The Bad Guys: Everyone, let’s revive the Tang Dynasty together!

Chapter 520 Standing atop the First Peak of Wu Mountain (Part 1)

The night was as dark as ink, and the rain, instead of stopping, grew even heavier, tapping on the green tiles and eaves of Qionghua Temple, making a continuous pattering sound.

Inside the royal guest room within the temple, the lights were dim, and Princess Shangrao's face appeared somewhat pale in the dim light as she slightly clutched Lu Linxuan's sleeve.

"Lin Xuan, I'm feeling really uneasy. Xingyun hasn't been acting right these past few days, and the atmosphere in the palace is strange too. Don't hide it from me, has he... encountered something extremely difficult?"

Lu Linxuan sat on the edge of the couch, took her hand in his, and comforted her, "Sister-in-law, don't scare yourself. My senior brother is the ruler of a country. The situation is more tense than usual, but he can definitely handle it. The most important thing for you now is to relax, take care of yourself, and take care of the little nephew in your belly."

Even so, Lu Linxuan himself felt as if a huge rock was pressing on his heart.

She knew better than anyone the immense dangers of Li Xingyun and Zhang Zifan's desperate plan. After tonight, whether Yangzhou would rise from the ashes or be ravaged by blood remained to be seen.

The door was gently pushed open, and Xu Huan quietly stepped inside. She had changed into a Taoist robe, her hair was tightly tied up, and her expression was calm.

“Your Highness, Miss Lu,” she said in a very low voice, her gaze sweeping quickly across the room, “it’s almost time. Everything outside has been prepared, we need to set off immediately.”

Shangrao had actually seen Xu Huan during the day, and at the time she only thought that she was a nun from the temple. But seeing her come in and speak like this, the unease in her heart suddenly magnified. She looked at Xu Huan in confusion, and then at Lu Linxuan: "Set off? It's so late, and the rain is so heavy. Where are we going? Didn't we come to the temple to pray for blessings and recuperate?"

Lu Linxuan knew she could no longer hide it. She took a deep breath and gripped Shangrao's hand tightly: "Sister-in-law, listen to me. You know Xu Wen and Zhang Hao are wolves in sheep's clothing. They can't hold back anymore and are about to make a move against Senior Brother."

Shangrao's pupils contracted sharply, and his lips instantly lost their color.

She grew up amidst power struggles; how could she not understand what this meant?
The angry question, "How dare they?" rolled on her tongue, but she swallowed it back down.

She knew better than anyone what those power-hungry people wouldn't dare to do. Wasn't her father a living example?

Lu Linxuan spoke faster and continued:

"They might even... harm you and your unborn child to coerce your senior brother. His decision to let us leave first doesn't mean we should abandon him. He doesn't want us to become a weakness his enemies can exploit; he wants to eliminate any worries so he can face tomorrow's crisis without any burdens. Master Xu will escort us to a completely safe place to take refuge. Sister-in-law, only when we are safe can your senior brother and Zhang Zifan fight with complete freedom!"

Xu Huan spoke up at the opportune moment, her tone calm: "Your Majesty, the Emperor is a man of great foresight, and this move is truly a foolproof strategy. Now is not the time for hesitation and sorrow. Every moment of delay adds to the uncertainty and increases the Emperor's worries. Please trust the Emperor, and trust us as well."

Shangrao's body trembled slightly, but it was from anger and worry about her husband's situation.

She abruptly closed her eyes, took a few deep breaths, and when she opened them again, although her eyes were still glistening with tears, the fear from before was gone.

She gripped Lu Linxuan's hand tightly with one hand: "I understand... Let's go! Let's go now! I can't... I absolutely can't become a burden to him."

A hint of approval flashed in Xu Huan's eyes, and he immediately turned around to acknowledge it.

Two female disciples, who were already prepared and whose figures were similar to Shangrao and Lu Linxuan, quickly walked in with their heads bowed. They had changed into the same clothes as Shangrao and Lu Linxuan before coming.

Xu Huan personally draped a dark, thick cloak over Shang Rao, then pulled down the wide hood, completely concealing her face and figure.

"Come with me, and be sure to walk quietly," Xu Huan whispered, leading the way to the door.

