[Fantasy] A Eunuch Breaks into the Inner Palace (Complete) - Chapter 18

Episode 5, Chapter 6: The Dragon Emerges

. At the summit of the mountain, before the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness,
dozens of leaders gathered at the highest gathering place of the mountain stronghold, standing solemnly and quietly watching the old Taoist priest holding a sword in the hall, listening to his impassioned speech.
Gongsun Bubai, dressed in a Taoist robe, his aged face solemn, his gaze deep, looked towards the night sky and said calmly, "Brothers, do you still remember why we established this stronghold in the first place?"
Below, a leader answered loudly, "Of course we remember! It was to kill all the corrupt officials and prevent them from oppressing the people with impunity!"
The other leaders echoed loudly, although some did not believe the words in their hearts, but in front of their brothers, they could not say that they had joined the stronghold as thieves for large portions of meat and large sums of silver.
A faint smile appeared on Gongsun Bubai's lips as he said in a deep voice, "Emperor Li Yu is a foolish and tyrannical ruler. He favors treacherous officials, allowing them to prey on the people. As the saying goes, when officials force the people to rebel, the people have no choice but to rebel! We established this stronghold to eliminate the tyranny, kill all the officials, and create a peaceful world! But after Brother Song's death, some people wanted to defect to the court, squandering all of Chief Song's years of hard work! How can we agree to such a plan?"
Immediately, one of his trusted brothers shouted, "You Yong and his gang of traitors betrayed our brothers and deserve to die! Brother Gongsun, leading us to kill the traitors is exactly what Brother Song left behind; one day, we will lead them to storm Jinling and cut off the dog emperor's head. Only then can Brother Song rest in peace!"
The other leaders echoed his sentiments. Even those who harbored resentment over the previous day's fighting dared not show the slightest sign of dissent, lest Gongsun Bubai, in a fit of anger, send them to join You Yong and his gang.
Gongsun Bubai nodded and smiled, pointing to the huge plaque above him bearing the three characters "Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness," and said in a deep voice, "When Brother Song erected this hall, he publicly declared that we were loyal to the country and the people, not blindly loyal to the Southern Tang emperor! Today, this dog emperor has sent men to conquer us, vowing to exterminate our entire stronghold. Do you all agree to this?"
"No! No! Absolutely not!" The leaders were filled with righteous indignation, raising their fists and shouting wildly, vowing to follow Gongsun Bubai to the death and fight the imperial army to the bitter end.
However, the government army was powerful, and although the two sides were currently locked in a stalemate, in the end, the stronghold's army would likely still lose. Thinking of this, the stronghold leaders couldn't help but feel sorrow.
Gongsun Bubai coldly observed the changing expressions of the leaders below. He brandished his sword and shouted, "Brothers, don't let temporary gains or losses bother you! Though the government troops below are numerous, in my eyes they are nothing but a bunch of good-for-nothings, wooden chickens and mud dogs! If you don't believe me, behold my immortal magic!"
He pointed his sword upwards and roared, "Heaven and Earth are boundless, Qiankun borrows the power! Dragon, come!!!"
With this shout, a dark red shadow suddenly appeared in the void above his head, quickly becoming clearer. It shook its head and tail in the air, its scales clearly visible—it was a crimson dragon with two horns on its head, its eyes ferocious, glaring fiercely at the crowd. They were secretly terrified, their hearts filled with both fear and joy.
Gongsun Bubai sneered and brandished his sword, pointing it at the dragon. A pale red light shot from the sword tip directly towards the dragon's body. Infused with the divine energy, the dragon's body suddenly expanded, letting out a wild roar that shook the mountain stronghold. Its crimson body, as if inflated, instantly became enormous, swirling and dancing in the air before the stunned gazes of the crowd. Its body shimmered, and with a flick of its head and tail, it almost enveloped the entire stronghold. The dragon's roar resounded throughout heaven and earth.
Everyone in the stronghold saw this giant dragon. Someone shouted, "Brother Gongsun's magic is boundless! With his help, we can definitely defeat the government troops in one fell swoop, kill those corrupt officials, march straight to Jinling City, kill the emperor, and ensure Brother Gongsun's secure throne! Then, we will all be founding heroes, each receiving countless rewards and returning home in glory!"
Hearing this, the cheers grew louder and louder, until everyone was cheering loudly, their hearts filled with unwavering confidence in victory.
Seeing the legendary dragon appear before them, the bandits and leaders of the stronghold were overjoyed. They thought that with the dragon god's help, what was there to fear from the government army? A single strike from the dragon would shatter them. Then, if they truly stormed Nanjing and seized the throne, high office and great wealth would be within their grasp, and they could live a life of happiness like those high-ranking officials, under the awe and fear of the people! The
government army camp below the mountain also saw the dragon from afar. Immediately, some ran out of their camp, staring in astonishment at the red dragon circling and dancing atop the stronghold.
The dragon's roar echoed for miles, covering the entire Giant Mountain Island. More and more soldiers rushed out of their tents, staring blankly up at the sky. Looking at the gleaming, menacing dragon, their shock turned to fear, and worry quietly spread through their hearts.
The red dragon roared and danced in the air for a long time before gradually disappearing into the night sky. Only when its light faded did the stars and moon gradually reappear in the sky.
The government troops below the mountain stronghold returned to their tents, utterly dejected and filled with fear and helplessness. They had no confidence whatsoever that their army could withstand such a monster. Some soldiers had already begun to consider desertion. If it weren't for the strict military law of the imperial court, the severe punishment for desertion, and the fact that all ships on Giant Mountain Island were under control and unable to leave easily, by dawn, the army would likely be half its size.
This incident greatly boosted the morale of the entire stronghold, and everyone was united in their determination to wipe out the government troops and march straight for the imperial court. Meanwhile, the government troops below the mountain were demoralized, their morale at its lowest point, and they feared that once they entered battle, they would be routed and utterly defeated. In
front of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, the leaders, filled with joy and praise, departed in twos and threes.
Gongsun Bubai had just told them that he would be going into seclusion to cultivate, allowing the dragon to gain even greater power.
After thirty-six days of seclusion, he should have achieved some initial success; after eighty-one days, he should have mastered the immortal arts. At that time, once he emerged, he could wipe out the government troops below the mountain, making their existence irrelevant.
However, within the first thirty-six days, the dragon's power was insufficient, and it could not yet be used in battle. Therefore, for the next month or so, he needed to entrust the brothers with the troops on the mountain to hold off the government troops below, ensuring they could not be allowed to attack the mountain.
The leaders readily agreed, patting their chests and loudly proclaiming that even at the cost of their lives, they would not allow the corrupt government troops below to attack the mountain and disturb Brother Gongsun's cultivation. Besides, those government troops, seeing Brother Gongsun's powerful immortal arts, were probably already terrified; even if the mountain gates were wide open, they wouldn't dare enter the stronghold.
Gongsun Bubai nodded and smiled, offering a few words of comfort before ordering them to go and prepare for defense.
The leaders departed happily, each brimming with energy, no longer taking the aggressive government troops below the mountain seriously.
Watching them leave, a pained expression suddenly appeared on Gongsun Bubai's face. He sighed deeply, clutching his chest for a long time before gradually calming down. Wearily, he returned to the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, laboriously closing the door.
He slowly walked into the hall, pressed a hidden mechanism, and a secret door appeared in the wall, leading to a long staircase.
Gongsun Bubai picked up an oil lamp, breathing heavily, and stepped down into the dark passage.
After winding through the passage for a long time, Gongsun Bubai arrived at a large hall. The hall was spacious, with large tallow candles lit on all sides, illuminating the entire hall.
A huge Bagua (Eight Trigrams) formation was drawn on the floor. Within the formation, there are also all sorts of strange talismans, either drawn on the ground or on talisman paper, which are tightly stuck to the ground.
In the hall, a dozen thick iron pillars stood firmly on the ground, arranged with talismans and paper in a certain pattern. On the pillars, a dozen strong men were tied, each covered in blood, seemingly having suffered greatly, yet their faces showed unyielding defiance as they glared fiercely at Gongsun Bubai who had entered.
Gongsun Bubai walked up to the crowd, his hand on the sword at his waist, his face cold and indifferent. He said calmly, "I've given you a chance. Speak, are you willing to submit to me?"
The burly man closest to him roared, "You killed Brother You and Brother Gai, and you still want us to submit to you? Bah!"
Gongsun Bubai dodged the spit, his cold gaze sweeping over each of their faces. Looking at their hate-filled, defiant eyes, he sneered, "Fine, so you're all prepared to die for it! Very well, I knew long ago that most of you came from official families or had served as officers, always aiming for a high position and a secure future for your families. That's why you followed You Yong, wanting to surrender to the government army. Even if I forced you to bow down..." "You two also harbor ulterior motives. My question is only to preserve our brotherhood of these past years. Since you are willing to die, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
To his left, another burly man sneered, "Gongsun Bubai, you spare our lives only to make us willingly help you refine the monstrous dragon and enhance your magical power! Do you have any good intentions?"
In the distance, another burly man chimed in, "Your monstrous dragon will suck our life essence. If we agree, the day you succeed will be the day our life essence is depleted. Brother You Yong already told us about these things. Do you think we would fall for your tricks?"
