You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

"Stop him!"

"Protect the marshal's retreat!"

Even knowing they were doomed, the guards, their eyes red, brandished their twisted scimitars, trying to buy Wanyan Zongbi even a moment's time with their own flesh and blood.

But all of this was meaningless to Lu Zuo.

laugh!

The blade flashed like lightning, and the last few guards blocking the way all had a line of blood appear on their throats at the same time, and they fell to the ground.

With a flick of his wrist, the blood-stained longsword emitted a soft "hum," and the blood droplets on the blade were shaken into a cloud of blood mist.

The next moment, he swung his arm violently, and the ordinary longsword flew out of his hand, turning into a dark light that was almost impossible to see with the naked eye. It tore through the air and emitted an extremely sharp whistle, shooting straight at Wanyan Zongbi's back!

puff!

Blood splattered!

The long sword, imbued with Lu Zuopeiran's immense strength and internal energy, flew past Wanyan Zongbi's neck!

Wanyan Zongbi's running figure suddenly froze. He subconsciously reached out to touch his neck, where he felt something warm and sticky.

next moment.

He felt his vision begin to spin and rise.

Then came the headless, still-running, familiar body, and the severed neck from which a fountain of blood gushed forth...

"The... Marshal's... head..."

One of the closest generals uttered a few broken syllables through clenched teeth, his eyes almost bulging out of their sockets.

boom.

Wanyan Zongbi's head fell to the ground, rolled several times in the mud, and became covered in dirt and blood.

Quiet.

Deathly silence!

All the Jin soldiers who were still fighting, running, shouting, and screaming, whether they were trying to besiege Lu Zuo but were stopped and killed by Huang Yaoshi, Hong Qigong and others who followed up.

They were either firing arrows from afar in an attempt to provide support, or they were engaged in fierce combat with martial arts experts who had stormed into the camp...

They all stopped what they were doing and turned their heads to look at the headless corpse that was slowly falling down.

After a brief, suffocating silence...

"The...Marshal...is dead?"

"The marshal was killed?"

"Head, the Marshal's head..."

First came incredulous, dreamlike whispers.

Then, like a powder keg that had been lit, a huge mix of emotions—horror, fear, bewilderment, despair, and finally madness—exploded!

"marshal!"

"Avenge the Marshal!!!"

"Kill him! Kill that barbarian demon!!"

The closest guards and some loyal generals of Wanyan Zongbi, who were closest to the command tent, let out heart-wrenching howls after a brief moment of stunned silence.

Wielding their weapons, they charged at Lu Zuo, Huang Yaoshi, and the others like mad tigers, disregarding everything else!

Even knowing they would die, they would wash away this shame with their blood and avenge their commander!

"revenge!"

"Kill them!"

Although this group was fanatical, their numbers were relatively small and they lacked unified command. Although their attacks were fierce and fearless, they were chaotic and disorganized.

However, what overwhelmed the hearts of the majority of ordinary soldiers and lower-ranking officers in the Jin army camp was an inescapable chill...

"Run...run!"

"The marshal is dead! We've lost! We've lost!"

"A demon! He's a demon! We can't defeat him! Run for your lives!"

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!"

Fear spread like wildfire throughout the Jin army camp.

The killing of their commander-in-chief completely shattered the morale of most of the Jin soldiers.

Military discipline and bravery crumble before the instinct for survival.

It is unclear who first threw down their weapon, turned around and fled towards the rear camp and out of the camp. Then, like an avalanche, more and more soldiers joined the fleeing ranks.

No refunds allowed!

"Anyone who deserts in the face of battle will be executed!"

"Hold on!"

"Hold on tight!"

A few mid-level officers who tried to maintain order shouted themselves hoarse and even slashed down a few deserters with their knives, but more fleeing soldiers surged in like a tide and instantly overwhelmed them.

Within the camp, the previously orderly resistance quickly crumbled, replaced by utter chaos and defeat.

"Hahaha!"

"The Golden Dog commander is dead! Kill!"

"Kill all the golden dogs!"

"Leave no one alive!"

The more than one hundred martial arts experts who rushed into the camp cheered thunderously.

Huang Yaoshi, Hong Qigong, Lu Mang, and the others were greatly encouraged and took advantage of the situation to launch a surprise attack, dividing and surrounding the loyal Jin soldiers who were trying to take revenge, and killing them as easily as cutting melons and vegetables.

……

Half an hour later, at the front line of the Song army's defenses.

"kill!"

Han Shizhong's beard and hair were bristling, and the iron spear in his hand was like a dragon emerging from the sea, its tip shimmering with cold stars, precise and ruthless.

His gleaming armor was stained with blood, some of it his own, but mostly from his enemies.

His personal guards also fought to the death, forming a small wedge formation to hold off wave after wave of Jin soldiers.

The battle has reached a fever pitch!

