【The Empire of the Divine Eagle】(Volume 4, Chapter 102)

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Chapter 102 Rainbow Mercenary Group

Wu Tianjiao ignored all this and didn't care whether the girl pestered him or not. He only instructed the blonde female guard to keep an eye on his

Crimson Dragon Beast mount and not let this strange girl lead it away. Although he had great confidence in his mount, believing that

the Crimson Dragon Beast wouldn't be fickle, anything could happen in this world. Who knew what strange tricks this girl might have?

Wu Tianjiao returned to his room and focused on cultivating the Dragon Elephant Divine Art, hoping to reach the twenty-fourth

level and achieve the Great Perfection realm as soon as possible. He meditated for half a day, and around noon, he was suddenly

awakened by the noise outside. Pushing open the door, the scene before him made him furious.

The "horse thief" he had caught the night before was chasing the Crimson Dragon Beast all over the courtyard, occasionally letting out a silvery laugh. The Sword

Maidens and the blonde female guard were all around cheering her on. Judging from the Crimson Dragon Beast's disheveled

appearance , it had clearly suffered quite a bit.

Wu Tianjiao coughed heavily, and the girl stopped in response. She looked over with her bright, crescent-shaped eyes, then suddenly

laughed and flew over with incredible speed. In the blink of an eye, she was standing beside him.

"So you're Wu Tianjiao! Can I call you Brother Wu? My name is Ying Ying'er."

"I don't have a sister, don't get me wrong," Wu Tianjiao said bluntly.

"Your Crimson Dragon Beast is so majestic! My sisters say you have lots of fun things. So I've decided not to leave

, I'll follow you from now on." The girl didn't seem to mind Wu Tianjiao's rebuttal, shaking her head and continuing.

"No way." Wu Tianjiao didn't want to provoke this little devil and immediately refused. He was starting to regret it; he should have thrown her out

this morning .

"Why not?"

"I never take in outsiders."

"Isn't Sister Han an outsider?"

Wu Tianjiao stammered a few words, but couldn't come up with a reason. He wanted to say he didn't take in freeloaders, but then he

thought about how this little devil had tens of millions of gold coins on her. How could she be a freeloader? She

could . Therefore, he couldn't think of a reason to refuse for a moment, and only reluctantly said, "

The people around me are all useful. You're not."

"What if I can prove I'm useful?" Ying Ying'er stared intently at Wu Tianjiao and asked.

"Then I'll stay as long as you want."

"It's a deal. Give me three days."

"Okay, it's a deal." Wu Tianjiao was afraid she would extend the time and just wanted to finalize the bet as soon as possible. He

didn't think too much about why Ying Ying'er would only set the time to three days if she wasn't confident.

After seeing Ying Ying'er off, Wu Tianjiao decided to go out for a walk. He had been in Dayuan City for two days and hadn't

explored the city yet. Just as Wu Tianjiao was about to leave with his two sword-wielding companions, Ying Ying'er followed. She now had a legitimate reason

to stay by Wu Tianjiao's side, and he couldn't shake her off.

The group left the courtyard and encountered Gongsun Xue and her maid in the garden outside. They were dressed in embroidered light furs and

sitting in the garden pavilion. Gongsun Xue was still wearing a veil, a delicate golden sparrow embroidered on one corner. Wu

Tianjiao nodded to them and was about to leave when Gongsun Xue asked, "Young master, may I come into the pavilion for a chat?

I have some questions to ask you."

Wu Tianjiao hadn't originally planned to enter the pavilion, but for some reason, upon hearing Gongsun Xue

's voice, he couldn't move and obediently entered, sitting on a stone bench opposite her.

"What do you want to ask?" Wu Tianjiao asked casually. He never paid attention to etiquette, so

he rarely addressed people as "Miss" or "Sir," always speaking directly. Therefore, to him,

Gongsun Xue was merely a woman he had met a few times. No matter how beautiful or extraordinary she was,

it couldn't affect his attitude of treating her as an equal. This was, of course, also related to the many beauties surrounding him.

"I'm very curious about you, young master. To put it simply, I'm confident that I know a little about all the heroes in the world, but

I can't find any common characteristics between you and them," Gongsun Xue said thoughtfully. "You are an

extraordinary person, but I can't find the fundamental reason for your extraordinary nature, which puzzles me."

"Haha!" Wu Tianjiao laughed twice and said, "I understand what you mean. An unknown

nobody with enormous wealth and numerous beauties—if you had told me this four years ago, I wouldn't have believed it either. But

sometimes, good fortune falls from the sky. Those who aren't lucky might get crushed, while those who are lucky might

gain both . Fortunately, my luck has been exceptionally good these past few years; good fortune has been falling from the sky one after another."