A glint flashed in Gongsun Bubai's eyes as he glanced at the two men indifferently and said... "Lin Zhongli, Qin Mingzhen, you two know quite a lot! It seems You Yong really considers you his confidants, telling you everything about my cultivation!"
Lion-headed Lin Zhongli, his head covered in dried blood, gritted his teeth and said, "I was born into an official family, and my joining the outlaws was out of necessity. Brother Song and Brother You Yong helped me avenge my family, killing my enemies, so I treated them like my own brothers. Now that you've killed Brother You Yong, I have no choice but to fight you to the death. Don't even think about using my own life essence to nourish your monster dragon!"
Qin Mingzhen also angrily retorted, "We're all going to die anyway, so torture us however you want! Without our willing sacrifice for you, I'm afraid your monster dragon..." "The power will be greatly reduced, won't it?"
A fierce glint flashed in Gongsun Bubai's eyes as he coldly said, "You're right. If you're unwilling to sincerely offer sacrifices to my Illusionary Dragon according to a certain procedure, and I forcibly make the dragon absorb your soul essence, the effect will naturally not be as good as if it were done exactly as planned. However, although it's worse, it's better than nothing. Right now, in the whole stronghold, besides you people, where else can I find some good bait with excellent martial arts, spirit, and spiritual power to nourish my Illusionary Dragon?"
The burly men tied to the iron pillars began to tremble violently, half out of anger and half out of fear. They began to curse, saying that Gongsun Bubai was vicious and cruel, harming his brothers, and would surely suffer retribution, his soul never to be reborn!
Gongsun Bubai sneered, "You are the ones who will never be reborn after your souls and essence have been drained by my Illusionary Dragon! You need not worry about my future. My magic array was drawn three days ago, and it was only waiting for the auspicious time today to be activated. Now that the auspicious time has arrived, prepare to set off!" The
burly man closest to him was named Huyan Huoshao, whose nickname was the infamous Thunderbolt Fire. He came from a family of military officers, but suffered a great misfortune and became destitute. He had to learn to make pancakes and sell them to make a living. Later, he abandoned his pancake business to join the army, accumulated military merits, and rose to the position of village chief. However, when he was ordered by the court to lead the army of his village to attack Jushan, he was defeated and arrested by You Yong, who tried to persuade him to join their ranks.
Huyan Huoshao was moved by his sincerity, and also because Huyan Huoshao had used a divisive tactic to make the court believe that he had joined the rebels, and wanted to kill his entire family. Fortunately, You Yong sent Lin Zhongli to kidnap Huyan Huoshao's family and bring them up the mountain, saving their lives. Therefore, Huyan Huoshao sincerely surrendered, but in his heart, he still missed the glory of his time as an official. Later, when he heard that You Yong wanted to surrender to the government army, he cheered and was eager to help him contact his former colleagues, intending to help him surrender as well.
Unexpectedly, Gongsun Bubai suddenly launched an attack, killing the leaders, You Yong and Gai Chao, and then tricking everyone into being drugged and imprisoned. Even the families of You Yong and Gai Chao were secretly killed, leaving no one alive.
Huyan Huoshao, filled with hatred for Gongsun Bubai's vicious actions, glared at him and cursed him viciously, which enraged Gongsun Bubai. He strode over and slapped Huyan Huoshao several times across the face, shouting, "You ignorant fools! Today I'll send you to feed my Illusionary Dragon!"
His gaze swept over Huyan Huoshao and the others, and he sneered, "Among these people, you are all of the fire element, which is perfect for the Illusionary Dragon. The others are less suitable, but they are still passable. As long as you absorb a lot of fire today, I can slowly refine you with an array tomorrow. After thirty-six days of refinement, once the Illusionary Dragon is formed, the government troops below the mountain will be routed in one blow!"
He looked up at the sky and laughed loudly, "At that time, I will raise my sword to the north, and who in the world can stand against me!"
Gongsun Bubai was full of ambition, and his laughter was hearty. After a while, he took out something from his bosom, which was a small crimson dragon. It looked like it was carved from bone, with bared fangs and claws, and a very ferocious appearance.
Gazing intently at the ferocious dragon, Gongsun Bubai's eyes were filled with affection and joy. This dragon was the result of his painstaking efforts and the culmination of his life's work. Finding the essence and soul necessary for the Crimson Dragon's growth was extremely difficult; in all these decades, he had only managed to refine it to this point. Now, finally, there was an opportunity for the Crimson Dragon to reach its full potential. How could Gongsun Bubai not be overjoyed?
He drew his sword, slowly walked to Huyan Huoshao, looked into his fiery eyes, sneered, and said coldly, "Huyan Huoshao, for the sake of our brotherhood, I'll let you die a quick death!" He raised his sword, ready to plunge it into Huyan Huoshao's chest, so that his blood would splatter onto the Crimson Dragon's skeletal image.
Suddenly, Huyan Huoshao frowned, his body spun violently, and he swung his sword backward with force, but it was too late. A giant hammer slammed into his back, sending his emaciated body flying forward, coughing up blood as he flew.
He twisted his waist forcefully, stood up, and struggled to suppress the surging blood in his chest. He turned to look at the corner of the hall, his eyes showing surprise and anger, but his face remained calm. He coldly said, "To be able to conceal your aura and evade my divine sense, you do have some skill!"
His words, however, were not directed at the double-hammered demon who had launched a sneak attack. General Sha ignored him, simply sheathing his hammers and stepping back to stand in the hall.
In a shadowy corner, a hidden door opened, and a handsome young man dressed in black casually stepped out, brushing the dust off his clothes. He smiled and said, "Your spiritual sense is really not that great. The restrictions you set up along the way were easily broken. It seems that your Taoist sect has nothing to offer besides illusions!" A flash of anger crossed
Gongsun Bubai's eyes as he sneered, "How arrogant! What skills do you have to dare to boast here? Just look at the dragon I summoned today. Can you summon it? When my power is fully developed, I can command the dragon to descend to earth, kill all the soldiers, and change the masters of the Southern Tang!"
Li Xiaomin shook his head dismissively, saying, "What dragon? It's just an illusion! Its true destructive power..." "It might not be that strong; it just relies on intimidation to get by. If it could actually appear on the battlefield, in the midst of battle, it might scare the cowardly soldiers into running away with their tails between their legs, giving your side a great victory. However, I see your Crimson Dragon has some weaknesses. You dare not let it appear during the day because you fear the yang energy is too strong, and everyone can see it too clearly. With the sunlight shining directly on the Crimson Dragon, it might reveal its true form, making you look foolish in public, is that right?"
He shook his head and sighed a few times, then suddenly nodded in admiration, "However, it's truly rare to see illusion techniques refined to such a grand scale. I'm afraid other Daoist sects can't match the sophistication of those who specialize in illusion techniques. The name 'Illusion Dragon Sect' is indeed well-deserved!"
Gongsun Bubai's face changed color, and he asked in shock and anger, "And where did you learn of my sect's name?"
Li Xiaomin pointed at the dozen or so burly men who were bound and smiled, "These are the guys who told me! Before you came, I had already talked with them for a while, and they all agreed to pledge their loyalty to the court and become generals under my command, so they could have a better future. As for your matter, the deceased You Yong told them everything, and they told me everything without missing a single detail!"
Gongsun Bubai turned back to look at the former mountain stronghold leaders who were glaring and sneering, trembling with rage, and hissed, "You little thief, you dare to come up the mountain alone? Aren't you afraid of my stronghold's army?"
Li Xiaomin laughed, "Don't talk nonsense. There are only two of us here now, and your men don't even know about it. These guys have suffered so much, they probably can't be of much help. Let's use our immortal techniques to fight! You've been dragging me along for so long, so you must have secretly used your immortal power to heal your hidden injuries, right? I won't take advantage of you..." "Yi, I've made you talk for so long to buy time to heal your injuries, isn't that enough?"
His expression changed, and he drew the crystalline blade from his waist, shouting, "Enough talk, let's fight!"
Gongsun Bubai saw him take a stance and couldn't help but feel angry: "What kind of 'enough' is this? My injuries aren't so easily healed secretly. You only care about taking advantage of my vulnerability and launching a sneak attack, what kind of hero are you!"
Seeing Li Xiaomin swing his sword to attack, Gongsun Bubai roared, "You little thief, since you're so eager to die, today I'll kill you first, then slaughter all these traitors, and use your blood and souls to nourish the Crimson Dragon to complete the Great Law!"
He raised the crimson bone dragon in his hand, opened his mouth, and spat a mouthful of blood onto the bone dragon, shouting, "Heaven and Earth are boundless, Qiankun borrows the law! Hurry!"
Blood spurted out, and a raging storm rose up. Li Xiaomin suddenly felt an extremely powerful force surging from in front of him. He was startled, raised his sword to his chest, and focused his mind on guard.
A bright red light suddenly flashed above the crimson bone dragon, illuminating the entire hall as if it had transformed into a giant ruby, blinding everyone.
A crimson shadow floated out from the bone dragon tablet, baring its fangs and claws, its appearance ferocious. Li Xiaomin endured the stinging in his eyes and focused on it. The shadow was indeed the bone dragon, only now it was moving, and its body was rapidly expanding.