The Jin army relentlessly assaulted the hastily constructed defenses of the Song army like a tidal wave. Although the Song army temporarily stabilized the situation thanks to the terrain and Han Shizhong's command, their disadvantages in troop strength and physical condition were gradually becoming apparent.

Every moment, loyal and brave soldiers fell, and the defensive line deformed slightly under the pressure.

puff!

Han Shizhong pierced the throat of a Jin soldier who was charging at him with a howling spear, and then kicked him away, knocking down two people behind him.

After catching his breath, he leaned on his iron spear, surveyed the battlefield, and felt a heavy weight in his heart.

With the addition of He Shilie Zhining's fresh forces, the pressure has increased sharply. How long can the defense line hold out?

Just then, a trembling voice, filled with surprise and ecstatic joy, reached his ears: "General, look!"

"The Golden Dog will be in the rear..."

"Is it a mess?"

Han Shizhong's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly looked up in the direction his personal guard was pointing.

In the distance, towards the Jin army camp, the originally orderly rear guard, which served as reserves and support, was now showing signs of unease!

That wasn't a tactical adjustment, but a chaotic mess with no strategy whatsoever!

Figures could be vaguely seen running and shouting, and some small groups of troops even turned back, seemingly clashing with the officers maintaining order. Flags also began to tilt and fall!

"What happened?"

Han Shizhong frowned deeply, his heart filled with doubt and unease.

Why did the rear guard of the Jin army fall into disarray?

Is there an internal change?

The chaos in the rear of the Jin army in the distance was visibly expanding and intensifying!

That wasn't something you could fake a retreat; it was a real, out-of-control sign of impending chaos!

You can even see some soldiers fleeing from the direction of the camp, their armor and weapons discarded!

Just then, the Jin army suddenly erupted into even greater chaos!

"The Golden Dog's head coach has been beheaded!"

"Why haven't you all descended yet!"

A long roar, like rolling thunder, full of energy and containing immense internal force, suddenly exploded from that direction, drowning out all the shouts of battle and clearly reaching the ears of every soldier in combat!

A gray figure leaped out from the side and rear of the Jin army like a large bird, landing steadily on top of a collapsed supply wagon. It was Hong Qigong!

He raised his right hand high, and in his hand he was clearly holding a head wearing a helmet, with bristling beard and hair, and wide-open eyes!

Blood was still dripping from the severed neck, which looked particularly glaring in the sunlight!

"Here lies the head of Wanyan Zongbi, the chieftain of the Jin dynasty!"

Hong Qigong channeled his inner strength, his voice shaking the surrounding area: "Your commander is dead, your army has collapsed!"

"Those who resist will be killed without mercy!"

"What?"

"marshal?!"

"That...that's the marshal's head?"

Many of the Jin soldiers who were nearby and launching a fierce attack on the Song army's defenses instinctively looked over.

When they saw the head in Hong Qigong's hand, the fierce expressions on the faces of countless Jin soldiers froze instantly, then turned into boundless horror, bewilderment and fear!

"No...impossible!"

"Marshal... how could the Marshal..."

"That's fake! It's a trick by the southern barbarians!"

An officer shouted at the top of his lungs in an attempt to calm the troops, but his own voice was trembling.

Immediately afterwards, several more figures emerged from the chaotic rear of the Jin army. Leading them were Huang Yaoshi and Lu Mang, one in green and one in gray. Behind them were dozens of martial arts masters, covered in blood but exuding a murderous aura.

They were like tigers among sheep, instantly throwing the Jin army's flank into chaos.

"Listen, you golden dogs! Your camp has fallen! Your commander has been executed! Surrender now and you may escape death!"

Huang Yaoshi's cool voice was also sent out with internal force. Although it was not as fierce as Hong Qigong's, it was more penetrating and every word was clear.

"Things got really chaotic afterwards!"

"Smoke is rising from the direction of the main camp!!"

"Marshal...the Marshal is really dead?!"

Panic spread like a plague through the Jin army's attacking ranks.

Many people began to look back, morale plummeted, and the momentum of the attack stalled.

Han Shizhong's pupils suddenly contracted, and his heart pounded wildly.

Although they were far apart, he would never mistake the familiar style of the Jin army marshal's armor, especially the head that still had an arrogant face despite extreme horror!

It's Wanyan Zongbi!

He is really dead!

The Jin army's commander-in-chief, Wanyan Zongbi, a major threat to the Song Dynasty, was actually killed in battle?

A surge of ecstasy rushed to Han Shizhong's head like lava, almost making him faint.

But the next second, a deeper shock and huge questions filled his mind: Who are these people?

Judging from his attire and demeanor, he was definitely not an ordinary soldier, nor even a special force from any Song army he knew.

Heroes of the Jianghu

I can't worry about that anymore!

Regardless of who these people were or where they came from, they brought the head of the Jin army's commander-in-chief and the fact that the Jin army's rear guard had completely collapsed!

