Slave Empire [Complete] - 2

Volume Two, Chapter Sixteen: The Origin of Two Gods
"Brother! No—" Liu Yufei felt a chill in her private parts, directly attacked by the demonic hand. A sliver of clarity returned from her confusion, and she hurriedly released and withdrew her jade-like hand, pushing it away. With a hint of apology
, she whispered sweetly in Hua Yinghong's ear, "Brother, everything Fei'er has is yours, but not now, okay? You still have things to do!" Hua Yinghong, having failed at the last moment, suppressed his burning desire and lightly kissed her flushed, beautiful face, saying softly, "I was too hasty. Who told Fei'er to be so beautiful? Fei'er, please don't blame me." Despite his words, the disappointment of unfulfilled desire was still evident on his face.
Liu Yufei, being exceptionally intelligent, understood perfectly well that she was already deeply in love with her beloved. So, with a touch of shyness, she nestled into his arms again and said, "Brother, if you like me, please take me."
Seeing her so understanding, Hua Yinghong felt somewhat apologetic and immediately said, "If love between two people is destined to last, why should they be together every day? Fei'er, we have a long future ahead of us; let's get down to business first."
"If love between two people is destined to last, why should they be together every day?" Liu Yufei savored the lines, finding them profoundly meaningful. She had always admired literary talent and elegance, but had never heard such deeply affectionate poetry before. Hua Yinghong, whose mind was filled with carefully crafted names, casually uttered these lines, making her heart soar with joy. Her beloved's wisdom, martial arts skills, and heroic spirit had already captivated her, but hearing his literary talent now only deepened her love.
The elegant young man, Nangong Jun, whom she had developed a slight liking for, was long forgotten.
The two quickly straightened their clothes. Hua Yinghong, unsure of Hua Long's writing skills, dictated the general outline and the first four chapters of the Breaking Void Technique, which Liu Yufei then wrote down. A mere two hundred characters were completed in a short time. Her handwriting was in tiny, neat characters, differing from Hua Yinghong's usual script only in the addition of some more complex forms. The characters were delicate and beautiful, reflecting her graceful figure, like a fairy in flight.
"Fei'er writes beautifully!" Hua Yinghong praised. His own handwriting, however, was utterly unworthy of recognition.
"Brother, are you making fun of Fei'er?" Liu Yufei was used to acting coquettishly in front of her lover. With her stunning beauty and captivating charm, she always stirred Hua Yinghong's heart, making him unable to control himself and unable to resist the urge to embrace and kiss her.
"The Way of Heaven is to take from the excess and give to the deficient." Hua Yinghong began reciting the general outline of the "Heaven and Earth Technique," but then heard Liu Yufei exclaim, "Eh?"
"Fei'er, what's wrong?" Hua Yinghong asked curiously.
"Nothing, brother, keep reading," Liu Yufei said. She was surprised to hear that the first line of the "Heaven and Earth Mantra" was the same as the beginning of the "Startling Wind and Weeping Rain Mantra," but then she thought that different paths lead to the same goal, and it was normal for divine skills and mental techniques to have one or two lines in common.
"Man follows the Earth, Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows the Dao, and the Dao follows Nature..." Hua Yinghong continued reading.
Liu Yufei's surprise deepened, but she didn't speak again. She quickly wrote down the general outline and the first seven techniques of the "Heaven and Earth Mantra.
" "Brother, this Heaven and Earth Mantra is almost identical to Fei'er's Startling Wind and Weeping Rain Mantra, except for a few minor differences!" Liu Yufei said.
"Really?" Hua Yinghong asked in surprise. But then he heard Liu Yufei recite a technique, which was indeed almost identical to the Heaven and Earth Mantra, with only the numbers changed. Each technique had its own unique charm. Even if Liu Yufei had an unforgettable memory, she probably couldn't have changed it so seamlessly.
"Brother, Master Hou once told Fei'er that the Heaven and Earth Technique and the Startling Wind and Weeping Rain Technique are closely related. It's true!" Liu Yufei exclaimed happily, her pretty face full of excitement and joy.
Hua Yinghong was naturally very happy to see Liu Yufei so happy, and said, "In that case, Fei'er can comprehend the last two techniques of the Heaven and Earth Technique." He then casually recited the last two techniques.
Liu Yufei quickly took another piece of paper, wrote them down, and carefully hid them. Suddenly, she hugged Hua Yinghong's neck and kissed him heavily on the lips, giggling, "Brother, thank you! Let's go see Master Hou." Then she affectionately took his arm, and the two walked out.
Liu Lan and Liu Ju were guarding the door. When they saw the two of them come out, their pretty faces suddenly turned red for some reason. They didn't dare to look at Hua Yinghong, and the usually lively Liu Lan didn't say a word.