The group left the inn silently and headed towards a side hall in the backyard of the Taoist temple, where miscellaneous items were stored. Xu Huan fumbled along the wall for a moment, then triggered a mechanism. A shelf slowly slid open, revealing a downward-facing opening just wide enough for one person to pass through.

"Go out through this tunnel, and you'll reach the dense forest outside the temple. There will be carriages and horses to meet you there." Xu Huan went in first, but still didn't raise the lantern. Instead, he turned around and led Shangrao by the hand.

Although the tunnel is narrow, it is dry and the steps are flat.

Princess Shangrao was carefully supported by Xu Huan and Lu Linxuan. The two Taoist priests, Xuanzhen and Xuanjing, who had been waiting in the underground passage, came out with torches to greet her and then covered the three women's rear, vigilantly watching the movements behind them.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Xu Huan's hushed voice finally came from ahead: "We're here."

The exit was obscured by vines and weeds; once parted, slanting raindrops immediately hit my face.

Outside was a dark forest, where an ordinary awning carriage waited quietly, flanked by a dozen riders on both sides. The driver was also dressed as a disciple of the Celestial Master's Mansion, with a solemn expression.

Xu Huan, Shangrao, and Lu Linxuan quickly boarded the carriage, while Xuanzhen, Xuanjing, and the other disciples mounted their horses to protect them on either side.

The driver gave the reins a tug, and the carriage immediately started moving, rolling over the muddy ground as quietly as possible, heading west along a secluded path, away from Yangzhou city.

------

In Xu Wen's residence, the study was brightly lit.

A clerk in armor strode in and knelt on one knee: "My lord, our spies inside the temple report that the Empress's carriage has not moved and the lights have been extinguished. However, our spies outside the temple have spotted figures sneaking out of the backyard and heading towards the dense forest to the west. There are about ten people who are meeting them, all dressed as Taoist priests, and the leader appears to be a woman."

Xu Wen was sitting opposite Zhang Hao. Upon hearing this, a cold sneer flashed in both of their eyes.

The former stroked his beard and looked at Zhang Hao: "Just as Zhigao predicted, Li Xingyun wanted to get rid of his weakness first so that he could compete with us. If no one else had informed him, he might have really suffered this fate. However, this kind of trick of escaping like a cicada is underestimating us too much."

Zhang Hao gritted his teeth in hatred, then slammed his fist on the table: "That scoundrel! He's infuriating! Brother Xu, what are we waiting for? Immediately muster our troops and capture that gang of sorcerers along with those two women. Let's see what that brat Li Xingyun has to say then!"

Xu Wen waved his hand: "Don't be impatient. Intercepting them now would only capture a few pawns and alert the enemy. Who else is Li Xingyun secretly colluding with? Has someone from the north sent someone to meet with him? Letting them go will allow us to follow the clues and wipe out all the lurking insects in the shadows. With solid evidence, we can then have a legitimate reason to punish him in court, ensuring he never has a chance to rise again."

He turned to the guard and calmly asked, "Where are Yao Kezhan and Cheng Sizhong?"

"General Yao and General Cheng are already waiting outside the door."

"Let them in."

Soon, two generals, also dressed in full armor and with sharp eyes, strode in.

These two men were Xu Wen's confidants. They not only commanded the guards in his mansion, but also recruited outlaws from the Jianghu (江湖, the martial arts world) for Xu Wen and handled his shady dealings.

Xu Wen looked at them, pondered for a moment, and said, "Keshan, Sizhong, you two will personally lead a team, select three hundred skilled fighters, and secretly return to Qionghua Temple. Detain the abbot and all the Taoist priests who might know anything, interrogate them carefully, and find out their destination, contact, and plan. Then..."

He paused, then casually made a beheading gesture: "Go and 'invite' the Empress and that Emperor's junior sister back. Remember, 'invite' them. As for those Taoist priests who came to meet them and their accomplices, whoever they are, kill them all. Leave no survivors."

Zhang Hao added menacingly, "I'll send another squad of assassins with you two. Make sure it's done flawlessly. If even one of you escapes, or if even the slightest word leaks out, you two won't need to come back to see me and Minister Xu!"

Yao Keshan and Cheng Sizhong remained expressionless, only their eyes flashing with fierce light. They clasped their fists in unison and said, "Your subordinates obey! We will certainly not fail the trust placed in us by our lord and Minister Situ!"

Immediately, the two turned and left, quickly disappearing into the rainy night.

