Slave Empire [Complete] - 6

Volume 3, Chapter 32: The Secret Method of Healing
at Panlong Ridge.
Peach Blossom Fairy Xue Qianqian and the Demonic Sect disciples did not leave after fulfilling their appointment at Chenshi (7-9 AM). Firstly, Xue Qianqian had witnessed the formidable fighting power of Qiu Lei's Jade Dragon Army. Most of the Holy Sect disciples she led were elites of the sect with skills of the third or fourth rank or higher, and dozens of experts of the sixth rank or higher assisted them. Even with the advantage of the terrain, they still suffered over a hundred casualties. Although Hai Tianqing and Ye Zhiqiu's Free Army had a large number of soldiers, they lacked true experts. If Qiu Lei fought to the death, even if the Free Army could annihilate the Jade Dragon Army, they would suffer heavy losses. The Holy Sect's uprising was imminent, and they needed the Free Army as a powerful magnet to attract the even more elite Jade Dragon Army from the Treasure Division's direct subordinate regiments, the First Regiment, and the Second Regiment. Secondly, the Holy Sect disciples had fought to the death the previous night, and seeing so many of their brothers killed, they vowed to annihilate the Jade Dragon Army. The Holy Sect's doctrine highly values nature, brotherhood, and shared hatred of enemies, especially among its own Peach Blossom Palace lineage. They are generally genuine and spontaneous, disregarding worldly gossip, making them incompatible with the orthodox sects that uphold etiquette. This is largely the origin of the "demon" in the Demonic Sect's name. Thirdly, ever since Xue Qianqian's meeting with Hua Yinghong that night and their pact, she had harbored some unusual feelings without realizing it. She might have been using this opportunity to cultivate their relationship, hoping to meet again anytime, anywhere…
"Palace Master Xue! Alliance Leader Liu and Captain Hua Lian have been assassinated!" Hai Tianqing rushed in, delivering the shocking news. Hai Tianqing was a discerning man. Given Xue Qianqian's unparalleled beauty, elegant demeanor, and the budding virginity in her eyes and gestures, she was far from a promiscuous woman. Furthermore, the Demonic Sect had rendered great service to the Free Army in their fight against Qiu Lei, so he showed no contempt.
"Ah! How are Sister Liu and Young Hero Hua?" Even with her profound cultivation and exceptional composure, Xue Qianqian's beautiful face paled with shock. If anything happened to Liu and Hua, the backbone of the Free Army, it would be extremely detrimental to their plan to contain the Jade Dragon Army and facilitate the Demonic Sect's uprising. Her concern was evident both personally and professionally.
"Thank you for your concern, Palace Master. The signal indicates that Alliance Leader Liu is slightly injured, while Brother Hua's injuries are more serious. The specific details are unclear." Hai Tianqing was moved by the genuine emotion shown by the beautiful woman before him and told her the truth.
"Xinru, Ruotong, Yilin, you lead the disciples to help General Hai defend this place. I will return to Jubao Town." Xue Qianqian made a decisive decision.
“But the Jade Dragon Army is blocking the way…” Hai Tianqing said, “Let us escort you across.”
“No need. This small force can’t stop me.” Xue Qianqian finished speaking, her figure floated up, not caring about being shocking, and like a fairy in the air, she floated down to the secret passage below the ridge. In the blink of an eye, she was already more than ten feet away!
Most of Qiu Lei’s Jade Dragon Army retreated to the mountains a short distance away from Panlong Ridge to hold their ground, leaving a small team stationed on the official road. Since Xigang had fallen, the Free Army’s intention to annihilate this elite force from both sides was very clear. Qiu Lei simply decided to go all the way and become bait to attract the main force of the Free Army. As long as the northern naval force and the eastern reinforcements arrived, the Free Army would be trapped in their own web, and he might be able to turn the tide of battle.
The Free Army’s calls for surrender would only make them a laughing stock. The Jade Dragon Army soldiers trained by the Qiu family were only brave warriors who died in battle, never cowards who surrendered.
Unfortunately, the army's carrier pigeons had all been released the previous night, and the smoke signals could not be transmitted due to the loss of Xigang and the elimination of the relay sentries. At this point, Qiu Lei was practically blind and deaf, completely unaware of the situation outside and unable to issue orders.
Even more serious was the fact that, because Qiu Lei was confident that the Jade Dragon Army would win, each man had only carried the bare minimum of rations and water, enough to last at most a day. Trapped in this desolate, wild land, with nowhere to find food or water, their fighting strength would inevitably be affected if this went on for too long.
Just as Qiu Lei was racking his brains over these problems, he heard the Jade Dragon Army shouting outside, "Someone is attacking the camp!" Qiu Lei hurriedly left his makeshift tent and looked towards Panlong Ridge—
it was already past 7:45 AM, and the sky was bright. A figure clad in a black, form-fitting dress, with an incredibly graceful figure, flashed across the official road half a mile away like lightning. In each leap, she soared over four zhang (approximately 13 meters) into the air and covered more than ten zhang (approximately 33 meters)
in distance. Her speed was twice that of a galloping horse, yet she moved with the fluidity of flowing water, ethereal and otherworldly. In the blink of an eye, she was almost upon the Jade Dragon Army camp on the official road! Qiu Lei was greatly alarmed. This woman's skill was exceptionally high; he hadn't expected such a master to exist within the Free Army! He immediately shouted, "Stop her with all your might!" Although he didn't know why such a master was rushing into the camp alone, he was certain something important had happened, and stopping her was the right thing to do. Qiu Lei took the lead, leaping down the hillside.
Nearly a hundred powerful bows and crossbows from the Jade Dragon Army on the official road simultaneously fired at the figure!
Xue Qianqian remained calm. With a light wave of her jade hand, her sash fluttered, sending countless beautiful white and slightly red peach blossoms fluttering down, deflecting the rain of arrows with ease and without the slightest loss of speed.
The Free Army soldiers, seeing this from afar, cheered in unison, their voices echoing through the sky! Hai Tianqing, who had intended to gather experts to support Xue Qianqian should she falter, was greatly relieved upon seeing this.
The half-mile journey was covered in just a few leaps. Before the autumn thunder could even fall from the mountain, Xue Qianqian had already reached the camp, a silvery laugh escaping her lips. She unleashed her Nine Turns Peach Blossom Charm Technique, her laughter captivating and mesmerizing, instantly dispelling the murderous aura of the Jade Dragon Army soldiers on the official road. Instead, they were enveloped in a state of blissful intoxication. Those few with slightly higher skill who managed to launch an attack were sent tumbling by Xue Qianqian's fluttering robes and the resulting peach blossom-like movements, creating a path for her to swerve to either side.
As Qiu Lei landed swiftly on the official road, Xue Qianqian had already leaped onto a magnificent warhorse, galloping dozens of feet away. Her silvery voice echoed on the wind, "No need for you all to see me off, this palace mistress is off!"
Qiu Lei stopped the Jade Dragon Army soldiers who were about to mount their horses and give chase, saying helplessly, "Let her go! Strengthen the defenses!" Even if they could catch up, given the martial arts Xue Qianqian had displayed, what could these Jade Dragon Army soldiers do?
Cheers erupted on Panlong Ridge! The Jade Dragon Army's morale, however, faltered. "Is the Free Army really so easily defeated?" The scene just now was enough to make every Jade Dragon Army soldier reassess the Free Army's strength, leaving a huge question mark in their hearts.
******** ***
Treasure Town Mayor's Mansion. The assassination attempt failed—
Lu Jingwei's Blazing Sun Palm was the nemesis of the Yin-Yang "Blue Qi Yin-Yang Great Art." "Lewd Serpent" Ouyang Bin hastily countered with his Iron Wire Lustful Serpent, suffering a slight burn upon contact, and fled in panic with Laughing Monk. The two weren't fools; Miao Youlan's incredibly fast movements and the sudden burst of a thousand plum blossom sword rain demonstrated a skill level no less than Lu Jingwei's, and the person behind her was someone they couldn't afford to offend. "Laughing Monk," severely injured, had no strength left to fight; if he didn't escape
, he would surely perish here. Characters like these two, accustomed to lewd pleasures, would work for the Jade Dragon spies, but selling their lives was absolutely out of the question. Lu Jingwei and the others, concerned for Liu and Hua's injuries, didn't pursue them, but the remaining three Jade Dragon spy assassins suffered the consequences, all dying at the hands of Lu Jingwei and Miao Youlan after a few moves.
Liu Yufei's injuries from the White Lotus Qi explosion were not serious. However, Hua Yinghong, who had fallen into Miao Youlan's arms and been carried into a quiet room in the town mayor's mansion without any hesitation, was in bad shape. Lü Jingwei took his pulse for a long time, then remained silent, making everyone anxious.
"Uncle Lü, please say something! How is Brother Hua?" Liu Yufei cried, her face streaked with tears, looking pitiful. Hua Yinghong had risked his life to save her for the third time.
"Princess, Brother Hua was injured by the Blue Qi Yin Yang Technique, but it seems that his internal energy can control it, so he is not in serious danger yet," Lü Jingwei continued. "However, Brother Hua is poisoned by the Iron Wire Viper. If he is not treated in time, his life may be in danger."
"How can we treat the Iron Wire Viper poison?" Liu Yufei stopped crying and asked.
Lü Jingwei looked at the women in the room and the generals Liu Litao, Lin Zhi, Chang Shengqiu, and others who had arrived after hearing the news, and hesitated to speak.
Liu Lan said impatiently, "Old Master, hurry up and tell me!
You're driving me crazy!" Lü Jingwei said, "Li Tao, Lin Zhi, Sheng Qiu, please excuse yourselves."
Liu Li Tao and the others, having already guessed what was going on based on the name "Iron Wire Viper," realized that it would be inconvenient for the young lady to be present, so they excused themselves and waited in the hall.
Lu Jingwei then addressed Liu Yufei and the other three women, saying, "Princess, the Iron Wire Viper is an extremely potent poison that incites unrestrained lust. If a person afflicted does not engage in sexual intercourse with a woman within an hour to expel the poison, they risk dying from burning lust. However, excessive indulgence can easily lead to death from exhaustion of yang energy. How to control this is something this old minister does not know. I have already informed Panlong Ridge. If Fairy Peach Blossom Xue returns, she may have a solution." He seemed to be speaking only to Liu Yufei, but Miao Youlan, Liu Lan, and Liu Ju, being virgins who had never experienced such matters, all blushed slightly.
On the bed, Hua Yinghong was now burning with passion, his breathing rapid, his face flushed, and blood seemed about to seep from his skin. Liu Yufei, nestled against his chest, felt his breath burning like flames. Forgetting her shyness, she whispered, "Uncle Lü, Sister Miao, Sister Lan, Sister Ju, you should go out. I must save her no matter what. Even if we die, we'll die together. Brother Hua told me his next plan last night, you should make the arrangements..."
After a moment, Lü Jingwei, Miao Youlan, and the other two silently withdrew.
Although Liu Yufei had been intimate with Hua Yinghong before, it was Hua Yinghong who had taken the initiative to seduce her. This time, she had to do it herself, and for a moment she didn't know how to begin. She sat
there blankly for only a few breaths before she heard Hua Yinghong panting heavily and moaning softly, as if he was impatient and in great pain... Liu Yufei gritted her teeth, recalling the events of that night. Her jade hand reached for Hua Yinghong's manhood, unbuckled his belt, and lifted his samurai uniform. His manhood was already incredibly erect, and it sprang out suddenly, its eyes wide open, veins bulging, and its entire body as red as blood... This was the first time Liu Yufei had seen it so clearly. Suppressing her girlish shyness and reserve, she grasped it with her jade hand. The touch felt like holding a red-hot iron rod, burning hot and incredibly hot. She heard Hua Yinghong groan again and begin to move, knowing that the lustful poison had taken effect and he could no longer control himself.
Liu Yufei, no longer caring about her shyness, quickly removed her clothes, revealing her fair skin and alluring curves. She straddled Hua Yinghong with her long, slender legs slightly parted, her hands supporting her…

Xue Qianqian rode swiftly, revealing her identity from afar as she passed through the “One Line Sky” checkpoint, thus successfully crossing. From receiving the urgent report to returning to the town mayor's mansion, it took less than two quarters of an hour.
Lu Jingwei and the others waited anxiously in the council hall. Seeing Xue Qianqian's rapid return, they were overjoyed. They immediately removed the four venomous fangs of the iron-wire snakes, explained the situation, and said that Liu Yufei was in the room administering treatment.
Unexpectedly, Xue Qianqian's expression changed drastically, and she exclaimed, "Oh no! If Sister Liu were to save them, I fear both of us would be in mortal danger!"
Lü Jingwei was shocked and asked, "What do you mean by that, Fairy Xue?"
Xue Qianqian replied, "This old master only knows one aspect of the Iron Wire Lustful Snake. This snake is found in the high-altitude, cold region of Jade Dragon Mountain, and its numbers are extremely limited. It is strangely lustful, and they live in pairs, male and female. Its venom is peculiar; the venom of the female snake is harmless to women, but it specifically stimulates male lust. Men poisoned by it will have an insatiable desire for women, and vice versa. The Holy Sect has a book called *The Record of Strange Things* that describes the lustful snake in detail and states its antidote: a poisoned man needs the virginity of a virgin to harmonize with it; the more potent the venom, the more..." The more Yin energy is needed, the better; similarly, a woman poisoned needs the Yang energy of a virgin to harmonize her. Sister Liu and Young Master Hua have already been intimate, and her virginity has been lost. If this is not addressed in time, I fear that their insatiable desires will lead them both to exhaust their Yin and Yang and die.”
Lü Jingwei stamped his foot and said, “If anything happens to the princess and Brother Hua, I will not atone for it even if I die a hundred times!”