This is the decisive opportunity to win!

It is the key to turning the tide!

He suddenly raised his iron spear and roared with all his might, "Reinforcements have arrived! The Jin chieftain has been slain! My men, follow me and kill!!"

"kill!"

Seeing hope, the Song soldiers, who had been struggling, were greatly encouraged and unleashed astonishing fighting power, pushing back the somewhat disoriented Jin soldiers.

However, just as the Jin army was caught in a critical moment of conflicting information, uncertainty, and setbacks in its offensive...

"My husband, I'm here!"

A clear and spirited shout rang out from the other side of the battlefield!

Liang Hongyu, dressed in red armor and wielding two swords, led the way, followed by a dense crowd of people!

There were fishermen along the river, rowing small boats, wielding harpoons and bamboo poles, and shouting loudly; there were also fresh troops of the Song army, drawn from other parts of the defense line and marching rapidly to the front.

There are also hundreds of martial arts practitioners with different clothes and a variety of weapons!

Leading the group were none other than Liu Feng and his associates.

Like another powerful torrent, they crashed into the already somewhat chaotic Jin army formation from the side and rear!

"Golden Dog, prepare to die!"

"To avenge our fallen fellow villagers!"

"Kill them!"

The fishermen were skilled in naval warfare and were equally fearless in land battles, charging into battle in formation.

The addition of fresh troops from the Song army instantly filled the weak points in the defense line.

The hundreds of martial arts masters, like hundreds of sharp knives, led by Liu Feng and others, specifically sought out Jin army officers, standard-bearers, and command soldiers to carry out decapitation strikes!

They were agile and coordinated perfectly, often working in groups of several, and could kill a low-ranking officer in an instant, plunging a small area of ​​Jin soldiers into chaos without command.

This became the last straw that broke the camel's back!

"So many more experts from the Southern Barbarians again?"

"We're surrounded!"

"The rear camp is gone, we can't win in front, and the marshal is dead! Run!!"

The army collapsed like a house of cards!

No matter how much the few officers reprimanded and killed the deserters, they could not stop the avalanche-like rout.

The soldiers only wanted to escape this desperate situation where they were attacked from both sides and their commander was dead. They pushed and trampled each other, and even turned their swords on their comrades who blocked their way in order to escape.

"Chase!"

"Don't let the golden dog get away!"

Han Shizhong would not let such a good opportunity pass by. He pointed his iron spear forward and the entire Song army launched an attack, joining forces with heroes of the Jianghu and fishermen to overwhelm the fleeing Jin army.

In an instant!

The Song army surged like a burst dam, overflowing the mudflats and rushing into the reeds, chasing after those golden figures who had lost their armor and weapons.

The heroes of the martial world are like sharp arrowheads, darting and piercing through the surging tide.

"happy!"

"This old beggar hasn't had this much fun killing in ages!"

Hong Qigong let out a long laugh and unleashed a powerful palm strike, the "Regretful Dragon" strike, which sent more than ten Jin soldiers who were pushing and shoving each other sprawling over the ground.

Huang Yaoshi moved with the agility of the wind, his jade flute tapping repeatedly, and several Jin soldiers who tried to launch a sneak attack fell to the ground clutching their throats.

Lu Mang, caught up in the killing frenzy, wielded a bronze staff like a whirlwind, charging directly into the densest areas of fleeing soldiers. Wherever he went, tendons and bones were broken, and he was utterly invincible.

Liu Feng, the leader of the Hengyang Sect, and dozens of skilled fighters, with a clear objective, slayed the fleeing enemy.

On the other side, Liang Hongyu's pretty face was filled with murderous intent, her two swords stained with blood. Around her, fishermen and martial artists with bloodshot eyes either threw fishing nets, hurled harpoons, or used sticks to beat the panicked Jin soldiers into the mud.

For the vast majority of Jin soldiers, behind them lay deadly demons, and ahead lay the vast river; hell was no more than this.

"Get out of the way! Get out of my way!"

A centurion, who had lost his helmet, brandished his chipped sword and slashed wildly at his comrades who stood in his way, all for the right to board a small sampan.

"A boat! There's a boat over there!"

Several people rushed toward a half-stranded, dilapidated boat. During the struggle, the boat capsized, and everyone tumbled into the river, pulling at each other and sinking in the icy waves.

"I surrender! I surrender! Don't kill me!"

A young Jin soldier threw down his sword, knelt in the mud and cried out to the pursuing Song army, but was instantly trampled and submerged by the even more surging tide of fleeing soldiers behind him.

The riverbank has become a slaughterhouse!

Everywhere were fleeing figures, abandoned banners and armor, fallen men and horses, and burning baggage.

The shouts of the Song army and the righteous army, the cries of heroes from the martial world, and the desperate wails and dying groans of the Jin soldiers mingled and roared together.