His entire family perished in battle; he rose from the ashes to conquer the world.

Before long, the two groups met at the foot of the mountain.

"Second Brother, weren't we supposed to set up an ambush and wait for them to come? Why did you bring people down the mountain?" Qi Jingchun's eyes were full of confusion. As he spoke, he glanced at Mu Yuan, clearly suspecting that Zhou Bao's actions were instigated by Mu Yuan.

However, this doubt was quickly dispelled by Zhou Bao.

"Third brother, we can't wait any longer! Let's rush over now and launch a surprise attack; we're sure to snatch the jade Buddha!"

Zhou Bao wasn't as clever as Qi Jingchun. He had been waiting impatiently on the mountain for the Burmese escort team to bring the jade Buddha, and with Mu Yuan secretly egging him on, he had already made up his mind to lead his men in a surprise attack and seize the jade Buddha.

Upon hearing Zhou Bao's words, Qi Jingchun was both amused and exasperated, and said:

"My dear second brother, they clearly outnumber us, and besides, what's the point of a surprise attack in broad daylight?"

"What's there to be afraid of in numbers? We'll grab the jade Buddha and run. What can they do to stop us? We're already down the mountain anyway. Climbing back up would only tire us out. What if they set off halfway up? Wouldn't all our efforts be wasted?"

Zhou Bao was determined to brazenly steal the jade Buddha and had no intention of setting up an ambush on the mountain again.

Seeing that Zhou Bao was determined, Qi Jingchun was furious. The entire operation plan required cooperation.

If Zhou Bao is unwilling to go up the mountain to continue the ambush.

He couldn't take any action.

After much deliberation, Qi Jingchun finally couldn't resist Zhou Bao's suggestion and had to go along with it: "Let's agree on this first: grab the jade Buddha and run! No lingering!"

Seeing Qi Jingchun compromise, Zhou Bao immediately smiled and agreed:

"Alright, I'll do as you say, Third Brother!"

After saying this, Zhou Bao immediately ordered his Black Cloud Village henchmen to scatter and quietly approach the Burmese escort team carrying the jade Buddha.

Seeing this, Mu Yuan didn't say a word and silently followed Zhou Bao.

Now both sides' plans are in disarray.

Zhou Bao is about to launch a surprise attack.

The plan that Mu Yuan had previously provided to Yang Daye has now suddenly changed for some unknown reason.

The fact that they suddenly stopped to rest near their destination is the best proof of this.

"It seems everything is up to fate!"

Mu Yuan thought to himself.

Soon, the Black Cloud Village members had quietly crept up to the area surrounding the Burmese escort team carrying the jade Buddha.

The distance is getting closer and closer.

Seeing that the Burmese escort team carrying the jade Buddha hadn't noticed, Zhou Bao shouted:

"kill!"

His shout.

The Black Cloud Stronghold henchmen around them immediately responded.

Everyone charged toward the Burmese escort team that was resting.

However, what no one in Black Cloud Village knew was that the Burmese team transporting the jade Buddha was actually the Western Army in disguise.

Their fighting strength.

They were far superior to the bandits of Black Cloud Village.

Moreover, in terms of numbers, the Western Army has an absolute advantage.

When Zhou Bao led the Black Cloud Stronghold men to the front, disguised as the Western Army soldiers transporting the jade Buddha, they immediately drew their swords and launched a counterattack.

In an instant.

The two sides clashed.

The sounds of clashing weapons and mournful cries echoed endlessly all around.

Gradually, Zhou Bao realized something was wrong.

These Burmese teams transporting the jade Buddha were not only highly skilled in combat, but also clearly adept at troop deployment.

Turning his head again, Zhou Bao's eyes widened, and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.

Not only did none of the Burmese people who were transporting the jade Buddha attack Mu Yuan, but they also avoided him at every turn.

"Oh no, we've been tricked!"

Seeing this, Zhou Bao surprisingly showed some cleverness.

Unfortunately.