Its expansion speed was astonishing. In just an instant, its thick, coiled dragon body spread throughout the hall, knocking down many iron pillars and causing the heroes bound to them to tumble and scream in pain.
Li Xiaomin was secretly alarmed. He pointed, and countless ghost guards rushed forward, surrounding the red dragon. Their spirit blades rose and struck the dragon's body heavily, but were bounced back by its thick scales, unable to harm it in the slightest.
Blood still gushed from Gongsun Bubai's mouth. Looking at the utterly astonished Li Xiaomin, he sneered with glee, "You little thief, after witnessing the power of the dragon I raised, do you still dare to say it's just an illusion?"
He pointed a finger and shouted fiercely, "Ignorant brat, today you'll know the power of my magic!"
With his wild roar, the crimson dragon shook its head and tail, its massive body charging forward. It extended a ferocious claw, grabbing Li Xiaomin, who couldn't escape in time, around the waist. Opening its blood-red maw, it shoved him into its mouth, chewed him a couple of times, then swallowed him whole. Finally, with a lingering sense of satisfaction, it extended its long, red tongue and licked its lips twice, slowly savoring the exquisite taste of this excellent eunuch's body.
Below the mountain stronghold, the imperial army mobilized overnight, preparing to attack the stronghold.
The mighty and beautiful Consort Qin, the commander-in-chief, personally led her troops out of the camp, loudly ordering them to deploy their forces at the foot of the mountain and transport all the necessary siege equipment up.
Although the soldiers received their commander's strict orders, they were all ashen-faced and moved as slowly as snails. No matter how hard their officers whipped them, their speed remained minimal.
In contrast, the henchmen guarding the mountain gate were full of energy, their faces glowing as they stood high on the walls, brandishing their weapons and shouting defiantly, urging the soldiers to attack the mountain so they could have a good slaughter!
Down in the army camp, Qin Yifu looked at his aunt in astonishment and bewilderment, unable to understand why she would order an attack on the mountain at night when the enemy's mighty dragon had appeared and the army's morale was low. Didn't she know that with her army's low morale, they would likely be routed by enemy arrows before even reaching the gate?
Just as he mustered his courage to ask his most respected, dignified, and valiant aunt for the reason, a sudden booming sound came from the mountaintop, silencing his question once again.
All the soldiers on the mountain, whether government troops or bandits, looked up at the summit, their eyes filled with astonishment.
Under their focused gazes, the crimson dragon leaped out once more, swirling and dancing in the air, baring its fangs and roaring.
Compared to its previous appearance, its movements were now extremely ferocious, its roar like thunder, shaking the entire mountaintop, causing small stones to tumble down its slopes.
Watching the crimson dragon fiercely swirling in the night sky, the eyes of all the mountain heroes shone with fanatical fervor!
Although several leaders had passed away or disappeared, the current leader was the most powerful. With the immense power of the dragon he commanded, even a light strike could pulverize a large contingent of government troops below!
Jiang Chong, the hero responsible for guarding the gate, seeing the excited and frenzied faces of his soldiers, was driven by the fervent atmosphere to draw his sword and roar, "Brothers, let's charge down! Let's wipe out those government bastards who dare attack our stronghold! Let them know the might of our heroes!" His
frenzied shouts immediately engulfed the first gate. All the guards raised their blades, opened the gates as quickly as possible, and rushed down, determined to slaughter those audacious government soldiers and establish the might of the stronghold!
In normal times, abandoning the gates and leaving the stronghold undefended is a cardinal sin in warfare. But today, before the heroes of the mountain stronghold, all that remained were fearful soldiers, forced by their officers to attack the mountain with knives at their throats. Looking at their terrified eyes, trembling bodies, and slightly quivering weapons, everyone knew that today's battle would be a foregone conclusion!
And so, amidst the fierce roar of the Crimson Dragon overhead, a battle was about to erupt between a ferocious army surging with fighting spirit and a punitive army on the verge of collapse!

Part One (Part Two) Chapter One: Suppressing the Rebels

When the Crimson Dragon swallowed Li Xiaomin whole, an intense heat enveloped him, making it unbearable.
Flames surged, engulfing Li Xiaomin completely. The raging flames licked at his flesh, the intense pain almost causing him to faint immediately.
After the initial panic and fear, Li Xiaomin took a deep breath, his hands forming hand seals, his face resolute, enduring the pain, and muttering incantations to fight against the heat invading his body.
Immortal power flowed throughout his body. The scorching heat vanished abruptly; though slightly uncomfortable, it was no longer as unbearable as before.
Li Xiaomin slowly opened his eyes, a resolute surprise flashing across them. He looked at the raging flames all around, but he could no longer see the fire.
Despite the raging fire serpents, he had already realized that these were not real fires, but merely illusions. If he hadn't achieved some initial success in his Daoist arts and hadn't gained some understanding of the Illusionary Dragon Sect's techniques, he would likely have been misled by the illusion, frantically casting fire-avoidance spells in fear, which would have had no effect whatsoever, until his fear reached its peak and his immortal power was exhausted.
He was now likely inside a dragon's belly, and this dragon was not a real dragon, but merely an illusory dragon conjured by Gongsun Bubai.
"An illusory dragon, you think you can defeat me?" Thinking this, Li Xiaomin couldn't help but smile coldly, gripping his sword, ready to launch a counterattack, break through the illusion, and fight Gongsun Bubai to the death!
Before he could even utter his incantation, the spot where he stood suddenly trembled violently, as if struck by a powerful earthquake, causing him to stagger and lose his footing.
The crimson dragon abruptly roared to the sky, wings sprouting from its flanks, spreading out and dominating the entire underground hall. With a gentle flap, it soared into the air, crashing through the ceiling and churning the earth separating the hall from the ground.
The crimson dragon's power shook the earth!
The entire mountaintop trembled violently. The bandit leaders, who had just returned to sleep, were awakened by the violent shaking, rolling to the ground, staring at each other in astonishment.
The other soldiers stationed on the summit were also thrown about, screaming in panic, completely bewildered by what had happened.
At this moment, General Sha, leading his ghost guards, was fiercely attacking Gongsun Bubai, intending to kill him and rescue his master. Suddenly seeing this scene, he was greatly alarmed and quickly used telepathy to contact Li Xiaomin, asking how he was doing.
Li Xiaomin, trapped inside the dragon's belly, had fallen to the ground. Still in shock, he heard General Sha's question and realized his predicament, exclaiming in astonishment.
Indeed, the Illusion Dragon Sect, renowned for its illusion techniques, had cultivated them to such a level that an illusory dragon could appear like a real dragon, even capable of shattering solid objects with illusion. If he were to master this power, allowing the illusory dragon to appear in broad daylight and for an extended period, the armies of the world would truly be no match for it!
The crimson dragon spread its blood-red wings, soaring into the sky with a fierce roar that shook heaven and earth, causing both armies preparing for battle at the mountain's gate to stare in disbelief.
Li Xiaomin secretly feared that the red dragon intended to carry him into the sky before suddenly disappearing, causing him to fall and be smashed to pieces. He immediately summoned General Sha, ordering him to come to his rescue. He pleaded with General Sha to quickly bring a large number of ghost guards to catch him if he fell, lest he be turned into a meat patty, which would be a feast for the bandit leaders.
Although he was still a mortal, his body had been partially transformed by his immortal power after many days of cultivation, making him far stronger and more agile than ordinary people. General Sha, with his superhuman spiritual power, could certainly catch him in mid-air and prevent a severe fall.
General Sha, hearing this, dared not delay. He quickly led dozens of ghost guards into the sky, while the other ghost guards were either attacking Gongsun Bubai or busy rescuing the bound leaders in the hall, all extremely busy.
When Li Xiaomin infiltrated the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness and entered the underground hall, he found the leaders bound. He didn't immediately untie them, waiting until the negotiations ended and the leaders agreed to accept the imperial amnesty. He didn't untie them then, to avoid arousing Gongsun Bubai's suspicion. Sure enough, when Gongsun Bubai arrived, seeing the leaders bound, he didn't suspect anything and was successfully attacked by General Sha, suffering severe injuries.
Even in his severe injuries, Gongsun Bubai still forcefully used his immortal magic, commanding a phantom dragon to fly into the sky, intending to smash Li Xiaomin to death.
The red dragon slammed into his head with tremendous force, causing the earth to shake violently and shattering the hall's ceiling into countless pieces, which rained down. If it weren't for the protection of the ghost guards, the leaders would likely have been crushed to death by the falling rocks.
Although Gongsun Bubai had no ghost guards protecting him, his body was already covered in immortal power. Stones were deflected by his immortal power, and despite blood flowing from his mouth, he still fought on with his sword and disheveled hair, struggling to hold on against the ghost guards.
Normally, these ghost guards would be nothing to him, but now, ambushed by General Sha and severely injured, his strength was greatly reduced. The ghost guards were numerous and arranged in a tight formation, attacking and defending in an orderly manner. Gongsun Bubai, despite his immortal techniques, was helpless. Moreover, he was currently multitasking, focusing most of his energy on manipulating the phantom dragon to deal with Li Xiaomin. Naturally, his strength was insufficient, and he could only barely withstand the relentless onslaught of the large number of ghost guards.
