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

Chapter 612 The War Should End
Liang Jin's voice still echoed in the mountains.

Inside the cottage.

Yin Leiling's face was so gloomy it could drip water, and the veins on his forehead throbbed.

He stared intently at the glaring new plaque of "Hall of Gathering Righteousness" on the Black Tiger Hall, a surge of overwhelming anger—a feeling of utter humiliation and being usurped—burning in his chest.

"Song Jiang!"

He practically spat out the name through gritted teeth, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and cold sweat seeped from between his fingers.

That haughty posture, that indifference that looked down on all living beings, made it seem as if Yin Leiling had become dust beneath his feet!

Why should he? !

"Chief! Calm down! Please calm down!"

Bai Yi rushed forward, his voice hoarse with anxiety, and gripped Yin Leiling's arm tightly, fearing he might suddenly lash out.

"We're surrounded by formidable enemies, with knives at our throats! If we panic and lose our composure first, wouldn't we be playing right into the hands of the government troops, sending our brothers to their deaths in vain?"

Bai Yi's eyes were filled with pleading, a deep fear of the collapse of the entire situation.

Yin Leiling's chest heaved violently, like a broken bellows, each breath filled with scalding hatred.

He suddenly raised his palm, his powerful internal energy surging within, the violent airflow causing his robes to flutter wildly.

Their target was that plaque that symbolized shame!
Destroy it! Destroy it now!

"Chief! No!"

Bai Yi's voice rose, becoming sharp and piercing:
"With that slap, you shattered not only the signboard, but also the hearts of our brothers!"

"Think about it, right now, with everyone watching, if you openly turn against Song Jiang, whose side should the brothers listen to?"

"If morale collapses, how can we withstand the iron hooves of the government troops?"

"Endure this moment of anger, wait until you defeat the powerful enemy and restore your prestige, then you can clean house in the right! This stronghold is ultimately your foundation!"

Bai Yi's advice was like ice water poured on Yin Leiling's boiling anger, the biting chill making him shiver.

Yin Leiling's hand, imbued with destructive power, hovered in mid-air, trembling violently.

He bit his lower lip hard until he tasted a hint of blood.

Finally, the overwhelming rage seemed to be forcibly suppressed into an abyss, and his hand fell limply and heavily to the ground.

It was as if a heavy burden had been lifted, leaving only exhaustion and humiliation.

He had become more hunched over.

Bai Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief; his back was soaked with cold sweat.

However, Yin Leiling did not give up.

He slowly turned his head, and in the flickering firelight, his eyes, once as sharp as an eagle's, were now bloodshot and filled with a deep, heartbreaking weariness and bewilderment.

He looked at Bai Yi, his voice low and hoarse, filled with an overwhelming sadness:
"Bai Yi..."

"Old Meng is gone... All the old brothers who fought alongside us and drank blood wine are gone... Now, in this vast Yanshan stronghold, only you and I, two old guys, are left..."

He looked up at the dark night sky, as if trying to find answers in the cold stars:
"Tell me... this time... can the two of us brothers... survive? Can Yanshan Village... hold on?"

Bai Yi's heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an icy hand, a bitter and unbearable ache emanating from it.

Where is even a trace of the "proud and heroic spirit" of Yin Leiling in front of us?
That figure was desolate, his temples seemed to be frosted with age, leaving only a desperate hero who had been repeatedly battered by fate and struggled on the edge of despair.

A profound sense of sorrow and helplessness overwhelmed Bai Yi instantly; his throat tightened, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Any words of comfort seem pale and hypocritical at this moment.

Yin Leiling's gaze finally returned to the summit of Yanshan Mountain, which pierced the sky like a sharp sword.

"Since Song Jiang is waiting for me at the summit..."

Yin Leiling's voice suddenly turned cold and resolute, as if she wanted to sever all weakness:

"Then how could I, Yin Leiling, possibly avoid seeing him?"

"Let's see what he's up to! Lest the world underestimate my audacity, Yin Leiling!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly leaped into the air.

Like an arrow released from a bow, Yin Leiling, with a do-or-die determination, tore through the night and shot toward that solitary peak!

The figure was quickly swallowed up by the thick darkness.

Bai Yi remained alone, the cold mountain wind seeping into his clothes, making him feel chilly all over.

