In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

But Lu Miaozi was a recluse by nature and still had attachments, so I declined his invitation. Besides, he had already prepared his tomb—a man whose heart was dead!

Upon hearing Zhang Xiaoshan's words, even Hong Qigong was speechless.

He assumed Zhang Xiaoshan had heard of Lu Miaozi, but he hadn't expected Zhang Xiaoshan to know so much about her.

"Does the young master know why Lu Miaozi suddenly wants to join Ghost Street?"

"It's just seeking refuge for her daughter!"

Upon hearing Zhang Xiaoshan's answer, Hong Qigong immediately buried his head in his food and began to eat heartily; no further introduction was needed from him.

Zhang Xiaoshan could even guess Lu Miaozi's purpose. He probably knew more than Lu Miaozi, so there was no need to go into details.

"Master!"

Seeing Huang Rong's expression, Zhang Xiaoshan naturally understood what she meant.

Moreover, even without Huang Rong's plea, Zhang Xiaoshan had no intention of refusing, after all, Lu Miaozi was an exceptional genius.

Not only is his martial arts skill formidable, but his expertise in mechanisms, medicine, astrology, and more is arguably even more comprehensive than Huang Yaoshi's. Moreover, while Huang Yaoshi may have only achieved minor mastery in each area, Lu Miaozi has achieved mastery in all aspects.

Previously, he had no confidence whatsoever in inviting the other party to come out of retirement, but now it's different.

If the other party were to join Ghost Street, the Zhang family would naturally welcome them with open arms.

"Alright, didn't you see that Senior Seven didn't say anything? Because there was no need to say anything at all."

A genius like Lu Miaozi would be an honored guest in any powerful organization, let alone someone like you whispering sweet nothings in his ear.

"Hate!"

Hearing Zhang Xiaoshan's teasing, Huang Rong immediately rolled her eyes.

But knowing that the matter was settled, and that even Zhang Xiaoshan was amazed by his extraordinary talent, there was naturally no need to refuse.

"However, Pegasus Ranch is not suitable to become one of the Nine Gates of Ghost Street. Those who covet Pegasus Ranch are not the martial arts world, but the imperial court and powerful families!"

Even joining the Nine Gates of Ghost Street wouldn't be suitable for survival there. Therefore, if Lu Miaozhi wants to find a sanctuary for Pegasus Ranch, he can place it under the Heavenly Mystery Tower, and Lu Miaozhi must become a protector of the Heavenly Mystery Tower!

Tianji Tower?

Tianji Tower represents the Zhang family, and the Zhang family intends to directly acquire Pegasus Ranch.

"Don't worry, Senior Seven. The Zhang family isn't involved in the struggle for supremacy, so they don't lack horses. The person the Zhang family truly values ​​is Lu Miaozi."

If Lu Miaozi doesn't want to leave the mountain, what resources does the Pegasus Ranch have that the Zhang family would covet?

The Nine Gates of Ghost Street are not directly under the Zhang family's control, so the rule of competition is survival of the fittest. The Zhang family will not protect any of them, not even Pegasus Ranch.

Lu Miaozi then sent his senior as an intermediary, who saw the current predicament of Pegasus Ranch. However, Pegasus Ranch's direct entry into Ghost Street would only hasten its demise.

With chaos looming, Pegasus Ranch has become a tempting target for many!

"Old beggar understands. I will tell Lu Miaozi. It seems Lu Miaozi can't escape your grasp!"

What is Lu Miaozi's concern?

Zhang Xiaoshan has already explained it, so how could Hong Qigong not understand? For the sake of that person at the Pegasus Ranch, Lu Miaozi simply couldn't refuse.

The Zhang family is the best choice for Pegasus Ranch.

Chapter 473 Xiao Feng's Tribulation: Heading North to Rescue People

After a hearty meal, they finished off every last bit of the five-pound carp from the Longhe River, even savoring the bones.

However, neither Zhang Xiaoshan nor Huang Rong said anything. Although Hong Qigong was a beggar, he was also a gourmet, and Huang Rong's cooking was of a god-like quality.

At the same time, Hong Qigong looked at Zhang Xiaoshan with envy.

Even a 'shrewish' girl like Huang Rong could be tamed completely, and she was surrounded by beautiful women.

"Actually, besides Lu Miaozi's matter, the old beggar has another request."

"Xiao Feng!"

Hong Qigong looked at Zhang Xiaoshan, and sure enough, nothing could be hidden.