Xue Qianqian said, “Old Master, there is no need to blame yourself. If there is a woman who knows the method to resolve this, she can use a secret technique to suppress the boiling Yin and Yang energy of Sister Liu and Young Master Hua, separating them, and then treat them with a virgin. They should be fine.” As she finished speaking, her pretty face flushed red. At this moment, the only woman who knew the method to resolve this was herself.
Lu Jingwei and the others immediately turned their gazes to Liu Lan and Liu Ju, making the two women blush. The seemingly quiet Liu Ju boldly declared, "I...I...am willing...to save Brother Hua..." She was originally Liu Yufei's maid, and according to the customs of the Hua Long Continent, she was obliged to accompany her in her dowry. She also harbored feelings for Hua Yinghong, so she didn't try to hide her feelings.
Liu Lan was also deeply willing, but her initial shyness and reserve allowed Liu Ju to speak first, so she blushed and remained silent.
Lü Jingwei said, "It is such a great favor that Fairy Xue has used her magic. I cannot thank you enough. On behalf of the princess and Brother Hua, I promise that if you ever need my help, I will do my utmost to repay your kindness."
Xue Qianqian said calmly, "Master Lü, you flatter me! Sister Liu is a beauty of unparalleled grace and charm, and I adore her greatly; Young Master Hua is a man of extraordinary talent, whom I admire greatly. For both public and private reasons, how could I not help?"
Lü Jingwei realized his mistake. Xue Qianqian was a remarkable woman, not one to seek repayment for favors. He had underestimated her by trying to entice her with benefits. He immediately said with embarrassment, "I was eager to save her; please forgive my rudeness, Fairy.
" ********
Liu Yufei felt as if a hot iron rod had been swallowed into her secret place. Although there was a little love fluid, her tight, inexperienced flower path still held it tightly… When the thick, long thing penetrated to the very end and pressed against her clitoris, she couldn't help but let out a soft moan, her phoenix eyes filled with bright tears…
Her tender flower path kept contracting and squeezing, stimulating… Hua Yinghong, who had lost his senses, moved instinctively, showing no mercy… Liu Yufei relaxed, gently rising and falling to meet him, gradually becoming more skilled. That extremely wonderful electric-like tingling sensation came from the point of union, stimulating all the nerves in her body, bringing her an even more wonderful blissful experience. She unconsciously moaned softly, intoxicated by the indescribable… In her ecstasy, she felt as if she were about to ascend to heaven...
Hua Yinghong's unconscious movements became even faster, and the close friction brought Liu Yufei even stronger pleasure. Each powerful thrust caused her whole body to spasm involuntarily and tremble rhythmically. Her private parts also began to become hotter and wetter, like a raging fire burning, rising, and gushing out...
Finally, when Liu Yufei reached the peak of pleasure, her smooth and flawless body pressed tightly against Hua Yinghong's body, and streams of cool yet warm yin essence continuously poured over her...
Hua Yinghong seemed to regain some consciousness after being drenched by Liu Yufei's yin essence. He straightened his upper body, pulled Liu Yufei's smooth and delicate body into his arms, and turned her over. Liu Yufei was overjoyed, thinking her rescue had been effective. However, Hua Yinghong's lust, fueled by the venom of the aphrodisiac snake, burned even more intensely. He showed no mercy, and began to move wildly…
His member rubbed violently against her wet, soft body at an indescribable speed, each thrust hitting her tender clitoris. The intense pleasure, a sensation of pain, itching, numbness, and electricity, made Liu Yufei lose herself in a light, dreamlike state. Her long, slender legs tightly gripped Hua Yinghong's waist, responding and entwining… In an unprecedented… In her madness, she couldn't remember how many times her flower had opened or how many times her primordial yin had been released; she only had one thought in mind—she must draw out and neutralize the lustful poison in her lover…
When Xue Qianqian and Liu Ju entered, Liu Yufei was already unconscious, moaning softly, her snow-white body instinctively responding to Hua Yinghong's attacks, emitting lewd sounds that made hearts race…
Xue Qianqian had seen countless men in her pursuit of the Nine Revolutions Peach Blossom Charm Technique, witnessing countless scenes of the Five Peach Blossom Women making love with men in the most lewd and erotic manner. She considered herself quite accustomed to such things, yet for some reason, seeing the crimson-faced Hua Yinghong riding and making love on Liu Yufei's snow-white body, she felt a strange stirring in her heart…
Liu Ju had never seen such erotic scenes before. She was so ashamed that she wanted to close her eyes tightly, but she had no choice but to watch. After all, she had come to save someone, and no matter how shameful it was, she had to endure it.
The violent sounds of impact, groans, and panting continued unabated. Xue Qianqian saw that Liu Yufei's jade-like face was haggard and pale, and her bright eyes had lost their luster. She knew that her primordial yin had been severely depleted, and if she delayed any longer, she would die from exhaustion of yin! She hurriedly said to Liu Ju, "Quickly take off your clothes, Sister Liu is about to die!"
Liu Ju dared not delay and abandoned all girlish reserve, revealing her equally snow-white and flawless beautiful body. Xue Qianqian's jade fingers lightly pressed on Hua Yinghong's "essence-stimulating acupoint"—
"Ugh!" Hua Yinghong roared, and with a series of violent convulsions, streams of hot, thick essence, carrying strands of primordial true qi, gushed out like a waterfall, pouring onto Liu Yufei's flower bud!
"Ugh!" Liu Yufei's body trembled violently, and the Heaven and Earth Technique was activated, fusing with the Primordial True Qi. In a rapid flow, it transformed the essence that Hua Yinghong had poured into her into Yin Qi. Little did she know that she had just narrowly escaped death—if Xue Qianqian hadn't returned in time, given that she was no longer a virgin and possessed Yin Qi, she would not only have failed to neutralize the lustful poison, but would have instead intensified Hua Yinghong's lust even more. Had she been a moment later, after all the Yin Qi had been released, her soul would likely have been swept away by the wind—the
ultimate Yang transforming into ultimate Yin. Xue Qianqian's forceful coercion of Hua Yinghong to open his seminal gate was actually using her ultimate Yang essence to help Liu Yufei, whose vital energy had been greatly depleted, recover her vitality, thus turning misfortune into blessing!
Xue Qianqian's jade fingers moved like lightning, sealing Hua Yinghong's seminal gate and withdrawing from Liu Yufei's body. She lay on the bed, facing the sky. After the rampant release of his essence, his manhood, driven by the lustful poison, did not collapse. It still pointed its head to the sky, its entire body blood red, its eyes wide open in anger!
"Ju-mei, come up here quickly!" Xue Qianqian saw Liu Ju standing helplessly beside her, naked, and gestured for her to come closer. Her jade-like fingers flashed as she lightly pressed several acupoints on Liu Ju's
body! Liu Ju was startled, and for some reason, her face suddenly flushed red. It turned out that Xue Qianqian had used her unique technique, the "Aphrodisiac Peach Blossom Finger," to channel several streams of peach blossom energy into Liu Ju's body, directly igniting her passion! Liu Ju felt incredibly hot all over, a tingling, itchy sensation spreading from her heart to every nerve, as if she were experiencing extreme emptiness, instantly becoming a muddy mess!
As her virginity was broken, two streams of clear tears flowed from Liu Ju's beautiful eyes, a mixture of pain and happiness swirling in her heart…
******** ****
Inside the council hall, only Lü Jingwei, Miao Youlan, and Liu Lan remained. The others, following Liu Yufei's account of Hua Yinghong's battle plan, discussed it and agreed upon it before departing to their respective missions. After all, the Jade Dragon Army wouldn't stop their attack just because Hua Yinghong was unconscious. According to Ba Tian's report, the Eastern Route Army cleared the traps and mechanisms on the official road after dawn and was almost at the Wanquan River, only fifteen li from Jubao Town.
The three men were each preoccupied with their own thoughts—Lü Jingwei worried about the safety of Liu Yufei and Hua Yinghong, for the sake of the Liu family's inheritance and the restoration of the Tang Empire. Liu Yufei, as a princess, could not be harmed. Hua Yinghong, with his extraordinary talent, had opened a hopeful path to the restoration of the Tang Empire; his military strategies were irreplaceable by anyone from the Restoration Society or the Free Army. Lü Jingwei was deeply worried about this.
Liu Lan, however, was much simpler. Despite her usual feisty and cleverness, and her tendency to constantly bicker with Hua Yinghong, she had already secretly fallen in love, merely using the opportunity to interact and laugh with her beloved. At this moment, Miao Youlan both hoped that Liu Ju's rescue would be effective and that her beloved would be saved, and also harbored a faint hope...
Miao Youlan, however, had a different thought—
she remembered a month ago, after her mentor observed the celestial phenomena, he sighed softly and said to her, who was attending to her, "Lan'er, it's time to tell you the truth..."
Only then did Miao Youlan learn that she was actually a descendant of the Gaoshan royal family, and that she had been rescued by her mentor, who had a deep connection with the Gaoshan royal family, during her escape. She couldn't help but burst into tears! Afterwards, her mentor told her about the recent crisis of the Gaoshan tribe, and said, "The imperial star shines, and a strange person descends from heaven. The world is in great chaos, but it will eventually be well-governed." The person who could solve the crisis of the Gaoshan tribe and even revitalize it was on Treasure Island.
When she first met Hua Yinghong, Miao Youlan was attracted by his pair of eyes, which were filled with fervent and deep emotions, and carried a wild, rebellious, intelligent, focused, and mysterious quality. Those eyes radiated an unyielding spirit and had a strange charm that made people unconsciously follow him on his adventures. The moment Hua Yinghong unhesitatingly offered the Gaoshan tribe the most generous terms, she realized that perhaps the extraordinary person her mentor had spoken of was Hua Yinghong!
She waited there hoping that after Hua Yinghong was rescued, he would see her concern; the revitalization of the Gaoshan tribe and the hatred of their extermination would both be intertwined with Hua Yinghong…
Suddenly, Liu Yufei's slightly weak voice came from inside: “Sister Liu Lan, please come in quickly!”

Volume 3, Chapter 33: The Flames of War Rage at Jubao
Ferry.
Twenty feet below Qiushui Flat was the Wanquan River, its current gentle and about fifteen feet wide. Originating from the Alang Mountains, the Wanquan River, rushing down to the vicinity of Jubao Town, had lost its flamboyant momentum, flowing softly along a riverbed no more than ten feet high.
The water was clear and transparent, with a natural emerald green hue. Fish swam freely in the water, completely unaware that a bloody battle was about to erupt, threatening to destroy their peaceful home.
A nearly ten-foot-wide iron chain bridge spanned the Wanquan River, more than ten feet above the water. At each end of the bridge were high platforms made of square stones, tightly binding thirteen iron chains, each thicker than a strong man's fist. Eleven of the thirteen chains ran side-by-side, with two more serving as handrails five feet above. Countless iron chains, each as thick as a thumb, strung the main iron chains into a two-foot-square iron chain net. Originally, the bridge was paved with iron planks, wide enough for two warhorses or a four-man column to walk side-by-side. Now, the planks had been removed by the Free Army, leaving only the bare iron chain net.
On the west bank of Jubao Ferry, upstream on the Wanquan River, were steep, towering mountains, allowing the Free Army to hold the key route with minimal force, blocking the Yulong Army's westward advance to Jubao Town.
Qiu Shuibian stood on the high platform on the east bank of the river; the sentry post guarding the ferry crossing was already empty. The hydrological data of the Wanquan River flashed through his mind: "Jubao Ferry, water depth one zhang; during autumn and summer floods, depth can reach two zhang." According to Yulong's official records of Jubao Ferry, the water was about one zhang deep at this time, making it impossible for the army to wade across. The only solution was to replace the wooden planks on the iron chain bridge and cross it. He had anticipated the Free Army's removal of the bridge planks before setting out, and Qiu Shui-bian had carried enough planks in his supplies.
"A general who does not know astronomy, geography, mountains, rivers, and valleys is unfit to be a general." Qiu Shui-bian had studied military strategy diligently, which was one of the reasons for his eloquence.
Since his last contact with Qiu Lei last night, learning that Qiu Lei had returned to reinforce Xigang, he had lost contact until dawn this morning. Qiu Shui-bian became somewhat panicked and released two carrier pigeons, one to search for Qiu Lei and the other to seek naval reinforcements. Leading his large force, he swiftly bypassed the numerous traps and mechanisms set up by the Free Army's special forces along the official road, heading straight for Jubao Town.
On the opposite bank of the river, on the Zhen Suo platform and the riverbank, approximately three thousand Free Army soldiers stood ready, bows drawn and arrows aimed, their swords and spears gleaming. Qiu Shuibian's lips curled into a smile—the Free Army's total strength was only a little over ten thousand men. To launch a surprise attack on Xigang from the Iron Mine Camp, they needed to leave enough troops to defend against Xie Zhan's pursuit from Yingchou Ridge; to block Qiu Lei's attack, they also had to guard against the Jade Dragon Army from Pearl Field… They needed troops everywhere. These three thousand men before him, even without the newly released slaves from yesterday, represented the entire main force the Free Army of Jubao Town could muster. If they could defeat them in one fell swoop, Jubao Town would be within their grasp.
Qiu Shuibian seemed to see victory beckoning him. Calculating the time, he waved his hand and ordered, "Attack!"
A select elite Jade Dragon Army assault team surged from the high platform onto the iron chain bridge, shields in one hand, gripping the iron chains with the other, their feet on thick ropes, rapidly scaling the opposite platform. Behind them, two smaller teams of soldiers, two men per team, one holding a shield, the other carrying standard military iron planks twelve feet long, one foot wide, and one inch thick, laying them across the bridge. When the planks were laid, nearly five thousand Jade Dragon Army soldiers would rush across the iron chain bridge and begin their carnage.