He looked up at the direction where Yin Leiling had disappeared, then looked around at the familiar yet unfamiliar mountain village.

An unprecedented sense of loneliness and immense powerlessness, as if he had been abandoned by the times, overwhelmed him completely.

Song Jiang's brilliance was too dazzling, and Yin Leiling's struggle was so tragic.

As for Bai Yi... he seemed to have truly become a useless bystander, forgotten in a corner of history.

……

In the midst of the officers and soldiers' formation.

Song Jiang's words, which seemed to come out of nowhere, made the officers' faces turn solemn, and they looked at each other in bewilderment.

Qin Feng sat astride his magnificent warhorse, a cold, hunting-like smile playing on his lips.

"Song Jiang! You've finally... shown yourself!"

He was absolutely certain that the figure atop the peak was none other than Song Jiang!
Only he possesses such profound internal strength and mysterious sonic skills.

Just then, everyone saw a figure soar into the sky from Yanshan Village, heading straight for the summit!
With Qin Feng and Li Muyun's keen eyesight, they naturally recognized that it was Yin Leiling.

A glint of light flashed in Li Muyun's eyes, and he immediately offered a suggestion:

"My lord, this is a perfect opportunity to let them fight like dogs, resulting in mutual destruction!"

"We'll reap the benefits, then climb to the summit later and wipe them all out!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Feng slowly shook his head, his gaze sharp as a hawk's:

"What if...they weren't fighting each other, but instead...fled together?"

Li Muyun's smug expression froze instantly, and he was speechless.

Yes!

If the two third-rank experts put aside their past grievances and focus on breaking through, this army of several thousand might not be able to trap them!

Once they escape, it's like a dragon returning to the sea; capturing them again will be as difficult as climbing to heaven!
The consequences... are unimaginable!
Li Muyun's expression changed drastically, and cold sweat instantly soaked through his inner shirt:
"Then... sir, what should we do?"

A resolute glint flashed in Qin Feng's eyes:
"Send the signal immediately! Summon Yan Zi'an and Cen Ruifeng to come here at once!"

"You will stay here and command the army, making sure to stabilize the situation!"

"I will personally go up and pin them down! We must not give them any chance to escape!"

Before he finished speaking, Qin Feng lightly tapped his toes on the saddle, and his whole body transformed into a faint gray shadow, blending into the night and shooting towards the towering peak!

His lightness skill was so superb that he disappeared from everyone's sight in just a few leaps.

Li Muyun dared not delay and immediately took out a specially made piercing arrow, lit the fuse, and drew his bow to its fullest extent!

"call out!!!"

A sharp, piercing sound tore through the night sky!

"Bang!!!"

The next moment, an incredibly dazzling firework with a unique blue tail exploded at a great height!

The dazzling light instantly illuminated half of the sky, making it clearly visible for dozens of miles around!

Li Muyun put down the longbow with satisfaction, her tense nerves relaxing slightly.

"The signal has been sent! When Lord Yan and Elder Cen see this, they will surely abandon their main force and rush here with all their might!"

"With the three masters gathered at the summit, even if Song Jiang and Yin Leiling had wings, they wouldn't be able to escape!"

He seemed to already see victory in sight, a sinister smile creeping onto his lips.

however--

"kill!!!"

A deafening battle cry, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, suddenly exploded from the eastern hillside!

Immediately afterwards, a dense rain of arrows, like a torrential downpour, accompanied by a piercing sound as they pierced the air, poured down from above!

At the same time, huge boulders rolled down the steep hillside with a dull thud, creating a terrifying sound!

"There really was an ambush!"

Li Muyun snorted coldly, his eyes showing no surprise, only icy killing intent:
"A petty trick! I was prepared for this!"

He had already sensed the menacing aura emanating from Dongpo when he went up the mountain, and had ordered his army to stay away from Dongpo and set up defenses accordingly.

"Change formation! Defend!"

Li Muyun swung the command flag down suddenly!
The well-trained officers and soldiers changed formations in an instant.

The front-row swordsmen and shieldmen roared in unison, and their massive iron shields crashed to the ground with a "bang," instantly forming an impenetrable steel wall!
"Knock knock knock knock!"