Since Li Xiaomin was prepared, ordering the ghost guards to catch him below, Gongsun Bubai abandoned the idea of throwing him to his death. He silently recited incantations, manipulating the phantom dragon to tumble and roll wildly in the air, hoping to dazzle Li Xiaomin first.
In the sky, a colossal crimson dragon flapped its wings, writhing and roaring frantically, its movements swift and violent, spinning like a windmill with incredible speed.
General Sha had already led his ghost guards into the air, frantically circling the illusory dragon, but unable to rush in to save it.
A giant hammer swung up, slamming heavily onto the dragon's head. Although the crimson dragon was an illusion, it was as powerful as a solid object. The blow sent a surge of spiritual energy through Gongsun Bubai, causing his Dao heart to tremble violently. He hastily ordered the illusory dragon to extend its claws and attack General Sha and his ghost guards.
From all sides, the ghost guards surrounded the illusory dragon, their spiritual blades flashing and striking its body. Each strike made Gongsun Bubai's heart skip a beat, his internal organs trembling.
The illusory dragon roared and howled, its claws swinging, striking the ghost guards one by one, sending them flying. The ghost guards, however, desperately flew back, circling the illusory dragon, searching for an opening to attack, refusing to let it go even in the face of death.
General Sha and his ghost guards all appeared in spirit form, never materializing before humans. Therefore, the soldiers on and below the mountain only saw the giant dragon roaring and dancing wildly in the sky, seemingly in a show of force, unaware that it was undergoing its most brutal battle since its creation!
Inside the dragon's belly, Li Xiaomin was already dizzy and lightheaded. Fortunately, he had a history of seasickness and motion sickness, and his body was now relatively strong, so he didn't faint quickly.
He gritted his teeth, exerting all his strength to support himself, and walked step by step forward inside the illusory dragon's belly. Seeing that he had reached the end, he thrust his crystalline blade forward fiercely. With a hiss, it pierced the dragon's skin, revealing a tiny glint of light on the shimmering red scales of the dragon's body.
On the ground, Gongsun Bubai groaned, feeling the impact was extremely heavy, severely damaging his Dao heart. Seeing this, the surrounding ghost guards immediately intensified their attack, their spirit blades slashing down from the sky. Gongsun Bubai was overwhelmed, struggling to wield his sword and barely manage to block the powerful onslaught. Divided into two battles, one in the sky and one on the ground, he was indeed suffering greatly.
Inside the dragon's belly, Li Xiaomin felt the pressure around him ease; the illusory spirit power that had been pressing down on him suddenly weakened. He realized he had indeed struck Gongsun Bubai's weak spot. He refused to relax, wielding his crystalline blade and unleashing a frenzied sword technique, hacking and slashing like a storm inside the dragon's belly.
The illusory dragon opened its mouth, letting out a long, agonizing howl. Its spinning slowed, and it shook its head and tail, appearing to be in excruciating pain.
General Sha was overjoyed at the sight and led his ghost guards in a frenzied attack from the air. Their giant hammers slammed heavily onto the illusory dragon's head, causing it to writhe in pain and rage, trapped both internally and externally, making it almost unable to withstand the onslaught.
Gongsun Bubai, bound by the Phantom Dragon's spirit, was also in excruciating pain from the severe blow, bleeding even more from his mouth. He hurriedly chanted incantations to strengthen the Phantom Dragon, urging it to quickly eliminate the enemies in the air and then descend to help him.
Suddenly, the attacks of the ghost guards around him, which had already slightly weakened, intensified abruptly, their ferocious onslaught suffocating Gongsun Bubai.
Increased aerial power meant less protection for him. Just as he was desperately trying to withstand the onslaught, a large blade silently swept across the sky, swiftly slashing towards his back!
This strike, imbued with extremely violent force, was beyond the reach of Gongsun Bubai's protective immortal power. The blade cleaved heavily in his waist, cutting deep into him!
Gongsun Bubai looked up at the sky, letting out a piercing, desperate scream!
Blood gushed from all seven of his orifices simultaneously, his disheveled hair whipping wildly in the air. The sword that had slain countless demons and monsters was gripped tightly in his deeply wrinkled, veiny hand, yet it could not withstand the ferocious blade from behind!
The sharp spiritual blade cleaved Gongsun Bubai's body, tempered by Daoist magic, severing his spine. This once proud hero, who had faced all things in the world with unparalleled arrogance, collapsed to the ground in despair!
The Crimson Dragon Token he held in his left hand flew out and landed on the ground a short distance away with a soft, crisp sound.
In the air, the frantically thrashing dragon let out a painful roar, its face contorted with extreme agony and sorrow. Its massive, crimson body slowly dissipated, vanishing without a trace into the air.
Inside the dragon's belly, Li Xiaomin was frantically wielding his crystalline blade, striking the dragon's interior again and again. He felt the dragon's wounds worsening, and just as he was gaining momentum, the binding force of his immortal power suddenly vanished, revealing a pitch-black night sky and a sky full of stars before him. He was greatly surprised and momentarily at a loss, his body plummeting downwards.
He was now high in the sky, dozens of feet from the peak. If he were to fall squarely, even with his immortal powers, he would instantly bleed, his bones shattered, and he would die!
At this moment, General Sha was fiercely battling the Illusion Dragon with his giant hammer. His attack missed its mark, and in his confusion, seeing his master about to fall to his death, he hastily transformed into a gust of wind, rushing to Li Xiaomin's side and catching him. Simultaneously, he anxiously called to his men to come and save their master!
Meanwhile, at the summit, the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness was completely destroyed. The entire building, along with the ground, had been shattered into countless pieces by the Illusion Dragon, the ruins scattered across the ground, appearing utterly desolate and chaotic.
Hearing the battle cries from the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, the various mountain leaders residing on the summit, fully dressed, led their large armies to the summit to offer assistance and observe the situation. What they saw in this chaotic ruin filled them with astonishment and fear.
Even more astonishing to them was the hidden world beneath the surface. In the enormous cave, dozens of people, covered in blood, lay slumped on the ground, groaning softly. Their faces were those of the leaders who were rumored to have been executed in the fighting!
Seeing their former brothers, now their enemies, appear before them left the mountain stronghold's leaders and their henchmen speechless with astonishment.
The large group of men lit torches, the flames soaring into the sky, illuminating Li Xiaomin as he slowly descended, making him visible from both above and below the mountain.
Below, the two armies about to clash halted, looking up at the sky, filled with fear and dread; none of them remembered their mission to fight the enemy.
In the vast night sky, a handsome young man, sword in hand, slowly descended. His gaze swept over the various armies on and below the mountain, and when he suddenly saw the beautiful woman leading a powerful nation below, he smiled slightly. Indeed, she was a strikingly handsome young man, her white teeth and red lips captivating the crowd, who felt a pang of inferiority.
On the ground, General Zeng, who had successfully launched a sneak attack, stood before Gongsun Bubai with a ferocious glare, brandishing his massive spirit blade. He raised the blade high, ready to cleave it down and end his life!
Gongsun Bubai lay on the ground, his entrails ripped open, barely breathing. He glared venomously at the vengeful ghost beside him, muttering, "Good, good indeed! You used a little ghost to distract me, making me think you only had this much strength, before suddenly unleashing your full power... Heh heh, if I hadn't been seriously injured earlier and had to focus most of my attention on the divine dragon in the sky, how could you little ghost have harmed me in the slightest?"
General Zeng paid no heed to his words and was about to strike with all his might when he suddenly saw the top of Gongsun Bubai's head open abruptly. A small Taoist priest, his body shimmering with red light, emerged, gave a venomous smile, and transformed into a streak of red light, heading due south.
General Zeng cried out in alarm, raising his sword to strike, but he couldn't stop the red light. He could only
watch helplessly as Gongsun Bubai's nascent soul escaped. General Zeng sighed inwardly, but there was no time for further regret. With a single stroke, he severed Gongsun Bubai's head, held it in his hand, and leaped into the sky. He knelt before Li Xiaomin, presenting the blood-soaked head with both hands!
No one but Li Xiaomin could see his spirit body. All the onlookers could see from afar as a mangled head flew into the sky, where the handsome young man smiled slightly, held it high, and shouted, "Gongsun Bubai's head is here!"
His clear, melodious voice, infused with powerful immortal energy, carried far across the night sky. Those who heard this voice trembled uncontrollably. Half trembled with fear, while the other half trembled with ecstatic joy!
The imperial army, dispatched to quell the bandits, stood at the foot of the mountain, gazing at the elegant and graceful figure of Vice Commander Li in the sky. They were captivated, a surge of admiration and worship welling up within them.
The enemy was so powerful, aided by a giant dragon; yet Li Xiaomin, alone, had stormed the enemy's main peak, slaying the dragon and beheading the enemy chieftain, securing victory in one fell swoop. With such a valiant and invincible commander, how could victory be assured!
A clear and majestic shout rang in the ears of the soldiers: "The enemy chieftain is dead! Why don't we all join forces and charge forward to crush the bandits and achieve great merit!"
The soldiers snapped out of their daze, looking at their commander, the beautiful Consort Qin, riding at the forefront, steel saber in hand, pointing majestically forward. They all raised their weapons, looked up at the sky, and let out a wild cry of joy!