Not long after they left, Xu Wen stroked his beard again, lost in thought and silent, while Zhang Hao paced restlessly.

Before long, Xu Zhigao led someone into the study.

The man was dressed in rags, with messy gray hair and covered in mud, looking like an old beggar. However, his steps were not unsteady, but rather showed a certain steadiness.

Xu Wen and Zhang Hao both frowned, each sizing up the uninvited guest.

Xu Zhigao bowed and said, "Father, Uncle, this is the righteous man who delivered the message through the beggar during the day. After I found him, the righteous man took the initiative to say that there was still information concerning life and death that needed to be reported to Father and Uncle in person."

The old beggar raised his head, his face filthy, only his eyes were still clear. He didn't speak, but bowed slightly to Xu Wen and Zhang Hao, his posture carrying a hint of extraordinary demeanor.

Xu Wen's gaze sharpened slightly, showing no disdain for the other's appearance. He simply softened his tone: "So it was you who sent the warning during the day. This matter is of great importance. Your risk in issuing the warning saved me from certain death. I thank you in advance."

Unable to contain himself, Zhang Hao added gruffly, "That's right, you've done a good job delivering the message, and I will reward you handsomely! Now you can speak frankly, right? Stop hiding your true intentions!"

The old beggar let out a few dry laughs: "Prime Minister Xu is too kind, and Minister Zhang is a man of few words. I dare not accept your thanks; it is merely a matter of mutual benefit and survival in the face of danger."

He paused slightly, his gaze lingering on Xu Wen's face for a moment, before his tone became meaningful, "I just wonder, has Minister Xu ever considered that although you two have received the warning and seem to be sitting on the edge of a precipice, you are actually already on the verge of disaster?"

Xu Wen's expression remained unchanged, and he simply said, "Oh? I'd like to hear the details."

The old beggar slowly said, "Li Xingyun holds sway over Jiangnan, relying solely on the legitimacy of the Tang dynasty and the natural barrier of the Yangtze River. However, now that the Northern Dynasty has established itself with overwhelming momentum, how long can the natural barrier be relied upon? And how can the weight of legitimacy outweigh the might of an iron-clad army? As intelligent as he is, how could he not have other ideas?"

He observed the expressions of Xu and Wen, and continued speaking slowly and deliberately:
"Was sending off the Empress truly just for the sake of praying for blessings? And his junior sister, who happened to be heading south at this time, is it merely out of brotherly affection? Both Prime Minister Xu and Minister Situ are seasoned veterans; under such coincidences, can they truly not see that this is a scheme orchestrated by someone in the Central Plains? Perhaps the Empress and her entourage are heading not only to escape, but also to the location of their Northern ally. At that time, Li Xingyun will offer his beautiful wife, beloved sister, and unborn child to Bianjing as hostages. With the promises made by that person in Bianjing, they can then launch a pincer attack from within and without, eliminating powerful officials and offering Jiangnan to Bianjing as a foothold. Wouldn't that be perfectly logical?"

After he finished speaking, the study fell into a deathly silence, with only the incessant sound of rain outside the window.

Xu Wen's pupils contracted slightly, but his expression remained unchanged as he gently tapped the table with his knuckles.

"What evidence supports this absurd claim?"

Zhang Hao, his hair and beard bristling, roared, "He dares!"

Why wouldn't he dare?

The old beggar first asked in a low voice, then continued, "As for the evidence? Do you two know how I, Li, with a blood feud, managed to escape from the encirclement of the Northern Iron Wall and the desperate situation where all the masters had come out, barely surviving, and finally made it to the Jiangnan region? If I hadn't personally experienced the situation, witnessed its power, and personally felt that person's crushing force, how could I have seen it so clearly?"

Xu Wen was shocked. He stood up abruptly, exchanged a glance with Zhang Hao, and then stared intently at him: "Who exactly are you, sir?"

The old beggar chuckled nonchalantly, slowly straightening his hunched back. Although he still looked disheveled, he suddenly exuded a sinister aura of someone who had long held power over others and controlled their lives and deaths.

“A defeated general, a man of a fallen nation, clinging to life… Li Siyuan of Hedong.”

The room was completely silent; no words could be heard. Only the flickering candlelight illuminated Xu Wen's rapidly darkening face and Zhang Hao's face, which was contorted with extreme shock and anger.