Arrows rained down on the shield, making a teeth-grinding sound, but they could not penetrate an inch!
The boulders that had rolled down were shattered halfway by several skilled soldiers who leaped into the air and unleashed a burst of palm and fist energy!
Gravel flew everywhere, and dust filled the air!
"Kill!!!"

Seeing that the arrows and stones were ineffective, Xingniang and her bandits let out desperate roars and charged down the hillside like a flood bursting its banks, brandishing their weapons!

The cold glint in Li Muyun's eyes intensified:
"You're courting death! Gun formation, prepare to engage!"

Wave the command flag again!

"drink!"

The menacing array of spears, like steel hedgehogs, suddenly emerged from behind the shield wall!
The dense array of spear tips gleamed with the cold light of death, forming a despairing forest of metallic thorns, aimed directly at the charging bandits!
A chilling killing intent instantly spread!
at this time--

"Boom, boom, boom!"

The heavy gate was slowly pushed open amidst a screeching sound!

Lei Zhen's towering figure appeared in the doorway.

Behind him was a dark mass of bandits, their eyes fierce, their weapons gripped tightly!

A fierce, desperate atmosphere swept over us!

Upon seeing this, Li Muyun was not alarmed but rather delighted, his eyes flashing with a bloodthirsty light:
"Finally out!"

"You choose the path to heaven but refuse to take it, so you barge into hell when there's no gate for you!"

"All troops, listen up! Target—the gate! Give it your orders..."

He raised the command flag, ready to give the order to charge!
But at this critical moment——

"Boom!!!"

A loud, heavy bell, seemingly from ancient times, suddenly rang out from behind the army!

The sound waves were so real that they made people's eardrums buzz and their blood surge!

Immediately afterwards, even wilder shouts of battle erupted from the shadows on both sides of the mountain road behind!
Zhongli Han led the mountain bandits who had been lying in ambush, and they emerged from their various strongholds like ghosts!
The target was the rear guard and supplies of the officers and soldiers!

They were trying to cut this long steel snake in half!
Li Muyun suddenly turned her head, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes:
"Are there more rats behind?"

But this surprise was instantly replaced by an even stronger killing intent:
"Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot! This rabble thinks it can shake the elite forces of Changzhou?!"

"Secure! Secure!"

The command flag in Li Muyun's hand flew rapidly!
The massive military formation, like a sophisticated machine, rapidly contracted inward at the officers' command!
Shields on the outside, spears pointed diagonally, archers drawing their bows, ready to fire!
In the blink of an eye, thousands of officers and soldiers shrank into a giant steel hedgehog covered in sharp spikes!

No matter which direction you are attacked from, you will be met with the fiercest counterattack!
Especially in the core area of ​​the formation, the aura of experts was faintly visible, clearly indicating that they were specifically guarding against the impact of powerful figures like Lei Zhen and Zhongli Han!

Li Muyun, perched high on his horse, coldly surveyed the bandits surging towards their ranks from three directions like a tidal wave, a cruel smile playing on his lips:
"A desperate struggle! Let's see how long you can keep jumping around!"

He had already seen through it all; the bandits were outnumbered, and their attacks, though seemingly fierce, were like rootless duckweed, unable to last.

All he needs to do is withstand this desperate onslaught, and once they're exhausted, it will be time for him to raise his command flag, launch a thunderous counterattack, and utterly crush this rabble! The credit will be within his grasp!
………………

At the summit of Yanshan Mountain.

The gale-force wind, sharp as a knife, howled across the barren, jagged rocks, stinging my face.

Here, the air is thin and desolate, so thin that it feels as if you could reach out and touch the cold stars.

On the eastern horizon, a sliver of dawn stubbornly pierced the deep night, heralding the imminent end of the long darkness.

On the edge of this summit, which is inaccessible to ordinary people, a person sits cross-legged on a giant rock that has been smoothed by wind and frost.

With his back to the abyss, his figure appeared exceptionally solitary amidst the alternation of dawn and dusk.

It was Liang Jin.

"call!"

"call!"

Two sharp sounds of wind breaking rang out almost simultaneously, and the powerful airflow stirred up dust from the ground.

Two figures landed heavily on the summit platform like meteorites, several feet apart, their wary auras colliding as if they were physical objects.