It's too late.

His Black Cloud Stronghold followers were completely embroiled in a fierce battle and unable to break free.

"Retreat! Retreat now!!!"

Zhou Bao didn't care about anything else; he only had one thought in mind: he had to escape this place and rush back to inform his elder brother, Li Tai.

Just then.

Hundreds more people rushed out of the woods ahead.

Now, Zhou Bao and the henchmen of Black Cloud Village were completely surrounded.

They were never going to win.

Now the other side has hundreds more reinforcements.

Upon seeing this scene, some of the Black Cloud Stronghold's henchmen were so frightened that they instantly lost their fighting ability, dropped their weapons, raised their hands, squatted on the ground, and made a gesture of surrender.

Seeing that some people had surrendered, the remaining men lost their will to fight.

This situation, like a plague, spread among the henchmen of Black Cloud Village, causing more and more people to surrender.

Soon, only Zhou Bao and Qi Jingchun remained, leading a dozen or so men in a stubborn resistance.

"General!"

Yang Daye walked up to Mu Yuan and bowed to him with clasped hands.

The Western Army soldiers present also called out to Commander Mu Yuan in unison, their voices booming and their presence incredibly intimidating.

Seeing this, Zhou Bao and Qi Jingchun turned pale, while the dozen or so Black Cloud Stronghold henchmen who remained with them, realizing that Mu Yuan's identity was extraordinary and knowing that there was no way to change the situation, all surrendered.

Mu Yuan dropped his pretense, walked up to Zhou Bao, and said calmly:

"Surrender, these are all my men!"

"I knew your identity was suspicious all along. If my elder brother hadn't stopped me, I would have killed you long ago!"

Zhou Bao was filled with hatred and his killing intent surged, but unfortunately, he was now surrounded and had no ability to kill Mu Yuan.

Even the wisest can make a mistake, and even the most foolish can have a stroke of genius. Your elder brother prides himself on his intelligence, but unfortunately, he overthinks things, which is why he misjudged the situation this time. As for you, you fool, although you didn't misjudge this time, your way of doing things means that no one will believe what you say!

Mu Yuan mocked Zhou Bao without any mercy.

Enraged by Mu Yuan's mockery, Zhou Bao trembled all over and, disregarding everything, drew his knife to strike Mu Yuan.

However, the moment he raised his hand...

Yang Daye, who was next to Mu Yuan, rushed forward and seized the opportunity to slash upward with his knife.

next moment.

Zhou Bao let out a miserable scream.

His entire right hand was severed by Yang Daye's knife.

Looking at his own arm on the ground, still tightly gripping the knife in his hand, Zhou Bao was filled with disbelief and immense heartache.

"What about you? Would you like to give it a try?"

Mu Yuan turned his gaze to Qi Jingchun.

Qi Jingchun was adept at assessing the situation. Knowing that there was no way to reverse the situation, he directly threw away the knife in his hand and said to Mu Yuan with a fawning expression:

"I surrender, I surrender."

Zhou Bao lost an arm and was unable to fight. Qi Jingchun, not wanting to die, surrendered on the spot.

Ninety percent of the Black Cloud Stronghold's inhabitants surrendered.

"Put away your weapons, tie these people up, leave one group of men behind, the rest of you come with me!" Mu Yuan mounted his horse, intending to lead his men to Black Cloud Stronghold to capture Li Tai and Su Su together.

With Black Cloud Stronghold currently vulnerable, this is the perfect opportunity for him to lead the Western Army to conquer it in one fell swoop.

the other side.

Black Cloud Village.

Li Tai waited anxiously for news of his two brothers' return, but to no avail. He paced back and forth in a panic.

At this moment, a henchman from Black Cloud Village hurriedly entered the ancestral hall.

"Boss, all the people who came with Mu Yun have disappeared."

Upon hearing this, Li Tai's heart skipped a beat. He disregarded everything else and ordered his henchmen, "Quickly, go and invite Miss Susu over!"