Even Huang Rong was no exception; sometimes she couldn't sense Zhang Xiaoshan's true nature, which was extremely subtle.

Originally, I didn't want to get involved in Master Xiao's affairs.

Because rescuing people is easy, but bringing them out is difficult. Under the weight of a million iron cavalry, even though Xiao Feng and his son were masters of martial arts, they were ultimately bound by their love for their homeland and could not use all their strength, not to mention their wives and daughters.

However, since you have spoken, I cannot refuse. I will set off in three days to rescue Master Xiao.

However, the matter of this junior rescuing someone must also be kept secret by the senior. The senior only needs to meet the person at Yanmen Pass.

"Thank you, sir!"

Hong Qigong also looked solemn at this moment, realizing that he had made some assumptions.

According to Zhang Xiaoshan, rescuing people is easy, but bringing them out might not be something they'd be willing to do.

The Qiao Feng of the past, but the Qiao Feng of today is a Khitan.

Even if they share the same unparalleled chivalry and boundless heroism, they are ultimately 'not of our kind'.

Fortunately, Zhang Xiaoshan stepped in. For Zhang Xiaoshan, rescuing people was an easy task. He brought them out, and they would make arrangements afterward.

As for Zhang Xiaoshan's demands, what worried him was not that Zhang Xiaoshan had seen through fame and fortune, but rather Zhang Xiaoshan's ruthlessness.

The Eastern Demon Sword Incident 340: The Five Great Ancient Temples of Tibet are Destroyed!

Given Zhang Xiaoshan's ruthlessness, how could the Liao Dynasty escape unscathed? A catastrophe might befall the Liao.

But the Liao Dynasty decided to march south, and the old beggar was no fool.

"Husband!"

After Hong Qigong left, Huang Rong looked at Zhang Xiaoshan with some concern.

This was deep inside enemy territory, fraught with danger, and even her intelligence gave her a vague sense that this might be a trap set by the Liao Dynasty.

"Alright, don't worry. I can come and go without a trace even in Tibet, let alone the mere Liao territory."

"Husband, be careful!"

Although Huang Rong knew Zhang Xiaoshan's strength and that there was no place in the world where he could be kept, she was still very worried.

Seeing Huang Rong's still worried expression, Zhang Xiaoshan pulled her into his arms and comforted her:

"With three bronze-armored warriors protecting me, even if the Liao Dynasty had an ambush, it would take at least five Grandmasters to stop me."

"Want to kill me? Unless you have a handful of Grandmasters, or five experts whose strength far surpasses that of ordinary Grandmasters, even a million-strong army would be like nothing to a Grandmaster!"

Hearing Zhang Xiaoshan's confidence, even Huang Rong couldn't help but feel completely relieved.

With Zhang Xiaoshan's trump card and the three bronze-armored warriors, Huang Rong naturally understood what kind of power this was.

After spending two days on the ship, Zhang Xiaoshan instructed Xuan Nu to protect the women, and then had to head north again.

Indeed, the Mysterious Maiden Zhang Xiaoshan also brought...

Firstly, it was to prevent the awakened Queen Mother of the West from meeting the Mysterious Woman.

Secondly, Xuan Nu's aloofness meant she hadn't fully made up her mind yet. Zhang Xiaoshan brought Xuan Nu eastward so she could experience the prosperity of Jiangnan.

The world is full of allure and temptation, not to mention the vast and boundless ocean that broadens one's horizons!

····

Throughout the journey, Zhang Xiaoshan's mind was racing.

The rumor that Xiao Feng was imprisoned in the Liao Dynasty was spread to the Central Plains by someone unknown.

In Zhang Xiaoshan's view, this should be a highly confidential matter. Even if Xiao Feng did not agree to go south to the Central Plains, the Liao Emperor would not be able to spread the news of Xiao Feng's imprisonment to the Central Plains.

Xiao Feng's identity is that of the Southern King.

While forcing Xiao Feng to go south, they also spread the news of his imprisonment to the Central Plains.

Even if Xiao Feng agrees to go south, can he still command troops given his status as a "convicted criminal"?

In Zhang Xiaoshan's eyes, it was more like a trap!

I don't know how a group of martial arts practitioners managed to rescue Xiao Feng, or how the capital of the Liao Dynasty could be so easily breached.

However, Zhang Xiaoshan prepared a lot of things before going.

Such as the mournful breeze, the poisonous smoke, the ten-fragrant tendon-softening powder... and even some Three Corpse Brain God Pills were taken from the Sun Moon Divine Cult.

