The world of film and television starts from the flow of money

At the top of the cliff, the mountain wind still howled, but it could no longer shake the figure in the green robe.

Yi Huawei slowly opened his eyes, a fleeting glimpse of starlight flashing within them before returning to a profound calm. Having comprehended the core essence of the "Heavenly Demon Strategy" and integrated the "Escaped One" with his own state of "birth and death arising from the heart," his perception and control over all things in heaven and earth had reached a profound and mysterious realm.

In the distance, towards the castle, a faint ripple of emotion, stirred by Lu Miaozi's heart-wrenching repentance, belonging to Shang Xiuxun, was like a pebble thrown into stagnant water, clearly reflected on the tranquil surface of his mind at this moment.

Within this ripple, there was shock, bitterness, grievance, and the pain of resentment that had been frozen for many years cracking open... but there was no utterly cold rejection.

That's enough.

The faint smile on Yi Huawei's lips deepened slightly. The seed had been sown; whether it would take root and sprout depended on the fate of the father and daughter.

Just then, a series of rapid and heavy footsteps, accompanied by the clanging of metal armor scraping against each other, broke the tranquility of the back mountain like a dense drumbeat, and rushed toward the cliff!
Dan Wanjing instantly became alert, gripping the hilt of the "Azure Wave" sword and sharply looking towards the mountain path.

Liu Zongdao's imposing figure, as tall as an iron tower, appeared on the mountain path, his face terrifyingly solemn, his single eye filled with anxiety and unprecedented killing intent! Behind him followed two equally fierce ranch guards, covered in blood, who had clearly just escaped from a fierce battle.

"gentlemen!"

Before Liu Zongdao arrived, his voice preceded his arrival, carrying internal force and filled with urgency: "The Four Great Bandits!...The Four Great Bandits have joined forces and come out in full force! Three thousand iron cavalry have broken through the outer outposts and surrounded the ranch! The ranch owner has ordered me to quickly invite you back to the castle for a meeting!"

"The Four Great Bandits?"

Dan Wanjing frowned. She had heard of these notorious bandits who had entrenched themselves near Jingling County and committed all sorts of atrocities, but she never expected them to be so bold as to directly besiege a behemoth like the Pegasus Ranch!
Yi Huawei remained calm as he slowly rose, his green robe fluttering, exuding no air of war, and appeared before Liu Zongdao as if strolling leisurely.

"Let's go."

Yi Huawei's voice was flat and emotionless.

Liu Zongdao dared not delay and immediately led the way. Shan Wanjing followed closely behind, leading the chestnut horse.

Inside the castle's council chamber, the atmosphere was as heavy as if weighed down by lead.

Shang Xiuxun sat upright in the main seat, her face still veiled, but the complex emotions she had previously felt in her exposed, cold eyes had been replaced by a chilling killing intent and an immense pressure! Her posture remained upright, yet it subtly revealed a resolute determination to fight to the death. Yi Huawei's warning, "A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime," had come true, so quickly and so fiercely!

Several core deacons and elders of the ranch also stood in the hall, including Tao Shusheng, whose face was pale and whose eyes darted around. Each of their faces was etched with anxiety, anger, and a barely concealed fear. The Four Great Bandits were infamous, and their three thousand iron cavalry were a terrifying force capable of flattening many cities!
When Yi Huawei appeared at the entrance of the council hall, everyone's eyes instantly focused on him. Shang Xiuxun even stood up abruptly and quickly stepped forward to greet him. At this moment, this unfathomable number one person in the world had unwittingly become the last straw for everyone in the ranch.

"gentlemen!"

Shang Xiuxun's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible urgency, all traces of her usual coldness and aloofness gone:
"The situation is urgent, please forgive Xiuxun's rudeness!"

She quickly handed a stack of intelligence reports, still reeking of gunpowder, to Yi Huawei.

Yi Huawei took the intelligence report and calmly scanned it. Shang Xiuxun, on the other hand, spoke rapidly and clearly, reporting the most critical situation at hand:

"The Four Great Bandits—'Slay the Grass' Xiang Batian, 'Scorched Earth' Mao Zao, 'Leave No Chicken or Dog Alive' Fang Jianding, and 'Wailing Ghosts and Howling Gods' Cao Yinglong! The four of them joined forces, gathered all their desperate followers, formed a cavalry of three thousand, and launched a sudden attack two hours ago!"

