A Scroll of Infinite Glory

Chapter 132 An Unbearable Battle

The sun was almost completely setting, casting its last glimmer of light in the twilight.

The sound of waves surged, and the cold wind on the river surface and the warm orange glow rippled together.

Nangong Lei and the others were no longer deceived by the formation and noticed the corpses on the ground, especially Chen Du's body, which filled them with shock and anger.

Each person's posture was like a taut bowstring, ready to unleash all their power at the slightest disturbance.

They actually outnumbered the Huo Luo Dao people, and their positions were almost like an encirclement. However, their anger and panic prevented them from clearly understanding the current situation and coordinating effectively.

The arrival of Guan Luoyang and Han Wengong only gave them more confidence to fight, but it did not give them a sense of security to calm down immediately.

Bu Suanzi glanced at Han Wengong, then his gaze lingered briefly on Jiang Jiusi. The bloodstains on his forehead were still damp, and his lips parted slightly. The words that reached the ears of the Huo Luo Dao group were an order to retreat.

"Since Han Wengong has arrived, all five of Han's top-tier fighters should have arrived as well. Continuing to fight will be a waste of our energy. Let's retreat for now."

Meng Wanghou stood with his hands behind his back, seemingly with a hint of protectiveness, beside the recently injured Bu Suanzi.

The three guardians who were further away from the two of them slowly stepped forward.

As soon as the three of them moved, Nangong Lei and the others tightened their grip on their weapons.

Luo Yin walked with the steady steps of an old ox, his eyes fixed straight ahead, approaching Bu Suanzi at the pace of an ordinary person.

Although Bai Bujian and the Mountain Wolf took different routes from Luo Yin, their speeds were about the same.

The situation was on the verge of erupting, and if either side showed any intention to attack first, it would almost be equivalent to revealing a weakness.

The distance between the three protectors and the envoys from the North and South was getting closer and closer, but Nangong Lei and the others still had not found an opportunity to make a move.

If the situation continues to develop like this, Huo Luo Dao and his group will probably retreat safely.

After all, even if Guan Luoyang and his men committed all their available manpower, they couldn't stop five top-tier experts who were determined to leave.

"What? I've already delivered myself to your doorstep, and you're trying to leave?"

Han Wengong called out from afar, "Could it be that they were frightened by this spear?"

He planted the large iron spear in his hand into the damp ground beside him and laughed, "Ten years ago, this spear was adorned with a flag. It was a flag spear, and the direction it pointed was a command of thousands of troops. It was indeed a sight to behold. But now, with a spear but no flag, it's just a fight between commoners."

"When the army was pressing in, the Supreme Elder of the Demonic Sect sent a message to the army, saying that when an emperor is angry, corpses will lie for miles, and when a commoner is angry, the whole world will be in mourning. He advised us to withdraw our troops as soon as possible, otherwise he would visit Chang'an."

"It's a pity he never had that chance before he died..."

Han Wengong's eyes darted around, his gaze heavy with the weight of a sandstorm and dark clouds, settling on Meng Wanghou. "I am also very curious. Even if the armies are truly scattered, leaving only a battle between commoners, are the people of the Demonic Sect guaranteed to win?"

"Life in this world is inherently lonely; who is truly not an ordinary person?"

Meng Wanghou's expression turned slightly somber, but he raised his head high and said, "The Supreme Elder was killed by Cui Lingfang, Su Xing, and the stubborn monk together."

"Cui Lingfang rose through the ranks to become Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, Pillar of State, and Duke of Qinghe, and was also the head of the Cui family of Qinghe. Su Xing was enfeoffed as Duke of Zhuang and was the head of the Iron Robe Hall. Although he was not the commander-in-chief, he had the power to mobilize a number of troops. Monk Wanshi was the successor of the great general monk Tanzong and the abbot of Shaolin Temple, which was revered by all Buddhist monasteries in the vast Tang Dynasty."

"But during that battle with the Supreme Elder, which of them led even a single soldier, monk, or disciple?"

"But it's still just a fight between common men. As for the outcome of a three-on-one battle... ha, what's there to say?"

Han Wengong was not offended and said with a smile, "So you've said so much, it's just that you don't dare to try. I thought that although you, Jinghong, are not a direct descendant of the Demonic Sect leader, you are still a high-ranking elder of the Demonic Sect and have quite a bit of arrogance. It turns out you are just a coward."

Seeing that Meng Wanghou's expression was off, Bu Suanzi quickly interjected, "General Han, the Demonic Sect is the Demonic Sect. What does it have to do with our Huo Luo Dao? You keep mentioning the events of ten years ago. Are you perhaps old and frail, and in your midnight dreams, you can only rely on past glories to support you in your twilight years?"