Since he was going to cause trouble, Zhang Xiaoshan naturally couldn't leave empty-handed.

In the Yanmen Mountains, there used to be a Lianyun Village, which was home to a notorious band of mountain bandits.

However, more than half a year ago, Lianyun Village was captured by another group of bandits who robbed and looted along the way, but instead robbed the rich to help the poor.

"I've met the young master!"

Upon seeing Zhang Xiaoshan's arrival, the experts in Lianyun Village were all shaken.

Their infiltration of Lianyun Village and harassment of the southward-bound army of the foreign cavalry were all under Zhang Xiaoshan's guidance, and therefore they all held Zhang Xiaoshan in high esteem.

Otherwise, if they went to the battlefield, they wouldn't be enough for the alien cavalry to trample them over in a few rounds!

In terms of defense, the majestic and perilous Yanmen Mountain, with its natural barrier, is not afraid of the siege of foreign cavalry; in addition, with a stockpile of 10,000 shi of grain, it is not a problem to feed people for two or three years.

At this time, Lianyun Village was divided into:

Three chieftains, eight heavenly kings, thirty-six heavenly spirits, and seventy-two earthly fiends.

The chieftain, Helian Yun, the "Divine Eagle of the Frontier," commands eight elite warriors known as the "Eight Heavenly Kings," who are specifically responsible for assassination missions.

The second leader, Zhang Yunlong, is invincible in golden armor and commands the thirty-six Heavenly Generals, tasked with either offensive attacks or rearguard missions.

Ye Lingfeng, the third chieftain of the mountain stronghold, commands the seventy-two Earthly Fiends and is responsible for infiltration and ambush missions.

The classification of Tiangang and Disha is not based on the strength of their martial arts skills, but on the difference in their preferred martial arts styles.

For example, the strong among the Heavenly Gang are skilled in physical training and possess powerful and fierce martial arts; while the warriors among the Earthly Fiends are skilled in climbing and stealth, and have excellent lightness skills.

As for the Eight Heavenly Kings?

Those named after the Heavenly Kings are all top-tier martial arts masters, and even eight of them would be a force to be reckoned with.

Zhang Xiaoshan came here this time to test this power!

"I came to Lianyun Village this time on behalf of the Northern Beggar to go to the Liao Kingdom to rescue people."

"Passing by here, I've come to see the results of your worldly training. I intend to launch a surprise attack on the capital of the Liao Empire—Yanjing—and crush them in one fell swoop, thwarting their plans to march south!"

"I'll obey!"

Upon hearing that they were to directly attack Yanjing, everyone was overjoyed.

If it were them, they would naturally not dare to directly attack Yanjing. Having been on the border for more than half a year, they naturally knew how terrifying the foreign cavalry was.

Facing the enemy head-on, a single charge by tens of thousands of cavalry could rout these martial arts masters.

Their training method is special operations, naturally focusing on operations behind enemy lines.

It's likely that even the Liao Dynasty never imagined that someone would launch a strong attack on their capital, Yanjing!

"I will go to the capital of the Liao Dynasty to wait for you. Once you arrive within a hundred miles of Yanjing, you can hide. I will meet you in person then."

"Yes, son!"

Helian Yun and the others also knew their strength; to confront them head-on was like an ant trying to shake a tree.

But with Zhang Xiaoshan's guidance and instruction, things were different. This might be their true battle to make them famous. Once they crushed the Liao's momentum, they would become national heroes.

After watching Zhang Xiaoshan leave, the group split into three groups, with the three chieftains each leading their own troops to Yanjing!

This is also to distract attention; if there are too many people, the target becomes too big.

Furthermore, the three chieftains wielded different powers, and their methods of progress were also different.

On the contrary, within the city of Yanjing, a tense atmosphere prevailed, and a deadly trap was being set in motion, inviting the enemy into a snare.

Yelü Hongji had originally decided to march south, but unfortunately Xiao Feng was unwilling to lead the troops south, which angered him.

At first, Yelü Hongji only wanted to suppress Xiao Feng's arrogance, but later, Li Yanzong, a master from Yipintang, came to him and discussed using 'Qiao Feng' as bait to wipe out all the martial arts people in the Central Plains.

This gave Yelü Hongji a new idea!

If Xiao Feng really was colluding with martial artists from the Central Plains, this would be an opportunity to wipe them all out in one fell swoop.