"Fire!" By the time the Jade Dragon Army assault team reached the riverbank, they were within range of powerful bows. With a command, hundreds of arrows rained down from the opposite platform and the riverbank!
**** ********
Treasure Strait. Thirty Jade Dragon Navy warships advanced towards Pearl Field in a single formation.
On the foredeck of the central flagship, Ling Ye, the commander of the North Port Jade Dragon Navy regiment, stood against the wind. Ling Ye, in his early twenties, was a robust and imposing figure with a rugged face, exuding charisma and personality. Dressed in the standard uniform of the Jade Dragon Army, he appeared exceptionally heroic. His most striking feature was his pair of sharp, piercing eyes, almost too intense to look directly at.
Ling Ye was one of the few members of the Qiu family, despite not being of the same surname, to hold a high position in the military. The Ling family had been Qiu family generals for four generations, loyal to the Qiu clan and repeatedly achieving great merit. Ling Ye, at the age of twenty-five, had risen to the high rank of naval regimental commander, not through family connections. His military strategy was excellent, and his martial arts skills had reached the ninth rank, far surpassing Qiu Lei, earning him the title of one of the "Four Tigers of the Qiu Clan."
After Qiu Lei's final order last night, there was no further news from Xigang, suggesting a major upheaval had occurred. However, an urgent message had just arrived from Qiu Shuibian of the Lingbao Eastern Route Army; the Eastern Route Army had advanced to Jubao Ferry, indicating a fierce battle was imminent. Ling Ye desperately wanted to land immediately and launch a surprise attack from the north. However, the winds in the strait were unpredictable. The warships, which had sailed smoothly yesterday, were now facing headwinds and had to rely on human power to propel the waterwheels, slowing them considerably. They had originally thought they would reach Pearl Farm by noon, but now it seemed they wouldn't arrive until late noon at the earliest.
"Send the order! Speed up!" Ling Ye commanded, gazing towards Jubao Town.
******** ****
Liu Lan had been inside the room for nearly two quarters of an hour, yet there was still no news of Hua Yinghong's escape. Lü Jingwei and Miao Youlan sat in the hall, feeling extremely uncomfortable. With their martial arts skills, they could hear Liu Lan's moans and gasps during their lovemaking. Lu Jingwei's old face looked extremely unnatural, while Miao Youlan's pretty face flushed with shyness.
"Report! The Jade Dragon Army is attacking Jubao Ferry." A messenger hurriedly reported.
"Miss Miao, I'm going to check on Jubao Ferry. Please be extra careful in protecting it." Neither the Free Army nor the Gaoshan tribe had any outstanding experts, and the battle at Jubao Ferry needed someone to take charge. Lu Jingwei, having heard these whispered secrets for so long, and now facing a beautiful young woman, couldn't bear the embarrassment any longer. He decided to use this opportunity to escape.
With an expert like Miao Youlan protecting them from the outside and Xue Qianqian looking after them from the inside, Hua Yinghong and Liu Yufei should be safe.
As soon as Lu Jingwei left, Liu Yufei gracefully emerged from the room. The traces of her previous passionate encounter with Hua Yinghong were still visible; her hair was slightly disheveled, and her face showed signs of fatigue. However, after some time to rest, her eyes had regained their clear and bright look, and her gaze was even more charming and captivating.
"Sister Fei, is Brother Hua alright?" Miao Youlan was overjoyed to see Liu Yufei emerge as if nothing had happened.
Seeing that Miao Youlan was alone, Liu Yufei didn't answer, but suddenly knelt down before her, saying, "Sister, I beg you to promise me one thing!"
Miao Youlan's face paled, and she quickly reached out to support Liu Yufei's shoulders, asking, "Sister Fei, what are you doing? Please get up, I promise you." She was utterly astonished by Liu Yufei's beauty and admired her magnanimity; in just two days, they had become as close as sisters. Although she knew Liu Yufei's request was extraordinary, she didn't hesitate.
"Please, you must save Brother Hua! Sister Liu Lan is also dying. Only you can save Brother Hua!" Hearing this, Liu Yufei stood up, but made a request that greatly embarrassed Miao Youlan.
The poison of the iron wire snake that Hua Yinghong had been afflicted with was extraordinary; even Xue Qianqian had been greatly surprised. According to the "Records of Strange Things," the common venomous snake could be neutralized with the virginity of a single virgin. However, the "venomous snake" Ouyang Bin had gone to great lengths to find a pair of male and female snake kings, and then used the Blue Qi Yin-Yang Technique to train them. Although the venom of Liu Ju and Liu Lan was neutralized by their virginity, and Xue Qianqian twice used aphrodisiac techniques to induce Hua Yinghong to release his virginity, it remained exceptionally potent. Liu Yufei had no choice but to shamelessly beg Miao Youlan, whom she had only known Hua Yinghong for two days, for help.
Countless thoughts flashed through Miao Youlan's mind. Liu Yufei's unusual kneeling had already given her a vague idea that her request would put her in a difficult position, and even after she actually asked, it still surprised her greatly. In an instant, her mentor's words, Hua Yinghong's strangely captivating eyes, his resolute expression in generously helping the Gaoshan tribe, his plan to spare the Gaoshan people's lives, and the strange feeling she had when she held him in her arms while he was severely injured… all flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern.
"Am I to entrust my eighteen years of virginity to him?" Miao Youlan knew that a man who could so captivate a Tang princess and stunning beauty like Liu Yufei would never wrong her, but out of girlish modesty, she still felt uneasy.
"If you feel wronged, sister, I'm willing to take you as my wife," Liu Yufei said hastily, seeing Miao Youlan's hesitation. She assumed that Miao Youlan's unparalleled beauty and status as a princess made her unwilling to be subservient. She only wanted her beloved to be saved; she didn't care about titles. Saving a life was urgent; any further delay would likely result in Hua Yinghong exploding in agony.
If Lü Jingwei were here, he would never comply. A Tang princess, if she succeeded in restoring her kingdom, would become empress; how could she possibly submit to someone else? Wouldn't that make her a laughingstock?
“Sister Fei, please don’t say that. Brother Hua knew you first, and I’ve only met him a few times. If… if… we sisters are not distinguished by age… anyway, I agree,” Miao Youlan said, her voice barely audible with embarrassment.
Liu Yufei was overjoyed and said, “Thank you, sister!” She hurriedly pulled Miao Youlan into the room—
******** ****
Ten miles downstream from Jubao Ferry lies Kunlongtan (Trapped Dragon Beach).
The Wanquan River flows through here, its current slowing down, splitting into several narrow streams no more than ten feet wide. The water is waist-deep, and the riverbed and beaches are made of fist-sized round stones.
A dragon trapped in shallow water is teased by snakes, and a tiger fallen on the plains is bullied by dogs. No matter how powerful a being was, it may eventually fall into hardship.
Kunlongtan is shallow and flat. Legend has it that a giant dragon from the sea, taking advantage of the high tide, sailed upstream along the Wanquan River to this place. After the tide receded, it was trapped on the beach because it had no water to draw upon, and this was seen by the world, hence the name.
The terrain here is open, allowing the Yulong Army to bypass the area. Both cavalry and infantry could easily cross the river, leaving the Liberal Army with no chance of resistance. However, Qiu Shui-bian still led his eastern army directly towards Jubao Ferry, intending to seize the iron chain bridge. Was he truly just a bookish strategist?
Qiu Shui-bian's plan was actually quite cunning—
he anticipated that the iron chain bridge would be easy to defend and difficult to attack. No strategist would easily give up using such a strategic location to block and kill the enemy. Therefore, he sent nearly 5,000 Yulong troops directly to Jubao Ferry, feigning a bridge-seizing posture, but in reality, to lure the main force of the Liberal Army to the opposite bank for a decisive battle. This also allowed 3,000 Liberal Army soldiers to prepare for battle on the opposite bank.
If the main force had directly taken the Kunlongtan route, the Liberal Army would have had no chance of engaging the Yulong Army in a direct confrontation in open terrain. Their most likely outcome would have been a desperate defense of Jubao Town—despite the mere three-zhang-high walls, which would still require a strong attack from the Yulong Army. Three thousand Free Army soldiers held the city, but it couldn't be taken in a short time, and the attacking side would suffer heavy casualties.
Qiu Shuibian dispatched a captain with nearly eight hundred elite Jade Dragon cavalry, who, after emerging from the mountains, secretly left the main force and detoured to Kunlongtan. The several narrow streams posed no obstacle to the horses' galloping; after crossing, they could sail upstream to attack the rear of the Free Army at Jubao Ferry. The opposite bank was flat and suitable for cavalry charges. Even under normal circumstances, eight hundred elite Jade Dragon cavalry could likely defeat three thousand elite Jade Dragon infantry, let alone the poorly trained three thousand Free Army soldiers. Simply scattering the Free Army near the high platform would ensure a bloodbath and corpses littering the battlefield after the main force crossed the bridge!
This plan was almost flawless. However, it relied on the fact that the main force of the Free Army consisted only of the three thousand men at Jubao Ferry. With a large number of Free Army soldiers and mountain warriors returning to Jubao Town after the Battle of Yingchou Ridge, Qiu Shuibian's insidious plan fell into Hua Yinghong's trap.
When Liu Litao, Mu Shanzhu, and the others saw the eight hundred Jade Dragon Elite Cavalry, exuding a murderous aura and imposing presence, appear on the opposite riverbank, they couldn't help but admire Hua Yinghong's accurate prediction. Hua Yinghong, who should have been enjoying a life of pleasure and romance, had already decided on this battle against the Eastern Jade Dragon Army after briefly explaining the plan to Liu Yufei the previous night—
the Jade Dragon Elite Cavalry could practically celebrate victory ahead of schedule. The Jade Dragon Elite Cavalry began to gallop across the Trapped Dragon Beach in neat formations of ten riders abreast.
******** ****
Miao Youlan removed the last piece of clothing, revealing a flawless body that would make any woman envious. Even the well-traveled Xue Qianqian couldn't help but exclaim in sincere admiration: "Truly a masterpiece of the Creator!"
Her fair skin was so delicate and smooth, with a subtle sheen beneath her flawless, porcelain-like skin, and an elastic texture that radiated a captivating and alluring charm. Moreover, years of diligent martial arts training gave her a healthy and supple physique, allowing her to exude a unique charm of strength and grace amidst her captivating allure.
This stunningly beautiful and pure maiden, with a face like a celestial being, was still a virgin. Under Xue Qianqian's guidance, she lay shyly on the bed. Beside her, Liu Lan, already unconscious, had her snow-white legs spread wide, her slender waist arching to meet Hua Yinghong's fierce thrusts... The heart-pounding sounds of their impact, combined with their heavy breathing and soft moans, created a vibrant symphony of lovemaking...
Xue Qianqian used her "Aphrodisiac Peach Blossom Hand" to roam over Miao Youlan's exquisite body, her slender fingers tracing her straight, fair neck, her rounded, delicate shoulders, her full, perky, soft, and supple virgin breasts... Her skin was soft and smooth to the touch...
"Mmm..." Miao Youlan let out a hot, shy moan. Xue Qianqian's superb aphrodisiac technique had brought her desire to its peak. She felt so empty, desperately needing something to fill her burning passion. Her heart was filled with shyness and desire, and her jade cheeks flushed red as she moaned shyly, "Mmm..."
Xue Qianqian sealed it again after Hua Yinghong convulsed for a while. Although the primordial yang was beneficial to replenish Liu Lan's depleted primordial yin, too much of a good thing is bad...
"Hmm... Mmm..." Miao Youlan panted repeatedly, her heart filled with both surprise and joy—
"Mmm...mmm..." Miao Youlan began to pant softly, her smooth, delicate, naked, soft, and snow-white body beginning to writhe and undulate slightly, responding to Hua Yinghong's movements with shy yet irresistible rises and falls... The pain subsided, replaced by an ecstasy, her soul melting, her pair of smooth, beautiful, rounded, and slender legs unconsciously wrapping around each other... A soft moan escaped her pretty, red lips: "Mmm..."
In an instant, that scalding hot thing moved at a speed of over a thousand degrees, thrusting against her delicate, shy, and timid flower bud, Miao Youlan's blushing face turning bright red.
Suddenly, Miao... A jolt of electric shock shot through Youlan's body, an uncontrollable, indescribable, and exquisite spasm deep within...
Hua Yinghong, already poised like an arrow on a bowstring, was aroused by the stimulation of her primordial yin energy. With a roar, a series of violent spasms sent streams of scalding essence powerfully pounding against her delicate, sensitive flower bud... For the first time since being poisoned, he had reached his climax on his own!
Miao Youlan was instantly sent to the peak of ecstasy as well. In the intoxicating pleasure of their union, she cried out softly, feeling as if she were dying of pleasure, forgetting all restraint... Gentle and submissive, shyly yielding, yielding...
The beautiful, pure, and lovely virgin was now panting heavily, drenched in fragrant sweat, her jade-like face flushed with shame. Her cheeks were flushed with spring, like a pear blossom in the rain, a lotus emerging from the water, exquisitely beautiful…
Hua Yinghong did not wake up; his still-erect member moved again, sending the stunning beauty to ecstasy, a state of blissful ecstasy, time and again…

Jubao Ferry.
Within two quarters of an hour, the Jade Dragon Army's hundred-man assault team charged three times, each time being driven back by powerful arrows just before reaching the middle of the river. The shield-wielders responsible for laying the iron planks could only lay them less than two zhang beyond the riverbank before being unable to expand their gains. The arrow rain from the Free Army on the opposite high platform was relatively easy to defend against, but the sharp arrows shooting up from below the bridge were difficult for the assault team and shield-wielders to guard against. More than fifty men were lost in the three charges. Jade Dragon Army assault soldiers and shield-wielders fell dead from arrows, some lying on the bridge, others drowning. Their crimson blood stained the clear river below, turning a large section of the water a shocking red.