Gongsun Xue seemed to be hearing this strange argument for the first time, her phoenix eyes behind her veil sparkling with wonder. Wu Tianjiao

stood up at that moment and said, "I'm sorry, I have to go."

Gongsun Xue didn't try to stop him, but just as Wu Tianjiao was about to leave, she said, "If you find

anything unusual outside tonight, it's best not to interfere, lest you get yourself into trouble."

Wu Tianjiao nodded and led the two sword maids and Ying Ying'er out of the pavilion. Gongsun Xue's maid was displeased.

She pouted and said, "That brat is really blind. Others can't even find a chance to talk to Miss,

but he treats her like a plague, leaving after only a few words. Does he really think the Prince Consort is so great..."

"Ying'er," Gongsun Xue scolded, and the maid obediently shut her mouth.

After leaving the inn, Wu Tianjiao kept thinking about Gongsun Xue's last words. Obviously, she knew that there would be

uninvited guests , but who would it be? Wu Tianjiao quickly

listed all the people from the restaurant yesterday in his mind and found that almost everyone was a possible candidate.

Gongsun Xue possesses a priceless treasure, and many covet it. However, only a handful truly possess the strength to snatch it from

her . He didn't know Gongsun Xue's exact identity, but given the numerous black-armored cavalry

protecting her and her status as a top-tier expert, she must have a powerful background. Who could afford to offend her? Was it the Heavenly Dragon Sect, the fat

man's group, or some powerful force lurking in the shadows?

Another question that had been troubling Wu Tianjiao was the sudden gathering of so many experts from various factions in Dayuan City.

Aside from some seeking the Sun and Moon Five Elements Wheel, most had gathered for a hidden reason

. Gongsun Xue was one of them. Since she already possessed the divine artifact, she wouldn't have

much and wouldn't have gone to such lengths for it.

On the other hand, the claim that Gongsun Xue had obtained the divine artifact was something that Gu Zhonghong, a protector of the Heavenly Dragon Sect, had just mentioned yesterday.

The sounds coming from his mouth were likely something the others were hearing for the first time. Therefore, neither the Sun and Moon Five Elements Wheel nor the Heavenly Dragon

Harp were their targets; they had other important goals.

Wu Tianjiao was lost in thought, paying no attention to the scenery along the way, while Ying Ying'er was carefree, constantly skipping around

, wanting to buy anything interesting or unfamiliar. In no time, she had bought a large bag of things.

Now, she saw a shop selling strange costumes and immediately dragged the two sword-wielding beauties over.

It seemed this trip was destined to be their porter's job. A sense of foreboding rose in Wu Tianjiao's heart. But

he had no choice but to follow, as the sword-wielding beauties' expectant gazes were fixed on him. Not disappointing a beauty was his

principle, so he could only sigh and step into the shop with the group.

"What do you all need?" the young shopkeeper greeted them warmly.

"I want this, and that, and the one on the left... the red one, the white one... and the one on the right

..." Ignoring Wu Tianjiao's gaping mouth, the three women—two adults and one child—began their shopping

spree Wu Tianjiao didn't care about his gold coins; he was worried about his shoulders.

Even though the two swordswomen and Ying Ying'er each carried two bags, Wu Tianjiao was still weighed down with a mountain of

stuff . This shopping spree wasn't the only major loss. Because Ying Ying'er didn't have much loose change, ordinary

shops couldn't make change for a million gold notes, so Wu Tianjiao ended up paying for almost everything. Wu

Tianjiao now realized how terrifying it was to go shopping with women!

As soon as he returned to the inn, Wu Xuanshuang told him that two people had been waiting for him for a long time. These two were Ju Si and Xue Mei, who had just left

yesterday . They had two purposes: first, to thank Wu

Tianjiao on behalf of the Rainbow Mercenary Group for his help; and second, to invite Wu Tianjiao to the Rainbow Mercenary Group's headquarters.

The second objective suited Wu Tianjiao perfectly, so he readily agreed. This time, Wu Tianjiao only brought

the Twin Sword Maidens, Thunder Sound Saintess, Mysterious Sound Saintess, Xiao Yuehua, Ying Ying'er, and the nine Wu sisters. The Sword Queen, Divine

Sound Saintess, Han Qingxue, and the blonde female guards remained at the inn.

Originally, Wu Tianjiao planned to have the Sword Queen accompany him, but she and the Divine Sound Saintess were currently instructing the female guards

of on their training, testing a new method of true qi circulation, and were at a crucial moment, so they couldn't leave. Therefore,

Wu Tianjiao had them stay.

As for bringing Xiao Yuehua, it was somewhat to accommodate his sister-in-law's wishes. Ying Ying'er was

the only exception in the group. Wu Tianjiao knew that if he left Ying Ying'er at the inn,

she might cause chaos throughout the entire place. Rather than that, it was better to bring her along, fulfilling her wishes.