"Fei'er, is that Brother Hua with you?" Hua Yinghong and Liu Yufei were still ten feet away from Hou Mubai's healing room when they heard his voice clearly.
“Master Hou, it is indeed Brother Hua,” Liu Yufei replied respectfully.
“Junior Hua Yinghong has come to pay respects to Senior Hou,” Hua Yinghong also greeted him respectfully. The might of the Sword Saint was evident from the fact that all five of the Dragon Elders, whose skills were superb, perished under his blade that night. It was likely that his martial arts were extraordinary, already rivaling the divine masters like Guan Shanyue and Lang Qingyun.
“Brother Hua, there’s no need for such formalities. Fei’er, please invite Brother Hua in,” Hou Mubai said calmly.
Liu Lan and Liu Ju were still guarding outside the quiet room. Hua Yinghong and Liu Yufei gently pushed the door open and entered.
Hou Mubai sat quietly cross-legged on a simple bed. His handsome face showed signs of weariness, yet he blended harmoniously into the quiet room. Although he was inside, no one could sense his presence; the room felt empty, which was quite peculiar.
"Brother Hua, do you know why Mu Bai wishes to see you?" Hou Mu Bai's tone was both a question and a self-answer: "Brother Hua, you've already mastered the Void-Breaking Technique to the third level, haven't you?"
Hua Yinghong knew that the Sword Saint's eyes were like lightning, and respectfully replied, "Indeed."
"Before Master Guan left, did he leave any words?"
Hua Yinghong's spiritual sense stirred, sensing that Hou Mu Bai's emotions had also fluctuated slightly when he asked this question, indicating that he was extremely concerned. He knew that in the world, only the person the Sword God had entrusted with the task could see through the Void-Breaking Technique at a glance. No wonder the Sword Saint's demeanor when blocking the Five Elders of the Dragon last night felt somewhat familiar to the Sword God, Guan Shanyue.
He replied immediately, “Years ago, I passed on the Breaking Void Technique to someone, but he was infatuated with a demonic woman, and I feared his power would be used by the demonic path to aid evil. Therefore, I dared not lightly pass on the sixth technique. Today, I have seen the light. If we meet again in the future, Brother Hua, please pass it on to him on my behalf. It is I who have misled him all these years.” Hua Yinghong recited Guan Shanyue’s original words word for word.
“Only infatuated with a demonic woman,” Hou Mubai murmured to himself, “‘Daughter of the demonic path’ is not ‘demonic witch.’ Master Guan has finally forgiven me! Thank you for your great kindness in telling me, Brother Hua.” Hou Mubai understood the crux of the matter, and his expression changed instantly. His haggard appearance disappeared, and he became radiant. He did not look like a seriously injured person at all.
Hua Yinghong said, "Before the Sword God departed, he instructed me to pass on the sixth technique of the Void-Breaking Technique. Please remember it, Senior Hou."
Hou Mubai said, "Brother Hua is a rare talent of our time. Master Guan and Hero Lang are also brothers. How dare I presume to be a senior? Calling me Brother Hua is already impolite. However, we cannot be bound by formalities. Would you mind calling me Brother Hou?"
"Brother Hou!" Hua Yinghong was not one to stand on ceremony and readily accepted, then orally imparted the nearly one hundred words of the sixth technique of the Void-Breaking Technique.
Hou Mubai closed his eyes for a long time and said, "If Mubai has made any progress in his understanding of the Heavenly Dao, it should be thanks to Brother Hua." He had been a Saint-level expert for many years, and his skill level had reached a bottleneck. Unfortunately, without a more profound mental technique to guide him, his skill level could not be broken through any further, even though his skill level was increasing daily. Upon hearing the sixth technique of the Void-Breaking Technique, he knew it was a treasure, and from then on, he could embark on the path to the Supreme Heavenly Dao.
"Senior Sword God also left behind a Dragon Roar Blade and three stone cups he personally crafted, all of which I have hidden away. I will retrieve them tomorrow and hand them over to Brother Hou." Hua Yinghong knew the principle that a common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime, so he had no greed for these possessions. It would be best to return what the Sword God left behind to the Sword Saint. If he kept them, he might see harm before he saw any benefit.
"I will keep the stone cups. The Dragon Roar Blade was probably given to you by Master Guan to sweep away the world and purify the corrupt. I believe Brother Hua will not disgrace the name of this blade." Hou Mubai was insightful and had followed the Sword God Guan Shanyue for many years, so he clearly understood the reason why Guan Shanyue left the blade behind. "
Master Hou, Brother Hua also knows the Heaven and Earth Technique of Sword God Lang Qingyun, which is almost exactly the same as Fei'er's Startling Wind and Weeping Rain Technique?" Liu Yufei had been on the run with Hou Mubai since she was eight years old and had been cared for and protected by him for ten years. She regarded him as a father figure and showed the behavior of a young girl.
Hou Mubai smiled and said, "Fifty years ago, Liu Suifeng, the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, was the eldest disciple of the Heaven and Earth Sect. His 'Surprising Wind and Weeping Rain Technique' was actually evolved from the Heaven and Earth Technique. Senior Sword God Lang Qingyun was the closed-door law enforcement disciple of the Heaven and Earth Sect. I once received his teachings and benefited greatly, hence my knowledge.
" "I see!" Hua Yinghong and Liu Yufei exchanged a glance and smiled in understanding.
Hou Mubai saw this and said, "Fei'er is exceptionally intelligent. After obtaining the Heaven and Earth Technique, she will surely be able to reproduce the unparalleled brilliance of the 'Surprising Wind and Weeping Rain Technique.' However, the road to restoring the kingdom is fraught with danger and hardship. Brother Hua, please take good care of her." His words implied that he was entrusting Liu Yufei with a heavy responsibility.
"If Brother Hou doesn't take action, won't Fei'er's safety be in danger?" Hua Yinghong was unwilling for Hou Mubai to retire so easily. If they encountered another expert, neither the Restoration Society nor the Free Army could withstand him.
"Though the ways of Heaven are unpredictable and its will unfathomable, there are mysteries within the unseen realm. Brother Hua and Fei'er are both blessed with good fortune; even if they encounter danger, they will turn it into safety and benefit from misfortune. Mu Bai need not worry. You may go!" Hou Mu Bai finished speaking and closed his eyes without saying another word.
Hua Yinghong, holding Liu Yufei's jade-like hand, gently walked out the door.
******** ****
Xigang, City Guard's Mansion.
Three beautiful women with slender figures, dressed in thin gauze, sang and danced lightly to the sound of silk and bamboo instruments. Their exquisite figures were faintly visible, and their alluring eyes occasionally flashed with flirtatious glances, making everyone present feel as if they were being given a gift. Their charm was so captivating that it made people's blood boil and they could not control themselves.
At the main seat, a middle-aged man in a brocade robe and casual clothes was embracing two beautiful women on his left and right, laughing and joking. Two women, each holding a wine cup, cried out in a coquettish voice, "Lord Qiu, it's my turn to drink this cup..."
"Good!...Good!...I'll drink...I'll drink them both..." Lord Qiu, as the beauties called him, caressed and rubbed the two women's sensitive spots, enjoying their tenderness, while slightly tipsy, he took sips from each of their cups.
On either side, three tables were set up, each occupied by a general in bronze helmet and armor, each with a beautiful woman in their arms, their hands and mouths clapping and laughing as if no one else was around. A
commotion could be faintly heard from the gate. Lord Qiu frowned and asked, "What's all the noise outside?"
A guard rushed out and returned shortly to report, "My lord, it's the spy commander An Rushan and his men insisting on seeing you. The guards won't let them in, hence the commotion."
Lord Qiu snorted coldly, saying, "Spies are so rare, I won't see them!" An Rushan had already come twice, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, and both times he had been told to leave, avoiding him.
The Jade Dragon Kingdom's secret service wielded immense power, but two major forces refused to comply. One was the civil service system led by Left Prime Minister Murong Ming; the other was the military. The three most powerful families—the Li family (headed by Li Xuanji), the Qiu family (headed by Qiu Haoyu), and the Ding family (headed by Ding Zixing)—controlled the kingdom's three most formidable legions. Together with the Central Legion and the Royal Guard controlled by the Sima family, they formed the kingdom's military backbone.
Lord Qiu, a direct descendant of the Qiu family, named Qiu Lei, was originally the commander of the First Regiment of the Direct Division of the Jade Dragon Eastern Legion. A year ago, Jade Dragon's secret service discovered that his subordinates had abducted women, violating military discipline. The case was handed over to the authorities, implicating Qiu Lei in lax discipline and the crime of protecting his subordinates. Due to the Qiu family's power, he was reassigned as the commander of the Third Regiment of the Treasure Division, and the garrison commander of Xigang City.
According to Jade Dragon's military system and custom, most regimental commanders were promoted to deputy division commanders in turn. It's not uncommon for someone to be promoted from the position of First Regiment Commander of a directly subordinate division to the rank of Division Commander. However, the Third Regiment Commander of the Treasure Division, while retaining his rank, has effectively been demoted several ranks in terms of both division and regiment status.
Qiu Lei is a man of exceptional intelligence and martial arts skills. He has mastered his family's Autumn Wind Technique to the seventh level and has achieved proficiency in the Autumn Wind Falling Leaves Saber Technique, reaching the seventh rank and aiming for the eighth. He is considered a rising star in the military. For the past year, he has been acting as a local tyrant in the remote West Port, influenced by his subordinates' licentious lifestyle, and has indeed become accustomed to indulging in such pursuits.
Therefore, Qiu Lei inevitably harbors resentment towards the Jade Dragon Spy. The spy, using Lu Shenggong as bait, mobilized a large number of experts without informing the military, including the Five Elders of the Dragon, intending to capture Liu Yufei, Lü Jingwei, and the Restoration Society experts in one fell swoop. Qiu Lei is happy to remain idle.
Last night, the Jade Dragon spy operation failed, and along with the slave camp mutiny, Qiu Lei received intelligence this morning. Therefore, he avoided seeing An Rushan on both visits, partly to humiliate the spy, and partly because he had other plans.
An Rushan, standing before the city garrison, was unaware of these reasons. Given his position within the spy network, especially as a disciple of "Frost Blade" Li Xinghai, he was always treated with respect wherever he went. Unexpectedly, this mere regimental commander of the Treasure Trove was so arrogant. Seeing his two visits rejected, and the fleeting opportunity to seize Liu Yufei and Lu Shenggong while the mutineers were still establishing themselves, and hearing the sounds of singing and dancing coming from inside the city garrison, yet being blocked at the gate by a dozen guards, he was overcome with rage. Unable to maintain his composure any longer, he roared, "Break through!"
The dozen or so guards were Qiu Lei's elite personal guards, each possessing strength no less than the third rank, with the lead guard being a fifth-rank expert. Seeing An Rushan and his group attempting to force their way in, they all drew their swords.
An Rushan, without drawing his sword, silently channeled his "Yinluo Frost True Qi," emanating a chilling and intimidating aura. The ten secret agents also gathered their energy and slowly advanced towards the city gate.
Unable to withstand the powerful aura, the guards retreated in a semi-encirclement. Seeing the situation was dire, the lead guard gathered his true qi and roared, "Quickly inform Lord Qiu!" His long sword unleashed a flurry of blade shadows as he attacked An Rushan. The other guards also joined the attack on the secret agents!
Clang! The lead guard was forced back three steps by An Rushan's sword strike, his arm numb, the chilling energy coursing through his meridians. Greatly alarmed, he used his internal energy to resist, daring not to make another move. The other guards were also forced back, barely managing to re-encircle him. Fortunately, the spies needed their help and acted with restraint, resulting in no injuries.
The alarm sounded. Five zhang from the entrance, figures moved in the darkness. Dozens of figures rose from trees, artificial hills, and walls, powerful crossbows aimed at An Rushan and his group, blocking the path to the city garrison's banquet hall.
An Rushan stopped. He could sense that while the crossbows were powerful, they weren't a significant threat to his group of fifth-rank or higher spies. However, a dozen or so powerful bows were clearly wielded by experts no weaker than fifth-rank, and with their true energy channeled into them, they possessed considerable destructive power amidst the chaos.
"General Qiu, An Rushan, commander of the Jade Dragon Secret Service's Secret Battalion, requests an audience. Are you truly determined to break off relations?" An Rushan raised his voice, channeling his true energy. By revealing his identity, he anticipated that Qiu Lei wouldn't dare to truly sever ties.
"Please, Lord An, wait in the reception hall." Sure enough, Qiu Lei's lazy voice came.
After
leaving Hou Mubai's place, Hua Yinghong and Liu Yufei headed towards Lu Shenggong's lodging.
Lü Jingwei was talking with Lu Shenggong by candlelight when the two entered. Lü Jingwei quickly bowed to Liu Yufei, then greeted Hua Yinghong and introduced her to Lu Shenggong.
Lu Shenggong, however, carefully examined Liu Yufei from head to toe before bowing deeply, saying, "Your subject, Lu Shenggong, greets Your Highness!"
Liu Yufei hurriedly returned the bow, saying urgently, "Prime Minister Lu, there's no need for such formality! Prime Minister Lu has been entrusted with great responsibility by the late Emperor, enduring countless hardships for the Tang Dynasty. You should accept Yufei's greeting!" She then performed a full courtly bow.
Lu Shenggong repeatedly said he didn't deserve such an honor.
Hua Yinghong observed that Lu Shenggong possessed a refined and scholarly air, and his expression was calm and composed, quite unlike the image of a top-tier scientific genius of his time that he had imagined.
Lu Shenggong said to Hua Yinghong, "Just now, Brother Lü spoke highly of Brother Hua's strategic brilliance and ingenious plans, which were truly astounding. Indeed, heroes emerge from among the young."
Hua Yinghong replied, "That's an overstatement, Brother Lü. Lu Xiang's expertise in mechanical devices is unparalleled, and his trustworthiness and integrity, entrusted by the late Emperor, are what I admire most."
With just a few words, Hua Yinghong subtly pointed out two of Lu Shenggong's proudest achievements. As the saying goes, "Flattery never fails," and this perfectly timed compliment greatly impressed Lu Shenggong, who couldn't help but ask, "Brother Hua, are you also interested in mechanical devices?"
At that time, everyone on the Hualong Continent revered martial arts and took pride in literature. As for mechanical engineering and related fields, they were considered miscellaneous studies. Although they were valued, they were mainly for military needs, and those who engaged in their research did not have high social status. Lu Shenggong's martial arts skills were only at the third rank, yet he was promoted to Vice Minister of Works by the late Emperor Liu Qinghua for his expertise in mechanical engineering—a truly exceptional move. As for the craftsmen who manufactured military equipment, they were called "military households," registered for generations and belonging to the Ordnance Department under the Ministry of Works. Their situation was only slightly better than that of slaves. Lu Shenggong heard Hua Yinghong praise his miscellaneous studies, hence his question.
Hua Yinghong said, "I have only dabbled in this subject. In truth, learning has no distinction of high or low status; the key is to apply it to practical use. Without so-called miscellaneous learning, there would be no social progress. People today might still be covering themselves with leaves and farming with slash and burnt crops. Where would the honor of poetry, books, and etiquette come from?"
"Well said!" Lu Shenggong, upon hearing the statement that "learning has no distinction of high or low status; the key is to apply it to practical use. Without so-called miscellaneous learning, there would be no social progress," wholeheartedly agreed. Regardless of how much Hua Yinghong knew about miscellaneous learning, this very statement was enough for him to consider Hua a kindred spirit, and he felt it was a pleasure to have met him sooner.
"Take the crossbow as an example," Hua Yinghong continued, "West of Yulong, the various grassland tribes such as Chimeng, Yinlang, and Wusun were originally a threat to the Tang Dynasty. On the grasslands, everyone was skilled in horsemanship and archery, moving like the wind. The Tang army's horsemanship and archery were inferior, resulting in repeated defeats. They had to build cities and walls to defend themselves, yet they were still constantly harassed. Since the invention of the Divine Crossbow twenty years ago, the situation has changed dramatically. Even ordinary soldiers can use it to shoot and kill the elite grassland cavalry. The border troubles have been greatly reduced, and the people have suffered less displacement. In the naval battles against the Japanese pirates in the east, the Divine Crossbow has also made great contributions. The merit of a single crossbow cannot be expressed in words. It's just a pity..."
"What's a pity?" Lu Shenggong asked hastily. Hua Yinghong was unaware that the Divine Crossbow was Lu Shenggong's masterpiece. After inventing this crossbow, he stood out and was recognized by the discerning eye of the late Emperor Liu Qinghua, who repeatedly promoted him to the position of Vice Minister of Works, effectively in charge of the Ministry of Works.
Lu Jingwei said, "Brother Hua, you may not know, but the Divine Crossbow is Lu Xiang's masterpiece."
Liu Yufei stared at Hua Yinghong with her beautiful eyes, her gaze full of affection and anticipation. Her beloved always managed to surprise her, but she never expected him to be so proficient in mechanical engineering.
Hua Yinghong apologized first, then said, "The Divine Crossbow is powerful and has great strength, but it has three major drawbacks: First, its range is limited. It is said that elite cavalry on the grasslands can shoot 130 paces with a bow, and top experts can shoot over 250 paces. The Divine Crossbow, however, only has a range of about 120 paces, with its most effective kill within 50 paces. If attacking from a distance, a bow is better than a crossbow. Second, its reload speed is slow. At the speed of elite cavalry, within 50 to 150 paces, it takes only a few breaths. The Divine Crossbow can only fire a maximum of three shots." Once the enemy gets close, they will have to abandon the crossbow and engage in close combat. Thirdly, its penetration is weak. The Divine Crossbow can penetrate and kill ordinary soft armor and shields, but its effect on specially made thick shields and heavy cavalry in steel armor is limited. "
Lu Shenggong nodded repeatedly and said, "I am well aware of these shortcomings and have wanted to improve them, but I have been unable to. After the great changes in the empire, I no longer have the mind to think about it. Brother Hua, could you please give me some good advice?" He was hard to change his nature and had a keen interest in the study of weapons. Seeing that Hua Yinghong spoke so eloquently, he knew that he must have a way to improve it.
Hua Yinghong said, "I dare not presume to give advice, but I do have some ideas. The specific methods still need to be verified by Prime Minister Lu with his mastery of knowledge."
Lu Shenggong, Liu Yufei and Lü Jingwei were shocked when they heard this and were all looking forward to Hua Yinghong's next words.