"They had clearly been planning this for a long time! They bypassed our main patrol routes and, taking advantage of their familiarity with the terrain, silently eliminated the three most important outposts on the outer perimeter! By the time we received the warning signal, their elite vanguard had already broken through the first valley pass and was less than twenty miles from the core pasture!"

"These three thousand riders are all seasoned bandits, fierce and desperate, with superb horsemanship! Among them, the thousand riders led by Xiang Batian are the best equipped, mostly heavy cavalry, with extremely strong impact, and should be his core force. Mao Zao and Fang Jianding's groups each have eight hundred riders, specializing in light cavalry raids, burning, killing, and destruction, and are extremely brutal. Cao Yinglong leads four hundred riders to cover the rear. This man is cunning and treacherous, skilled in using poison and setting traps!"

"The ranch's standing guard numbers only 1,200! Although it benefits from the castle's advantageous location and pre-existing fortifications, the disparity in troop strength is too great! And what's worse—"

Shang Xiuxun's voice carried a hint of gritted teeth and hatred: "We have just received definite information that Li Mi's Wagang Army is behind the Four Bandits! There is evidence that Li Mi's trusted strategist, Shen Luoyan, secretly infiltrated Jingling half a month ago and had contact with the Four Bandits! Among these three thousand iron cavalry, there are likely Wagang's elite scouts and siege equipment operators mixed in!"

"The Wagang Army?!"

The crowd in the hall erupted in uproar, their fear deepening! The Four Bandits were already a formidable threat, but with the added support of Li Mi, the greatest rebel in the land, this was practically a certain death sentence!

"Li Mi... what a brilliant scheme to use one tiger to devour another, to kill someone with a borrowed knife!"

Shang Xiuxun's eyes flashed with a cold light: "He wants to use the Four Great Bandits to first destroy my ranch, weaken the bandit army, and then reap the benefits! Or... force my ranch to completely side with him!"

Turning to Yi Huawei, a glimmer of hope appeared in his eyes: "Sir, the ranch is in imminent danger! The enemy vanguard has begun clearing the road to the castle, and by dawn at the latest, the general offensive will be upon us! Although the ranch can be defended for a while with its fortified walls, it will inevitably fall if held for too long! Moreover, if the bandits disregard the cost and set fire to the pastures and slaughter the horses everywhere... the foundation of the ranch will be destroyed in an instant! I implore you, sir... to offer some guidance!"

Shang Xiuxun revealed all the information, adopting an extremely humble posture. At this moment, she no longer cared about the dignity of being a ranch owner or past grievances; the survival of the ranch hung in the balance!
Yi Huawei's gaze remained calm as he slowly put down the intelligence report in his hand. He didn't look at the map or sand table, nor did he inquire about the details of troop deployment. His gaze was fixed on the view outside the window, seemingly piercing through the thick stone walls of the castle, landing on the distant, menacing enemy camp.

"Three thousand cavalry...that's quite a force to be reckoned with."

Yi Huawei's voice was calm and even, without the slightest hint of tension. Instead, it carried a sense of complete understanding: "Li Mi has a good plan. He's using one wolf to devour another, and then sitting back and watching the fight unfold."

After a pause, his gaze finally returned to Shang Xiuxun's pretty face, which was veiled by a light gauze but could not hide her anxiety. A faint smile seemed to appear on the corner of his mouth: "Send the order to keep the city gates closed, hold the city and wait for reinforcements. Use all the city's defensive equipment without hesitation."

"As for the three thousand bandits outside the city..."

Yi Huawei's voice turned cold: "With me here, they've dug their own graves."

He changed the subject, not mentioning taking action himself, but instead saying with a hint of a smile, "However, why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut?" "Deacon Liu,"

Yi Huawei instructed Liu Zongdao, "Go to the small courtyard behind the mountain and invite Mr. Lu Miaozi to the council hall. Tell him that the Pegasus Ranch is in trouble and his daughter needs him."

"Lu Miaozi?!"