A surge of exhilarating excitement soared into the heavens. This army, which had trembled with fear for a moment, had now transformed into an incredibly powerful force. They were confident they could tear anyone who dared stand in their way to shreds!
Ahead of them, the Da Shun army standing on the mountain path trembled with fear, watching helplessly as their leader's head was held in the enemy general's hand. Tears of despair streamed down their faces!
Just moments before, the dragon soaring and roaring in the sky was the one ridden by Leader Gongsun. In the blink of an eye, the situation had changed drastically; the dragon had vanished, and even Leader Gongsun's head had been severed by the enemy!
This... this battle—how could they possibly have the will to continue?
From the air, Li Xiaomin saw the imminent battle between the two armies below. He smiled slightly and announced loudly, "By imperial decree, the rebellion of the Jushan bandits is entirely the work of Song Dajiang, Gongsun Bubai, and their henchmen, who were all coerced. Those who surrender will be pardoned. Those who remain stubborn and dare to resist will be executed on the spot without mercy!"
This clear voice echoed throughout the mountain stronghold, bringing a glimmer of hope to the Da Shun soldiers who were plunged into deep despair. It brought a spark of life to their fearful and desperate eyes, and even the chivalrous leaders of the stronghold began to consider their own future.
Just as the henchmen on the mountain path, led by their leader Jiang Chong, stood bewildered on the road, the imperial army opposite them charged forward, shouting and roaring, and began to slaughter the enemy!
A flock of bewildered sheep, overwhelmed by a pack of mad wolves, scattered on the spot, crying and fleeing in all directions. The clever ones knelt and begged for mercy, while those slower were cleaved in two by enemy swords, their brains spilling onto the ground!
Jiang Chong, still reeling from the shock of his elder brother's death, was suddenly attacked by the enemy. Before he could even form a defensive formation, Qin Yifu charged forward, wielding his sword and slashing him down, finishing him off with a single blow. His personal guards then presented Jiang Chong's head, raising it high and shouting wildly, "The Marshal has decreed that those who surrender will live; those who resist will be punished!"
Seeing their commander killed, the troops lost all will to fight. The henchmen either died, fled, or surrendered; not a single one dared to stand in the way of the government troops.
At the forefront of the army, a valiant and beautiful female general, clad in armor and wielding a large sword, personally led her troops in a charge against the enemy's stronghold. At the gate, the henchmen had already scattered; no one could withstand the government army's onslaught. In the blink of an eye, the government troops had seized control of the gate and were advancing towards the second gate above.
Meanwhile, in the sky, Li Xiaomin slowly landed on the ground. He smiled slightly at the ghost guards who had helped him land, as well as General Sha and General Zeng, thinking to himself, "Thank you for your hard work!"
When he landed, he faced a group of mountain stronghold leaders, filled with extreme fear and grief, and their personal guards!
Dozens of leaders, brandishing their swords and spears, glared at Li Xiaomin with grief and anger, their weapons trembling slightly. One of them stammered, "You corrupt official, you actually killed our Brother Gongsun!"
Li Xiaomin looked down at the bloodied head in his hand, suppressing his nausea, raised it high, and laughed, "His magic is no match for mine. It's not surprising I killed him!"
The heroes' eyes were bloodshot, and they trembled again, partly from anger, partly from fear, and even more so from their growing suspicion of the eunuch's unfathomable strength.
One hero couldn't resist charging forward with his sword, hissing, "I don't care what magic you have, I'll fight you to the death today!"
He strode forward, but before he reached Li Xiaomin, a muffled thud sounded on his neck, and his head flew into the air, blood spurting from his neck more than a foot high.
General Zeng, holding a large sword, floated in the air, invisible, coldly smiling, disdainfully looking at the group of heroes wielding sharp blades opposite him.
The heroes, filled with grief, indignation, and terror, all took a step back. The eunuch before them had killed one of their brothers on the spot without even lifting a finger; such skill was beyond human resistance.
"Brothers, stop fighting!" A weak cry came from behind Li Xiaomin. The leaders looked up and saw their former brother, Lin Zhongli, covered in blood, panting as he crawled out of the underground hole. He groaned, "Gongsun Bubai killed Brother You Yong, why are you still working for him!"
Li Xiaomin turned around and saw him, quickly helping him up to show his respect. In his heart, however, he was thinking, "Is this the famous hero of the Jianghu, Lion Head Lin Zhongli? With his red head, he's definitely a delicacy!"
One by one, the bound heroes in the underground hall crawled out. Except for some seriously injured ones who were still lying there, the others helped each other out and greeted their former brothers.
To demonstrate their loyalty and make a good impression on their new commander, some of the heroes, despite their weakened state, gathered swords and knives to protect Li Xiaomin, gritting their teeth and saying, "Gongsun Bubai deserved to die for killing Brother You Yong! Lord Li avenged us, making him our great benefactor. If any of you brothers want to harm Lord Li, kill me first!"
Seeing their former brothers resurrected and protecting the deputy commander of the government army, the leaders were even more astonished and bewildered, feeling a strong sense of powerlessness in the face of this unpredictable world.
Li Xiaomin casually handed the severed head to Lin Zhongli, then turned and laughed, “Heroes, I have always admired you all. When your illustrious names spread throughout the land, I engraved them in my heart and held you in the highest esteem. To meet you today is truly an honor! You are all heroes of your generation, so why should you confine yourselves to this mountain stronghold and live as outlaws? The court's intention is simply to bring peace to the land before marching north to eliminate the enemy. The current commander of the great nation greatly appreciates you all. Why don't you join the court's army, march north to resist the Northern Zhao army, and earn your fame and glory through your own efforts? Then you can be granted titles and honors, return home in glory, and enjoy a life far better than becoming outlaws and being unable to return home!”
The leaders were taken aback. From the eunuch's words, it seemed the court intended to pardon them. However, they had committed murder and rebellion, crimes of great severity. How could they be pardoned so easily? Was this eunuch trying to deceive them?
The leaders exchanged glances, then suddenly several charged at Li Xiaomin, brandishing knives and spears, roaring, "You damned eunuch! You killed our leader and tried to trick us into laying down our weapons and letting you slaughter us! Today, we'll fight you to the death!"
Immediately afterward, several more men charged forward, their eyes bloodshot, eager to kill Li Xiaomin and then fight the government troops descending the mountain!
The leaders who had just emerged from the hall were terrified. They struggled to raise their weapons, ready to fight their former brothers to the death to protect their new commander!
The leaders charged furiously, but only managed to get within a few steps before letting out muffled groans, their heads flying off. Their headless bodies fell to the ground, still clutching their weapons, seemingly consumed by resentment at not being able to kill Li Xiaomin and avenge their brother.
In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen brothers had perished, leaving the remaining leaders with a sense of shared sorrow.
The leaders standing opposite him were all filled with grief, their eyes filled with suspicion and fear as they looked at Li Xiaomin. Seeing the pitiful state of their brothers, none dared to step forward.
Those leaders captured by Gongsun Bubai, though terrified, dragged their weakened bodies forward, grabbing those they were on good terms with, and earnestly persuading him, saying that Lord Li was kind and benevolent and would never deceive them. Besides, the imperial army had already arrived below the mountain; if they didn't surrender, did they really want to fight to the death and be buried with Gongsun Bubai?
As if in agreement with their persuasion, the sounds of battle below grew louder, gradually approaching the summit.
The once fortified and precipitous mountain gates, guarded by the demoralized henchmen, were swiftly breached one by one. The entire stronghold had lost its shield, exposed to the sharp swords and spears of the government troops!
Left with no other choice, the leaders knelt down one by one, kowtowing to Li Xiaomin and saying, "We are guilty, please forgive us, Your Excellency!"
With their leaders surrendering, the henchmen naturally dared not resist, kneeling down in succession, forming a vast, dark mass before Li Xiaomin.
Seeing that the leaders had agreed to surrender, Li Xiaomin was overjoyed and returned the greeting with a smile, saying, "Heroes, please rise! Rest assured, as long as I am here, not a single leader will be killed!"
When Consort Qin personally led her army to the summit, she found a large number of bandits kneeling obediently, their weapons laid aside, awaiting the arrival of the government troops to surrender.
Seeing that the government troops had arrived, Li Xiaomin smiled at the leaders, saying, "The situation is still unclear, so please bear with us for now. Once the situation stabilizes, you will be released on pardon."
He gestured, and his generals led troops to help the leaders up and take them away for custody. The wounded leaders were all treated by doctors; Li Xiaomin couldn't let such useful subordinates die so easily.
As for the leaders who died on the ground, since their heads were already severed, such easy battle merits couldn't be wasted. All the heads were preserved with lime to prevent decay and would be sent to the court along with Gongsun Bubai's head as a reward.
Under Qin Yifu's command, the imperial army quickly seized control of all the strategic locations in the mountain stronghold. Standing atop the peak, Li Xiaomin looked at the treacherous stronghold and sighed deeply, knowing that this battle was finally over.
Li Xiaomin kept his word; after the battle, he indeed ordered the release of all the leaders, claiming they had revolted on the battlefield, or even been spies sent by the government army to infiltrate the bandits, and that in the final battle, they had helped Li Xiaomin, who had ventured alone into the enemy camp, to kill Gongsun Bubai and his accomplices, thus leading to the peaceful liberation of the stronghold. In short, they were innocent of any crime, and not only would they not be imprisoned, but they would also be promoted to high positions in the government army.