Volume 2 First Show of Brilliance Chapter 17 Enemy Attack
"The Divine Crossbow is ingeniously designed and does not need major changes. Only a slight improvement is needed," Hua Yinghong said.
"I have also studied ways to improve it. If the spring, crossbow body, and arrow are made of fine steel, it can shoot 150 paces and the penetration power is also enhanced, but it is still not far enough, and the weight is greatly increased, making it difficult for ordinary soldiers to carry during marches. As for the rate of fire, there is still no way to figure it out." Lu Shenggong said with some regret.
"My idea is to divide the Divine Crossbow into two types," Hua Yinghong said. He had studied ancient crossbows and was particularly interested in the structure of the Zhuge Repeating Crossbow. If he could have Lu Shengong create this weapon, he would have a greater advantage in future conquests. So he spoke eloquently: "One type is based on the current Divine Crossbow, with improvements to increase the rate of fire for close combat; the other type, as Lu Xiang said, is made of fine steel, but in a larger size, with the bolts also made of fine steel, specifically for long-range attacks and penetrating heavy armor. As for mobility, one type can be used as a defensive weapon for cities without needing to be moved; the other type can be used as a separate Divine Machine Battalion within the army, transported by carts and horses, and then deployed for field battles when facing the enemy."
Hua Yinghong then explained the structure and principles of the Zhuge Repeating Crossbow from memory, gesturing as he spoke. As he listened, Lu Shengong's face showed surprise, and even Lü Jingwei and Liu Yufei listened with great interest, as if Hua Yinghong was describing something that had already been created, rather than just a simple concept.
After gesturing, Hua Yinghong was still unsure whether he could build it with current technology. Then he heard Lu Shenggong say, "What a brilliant design! Brother Hua is truly a genius. This crossbow requires a precise mechanism and high-quality steel, and it's easily damaged, but with current conditions, it should be possible to manufacture. If it were mass-produced and equipped for the army, the nature of warfare would likely be rewritten. What a pity! What a pity!"
"Why does Prime Minister Lu lament?" Hua Yinghong asked, puzzled.
Liu Yufei said, "If Brother Hua had been born fifteen years earlier, perhaps the Tang Empire wouldn't be in its current state. Does Prime Minister Lu regret this?"
"Your Highness is wise! The so-called Divine Craftsmanship Treasury is nothing more than the Tang Dynasty's treasures and the latest advanced war machines researched by the Ministry of Works at the time."
Lu Shenggong continued, "With a talent like Brother Hua, the machines in the Divine Craftsmanship Treasury are no longer of great use. However, the treasures and wealth within are enormous and can be used to restore the country. But if we were to take them out now, not only is the location of the treasury itself dangerous, but the numerous forces from various countries, both the legitimate and illegitimate, and various sects are beyond our capabilities. I fear we would see harm before we see any benefit. Therefore, this old minister dares not reveal the location of the treasure. Your Highness, please understand."
Liu Yufei said, "It's alright. Prime Minister Lu's consideration is thorough, and his caution is only to be expected."
Hua Yinghong said, "There's something I might urgently need right now. I wonder if I could trouble Minister Lu to have some made?"
Lu Shenggong was most interested in novel things and said, "Brother Hua, please tell me."
Hua Yinghong then carefully described the design of the climbing hooks used by modern special forces, and even drew a sketch, explaining the performance requirements in detail. He said, "Thank you for your trouble, Minister Lu."
Lu Shenggong said, "Brother Hua, you're too kind. Making this isn't difficult. It only requires a few dozen people and some fine iron, and it can be completed by tomorrow afternoon. It's just that the tools here are rudimentary, so it's a bit rough."
Hua Yinghong saw that it was already past midnight and said, "It doesn't need to be exquisite, just durable. Minister Lu, please rest well. This can be completed by tomorrow afternoon. I'll ask for your guidance another day."
Lu Shenggong originally wanted to exchange miscellaneous knowledge with Hua Yinghong, but seeing that Hua Yinghong seemed to have other important matters, he said, "Brother Hua, you're too kind. We'll discuss it properly another day."

Xigang, the reception room of the city garrison.
After listening to An Rushan's introduction, Qiu Lei slowly said, "The mutinous slave camp, along with the Restorationists and freedmen, numbers less than two thousand. They are untrained, poorly armed, and nothing more than a rabble. In a direct confrontation, they are no match for an army. However, according to Brother An, the enemy has a highly intelligent individual hidden among them, so we cannot be careless. If we act tonight, we are very likely to fall into their ambush. The slave camp is only about thirty li away, which our army can reach in two hours. Tomorrow morning, we will launch an attack with the second battalion of three thousand men and recapture the slave camp in one fell swoop!"
An Rushan was eager to attack immediately, but he still vividly remembered last night's battle. Despite being at a severe disadvantage in terms of strength, the Restorationists and freedmen had set up ambushes in several places, almost wiping out the secret agents and slave camp guards. He did not object to the plan to attack tomorrow. He simply asked, "The Restoration Society has many experts; could we add a thousand men to ensure everything is in order?"
Qiu Lei replied, "My Third Regiment has only ten thousand soldiers: six thousand in two battalions stationed in port, and one thousand in a directly subordinate battalion; the Third Battalion has three thousand stationed near Jubao Town, sixty miles away. Although there is another naval squadron of one thousand in Xigang, they are not under my command. Recently, pirates from Qianye Island have been frequently attacking villages near Xigang. If we divide our forces again, when the pirates attack, the freed slaves will take the opportunity to cause trouble. There are also tens of thousands of slaves scattered around Xigang in mines, manors, and factories. I'm afraid Xigang might be in danger, and neither of us can bear the consequences. Brother An, do you perhaps doubt the fighting strength of my soldiers?"
At this moment, Xie Zhan, the captain of the second battalion—a burly man with a fierce face—said with some dissatisfaction, "Is a bunch of rabble worth making such a fuss about? Could it be that Lord An's skills were terrified by those slaves last night? This humble general requests the order: a thousand men are enough to slaughter them all."
Xie Zhan's martial arts skills were all honed in battles against pirates and "slave freers." His "Blood Battle Saber Technique" was extremely powerful, and he once fought a hundred moves to kill a deputy leader of the Thousand Pages Island pirates who had already reached the sixth rank. He was nicknamed "Blood Battle Maniac." He had no family background and rose to the rank of battalion captain through military merit. Now, hearing that there was a battle to fight, he was afraid that someone would steal his credit.
An Rushan was immediately speechless at Xie Zhan's words, his face turning ashen, but he could not say anything.
Qiu Lei, however, came to the rescue, saying, "A thousand men are too few. Tomorrow, the entire Second Battalion will be mobilized, and I will send Qiu Changzheng with thirty personal guards to assist."
Qiu Changzheng was the captain of Qiu Lei's personal guard battalion, an outstanding member of the Qiu clan's collateral branches. He had mastered the "Autumn Wind Technique" to the sixth level and had also achieved some success with the Autumn Wind Falling Leaf Blade; his martial arts were no less than Xie Zhan's. His personal guard battalion consisted mostly of elite soldiers of the first rank, with the same organization as an ordinary battalion, but only one-third the size. Among them were numerous experts; the three company commanders were all of the sixth rank, the deputy company commanders and squad leaders were of the fifth rank, the deputy squad leaders, and the sergeant and deputy sergeant were all of the fourth rank, and there were many others below the third rank. In reality, their combat strength was comparable to one and a half ordinary battalions.
An Rushan estimated that with twice the number of first-rank experts of the Restoration Society, plus three thousand well-trained elite soldiers, there was indeed no reason for them to lose again. Although he vaguely felt that something was still amiss, he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