It was Yin Leiling and Qin Feng!

"Song Jiang!"

Yin Leiling stepped forward, his voice low and hoarse, like a wounded beast growling.

He stared intently at the figure whose back was to him, his chest churning with anger, humiliation, and confusion...

A mix of complex emotions welled up inside me, and for a moment I didn't know where to begin.

Why did he come?

Is it merely to prove that he is not afraid? Or is it to raise a question?

When he finally stood before Song Jiang, even he himself was at a loss.

Liang Jin slowly turned his head, a faint, knowing smile, almost compassionate, on his face:

"Chief Yin has finally arrived."

"What, have you come to your senses and want to join forces with me to deal with this famous constable first?"

His gaze swept calmly over Yin Leiling, as if he had already seen through his inner struggle.

Yin Leiling's breath hitched.

join forces?

To attack Qin Feng?
This should have been a choice that required no hesitation!

But... the chilling energy of the "Wood God Pill" in my stomach seems to be stirring again, and Qin Feng's cold promise and antidote...

And then there's Song Jiang, who's trying to usurp the throne and seize Yanshan Village...

A tremendous hesitation, like a cold vine, coiled around his heart, leaving him frozen in place, his expression shifting uncertainly.

"Hmph! Song Jiang, stop with your divisive tactics!"

Qin Feng stepped forward at the opportune moment, his aura surging forth, an invisible pressure surging towards Song Jiang like a tidal wave, attempting to seize the initiative:

"I have come here today to personally bring you, this madman who has wreaked havoc on the world, to justice."

"I've heard you're highly skilled in martial arts, and I've long wanted to test my skills against you!"

He concealed his inner strength without unleashing it, yet his aura steadily increased, creating an oppressive atmosphere as if a great battle was about to erupt.

Of course, this is just a pretense of delay.

He was waiting, waiting for the crucial reinforcements!
Liang Jin seemed oblivious to the oppressive aura, merely shaking his head slightly, his tone flat and indifferent:

Unfortunately, I'm not particularly interested in you.

He stood up, walked to the edge of the cliff, his clothes fluttering in the wind.

"I have experienced the Four Great Constables: Chasing Shadow, Suppressing Thunder, and Remnant Heart."

His voice wasn't loud, but it resonated in their ears like thunder:

"That's all there is to it..."

"You, Qin Feng, how much stronger are you than them?"

what? !

Qin Feng and Yin Leiling's pupils shrank sharply, their faces instantly filled with disbelief and horror!
He had actually fought against the other three famous constables.
When? Where? Why have I never heard of it?

Song Jiang... just who is he?
His past is like an abyss shrouded in thick fog, sending chills down one's spine!

Qin Feng suppressed the turmoil in his heart and said sternly:

"Absurd! Do you think I would believe such nonsense?"

He naturally didn't believe it.

If Liang Jin had truly fought against the other three famous constables, how could he not know?

Unless it's a recent encounter.

With the Four Great Constables scattered across the country, Liang Jin couldn't possibly be in two places at once, so how could he possibly fight them?

Liang Jin did not explain.

He simply turned around, his gaze falling upon the vast yet seemingly insignificant battlefield beneath his feet:

"Look."

"They... were fighting quite a bit."

Qin Feng and Yin Leiling couldn't help but follow his gaze.

From this vantage point, the mountains appear as creeping mounds, and the winding mountain roads as thin lines.

The battlefield below, where thousands of people were fighting fiercely, now appeared as small as two nests of ants tearing at each other for territory.

The glint of swords, the shouts and screams were all blown away by the howling wind, leaving only a silent and cruel scene.

As Yin Leiling watched his brothers from Yanshan Village charging fearlessly at the government troops' ironclad formation under Song Jiang's orders, the suppressed anger and doubt in his heart surged once more.

Foolish! Reckless!
Holding onto the mountain stronghold is the only way to survive!
Song Jiang's arrogant command once again trampled on his authority and judgment as the leader of the stronghold!
Qin Feng then turned his gaze to the distance, and when he saw that the long line of torches of the western troops had already reached the entrance of the eastern mountain pass, he felt a little more at ease.

However, Yan Zi'an and Cen Ruifeng, whom he was looking forward to, were nowhere to be seen!