Each time the Jade Dragon Army was repelled, the opposing Free Army would erupt in cheers!
The battle-hardened Jade Dragon Army, of course, was not deterred by this bloodshed. Qiu Shuibian ordered a fourth regrouping of assault troops and shield-wielders, awaiting the opportune moment.
From the downstream direction of the Wanquan River on the opposite bank, the sound of thunderous hooves could be faintly heard. Dust billowed in the distance. A shout rang out from the Free Army's rear: "It's bad! Enemy cavalry are attacking!" The Free Army's rear then descended into chaos!
"Success or failure hinges on this! Kill!" Although Qiu Shuibian was somewhat surprised that the Jade Dragon Elite Cavalry had arrived earlier than planned, he guessed that they had quickly passed through the Trapped Dragon Beach and were already heading towards the rear of the Free Army at Jubao Ferry. He immediately ordered the assault team to charge!
One hundred elite assault team members, moving with the speed of galloping horses, rushed up the laid iron planks in rows of four. Instead of using the ropes for support, each person used the edge of the planks, about two zhang from the shore, to propel themselves two or three zhang into the air, flying four or five zhang. They would then land where they could find a foothold in the intersecting iron chains, gathering their inner energy to leap again, covering another three or four zhang in each jump! In the blink of an eye, the first four were only about five zhang from the opposite bank—the first wave of the Free Army... The arrow rain then pierced the air and hurtled towards them!
The Jade Dragon Army assault troops brandished their shields in their left hands and weapons in their right, deflecting the arrows one by one. They leaped forward, covering another three zhang (approximately 10 meters), using the iron chain net for leverage. The first few landed on the opposite bank and charged towards the Free Army troops arrayed a few zhang away! Then, nearly a hundred assault troops landed on the other side, only a few wounded by arrows!
Qiu Shuibian had revealed his true trump card—the previous charges were merely a feint to lull the Free Army into a false sense of security; this time, he had gathered his true elite warriors to seize the bridge: most of the hundred assault troops were masters of the third rank or higher, and the surprise attack was indeed successful. The Free Army's ranks were thrown into chaos .
Archers retreated, while spearmen and shield-wielders stepped forward to meet them, but they were no match for the elite Jade Dragon troops. Several were killed or wounded, their formation crumbled, and they fled to the flanks and rear!
The Jade Dragon assault team, having routed the Free Army's vanguard, did not pursue, but charged straight towards the high platform where the bridge was being laid!
Without the threat of a hail of arrows, the Jade Dragon soldiers laying the bridge planks no longer even used their shields, their advance accelerating dramatically!
The outcome was decided! Looking at the Free Army's chaotic rear and the Jade Dragon assault team that was almost on the high platform, Qiu Shuibian couldn't help but lightly wave his feather fan and laugh smugly: No matter how cunning the Free Army may be, they cannot escape my, Qiu Shuibian's, grasp
! Bian, who initially appeared somewhat respectable and refined, revealed a chillingly hypocritical and lewd laughter in his moments of triumph—

Volume 3, Chapter 34, "A Blessing in Disguise ":
The poison of the Iron Wire Serpent King far exceeded Xue Qianqian's initial estimate. Even after the virgin Miao Youlan, who had just experienced intimacy, had repeatedly released her primordial yin energy under the intense assault, Hua Yinghong's poison was still not completely eradicated. The three highly skilled virgins possessed abundant and vigorous primordial yin energy, which could have completely neutralized the poison. However, because none of the three women understood the art of inner seduction and could not control their desires, acting purely on instinct, the poison was only alleviated.
"Sister Liu, are there any other virgins you've been intimate with?" "Xue Qianqian asked helplessly.
Miao Youlan, Liu Lan, and Liu Ju were still in a deep sleep after their extreme excitement. Liu Yufei, seeing that Hua Yinghong was still not out of danger, replied, "There should be quite a few in Liu Lan's women's camp, but given Brother Hua's temperament, I'm afraid he can't accept harming strangers for no reason. Sister Xue...you...you..." The moment she and Hua Yinghong were intimate that night, all their memories and consciousness were shared without reservation, so her understanding of Hua Yinghong's character was probably even deeper than that of the otherworldly "Fei'er".
Xue Qianqian frowned slightly and sighed softly, "Sister Liu, there's no need to say more. I just hope you don't think that I'm truly a naturally lewd person." After saying that, she lifted the sleeve of her left arm with her jade hand, revealing a section of her fair and smooth, rounded white arm, where a bright red mark of virginity was clearly visible!
"Sister!" "Liu Yufei couldn't help but throw herself into Xue Qianqian's arms, tears streaming down her face!
******** ****
Kunlong Beach.
Three hundred elite Jade Dragon cavalry, acting as the vanguard, swiftly crossed several small rivers from the shallows. The riverbeds were solid, and the water was only knee-deep. They saw nothing unusual within a hundred feet of crossing. After giving a signal, the remaining five hundred riders followed, their formation of ten riders abreast showing no sign of disorder, demonstrating their excellent training and superb horsemanship.
"Sir! Enemy troops!" A sharp-eyed scout noticed the anomaly and hurriedly reported.
Qiu Shuibian's direct subordinate squadron leader, You Kun, alone rode his horse to a small pile of rocks and looked out—"
About half a mile directly in front of the vanguard of the Jade Dragon Elite Cavalry, countless Free Army soldiers in red robes and black armor emerged from behind the haystacks in the rice paddies. Looking further back and downstream of the Wanquan River, another large number of Free Army soldiers in red robes and black armor, along with those in the Jade Dragon Army's standard black robes and armor but with white cloth wrapped around their arms, slowly closed in from half a mile away. The
Free Army led by Liu Litao and the Gaoshan warriors led by Mu Shanzhu were closing in from three directions around Kunlongtan. After Lin Zhi, Miao Youlan, and others led their troops back to reinforce Jubao Town last night, apart from the Yunshalang Squadron which went to Pearl Harbor, the Free Army "regular army" in Jubao Town, which had undergone short-term training, had reached more than 4,000 men. In addition to more than 2,000 reserves and 5,000 Gaoshan warriors, the total strength reached 12,000 men. If used properly, they could defeat or even annihilate the Lingbao East Route Army that arrived first, and then deal with the navy that arrived later, taking advantage of the time difference between the two armies to defeat them one by one.
Hua Yinghong had devised a plan last night, but the sudden assassination attempt nearly ruined everything. Fortunately, he had already explained the general plan to Liu Yufei beforehand; otherwise, given Lü Jingwei and the others' deep-seated adherence to orthodox military doctrine, they might have engaged the Yulong Army in a large-scale battle. Regardless of victory or defeat, heavy casualties among the Free Army and the Gaoshan warriors would have been inevitable.
Lü Jingwei and the others had already witnessed Hua Yinghong's ingenious military strategies and consecutive victories, and dared not alter his proposed battle plan. The discussions in the council hall were merely refining some tactical details to perfect the battle plan.
Annihilating the Yulong elite cavalry at Kunlongtan was a crucial part of the plan to annihilate the entire Eastern Route Army. A total of 5,000 men were deployed there: Liu Litao led 2,000 to block the advance towards Jubao Ferry, while Mu Shanzhu led 3,000 men to ambush from the lower reaches and east bank of the Wanquan River, cutting off the Yulong elite cavalry's retreat.
The Free Army soldiers advancing from the three fronts were disorganized, carrying wooden sticks and branches, which they scattered haphazardly as they marched. The large contingent behind them threw their fishing nets onto the branches and sticks, even into the shallow water.
Seeing this, You Kun knew the Free Army was setting up obstacles to hinder their cavalry charge. Even if the enemy's individual soldiers were weak, without the power of their galloping horses, breaking through the encirclement of five thousand men would be nearly impossible, especially with six or seven men attacking one.
"All troops, listen to my command! Charge! Kill!" You Kun swiftly issued the order.
Half a mile was the optimal distance for a cavalry charge. The sound of hooves grew louder and louder, shaking the heavens, causing concern—could three thousand Free Army soldiers withstand eight hundred Jade Dragon elite cavalry? In the history of warfare on the Hua Long Continent, there were countless examples of cavalry defeating infantry ten times their size on the plains!
This was a tremendous test—not only for the encircled Jade Dragon elite cavalry, but also for the newly formed Free Army!
******** ****
Jubao Ferry.
Lü Jingwei, leading twenty elite warriors of the Free Army and the Gaoshan tribe, firmly held the high platform, drawing the attack of the Jade Dragon Army's assault team. Lü Jingwei used no weapon, his palms flying, his movements as swift as lightning, rushing to wherever danger arose. The force of his Blazing Sun Palm struck, instantly killing or wounding all the elite Jade Dragon Army warriors who rushed onto the platform, forcing them to retreat.
Qiu Shuibian's anticipated cavalry was still entangled in the Free Army's rear, while a thousand men from the Free Army's central force went to reinforce and intercept them. The sounds of battle could be heard in the distance, but the cavalry could not break through the defenses and advance towards the high platform to expand the Jade Dragon Army's beachhead.
On the iron chain bridge, the undisturbed Jade Dragon Army shield-wielders had already laid planks to the west bank of the river. The warriors who had laid the planks did not return but jumped onto the riverbank to join the effort to expand the beachhead. As the Jade Dragon Army grew stronger, the Free Army gradually crumbled, using arrows to hold their ground and retreating towards the rear.
Seeing the charade was nearing its end, Lü Jingwei shouted, "The enemy is too strong! Retreat!" He leaped down from the platform, unleashing powerful strikes with his Blazing Sun Palm, forcing the Jade Dragon Army soldiers who tried to block his path to retreat hastily. No one dared to challenge him, and he forcefully cleared a path! Twenty wounded Free Army soldiers and mountain tribe experts followed closely behind, retreating into the Free Army's ranks.
Qiu Shuibian, on the opposite bank, was secretly astonished to see such skilled fighters within the Free Army. However, seeing that the platform had been captured and planks laid near it, he was certain victory was in his grasp. He ordered, "All troops, listen to my command! Cross the river and form ranks!"
Once all five thousand Jade Dragon soldiers crossed the river and surrounded them, no matter how powerful a fighter was, they wouldn't have time to recover. They would exhaust their inner energy and die under the hail of blades! This is precisely why martial arts practitioners fear armies!
Soon, nearly five thousand men, in ranks of four, rapidly crossed the iron chain bridge and rushed towards the front lines. On the east bank of the river, Qiu Shuibian left only a small squad to protect the supplies and the high platform.
Just as the Jade Dragon Army formed its attack formation, the chaos and shouts of the Free Army's rear guard suddenly ceased. The rear guard became the front guard, and the front guard became the rear guard, quickly splitting into two groups and retreating towards Jubao Town and the lower reaches of the Wanquan River. The last rank was already more than one hundred and fifty paces away from the Jade Dragon Army's front guard!
"Trying to escape! Too late!" Qiu Shuibian sneered, ordering, "Full pursuit! Kill all these lowly slaves!"
If the Free Army fought a direct confrontation, it might cause trouble for the Jade Dragon Army; but now, their desperate escape exposes them as a rabble, skilled only at using trickery under the cover of night, their true colors revealed in direct combat—to think they could escape the Jade Dragon Army's relentless pursuit over such a short distance is nothing short of a pipe dream, merely adding to the Jade Dragon Army's credit with corpses.
However, in his smugness, he forgot to consider: if the Free Army's rear guard had truly been thrown into chaos by the Jade Dragon elite cavalry, would they have suddenly vanished?
No matter how much Qiu Shuibian boasted of his military expertise, only on the ever-changing battlefield could the difference between a master general and a mediocre one be truly revealed!
******** ****
While Xue Qianqian was helping Liu Ju, Liu Lan, and Miao Youlan to consummate their relationship with Hua Yinghong, her jade-like hand inevitably made intimate contact with Hua Yinghong. The strange sensation she felt when they struck hands to seal their promise that day continued to stimulate the Peach Blossom True Qi within her, causing her heart to pound. She was almost certain that Hua Yinghong's wondrous True Qi would have an immeasurable impact on her Nine Revolutions Peach Blossom Seduction Technique. Giving her twenty-five years of chastity to a man she didn't dislike and even felt a strange attraction to, her heart held little resistance. The Holy Sect's doctrine revered nature and did not prohibit lust. She had remained chaste and virgin for many years despite temptations of beauty and pleasure, simply because she hadn't met the right person.