------

The imperial palace in Yangzhou, the sleeping quarters.

Zhang Zifan entered quietly and whispered to Li Xingyun, who was standing alone by the window gazing at the night rain, "Brother Li, a signal came from the Taoist temple. The person has been successfully brought out and left Qionghua Temple." Li Xingyun's shoulders relaxed slightly, and he let out a soft sigh: "Good. With that, we have one less thing to worry about."

He turned around, his face showing little joy, and solemnly asked again, "Have all the imperial edicts for tomorrow been sent out?"

“It has been sent to the various government offices. Tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), I will summon all the officials to the side hall to discuss the matter of personally leading the expedition to Jianghuai.” Zhang Zifan nodded, his tone equally solemn. “Xu Wen and Zhang Hao have not made any unusual moves yet, and the Bad People responsible for warning have not noticed anything amiss either. The two of them should not be aware of our plan.”

Li Xingyun nodded, while Zhang Zifan continued:

"To support the events in the palace tomorrow, I have made an agreement with Zhang Tianshi. As soon as Xu Wen and the others enter the palace tomorrow, Zhang Tianshi will join forces with the lurking bad elements in the city, along with the disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion, to create chaos in several places in the city, drawing the attention of the guards under Zhong Taizhang and Mi Zhicheng of the Wu Prince's Mansion as much as possible. At that time, Zhang Tianshi will personally lead a group of experts to break into the Wu Prince's Mansion in the chaos and do his best to rescue the Wu Prince and the main members of the royal family."

Li Xingyun looked intently at Zhang Zifan, his eyes filled with a complex and unreadable expression: "The Wu Prince's Mansion is heavily guarded. Zhong Taizhang and Mi Zhicheng are both renowned top-tier experts in the Jianghuai region, and their subordinates are all Xu Zhang's elite assassins. This move..."

Zhang Zifan met his gaze and simply smiled: "Do your best and leave the rest to fate. Brother Li, this is the only thing I can do to help you. If we can rescue the King of Wu, it will not only thwart Xu Wen and Zhang Hao's plot to control the royal family and command the Wu Kingdom, but it will also put the Empress at ease in the future."

Li Xingyun remained silent for a moment, then stepped forward and patted Zhang Zifan's shoulder heavily. He then walked to the weapon rack by the wall, reached out, and slowly drew out the replica Longquan sword.

He gently ran his fingers along the blade of the sword, muttering to himself:
"Yes, do your best and leave the rest to fate. In two hours, everything will be clear. Either you and I will take control of Jiangnan and restore peace to the world; or... we will all perish."

------

Outside the imperial city, in a dark alley.

A night watchman, carrying a gong and drum, leaned against the wall, hidden in the shadows, and scanned the street corner in the distance.

Squads of armored soldiers, taking advantage of the rain and the cover of night, surged rapidly out of the side alleys, creeping towards the imperial city. Their footsteps were noticeably softer, and the clatter of their armor plates was muffled by the rain and night, creating an eerie atmosphere.

Further away, a large number of armored soldiers dispersed and infiltrated the residential alleys surrounding the imperial city, occupying high ground and subtly forming a siege around the palace. In another direction, a large force silently assembled and marched towards Xu Wen's residence, clearly to reinforce that area.

The night watchman slowly backed away, turned the corner, and walked to another alleyway. As he passed a street official wearing a straw raincoat, he lowered his voice:

"Xu Wen's men are being mobilized. Judging from this, he's probably planning to strike first. Report to Commander Zhao immediately, and think of another way... to see if we can get the message into the palace so that Li Xingyun can prepare. We need to be quick."

"Order."

The street envoy nodded and disappeared into the winding alleyways in the blink of an eye.

...

At the same time, in an official residence near the palace, candlelight illuminated only a corner.

The imposter Li stood before the bronze mirror, two attendants tightening the straps of his military uniform. The armor plates clung to his youthful body, identical to the person in the mirror, gleaming with a dark luster.

He tilted his head slightly, gazing at his reflection in the mirror as if admiring a perfect work of art.

The bronze mirror was blurry, but the outline of the face reflected in it was no different from that of the emperor from Jiangnan in the Yangzhou palace. However, the eyes in the mirror seemed to have undercurrents constantly surging beneath the calm gaze, making them difficult to fathom.