The Rainbow Mercenary Group's headquarters wasn't in the city, but on a ranch outside the city. In front of the ranch was a large

grove of trees , beyond which flowed a clear stream, shallow enough for a carriage to wade across.

The carriage carrying Wu Tianjiao and his companions stopped in front of a row of neat buildings on the ranch. Wu Tianjiao alighted and,

led by Ju Si, entered the living room. Just as he sat down, a loud laugh rang out from outside, and a burly,

imposing man entered. It was Wang Peng, the vice-captain of the Rainbow Mercenary Group. After the introductions, Ju Si

apologized to Wu Tianjiao and left.

Before Wu Tianjiao could speak, Wang Peng clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Brother Wang Peng, as the vice-captain of the Rainbow Mercenary Group, it is an honor for the group to have such

a distinguished guest ."

"Vice-captain Wang, you are too kind. Just call me Tianjiao," Wu Tianjiao replied, also clasping his hands in greeting.

Wang Peng laughed, "Truly, heroes emerge from among the young. Brother Wu, you are so young yet possess extraordinary skills, and your subordinates are even more capable

. Not only did you save Ju Si and her brother, but you also carefully buried my mercenary group's fallen brothers. Such a great kindness is truly

beyond repayment."

Wu Tianjiao waved his hand and said, "What I hate most is the strong bullying the weak. Besides, I just happened to be passing by;

it was a small favor, nothing to mention. But I've always wondered, who has such

a deep-seated hatred ?"

Wang Peng sighed softly and smiled bitterly, "Probably an enemy we offended when protecting a caravan before."

"Is that so?" Wu Tianjiao revealed a meaningful smile, but he didn't press further.

Wu Tianjiao's smile gave Wang Peng a great insight. He realized that the young man before him was not as simple as he had imagined

. The group of beautiful women behind him each possessed an astonishing aura. Especially the two

stunningly —Wang Peng felt

under their close surveillance from the moment he entered the living room, yet he couldn't discern their strength. This was what terrified him most.

He was confident in his exceptional eyesight and his own strength was enough to rank him among the top-tier experts, but in

their presence, he was like a small river gazing at the vast ocean. As for the little girl beside him

, who was looking around curiously, she looked like a delicate porcelain doll, but her martial arts skills were mediocre.

"I'm very curious about the Rainbow Mercenary Group. Could I take a look around?" Wu Tianjiao suddenly asked.

Wang Peng smiled and said, "Of course. If Brother Wu doesn't mind, I'll take you to the training ground. There happens to be a small martial arts tournament within the

mercenary ."

"What's so fun about a martial arts tournament?" Ying Ying'er said with a sneer from the side. "I heard you obtained the Sun and Moon Five Elements

Wheel. Why don't you show it off?"

Wang Peng's heart tightened. Ying Ying'er's thoughtless remark had touched a nerve. Before

he could answer, Wu Tianjiao scolded, "Ying'er—"

Ying Ying'er obediently shut her mouth, but her bright, crescent-shaped eyes kept staring at Wang Peng, hoping he would answer. Unfortunately,

Wang Peng pretended not to see her. Ying Ying'er could only look at Xiao Yuehua beside her with a wronged expression; it seemed

there was someone else .

Accompanied by Wang Peng, Wu Tianjiao and his group walked past a row of mercenary barracks and arrived at the training ground behind them.

Through Wang Peng's introductions along the way, Wu Tianjiao gained a general understanding of the Rainbow Mercenary Group.

The Rainbow Mercenary Group was the largest mercenary organization in the north, and also the second largest mercenary group in Tiantu County,

ranking seventh among mercenary groups on the continent. It had 15,000 professional mercenaries, two vice-captains, and one captain.

The daily affairs of the mercenary group were handled by the vice-captains, while the captain was responsible for major decisions and rarely showed himself.

According to imperial law, mercenary groups were not allowed to exist within the empire during periods of peace. However,

this was only limited to certain areas of the empire, such as the capital, but mercenary groups existed in most parts of the empire.

They exist, disregarding and ignoring the laws of the Empire. These mercenary groups have deep backgrounds and extremely

powerful , making them untouchable even if someone wanted to.

The Rainbow Mercenary Group is an exception; with its formidable strength and powerful background, it dominates the north, and

even the Imperial military has to be wary of it. Another vice-captain of the Rainbow Mercenary Group is

Long Shiyuan, known as the "Earth Eagle," who wields a five-foot heavy sword and possesses immense strength. Wang Peng did not introduce the mercenary group's captain, whether by

accident or not, Wu Tianjiao was very curious.

The training ground was set on a wide, open plain, surrounded by high curtains.