After leaving Lu Shenggong's residence, Hua Yinghong said to Liu Yufei, "Fei'er, I'm going to retrieve the Dragon's Roar Blade and other items left by Senior Guan. You haven't slept well since last night, so go and rest first."
Liu Yufei replied, "I'll go with my brother." Having tasted love for the first time, she was already quite fond of it, and although she was a little tired, she didn't want to be separated from Hua Yinghong for even a moment.
Hua Yinghong didn't insist, telling Liu Lan and Liu Ju to rest first. He and Liu Yufei then took off hand in hand. As they crossed the city wall, they saw Qin Zhongzheng leading men on guard duty. He waved to them and headed towards Xigang.
By evening, Hua Yinghong had already looked at the map left by He Zongshi and remembered the location of "Binlang Mountain," where he hid the Dragon's Roar Blade—it was only a dozen or so miles away. Along the way, they encountered several experts and spies from the Restoration Society who appeared and bowed. Hua Yinghong and Liu Yufei greeted them with "You've worked hard! Be careful." This pleased him greatly.
Initially, Liu Yufei and Hua Yinghong were neck and neck, covering four or five zhang in a single leap. After several li, Liu Yufei's true energy began to wane, and she started panting, while Hua Yinghong remained calm and composed.
Hua Yinghong was somewhat surprised and asked, "Fei'er, are you tired?"
Liu Yufei replied, "Brother, it's probably because my true energy was severely depleted last night, and I haven't had a chance to rest." She had forced herself to come out with Hua Yinghong, but now she was indeed somewhat exhausted.
Hua Yinghong suddenly realized: although Liu Yufei was a master who had advanced to the seventh rank, she didn't have a method like his that allowed her to replenish her energy at any time. Her depleted true energy required timely adjustment and recovery. Thinking of how she hadn't rested a moment since last night, he felt genuine affection for her and asked, "Fei'er, have you ever tried practicing your skills while leaping like this?"
Liu Yufei feigned disbelief and exclaimed, "Brother, are you practicing right now? Master Hou taught me that the most important thing in practicing is to calm the mind and avoid distractions, otherwise there's a risk of going into qi deviation."
"Fei'er, movement is eternal, stillness is relative; the essence of the Heaven and Earth Technique lies in following one's heart and the natural way. Therefore, one can practice continuously regardless of movement or stillness. Your 'Startling Wind and Weeping Rain Technique' is a direct descendant, so it should be possible. Why not try it slowly first?"
Liu Yufei completely trusted Hua Yinghong. Under his guidance, she tried to slow down her leaping speed. As she gathered her qi and lightened her body, she diverted a wisp of her mind to guide her true qi along the path of the technique. Initially, the true qi she gained was insufficient to cover her body, but then the circulation became smoother and faster, eventually flowing automatically and gradually balancing out. Later, the intake exceeded the output, and unconsciously, Liu Yufei's movements became faster and faster, until finally—
"Boom!" Liu Yufei's internal energy accumulated rapidly, and the "Surging Wind and Weeping Rain Technique" broke through to the seventh level, entering a completely new realm. A massive amount of天地元气 (heaven and earth energy) surged into her from the top of her head and the bottom of her feet, violently impacting and expanding throughout her meridians…
This was a phenomenon not seen in the first seven levels of the "Surging Wind and Weeping Rain Technique." Liu Yufei was shocked, thinking she had gone into qi deviation, when suddenly she heard Hua Yinghong's low shout in her ear: "The Dao follows nature! The eighth technique of the Heaven and Earth Technique!"
Liu Yufei focused her mind, allowing her internal energy and the天地元气 to merge seamlessly, flowing through her meridians… The energy flowed freely within her, her mind guided by the eighth technique of the Heaven and Earth Manual, seemingly drawing it in but not quite, finally drawing it into her dantian, then continuously flowing out, circulating along the new cultivation path… The primordial
energy of heaven and earth gradually became subtle, the circulation of true energy returned to normal, only a faint, almost imperceptible thought guided its automatic flow, constantly practicing the new technique. Her divine sense and six senses became clearer; every insect and ant within an eight-zhang radius seemed vividly clear, every sigh of an insect felt as if under her control—it was an incomparably moving new feeling.
The previous fatigue vanished, and Liu Yufei knew she had entered a new realm, and had grasped the method of practicing anytime, anywhere. And all of this was brought about by the person beside her, smiling and gazing at her.
“Brother—” Liu Yufei disregarded her shyness, gently leaning into Hua Yinghong’s arms, her lips parted slightly, offering a sweet kiss.
Hua Yinghong embraced Liu Yufei’s beautiful body, kissing her alluring cherry lips, their tongues entwined, lingering tenderly for a while, before the two continued flying towards Binlang Mountain.
Hua Yinghong found the hidden mark, retrieved the Dragon's Roar Blade, the fruit knife, and the three stone cups, and returned to the slave camp hand in hand with Liu Yufei before midnight. Their movements were incredibly fast, but they couldn't evade the sentries and hidden stakes set up by Lü Jingwei. Those sentries recognized Hua and Liu, gave them a slight bow, and then disappeared into the shadows, which reassured Hua Yinghong.
After another passionate encounter, Hua Yinghong escorted Liu Yufei back to her room and returned to his own. He took out the map of Treasure Island and studied it carefully, clarifying his thoughts. A new plan gradually took shape in his mind—

the Second Battalion of the Third Regiment of the Jade Dragon Treasure Division.
The three thousand-strong army marched in rows of four along the ore transport route from West Port to the slave camp. Leading the way were two squads of six hundred shield-wielding swordsmen, followed by two squads of six hundred spearmen, then a squad of three hundred archers, with three hundred swordsmen in the center, followed by two squads of six hundred crossbowmen wielding divine crossbows, and finally, two squads of spearmen and shield-wielding swordsmen bringing up the rear. An Rushan, Xie Zhan, Qiu Changzheng, ten top spies, and thirty elite bodyguards walked in the center of the column.
Daylight had broken.
An Rushan's plan was to send a company to bypass the slave camp and block the inner valley wall behind it, then have two companies approach from the front to surround the slave camp and annihilate it completely, leaving no chance for escape.
However, Xie Zhan dismissed An Rushan's plan, arguing that there were only two routes to the inner valley, both narrow and winding. Aside from the risk of being attacked by cunning enemies while traversing these mountain paths, the extra thirty-odd miles would be difficult for a large army to traverse, even if An Rushan and his spies escaped easily. They feared it would be dark by the time they reached the slave camp, making an attack difficult.
Xie Zhan's strategy, which Qiu Lei approved, was to launch a straightforward attack to defeat this untrained rabble and then pursue them relentlessly.
An Rushan, as the commander of the secret spies, could request the army's assistance in emergencies, but he had no authority to command troops in battle—a strict order from the Sima clan of the Jade Dragon royal family. The Jade Dragon secret spies wielded immense power; if they could also mobilize the army, the royal family's position would likely be unstable.
An Rushan reluctantly followed the army, marching at the usual pace of fifteen li per hour—
unless something unexpected happened, the thirty li journey would take only two hours.
******** ****
As dawn broke, the slave camp, as usual, resounded with the clanging of gongs. However, this time it wasn't to urge them to work, but rather the first assembly since the Free Army's founding.
Liu Yufei, Hua Yinghong, Lü Jingwei, Hai Tianqing, Lin Zhi, and others stood on the high platform of the training ground where the soldiers usually gathered. Watching the Free Army soldiers running around the field, unable to form ranks even after a long time, they could only smile bitterly. This was no army; it was a rabble!
But Hua Yinghong believed that given time to train, this would become an army that would astound the world.
"Brothers of the Free Army!" Hua Yinghong's voice, imbued with Hunyuan True Qi, resounded throughout the training ground and the entire slave camp valley, even reaching the guards at both ends of the city walls: "I order—"
"Everyone, stop running, face the platform!" His voice seemed to possess a submissive, unyielding kingly aura. All the soldiers stopped and stood facing the platform.
"Each brother, stand next to your squad leader." Squad leaders were chosen by the Free Army soldiers from among their familiar comrades, sharing a room and coming to the training ground together. The second order was quickly and perfectly executed, and soon the more than a thousand men had formed more than a hundred small groups, each a squad.
"Squad leader, lead your men to the platoon leader's side.
The platoon leader will announce the unit number and call to the squad leader." This order took a little longer to execute, but it quickly combined over a hundred squads into over fifty platoons.
"Squad leader, step forward and announce your unit number..." "Squad leader, step forward and announce your unit number..."
"First Company, all present, left turn, march in step..."
...
One order after another was executed, and the more than a thousand people gradually grew from a state of chaos and disorder, like a snowball rolling downhill, into three large groups from the right to the left of the platform: the First Company, the Second Company, and the Special Forces. These were further divided into many medium, small, and even smaller groups.
Hua Yinghong looked at these faces that had endured so much suffering. Yesterday, they hadn't worked a single day, and last night they had taken a rare day to bathe in the valley's well water. Most of them were wearing the uniforms of the guards, and some were still wearing slave clothes, yet they all radiated a new glow, as if reborn.
"Brothers, from today onwards, we are no longer slaves, we are free soldiers!" Hua Yinghong's voice carried a powerful penetrating force.
"What is a soldier's duty? It is to obey orders! It is to abide by discipline! Discipline is a soldier's life. Discipline must be demonstrated in every instance of obeying orders, including standing in formation! Running in formation! Finding your position!
"On the battlefield, the price of disobeying orders is your life and the lives of your comrades! If you retreat when you should advance, you will die under your comrades' swords and spears; if you advance when you should retreat, you will fall in the enemy's hail of swords and arrows, and the swords and spears in your hands will take the lives of your comrades..."

To these untrained Free Army soldiers, Hua Yinghong used a combination of commands and intimidation, along with the domineering aura unique to Hunyuan Zhenqi, to thoroughly indoctrinate them, leaving each soldier with the strong impression that "disobeying discipline will kill yourself and others."
The subsequent drills conducted by Hai Tianqing and Lin Zhi became much easier. Although some soldiers were not quick enough to react and their movements were not standardized, their seriousness in obeying orders was perhaps even stronger than that of veterans with many years of service!
Lü Jingwei, Hai Tianqing, Lin Zhi, and others couldn't help but marvel!
Liu Yufei, Liu Lan, and Liu Ju were captivated by Hua Yinghong's heroic figure and domineering aura, their eyes sparkling with spring-like charm. They stood not far behind him, their allure captivating.
Half an hour later, a member of the Restoration Society rushed over and whispered a few words in Hua Yinghong's ear. Hua Yinghong nodded, said a few words to the expert, and the man quickly flew away.
Hua Yinghong signaled Hai Tianqing and the others to stop training.
"Soldiers! I announce three important matters. First, bring the prisoners up!" Hua Yinghong signaled, and Ba Tian led the special forces soldiers to bring over 160 captured guards and escort them to the high platform.
"Today, Free Army soldiers, you will rise up and become the masters of life and death! Brothers, seek justice for those with grievances, avenge those with grudges. Point out which of these soldiers have committed heinous crimes deserving death, and kill them with one stroke! Point out which of these soldiers have been arrogant and abusive towards our brothers, but whose crimes do not warrant death, and give them ten lashes! Release those who have done good and no evil."
One by one, the prisoners were pushed onto the high platform for public display. The Free Army soldiers were very familiar with these people. Amidst the deafening shouts of "Kill! Whip! Release!", Hua Yinghong signaled the special forces members to act according to the majority's wishes. In less than half an hour, about thirty people were beheaded, about fifty were whipped, and about eighty were unshackled and told they would be released shortly.
"Secondly!" Hua Yinghong announced, "Free Army soldiers, as a symbol of true freedom, from today onwards, you will be free to practice martial arts that were previously only available to high-ranking nobles! Captain Hai!"
"Yes!" Hai Tianqing, following the pre-arranged plan, kicked a 300-jin training stone prepared on the platform more than two zhang high, leaped into the air, and slashed wildly with his long sword, his true energy bursting forth. The training stone was cleaved dozens of times in the blink of an eye, finally exploding with a "boom" into pieces the size of fists.
"Good!" More than a thousand Free Army soldiers shouted in praise, extremely excited.
"Military Advisor Lü!"
"Yes!" Lü Jingwei kicked two training stones of the same size nearly three zhang high. Without any apparent movement or leaping, his hands flashed red light, and two streams of true energy, like raging fire, struck one of the training stones.
Without a sound, the two training stones shattered into powder in mid-air, scattered by the wind, and some nearby soldiers smelled a burnt odor.
After a long silence, the more than a thousand soldiers snapped out of their daze and erupted in cheers.
"Brothers! Each of you will receive a martial arts manual. As long as you practice diligently, you will soon become masters like Captain Hai and Military Advisor Lü! Those who serve as squad leaders, those who have made great contributions, and those who have cultivated to the third rank or above will receive even higher-level manuals!" To boost morale, Hua Yinghong deliberately made the training sound easier.
He wasn't sure how well he could perform, so he simply stopped performing and made it more mysterious.
"Good!—" The soldiers' shouts indeed became louder and more excited.
"Third thing! We just received intelligence that the three thousand garrison troops of Xigang are heading here. Do you have the confidence to defeat them?" Hua Yinghong announced the enemy's attack.
"Yes! Kill them all! The Free Army will win!" The Free Army soldiers were spurred on, their morale soaring, and they were so fierce that they dared to even slash at a master of divine rank.
From simple drills to controlling the lives and deaths of others, and then to the demonstration and allure of unparalleled martial arts, the Free Army soldiers had long forgotten that just a day ago they were slaves, submissive and helpless, completing a crucial transformation.
Otherwise, if they had been filled with fear or even scattered and fled at the sight of the Jade Dragon Army, Hua Yinghong, with his immense abilities and flawless schemes, would have only added to the credit of others.
"The Free Army will prevail! Long live freedom!" Hua Yinghong continued to stir emotions.
"The Free Army will prevail! Long live freedom!"
Hua Yinghong saw that the time was ripe, "I order—"