Everyone in the hall, including Shang Xiuxun, was shocked! This name wasn't an absolute secret among the ranch's upper echelons, but for thirty years, he had been like a ghost, never truly involved in ranch affairs! Moreover, everyone knew he suffered from chronic illness and old injuries, rendering him practically a cripple!

Liu Zongdao's single eye was also filled with surprise and doubt, but he immediately clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes, sir!" He then turned and ran away.

Beneath the light veil covering her face, Shang Xiuxun bit her lower lip tightly. Lu Miaozi? What could he do? Father… did he still have the strength? What was Yi Huawei's intention in doing this? Could it be… that what he said about Father's “transformation” was true?

A moment later, the light at the entrance to the council chamber dimmed.

Liu Zongdao led a person in.

The moment this person stepped into the council hall, everyone gasped, including Shang Xiuxun, who stared wide-eyed in disbelief!
The newcomer was still wearing the same faded gray-blue scholar's robe, with a goose-shaped crown on his head and flowing ribbons.

But—his hair and beard were no longer as white as frost, but jet black and glossy! The wrinkles on his face seemed to have been mostly smoothed out, his complexion was ruddy, and his eyes were sharp as lightning, bright as if they contained stars! His posture was as upright as a pine tree, and his steps were steady and powerful. Where was there any trace of the sickly and listless appearance of the past? He was clearly a vigorous and erudite master in his prime!

It was Lu Miaozi who had undergone a complete transformation and was now completely renewed!
"Lu...Master Lu?!"

An elderly elder gasped in shock. Tao Shusheng was so startled that he took a step back and almost fell to the ground.

Lu Miaozi's gaze swept over the crowd, carrying a long-lost confidence and sharpness befitting the world's greatest craftsman. His gaze finally settled on the aloof and solitary figure in the main seat, his eyes filled with complex emotions—guilt, excitement, and a heavy sense of responsibility.

"Xiuxun..."

Lu Miaozi's voice was no longer hoarse, but loud and steady: "Father... is here."

Shang Xiuxun's delicate body trembled almost imperceptibly. Her eyes, hidden beneath the light veil, were fixed on Lu Miaozi, filled with shock, confusion, and a hint of...fluttering that even she herself hadn't noticed. He really...healed?!

Yi Huawei's voice rang out at the right moment, breaking the brief silence: "Mr. Lu, you must have already informed Steward Liu of the precarious situation at the ranch. The three thousand bandits outside the city may have Wagang behind them, and their aim is to seize the ranch's foundation. Their actions of burning grass and slaughtering horses are worthy of punishment."

A cold glint flashed in Lu Miaozi's eyes, and the aura of a grandmaster suddenly arose, carrying a chilling killing intent: "You clown, how dare you invade my Pegasus Ranch!"

He deliberately used the word "I," and his gaze returned to Shang Xiuxun, carrying a sense of declaration. This ranch was his daughter's life's work! It was also a legacy left to Shang Qingya, whom he had wronged!
"What do you require of me, sir?" Lu Miaozi turned to Yi Huawei, his posture respectful yet confident. His heart meridians had fully recovered, and his skills were even greater than before. Moreover, his thirty years of research into the ranch's terrain and mechanisms had penetrated to his very core!

Yi Huawei smiled calmly: "Sir, your learning is astounding. The terrain and mechanisms of the ranch are all within your grasp. Why should I, a mere bandit, need to take action? Sir, you haven't stretched your muscles in a long time. This is a perfect opportunity to let these arrogant thieves see what the skills of the 'Number One Craftsman Under Heaven' truly mean! And let Farm Owner Xiuxun see the true capabilities of her father!"

He specifically mentioned the word "father," his gaze sweeping over Shang Xiuxun.

Lu Miaozi was greatly encouraged! He understood that this was not only a chance for him to fight off the enemy, but also an opportunity to prove himself to his daughter and make up for what he had done wrong!

"it is good!"

Lu Miaozi roared, his aura suddenly surging, and the entire council hall seemed to brighten slightly with his fighting spirit! He looked at Shang Xiuxun, his eyes resolute: "Xiuxun, bring me the ranch defense map, especially the secret path in the back mountain and the distribution map of the various pre-set traps and mechanisms! All stewards and captains, heed my command! I will make sure that half of these three thousand bandits die before they even reach the city walls!"