Once inside realized how inept the mercenary groups he had seen before were. The Rainbow Mercenary Group, worthy of being ranked seventh on the continent, had mercenaries who were all full of energy and had an astonishing aura, showing no signs of depression

despite their recent heavy losses . 　　On the high dueling platform, two mercenaries were locked in a fierce and evenly matched battle, neither gaining the upper hand. Below , the mercenaries were divided into two groups, cheering for their preferred opponents. 　　"What's the point of this kind of competition?" Wu Tianjiao asked. 　　Wang Peng laughed, "If a low-ranking mercenary defeats a high-ranking one, his rank in the mercenary group will rise , and his treatment will improve accordingly. Mercenary work is a dangerous business; to earn money, you must stay alive. The best way to stay alive is to hone your martial arts skills, otherwise, you're always in danger of death." 　　"That's why every mercenary trains so hard," Wu Tianjiao nodded. "Now I understand why ordinary mercenaries can defeat ordinary warriors. Only through the baptism of blood and fire can a person's body ." 　　"Brother Wu's words resonate deeply with me," Wang Peng laughed heartily. "If there's an opportunity, I hope we can become friends." 　　"We're already friends," Wu Tianjiao extended his hand to Wang Peng. "I don't know why, but the moment I saw Vice Commander Wang, I felt you were a friend worth having." 　　"Haha! Good, I've decided to be your friend," Wang Peng slapped Wu Tianjiao's arms. 　　The pastures outside Dayuan City were vast, and although the houses there were tall, they were all wooden structures. That night, an uninvited group of people suddenly appeared at the ranch. They surrounded it from all sides, and Wang Peng, , estimated that there were at least five or six thousand of them, and he couldn't help but groan inwardly. 　　Although the Rainbow Mercenary Group nominally had 15,000 professional mercenaries, 5,000 were stationed in the northern prefectures, and recently, to protect several important caravans, four thousand-strong teams had been dispatched, along with another 2,000 for various other small businesses. In addition, there were 500 people permanently stationed at the old headquarters in the city, leaving only 3,500 people truly remaining at the ranch. 　　The attackers stopped advancing when they were more than a hundred feet away, and completely surrounded the main buildings in the center of the ranch. Wang Peng was unsure of their intentions and glanced back at Qu Xian, the mercenary group's strategist. Without needing a signal, Qu Xian immediately said with a grave expression, "Vice-Commander, quickly gather people to prepare for firefighting and evacuate those who were hiding in the buildings." 　　"Why?" Wang Peng asked疑惑地问道. 　　"I'm afraid they're going to use fire," Qu Xian said anxiously. Wang Peng's face tightened, and he immediately gave orders, while simultaneously sending someone to the main hall to inform Wu Tianjiao and his group to retreat immediately. He had considered sending a mercenary squad to attack the attackers . However, upon seeing that the attackers' front rank consisted entirely of archers, he abandoned the idea. 　　Mercenaries were generally not equipped with bows and arrows, so if they charged now, the distance of over a hundred zhang might wipe out half of his men. Now, he could only pin his hopes on the sixty-zhang-wide trap zone he had set up between them . 　　He had long anticipated that the Rainbow Mercenary Group would face such a day, but he hadn't expected it to come so soon. Meanwhile, another vice-captain, Long Shiyuan, was currently leading a thousand-man squad in ambush in the opposite direction from Wang Peng. He remained calm, maintaining a moderate level of tension, his eyes occasionally flashing with a wild, predatory light. 　　Unlike Wang Peng, Long Shiyuan didn't need a strategist, because he was confident enough to defeat this group of petty thieves. More than anyone else, he was concerned about the eyes inside the only stone building on the southwest side of the ranch. How would she view tonight's battle? Such questions kept flashing through Long Shiyuan's mind. 　　Before Wang Peng's orders could even be relayed, the enemy had already taken action. The archers in the front ranks suddenly parted to the left and right, revealing a group of crossbowmen inside, each holding a crossbow capable of firing three rockets at once. Wang Peng felt a chill run down his spine. Who would have thought the attackers possessed such powerful weapons? It seemed the Rainbow Mercenary Group was truly doomed. 　　"Whoosh!" A sharp whistle signaled the start of the attack. In an instant, rockets filled the sky, and countless torches landed on the rooftops of the pasture, setting them ablaze. A raging inferno instantly shot into the sky. 　　However, there were exceptions. When the rockets reached the house in the very center at the front, it was as if an invisible wall blocked them, causing them to fall back down. Fortunately, the pasture within several dozen feet of the house had been cleared; otherwise, even if the house hadn't been set ablaze, a huge ring of fire would have formed around it. This scene greatly surprised . However, only that one house escaped the rockets; the surrounding houses were all engulfed in flames. In the darkness, the attackers' eyes glowed green like wolves, and their drawn swords gleamed with an eerie blue light. Thousands of powerful bows and crossbows fired in unison at the ranch, a rain of arrows like fire. 　　They were as tenacious as wolves and as venomous as snakes, patiently waiting for the mercenaries to rush out of the ranch. They would be riddled with arrows, and the rest would be engulfed in flames. 　　The attackers grinned menacingly; their orders were clear: "Kill! Kill every mercenary in the ranch, not even a dog!" Assassination and attacks were commonplace for them. Deploying so many men against a mere three or four thousand old and weak mercenaries was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut; they could already hear screams and cries for help. 　　The chaos in the ranch was only temporary. The mercenaries remained calm. Fortunately, Qu Xian had acted quickly, and the ranch had enough water, which limited the attackers' fire attack. The mercenaries soaked their blankets and laid them on tables, chairs, and doors to block the fire arrows. Taking advantage of the enemy's weakened arrow barrage, it would have been a good opportunity to attack, but Wang Peng, concerned about the enemy's archers and crossbowmen and fearing heavy casualties, forwent the opportunity. 　　After a volley of fire arrows, the attackers quickly regrouped and formed an attack formation; at this point, it was clear that...

