Start with acting, and you'll achieve immortality!

The bailiff fell to the ground in front of the hall, shouting...

"Monsters! Monsters from the mountains have broken out! They've reached Li Family Village, north of the city!"

The reactions of the people in the hall varied.

The teacup in Chen Rang's hand fell to the ground and shattered.

Tea splashed all over his trouser leg.

His hand, which had been holding the teacup, was trembling, and he awkwardly wiped it with his sleeve.

The more I wiped, the dirtier it got, and my crotch area became soaked.

It looks quite comical.

Zhao Heng's face turned ashen, and the documents in his hands scattered all over the floor.

He hurriedly squatted down to pick it up, but his hands were shaking.

Pick up one, and another falls down.

Song Ming stood up and pressed his hand on the sword at his waist.

solemn

Li Ping thought to himself: These people were just trying to kill me, but now they're all scared as quails.

Chen Rang's pants got wet at just the right time; anyone who didn't know better would think he'd wet himself in fright.

Song Ming strode forward and grabbed the constable by the collar.

"Did you see clearly? How many demonic beasts are there?"

The bailiff's voice was filled with tears.

"Countless, a dark, overwhelming mass."

"The farmland in Lijiazhuang is completely destroyed, and the enemy is rushing towards the city gate!"

Chen Rang hurriedly stood up, his face pale.

"Lord Song, what should we do? The defenses of Xiyun County are weak."

"The garrison numbers no more than a hundred men; how can they possibly hold them off?"

Zhao Heng, his eyes darting around, leaned close to Chen Rang and whispered a few words in his ear.

Because of nervousness, he spat in Chen Rang's face while speaking.

Chen Rang wiped his face with disgust, a sinister glint in his eyes.

He then looked at Li Ping

"Li Wenshu, since your militia battalion is for protecting against wild animals..."

"Now is the time to put our skills to use."

"I hereby order you to immediately lead your men to the North Gate to defend against the enemy."

Li Ping sneered inwardly: The north gate faces Li Family Village, right in the front of the monsters' attack.

Chen Rang wants me to go and die.

Li Ping bowed.

"Your Excellency, the militia are nothing but local braves."

"Lacking armor and weapons, they are ill-equipped to shoulder great responsibilities."

"The county government's city defense troops are well-equipped and should be at the forefront."

Chen Rang slammed his fist on the table and roared.

"Nonsense! The city's garrison will remain at the south gate to guard against encirclement by monsters."

"The South Gate is the lifeline of the county town; it must not be lost."

"As the commander of the militia, you are backing down now."

"Are you trying to disobey military orders?"

Li Ping looked at Song Ming

Song Ming looked at Chen Rang with a solemn expression.

Then looking at Li Ping

Song Ming opened his mouth

"Li Ping, since you've taken on the task of guarding against beasts..."

"This is the time to step in."

"I will accompany you to the North Gate to take a look."

Chen Rang hurriedly stopped Song Ming

"Lord Song, you are a distinguished guest of the county."

"How can someone of your noble birth take such a dangerous risk? The North Gate is treacherous."

"Let Li Ping take the men."

"It would be best for you to accompany me to the South Gate to oversee the battle."

Song Ming pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement.

Although he was incorruptible, he didn't want to die in vain.

Li Ping sneered inwardly. Chen Rang was truly adept at using someone else to do his dirty work.

The south gate is on the opposite side of the mountain; what kind of flanking maneuver could it possibly be?

They clearly wanted to escape and send me to my death.

"Since the county magistrate has given the order, this humble official will obey."

Li Ping cupped his hands in greeting, turned, and left the hall.

As Li Ping walked out of the county government office, Qian Duo hurriedly came to greet him.

"Sir, are we really going to the North Gate?"

Qian Duo's face turned pale, and his legs trembled slightly.

As he asked, he repeatedly checked whether his shoelaces were tied properly.

But he was wearing a pair of cloth shoes, which had no shoelaces at all.

He was just groping around.

"Go, why wouldn't you go?"

Li Ping strode towards the back alley.

The back alley was narrow, with high walls on both sides.

As Li Ping stepped into the alley, he suddenly heard a whooshing sound overhead.

Two men in black jumped down from the wall, wielding short blades.

Straight to Li Ping's throat

Li Ping didn't move, but a thick iron rod came whistling from the side.

A loud bang

One of the men in black was swept away and crashed into the wall.

It slid down softly, gushing blood from its mouth.

Shi Gan emerged from the shadows, carrying an iron rod.

