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

The night was as dark as ink, heavily painted over the vast grasslands of Pegasus Ranch, but it could not conceal the increasingly intense atmosphere of death and bloodshed permeating the air.

The castle's heavy gates were already tightly shut, the massive iron gates slammed shut. Torches flickered atop the walls, illuminating the tense yet resolute faces of the ranch guards. Behind the crenellations, powerful bows and crossbows were poised to fire, their cold arrowheads gleaming eerily in the firelight. The enormous crossbows and the trebuchets, wrapped in oilcloth and filled with gravel and oil, were also in position, radiating a chilling sense of oppression.

At the highest point of the city tower, Yi Huawei stood with his hands behind his back, his green robe motionless in the night wind, his deep gaze calmly fixed on the distant grassland shrouded in darkness, which exuded a dangerous aura like a lurking beast.

Shan Wanjing stood guard to one side, her azure eyes scanning the darkness warily, while the chestnut horse lay quietly at her feet. The master and disciple, like detached observers, had become the most solid anchor of this castle.

Shang Xiuxun stood on a slightly lower watchtower, her face veil concealing her expression, but her hands, gripping the cold stone railing tightly, knuckles white from the force, betrayed her extreme tension. Her gaze was not fixed on the unknown darkness beyond the city walls, but rather on the person in the command position at the center of the city tower—her father, Lu Miaozi!
Lu Miaozi was also dressed in a dark, practical outfit, covered by a light armor. His goose-feathered crown and wide belt were removed, and his jet-black hair was simply tied up. His posture was as upright as a pine tree, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's. He calmly observed the flickering firelight and figures in the darkness beyond the city walls through a large, polished bronze mirror. In his hand, he held a small bronze mirror, occasionally reflecting the faint firelight at a specific angle through a hidden communication slit below, silently transmitting his commands.

At this moment, Lu Miaozi showed no trace of his former dejection and escapism. Like a seasoned commander, his profound wisdom and long-dormant power were perfectly integrated, exuding a convincing and authoritative aura of control.

As Shang Xiuxun watched his calm and composed back, a mixture of shock and complex emotions surged within her, almost bursting out of her chest.

This is her father... her real father?

"coming!"

Lu Miaozi's deep and clear voice broke the deathly silence on the city wall, carrying a cold and decisive tone.

Almost as soon as he finished speaking—

"W-W-W-W-!"

A deep, wild horn sound suddenly boomed from the depths of darkness! Immediately following was the thunderous roar of countless iron hooves trampling the earth! The sound initially rolled like muffled thunder, but in an instant it transformed into a raging wave that swept across the heavens and the earth, approaching from afar and shaking the entire city wall as if it were trembling slightly!

"kill!!!"

"Rob money! Rob food! Rob women!!"

"Crush Pegasus Ranch!!"

Countless roars filled with greed, violence, and destructive desires mingled with the sounds of hooves and horns, surging in like a tide! Suddenly, countless torches lit up the dark grassland, converging into leaping seas of fire!
In the firelight, a dense mass of cavalrymen with ferocious faces appeared, like a torrent of demons pouring out of hell, charging toward the castle with an aura of annihilation!

Leading the charge was none other than Xiang Batian's heavily armored cavalry, known as "Not a Blade of Grass"! Both men and horses were clad in heavy black iron armor, resembling mobile steel fortresses. Their spears and broadswords gleamed coldly in the firelight, their charge unstoppable!

Closely following behind were Mao Zao and Fang Jianding's light cavalry, brandishing sabers and torches, emitting piercing screams, intending to create chaos and panic. Cao Yinglong's rearguard, like ghosts, lurked at the edge of the firelight, waiting for their chance to strike.

The terrifying roar and destructive torrent instantly assaulted the nerves of everyone on the city wall! Many young guards turned pale, their hands gripping their weapons trembling slightly. Tao Shusheng was even more ashen-faced, almost collapsing to the ground.

Shang Xiuxun's heart leaped into her throat! The charge of three thousand iron cavalry was far more powerful than she had imagined! She subconsciously looked at her father.