Xue Qianqian's perfect body was in no way inferior to the women around her. Liu Yufei, still conscious, saw a sculpted, flawless, snow-white body naked before her. Her delicate, smooth skin and bones, her trembling, proudly erect snow-white breasts, her slender, soft waist that could be grasped in one hand, her smooth, snow-white abdomen, and her full, long, snow-white legs—every part was beautiful, every part exuding a blood-pumping allure. Especially due to her cultivation of the Peach Blossom Seduction Technique, her pair of trembling, proudly erect snow-white breasts were full and rounded, their tips a vibrant red, radiant with light, like rare treasures, revealing a mature charm that even Liu Yufei herself felt inferior to…
Xue Qianqian, accustomed to countless pleasures, grasped that thing with her jade-like hand, her advance reaching the honeyed spot. Even someone as worldly as her couldn't resist blushing and blushing when it came to her own. Her heart fluttered with shyness and confusion. The touch of his manhood on her moist, tender petals made her weak and powerless. As the spring tide surged and love juices overflowed, she shyly closed her eyes, her beautiful face flushed crimson—
Hua Yinghong had already fallen into a state of intoxicating madness, only knowing to move more and more violently… gradually pushing Xue Qianqian's soul and lust to the peak of ecstasy… Her smooth, white abdomen, which had trembled and writhed, gradually became more intensely responsive—her soft, white, jade-like arms tightly embraced Hua Yinghong's broad… Her delicate, jade-like fingers excitedly dug into his muscles—
she didn't know how much time had passed, whether it was billions of years or just a moment… Xue Qianqian shyly discovered that it was completely full and swollen… wisps of strange true energy slowly flowed into her body, bringing her boundless, intoxicating pleasure… She even forgot to circulate her Peach Blossom Charm Technique to absorb it… She only responded passionately and instinctively, moaning, and with each intense tremor, her shyly blooming, tender flower bud was touched as if by electric shock—
"Ugh...ah...um...ah..." The Peach Blossom Fairy's soft, boneless, delicate, and supple body finally began to spasm and convulse uncontrollably... After a series of uncontrollable spasms, a cool yet warm virgin yin essence gushed out from her flower stamen. The peach blossom true energy accumulated over many years of arduous cultivation surged out uncontrollably along with the yin essence, transforming into a beautiful peach blossom. The flower stamen consciously and tightly soaked and sucked at that thing, but Hua Yinghong devoured it like a whale sucking water through that foreign object...
Xue Qianqian used her divine sense to look inward, as if she could clearly "see" everything happening at the flower stamen. The peach blossom true energy flowed out of her body rapidly. Strangely, she wasn't afraid. Instead, she offered up her body, mind, and desires without reservation, even if it meant dying from exhaustion of her primordial yin, she would have no regrets...
Just as Xue Qianqian "saw" that only a tiny wisp of her primordial yin and peach blossom true energy remained
, and that she was about to be annihilated—Hua Yinghong began to convulse violently... Xue Qianqian's inner consciousness "saw" the essence, like milk, continuously pouring onto her flower bud, and a powerful, almost tangible primordial true energy rushed into her body, then rapidly spread... causing a suffocating, intoxicating kneading and squeezing sensation...
"Ah...ah...ah..." After receiving this almost tangible primordial true energy, Xue Qianqian's last remaining peach blossom true energy rapidly spun like a peach pit, expanding and sprouting, instantly filling her entire dantian and circulating joyfully through her meridians, completing thirty-six cycles in the blink of an eye! Wherever it went, its energy flowed, thoroughly transforming and transforming all the meridians in her body before flowing back into Hua Yinghong's body, forming a large circulation mediated by that foreign object… After an unknown amount of time, the energy flow returned to her dantian and condensed into a tiny peach pit, smaller than a little finger…
The peach blossom true energy that had filled her meridians and seemed unable to increase further was now completely gone. Utterly empty, a profoundly moving feeling brought tears to Xue Qianqian's eyes—in the moment she wholeheartedly dedicated herself, she received a generous return of his primordial true energy. She had finally successfully broken through the "refining essence into qi" stage of the Nine Revolutions Peach Blossom Charm Technique, reaching the realm of "dual cultivation of spirit and desire, refining qi into spirit"! That peach pit was the crystallization of the peach blossom true energy's qualitative transformation after quantitative accumulation. From then on, she no longer needed to absorb male essence; she could freely absorb the primordial energy of heaven and earth through the peach pit to improve her power and realm—
just when she thought she was about to die, Hua Yinghong opened a door to the Heavenly Dao for her!
Xue Qianqian sensed that Hua Yinghong had awakened. Although he didn't speak, she clearly "heard" his spirit tenderly comforting her: "Sister Qian, I'm so sorry you had to go through all this!"
Xue Qianqian's delicate body trembled violently, and her snow-white arms tightly embraced Hua Yinghong's shoulders...
Hua Yinghong had indeed awakened. Everything that had happened since he fell into a coma due to the poison was like a real yet absurd dream—
two iron-wire snakes bit his fists, one on each side, and two extremely hot and cold poisons simultaneously spread into his body. Almost instantly, they engaged in an intense struggle between extreme heat and cold within him. His spiritual sense seemed to have bid farewell to the frost and flames of the battlefield where his body fought; his mind soared, and his soul and body were no longer connected...
Everything became aimless. Initially, he suffered the torment of heat and cold.
The poison from the male snake was actually a cold, yin poison, which, by its very nature, had no effect on a yang body and quickly disappeared. The fiery, venomous poison from the female snake burned him like a raging inferno, causing him to exhale scorching air and feel his entire body burning. It was as if he were inhaling flames instead of air, and the sweat from his pores evaporated instantly. He clearly felt the boundless power of the Iron Wire Serpent King's poison burning his life force. All he craved was coolness, coldness, and moisture...
The heat gradually spread throughout his body's meridians and acupoints, and all the heat concentrated and flowed back, making his manhood incredibly hot. He felt as if all the heat in his body was being forced to vent from there, otherwise the terrible "yang fire" ignited by the venom would burn every meridian, causing him to experience excruciating pain, and after his mind and body were severely damaged, he would die in madness!
His ghostly spirit floated in the air, looking strangely at Lü Jingwei and the others busily surrounding his crimson body. He could "see" and "hear" everything, but he couldn't make a sound or control his body to make even the slightest movement.
As Liu Yufei almost risked her life in a frenzied lovemaking with the burning "him" below, his yin spirit, through the yang spirit residing within her body, could clearly sense her deep affection and the pleasure of each collision of body and soul, but he was powerless to influence the yang spirit's actions. Liu Yufei was no longer a virgin, and like adding fuel to the fire, the lustful poison intensified. He could only anxiously wait, even wanting to release his yang energy sooner so his beloved Fei'er wouldn't suffer anymore, but he couldn't—
that indescribable, bizarre feeling.
Xue Qianqian forcibly forced his yang energy out, helping Liu Yufei recover, for which he was deeply grateful. He would rather burn to death himself than let his beloved Fei'er be harmed or even endangered… Next, Liu Ju, Liu Lan, and even the fairy-like jade maiden Miao Youlan, in an attempt to cure his lustful poison, all lost their virgin bodies to his frenzied torment, leaving him both moved and saddened.
He wasn't a philanderer; appreciating beautiful women was one thing, truly possessing them was quite another. A union without love rarely brings happiness to either party. He didn't necessarily want as many beautiful women as possible, but these delicate and lovely girls had selflessly dedicated themselves to him, and he felt obligated to make them happy.
Xue Qianqian's complete openness of her body and soul to him stirred his soul even more. Just as the fairy-like Xue Qianqian offered up her virginity and the peach blossom energy she had painstakingly cultivated, pouring it upon his symbol for him to take, and his yang spirit unceremoniously absorbed and devoured it all, his yin spirit seemed to despise the yang spirit's despicable act of only taking and not giving, and finally became extremely angry!
The extreme rage of the Yin spirit generated a wondrous energy, a pure spiritual energy. It seemed as if a lightning bolt had reconnected the ascending Yin spirit with the Yang spirit, causing the Yin spirit to return to its rightful place, awaken anew, and regain control of its body. It then transferred the life essence transformed from its virgin Yin, along with its natal Yang and Primordial True Qi, all at once to Xue Qianqian.
If Xue Qianqian had harbored even the slightest selfish motive, she could have used her cultivation technique to intercept the True Qi before it returned to Hua Yinghong's body, using him as a furnace to absorb the boundless energy of heaven and earth. Her cultivation would have advanced to the level of a transcendent saint, or even directly entered the ranks of divine masters! But she didn't, not even with the slightest thought. She simply let the momentum carry her to form the core of the Peach Blossom Charm Technique, and then wept tears of joy!
In the fusion of spirit and desire, a wondrous connection had been established between Xue Qianqian and Hua Yinghong, just like that night between Hua Yinghong and Liu Yufei. There were no secrets between them anymore; with just a single thought, their minds were in perfect harmony!
Hua Yinghong opened his eyes, which had been closed for over an hour, and let out a long breath. The burning sensation throughout his body had subsided; although the aphrodisiac hadn't completely disappeared, he was temporarily out of danger. He gazed intently at Xue Qianqian, whose beautiful face, once radiant with the allure of the Peach Blossom Seduction Technique, now shone with a holy, angelic purity. Her eyes, with their intoxicatingly seductive allure, now held a clear, ethereal quality, like those of a fairy.
Slowly, Hua Yinghong pressed his lips to Xue Qianqian's cherry-red lips. Even after the most intimate contact, the belated kiss still sent a jolt of electricity through Xue Qianqian. She didn't speak, but from his expressive eyes, filled with wisdom, deep affection, and a wildness, Xue Qianqian understood everything!
In Xue Qianqian's heart, men had never mattered. Men, in her eyes, were merely tools for practicing her skills. She didn't worship men, nor did she ever submit to them; she never needed their pity or favors! But even now, she felt a surge of satisfaction and happiness—after a girl becomes a true woman, especially after dedicating herself to the man she loves, many of her thoughts might change.
Changeability is, after all, one of the greatest characteristics of a woman.
An unexpected assassination attempt propelled several men's martial arts to new heights, and also brought about an extraordinary romance between Hua Yinghong and several stunning beauties!
No one could have imagined that the wheels of history on the Hua Long Continent, and even the entire Sacred Continent, would be suddenly accelerated by this extraordinary encounter!
At this moment, the Battle of Jubao Ferry was in full swing!

Volume 3, Chapter 35: Which Fish, Which Net,
Trapped on Dragon Beach. The eight hundred Jade Dragon elite cavalry were like dragons trapped in shallow water, firmly trapped—
when the two thousand Free Army soldiers charged towards Liu Litao's front, the Jade Dragon army's morale was high—before them lay a flat river beach; to stop the Jade Dragon elite cavalry's charge with two thousand men was simply a hopeless fantasy. The standard equipment of the Jade Dragon elite cavalry consisted of full-body armor, a small steel shield in the left hand, and a finely crafted steel spear in the right. Their warhorses were covered from the knees up with a thin layer of fine steel plates, protecting even the horse's head and face, neither hindering the charge nor harming the horses from ordinary arrows.
The impact of cavalry on flat terrain was astonishing. Chang Shengqiu's poorly trained cavalry squad routed a thousand elite Yulong infantrymen at the north gate of Jubao Town. Even if the Free Army consisted entirely of spearmen capable of dealing with cavalry, their poor training would have been insufficient to withstand the onslaught. Moreover, in typical army formations, spearmen, shield-wielders, and archers or crossbowmen are usually balanced in a 3:1 ratio, designed for ranged attacks, close combat, and defense.
The Yulong elite cavalry quickly closed to within a hundred paces of the Free Army's front line, entering archery range. A hail of arrows rained down like locusts; the two thousand Free Army soldiers were equipped with twelve hundred archers. The dense barrage of arrows struck the cavalry's steel shields, armor, and the horses' armor, producing a sharp metallic clang. However, aside from a few poorly guarded cavalrymen who were hit in the face or limbs and fell from their horses, the arrows at this distance, unable to penetrate the armor, caused almost no casualties among the Yulong cavalry.
Soon, the cavalry's vanguard closed to eighty paces and encountered real trouble!
Cavalry is a type of unit with both obvious advantages and disadvantages: its advantage lies in its horses—the momentum of a galloping steed allows it to maximize its combat power; similarly, its disadvantage also lies in its horses. If the horses can be dealt with first, their momentum neutralized, and the cavalry forced off their mounts into melee combat, then the cavalry, with its limited equipment, is no match for simple spearmen and shield-wielding infantry. The cavalry's lances are specially made, reaching a length of eleven feet, slightly longer than infantry lances. While they are highly effective on horseback, they become difficult to wield on foot. Combined with the cavalry's thick armor, which reduces their agility, their combat effectiveness is significantly diminished.
Hua Yinghong has a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different troop types. His proposed battle plan, which dares to use infantry to directly block the Jade Dragon Elite Cavalry, demonstrates his ability to counter cavalry charges and force them off their horses! He could have used methods such as digging a series of traps and setting up obstacles to make it difficult for the horses to exert their charging power on the riverbanks and plains, but considering the risk of being discovered by scouts and disrupting the plan, Hua Yinghong opted for fishing nets. The warhorses were strong and powerful, but if they got tangled in the soft fishing nets during a charge, they would either be unable to move or, worse, be thrown off their horses and riders!
Jubao Town was rich in resources; not only did many civilians make a living by fishing, but the fishing nets made there were also extremely famous, with many sold to West Port and even the vicinity of North and East Port. Without much effort, the Free Army purchased thousands of fishing nets, making the net sellers extremely happy, and they gave the Free Army a 20% discount.
Only when the Jade Dragon elite cavalry charged close did they discover that the eighty paces between the two armies were covered with branches and tangled wood, and everywhere were fishing nets spread out! The first few ranks of cavalry, unable to stop in time, rushed into the net trap, their horses inevitably getting tangled, causing a series of falls, dozens of warhorses and Jade Dragon cavalrymen crashing heavily to the ground!
"Crack!—" A chilling sound of bones breaking and the neighing of warhorses rang out. The cavalrymen, shield in one hand and spear in the other, relied entirely on their feet inserted into the stirrups to brace themselves against their horses' bellies for stability. When their horses collapsed, they had no time to pull their legs out, and most of their thigh bones were crushed, rendering them immobile.
Seeing this, Captain You Kun, leading the Jade Dragon Elite Cavalry, shouted, "Spread out to both sides!" Caught off guard by this sudden turn of events, the well-trained Jade Dragon Elite Cavalry forcefully twisted their horses' heads, spreading out along the edge of the net formation to the sides, moving out of range of the arrows, forming a long, serpentine line
. You Kun and nearly eight hundred Jade Dragon Elite Cavalrymen stared at the net formation, momentarily at a loss. Using a net formation against warhorses was unheard of. If they tried to use spears to pry open the net, under the Free Army's hail of arrows, they would inevitably suffer casualties due to inadequate protection. If they dismounted and walked, the fishing nets wouldn't have much of an impact. However, with fewer than eight hundred cavalrymen, attacking two or three thousand men was a formidable challenge, especially since they had to slowly advance through a hail of arrows while thousands of Free Army soldiers were closing in from behind. It was a foregone conclusion that they would lose.