His face was trembling with all the fat.

He rubbed the iron rod against his clothes, which resulted in a large black stain on his clothes.

He patted it with a hint of heartache.

Seeing that things were not going well, the other man in black turned to run.

Shi Gan stepped forward and stomped on his back.

click

The sound of bones cracking echoed through the alley.

"Sir, these two have been watching the county government office entrance for ages."

"I recognize the servants in the registrar's residence."

Shi Gan spat.

Li Ping crouched down, looking at the man in black being trampled underfoot.

"Zhao Heng sent you to kill me?"

Li Ping asked

The man in black gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Shi Gan stomped his foot, and the man in black let out a scream.

"Why are you pretending to be a tough guy when an adult is asking you a question?"

Shi Gan cursed

"Yes, sir."

"Let's take advantage of the chaos to make our move."

The man in black finally couldn't hold on any longer and confessed intermittently.

Li Ping stood up and dusted off his hands:

"Zhao Heng is getting anxious."

"The inventory of numbers is a death warrant in his eyes; he can't wait for the monsters to kill me."

"I want to do it myself"

"Sir, what do we do now? Go to the North Gate and fight the monsters to the death?"

Shi Ganwen

"Fight to the death? Why should we fight to the death?"

Li Ping sneered.

"Chen Rang transferred the city defense troops to the south gate, intending for us to die at the north gate."

"In that case, we'll clear the north gate."

Qian Duoyi was stunned

"Get out of the way? What if the monster gets into the city?"

"Behind the North Gate is Li Family Village, and behind Li Family Village are the Bai family's medicinal herb fields and manor."

Li Ping looked into the distance.

"Doesn't the Bai family have a protective formation? Let them handle it themselves."

"Shi Gan, take your men to Li Family Village."

"Evacuate all the villagers to Yefuling."

"As for the north gate, leave it empty for the monsters."

"The Bai family..."

Qian Duo hesitated a bit

"The Bai family wants to sit back and watch the tigers fight? What a joke!"

Li Ping snorted coldly.

"Wasn't Bai Chong very imposing in the hall just now? I'd like to see how many demonic beasts his protective formation can stop."

At this moment, Bai Chong's sedan chair had just reached the street corner.

Li Ping strode forward and stopped the sedan chair.

Bai Chong lifted the sedan curtain and looked coldly at Li Ping.

"Li Wenshu, demonic beasts are closing in."

"Why aren't you guarding the north gate? What are you doing stopping my sedan chair?"

Li Ping smiled slightly.

"Master Bai, the defenses at the north gate are weak."

"The militia camps lack supplies."

"The Bai family owns many properties; would you be willing to donate some silver and provisions?"

"To help the people strengthen the army and defend the city?"

Bai Chong sneered.

"My Bai family pays a considerable amount of taxes to the county government every year, and it is the county government's responsibility to defend the city."

"What does this have to do with the Bai family? Li Wenshu should worry more about himself. What if we lose the North Gate?"

"If the county magistrate finds out, you'll probably lose your head."

Having said that, Bai Chong lowered the sedan curtain.

Instruct the sedan chair bearers

"Lift the sedan chair and return to the residence."

The sedan bearers swayed slightly when they lifted the sedan chair because they were nervous.

Bai Chong bumped his head inside the sedan chair and made a sound.

"Ouch"

He let out a sound, but still had to feign authority.

He quickly coughed to cover it up.

Li Ping watched the sedan chair disappear into the distance, his smile widening.

"Patriarch Bai, you asked for this."

Li Ping muttered to himself

Li Ping turned to Qian Duo and said

"You have plenty of money; take this ledger of figures."

"Go and keep an eye on Song Ming."

Tell him that the magistrate deserted his post.

"The registrar secretly assassinated a colleague, and the Bai family stood by and did nothing."

"This Xiyun County is now only defended by our militia."

"Sir, will this work?"

Qian Duo was somewhat worried

"Song Ming came from the prefecture; he wants results."

"As long as we can hold onto the county seat, Chen Rang and Zhao Heng's crimes will be confirmed."

"At that time, who will be in charge of Xiyun County?"

"But that's not up to them anymore."

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Li Ping's eyes.

"Shi Gan, pass on the order."

"The militia camps are gathering, but they are not guarding the city gates."

"Only defend the retreat routes at Yefuling and Lijiazhuang."

"Lead the monsters towards the Bai family's medicinal herb field."

"Yes, sir!"

Shi Gan responded excitedly

The rules of Xiyun County should be changed.