an almost fanatical fighting spirit!

The target was clearly outside the village gate!
"What is this for?!"

Yin Leiling was shocked and furious, and struggled to her feet.

Bai Yi looked bitter and said in a low voice:
"Chieftain... it's Song Jiang's order. He wants to... launch a preemptive attack! The brothers... are assembling and waiting for orders."

Yin Leiling suddenly turned her head, looking at Bai Yi in disbelief:
"attack?!"

Yin Leiling's voice suddenly rose, filled with a sense of absurdity:
"Instead of guarding the fortress walls, he's charging out to his death?! Has Song Jiang gone mad?!"

Bai Yi looked helpless and shook his head slightly, indicating that although he shared the same idea, he was powerless to stop it.

Yin Leiling raised an eyebrow upon seeing this.

He then realized that nowadays, the brothers in the stronghold only listened to Song Jiang and not Bai Yi.
His anger instantly overwhelmed his reason!
He suddenly spread his arms wide, blocking the front of the group, roaring like an enraged lion:
"Stop right there, all of you! Who the hell dares to leave the village?!"

"Go back! Defend the camp! Prepare for defense!!!"

The surging crowd suddenly came to a standstill.

Everyone looked at each other, their faces filled with struggle and confusion.

On one side was the authoritative command of the newly returned chieftain, and on the other side was the order of Song Yingxiong, who led them to a miraculous victory.

Whose advice should we listen to?

They were stuck in place, unable to move forward or backward.

Seeing his subordinates hesitate, Yin Leiling felt a surge of anger at being betrayed.

Just as he was about to unleash another tirade, his gaze was suddenly drawn to a building in the distance!
Black Tiger Hall!
The plaque bearing the inscription "Black Tiger Hall," which he personally wrote and which symbolized his supreme authority, has mysteriously disappeared!

In its place stood a brand new, glaring signboard—

Juyi Hall!
"who--?!"

Yin Leiling's roar was like that of a wounded tiger, instantly shattering the silence of the mountain stronghold!

He pointed at the plaque, his whole body trembling violently with rage, his voice filled with overwhelming humiliation and murderous intent:
"Who switched it?!"

"I've only been gone a few days?! Are you all already rebelling?!"

No one dared to answer.

Everyone lowered their heads, but the silence itself was the best answer!

"Song Jiang!!!"

Yin Leiling's roar was like a thunderclap, shaking the stockade walls and causing dust to fall.
"Get out here!!!"

"Song Jiang!!! Come out!!!"

He was like a madman, roaring one after another, filled with the fury of betrayal and the deep-seated hatred of being usurped.

The sound not only resounded throughout the entire Yanshan Village, but also clearly penetrated the night and reached the soldiers standing guard at the foot of the mountain!

Qin Feng sat upright on his horse, listening to the resentful roar, a cold, knowing smile playing on his lips.

He glanced sideways at Zhao Yan, who was still shaken beside him, and whispered to Li Muyun:

"Look, the show is about to begin."

"Surround them without attacking, and wait for them to become chaotic!"

The officers and soldiers' tense nerves seemed to relax slightly because of this sign of "internal strife," and a relaxed atmosphere of watching a good show permeated the formation.

Even as the echoes of that furious roar faded, and all eyes inside and outside the stronghold were focused on the impending power struggle—

A voice suddenly sounded.

The sound seemed to pierce through the highest clouds, or perhaps it came from the depths of ancient mountains, carrying an unparalleled majesty, clearly resounding in everyone's ears:

"Yin Leiling, didn't you say you were looking for me?"

The voice paused slightly, as if carrying a hint of indifference from a superior position, before turning to the military formation below the mountain:
"Qinfeng, weren't you scheming all along to find me?"

The voice suddenly rose in pitch, carrying an arrogant air of looking down upon the world:

"I'm right here."

"At the summit of Yanshan Mountain".

"We'll be waiting for you."

The voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to contain some strange magic, instantly suppressing all the noise!
everyone...

Whether it was the furious Yin Leiling, the bewildered Bai Yi, or the tense bandits within the stronghold.

It was still Qin Feng, who was sneering from the foot of the mountain, Li Muyun, who was on guard, and thousands of soldiers.

They all involuntarily and in unison raised their heads!
My gaze pierced through the deep night, straining to see the highest and most precipitous spot on Yanshan Mountain—

Under the pale starlight and hazy moonlight, a towering, solitary peak, as if cleaved by a knife and axe, stood majestically atop the mountains!

The summit is sharp as a sword, and the cliffs are smooth as a mirror, making it difficult for birds to cross and even monkeys to climb!

That is the summit of Yanshan!
(End of this chapter)