While they hesitated, the Free Army, which had surrounded them from the lower reaches of the Wanquan River and the east, had advanced to within 120 paces of their rear and flanks, soon entering firing range. Yet, the Free Army soldiers methodically gathered up the fishing nets, branches, and debris at the rear, spreading them out in front of their lines, and slowly advanced…
You Kun, who had led cavalry for many years, had never imagined that they would be trapped in such a net formation in the most advantageous position for cavalry charges—the plains and riverbanks. The fact that the enemy had laid out this plan in advance indicated that the Jade Dragon Army's deployment on the eastern route was already within their calculations. Moreover, the current force surrounding the Jade Dragon elite cavalry far exceeded Qiu Shuibian's estimated three thousand men; the main force of the Eastern Route Army at Jubao Ferry was likely also in danger.
The water upstream was deep; cavalrymen would find it nearly impossible to move an inch in the deep water, and with the Free Army pursuing them on both banks, it would be tantamount to suicide. Surrounded on three sides by damned fishing net formations, their retreat was cut off. The only way out was to fight their way through at any cost, escaping as many as possible to reach upstream and reunite with Qiu Shuibian. You Kun didn't hesitate any longer and decisively issued the order: "Four men in a row, spears to cut through the fishing nets, fight your way through! Charge!"
Since casualties were inevitable in breaking through the fishing net formations, the only option was to narrow the impact area, allowing those behind to advance along the path cleared by corpses, minimizing losses.
"Glory! That is my life!" Over seven hundred elite Jade Dragon cavalrymen shouted in unison, their voices powerful and intimidating! Free Army soldiers who had fought the Jade Dragon army knew that when the Jade Dragon army shouted this slogan, they had made up their minds to fight to the death. In successive fierce battles, no matter the unfavorable circumstances, not a single Jade Dragon soldier had ever surrendered.
The elite Jade Dragon cavalry, in a rank of four, spurred their horses forward at breakneck speed, beginning the battle to break through the fishing net formation!
"The Free Army will prevail!" Liu Litao's three thousand Free Army soldiers, not to be outdone, shouted in unison, echoed by the surrounding Gaoshan warriors.
Their incredibly fast horses quickly covered another twenty paces, reaching the fishing net formation. Braving a hail of arrows from the Free Army, the four riders in the front rank thrust their spears into the obstructing nets, lifting them up and hurling them to the side! Before they could lift a second net, their horses were caught in the nets, their hooves tangled, unable to gallop any further. They collapsed to the ground with their riders, broken bones and mangled limbs!
The four riders following closely behind leaped over the fallen horses and their companions, similarly lifting and hurling the four nets in front of them, only to be tripped up again, suffering broken bones and mangled limbs, some even dying without a sound!

The Jade Dragon elite cavalry were forced to break through the unprecedented "fishing net formation" in cavalry warfare in a desperate manner. Judging by the losses alone, with forty to fifty nets spread across an 80-pace straight line, at least two hundred Jade Dragon elite cavalry would perish in the battle to clear the nets before even charging into the enemy lines!
In the blink of an eye, the Jade Dragon elite cavalry, advancing in fours abreast, paid the price of sixty riders to reach the 50-pace mark. The dozens following behind, charging, tore down the nets on both sides, widening the passage. Clearing six nets was enough for eight riders to charge. When the passage reached the Free Army's front, it would be time for the remaining hundreds of elite cavalry to avenge their fallen comrades!
After entering the 50-pace mark, the arrows from powerful bows could already pierce the armor of the Jade Dragon cavalry. The Free Army archers were numerous; since they only needed to block the width of four riders abreast, the archers were divided into five volleys, firing continuously in a dense rain of arrows! The Jade Dragon elite cavalry often had to sacrifice ten or more riders to clear a row of fishing nets in front of them. Some cavalrymen were shot dead by arrows before they even reached the nets!
You Kun was heartbroken and his eyes were bloodshot at the sight—if his cavalrymen died in face-to-face battle, they would be considered brave and heroic! But to be shot dead like prey, without even getting close to the enemy, was an unprecedented disgrace!
The net-like passage opened by corpses reached within thirty paces of the Free Army. The Jade Dragon Elite Cavalry had lost over a hundred more, leaving fewer than six hundred. The Free Army and Gaoshan warriors, closing in from downstream and east of the river, had their net formation closing in on the rear and right flank of the Jade Dragon Elite Cavalry within a hundred paces.
"Retreat!" Liu Litao ordered. The Free Army soldiers, who had been firing arrows in rapid succession, no longer crouched to draw their arrows, but instead retreated through the deliberately left gaps according to the pre-arranged plan—the space they left behind revealing the already laid-out net formation!
For the Free Army soldiers on foot, the winding gaps in the nets were enough for a leisurely retreat, but for the Jade Dragon Elite Cavalry galloping side-by-side, there was no choice but to charge into the net!
Seeing the fishing net formation hidden behind the Free Army reappear, You Kun knew he couldn't escape. Rather than being slowly trapped and killed, he decided to use his elite troops to charge and kill one, even if it meant losing one, and gaining an extra profit. He immediately leaped up and shouted, "Personnel guard, follow me! Eight riders, charge!" He charged into the fishing net formation first, followed closely by nearly two hundred elite guards who sped towards the newly opened passage!
Knowing it was a path to death, the Jade Dragon Cavalry showed no fear, their faces filled with a death-defying resolve. The Qiu family cruelly exploited most of the commoners and slaves under their rule, but was famously generous to their army: even the lowest-ranking regular soldier received an annual salary of six gold coins from the kingdom, plus an additional four gold coins from the family's fiefdom income and family business profits, with further rewards for military merit. The families of the dead and the wounded received a one-time compensation of twenty gold coins, plus a fixed annual salary of five gold coins. Officers, of course, received even more. It's important to understand that in most parts of the Hua Long Continent, five gold coins a year is enough for a family of five to live comfortably for a year. However, the Qiu family not only ruthlessly hunts down those who desert, surrender without a fight, or betray their country, but also exterminates their entire families; many have had their homes ransacked and their entire clans wiped out.
The Jade Dragon Army's formidable fighting power is not without reason. In several battles between the Free Army and the Jade Dragon Army, aside from capturing several hundred with sleeping potions, the Jade Dragon Army almost never surrendered, even in extremely unfavorable situations. This is undoubtedly related to the Qiu family's art of military command.
The dozens of riders ahead of You Kun advanced the passage by more than ten paces before falling one after another to the hail of arrows. The Free Army, firing as they retreated, maintained a distance of about thirty paces from the very front of the passage. You Kun shielded his face and head with his left shield, channeling his inner energy into his right hand's steel spear. He spared no effort in using the Qiu family's renowned "Autumn Wind and Falling Leaves" spear technique, not only protecting his entire body and his horse but also creating a whirlwind that swept away all the debris within two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) in front of his horse. Reaching the fishing nets, he swept his spear tip across the ground, the powerful force sending eight fishing nets, along with the branches and tangled wood below, flying within a two-zhang radius! After three such consecutive shots, he was less than twenty paces from the Free Army's front-line archers!
"Kill!" With the enemy army right in front of them, the Jade Dragon Elite Cavalry cheered for You Kun's bravery and took the opportunity to vent their pent-up frustration. As long as they charged into the Free Army, with the strength of these two hundred elite knights, they could wreak havoc and harvest lives like straw!
Liu Litao, standing in the middle of the formation, saw that You Kun, dressed in the armor of a company commander, had superb marksmanship and a fierce attack. He was probably no less than a sixth-rank master. He immediately ordered the thirty mountain warriors beside him, who were holding powerful bows and arrows but had not yet made a move, "Snipe them with all your might!"
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!" Ten sharp arrows with strange whistles pierced the air, carrying a dazzling light like burning flames. They flew to within a foot of You Kun almost as soon as the bowstrings were drawn! Then ten more! And ten more!
The Forty-Eight Arrows of the Mountain!
No one among the mountain people who had taken refuge in the Alang Mountains had not heard of the fame of the "Forty-Eight Arrows of the Mountain". The Jade Dragon Army's repeated attempts to encircle and annihilate the enemy in the mountains have been fruitless, largely due to the "Forty-Eight Arrows of the High Mountains"! The Forty-Eight Arrows represent forty-eight individuals—forty-eight masters with martial arts skills only at the fifth or sixth rank, yet they are the true elite of the High Mountain tribe! Their martial arts might not match those of some of the Jade Dragon Army's captains or even platoon leaders, but their archery skills, honed to a divine level, have allowed them to utilize the terrain and coordinate their attacks effectively. At least several dozen Jade Dragon Army masters of the sixth rank or higher have fallen victim to their arrows, while the number of other masters of the fifth rank and below is countless!
This battle, in which they aid the Free Army against the Jade Dragon Army, is crucial to the High Mountain tribe's potential resurgence. The Forty-Eight Arrows of the High Mountains, who have always prioritized protecting the Alang Mountains and only sent ten men to the battle at the copper mine camp six months ago, have now mobilized their entire force under the leadership of Miao Youlan and Mu Shanzhu! To ensure the complete annihilation of the Jade Dragon elite cavalry, Lü Jingwei and his men sent thirty men to serve under Liu Litao, while Liu Litao kept them all with him to guard against enemy attacks with highly skilled fighters!
Thirty arrows, imbued with powerful true energy, were fired in three waves from about ten zhang away at the same man. The arrows, some high, some low, their paths unpredictable, blocked all possible angles from which You Kun could dodge. Some even arced around to attack from behind! You
Kun's divine sense immediately detected the unusual nature of these arrows. His steel spear, infused with true energy, drew a beautiful arc, deflecting all ten arrows in the first wave! However, because sweeping away the fishing net had already depleted much of his true energy, and the true energy carried by these arrows was extremely strong, his right hand became numb and sore, almost causing him to drop his spear! He struggled to swing his steel spear and left-hand shield, attempting to deflect the second wave of arrows, but his strength gave out. He managed to deflect five arrows aimed at his head and left chest, while his right chest, thigh, and lower abdomen were simultaneously struck by five arrows!
An unbearable pain shot through him, and You Kun's shield and spear slipped from his grasp. Before he could even utter a final scream, the third wave of arrows struck his head, throat, chest, and abdomen—vital points—leaving him riddled with arrows and dead on the spot! His body was propelled through the air by the powerful force of the arrows, and several arrows, still carrying momentum, flew towards the elite cavalrymen following closely behind him!
The terrifying bowstrings of the thirty "Forty-Eight Arrows of the High Mountains" twanged again, turning this passage into a true death trap for the Jade Dragon elite cavalry!

At Jubao Ferry,
Qiu Shuibian's large contingent of Jade Dragon troops split into two groups, pursuing the retreating Free Army! The terrain here is flat, fifteen li from Jubao Town. The elite Jade Dragon Army infantry can definitely catch up with and annihilate the Free Army before they retreat to Jubao Town. Moreover, there are eight hundred elite cavalry; it's impossible for the Free Army to escape!
Eight hundred elite cavalry? Qiu Shuibian wondered why the Jade Dragon elite cavalry, who had previously caused chaos in the Free Army's rear, had vanished. Were they all wiped out so quickly? He vaguely felt something was amiss, but with his current nearly five thousand men, they were enough to wipe out the Free Army two or three times over. He wasn't worried about falling into an ambush. In a head-on battle on this flat ground, the Free Army couldn't withstand the Jade Dragon Army's renowned Iron Triangle Formation. Besides, where would the Free Army find the manpower to set up an ambush?
If Qiu Shui-bian's judgment and plan had not been based on a miscalculation of the Liberal Army's strength, if Qiu Shui-bian had not been so clever as to try to lure and annihilate the main force of the Liberal Army at Jubao Ferry, but instead led his army to take a roundabout route through Kunlong Beach, and if Qiu Shui-bian had been able to realize he had fallen into a trap at that moment by noticing the unusual behavior of the cavalry and had stopped pursuing with his entire army, then given the formidable fighting power of the Yulong Army, the outcome of this battle between the Liberal Army and the Yulong Army on the eastern route would have been uncertain. But history has no ifs—just as Qiu Yu, the commander of the Second Regiment of the Treasure Division, later regretted his actions and said to his subordinates, “I regret not listening to Uncle Ran’s admonition that ‘Shui Bian is all talk and no action, and has no real talent or ability.’ It’s a pity that my six thousand soldiers were all ruined by this incompetent fool. How hateful! How lamentable!”
Just as the Yulong Army, heading towards Jubao Town, had chased after the Free Army’s rear guard for more than a mile and was only seventy or eighty paces away, and was about to catch up and slaughter them, the 1,500 Free Army soldiers in front, who were originally scattered in small groups on the east and west, and spread out horizontally by a hundred feet, suddenly split into two groups and fled to the sides, revealing the defensive line that had been hidden in the middle!
The defensive line was actually quite rudimentary. It was simply a trench dug in the loose soil of the plain, a hundred feet long, no more than ten feet wide, and only a little over two people deep. The excavated soil was turned over and compacted to one side of the trench, forming an earthen mound nearly two people high. At this moment, several hundred Free Army pikemen who had just climbed onto the mound were crouching on it, with several hundred archers with their bows drawn in the middle and behind them.
Before the Jade Dragon Army could react, more than three hundred arrows were already flying like locusts towards the pursuing Jade Dragon Army! Caught off guard, the Jade Dragon Army, whose formation had become somewhat chaotic due to the pursuit, immediately suffered heavy losses. The shield-wielders were alright, but how could the pikemen, swinging their spears, dodge the dense rain of arrows? More than a hundred people were shot down in the first volley!