They came prepared. A sharp shout rang out, and a large number of attackers rose from the grass,

charging forward in droves. Archers advanced fifty paces, adjusting their bows and firing volleys of arrows ahead of

the attacking force, scouting ahead.

Even so, the first wave of a thousand attackers

was swallowed by traps hidden in front of Wang Peng and his men before they even reached their defensive position. Blood instantly stained the narrow, fifty- or sixty-pronged

trap zone. Attackers from behind surged forward, stepping over the corpses of their own men, while volleys of ornate fire arrows

rained down from the sky.

With the attackers right before them, Wang Peng roared, "Brothers, kill!"

The cries of battle echoed from all sides of the pasture. Mercenaries

clashed with the attackers dressed in night, the chaotic melee rendering the archers useless. Here, direct attacks were the only effective means;

if you couldn't quickly kill an attacker, you risked being killed by one who acted on impulse from behind.

Wang Peng's thousand-man squad was subjected to a fierce frontal attack. He unleashed his martial arts skills to the fullest

, each swing of his three-pointed, double-edged sword drawing a spray of blood, as easily as slicing melons and pickled vegetables,

staining his battle robe with blood. He had lost count of how many he had killed, yet his comrades continued to fall one after another.

"Kill..." he roared repeatedly, fighting back like a wounded beast. The attackers had deployed

nearly two thousand elite troops to focus their attack on their thousand-man squad, which was already at 30% depletion.

The leader of this group of attackers was a woman in fiery red armor. She directed her skilled fighters to

repeatedly charge the right flank of Wang Peng's squad, where the mercenaries had suffered heavy casualties,

hindering the squad's fighting capacity. This woman hoped to create an opening there and wipe out this tenacious enemy in one fell swoop.

While the battle raged on, a group of impatient men in black broke away from their ranks and rushed towards the

only unburnt house in the row ahead, bursting into the hall.

The sight before them made their eyes light up. So many beautiful women hiding inside—it was truly unexpected.

How could they resist such a tempting feast? Besides, they had been ordered that if they destroyed the Rainbow Mercenary Group,

the women within would be at their disposal.

Nearly a hundred mouths behind their masks drooled; however, their drooling came too soon. Suddenly, a handsome young man with a still-childlike face stood up from among the

women . He coldly said, "Let's go out!"

The women seemed not to have seen the group of men in black rushing in, responding and following the handsome young man towards

them.

Outrageous!

Most of the men in black were enraged. They had never seen such an arrogant person, daring to

disregard —they were courting death!

The men in black raised their weapons, displaying various fierce moves they considered their "ultimate techniques," attacking

the handsome young man.

The outcome wasn't what they expected. The men in black missed, the handsome young man continued walking,

while dozens of them lay dead. No one saw how they attacked; it seemed as if the women beside

the young man waved their hands, and the men in black fell. Then,

while the other men in black were still in shock, they too were swept off their feet, meeting their maker.

Wu Tianjiao smiled coldly and continued walking. He hadn't wanted to get involved in this mess, because he always

believed in one principle: everyone must pay the price for their actions. The Rainbow Mercenary Group's

large-scale attack must have a reason behind it.

Although he liked Wang Peng, Xue Mei, and Ju Si from the Rainbow Mercenary Group, it didn't mean he had to

participate in this chaotic battle. Helping the Rainbow Mercenary Group defend themselves was a minor matter; the real problem was provoking the forces behind the attackers—

what would the consequences be?

However, despite these principles, people are still bound by gratitude.