Although so many people were pardoned at once, it wasn't difficult to achieve. After all, Consort Qin was already his loyal subject, and the Qin family's power in the army was almost absolute; naturally, whatever the couple said went.
The leaders were all deeply grateful for Vice Commander Li's kindness. Even those who had initially harbored doubts secretly respected him and decided to stay in the government army, focusing on surviving in the chaotic world. If they could fight the enemy on the battlefield one day, they might actually earn fame and fortune and return home in glory.
However, Li Xiaomin didn't value the leaders who surrendered in the end too much. Those who were truly capable would not succumb to fear because of Gongsun Bubai, who killed You Yong, nor would they surrender to the court out of fear. Most of Gongsun Bubai's loyal followers were slain by the Ghost Guards before his corpse.
Conversely, the leaders imprisoned by Gongsun Bubai received far better treatment, spending their days chatting idly about worldly affairs, which quickly warmed their bonds. They were deeply grateful to their commander who had saved their lives and given them a bright future.
The cleanup and aftermath were mostly left to generals like Qin Yifu. These trivial matters were simply beyond the purview of the two marshals.
The Jushan stronghold, having been established for many years, boasted countless treasures of gold and silver, all plundered from the foot of the mountain. With such favorable conditions, it would be a waste for the officers and soldiers not to seize the opportunity to make a fortune. However, rules still applied. The largest share naturally went to Commander Qin Guifei, followed by Vice Commander Li, who had distinguished himself in battle. The remainder was then distributed among the officers and soldiers. In short, everyone made a fortune, and the camp was filled with laughter day and night. Many soldiers, even those who were illiterate and couldn't count, would laugh foolishly while calculating their accounts.
Compared to them, the surrendered soldiers of Jushan lived a much harder life. However, under Li Xiaomin's care, they were able to eat their fill, and aside from being restricted in their movement, they weren't subjected to any other mistreatment.
Li Xiaomin sent out the leaders who had sworn allegiance to him to recruit people from the prisoner camp. These surrendered soldiers, originally subordinates of the leaders, were now bewildered and unsure of what to do next. Seeing their former superior come to persuade them, reasoning with them and appealing to their emotions, how could they not surrender? Even the few die-hards couldn't constitute the majority; instead, they were used as a warning to others, severely punished, and exiled, making this small group bear the burden of the crimes committed by the majority during the war.
After careful selection, Li Xiaomin chose 30,000 strong soldiers from the tens of thousands who surrendered in the major battles before and after the stronghold, incorporating them into the government army. The rest were either convicted or dismissed; the immense strength of the Jushan Stronghold vanished like smoke in the wind.
After dealing with the living, Li Xiaomin then dealt with the dead. Unlike other officers, he knew much more about the ghost realm and had more to do.
After the great battle, Consort Qin issued an order for the local government to gather a large number of monks and Taoist priests to chant scriptures and recite Buddhist prayers at the Eight Hundred Li Water Margin and Jushan Island to pray for the souls of the fallen soldiers.
Watching the souls bound to the brink of death soar away with smiles on their faces, led by the Black and White Impermanence and a large number of ghost soldiers to the underworld for reincarnation, Li Xiaomin sighed inwardly, "Although these monks and Taoists are of little use to humans—they can neither fight nor produce—they are quite good to ghosts. By combining their meager magical power, they can actually deliver so many souls. If I were to perform the incantations myself to help them transcend, I'm afraid I'd be exhausted to death here!"
However, some souls still could not be delivered. Like Zhu Shun and Zhang Ni, the leaders of the Jushan naval forces, because they were He Jiong's sworn enemies, Li Xiaomin agreed to let him lead a group of water ghosts to imprison and torture the two newly arrived water ghosts, determined not to let them reincarnate so easily.
Those water ghosts who had rendered meritorious service in the battle against the Blue-Faced Yaksha received Li Xiaomin's care. A large number of monks and Taoist priests chanted sutras for them, and most were reincarnated. Only five hundred former water ghosts, grateful for He Jiong's kindness and Li Xiaomin's generosity in freeing them from their water ghost status, voluntarily remained under He Jiong's command, following him and serving their new master. If they were lucky, they might even attain a near-immortal form like the ghost guards, perhaps escaping reincarnation and finding boundless joy.
After all the affairs were settled, Li Xiaomin, along with Consort Qin, led the army back to the capital, leaving only a guerrilla general with a small force to garrison on the giant mountain, to prevent future bandits from occupying it and causing further trouble.
In Boye County, an army arrived, keeping the county magistrate extremely busy, desperately trying to curry favor and entertain them, fearing the general leading the army might be dissatisfied.
However, Li Xiaomin, who had come alone with his army, paid no heed to the hospitality or engaged in pleasantries. He led his personal guards and headed towards a farm on the outskirts of the county town.
Watching He Jiong, hunched over, walk ahead of his horse, wiping away tears as he headed towards his hometown, Li Xiaomin found it amusing: "What? This ghost has been dead for so long, and he's still so easily moved to tears upon returning home?"
He had originally intended to lead his army back to the capital, but suddenly remembered his promise to take He Jiong home. Since they would be passing through his hometown, he instructed Consort Qin to lead the army ahead while he took a detour to visit He Jiong's hometown, fulfilling his dying wish.
As they walked, Li Xiaomin chatted with He Jiong, inquiring about his family. He Jiong, however, was not in the mood for conversation. Although he remained respectful to his host, his heart was already yearning to return home, wishing he could simply leap home to see his long-lost relatives.
After passing several houses, Li Xiaomin, with his personal guards, stopped in front of a dilapidated dwelling.
In front of the house, a disheveled peasant woman was picking wild vegetables. Seeing Li Xiaomin arrive with a large group, she was terrified, staring blankly at them, speechless.
He Jiong, upon seeing her, paled, raised his sleeve, covered his face, and burst into tears.
Li Xiaomin felt a pang of sorrow, dismounted, and walked to his side, whispering, "Don't be too sad. Your mother is still alive and seems to be in good health; that's a great blessing."
He Jiong was startled, looked up at him, and choked out, "Master, this...this is my wife!"
Li Xiaomin was shocked and exclaimed, "Your wife? Wow, so old! If you said she was your grandmother, I'd believe it!"
He Jiong blushed but dared not say anything, only managing a bitter smile, "Master, I've been dead for over ten years, and my wife has grown old too!"
Looking at his wife's aged face, He Jiong felt a pang of pain, knowing that she must have had a difficult time these past years, which explained her premature aging; she looked to be in her fifties or sixties.
Li Xiaomin felt a pang of pity and patted the ghost's shoulder in a gesture of comfort.
His actions, however, appeared extremely strange to the peasant woman and her soldiers. They saw the young general making empty gestures in the air, muttering something under his breath, sending a chill down their spines.
Li Xiaomin turned around and, seeing the soldiers' bewildered expressions, paused slightly. He waved his hand and said, "Wait here for a while, don't wander off!" He then stepped into the peasant's house.
Inside, he looked around and saw an old woman lying on the bed in a dark room, covered with a dirty quilt. She was emaciated, moaning softly, as if she didn't have much time left.
Upon seeing the old woman, He Jiong's heart ached as if it were being torn apart. He materialized in mid-air, collapsed before the bed, and burst into tears, his cries filled with unbearable anguish.
The old woman opened her eyes blankly, and by the dim light streaming in from outside, she saw He Jiong's face. Her eyes lit up with emotion, and she reached out her thin, withered hand to stroke his face, her voice trembling as she said, "Jiong'er, you...you're back?"
Then, as if remembering something, she looked around and sighed, "I knew I was going to die soon, but at least I can see you after I die, Jiong'er. Have you been waiting for me all this time instead of reincarnating?"
He Jiong was already sobbing uncontrollably, embracing his mother and weeping uncontrollably.
The peasant woman outside, hearing the cries from inside, was extremely surprised and rushed in. Seeing He Jiong, she was horrified, took a few steps back, pointed at him, and made a series of gurgling sounds, unable to utter a word.
Seeing her frightened, Li Xiaomin smiled and waved his hand, whispering, "Don't shout, don't shout. I'm a high-ranking official in the court, I know magic. I brought your husband back today so you can see him one last time! After this, he will leave, and it will probably be a long time before he comes back to see you again!"
Although the peasant woman didn't quite understand, she knew that her husband would leave again after returning and wouldn't take her family to the underworld, so she wasn't too afraid. She rushed forward, knelt by the bed, and burst into tears.
The family gathered together, embracing and weeping bitterly. Li Xiaomin couldn't get a word in edgewise, so he put his hands behind his back and wandered aimlessly around the room. Looking at the dark room, the poor lighting, and the extremely simple furnishings, he couldn't help but shake his head and sigh. After He Jiong's death, his family had suffered so much; it was truly pitiful.
Over there, He Jiong's wife was also sobbing, recounting the hardships she had endured over the years.