More than three hundred arrows were fired again, wounding only a few shield-wielders, while the pikemen suffered over a hundred more casualties!
After the third volley of arrows, a squad of pikemen following closely behind the shield-wielders was almost wiped out. The shield-wielder squad, relying on their shields, continued to charge forward under the arrow rain, and when they were only forty paces from the defensive line—
"The Free Army will win! Kill!" With a shout in unison—
the rapid sound of hooves rang out from the right flank of the Free Army's formation. Chang Shengqiu led the only three hundred cavalrymen of the Free Army's direct squadron, charging out in a ten-horse formation like a whirlwind. They didn't even use their knightly shields, gripping their long-handled broadswords in both hands. The gleaming blades shone in the sun. With the momentum of their horses, they instantly cut into the shield-wielders' midsections. Where the long blades passed, blood and flesh flew everywhere, leaving more than a hundred Jade Dragon soldiers dead, before galloping away towards Kunlongtan!
"Retreat!" Seeing the unfavorable situation, Qiu Shuibian, who was personally commanding the Jade Dragon Army in pursuit, hurriedly ordered the Jade Dragon Army to withdraw out of the range of the Free Army archers. During the pursuit, the Jade Dragon Army's formation was not tight enough, and their defenses were inadequate. In the blink of an eye, more than four hundred people had been killed or wounded. The front line of less than two hundred shield-wielding swordsmen was attacking three or four hundred spearmen and six or seven hundred archers wielding powerful bows, and they also had to cross a trench more than ten feet wide—it was practically suicide.
As the Jade Dragon Army slowly retreated with their shields raised, the Free Army archers did not attack. The Free Army soldiers who had previously retreated on both sides took the opportunity to reorganize their formation. Two thousand five hundred men stood ready,
and holding the line was their mission accomplished. The Free Army's performance in reorganizing their formation could not yet compare to the well-trained Jade Dragon Army; after all, they had only trained for less than two days, and their current level was already satisfactory. This was entirely due to Hua Yinghong's suggestion to establish platoon leaders and squad leaders under the sergeant. As the Free Army retreated, these lowest-ranking officers proved invaluable. Though appearing disorganized in small groups, they were actually organized around platoon leaders and squad leaders, quickly assembling into their designated positions. This was a clear advantage over having only one squad leader and deputy for every hundred men, making it impossible to effectively manage them.
Meanwhile, the Jade Dragon Army, pursuing towards Kunlongtan, encountered a similar fate—a squad of Jade Dragon Army pikemen was decimated by a hail of arrows at the Free Army's suddenly appearing defensive line. A squad of shield-wielders charged into the trenches, many leaping across the ten-foot-wide ditch to attack the Free Army's lines, only to be felled in the trenches by pikemen's thrusts and close-range archers' barrage!
While this entanglement continued, Chang Shengqiu's cavalry returned, cutting towards the rear of the Jade Dragon Army's shield-wielders. Chang Shengqiu channeled his inner energy into his broadsword, wielding it wildly, unstoppable and leaving no one in his path unscathed. He spearheaded a bloody path through the enemy ranks! The elite cavalry followed, their gleaming blades cutting down swathes of the Jade Dragon Army's shield-wielders. They charged to the riverbank, circled a bend, turned their horses, and with another charge, sped away. A small squad of Jade Dragon Army shield-wielders was nearly wiped out!
The cavalry, aside from a few who fell from their horses due to poor riding skills, suffered almost no losses. This demonstrated the terrifying lethality of cavalry against infantry in the right place, without special countermeasures! Just as
Qiu Shuibian saw the Jade Dragon Army had formed its attack formation and was about to give the order to launch a strong assault to break through the frontal defenses, two beautiful fireworks rose from Jubao Ferry and Kunlong Beach respectively—
"Report! Attacked on the east bank of Jubao Ferry!"
"Report! Our cavalry are trapped at Kunlong Beach!"
The Free Army's net had been cast, trapping the Jade Dragon Army, the big fish, on the eastern front!

Volume 3, Chapter 36: A Dying Struggle . Ba
Tian, leading five hundred special forces soldiers, quietly lay in ambush upstream on the east bank of Jubao Ferry, carefully stealthing their way towards the Jade Dragon Army's supply detachment stationed on the east bank. One hundred special forces soldiers who had been learning the use of the Divine Crossbow at the weapons camp had been ordered to join them on their mission.
The Heaven and Earth Technique and the Void-Breaking Technique truly lived up to their reputation as unparalleled martial arts techniques passed down by the two gods. The carefully selected special forces soldiers already possessed a certain foundation in martial arts, and from the beginning, they had received instruction and guidance from Hua Yinghong based on his own experience and insights, supplemented by exercise training methods. Within just a few days, they had achieved excellent results. Most of the special forces soldiers had reached the third rank in skill, and some particularly outstanding individuals had already reached the fourth rank in cultivation, only lacking proficiency in the application of true qi.
The Mind-Concentrating Technique, passed down by "Knife Saint" Hou Mubai, was not a training method, but a method of applying true qi. It used true qi to control the essence, qi, and spirit of the whole body, preventing them from leaking outwards; the higher the skill level, the better the effect. For special operations soldiers who frequently need to carry out special operations missions, this is truly the best way to remain hidden. In addition, Hua Yinghong had specifically instructed them on how to use the surrounding environment and color schemes for camouflage, and the attention of the Yulong Army soldiers left behind was mostly drawn to the chase and battle involving thousands of people on the opposite bank. As a result, the special operations soldiers were not detected even when they approached within sixty paces.
After Qiu Shuibian's main force on the west bank of the river had pursued them for about a mile and were far from the riverbank, a soldier from the Jade Dragon Army stationed on a high platform on the east bank, desperate to relieve himself, looked around for a hiding place. Suddenly, he saw Free Army special forces soldiers, wearing straw rings and straw clothes like scarecrows, standing up upstream. Nearly a hundred crossbows and a hundred or so powerful bows were already aimed at the Jade Dragon Army soldiers. In desperation, he shouted, "Enemy attack!"
The squad leader, who was assigned the task of guarding the supply train, had been watching the Jade Dragon Army's imposing pursuit of the Free Army and was itching to cross the river to join the battle. Hearing this, he blurted out, "Attack my foot!... Ah!..."
He wanted to finish his sentence, but swallowed it back, because he had already heard the sound of hundreds of powerful arrows piercing the air!
"Take cover!" The Jade Dragon Army soldiers, less vigilant than usual after witnessing the Free Army's retreat across the river, all fled their hiding places, gathering mostly on the high platform and flanks. Under the sudden volley of powerful crossbows, which had been poised for a long time, there was no time to dodge! Over a hundred of the three hundred men were instantly killed or wounded, mostly archers and spearmen. The shield-wielding swordsmen swiftly ducked behind their shields, suffering only minor casualties.
"Brothers, kill these Tuwei bastards!" Ba Tian's rough voice rang out, and he charged forward first.
"Kill!" Besides the two hundred archers and crossbowmen providing ranged suppression, the three hundred special forces soldiers roared and charged swiftly after them. These specially selected elites, although not yet fully proficient in their light-footed movements and appearing disorganized, covered two or three zhang in a single leap, covering over ten zhang in an instant!
The remaining Jade Dragon Army soldiers were stunned by the first volley of crossbow fire, hiding behind supply wagons and other structures. Just as the remaining dozens of archers were about to retaliate, the special forces unleashed a second volley of hundreds of arrows, terrifying them into hiding like turtles, too afraid to show their faces. The platoon leader, however, was quick-witted and signaled the attack!
Although Qiu Shuibian was incompetent, he was not lax in defending the rear. Even with the entire army in pursuit, a small squad of Jade Dragon soldiers remained on the west bank of the river to guard the high ground. Upon discovering the attack on the east bank, the platoon leader immediately led two squads across the iron chain bridge to reinforce them. However, the distance between the two high grounds was over fifty zhang (
approximately 150 meters), and running on the iron chain bridge was naturally much more difficult than on flat ground, making it impossible to reach them quickly enough. In the Hua Long Continent army, one zhang equals ten chi (approximately 3.3 meters), and one step equals five chi. With Ba Tian and his special forces charging at incredible speed, covering sixty paces (thirty zhang) in just a dozen breaths, before the special forces soldiers responsible for suppressing the enemy could unleash their third volley of arrows, Ba Tian had already charged into the hands of the Jade Dragon Army's shield-wielding soldiers. His "Three Forms of Heaven-Shattering" unleashed a wild attack, leaving no Jade Dragon soldier
unscathed; all who saw it were either killed or wounded! Hua Yinghong, seeing that Ba Tian possessed a powerful, unyielding inner energy but lacked skill in using it, and having no martial arts techniques, taught his sworn brother the "Three Forms of Heaven-Shattering" along with the Heaven and Earth and Void-Breaking Techniques. Unexpectedly, Ba Tian, with his innate domineering spirit, perfectly grasped the essence of the "Three Forms of Heaven-Shattering," unleashing its unparalleled power and overwhelming aura. However, his skill was limited, falling short of Hua Yinghong's. But against ordinary Jade Dragon soldiers, it was more than enough.
In an instant, three hundred special forces soldiers surrounded the remaining hundred-plus Jade Dragon Army soldiers, attacking one by two or three. In the melee, Jade Dragon Army soldiers screamed and fell one after another! The squad leader was highly skilled in martial arts, almost breaking through to the fifth rank. He gathered his true energy and used several strikes to repel several special forces soldiers before charging towards the leader, Ba Tian!
"Well done!" Ba Tian was just getting tired of fighting the ordinary Jade Dragon soldiers. With a swift movement of his blade, he cut down several men and went straight to meet the squad leader with a powerful "Mount Hua Cleave" strike!
The "Three Forms of Heaven-Shattering" possess an unparalleled and wild sword intent. Each form is not without variation; rather, it adapts to the opponent's changes by sensing their internal energy. For example, the "Splitting Mount Hua" form appears to be a straight downward strike, but in reality, depending on the opponent's reaction, it can instantly transform into a left diagonal strike, a right diagonal strike, or even a forward strike, leaving the opponent with no way to avoid it except through direct confrontation. This sword technique arose because Hua Yinghong did not have a deep understanding of martial arts when he created the moves, relying solely on a feeling. However, this inadvertently embodied the principle of simplifying complexity and returning to the essence.
No matter how powerful a move is, it ultimately becomes a contest of strength. Various feints are merely to prevent the opponent's strength from being fully applied to oneself during a clash of forces, allowing it to be used against one's own. For example, if an opponent charges straight at you, and you can dodge to the side, whether it's a lateral collision or a gentle push from behind, the force you experience upon impact will be minimal. Furthermore, by using the opponent's force against them, you can inflict a backlash!
The "Three Forms of Heaven-Shattering" aims to minimize this possibility, forcing the opponent into a pure contest of strength with no way to avoid it. If you can force the opponent to retreat to a pre-created position, forcing a head-on clash in a passive and hasty situation, you've reached an even higher level, achieving a minor mastery of the sword.
"Clang!" The two swords clashed, and Ba Tian clearly gained the upper hand. The squad leader was knocked back two steps, his arm numb, and he was greatly alarmed!
Ba Tian took a step forward without any fancy moves, unleashing another "Sweeping Through a Thousand Armies" strike. His footwork and swordplay were perfectly coordinated, once again completely blocking the opponent's escape route, forcing him to fight head-on!
"Clang! Clang! Clang!..." Ba Tian used two extremely simple alternating techniques, unleashing over twenty strikes in the blink of an eye, forcing the Jade Dragon Army squad leader to retreat repeatedly, his sword flying from his grasp, leaving him wide open!
Ba Tian laughed heartily, "Exhilarating!" He felt his inner energy flowing freely after those twenty-odd exhilarating strikes. Although he was largely illiterate, and had struggled to understand many of the techniques of the Heaven and Earth Technique and the Void-Breaking Technique, in this nearly evenly matched battle, some aspects suddenly became clear, leading to a breakthrough in his skill and swordsmanship. With a casual "Unstoppable Advance" thrust, perfectly executed, without any artifice—
the squad leader watched helplessly as the blade pierced his chest and withdrew with lightning speed, a powerful and indestructible Void-Breaking True Qi penetrating his body, leaving him dead without a sound! He died with his eyes wide open in disbelief—why had he, with all his martial arts skills and many powerful moves, died under the mere blows of this rough-looking, brute?
On the west bank of the river, by the time the Jade Dragon Army reinforcements from the iron chain bridge reached the shore, the main battle had already ended. Except for a few who were still putting up a fight, the more than one hundred Jade Dragon Army soldiers who had survived the rain of arrows were all annihilated. The Free Army special forces members, except for about twenty who suffered minor injuries, had no fatalities. The
Jade Dragon Army soldiers at the forefront of the charge on the iron chain bridge saw a dozen or so Free Army soldiers lined up in two rows on a high platform, shield-wielders protecting the front, while the dozen or so behind them held strange objects that resembled crossbows but weren't quite like them—
"Fire!" Five crossbow bolts flew from the front row! The Jade Dragon Army reinforcements on the east bank, hastily arriving, hadn't followed the formation with shield-wielders at the front; instead, the spearmen, who were closest to the iron chain bridge, rushed onto the bridge first. At a distance of twenty zhang (approximately 33 meters), they were almost defenseless against the crossbow bolts. The first four fell to the arrows! Then, a second volley of five arrows felled four more men!