At the outset had Lei Yin Shengmu and Xuan Yin Shengmu create a protective barrier of energy, placing the house under their

protection. As for the group of reckless men in black, they were deliberately let in. Seeing their

character , he could easily guess the nature of the attackers outside.

"Since you're courting death, don't blame us. You've sent your companions to hell!"

Wu Tianjiao said calmly, stepping over the corpses and leaving the house.

The arrival of Wu Tianjiao and his group became the biggest variable on the battlefield. The two sword-wielding beauties flanked Wu

Tianjiao, making anyone who approached them a formidable opponent. Many of the attackers' experts were defeated inexplicably;

a flash of sword light, and the sharp sword energy was already upon them, impossible to dodge. Even those who managed to escape were sent to their deaths

by attacks of Lei Yin Shengmu, Xuan Yin Shengmu, and the nine Wu sisters.

This battle terrified all the men in black. These women seemed to have fallen from the sky;

not only did they possess astonishing martial arts skills, but their moves were also unpredictable and ruthless, each strike fatal. No

one could stop them; they were simply invincible.

In this open pasture, with so many attackers, Wu Tianjiao had the opportunity to showcase his abilities. He

didn't need to draw his sword; he simply used the "Small Dragon-Capturing Hand" from the Thousand Steps Dragon-Capturing Hand technique. With a casual grab and throw, any man in

black was sent flying. Those caught and thrown were either seriously injured or dead; those still breathing

collapsed to the ground, unable to move.

The entire battle appeared as if Wu Tianjiao, leading a group of women, swept through

the encirclement of Wang Peng's group of men in black. Along the way,

large numbers .

When Wu Tianjiao reunited with Wang Peng and the others, Wang Peng excitedly said, "Brother Wu..." As he spoke, tears welled up in

his tiger- like eyes; it was unexpected that such a tough man could be moved to tears.

Wu Tianjiao laughed, "After we defeat the enemy, we'll drink and chat." Then, he turned to the Twin Sword Maidens and

the others, saying, "No need to be polite, send them on their way as soon as possible."

The Twin Sword Maidens and the Wu sisters responded in unison. In an instant, the surrounding men in black realized that

their earlier casual wave of the hand was indeed just a small trick; now, with each move, several people fell—that was the real

killing . Many men in black were forced to retreat, and the encirclement expanded wider and wider.

The woman in red armor, who had been overseeing the battle from the other side of the group, noticed the commotion and roared, "Give me..."

"I'm going! No retreating! Those who retreat die!" As she spoke, she swung her longsword, sending the heads of two men in black flying

into the air. Her attack was swift, ruthless, and decisive.

Simultaneously, the woman in red armor leaped into the air, her longsword aimed directly at the swordswoman in the arena. The swordswoman

flicked her slender hand, sending one of the men in black who had been entangled with her flying a considerable distance.

She then soared into the air, flicking her slender finger at the woman in red armor's longsword. "Clang—"

The longsword groaned as the woman in red armor was thrown back. However, she did not retreat. With a twist of her slender waist, she miraculously drew a large arc in mid-air, attacking the falling swordswoman again. This

time, she channeled her true energy throughout the longsword, its tip emitting a small inch of fiery red light.

The swordswoman's falling figure miraculously stopped in mid-air,

then her slender finger—whoosh! A bolt of purple lightning shot towards the woman in red armor. The woman in red armor dodged to the side,

though her attack was weakened considerably.

The swordswoman, instead of halting, lunged forward, appearing before the woman in red armor in a flash.

Her sword flashed like a storm, blocking all the black-clad men who tried to help

.

The woman in red armor, though skilled, was no match for the swordswoman, barely lasting twenty moves before being

unexpectedly struck down by a close-range attack. Taking advantage of this, the mercenaries gathered their strength and, together with the Wu sisters,

launched attacks in all directions. Wu Tianjiao, Wang Peng, Xiao Yuehua, and Ying Ying'er formed a diamond

formation, their attacks swift and deadly. Meanwhile,

the two Saint-level experts, Lei Yin Shengmu and Xuan Yin Shengmu, remained on the sidelines, having no interest in attacking these insignificant ants

. To do so would be beneath their dignity. As for those foolish

individuals who to approach them, their fate was predictable.

During the fierce battle, Wu Tianjiao noticed that his sister-in-law, Xiao Yuehua, was truly skilled, possessing a Heavenly Martial

level of martial arts cultivation, no less than the Wu sisters. Her swordsmanship was exquisite, her moves practiced, clearly demonstrating considerable

skill in swordsmanship. Wu Tianjiao vaguely felt her swordsmanship was familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before, but couldn't quite place it.

As for Ying Ying'er, Wu Tianjiao truly had to look at her with new respect. Although her skills were average, every

swing of her hand was a powerful killing move.