Jingxinmo entered the room, stood behind him, and whispered, "Your Highness, everything is ready. However, Xu Wen seems to have already made a move, earlier than we expected."

The fake Li smiled and slowly put on his general's helmet.

"The sooner the better. The muddier the water, the easier it is to fish. Give the order to proceed according to plan. The show is about to begin."

------

Along the official road, rainwater gathered into trickles, meandering through the ruts of carts.

The carriage struggled forward through the mud, thankfully already out of the suburbs and getting further away from Yangzhou. However, the hearts of everyone inside remained tense, as the rain pounded against the canopy of the carriage roof.

After another quarter of an hour, Xu Huan was about to signal his disciples to find a safer place to stop so that Shangrao, who had been bruised and battered, could catch his breath when he suddenly heard the sound of rapid, drum-like hoofbeats coming from a distance behind them.

"Someone's chasing us, and they're moving very fast!" The Celestial Master's Mansion disciple in charge of covering the rear hurriedly shouted a warning.

Xu Huan's expression changed drastically, and he leaned back to look. He saw flickering lights piercing the rain and mist in the darkness behind him, rapidly approaching, accompanied by the thunderous sound of hooves—clearly a large cavalry force.

"Speed ​​up!" Xu Huan shouted to the driver without hesitation.

The coachman cracked his whip, urging the two packhorses onward. However, the carriage, laden with people, was no match for the speed of the light cavalry; in the blink of an eye, the sound of hooves swept past like a whirlwind.

The light from the oil-paper lanterns suddenly illuminated the official road. Yao Keshan and Cheng Sizhong took the lead, leading hundreds of elite pursuers and dozens of fierce-looking men dressed as江湖客 (jianghu kei, meaning wandering swordsmen). They shouted and split into two groups, quickly overtaking and encircling the carriage caravan like pincers, tightly surrounding it in the center.

Mud and water were splashed high by the horses' hooves, and the firelight illuminated faces soaked with rain but filled with murderous intent.

Xu Huanxin sank down, but still forced herself to remain calm.

She leaped down from the carriage and stood in front of the shaft, her Taoist robe instantly soaked by the rain. She cupped her hands and raised her voice, "Which general commands you ahead? I am a Taoist practitioner from Longhu Mountain, ordered to escort a noble lady and her family back to their hometown. I do not know where I have offended you generals to block my way."

Yao Kezhan reined in his horse, grinned maliciously, and without answering, suddenly took a cloth bag from beside the saddle and threw it forcefully at Xu Huan's feet.

The cloth bag fell to the ground and scattered, revealing a head that rolled out. The head was white-haired and had wide-open eyes; it was none other than the abbot of Qionghua Temple.

"You heretic, how dare you try to deny it!" Cheng Sizhong shouted sternly. "You colluded with the northern bandits and kidnapped the Empress. The evidence against you is irrefutable! Surrender now!"

Upon seeing the abbot's head, Xu Huan felt a wave of dizziness and grief wash over him. He knew that his scheme had been completely exposed. Although he didn't know the reason, he immediately shouted, "Shameless villains, you have harmed people outside the secular world! You will surely be punished by heaven!"

"Senior sisters, you go first!"

The two Taoist priests, Xuanzhen and Xuanjing, also shouted, "Form a formation, protect the carriage, and charge forward!"

More than ten disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion, including the coachman, instantly drew their longswords. They moved swiftly, spurring their horses forward and quickly forming a circular formation on the muddy, slippery ground, protecting the carriage in the center. Sword light flowed, and their auras subtly merged, protecting the carriage as they broke through the encirclement.

"A mere trick, easily broken by me!" Yao Keshan sneered, waving his hand, "Except for those in the car, kill the rest without mercy!"

Instantly, cavalrymen and martial arts experts surged forward, and countless flashes of swords clashed violently with the Taoist sword formation.

The clang of metal clashing, roars, and screams tore through the rainy night, blood splattering and mixing with the mud. Although the disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion possessed exquisite swordsmanship and excellent teamwork, they were outnumbered and outmatched by their opponents. Their sword formation was quickly brought to the brink of collapse, with disciples falling one after another, and gaps appearing in the formation.