He Jiong was originally from a peasant family and earned his official rank through years of fighting. However, after his death, he was framed by his former enemies in the officialdom, who accused him of colluding with the enemy, leading to the great defeat. Li Yu was furious upon hearing this and ordered an investigation. He Jiong's family squandered their fortune and bribed officials to avoid being arrested and punished, but they were left in dire poverty and forced to live in poverty. He Jiong's wife never remarried, living in the countryside with her elderly mother and young child. They had endured more than ten years of hardship, finally waiting for He Jiong's ghost to return home.
Thinking of his loyalty to the country, and how his loved ones had suffered such a fate after his death, He Jiong was overwhelmed with grief and indignation. He beat his chest, tears streaming down his face, choked with sobs, unable to speak.
Li Xiaomin walked up to him, patted his shoulder, and comforted him, "Don't be sad. Leave your enemies to me. I can easily frame them with a crime, and they'll be in deep trouble. It'll also avenge your family for all these years!"
He Jiong knelt before him, weeping, "This servant has been away from home for so many years, my wife and children have been living in the countryside, and my elderly mother has been bedridden for years. I beg my master to have pity on them and let them have a few good days!"
Li Xiaomin stroked his head affectionately and sighed, "Of course. Since you are my subordinate, I will naturally take care of your family. Don't worry, I will bring them to the capital to enjoy a better life later." "From now on, your mother is my mother, and your son is my son. I will never let them suffer again!"
Li Xiaomin said this line, which he had seen on television in his later years, and silently repeated the last sentence in his mind: "Your wife is my wife, so you can rest assured!"
But when he looked up and saw He's wife's frail and old appearance, Li Xiaomin regretted it greatly. He thought to himself, "Why did I have such an idea? How can I just have such thoughts about my subordinate's wife? Even if I did, I should have found someone younger!"
He Jiong was indeed moved to tears, knelt down and kowtowed, choking with gratitude.
Footsteps came from outside the door, and a gruff voice rang out: "Who are you? What are you doing standing at my door?"
Li Xiaomin's personal guard captain spoke to him in an official tone, saying that the deputy commander of the imperial army had come here on official business and that he should not be rude.
He's wife hurriedly went out and pulled the man in, wiping away tears, saying, "Son, this is your father. He's come back to see us. Come and greet him!"
He Jiong, upon hearing this, didn't want too many people to know, and fearing his young son might blurt out his secret, he quickly hid, secretly keeping his mother company as she wept.
The man who entered was a burly young man in his twenties. He stared blankly at Li Xiaomin, exclaiming in surprise, "You're my father?"
Li Xiaomin also exclaimed, "You're my son?" He smiled bitterly to himself. He had just said he would treat him like a son, but now he realized that this son was older than him. If he were to take such a burden around, it would greatly affect his success rate in picking up girls.
He realized his mistake as soon as he spoke, hurriedly covering his mouth and laughing, "Not at all, I'm an old colleague of your father's. I've come to visit the family of an old friend."
He Daniu looked at him suspiciously and asked in surprise, "My father has been dead for over ten years. You probably weren't even born then, were you?"
Li Xiaomin thought to himself, "This kid isn't so stupid after all; he can actually tell my age."
He stroked his chin, casually touching his long beard that he hadn't known for a long time, and said in an old-fashioned tone, "Alas, you don't know, I've cultivated immortality for many years and have now reached the realm of rejuvenation. By all accounts, you should call me Uncle!"
At this moment, He Jiong had already whispered a few words in his wife's ear. He's wife stared blankly at Li Xiaomin talking nonsense, not coming out to stop him, but instead speaking up for him, "Son, hurry up and kowtow to your uncle!"
Although He Daniu was dull-witted, he was very filial. He turned over and knelt down, saying, "Uncle, please accept my bow!" He kowtowed three times on the ground.
Li Xiaomin was overjoyed. He stepped forward to help his nephew up and sighed, "Since you've bowed to me, you'll serve in the army with me from now on. I'm already in the army, using the alias Li Xiaomin, and I'm currently the deputy commander of the imperial army. You'll follow me as a personal guard, learn how to fight, and hopefully become a general and rise through the ranks!"
He Daniu was delighted. He kowtowed several more times before standing up, thinking that with his uncle's help, he could rise rapidly in rank. He was overjoyed.
He Jiong watched from the side with a wry smile. Although he found it strange that his master liked to joke around, he was grateful to see him feed his mother several pills and send someone to fetch a doctor.
Those pills were ones Li Xiaomin had taken while searching Gongsun Bubai's alchemy room; he had many more stored in his own account. Based on the scroll left by Gongsun Bubai, he had a fairly good understanding of the medicine's effects. He first gave He's mother a few mild pills, and sure enough, she seemed much better. Then, a doctor who had arrived prescribed some mild tonics, which he had prepared and fed to her. He then entrusted the He family to the care of his personal guard captain and sent them to the capital with the army in a large cart. Li Xiaomin led his main force forward again.
After two days of travel, they caught up with the main force led by Consort Qin, and the two armies joined forces and headed towards Jinling.
During the subsequent march, Consort Qin and Li Xiaomin appeared to be commander and deputy in public, but in private, they were like husband and wife, spending their days in their bedchamber, enjoying each other's company. Although the personal guards serving Consort Qin were suspicious of their relationship, Li Xiaomin was a eunuch, and since nothing would happen to him, and he had received large rewards, the female soldiers dared not cause any more trouble.
The army marched day and night, and finally returned to the capital. Consort Qin ordered the army to camp outside the city, while she herself, along with a group of generals, entered the city to report.
Outside Jinling City,
at the ten-mile-long pavilion, all the civil and military officials of the Southern Tang Dynasty gathered, standing solemnly and respectfully, craning their necks and gazing southwards, eagerly awaiting the triumphant return of the imperial army.
The scorching sun had withered many of the leaves and grasses outside the pavilion. The officials, too, were drenched in sweat, their official robes soaked through. Only the two prime ministers and the old general Qin were fortunate enough to remain seated in the pavilion, avoiding the scorching heat.
Seated above the three senior officials in the pavilion was a woman of unparalleled beauty. She possessed bright eyes and white teeth, skin as smooth as jade, and wore a dignified and magnificent palace gown; she was none other than Empress Zhou, the current empress who was entrusted with the reins of power.
Consort Qin held a very prestigious position in the palace, second only to Empress Zhou. She had made great contributions upon her triumphant return from the expedition, and Empress Zhou naturally could not neglect her. Therefore, she personally led civil and military officials to welcome her and waited for Consort Qin and her troops at the ten-mile-long pavilion outside the city.
She sat regally in the main seat, her small, jade-like hands holding a teacup. She leisurely sipped her tea, her beautiful eyes gazing into the distance. She parted her lips slightly and said calmly, "Have the scouts sent out reported that my sister's army is almost here?"
General Qin, sitting below, hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, it is reported that the Imperial Concubine has led her officers on a hasty journey and will arrive soon."
Left Chancellor Zhou Tai also smiled and said, "Your Majesty need not worry. Since the scouts have reported, it seems we will not have to wait long for the Imperial Concubine and her entourage to arrive."
The elegantly dressed woman nodded with a smile, her gaze sweeping over the three old ministers. She smiled calmly and said, "My sister and the generals have rendered a truly great service this time. Have you all discussed how to reward them?"
Right Chancellor Qian Song bowed and smiled, "We will follow Your Majesty's orders. We old ministers will obey without question."
Because Emperor Li Yu of Tang was seriously ill, power remained in the hands of Empress Zhou. Empress Zhou knew that she was ultimately not the emperor, so she treated the officials very leniently. She issued an edict granting the two prime ministers and General Qin the privilege of attending court without having to pay their respects or kneel before her, so as not to strain their backs from the constant bowing as they grew older.
Qian Song was fully aware of Empress Zhou's preferential treatment. She was doing this mostly for her father's sake, or to curry favor with General Qin. As for him, it seemed the two factions were subtly allying against his faction. Now, their combined power was considerable, effectively suppressing Qian Song's group in various ways.
However, Qian Song secretly sneered: his years of painstaking cultivation in the court and among the people were not easily suppressed! This alliance clearly stemmed from their fear of him. His years of financial and physical support for the Yinshan Sect's revitalization of Taoism had indeed yielded remarkable results. Once the Yinshan Sect fully recovered its strength, and the old Taoist priests severely injured in the clash with the Guishan Sect emerged, would these two factions have any say in the Tang Dynasty?
But for now, the situation was ultimately unfavorable to the Qian family on the surface, and Qian Song could only patiently endure and wait for the future.
Empress Zhou glanced at him intently, her gaze meaningful, and smiled, "Minister Qian is too modest. I am but a woman, how could I possess such insight? It is best if the three of you discuss and decide on the reward plan together."
As the four were discussing in the pavilion, they suddenly saw a warhorse galloping towards them. Reaching the pavilion, a messenger on horseback dismounted and knelt, shouting, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine, along with her generals, is already a mile away!"
A smile played on Empress Zhou's beautiful red lips as she gracefully rose and smiled, "My sister has arrived. Let us go and greet her!"
Watching her emerge gracefully from the pavilion, the three senior ministers hurriedly followed, leading the civil and military officials in a line to welcome her.
Soon after, dust rose in the distance, and hundreds of warhorses galloped in, followed by a large number of infantrymen, panting heavily. It was the imperial army, returning victorious from their southern campaign against the rebels.