Suddenly, a crystalline light flashed around Ying Ying'er's body; a small movement

could send enemies flying. Therefore, among these four, she was the one fighting with ease, because she

didn't need to worry about enemy attacks at all, as any attack reaching within three feet of her body would be

automatically blocked by her protective true energy.

The battle began overwhelmingly, with the Rainbow Mercenary Group achieving victory after victory. In less than an hour, the battlefield was deserted

except for the remaining mercenaries and the dead. Wu Tianjiao didn't linger for a moment, immediately turning eastward to where the sounds of battle were still

emanating.

When they rushed to the east, Wu Tianjiao was stunned by the scene.

There were at least 1,500 men in black gathered there, but they were surrounded by a mercenary group of less than 800.

These 800 mercenaries were walking with strange gait, constantly waving their flags. Those in black within the encirclement seemed

to have gone blind, not rushing out but instead wandering aimlessly in circles as if lost.

Outside the encirclement stood seven women, two in front and five behind. Four of the five behind carried large lanterns, while the woman

in front waved her flag continuously, seemingly directing the mercenaries who had formed the encirclement.

"It's an array!" Wu Yushuang exclaimed in surprise. The Wu family was a military family, and although the Wu sisters had never been on

the battlefield, they were still fierce and capable daughters of a military family. Not only were they highly skilled in martial arts, but they were also well-versed in military strategy and tactics, and had read extensively on formations and

tactics .

"Sister Yu Shuang, what are you saying?" Wu Tianjiao asked anxiously. Wu Yu Shuang

replied, "Brother, those mercenaries are forming a kind of formation. It can maximize the power of a group

, and it is especially effective on the battlefield of large-scale battles. It can improve the overall combat capability of soldiers,

making a thousand people seem like five thousand, thus easily defeating the strong with the weak. It is said that the advanced formations have long been

lost, but I never thought I would see them here. However—"

"However, what?"

"The one who set up the formation obviously only knows how to surround, not how to attack. If this continues, the mercenaries will not be able to hold out sooner or later." Wu

Yu Shuang frowned.

Wu Tianjiao looked carefully and felt that what Wu Yu Shuang said made a lot of sense. After thinking for a moment, he had a plan, so he said,

"Let's go over there first!"

The group walked up to the woman who was directing the formation. In the darkness, the light was so bright that even the smallest detail could be seen. Wu Tianjiao easily

located the key figure among the seven women. She was a seemingly delicate woman, not only beautiful but also possessing a captivating charm.

A well-fitting long dress, though trailing, still exuded an elegant grace. Her smooth, flowing hair cascaded over

her shoulders , making her appear like a rare orchid in a secluded valley. Her deep, dark eyes seemed to possess an immense

magnetic force, drawing Wu Tianjiao's entire being in.

"Who are you?" the delicate woman asked, seeing they meant no harm.

"The one who helped me," Wu Tianjiao replied, startled by the woman's question. Though his words sounded

respectable , his face was flushed red, thankfully hidden from view.

"Are you the young master Wu Tianjiao who helped Ju Si and her brother?" the delicate woman asked again.

Wu Tianjiao nodded, but knowing this wasn't the time to speak, he

preemptively said before the woman could ask further, "I have a plan that might help you repel the enemy."

"Tell me,"

Wu Tianjiao said, repeating Wu Yushuang's analysis. "If you could deliberately leave

a gap in the formation and send some people to ambush them there, I believe you could gradually whittle them down."

The woman thought for a moment, then shook her head. "It's not that I don't want to do it, but I'm short-handed. This is all

I can ."

Wu Tianjiao smiled. "Just leave the gap open, and we'll handle the rest."

She carefully examined the group of women soldiers behind Wu Tianjiao, then stared at his confident eyes

for a moment before unexpectedly nodding in agreement.

Wu Tianjiao had expected to need to use his persuasive skills, and perhaps even have Lei Yin Shengmu and the others

display . However, their quick agreement surprised him greatly.

He didn't know what gave them such confidence. In fact, the woman didn't know either;

perhaps it was Wu Tianjiao's confident gaze that convinced her!

As soon as the formation opened, a horde of men in black poured out. At this moment, Wu Tianjiao witnessed the true martial arts of the two

Holy Mothers. With a sharp cry, the Thunder Sound Holy Mother and the Mysterious Sound Holy Mother

slashed through the air with one hand, sending two dragon-shaped bursts of energy flying like raging waves, knocking

away .

The two Holy Mothers didn't stop; they spun around, their other hands following suit, unleashing two more bursts of energy, killing anyone who

touched them . As soon as they retreated, the Twin Sword Maidens took their place.

Wave after wave of men in black, whether skilled or not,

were utterly powerless against the two Holy Mothers and the Twin Sword Maidens. With a single strike, even the most skilled martial artist had to consider

whether they could withstand that earth-shattering attack.