Volume 2, Chapter 18, First Battle, Triumphant Xie
Zhan, nicknamed "Blood Battle Maniac," was actually not arrogant at all in battle and march, and was very cautious. If he were truly a brave but reckless person, how could he have accumulated military merits and risen to the position of battalion commander?
Three or four miles ahead of the battalion, he sent out groups of more than ten scouts, and another group every half mile. Where the terrain was treacherous, scouts would first scout the flanks to confirm there were no ambushes before the main force advanced using military signals and hand gestures. This meticulous, methodical approach ensured that the army advanced without giving the enemy any opportunity for ambush or surprise attack.
An Rushan couldn't help but look at the rugged-looking Xie Zhan with newfound respect. Military campaigns were fundamentally different from the power struggles of martial arts practitioners. In the battle at the slave camp the previous night, although he and He Anshi had used their wits, they had encountered a master strategist, who had seized the initiative at every turn, resulting in a crushing defeat—a defeat for many reasons.
Yu Long's spies were likely to reassess the military's strength, he thought to himself.
Even with such caution, the army encountered a surprise attack—
about ten miles from the slave camp, there was a treacherous terrain—the Pan Chang Valley: to the right of the main road were steep peaks thirty to forty zhang high, and to the left a small canyon about ten zhang deep, with a clear stream flowing gently through the center. The main road wound around the middle of the right-hand peak, forming an irregular "S" shape, like a winding sheep intestine, hence the name.
Xie Zhan was extremely cautious of this dangerous place, sending out several groups of scouts to investigate.
The first group of ten scouts had already climbed the peak and carefully surveyed the area. The summit was nothing but a pile of jagged rocks, with no sign of human presence within a radius of several dozen zhang, so they signaled that it was safe. The other two groups of scouts passed through and went about three miles further, also finding nothing unusual.
Just as the six hundred shield-wielding swordsmen had passed through in formation, the first battle since the Free Army's founding began—
about thirty figures suddenly appeared on the right-hand mountain peak. Lü Jingwei, leading thirty Restoration Society experts, surrounded the dozen or so scouts. The two sides were simply not on the same level; the scouts fell within a few moves.
"Sizzle!" Lü Jingwei raised his hand, sending out a firework signal.
Almost simultaneously, the leading group of scouts also spotted a large contingent of over a thousand Free Army soldiers charging towards them in a somewhat disorganized formation. They quickly retreated and signaled, "Enemy attack!"
Xie Zhan had initially been worried about the treacherous terrain of the Pan Changchuan, but after the six hundred shield-wielding swordsmen had almost passed through without incident, he breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly, he heard the alarm siren and looked to the right. Fireworks were rising on the peak, and over thirty people stood tall. He was shocked and exclaimed, "Damn it!" Just as he was about to give orders to react—
"Boom!" Lü Jingwei and thirty Restoration Society experts struck the large rocks on the peak with their palms. Instantly, dozens of large rocks, each weighing hundreds of kilograms, rolled down the peak with a deafening roar. The immense force of the impact stunned the twenty or thirty swordsmen and gunmen who were passing through the "S"-shaped bend. They had no time to react and were smashed to pieces, screaming in agony. Some died, some were wounded, and the main road was blocked.
"All troops, listen up! Rear guard to front guard, retreat!" Xie Zhan decisively ordered, directing the main force away from the danger zone. The powerful command reached every soldier's ears, and the well-trained army retreated at top speed. However, in the haste, dozens of spearmen at the front were still killed or wounded by rocks pushed down by the Restoration Society experts.
"Brother Qiu, Brother An, please lead your men up the mountain and kill those men," Xie Zhan said to Qiu Changzheng. Lu Jingwei and his men were positioned high on the mountain, blocking the winding road with rocks. If they didn't quickly gain a high vantage point, the six hundred swordsmen who had gone earlier were likely in grave danger.
Qiu Changzheng had brought thirty elite guards, mostly from Qiu Lei's personal guard, including three sixth-rank experts, ten fifth-rank experts, and seventeen fourth- and third-rank experts. Without replying, he led his men swiftly towards the mountain peak where Lu Jingwei and his men were located, about a hundred feet away.
An Rushan and ten elite spies followed suit.
Though the mountain was steep, it wasn't entirely without footholds. After escaping the danger zone, the Jade Dragon Army steadied themselves. The spearmen, under the command of a company commander, spread out and began a skirmish-like assault up the peak.
Lu Jingwei and his men divided, sending ten to push rocks down the main road, blocking the retreat of the six hundred swordsmen. The remaining twenty formed a line on the summit, targeting protruding rocks and unleashing a massive torrent of mud and debris. The spearmen, though agile, were often unable to dodge, and dozens were killed or wounded in a short time, their attack crumbling.
An Rushan and Qiu Changzheng, leading a large group of experts, arrived and joined the assault, immediately changing the situation—the twenty Restoration Society experts on the summit, outnumbered, couldn't maintain sufficient attack density. These experts moved with incredible speed, sometimes stopping, sometimes dodging, occasionally using their weapons to deflect small rocks and evade the barrage of stones. In a short time, they had advanced more than ten feet!
"Brothers! Teach them a lesson!" Just when the situation was critical, Ba Tian's rough voice rang out, and nearly a hundred special forces soldiers appeared on the summit. Dozens of kilograms of rocks rained down like locusts.
"Ah!" and "Ouch!" screams echoed through the mountains as more than a hundred densely packed rocks attacked from above in one direction, making it impossible to dodge. For a time, even the experts were forced into a frantic struggle, with more than ten people seriously injured. One fifth-rank expert, who was dodging the locust-like rocks, was unfortunately hit squarely by Ba Tian's abnormally heavy boulders and died instantly.
The situation was beyond their control, and An Rushan and Qiu Changzheng had no choice but to lead their men back, their offensive halted.
Seeing the enemy retreat, Ba Tian laughed heartily and ordered some special forces members to collect rocks on the summit, awaiting the next wave of attack—
**** ***** ****
On the other side of the winding path.
Hua Yinghong, Liu Yufei, Hai Tianqing, and Lin Zhi led the Free Army battalion in a one-sided attack on the six hundred Jade Dragon Army shield-wielding swordsmen. Based on the intelligence constantly relayed back by his dispatched experts and the enemy's marching formation, he chose this winding path, drawing inspiration from the "attack while crossing" strategy, and devised this "attack while crossing" plan.
To deceive the enemy scouts, he specifically ordered Lü Jingwei to lead thirty fifth- and fourth-rank experts from the Restoration Society, and Ba Tian to lead a hundred special forces members, to hide dozens of feet away from the summit. Once the enemy's vanguard, lacking ranged swordsmen, had passed, Lü Jingwei and the experts would launch a surprise attack to eliminate the scouts, cutting off the front and rear forces, while Ba Tian would lead his men to provide support. The Free Army battalion, however, was more than three miles away and only launched their attack after seeing the signal.
Using numbers to attack the few, strength to attack weakness, power to attack the weak, and advantage to advantage. Before the battle, Hua Yinghong meticulously explained the essence of military strategy to everyone, from which Lü Jingwei, Hai Tianqing, Lin Zhi, Ye Zhiqi, and others benefited greatly.
On the mountain peak, Lü Jingwei and ten Restoration Society experts piled rocks more than two zhang high on the winding path before launching an attack on the rear guard of the six hundred Jade Dragon shield-wielding swordsmen. Seeing An Rushan, Qiu Changzheng, and others cease their attack, Ba Tian sent fifty men to join Lü Jingwei and his group.
Rocks tumbled down the mountain, leaving the swordsmen nowhere to hide or defend themselves, utterly powerless. They screamed and fell, some plunging directly into the valley more than ten zhang deep, emitting piercing screams. In the blink of an eye, dozens were dead or wounded.
A company commander in charge of the vanguard shouted orders, rushing forward; only by breaking through this treacherous terrain could they survive. After advancing about a li, nearly a hundred more men were killed or wounded in the rear guard.
Three hundred paces away, the Free Army contingent was already arrayed in a slightly open area, completely blocking the road, and slowly advancing towards the disheveled four hundred-odd Jade Dragon soldiers. The right-hand slope wasn't steep, but hundreds of swordsmen, spearmen, and archers occupied high ground, several dozen feet above the ground, looking down upon the enemy.
Judging by their numbers, there were probably over a thousand of them.
The company commander, knowing he was doomed, shouted, "Glory! It is my life! Let's fight to the death!" and charged ahead of the Free Army.
"Glory! It is my life! Let's fight to the death!" The swordsmen followed fearlessly.
On the hillside, Hua Yinghong sighed softly, "Attack!" Seeing these well-trained Jade Dragon swordsmen charging bravely despite knowing they would die, he sensed that the road to war would likely be filled with far too much bloodshed and hardship…
Hai Tianqing waved his command flag—
"The Free Army will prevail! Long live freedom!" A thunderous shout rang out—
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!" Over a hundred arrows rained down from the Free Army soldiers on the front and right sides of the hill, heading straight for the swordsmen.
A brief pause, and a second volley arrived!
The Free Army swordsmen and knife-wielders on the hillside, however, didn't draw their weapons, instead picking up large and small rocks and hurling them down.
The swordsmen's shields protected the front, but left their sides exposed. Coupled with the inevitable openings during the charge, the first volley felled twenty or thirty men, and the second volley felled forty or fifty. Falling during a mass charge was catastrophic; those behind couldn't stop their trampling, crushing or severely injuring the fallen!
Even more terrifying were the rocks that crashed down from a height of ten zhang (approximately 33 meters), which shields could not withstand. Dozens of men were broken in
two hundred paces, their shields and bones severed, some falling into the deep valleys, their screams echoing through the valleys for a long time. Hua Yinghong directed a series of volleys of arrows, and the Jade Dragon swordsmen endured ten volleys of arrows and ten boulders. Of the more than four hundred men who charged towards the Free Army, only a few dozen remained, mostly company commanders, squad leaders, platoon leaders, and elite guards.
The rest were either dead or wounded. Of the more than six hundred Jade Dragon shield-wielding swordsmen, less than one-tenth remained! This was not a battle, but a one-sided massacre, a meticulously planned slaughter!
Liu Yufei heard and saw nothing but horrific screams and flowing blood; she couldn't bear to look any longer and turned her head away.
"Disarm and spare the lives of the dozens!" Hua Yinghong commanded his men to rush down the hillside, cutting off the retreat of the dozens of soldiers. He paused the attack, gently putting his left arm around Liu Yufei's shoulder, and said softly, "Fei'er, the road to restoration and the road to freedom are both inevitably paved with blood. If there are any more bloody scenes like this, you shouldn't participate."
Hai Tianqing said in a deep voice, "Being merciful to the enemy is being cruel to ourselves! It's our turn!" He then leaped into the air, covering nearly twenty zhang in three bounds to reach the front lines, and launched a descent!
Hua Yinghong and Liu Yufei watched as the dozens of experts, taking advantage of the lull in the rain of arrows and rocks, charged into the Free Army's gun emplacement, engaging in close combat. The Free Army soldiers thrust their spears swiftly, but since most of them were untrained slaves just a day ago, how could they be a match for these battle-hardened, highly skilled veterans? Within moments, more than a dozen had been killed or wounded.
Liu Yufei never imagined that her momentary mercy would harm over a dozen Free Army soldiers. Enraged and ashamed, she moved with lightning speed, appearing like a ghost at the front of the formation. Her Longquan sword flashed, unleashing a "Raging Storm" that whipped up sand and stones, the sword light cascading down like a waterfall, engulfing all the Jade Dragon Army experts within a three-zhang radius! Since her breakthrough the previous night, Liu Yufei's power had greatly increased, and her "Raging Storm" sword technique had reached a new level, its power unparalleled.
The dozen or so Jade Dragon Army experts felt as if they had been swept into a storm, staggering and swaying uncontrollably, wildly swinging their weapons, often colliding with their own men. Before the "Raging Storm" sword technique, once used by the legendary Liu Suifeng to dominate the world, these experts, only at the third rank, were utterly powerless.
Liu Yufei unleashed another move, "Gentle Breeze and Drizzle," a technique she had been unable to master until her breakthrough the previous night. Thousands of sword lights gently poured down, like spring drizzle, seeping into the heart with a gentle breeze, dampening clothes, making it impossible to dodge, yet impossible to avoid—as
the sword light faded, more than a dozen Jade Dragon Army experts lay sprawled on the ground, each struck in the chest by a sword tip. Outwardly unharmed, their meridians were destroyed, rendering them crippled. Thankfully, Liu Yufei hadn't intended to kill, showing mercy.
As Liu Yufei displayed her power, Hua Yinghong, Mei Lan, Mei Ju, and about twenty experts from the Restoration Society rushed in, joining the battle.
The Jade Dragon Army experts, already struggling for survival, had no chance—
Hai Tianqing's longsword was unstoppable, its blade energy crisscrossing, its attacks merciless, leaving several Jade Dragon experts either dead or severely wounded in just a few exchanges.
Hua Yinghong finally witnessed why Liu Lan and Liu Ju were known as the "Iron-Blooded Beauties." These two beautiful and charming young women, likely due to their responsibility as bodyguards for Liu Yufei, wielded the same "Surging Wind and Weeping Rain Sword," but their powerful sword techniques—such as "Sudden Wind and Rain," "Raging Storm," and "Bloodstained Rain"—were filled with murderous intent and were incredibly fierce. Although only at the sixth rank, the two women appeared far more terrifying than Liu Yufei, and in an instant, more than a dozen people died under their combined attack.
Since resolving the injury from He Zongshi's Yinluo Cold Ice Palm yesterday, Hua Yinghong's skill had improved further. The previously stagnant "Three Forms of Breaking Heaven" became even more fluid. His Dragon Roar Blade was drawn, its sound like a dragon's roar. Several consecutive strikes, "Sweeping Through a Thousand Armies" and "Splitting Mount Hua," transformed the Primordial Qi into an invincible Void-Breaking True Qi the moment it entered the opponent's body, causing several third and fourth rank Jade Dragon experts to cough up blood and suffer severe injuries. The aura locked onto the company commander a few feet away, relentlessly attacking him.
The company commander, feeling the aura binding him, resolved to die. He leaped into the air a few feet away, ready to fight to the death! His blade whipped around a powerful gust of wind, radiating the killing intent unique to a seasoned veteran. Anyone timid or weak would likely be cleaved in two before the battle even began.
Hua Yinghong, however, focused his sword intent on "sweeping through a thousand armies," fearless and undaunted. With a casual, masterful strike, he wielded his Dragon Roar Blade, striking the very front half of the commander's blade, instantly dissipating the killing intent.
"A final battle to the death!" the company commander roared, sword and all, charging towards Hua Yinghong. His sword intent seemed to carry a suicidal spirit, its power immense.
Liu Yufei, several feet away, sensed this desperate sword intent and cried out in a sweet voice, "Brother, be careful!" Her concern clouded her judgment, and she blurted out even the most intimate nickname they shared.
Hua Yinghong flashed past the company commander, his blade flashing and disappearing in an instant.
The company commander, standing upright with his back to Hua Yinghong, blood gushing from his chest, collapsed to the ground. He had been pierced through the heart by Hua Yinghong's lightning-fast "Unstoppable Advance" strike, maintaining his soldier's dignity even in death.
**** ********
Xie Zhan commanded three hundred archers to fire at the summit. The rain of arrows, after shooting upwards for dozens of feet, lost its momentum and was easily deflected by those guarding the summit, though it still caused some disruption. Qiu Changzheng and An Rushan seized the opportunity to lead their elite troops and spearmen in several attacks on the summit, but each attack was repelled by flying rocks, resulting in dozens of unnecessary deaths and injuries, including a dozen or so of their personal guards who were seriously wounded.
Shouts came from the other side of the mountain. Xie Zhan knew that the vanguard of six hundred men had been attacked. In a panic, he drew his sword and personally led his men to charge towards the summit. "Kill!" The commander-in-chief led from the front, greatly boosting morale. The rocks on the summit were almost all gone, making the area much looser. Some highly skilled bodyguards and agile elite soldiers seized the opportunity to rush to within ten feet of the summit!
Lü Jingwei, along with ten Restoration Society experts and fifty special forces members, turned to assist in the defense.
A hundred crossbow bolts and arrows rained down; fifty special forces members wielded crossbows, fifty bows, unleashing a hail of arrows! Ba Tian used brute force to lift a nearly thousand-pound boulder and slammed it down!
The attackers, who had been dodging the boulder, were stunned by the sudden rain of arrows! Dozens more were instantly killed or wounded! A sixth-rank bodyguard, confident in his strength, leaped into the air, dodging and parrying the crossbow bolts. Just as his strength was waning and new strength had not yet arisen, Ba Tian's thousand-pound boulder crashed down on him. He managed to land a blow, but was still struck head-on, crushed to the ground, and died instantly! The boulder rolled down the mountain, carrying sand and stones along its path, knocking down more than ten soldiers who couldn't dodge in time.
Xie Zhan and Qiu Changzheng were furious. Since the start of the battle, their side had suffered nearly three hundred casualties, including one sixth-rank and one fifth-rank elite guard each killed, and nearly a dozen wounded. An entire squad of spearmen had been wiped out, and the six hundred swordsmen on the other side of the mountain were likely dead, yet they hadn't even scratched the enemy. The two men, veterans of dozens of battles, had never been so frustrated.
An Rushan was also furious; four of his top spies were seriously injured, greatly reducing their strength.
On the summit, only about thirty men remained. Ba Tian, leading a hundred special forces soldiers, fired a rain of arrows and then quietly retreated.
Xie Zhan recovered but didn't have a good solution. The enemy had the high ground, and a direct assault would result in too many casualties. After a short standoff, a chorus of shouts suddenly came from the summit: "Thank you all for the weapons and clothing!" Lü Jingwei and the others had vanished without a trace.