Leading the charge on horseback was a valiant and beautiful female general, clad in armor of the southern expeditionary army's marshal's uniform, its golden gleam shimmering in the sunlight. Her features were exquisitely handsome, her spirit vibrant; with each gallop, her every movement exuded a heroic air, showcasing the grandeur of a female warrior, captivating all who beheld her.
To her right, slightly behind her by a horse's length, sat a young general, also strikingly handsome with white teeth and red lips, wearing silver armor and helmet, a respectful smile on his face, closely following her as he spurred his horse forward.
Behind them were the officers of the various battalions of the imperial expeditionary army, who had come to Jinling to receive their rewards. Each one beamed with joy, overjoyed at the rewards they would receive. Their numbers were far greater than when they had set out; in fact, many more had joined them.
The additional officers were easily identifiable. Although each of them possessed the heroic spirit of a warrior, galloping among the generals, a hint of timidity was faintly revealed in their eyes.
These were the leaders of the Jushan Mountain stronghold, now surrendered to the imperial court and receiving their titles. They were now considered officials of the court, but ultimately, they were still surrendered generals. They feared the court would pursue their past crimes of treason and rebellion, and their uneasy expressions were quite different from those of the generals who knew they had rendered great service.
Li Xiaomin rode his horse behind Consort Qin, and in the distance, he saw a hundred officials gathered ahead, and a peerless beauty standing smiling on the road. He was secretly delighted and quickly followed.
Empress Zhou stood on the main road, smiling, watching Consort Qin lead her generals to her. Consort Qin dismounted, though clad in armor, and prostrated herself, saying, "How could I trouble you, elder sister, to come and greet us personally!"
Empress Zhou quickly stepped forward to help Consort Qin up, smiling, "Sister, you have rendered a great service this time, known throughout the land. How could I not come to greet you?"
The two stunning beauties supported each other, their contrasting styles of beauty complementing each other. The officials and generals, however, had no time to appreciate this sight. They were only kneeling on the ground, loudly praising the two empresses and consorts, saying that the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty was due to their ability to share the nation's burdens, sweep away the bandits of Jushan, and bring peace to the Tang Dynasty.
The only one who dared to kneel on the ground, still gazing at the two empresses with lustful eyes, was the deputy commander of the army, Li Xiaomin. Seeing the two beauties standing together with smiles, his eyes shone brightly, and he remained kneeling, forgetting to stand up.
Until Empress Zhou parted her lips slightly and said in a melodious voice, "My beloved ministers, please rise!" Everyone stood up. Li Xiaomin looked sadly at the most noble and beautiful woman, knowing that she would not personally help him up, and could only stand up dejectedly, sighing inwardly.
On the other side, Empress Zhou held Consort Qin's hand and carefully examined her. Although Consort Qin was travel-worn and her skin was slightly tanned after days of fighting, she possessed a gentle and graceful beauty that was reflected in her face and made her body even more graceful and charming, full of feminine allure. Empress Zhou couldn't help but wonder: Could it be that going to war makes a woman more beautiful and alluring?
The vanguard of the imperial army had also arrived at Shili Pavilion. After bowing and paying their respects to the Empress, they escorted Empress Zhou, the officials, and the generals towards Jinling City.
Empress Zhou, arm in arm with Consort Qin, boarded the phoenix palanquin, lowered the beaded curtain, and led the large entourage into Jinling City.
Inside and outside the city gates, along the main road, crowds of people gathered, shoulder to shoulder, cheering loudly as they watched the army march in. They praised the generals for their bravery, for in such a short time they had decisively defeated the Jushan rebels and returned in triumph, relieving the people of the Tang Dynasty of worries about war from the rear.
Li Xiaomin, leading his generals in the middle, heard the enthusiastic cheers and was moved, raising his hands in a fist salute to return the greeting.
The people, seeing that the leading general was a handsome young man in silver armor and a white robe, were surprised and loudly inquired about his background.
Those who knew excitedly exclaimed, "Do you know that young general is a eunuch in the palace, the famous Eunuch Li!"
Hearing this, others sighed, "What? A eunuch? What a pity! Such talent, so skilled in battle, yet he became a eunuch, what a waste!"
Someone else exclaimed, "Eunuch Li? Could it be the Eunuch Li who was bestowed the title 'Spiritual and Brilliant Immortal'? I heard he won the martial arts competition, defeating Commander Qian of the Imperial Guard and becoming the deputy commander of the army. Could it be him?"
Upon receiving confirmation, the crowd erupted in excitement, vying to step forward and get a closer look at this handsome eunuch, skilled in both magic and martial arts.
Seeing the astonished and admiring crowd surging forward like a tide, cheering loudly and praising his great achievements, even the humble Li Xiaomin couldn't help but feel elated. Smiling, he returned the greetings to the crowd and proudly led his generals towards the palace, thinking to himself, "Being a hero is truly wonderful; no wonder so many people dream of becoming famous!"
Upon arriving at the court, officials lined both sides, and the generals went up to the throne to kowtow to Empress Zhou and receive their titles.
Because Consort Qin was an imperial concubine, she did not go up to the throne; therefore, Empress Zhou announced from behind a beaded curtain with a smile that her merits were too great, and thus she was to be granted a thousand bolts of silk, a hundred fine horses, and an additional county as her fief.
After Consort Qin, the first to receive the titles was none other than the army's deputy commander, Li Xiaomin.
Li Xiaomin walked straight up to the hall, bowing before the jade steps. He heard the beautiful woman behind the beaded curtain above smile and softly say, "Minister Li, raise your head and let me see you!"
Li Xiaomin looked up, his heart fluttering as he gazed at the beauty behind the curtain. She smiled and said, "Minister Li's merits have already been mentioned by Marshal Qin. I hereby bestow upon you one hundred bolts of silk and appoint you General of Annam, a second-rank official, as the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, assisting General Qian Wulin in leading the Imperial Guard to protect the capital."
Li Xiaomin kowtowed in gratitude, thinking to himself, "Annam? I'm the Secretary-General of the United Nations! If I keep using that name, I wonder if I'll turn into a black person."
Below, Qian Song secretly sneered. He had gone to great lengths, sending numerous gifts and employing many schemes to persuade the emperor to appoint Qian Wulin as commander of the Imperial Guard, and he had now established a firm foothold within the guard. Did Empress Zhou really think she could seize military power from him by sending just a lowly eunuch?
Next, Qin Yifu and a group of generals from the southern expedition and those who had surrendered stepped forward to receive their titles and rewards. Even the surrendered leader of Jushan was granted military rank and placed under the command of Qin Yifu and Li Xiaomin. After
the rewards were given, Qian Song stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, the Northern Zhao army is stirring on the border, which may be detrimental to our Great Tang. Therefore, this old minister requests that General Qin lead his troops north to assist in guarding the border, so as to prevent the Northern Zhao army from taking advantage of the situation."
Officials from his faction also stepped forward to make the same request, echoing his opinion.
Behind the beaded curtain, Empress Zhou turned her gaze to General Qin and said gently, "General Qin, do you have any objections?"
General Qin lowered his head and thought for a moment. The defenses in the north were indeed somewhat weak, and recently the Northern Zhao army had been frequently mobilizing, making quite a show of force. If they were not prepared, once the Northern Zhao army attacked, he feared that the defense forces led by his eldest son would be unable to withstand them. Moreover, this time, his grandson was being sent, and he had a fresh army at his disposal. With father and son working together to resist the Northern Zhao, it would be a good move to strengthen their family's power. So he bowed and said, "Prime Minister Qian is absolutely right. This old minister recommends my grandson without regard to kinship, and I am willing to recommend him to lead the army to assist in the defense!"
Seeing that General Qin had spoken, the generals in the court also stepped forward to echo him, all speaking with conviction that the defenses in the north indeed needed to be strengthened.
Seeing that most of the officials shared this opinion, Empress Zhou nodded in agreement and ordered Qin Yifu to lead the army north to resist the Zhao.
After the court session ended, the officials respectfully kowtowed and left.
As Li Xiaomin left the court, officials came forward to pay their respects, beaming and desperately trying to curry favor with him, hoping to become a favorite of the Empress.
Li Xiaomin returned the greetings with a smile and remained humble. After court, he first visited the two prime ministers and General Qin, and then his colleagues at court. Naturally, many officials also came to his residence to pay their respects, bringing lavish gifts and trying to curry favor with him, hoping he would put in a good word for them in the palace, for which they would be greatly grateful.
Although his current residence was bestowed by the Empress, he did not live there often, using it only as a storeroom for some valuables. In Jinling City, he had also privately purchased several residences. In addition to the residences where Consort Yun and Lan'er, and Consort Xiao and Qingling lived, he had added a quiet private residence for Song Xixi and her daughter, and had hired maids to serve them. A magical barrier was erected within the courtyard, and loyal soldiers were stationed outside the gates to guard against any escape.
Having arranged all this, Li Xiaomin hurriedly left the manor, urging his horse towards the residence of Consort Xiao. Having been away on campaign for so long, he truly missed his gentle and graceful wife, and her exceptionally talented and beautiful daughter.

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[Fantasy] A Eunuch Breaks into the Inner Palace (Complete) - Chapter 18

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