"Alas, just like those poor and destitute people, even if they have to pawn their clothes for rice, they still cling to a memorial tablet and tell everyone about their ancestors' glory. It's only human nature, and there's nothing wrong with that."

"However, my brother Meng is still young and vigorous. After his setback in the southwest, he has risen again and is now in the position of the Southern Envoy. The sky is high and the sea is wide, and his future is bright. Why should he compete with those old and decrepit people who are nearing the end of their rope for a moment's pride?"

Han Wengong uttered a questioning sound, leaned forward, rested one hand on his brow like a roof beam, and squinted his old eyes: "Eh, aren't you Jing Hong, the head of the Medicine Master lineage? Why do you say your surname is Meng?"

Jinghong was a hunchbacked old woman in her seventies, and she always wore white.

The king, dressed in a black robe embroidered with gold thread, smiled coldly, his smile sharp as a knife, and said, word by word, "I am Meng, Xiu, Yang."

"Oh, Meng Xiuyang, yes, yes, I remember him too, he left a deep impression on me..."

Han Yu stroked his beard and nodded, but anyone could see that he was lost in thought, as if he was racking his brains trying to figure out who the name represented.

Bu Suanzi sneered and deliberately said to Meng Wanghou, "I thought this old scoundrel with the white beard, bearing the title of the number one general from a humble background, would have some brilliant strategies. Turns out, it's just such a clumsy attempt to provoke him."

He secretly transmitted his voice urgently, "Brother Meng, don't forget, in three more days, our forces will completely overwhelm theirs. Even those pedantic scholars know that a gentleman's revenge is never too late, how can we lack that kind of patience?"

"Furthermore, the killing of Han Yu was an order that the higher-ups took very seriously. Those three from the Snow-Sweeping Taoist Temple killed three of our sect's protectors; this grudge cannot go unpunished. After we return, we can even send more letters requesting the mobilization of more..."

When this transmission reached this point, it suddenly became chaotic and dissipated.

Bu Suanzi was startled, knowing that this was because the surging fluctuations of Meng Wanghou's true energy were so great that even the slight connection of true energy required for "transmitting sound secretly" could no longer be maintained.

He looked at Meng Wanghou and realized that in the ten years since he met this man, he had never seen such a calm and solemn expression on Meng Wanghou's face.

Meng Wanghou's gaze seemed to be fixed on Han Wengong, yet it was so vast that it could not be filled by the figure of Han Wengong alone.

Even the grassland that bore the memory of Han Yu, the great river, the winding waters that eventually disappeared into the overlapping mountains, and the setting sun hanging above those mountains, could not possibly fill those eyes.

It was a fleeting yet enduring gaze, a time of indifference, a memory that could last forever.

Then, those eyes blinked, and a trace of hatred surfaced beneath the pupils. It was very small and insignificant, like a speck of dust, but the moment it appeared, it destroyed everything else in the eyes.

Meng Wanghou shook his head, looked at Han Wengong, closed his eyes and said, "Yes, I should beat you to death today."

A feeling of utter absurdity suddenly arose in Bu Suanzi's mind.

What a joke! That's a demonic cult! A demonic cult! How could there be no backstabbing and infighting there? Could there really be so much warmth and tenderness there to evoke memories, enough to breed hatred that would be etched into one's heart for ten years?

If that's the case, then in these ten years I've never heard of you, the Southern Envoy, taking the initiative to seek revenge on those people from back then.

You climbed the ranks in the Fire Road, a place notorious for its extravagance and debauchery.

They always enjoyed outwitting and outmaneuvering each other, seizing beauty and wealth, indulging in murder and cruelty. Where was the slightest feeling of being burdened with a deep hatred and determined to never forget it?

Bu Suanzi seriously suspected that someone had just used some kind of bewitching and seductive magic on Meng Wanghou.

But he had no time to vent his doubts, confusion, absurdity, and even his desire to curse.

Because King Meng had already fought his way out.

As soon as he made that move, his three protectors also acted accordingly, simultaneously fixing their gazes on Guan Luoyang and Jiang Jiusi.

Bu Suanzi had no time to think further. With a swift movement, he shifted to a distance of ten meters and casually dragged the trunk of a willow tree to a different position.

"We can't let him set up another formation!!"

Jiang Jiusi shouted urgently, unleashing streaks of sword energy with his longsword, but he had to prioritize defending against the three guardians.