Hua Yinghong led the Free Army back to the slave camp.
Ba Tian's special forces and Lü Jingwei's Restoration
Society experts returned nearly an hour later. In this battle, the vanguard of the Jade Dragon Army, numbering six hundred, was completely annihilated. Lü Jingwei, the Restoration Society experts, and Ba Tian's special forces conservatively estimated that over two hundred enemy casualties were inflicted, leaving over a hundred seriously wounded who required care. They captured hundreds of weapons, shields, clothing, armor, and some valuables.
The Free Army suffered only a dozen or so casualties. While the night battle at the slave camp had an element of luck, this battle truly impressed Hai Tianqing and his men. Both battles were decisive victories against overwhelming odds, greatly boosting the morale of the Free Army soldiers.
After a half-hour rest, Hua Yinghong rallied all the Free Army soldiers again, rallying them in a rousing voice: "Brothers! Our army has just won its first victory since its founding! It's a remarkable victory! I believe this is just one of many victories for the Free Army. We will achieve victory after victory and realize our dream!
'The Free Army will prevail! Long
live freedom!'
Liu Yufei gazed at the spirited and impassioned Hua Yinghong, as if she saw a hidden dragon rising from the depths of the abyss, soaring straight to the heavens!
'Towards our next goal! —'"
**** The Second Battalion of the Treasure Division, led by Xie
Zhan, spent over three hours clearing the right side of the mountain pass after An Rushan, Qiu Changzheng, and others occupied it.
The scene before them was unbearable for the soldiers of the Second Battalion: the roads were littered with the corpses of fallen soldiers; the dead and wounded had been stripped of all their clothing, shields, and swords except for their undergarments. Nearly a hundred seriously wounded lay groaning by the roadside, seemingly never to fight again.
Xie Zhan assigned one hundred swordsmen, one hundred gunmen, one hundred archers, and one hundred crossbowmen to care for the wounded. These wounded could not be abandoned, as it would severely damage morale. If soldiers saw their officers ignoring the wounded, who would fight to the death?
Hai Tianqing and his Free Army brothers wanted to kill the wounded, but Hua Yinghong stopped them. He didn't care about the lives of these hundred men; his intention was to leave a burden for the Jade Dragon Army. Also—to let the wounded spread the word about the Free Army's might.
Sure enough, the Free Army's achievement of annihilating six hundred shield-wielding swordsmen with only a dozen or so casualties was exaggerated and spread by the wounded, intentionally or unintentionally. The previously confident officers and soldiers of the Second Battalion of the Treasure Division secretly underwent a subtle change in their mentality.
Along the way, Xie Zhan became even more cautious. Wherever the terrain was slightly dangerous, he sent out skilled soldiers to occupy the high ground first. The advance scouts passed for five miles before the main army slowly advanced, truly proceeding step by step. Even so, some soldiers still inadvertently triggered ambushes left by Ba Tian's special forces—
sometimes touching a rock would pull a rope buried underground, causing several rows of sharpened sticks to fly out of the nearby woods—
sometimes stepping on a stick would trigger a pile of inconspicuous stones on the nearby mountainside, "Boom!" "The ground slammed down"—such
tricks were already second nature to the special forces members selected from the hunters. With a little guidance from Hua Yinghong and Lu Shenggong, the destructive power was low, injuring only a dozen or so people in total. However, the effect was significant—
each time the traps activated, the Jade Dragon Army was on edge, thinking they were under attack again. They proceeded with extreme caution, exhausted and hungry, until they reached the entrance to the slave camp's city wall—
dusk was approaching.