Lu Miaozi's eyes were icy, but a cruel smile curled at the corners of his lips. He flashed the bronze mirror in his hand several times in front of the hole below!
"put!"

A furious roar came from a corner deep within the castle!
boom! boom! boom! boom!
In front of the castle, the seemingly peaceful "Horse Drinking Beach" grassland suddenly exploded, creating dozens of huge craters! The dozens of heavily armored cavalrymen at the forefront were caught off guard and, along with their horses, screamed as they plunged into the deep pits filled with sharp wooden stakes and caltrops! The screams of men and horses and the sound of bones shattering were chilling!
But this is just the beginning!
Almost simultaneously with the appearance of the pit, countless thick, sharpened logs were launched from the dense forests on the hillsides on both sides of the castle by mechanical mechanisms! With a piercing whistling sound, like the scythe of death, they swept across the flanks of the charging cavalry! The extremely fast light cavalry were the first to be hit, instantly swept away in droves, men and horses falling, bones broken and tendons snapped!
"Divine Crossbow! Fire!"

Lu Miaozi's command was transmitted again through the mirror light.

On the city wall, dozens of "divine crossbows" that had been poised to fire emitted a sickeningly loud string-twirling sound!
collapse!collapse!collapse!
A dense barrage of thick crossbow bolts, whistling through the air like a black storm of death, rained down on the halted cavalry charge! These bolts possessed incredible power, specifically designed to pierce heavy armor! Even Xiang Batian's heavily armored cavalry, under such a dense barrage, had their iron armor pierced, and men and horses fell in droves like harvested wheat! Screams, neighing horses, and the clash of weapons echoed through the night!

"Thunderbolts! Target: enemy rear midfield! Fire oil bombs!" Lu Miaozi's voice was as cold as ice.

The massive lever was slammed down, and the heavy stone projectiles wrapped in oil-soaked linen were ignited, whistling through the night sky like falling meteors, crashing heavily into the middle and rear of the cavalry column!
Boom! Boom!
The stone projectiles exploded upon impact, spraying their contained oil everywhere, igniting instantly! In a flash, seas of fire erupted among the charging cavalry! Flames roared, thick smoke billowed! Startled warhorses neighed and bolted wildly, throwing their riders off and trampling them into the mud! Countless fire-breathing figures screamed and writhed in the flames, the air instantly filled with the stench of charred flesh!
In just the first wave of contact, the three thousand iron cavalry that the four bandits were so proud of suffered heavy losses! Their momentum was abruptly halted, and their formation was thrown into chaos!

"Ah—! My eyes!"

"Help!"

"There is an ambush! Quickly withdraw!"

Panic spread like a plague among the bandits.

"Don't panic! Charge! If we get through, we'll win!"

Xiang Batian brandished his massive spiked club, slashing away an incoming crossbow bolt, roaring with bloodshot eyes as he tried to regain his footing. But chaos had already broken out, especially for Mao Zao and Fang Jianding's light cavalry, who, under the onslaught of pits, rolling logs, arrows, and fire, had long since crumbled and were now scattering in all directions.

at this time!

"Wind Valley! Wind Valley direction! Fire! Huge fire!" came the lookout's terrified voice.

Following the sound, everyone looked and saw that the "Returning Wind Valley" pass in the northwest of the pasture had been transformed into a towering sea of ​​fire! The flames were not the usual orange-red, but an eerie, ghostly blue, extremely hot, and the fire seemed to be guided by an invisible force, wildly sweeping, colliding, and exploding within the narrow space of the valley! It was the "Earth Fire Chain" mechanism set up by Lu Miaozi that had been triggered! Cao Yinglong's rearguard troops and some of the fleeing light cavalry, who had been lured into the valley, were instantly engulfed by this hellfire, and their screams could be faintly heard from miles away!

"it is good!"

On the city wall, someone shouted excitedly! Immediately afterward, the suppressed morale erupted like a volcano! The ranch guards looked at the bandits outside the city engulfed in flames and howling like ghosts, and at the ingenious trap they had set up. Their eyes were filled with the ecstasy of surviving a disaster and boundless admiration for the calm and collected Mr. Lu!