An ominous premonition crept into his heart, causing him to furrow his brow.

Why aren't these two guys coming to help?

What exactly happened to them?
"Song Jiang!"

Qin Feng feigned composure, his tone laced with sarcasm, attempting to regain control of the conversation:

"You place yourself on this cloud, looking down on all living beings as ants, and regarding the life-and-death struggle of thousands of people as child's play."

"Does he really think he's some kind of god who controls the game, transcending the mortal realm? That he can manipulate the fate of others at will?"

He had seen too many masters who, once they reached the pinnacle, became lost in their power and regarded the common people as mere straw dogs.

These experts would feel that they are no longer the same kind of beings as ordinary people, but a higher kind of being, who can have the power of life and death and can plunder these ordinary people at will.

In Qin Feng's opinion, Liang Jin had probably already entered this state.

Liang Jin slowly turned around, the mountain wind ruffling his clothes, revealing a calm and expressionless face:

"I'm training this team."

"Only through the tempering of blood and fire, and fighting in desperate situations, can they transform."

"Only then will we have the qualifications to win when facing even stronger enemies in the future."

Qin Feng and Yin Leiling were both stunned, completely unable to comprehend Liang Jin's thinking.

Forging a new path? To face an even more formidable enemy in the future?
What is he saying?
What does he want to do now?
Qin Feng felt as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, and couldn't help but sneer:

"Song Jiang! Are you truly confused or just pretending?!"

"In a battle between two armies, the decisive factor is never the ordinary soldiers! It is the martial artists! Especially martial artists of our level!"

"Those of the third rank and above are the pillars of strength on the battlefield! They are the decisive factors that can change the course of a battle!"

"Those soldiers are nothing more than fuel to deplete the enemy's internal energy and create opportunities! In the end, only a duel between top martial artists can decide the outcome!"

"Therefore, the fighting down the mountain, no matter how fierce, is merely the prelude!"

"The three of us will truly decide everything! Right here on this summit!"

Qin Feng's voice was firm and powerful, stating the facts and also stalling for time to wait for the long-awaited reinforcements.

As he spoke, his gaze anxiously turned again toward the direction of the reinforcements below the mountain, his unease growing heavier.

Liang Jin's gaze finally shifted from the distant battlefield to the two powerful figures before him, representing the highest level of martial prowess of the Changzhou court and the outlaws.

His eyes were calm and expressionless, yet they carried a piercing indifference:

"Do not."

"You are wrong."

"The real winner of this war..."

He paused slightly, his voice not loud, yet it resonated like the clash of metal, clearly imprinted on the depths of their souls:
"just me."

"Do you even exist...?"

A faint, cold smile seemed to curve at the corners of Song Jiang's lips:

“There is no difference.”

Madness!

Extreme arrogance!
Yin Leiling's anger could no longer be contained and erupted:
"Song Jiang! You underestimate me!"

Qin Feng is one of the four most famous constables in the world!
He, Yin Leiling, was also the leader of the outlaws in Changzhou!

To be treated with such contempt?!
Ignoring their anger, Liang Jin turned around again, his back to the two men.

His gaze returned to the dawning horizon, as if admiring a painting nearing completion:

"The outcome of this war was predetermined from the very beginning."

"I've been acting alongside you for so long, putting in so much effort to play this game of wits and courage with you..."

His voice carried a hint of barely perceptible weariness, yet also an air of indifference that spoke of absolute control.

"It's just to make those below stronger, and to make them more convinced that only by following me can they fight their way out of this certain death."

"And now..."

Song Jiang's voice suddenly turned cold and resolute, like a verdict:

"This farce must end."

He finally turned around slowly, facing Qin Feng and Yin Leiling's gazes, which were burning with anger and killing intent.

He didn't look at them, but casually raised one hand, his index finger like a cold judge's pen, pointing precisely at the two of them:
"You two..."

"One wants to rid the imperial court of a scourge, the other wants to reclaim control of the mountain stronghold..."

"They all want me dead."

A cold, yet intensely provocative and oppressive smile slowly spread across Liang Jin's lips:
"Now, the opportunity is right in front of us."

"I allow you to join forces..."

"Let's go together."

(End of this chapter)