Based on their understanding of the Divine Crossbow, the Jade Dragon Army's pikemen assumed that the crossbow-like object, once loaded and strung, could only fire once more before being overwhelmed and rendered useless. They continued their relentless charge—
another volley of arrows fell, four more felled, and another volley felled four more…
Ten repeating crossbows, never before seen in the wars of the Hua Long Continent, were produced by Lu Shenggong and his team after a day and night of frantic work. These were used by special forces to block the retreat route on the iron chain bridge. Because they could fire again without reloading before the twelve bolts in the magazine were depleted, and due to the unique design of the crank handle, ordinary crossbowmen could double their firing speed, while the special forces, with their quick reflexes, could fire even faster. The mere twenty zhang (approximately 33 meters) became an insurmountable barrier for the Jade Dragon Army's pikemen, until the bridge was piled high with seventy or eighty corpses, blocking the crossbows' firing path. Only then did the repeating crossbow, considered a "devil's crossbow" by the Jade Dragon Army for its constant killing spree, cease its destructive power!
The new weapon known as the "Divine Crossbow" began to show its power!
The fighting on the east bank of the river completely ceased. Ba Tian, leading 500 special forces soldiers, seized nearly 100 carts of provisions, tents, arrows, and other military supplies, firmly holding the east bank and cutting off the retreat route of the Jade Dragon Army on the eastern route. The Jade Dragon Army on the west bank of the iron chain bridge had no choice but to retreat to the high platform on the west bank and quickly sent a report to Qiu Shuibian.
**** ********
Panlong Ridge.
Just as Qiu Lei was feeling dejected, he received carrier pigeons from Qiu Shuibian and Ling Ye one after another. Overjoyed, he immediately replied to each of them, ordering Qiu Shuibian and Ling Ye to join forces and capture Jubao Town as quickly as possible, and then attack Yixiantian from the rear to relieve his predicament. Afterwards, he could divide his forces into three routes: one naval force to attack Xigang from the sea, one force to the west along the official road to contain the main force of the Free Army currently at Panlong Ridge, and one force to attack and snipe Xie Zhan's Free Army from the direction of the Iron Mine Camp, capture the Iron Mine Camp, and then launch a combined attack on Xigang from the south.
At this moment, Qiu Lei was still unaware that Xie Zhan's main force had been completely annihilated, and the battle situation had undergone a dramatic change!
Meanwhile, the three thousand Yulong Army reinforcements from Keelung had crossed Lingbao Pass and were heading straight for Jubao Ferry—
**** ********
Qiu Shuibian's main force of the Yulong Army had regrouped. The news of his rear cut off and his cavalry surrounded had unsettled him; he wondered where the Free Army had gotten so many troops. He faced three options: First, hold his ground and wait for reinforcements. He had already informed the naval force of Ling Ye that they were surrounded; the navy would arrive at Pearl Field after noon. It was now 11:45 AM, and with Pearl Field's arrival, they could launch a pincer attack within three hours, ensuring the complete annihilation of the Free Army. Second, return to the iron chain bridge and recapture the supplies. He believed that with elite troops and the existing planks on the bridge, this tactic should be effective, but it wouldn't improve the current situation. The third option was to break through the current defenses with overwhelming force and annihilate the Free Army single-handedly. However, given the enemy's preparedness, the losses would be considerable.
While pondering this, Qiu Lei's order arrived. Qiu Shuibian seized the opportunity to decide on the third path—after all, Qiu Lei was the commander-in-chief of this battle, and with the commander-in-chief's order, sacrificing some troops to relieve the commander's siege would be a meritorious act.
"Order all units to charge with full force!" Qiu Shuibian commanded.
The battle cries resounded, archers launched long-range attacks, covering six hundred shield-wielding soldiers as they advanced in a dense formation against the Free Army's arrow rain. The dense arrow rain struck the steel shields, producing only a series of clanging sounds, causing almost no damage. The Yulong Army quickly advanced to within fifty paces.
At this rate, there would be no casualties before the Yulong Army engaged in close combat. As for close combat, Qiu Shuibian was confident in the Yulong Army's strength; they could slaughter the Free Army, who had been slaves just days before, like chickens.
The Jade Dragon Army advanced again to within thirty paces. The spearmen arrayed behind them were ready to charge. Once the shield-wielders got close and engaged in melee, the Free Army archers, who posed the greatest threat to the spearmen, would be unable to fire arrows. That would be the moment to break through the defensive line!
Qiu Shuibian looked smugly at his well-trained soldiers, waiting to see the shield-wielders disrupt the Free Army's defenses, and then ordered the spearmen to charge—victory seemed to be just around the corner!
Downstream on the Wanquan River, the battle situation was almost identical!
******** ****
Treasure Strait.
The wind direction changed again. The Jade Dragon Navy warships, which had been sailing against the wind, were now sailing with it.
Ling Ye received Qiu Lei's order and the news of Qiu Shuibian's siege almost simultaneously, and immediately ordered: "Full sails, full speed, approach Pearl Field." Although Qiu Lei's martial arts were inferior to his, he held a high position because he was a direct descendant of the Qiu family, but he was still the commander-in-chief appointed for this battle. If anything went wrong, Ling Ye, although also a regimental commander, would likely be implicated.
With a favorable wind and full sails, we should arrive at Pearl Field before noon. First, we'll encircle Jubao Ferry, break the Free Army's siege of the Eastern Route Army, then capture Jubao Town, seize Yixiantian, and rescue Qiu Lei. Almost all the military credits will be credited to us.
Perhaps, he would have the chance to ascend to the position of division commander, becoming the youngest non-royal division commander in the Qiu family? The fact
that the Free Army could simultaneously trap nearly eight or nine thousand elite Yulong Army troops under Qiu Lei and Qiu Shuibian was truly unexpected for Ling Ye. He had previously thought Qiu Haoran was making a mountain out of a molehill, fearing a wasted trip without any fighting, but now it seemed there was a tough battle to be fought. Ling Ye was filled with anticipation—as the "Mad Tiger" among the "Qiu Family's Four Tigers," Ling Ye craved battle. Only battle, only the fierce tearing apart of the enemy and the bloody slaughter, could ignite his passion and allow him to enjoy that indescribable thrill!
With the Yulong Army's fighting strength, Qiu Shuibian should be able to hold out until reinforcements arrive, right?

Six hundred shield-wielders formed a dense formation of fifteen men per rank, twelve ranks in total. When the front rank was within thirty paces of the Free Army's defensive line, the archers had stopped firing, but then something strange happened!
"Throw!" With a strange command, the Jade Dragon Army soldiers hiding behind their shields witnessed a bizarre sight—hundreds upon hundreds of earthenware jars rained down upon them from all sides, some hitting the ground and rolling wildly, spilling a black, oily liquid everywhere! Those that struck the shields shattered instantly, the black liquid soaking the shield-bearers! Instantly, all six hundred Jade Dragon soldiers were enveloped in the liquid, which emitted a strong aroma of vegetables!
Flames flashed in the Free Army's ranks, and a barrage of fire arrows shot out, first striking the perimeter of the Jade Dragon Army's formation, then gradually heading towards the center!
The black liquid was tens of thousands of kilograms of vegetable oil that the Jade Dragon Army had purchased in Jubao Town, packaged in over five thousand earthenware jars, specifically for use against Jade Dragon Army charges. Well-trained and well-protected shield-bearers might be impervious to arrows, but not to fire. Vegetable oil ignites instantly upon contact with fire. No matter how strong one's martial arts, how unwavering one's will, or how fierce one's fighting spirit, they would likely succumb to the intense heat of the flames…
The vegetable oil cost less than two hundred gold coins, yet it could kill a large number of enemies and save countless Free Army soldiers' lives. Though somewhat cruel, it reflected Hua Yinghong's long-held theory that "war is about using any means necessary to strike the enemy and protect oneself; being merciful to the enemy is being cruel to oneself." Lü Jingwei and the others had no reason to refuse, for they couldn't find a better way to stop the Jade Dragon Army. Once the defense line was breached, tens of thousands of Free Army soldiers would die!
The Free Army's defense line became a sea of fire, a living hell! Six hundred Jade Dragon Army shield-wielders screamed like ghosts, throwing away their burning weapons, helmets, and armor at top speed. One by one, they were engulfed in flames, scattering in all directions… but how could they escape in time? They could only run twenty or thirty steps before collapsing in defeat. In less than a moment, the embers were still burning, and not a single one of the six hundred Jade Dragon Army soldiers escaped; they all perished in the flames!
Almost simultaneously, the same chilling screams echoed from the Free Army's defenses downstream of the Wanquan River, presumably because the attacking Jade Dragon Army there was receiving the same "hospitality"!
The autumn sun shone on the banks of the Wanquan River, making it unbearably hot, but Qiu Shuibian and the Jade Dragon Army soldiers felt an uncontrollable chill in their hearts. Some Jade Dragon Army soldiers' teeth chattered, their upper and lower teeth clashing violently—even the battle-hardened, ruthless Jade Dragon Army had never witnessed such a horrific scene. Six hundred vibrant lives were being burned alive, screaming in agony, making them wonder if they had encountered a demon from another world—so ruthless and unscrupulous!
"Retreat!" Qiu Shuibian knew that the Jade Dragon Army soldiers were terrified, and further fighting would only result in certain death, so he ordered a retreat to Jubao Ferry. The Yulong Army, which had pursued in two routes, numbered over four thousand men. When they retreated to the west bank of Jubao Ferry, only about two thousand two hundred remained. Even with the remaining, incomplete squads, their total strength was less than two thousand four hundred! Shield-wielders and spearmen were almost entirely killed or wounded; the losses were unprecedented. The Free Army, aside from suffering nearly a hundred casualties from the Yulong Army's long-range arrows and crossbows, suffered almost no losses. This clearly demonstrates the profound truth of the saying, "One incompetent general can lead to the death of the entire army," in warfare!
Lü Jingwei and the Free Army soldiers were also shocked by what they had just witnessed. Despite having been mentally prepared, they had not anticipated such a devastating defeat. After a long silence, a carefree Free Army soldier cheered, "The Free Army will win!"
Instantly, the cheers of "The Free Army will win!" resounded through the sky. The joy of victory replaced any momentary pity, and the Free Army forces downstream of the Wanquan River and the Batian Special Forces on the east bank echoed the sentiment. Faintly, similar shouts echoed from several miles downstream, completely drowning out the approaching hooves of hundreds of galloping horses!
On the official road towards Jubao Town, more than twenty riders, raising a cloud of dust, sped towards them!
"Flap! Flap! Flap!..." Ten carrier pigeons flew up from Qiu Shuibian's army, heading towards the five routes: Qiu Lei's army at Panlong Ridge, Ling Ye's navy at Zhenbao Strait, the Keelung reinforcements on the eastern official road, the Second Regiment camp at Lingbao Town, and the headquarters of the Keelung Zhenbao Division! Each carrier pigeon carried the same message—an urgent matter! To be on the safe side, Qiu Shuibian released two carrier pigeons for each route, releasing all the carrier pigeons he carried with him at once!

At noon,
Ling Ye's navy, with thirty warships, finally arrived at Pearl Field.
Pearl Field was located next to the mouth of the Wanquan River, with flat terrain, unsuitable for warships with a deep draft to dock at the shore. Fortunately, the garrison at the pearl farm had received orders two days prior to prepare for the arrival of the ships. Over two thousand able-bodied male slaves and a thousand guards worked day and night to construct two simple wooden bridges, each thirty feet apart, leading from the riverbank into the deep sea. At the ends of the bridges, a steep underwater cliff provided a place for warships to dock. The bridges were approximately thirty feet long and one foot wide, allowing four people to pass side by side.
Ling Ye's flagship docked first beside one of the wooden bridges. The captain of the guard unit protecting the pearl farm, a middle-aged man who looked rather sleazy and somewhat timid, arrived to greet them. He led about a hundred guards and was responsible for guiding the six thousand-strong naval force.
"Where are the garrison troops of the pearl farm?" Ling Ye looked down on such cowardly and lacking in courage. This was understandable; the guards were mostly recruited from the local unemployed, mainly for maintaining order and assisting in executing administrative orders. They were poorly trained, and their treatment was vastly different from that of the regular army. They were good for intimidating civilians, but in a real battle, they were practically useless. In the eyes of the Yulong regular army, the platoon leader of the guard unit was not even as high a sergeant as a regular soldier.
"Reporting...Sir, Jubao Ferry...East...East Route Army...is...besieged...Lord Qiao has...gone...to...reinforcements..." Perhaps because he was captivated by Ling Ye's sharp, piercing gaze, the already timid platoon leader of the guard unit dared not look Ling Ye in the eye, his teeth chattering.
"Hmm!" Ling Ye did not care. With his imposing "mad tiger" aura, even his subordinates dared not look him in the eye. A mere platoon leader of the guard unit had only ever seen a captain like Qiu Xiaoyun. It would be strange if he wasn't afraid of the aura he had gained from years of battlefield experience.
"Leave twenty men on each boat, the rest disembark and assemble!" Ling Ye ordered. At this time, almost an hour had passed since receiving Qiu Shuibian's last two urgent letters sent by double pigeons. He didn't know how the battle was going. If he could reach Jubao Ferry in time and launch a pincer attack on the besieged Qiu Shuibian, he would surely defeat the Free Army.
Ling Ye's navy lived up to its reputation as an elite force. After two warships anchored close to the wooden bridge, the remaining ships quickly and efficiently joined together, their grappling hooks engaging to form two long bridges. On each ship, 180 fully armed Yulong naval soldiers swiftly surged onto the riverbank like a tide, forming a neat and orderly battle formation within a quarter of an hour. The entire process was seamless, without any collisions or scrambling among the soldiers, moving with the fluidity of flowing water.
Ling Ye was extremely satisfied with the performance of his men and pointed towards Jubao Ferry, ordering, "All troops, advance! Destination—Jubao Ferry!"

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