Shang Xiuxun clenched her fists so tightly her nails almost dug into her flesh. She looked at the chaotic battlefield outside the city, at her father's resolute, cold, sharply defined profile illuminated by the firelight, and her heart churned with turmoil! This was her father's power! This was how he protected the ranch! Beneath that cold command lay a raging fire of guilt born from years of remorse! It was all for her!
"Liu Zongdao! Flying Cloud Cavalry! Attack! Target: Bandit leader Xiang Batian!" Lu Miaozi turned sharply and shouted at the communication hole! The time had come!
"Woo—!" A high-pitched and stirring bugle call rang out from inside the castle's west gate! The heavy city gate roared open! The five hundred "Flying Cloud Cavalry," who had been poised for battle, surged forth like tigers released from their cages, led by Liu Zongdao, transforming into an iron torrent! They were like the sharpest blades, fiercely plunging into the chaotic and demoralized bandit army outside the city! Their target was the large banner with the character "Xiang" embroidered with a ferocious wolf's head, which stood out conspicuously in the firelight!

Liu Zongdao led the charge, his single eye bloodshot, wielding his thick-backed cleaver like a wheel. Wherever he passed, men and horses fell, and blood and flesh flew everywhere! Five hundred Flying Cloud Cavalry followed closely behind, their morale soaring. Like a hot knife through butter, they instantly tore a huge hole in the chaotic enemy formation and rushed straight towards Batian's core heavy cavalry main force!
Seeing the situation was dire, Xiang Batian was both shocked and furious! He never expected that such a master was stationed at the Pegasus Ranch, who had meticulously planned and schemed to cause him to suffer heavy losses! Looking at the unstoppable Flying Cloud Cavalry charging towards him, he was terrified and even considered retreating!
"Withdraw! Quickly withdraw!"

He roared at Batian, turned his horse around, and tried to escape.

However, in the instant he turned around—

A bluish-gray figure, like a ghost, drifted down from the city wall! Its momentum was lightning, its speed like the wind; it arrived before the enemy, traversing the chaotic battlefield in a few leaps and landing steadily in front of Xiang Batian, blocking his path!

It was Lu Miaozi!
"Xiang Batian! You've invaded my Pegasus Ranch, slaughtered countless lives, and now you think you can just leave?!"

Lu Miaozi's voice wasn't loud, but it contained a chilling killing intent and inner strength, clearly penetrating the noise of the battlefield and reaching Xiang Batian's ears!

Xiang Batian recognized the newcomer, paused for a moment, then grinned maliciously: "Old bastard! You're asking for death!"

Although he was terrified by the ranch's methods, the man before him looked like a frail scholar, so why would he be afraid? The heavy spiked club in his hand, accompanied by a fierce gust of wind tearing through the air, slammed down towards Lu Miaozi's head! He was determined to smash this reckless old man into a pulp!

On the city wall, Shang Xiuxun cried out in alarm:
"Dad! Watch out!"

This cry of "Dad" was uttered with unprecedented fear and concern!

A hint of approval flashed in Yi Huawei's eyes.

Faced with this thunderous attack, Lu Miaozi remained unmoved. He held no weapon, but just as the spiked club was about to reach its tip, his right hand, fingers pointing like a sword, swiftly and lightly touched a tiny, seemingly seamless protrusion on the side of the club!
Click!

A very faint yet incredibly clear sound of a mechanism breaking rang out!

Xiang Batian felt a sudden jolt in his hand as a strange, supple force surged from the club. His immense power seemed to have struck cotton, finding no foothold! Even more terrifying, the heavy, spiked iron ball at the club's head instantly detached from the handle! With tremendous momentum, it whistled past his head and slammed into several of his guards behind him, instantly turning them into bloody messes!
"what?!"

Xiang Batian was utterly horrified! All he had left in his hand was the bare handle of the club!
In the instant he was distracted, Lu Miaozi moved!