Guan Luoyang's figure suddenly changed, like a wisp of green smoke, and with a flick of his wrist, he dodged the wolf's slash at him. He then circled around behind Jiang Jiusi and instantly appeared fifteen meters away.

He didn't rush to help Han Wengong. Instead, he spread his arms, and a blue aura emanated from them. Wherever it passed, gravel and dust rose. Then, he suddenly lunged downwards, slamming his palms heavily onto the ground.

The unrestrained palm force was transmitted through the ground. The weight on the trunks of the five or six large trees in front of Guan Luoyang had already been reduced. When they were hit by this force transmitted from the ground, the soil cracked and the trees rose into the air.

Guan Luoyang straightened up and unleashed a series of palm strikes, sending the trunks of those large trees flying with tremendous force. The trees accelerated rapidly, with most of them heading towards the guardians, while two others crashed into Bu Suanzi's direction.

Bu Suanzi quickly waved his sleeve to block.

On the other side of the three guardians, the mountain wolf's blade flashed. His blade was extremely long, and with a slight turn of his body, the blade was the first to meet the trunks of those big trees.

In the blink of an eye, all the tree trunks flying towards them had been cut into pieces.

But to their surprise, Guan Luoyang pressed down with his palm, and the tree trunks, whose weight had been reduced, suddenly experienced increased gravity. Combined with their original speed, they accelerated a second time and continued to crash into them.

This turn of events was unexpected. The wolf in the mountains had a very long blade, and at this distance, he could only rely on the hilt and his palm to strike and resist, causing his body to involuntarily stumble to one side.

Luo Yin and Bai Bujian were attacking Jiang Jiusi when large pieces of broken wood came crashing down. Bai Bujian, being the most alert, dodged in time.

Luo Yin had no choice but to defend himself.

His Dragon Claw technique has reached a level of consummate skill.

Different schools of claw techniques, if it is a tiger claw, mostly use all five fingers. If it is an eagle claw, some use all five fingers, while others bend the ring and little fingers and use only the other fingers to form a claw shape.

The only unique technique in Shaolin is the Dragon Claw Hand, where the little finger is tightly curled up, and each hand relies solely on the other four fingers to exert claw power.

The term "Dragon's Hidden Finger" is used in Buddhist terms to highlight the benevolence and vastness of Shaolin martial arts. In terms of pure martial arts, it symbolizes the dragon's ability to appear and disappear without a trace, to be hidden and unpredictable, and to possess inexhaustible wonders.

At this moment, Luo Yin had just deflected Jiang Jiusi's longsword with his left hand, and with only his right hand, he grabbed backward, and the dragon claw pierced into a section of tree trunk. Suddenly, the feeling changed from extremely fast and intense to slow and gentle, shaking that section of tree trunk, swaying left and right and up and down, blocking the next five or six sections of tree trunk.

Between the many tree trunks, a kind of sticky aura was faintly generated. The huge volume was randomly pieced together, like a thick wall, blocking Luo Yin's entire body behind it.

If Guan Luoyang wants to advance now, he must first break through this wall.

This opening allowed Luo Yin to escape and avoid being surrounded and attacked by the two.

However, just as the thick "tree trunk" wall was completed, light and shadow flying insects gathered in Guan Luoyang's palm and slapped the thick wall.

The tree trunk was completely undamaged, but Luo Yin on the other side suddenly felt a numbness in his five fingers, a slight cracking sound in his wrist, and his expression changed drastically.

"Hitting a cow across a mountain?! No, how can there be such a domineering and sharp technique as hitting a cow across a mountain?!"

Though the mayfly is formless, it can destroy a hundred armors of the Chu people.

Guan Luoyang struck three times in quick succession, the force of which paralyzed Luo Yin's entire arm, while the fierce and sharp energy surged directly into the right side of his body.

Taking advantage of his weakened internal energy, Jiang Jiusi's sword energy, which flowed like still water, suddenly turned and slid into his left rib.

A chilling sensation cut through his heart. Luo Yin's eyes turned bloodshot, and with a roar, he lunged at Jiang Jiusi.

The long sword pierced through his back, and his Shaolin internal energy almost burst out of his body, transforming into a pale golden humanoid figure that crashed into Jiang Jiusi.

This last-ditch counterattack was a pure clash of internal energy. Jiang Jiusi felt his eight extraordinary meridians stagnate at the same time, and he spat out a mouthful of blood before falling backward.

Luo Yin's body fell to the ground. The tree trunks, no longer held together by his internal force, crashed down, covering his body. Only the tip of the sword that had pierced through his body could be faintly seen.