As more and more men in black rushed out, Lei Yin Shengmu and her companions, following Wu Tianjiao's advice, began to let them escape.

First, they released one or two, then groups of men. Those who escaped wished they had more

legs; they ran for their lives, not daring to look back.

When only a few hundred remained in the encirclement, the breach closed again, leaving the remaining men with two

choices : surrender or die! At this critical moment, true integrity was revealed

: most of the men in black, without a word, immediately dropped their weapons and cried out that they had been forced into it.

The remaining few hesitated for only a moment before being killed by the mercenaries and forced to surrender as well.

The battle concluded, marking the victory in the ranch defense. In this battle, the Rainbow Mercenary Group killed 3,255 enemies

and captured 687, including one of the main commanders of the entire raid

—the woman in red armor.

The Rainbow Mercenary Group itself suffered losses of 1,530 men, primarily

the thousand-strong team led by Wang Peng and Long Shiyuan. While a victory should have been a cause for celebration, the two vice-captains and strategist Qu

wore . This was because most of the attackers were local mercenaries, and some were

unfamiliar faces. The victims seemed to have a clue what this meant, and the Rainbow Mercenary Group's own casualties

added to their somber mood.

As soon as the battle ended, Wu Tianjiao never saw the woman skilled in array formations again, nor even her maids

. He had a vague suspicion that the woman might be the leader of the Rainbow Mercenary Group. However,

a voice in his mind dismissed this idea. Why would such a large mercenary group appoint a

woman as its leader, especially one so delicate?

Wu Tianjiao was absorbed in thought, while Ying Ying'er was engrossed in interrogating the prisoners. The main target was, of course, the

woman in red armor, but unfortunately, she remained silent, defiant to the death, her beautiful face filled with ruthlessness.

Ying Ying'er wasn't afraid of this kind of woman; she was trying to figure out how to extract the whole

truth .

The prisoners' meridians were restrained, and their hands and feet were bound with ropes. Therefore, the mercenary group confidently brought

some seemingly important figures into the hall for the two vice-captains to interrogate.

However, they didn't know that the two vice-captains and strategist Qu were in no mood to interrogate the prisoners,

thus benefiting Ying Ying'er. Despite her young age, she was incredibly shrewd, acting as a judge with surprising skill.

Wu Tianjiao sat on a chair in the corner of the hall, less than four zhang away from the prisoners. He wasn't in a hurry

to go back ; secretly, he hoped to see that mysterious woman one more time.

Just as he was fantasizing about meeting that woman again, the swordswoman beside him suddenly shouted, "How dare you!"

She leaped into the air, intercepting a dark figure. Several lightning-fast exchanges ensued, the dissipating energy sending

some of the prisoners tumbling like gourds.

The swordswoman shouted again, and the sound of palms clashing rang out. Then, a

dark figure —the attacker, already injured by the swordswoman.

Wu Tianjiao angrily walked to the attacker, intending to kick her to punish her for waking him from his

sweet dream . However, when he saw the attacker's exquisite face, he couldn't bring himself to kick her. He turned to the swordswoman and asked,

"Where did she come from?"

The swordswoman replied sternly, "She was originally hiding among the prisoners. Taking advantage of our inattention, she used an invisibility technique to disappear

into the darkness, attempting to assassinate you, young master. I think she's an assassin."

"Why would she want to kill me?" Wu Tianjiao asked疑惑地问道.

Dao Ji scoffed, "She probably thinks you're the leader here, young master!"

Wu Tianjiao scratched the back of his head, never expecting to become the target of an assassin.

"I'll take this female assassin back for a thorough interrogation," Wu Tianjiao said to Wang Peng. By this point, the

mysterious woman still hadn't appeared, and he had already given up hope.

"Take this woman back too," Ying Ying'er said, pointing to the woman in red armor. Wu Tianjiao wanted to stop her, but then he thought of

Ying Ying'er's good performance tonight and decided to consider the woman a reward. So he nodded.

Originally, it wouldn't have made sense for Wu Tianjiao to take away a prisoner like the woman in red armor. However, the Rainbow

Mercenary Group's decision-makers had changed their minds. They already knew who the mastermind was

and no longer needed the prisoners. Moreover, the prisoners' existence actually served as a warning to the mastermind: the Rainbow Mercenary Group knew who

had attacked them. But these prisoners couldn't be killed, as it would be against their principles; of course, they couldn't be released either, as it would be unfair to

their fallen brothers.

Thus, the so-called prisoners had become their biggest burden. Since Wu Tianjiao, the mercenary group's great benefactor, was willing

to take two prisoners, they were naturally overjoyed. So, Wu Tianjiao loaded the two prisoners onto the carriage, took the Wu

sisters and others, and with a shout, sped off into the city.

It was just dawn.

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