Volume Two, Chapter Nineteen: A Surprise Attack on the Enemy's Camp. The mountains stretched
like a sea, the setting sun like blood.
From afar, the slave camp's city gates could be seen wide open, four... The place was deserted. The setting sun slanted across the five-zhang-high city wall of the slave camp, casting a dazzling golden glow on the upper half, while the lower half remained shrouded in shadow.
Xie Zhan, An Rushan, and the others were puzzled by the Free Army's actions. Was it another trick? Or had they abandoned the camp and fled, too afraid to confront them directly? After much hesitation, Xie Zhan decided to send a skilled soldier to cautiously approach. Once they had leaped onto the wall and confirmed there were no ambushes, they led a large contingent of troops to take control of the empty camp.
On the high platform of the parade ground hung the heads of He Zongshi and dozens of soldiers. On one wall, written in blood or red paint, were the words: "The Free Army will prevail! Long live freedom!" The words "..." were menacing and chilling.
After safely taking control of the inner valley city walls, Xie Zhan and his men arranged defensive patrols and breathed a sigh of relief. Xie Zhan flatly refused An Rushan's suggestion to search and pursue them from the inner valley. Despite his warlike nature, he didn't want to play hide-and-seek with an enemy familiar with the terrain in the mountains as darkness fell, risking his men dying needlessly in a trap
.
In a valley near the coal mine camp, ten miles outside Jubao Town, while
Xie Zhan's army was engaged in a fierce battle with the obstacles and small traps blocking their path, the Free Army had marched fifty miles through the mountain path and quietly arrived here two hours earlier. The
Free Army soldiers fully demonstrated their ability to endure hardship and toil, marching continuously for two hours without a single person falling behind, only taking a short break in between. After all, compared to the heavy labor in the slave camp, marching was indeed nothing.
However, for tonight's operation, Hua Yinghong still ordered a two-hour rest. The soldiers seized the time to practice the Blazing Sun Technique taught by Lü Jingwei, adjusting their energy and spirit to their peak.
The squad leaders and experts of the third rank and above, including members of the Restoration Society, also obtained different levels of the Heaven and Earth Technique and the Void-Breaking Technique according to their individual strengths, and began to comprehend them according to their own understanding.
The Heaven and Earth Technique and the Void-Breaking Technique ... The Void Technique—a thousand people practicing it might yield a thousand different results; this is the magic of these two unparalleled martial arts techniques.
The Great Dao is without action, yet all paths lead to the same destination. For masters like Lü Jingwei, Hai Tianqing, Liu Yufei, Liu Lan, and Liu Ju, the benefits gained from the Heaven and Earth Technique and the Void-Breaking Technique are immeasurable.
Hua Yinghong initially bestowed these two techniques upon Ba Tian and the two hundred special forces members, aiming to forge them into the elite of the elite.
On the battlefield, every bit of strength increases one's chance of survival.
Hua Yinghong gazed at the myriad lights of Jubao Town in the distance, lost in thought—
when he handed the stone cup Guan Shanyue had crafted by hand to Hou Mubai that morning, Hou Mubai had casually left him a martial arts manual, "This was left behind by the King of Assassins, 'One Point Red,' after his failed assassination attempt on me. He hid within three zhang (approximately 10 meters), and I didn't even notice—it was the power of this Concentrating Heart Technique. I think it should be useful to you."
"From now on, I will dedicate myself to pursuing the Dao." "Brother Hua, you are a dragon among men, but your bloodlust is too strong. I hope this Mind-Concentrating Technique will help you understand the will of Heaven and reduce your murderous intent." Hou Mubai then drifted away.
"Too strong a bloodlust?" Hua Yinghong couldn't help but smile bitterly. He had always been resolute and unwilling to do anything half-hearted. For example, when he saw corrupt officials causing trouble and harming the people, he would say, "They should be shot," always feeling that such scum, though not necessarily better off killed, was no worse than not killing them; or when he saw those avengers on TV, clearly pointing guns at their enemies' heads and knives at their necks, yet still babbling on and on, only to be betrayed, he would secretly curse: Foolish! Wouldn't it have been better to just finish the job? And so on and so forth.
"The heads of treacherous villains are endless, the blood of enemies is inexhaustible," these two lines were Hua Yinghong's favorite in life, always making him feel a surge of heroic spirit. If he had the chance to use ruthless methods with a compassionate heart, wouldn't that be the most joyful thing in life!
Perhaps only in this strange world could he live such a wonderful life?
"Brother, what are you thinking about?" "Liu Yufei appeared silently on the left and asked softly. There was always so much that she couldn't understand and was mysterious about her beloved, always bringing endless surprises and delights.
Under the night sky, Liu Yufei's beautiful eyes shone like stars in the sky, and her graceful figure stood in the wind, like a fairy descended from heaven. As a princess, she was so gentle and charming to him. He really didn't know
what kind of good fortune he had accumulated in his past life. Hua Yinghong was startled and lost in thought, saying, "Fei'er, I was just thinking that to be favored by you, I don't know what kind of good fortune I had accumulated in my past life." He casually wrapped his arm around Liu Yufei's waist and gently pulled her closer.
Liu Yufei, sensing the surrounding area, found no one within a ten-foot radius, and gently nestled into Hua Yinghong's embrace. Her beloved seemed oblivious to the strictures of propriety, making her feel both shy and fond. She was somewhat afraid he would do something shameful in public, yet genuinely delighted by his undisguised love for her, enjoying the unique sensation of being in his arms; his intense masculine scent intoxicated her.
Hua Yinghong's lips gently pressed against Liu Yufei's, as if using the tenderness of this kiss to lessen the bloody atmosphere of the night—

Jubao Town. The headquarters of the Third Battalion of the Treasure Trove.
Qiu Xiaoyun, embracing a beautiful and alluring woman, groped her, teasing her until she giggled and cried out in a seductive voice, "Master Qiu, you're so naughty!"
Qiu Xiaoyun leered, "My darling Xinru, my good Ruru, tell me, what's wrong with me? If you can't tell, I'll punish you!" As he spoke, his devilish hand slipped inside the woman's bodice, kneading and fondling her soft areas, causing the woman, named "Xinru," to pant heavily, her eyes gleaming with seductive light, making her incredibly alluring.
"Xinru" was only in her early twenties, with a charming face, a beautiful figure, and fashionable, sexy clothes. While not a stunning beauty, she was quite popular with Qiu Xiaoyun because of her flirtatious manner. She said in a coquettish voice, "Master's hands are naughty, his mouth is naughty... and this is the naughtiest!" As she spoke, her slender hand gave Qiu Xiaoyun's most prominent spot a playful, yet fierce, pinch.
Qiu Xiaoyun deliberately let out a "scream" and kissed Xinru's small mouth hard, saying, "Then why did you always say 'I want more,' my darling Xinru? Why didn't you say it was bad then? Shouldn't you be punished?"
Xinru untied Qiu Xiaoyun's belt with her left hand, took out the symbol, and gently rubbed it. Her eyes were seductive, and she said in a coquettish voice, "How should I punish it, Master?"
"Of course, I should reward it, as an apology..." Qiu Xiaoyun gently pressed Xinru's jade head with his hand, indicating that she should kneel down.
Xinru naturally understood, sliding down to half-kneel on the ground, feigning shyness as she parted her fragrant lips, her lip slightly parted—
Qiu Xiaoyun sighed comfortably, but couldn't resist Xinru's teasing, slightly turning her body and inserting most of her symbol…
Xinru made a soft "hmm" sound, glancing at Qiu Xiaoyun with alluring eyes, her fragrant lips slightly parted, her lip twitching, her jade head moving up and down with practiced ease…
"Captain, urgent report from the coal mine camp: a large number of freed slaves are active nearby, seemingly preparing to attack the camp," someone reported from outside the door.
Qiu Xiaoyun was the captain of the third battalion of the Treasure Trove, stationed in Jubao Town, only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, and one of the direct descendants of the Qiu family. When Qiu Lei was the First Battalion Commander of the Direct Division, Qiu Xiaoyun served as his subordinate First Battalion Commander. He was exceptionally skilled in martial arts and possessed outstanding intelligence, but in his youth, he developed the lecherous and lustful habits common to scions of wealthy families. He was denounced by a spy for forcibly taking a woman, and Qiu Lei was implicated as well. Through his family's influence, Qiu Xiaoyun was "exiled" to Treasure Island. Being of the same lineage as Qiu Lei and possessing a clever mind, he knew how to cater to his desires, allowing him to dominate a region in Jubao Town, where he was quite content and carefree.
"Mmm!" Xinru didn't stop; instead, her fragrant lips pressed tightly together, and she quickened her movements, leaving Qiu Xiaoyun unsure whether it was pleasure, an indication of "understanding," or both. A
mutiny had occurred in the iron mine slave camp fifty miles away. Qiu Xiaoyun had already received a message from Qiu Lei informing him that Xie Zhan had been dispatched with the Second Battalion to suppress it, and instructing him to be cautious of the various slave camps.
"A mere thousand slaves? A few hundred soldiers can wipe them all out. Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut?" Qiu Xiaoyun had always looked down on these lowly slaves. They possessed only brute strength, were submissive, and knew nothing of martial arts; no matter how strong they were, they were nothing more than laborers. Qiu Xiaoyun knew the "Bloodthirsty Maniac's" abilities and felt this was making a mountain out of a molehill.
Although somewhat dismissive of Qiu Lei's notification, Qiu Xiaoyun still made a show of it, adjusting her troops and instructing all slave camps to be on high alert, maintain constant communication via smoke signals, and report immediately in case of emergency.
The 3,000 men of the Third Battalion were not all stationed at Jubao Market, but were distributed across several locations, with guards from local organizations undertaking tasks such as bandit suppression, maintaining order, and patrolling.
The pearl farms thirty miles north of the bay produced a large quantity of natural and cultured pearls every year, all of the highest quality in terms of color and size. Ordinary pearls, ground into powder and ointment, had excellent beauty and anti-aging effects, whether taken orally or applied topically. The finest natural pearls have always been coveted by noblewomen and ladies of high society in the Hua Long Continent, considered a symbol of status and wealth.
The pearl farm earns over 30,000 gold coins annually, making it a crucial source of revenue and a vital "local product" base for Qiu Lei's family and various factions over the past year. Consequently, the pearl farm has become a target for pirate raids, with small groups of pirates launching numerous attacks. While these pirates are not particularly strong in combat, they are tactically adept, specializing in harassment and sabotage. Although the more than 5,000 slaves at the pearl farm are accustomed to submissiveness, they have become somewhat restless since the rise of the "freeloaders." Qiu Xiaoyun, well aware of the pearl farm's importance to Qiu Lei, has deployed a squadron of 1,000 men to guard it.
Among the more than 2,000 pearl-diving female slaves are many beautiful women, which is why Qiu Xiaoyun often uses the excuse of "strengthening the guard" to inspect the area.
The coal mine camp is about ten miles southeast of Jubao Town, where more than 2,000 strong slaves mine coal, guarded by a small squad of soldiers and 300 local guards.
The copper mine camp, with nearly three thousand slaves, was located ten miles south of Jubao Town, but eleven or twelve miles from the coal mine camp, forming a fairly regular triangle with Jubao Town. It was guarded by a small detachment of soldiers and three hundred local guards.
Five miles west of Jubao Town, towards Xigang, was another extremely important location: a slave camp with over three thousand slaves, led by nearly a hundred renowned kingdom technicians, specializing in forging various weapons. A company commander led two squads and six hundred local guards to guard it.
Only seven hundred men from the Third Battalion remained in the town, plus six hundred less capable local guards.
"No need to make a fuss!" Qiu Xiaoyun couldn't help but press Xinru's head down, quickly thrusting forward, while ordering, "Let those clowns cause trouble; they won't dare to actually attack the camp."
"Yes!" the guard replied and left.
Unable to resist the intense pleasure of his rapid thrusts, Qiu Xiaoyun hastily laid Xinru down, lifted her clothes, and found her completely naked and covered in mud