He moved closer like a ghost, his left hand forming a claw with five fingers, slicing through the air with a sharp whooshing sound, precisely targeting a seam in Xiang Batian's heavy armor! His five fingers were as if forged from refined steel, containing an overwhelming and unstoppable inner force!
puff!

A sickeningly loud metallic tearing sound!
Lu Miaozi's seemingly frail fingers pierced through the thick iron armor as easily as piercing thin paper! His five fingers were deeply embedded in Batian's heart!

"Uh……!"

Xiang Batian's eyes bulged, his face filled with unbelievable fear and pain! He looked down at the hand that had pierced through his armor and sunk into his chest, and made a gurgling sound in his throat.

Lu Miaozi's eyes were cold and devoid of pity. He suddenly twisted his wrist and squeezed!
Bang!
A muffled thud came from Xiang Batian's chest! This infamous and arrogant "Slaughtering Blade" trembled violently, the light in his eyes went out instantly, and his massive body, as if its bones had been removed, crashed to the ground from his horse! A cloud of dust rose up!
The bandit leader, Xiang Batian, is dead!

"The bandit leader is dead! Those who surrender will not be killed!"

Lu Miaozi pulled out his blood-soaked hand, raised it high towards Batian's head that was still staring blankly into the distance, and channeled his inner strength, his voice shaking the surrounding area!
The sound was like a thunderclap, exploding across the chaotic battlefield! The bandits, whose morale had already collapsed due to the successive blows, saw Xiang Batian's bloody head being held high, and their last shred of will to resist completely crumbled!
"Boss Xiang is dead!"

"Run!"

"Surrender! We surrender!"

The remaining bandits cried out for their fathers and mothers, dropping their weapons and kneeling to beg for mercy. Seeing that all was lost, Mao Zao, Fang Jianding, and Cao Yinglong, each with a few trusted followers, fled desperately into the darkness like stray dogs.

At the west gate of the castle, Liu Zongdao led his Flying Cloud Cavalry like tigers among sheep, relentlessly pursuing and slaughtering the fleeing soldiers.

A thunderous cheer erupted atop the city wall!
"We win! We win!"

"Long live Mr. Lu!"

"Long live the stadium owner!"

The elation of surviving the ordeal and the excitement of victory swept over every ranch guard.

Shang Xiuxun stared blankly at the city below, at her father, bathed in blood yet standing like a war god beside the bandit leader's corpse, illuminated by the firelight. She watched him raise the bandit leader's head, his heroic figure awe-inspiring against the hordes of enemies. She watched him slowly raise his head, gazing at the city walls, his eyes filled with concern, guilt, and a hint of relief, piercing through the chaotic battlefield to meet her own gaze from afar.

At that moment, all the resentment, alienation, and frozen barriers shattered in that gaze and that subconscious cry of "Dad!"
Tears, like a burst dam, instantly overwhelmed Shang Xiuxun's defenses, gushing forth and soaking the light veil covering her face. She abruptly turned, lifted her skirt, and ran desperately towards the city walls! She was going to find her father! The father who, to protect her and the ranch, had taken up arms again, fought valiantly, and captured enemy generals and flags!

Yi Huawei watched Shang Xiuxun rush down the mountain, then glanced at Lu Miaozi, who was walking slowly towards the castle amidst cheers, her gaze always following her daughter's direction. A slight smile played on his lips as he turned to Shan Wanjing:
"Wanjing, we should go."

Dan Wanjing watched the father and daughter running towards each other below the city wall, then looked at her master, nodded vigorously, a hint of emotion in her eyes. The chestnut horse seemed to sense its master's feelings, affectionately nuzzling her with its head.

With his fingers pointing, he wrote the seven characters "See you in Chang'an on the sixth day of next month" on the wall. Yi Huawei took one last look at the Pegasus Ranch, which was bathed in the firelight and cheers of victory. With a slight movement, his green robe fluttered, and he and Shan Wanjing and her beloved chestnut horse disappeared silently into the shadows on the city wall, as if they had never existed.

(End of this chapter)