Looking at her father, now transformed and radiating an aura of power, and hearing his resolute and confident words, Shang Xiuxun felt a sudden, intense heat pierce the icy resentment in her heart, creating a massive crack! She nodded instinctively, her voice carrying a hint of obedience she herself didn't realize, and… a faint trace of expectation: "Uncle Liu, retrieve the scroll immediately! Everyone, listen… listen to Mr. Lu's orders!"

A gleam of wild joy erupted in Liu Zongdao's single eye! He knew all too well the skill of this master craftsman, the most skilled in the world! He immediately replied, "Yes! Master Lu!"

Without further hesitation, Lu Miaozi strode towards the sand table in the hall, giving instructions with composure:
"Elder Tao! Take your three hundred men and head immediately to the 'Returning Wind Valley' pass. There lies the 'Earth Fire Link' mechanism I set up thirty years ago! Activate the mechanism according to this diagram. Once half of the enemy vanguard has entered the valley, activate it immediately! I want them to taste the agony of being burned alive by earth fire!"

"Deacon Li! You will take two hundred light cavalry, equipped with powerful crossbows and poisoned arrows, and sneak out through the secret passage of 'Fallen Eagle Gorge' to circle around to the enemy's flank, Maozao's unit! Once their main force is drawn to 'Returning Wind Valley,' your unit will immediately harass their supply train and horses, setting fires to create chaos. The goal is not to annihilate the enemy, but to disrupt their morale! Remember, strike and retreat immediately; do not linger in battle!"

"Captain Wang! All 'divine crossbows' and 'thunderbolts' in the castle are in position! Adjust the angles to cover the 'Horse Drinking Beach' area in front of the castle! Once the main force of the enemy is lured into the mudflats, fire a volley on my command!"

"Brother Liu!"

Lu Miaozi looked at Liu Zong and said, "You will personally lead the 500 most elite 'Flying Cloud Cavalry' from the ranch and wait at the west gate of the castle! Once the fire breaks out in 'Returning Wind Valley' and the arrows fall at 'Drinking Horse Beach,' the enemy will surely be thrown into chaos! Your troops will immediately charge out and take the enemy leader's central army! Remember, to capture the enemy, you must first capture their leader! Xiang Batian is your responsibility!"

Each command was clear and precise, like the most intricate gears meshing together, perfectly combining the advantages of the pasture terrain, pre-set traps, and limited forces to form a deadly net against the four bandits! The ingenuity of its layout, the ruthlessness of its tactics, and the ultimate utilization of terrain and traps left everyone present knowledgeable in military affairs deeply impressed! This was truly the greatest craftsman in the world! This was a master strategist!
Watching her father's confident and composed figure at the sand table, and hearing his steady and powerful commands, Shang Xiuxun's rosy lips parted slightly beneath the light veil, her eyes filled with unprecedented shock! She had never seen her father like this before! Powerful, confident, and profoundly wise! The vague, dejected, and escapist image in her memory was shattered in this moment!

Yi Huawei stood with his hands behind his back, watching Lu Miaozi issue orders and seeing the shock in Shang Xiuxun's eyes. His smile deepened. He turned to Shang Xiuxun, his voice gentle yet carrying a deeper meaning:

“Xiuxun Ranch Owner, look, this is your father. Thirty years of silence were not due to mediocrity, but rather to concealing his brilliance. Now that his sharpness has been unsheathed, he can still make all villains tremble. What is the danger to the ranch? When father and daughter are of one mind, their strength can break metal.”

Shang Xiuxun shuddered, looking at Yi Huawei, then at her father who was deploying troops and seemed to have regained his vitality. The last line of defense in her heart crumbled! Tears welled up in her eyes uncontrollably once again. This time, it wasn't just grievance and resentment, but also a mixture of too many indescribable emotions…

Outside the castle, the three thousand iron cavalry of the Four Great Bandits, with ferocious smiles, were sharpening their swords, unaware that a death net woven by the "world's greatest craftsman" had quietly opened, waiting to devour them!
A bloodbath orchestrated by Lu Miaozi is about to unfold at Pegasus Ranch! (End of Chapter)