. He then parted the grass, searching for a snake, and thrust into her alluring secret place. A cacophony of lewd sounds filled the air, intoxicating and intoxicating… Just past midnight, with no stars or moon, the sky over the island wasn't particularly dark; in the hazy light, one could vaguely see several dozen feet ahead.
Coal Mine Camp.
Hai Tianqing's other two groups of "Slave Freers" were already operating near Jubao Town, and were very familiar with the surrounding situation and Qiu Xiaoyun's troop deployment. Upon receiving Hai Tianqing's order, over four hundred "Slave Freers" gathered a short distance from the coal mine camp.
Normally, they lacked the capability for large-scale attacks on any target controlled by the Yulong military. Aside from the sturdy walls and easily defensible terrain, even a small squad of regular soldiers and guards, coupled with the disparity in weaponry, would easily overwhelm four hundred "Slave Freers" if they attacked—perfect for the enemy.
Seeing that most of the Free Army soldiers had changed into the uniforms and standard equipment of the Jade Dragon Army, with only a white cloth band wrapped around their left arm for distinguishing friend from foe in the dark, and that they were all spirited and disciplined, no less impressive than the regular Jade Dragon Army, the freed slaves were filled with envy.
The Free Army had just distributed some of the captured weapons to some of their brothers, and hearing that a major battle was to be fought tonight, after which they could join the Free Army and receive advanced martial arts secrets, the freed slaves were extremely excited and full of anticipation for the upcoming battle.
From the Free Army soldiers, they learned of the results of the battles at the Iron Mine Camp and the Pan Chang Intestine, praising Hua Yinghong as a brilliant strategist and incredibly powerful. Almost no one doubted that tonight, under Hua Yinghong's leadership, they would achieve another great victory.
Under the watchful eyes of two thousand people, Hua Yinghong issued the battle plan.

Qiao Han, the squad leader stationed at the coal mine camp, was somewhat uneasy. Since evening, a large number of "freed slaves" had been openly and brazenly moving around the area, contrary to their usual sneaky behavior, seemingly no longer caring.
"Could it be that the Second Battalion failed to annihilate the Free Army?" He was always a cautious man. After receiving news from Qiu Xiaoyun to the West Port, he strengthened the defenses of the coal mine camp and even personally patrolled the more than five-zhang-high city wall.
In the darkness, five hundred paces away, the main road and the hills on both sides were suddenly lit up with torches all over the hillside. "Free Army—victory! Freedom—long live!" The deafening shouts echoed through the sky. In the firelight, most of the people were wearing the uniforms of the Zhishi Army and carrying Zhishi weapons. Judging from the number of people from a distance, there were probably more than a thousand.
Qiao Han broke out in a cold sweat: over a thousand fully armed Free Army soldiers, plus the reported involvement of Restoration Society experts—without outside help, the coal mine camp might not survive. The consequences of these two thousand strong slaves being used by the Free Army—
"Sss!" Without hesitation, Qiao Han used a secret military method to send an emergency signal—

almost simultaneously, at the copper mine camp, a dozen miles away!
Squad leader Liao Xiaoqing, like Qiao Han, was a cautious man. Having received Qiu Xiaoyun's notification, he personally patrolled the city walls. The copper mine camp covered an area of three or four miles. The surrounding mountains weren't particularly steep, so several sections had walls built along the terrain, about four zhang (approximately 10 meters) wide and ten zhang (approximately 33 meters), each guarded by dozens of soldiers and guards.
"Free Army—victory! Freedom—long live!" Five hundred meters in front of the copper mine camp gate, suddenly a great fire erupted, hundreds of torches were raised high, and shouts shook the heavens. Loud shouts also came from outside other sections of the city walls; all together, there were probably more than one or two thousand people!
Immediately, an emergency signal identical to that of the coal mine camp rose into the sky—
******** ****
Qiu Xiaoyun and Xinru had been locked in a fierce battle for nearly an hour before it finally subsided. Now, she lay contentedly on the bed, enjoying Xinru's unique charm.
Xinru had just been brought to ecstasy three times, feeling as if she were about to ascend to immortality. The blush on her face hadn't faded, making her already beautiful face even more alluring. Her disheveled hair added to her captivating charm.
What pleased Qiu Xiaoyun most was that, after their pleasure, Xinru would still considerately lie on his lap, her soft, smooth breasts rubbing against his strong thigh muscles, her fragrant red lips and delicate tongue gently licking and sucking, her jade-like neck occasionally twitching as if she were drinking in nectar…
Then, she would gently open her lips again and take them in, her fragrant tongue licking and sucking with extremely gentle movements, providing continuous, slight stimulation…
Even more irresistible were her alluring, captivating eyes, which would occasionally cast flirtatious glances at him, as if seeking his encouragement and affection…
“Oh! Mmm…” Qiu Xiaoyun felt his virility return, and in an instant, he became erect again, filling Xinru’s velvety, warm mouth, just about to—
“Urgent report!” The guard’s voice rang out again at an inopportune moment from outside the door.
“Speak!” Qiu Xiaoyun asked somewhat displeased, being interrupted at this time was truly disappointing.
Xinru, however, continued to use her seductive charms, employing every trick in the book to seduce him…
“Urgent report from Xigang! The Second Battalion was ambushed by the slave army at noon, suffering over 800 dead and over 100 wounded. Nearly 2,000 slave soldiers have abandoned their camp and their whereabouts are unknown. Please be careful, sir!” Qiu Lei and the others, unwilling to acknowledge the title “Free Army,” instead used the derogatory term “Slave Army.”
“Over 900 dead and wounded?” Qiu Xiaoyun was somewhat shocked. The Second Battalion was slightly stronger than the Third Battalion in terms of combat strength, and Xie Zhan was no incompetent man; yet, they had suffered such a crushing defeat.
The slave army, having abandoned their camp, had only two paths: one a mountain road leading southeast to Alang Mountain, and the other northeast to Jubao Town. Although it was an ambush, they hadn't expected the slave army to possess such fighting power; their next target would be—.
Thinking of this, his desire immediately subsided, which was noticed by Xinru, who was engrossed in her studies. She gave him a reproachful glare and intensified her efforts, intending to reignite his passion...
"Urgent report! The coal mine camp is under attack by over a thousand slave soldiers!" Qiu Xiaoyun, whose interest was gradually rising again, was about to mount his horse for another round when
another urgent report dampened his spirits. "Urgent report! The copper mine camp is under attack by over a thousand slave soldiers!" Another urgent report rushed in.
Qiu Xiaoyun completely sobered up from his lust. He was no ordinary man; the military situation was urgent, and he could not afford to delay. He immediately ordered, "Order! The entire camp to assemble immediately!" and decisively withdrew from Xinru's alluring lips, quickly dressing and donning his armor.
Xinru, having toiled for so long in vain, and knowing that Qiu Xiaoyun was indeed preoccupied with important matters, helplessly pleaded in a sweet voice, "Master, please be careful. I'll wait for you to return..."
Qiu Xiaoyun ignored her, issuing a series of orders: "Send a messenger quickly to the Pearl Farm and the Weapon Battalion to strengthen their defenses! Send a small team from each to return to Jubao Town! Signal the Copper Mine Battalion and the Coal Mine Battalion to hold their ground and await reinforcements for a pincer attack!"
"Yes, sir!" The messenger departed. Immediately afterward, the emergency assembly drums sounded, and the entire camp erupted in shouts and neighing horses, as signals were raised into the air.
Qiu Xiaoyun flew to the drill ground, and in less than a quarter of an hour, he saw his own cavalry squad, a mixed infantry squad armed with swords, spears, and bows and arrows, and a hundred personal guards—a total of seven hundred men—lined up neatly, awaiting orders. He was extremely satisfied—truly worthy of the elite troops trained by the Qiu family.
The two squads of six hundred local guards, however, were noticeably less disciplined; some were still wandering around aimlessly, unable to find their assigned units.
"The cavalry squad and the personal guard will reinforce the copper mine camp! Captain Qiu will lead an infantry squad to reinforce the coal mine camp. The guards will remain behind, and the weapons battalion's return-to-base squad will guard the key roads at the town entrance and the main camp. In case of emergency, signal for communication."
Captain Qiu, whose real name was Qiu Cheng, was Qiu Xiaoyun's capable lieutenant. He usually handled most of the affairs of the Third Battalion, giving Captain Qiu more time to pursue his "hobbies."
The slave army, including the nearby freed slaves, numbered no more than two thousand. Qiu Xiaoyun reacted almost flawlessly in an instant: with four hundred fast-moving elite cavalry, they could reach the weakly defended copper mine camp in a short time, launching a pincer attack to defeat or even annihilate the slave army there, before heading to the easily defensible coal mine camp to join forces with the infantry led by Qiu Cheng to wipe out the remaining slave army.
Qiu Xiaoyun was also a shrewd strategist. If the enemy used a feint attack to lure the enemy away from their base and attacked Jubao Town, a small detachment of regular troops and six hundred guards could hold them off for a while. Regardless of which unit failed to reach their target, they could quickly return to reinforce within half an hour, covering a mere ten miles, allowing for a counter-encirclement and trapping them like turtles in a jar.
As Qiu Xiaoyun predicted, the slave army would not only gain nothing but also suffer a gruesome death!
But was Hua Yinghong, who was adept at creating surprises, planning something as simple as splitting his forces to attack the two mining camps?
After Qiu Xiaoyun led his troops away from the camp, a lithe, graceful, and beautiful black figure flashed out of his room, glanced around, and swiftly leaped five zhang towards the town center…

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