Bai Bujian and the mountain wolf paled in surprise.

Clearly, the three protectors plus the fortune teller outnumbered the opposing side by a full two times.

The situation was similar when dealing with Jiang Jiusi and Zhao Wangui. In an instant, Zhao Wangui was beaten until she bled from all seven orifices and was seriously injured and on the verge of death.

How come this time, in the blink of an eye, one of them was killed?

Bu Suanzi felt a slight tremor in his heart. This newcomer was obviously highly skilled and ruthless, even surpassing Zhao Wangui. But what was even more terrifying was that his martial arts had transcended ordinary craftsmanship and was beginning to transition to the level of a master craftsman.

Those who practice martial arts in the world initially only learn by reciting the textbook, practicing moves and internal energy. When they can select the most exquisite move from the learned moves according to different situations, without having to follow the order of moves, they have already entered the hall of mastery.

But at this point, it was still far from being able to escape the category of "ordinary craftsmanship".

It's like someone attacks their opponent, gets blocked, and then tries to find an opening in the opponent's defenses to attack. They're still stuck in a fixed mindset, and the battle seems to be continuous, but it's actually discontinuous.

Those who surpass this level understand how to exploit weaknesses and create entirely new situations from seemingly flawless situations.

Instead of forcibly creating an opening through brute force, it employs a masterful tactic that relies almost entirely on thought, treating both sides as a unified whole, allowing variables to arise and life to perish on its own.

Even if your skill, techniques, and perseverance are no less than theirs, you will still be killed by them while you are confused and bewildered because you are not "smooth" enough.

Guan Luoyang had barely spoken during Han Wengong's various performances, but once the battle began, even though he remained silent, he had become someone no one could ignore.

Because of this slight tremor, Bu Suanzi felt a sudden urge to retreat.

He also took note of the situation on Meng Wanghou's side.

Meng Wanghou was less than ten feet away from Han Wengong, who was in the distance.

The Demonic Cult is definitely not a good place.

Meng Wanghou, who was once an elder of a demonic sect, had a high status and enjoyed many privileges, but the tribulations he suffered in the process of growing from an ordinary disciple to an elder were by no means few.

It can be said that the Demonic Sect has many rules, and many things and places that would remind Meng Wanghou of are things he would like to destroy himself.

So if he hadn't been assigned by his superiors, he wouldn't have been too eager to seek revenge all these years. He was naturally very hostile towards Han Wengong, but he didn't think he had any irreconcilable hatred for him.

But that's just what he thought.

When he finally saw Han Yu, and saw that old man performing that exaggerated provocation with his clumsy acting skills, he secretly laughed at the absurdity, but his mood had inexplicably changed.

Amidst the ever-changing nature of his heart, which was like floating dust, Meng Wanghou finally began to take a serious look at one thing.

Whether he was called Meng Wanghou or Meng Xiuyang, he spent the first thirty-odd years of his life in the Demonic Sect.

The foundation upon which his first half of life, his more than thirty years of life, rested has been destroyed and no longer exists.

Today, Han Yu's performance is naturally seen as ridiculous and clumsy by those in the know. But if one day he were to point to an elderly woman in her seventies on the street and jokingly say that she looked just like Meng Xiuyang, the elder of the Demonic Sect back then.

Will anyone believe it?

Will anyone not believe it?

What in reality exists that can refute his statement?

"Old man..."

Crash!!

The river roared and the waves leaped, and a giant lion, taller than an adult, leaped out, over Han Wengong, and pounced down.

Meng Wanghou neither dodged nor avoided, but used his own body to split the giant lion in two.

He felt as if a huge void had opened up inside him, or as if his entire chest was swelling with flames, and he couldn't help but unleash a furious slap.

"Die!!!"

A flash of black light, and an iron spear thrust straight at you, its tassel billowing like the mane of a black dragon.

With a powerful palm strike, Meng Wanghou's palm, imbued with the utmost concentration of power, disregarded the spear's sharpness, which was capable of piercing the city wall. The sharpest yet most slender spear tip turned to ashes the moment it made contact, the spearhead exploding like a flower blooming, only pausing slightly at the shaft, which was forged into a single piece and bound with black gold.

All the white tassels transformed into drifting sparks.

The force spread out, and a column of water exploded in the river beside him. The grass and rocks under Han Yu's feet sank and slid backward as if they had exploded. The shaft of his spear was bent into a dangerous arc, and he smiled with a dangerous look in his eyes.

Two swift figures leaped from behind him in the water, one with a staff on the left and the other with a knife on the right, attacking Meng Wanghou.

(End of this chapter)