Inside the carriage, Shangrao's face turned pale instantly. She gripped the handrail tightly, but gritted her teeth and remained silent. Lu Linxuan shielded her in the corner, then drew his sword with a clang and shouted to the driver, "I'll drive, you protect the side!"

As she spoke, she squeezed to the carriage shaft, took the reins, and whipped the horse, trying to force the carriage through a gap.

Xu Huan's sword flashed like lightning, his figure elusive, and he stabbed down two martial artists who were trying to climb onto the carriage. He shouted sharply, "Follow the carriage and break through!"

The carriage suddenly lurched forward, smashing through several knights blocking its path.

Seeing this, Yao Keshan snorted coldly, slapped the saddle, and leaped up like a bird, rushing straight at Lu Linxuan on the carriage shaft, his long sword flashing with a sharp, cold light.

Lu Linxuan swung his sword to parry, and with a loud clang, his tiger's mouth split open, the longsword almost slipped from his hand, and his body trembled violently.

Cheng Sizhong, who was responsible for keeping Xu Huan occupied, also laughed loudly and was about to help Yao Kezhan take the opportunity to slip into the car.

At this moment, a sudden change occurred.

Without warning, an arrow tore through the rain, whistling through the air, and flew straight toward Yao Keshan's throat.

Yao Keshan was a veteran of the battlefield, possessing an almost instinctive intuition for danger. In the critical moment of life and death, he suddenly leaned back on the iron bridge, and the arrow flew past his chin, the sharp point cutting through his skin and drawing a trail of blood. Then, with a dull thud, the arrow was deeply embedded in the wall of the carriage behind him, the arrowhead sinking into the wood, the fletching vibrating violently due to the immense force, emitting a buzzing sound.

The sudden arrow caused all the pursuers surrounding the carriage to pause in surprise, looking towards the source of the arrow with suspicion.

Yao Keshan landed in shock, staggered a step, touched his burning chin, his hand covered in blood, and then abruptly turned his head in surprise and anger.

Amidst the misty rain and forests surrounding the official road, dozens of shadowy figures had silently emerged.

They were dressed in dark, close-fitting clothes, covered with raincoats and straw hats, each with a different posture. Some leaned against trees with their arms crossed, holding a crossbow that was already cocked; some squatted on the ground, their crossbow bolts pointing at the battlefield; some stood quietly on tree trunks, their hands on their swords, looking down at the chaotic battlefield below.

They were like ghosts, silent and stealthy, yet exuding a suffocating killing intent. The weapons they held were uniform in design, their slightly curved blades reflecting a faint luster under the torchlight. Yao and Cheng, who were in charge of Xu Wen's intelligence network, recognized at a glance that these were the Embroidered Spring Blades that had become a force to be reckoned with in the Central Plains.

Before the two could feel the chill creeping up their heads, the rain curtain was pushed aside in front of the carriage, and several riders slowly walked out.

The leading figure, a tall and imposing man, put down his large bow and picked up a heavy-looking iron spear with one hand, its blade gleaming coldly. Beside him stood a kind-looking middle-aged man, riding alongside him.

Yao Keshan and Cheng Sizhong turned deathly pale as they looked at the imposing figure.

"Zhu...Zhu Jin?!" Yao Keshan exclaimed in shock, almost unable to believe his eyes. His voice trembled with shock and fear. "You...you actually dared to betray the Northern Dynasty and your country?!"

Zhu Jin stood with his spear across his horse, only giving him a cold glance, as if he were looking at a corpse about to fall, and even answering him would be a superfluous act of charity.

The person beside Zhu Jin was naturally Zhao Congyi, the commander of the Jiangnan Thousand Household Office of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He rode forward, first glanced at Xu Huan and the others who were surprised and uncertain, then smiled amicably at Yao and Cheng, and then raised his Embroidered Spring Blade and bowed to the north.

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard, acting on the Emperor's decree, shall execute without mercy anyone who plots to harm a member of the Tang imperial family."

As soon as the words fell, all the Imperial Guards present simultaneously raised their crossbows, and their embroidered spring knives were drawn in unison. The cold light shone brightly in the firelight, and a palpable killing intent suddenly enveloped the entire battlefield.

The rain was still falling.

Whether it was the so-called Yao Kezhan, Cheng Sizhong, or their pursuing troops, they were all stuck in place, unable to advance or retreat, their faces ashen.

(End of this chapter)