"Master Brother, why don't we just kill everyone here first and then search them for those crossbows? They have to be on one of these people. Do they expect us to fly up into the sky?"

A figure streaked out, bathed in blue light, his longsword emitting a blue radiance nearly ten feet long. His appearance instantly elicited screams of agony! He cut through the crowd, hacking a path of flying blood and shadow, tumbling and rolling towards the center of the fray!

Zhang Cunxiao bellowed, "Everyone form a circle! Work together against the outside, create an Iron Barrel Killing Formation, and defend against the incoming enemy!" All the warriors responded immediately, rapidly closing ranks toward the middle. Shouts of killing erupted everywhere. Although they still couldn't hold off the three Heaven Profound masters, they were gradually managing to stabilize their formation.

In the canopy of a towering tree, there was no one visible, yet a faint sigh drifted down.

It was Young Master Jun, concealed high up in the branches.

Watching the slaughter below, Young Master Jun shook his head repeatedly, utterly speechless at these three interlopers who had materialized out of thin air! Robbery conducted so unprofessionally—he truly wondered how Supreme Grandmaster Lei Wubei had managed to father anyone!

With Jun Moxie’s sight, he could recognize these three instantly: they were the last three disciples remaining of Lei Wubei!

Acquaintances. Far too familiar!

These three were the epitome of incompetence—capable of ruining everything they touched! Utter failures.

If you’re going to rob someone, you should just silently sneak up and strike them from behind. Why on earth would you say anything before making a move?

This rendered Jun Moxie speechless.

What a show-off!

Damn it, not only did you mess up your own robbery, but you also ruined the perfect plan I devised! Now I’ll have to expend so much more effort! It’s a good thing Lei Jianhong didn't utter some line like, "This mountain is mine, this tree is planted by me, if you wish to pass, leave your toll," otherwise, Jun the Great Assassin might have been provoked into falling right out of the tree.

Jun Moxie had arrived a day early with his personal guard, digging traps and setting up ambushes, fully engaged in the busy work. Finally, Jun Moxie had even given each of his two hundred-plus men a pill to conceal their aura, positioning them all in the nearby woods, naturally hidden within pre-dug subterranean caves. They were just waiting for this contingent to step into the encirclement before unleashing a devastating strike and making a clean getaway.

Who would have thought that before these people could even enter the trap, these three greenhorns intercepted them and started fighting!

This is truly infuriating!

Jun Moxie quickly transmitted a message, ordering his own people to hold their positions and wait to see the outcome. Considering the current situation, although these three fellows were powerful, they wouldn't prove to be insurmountable obstacles easily. He decided to let them fight it out—dog eat dog—before making further plans.

Just as he was thinking this, Lei Jianhong in the field suddenly let out a low cry, and a series of synchronized footsteps boomed as a large group of black-clad masked men charged down the mountain, instantly joining the fray. The stalemate between the two sides shattered immediately.

Zhang Cunxiao, leader of the Divine Wind Guard, took a palm strike to the chest, spitting blood as he flew backward. With a shout, he countered, launching a signal rocket with a sharp whistle toward the sky. Boom! It exploded, revealing a vivid, lifelike firework shaped like a small, blood-red sword in the night sky.

"It seems the Blood Sword Sect, hiding in the shadows, is about to make its move. Let's see which of these two waves is stronger. Either way, I'm sitting on the mountain watching the tigers fight, benefiting from the spoils."

Jun Moxie sat astride the branch in a 'squatting-crotch' horse posture, the branch swaying rhythmically in the wind. If anyone saw him, they might mistake him for engaging in some illicit secret act with the tree.

Young Master Jun rested his chin on his hand, quietly observing with interest. What a lively show this was! Let the Blood Sword Sect, Lei Wubei’s disciples, and Li Youran’s secret experts clash fiercely! It would be best if both sides suffered heavy losses! Well, total annihilation would be ideal, but although the thought crossed his mind, he didn't dare hope for it.

Unfortunately, the subsequent turn of events completely defied everyone's expectations. It had been quite some time since the Blood Sword Sect sent out their signal, yet not only were no reinforcements arriving, not even a single ghost-like figure appeared!

The empty mountains were silent; only this single spot was filled with a chaotic din of battle. Illuminated by the remaining firelight, the men on Zhao Wuji’s side were all pale-faced, filled with despair.

"I really thought there were helpers waiting behind. Turns out it was an Empty Fort Strategy!" Lei Jianhong sneered mockingly. "Is this Empty Fort Strategy fun? Playing such petty tricks in front of me—you're not playing your enemy, you're playing yourself. If you truly don't want to live anymore, just say so, and I will certainly oblige!"

Zhao Wuji tumbled awkwardly, dodging a slashing blade, his voice thick with tears as he yelled, "Commander Zhang, Commander Zhang, wh-what about... where are our reinforcements? Didn't you say the reinforcements were following us all along? Why... why... why..."

He had intended to ask, "Why is there no movement?" but just as he started, his opponent swung three rapid strikes at him. In his haste to evade, his words were interrupted three times, making him sound like a stammerer.

"How should I know? Do you think I’m not anxious?" Zhang Cunxiao cursed back angrily. "Worry about saving your own miserable life first!"

Currently, the elite warriors belonging to the Li family, led by the three Heaven Profound masters, had gained an overwhelming advantage. Under Bu Ping's relentless pressure, Zhao Wuji's forces were being compressed into an increasingly small circle. The hundred-plus survivors surrounding Zhao Wuji barely managed to form a defensive line, desperately fending off the enemy's storm of relentless attacks. Outside their circle, not a single soul remained alive!

Meng Xiaosong, Zhao Wuji, and Zhang Cunxiao, the three leaders, were all huddled at the core of the circle, each one ashen-faced.

It had been nearly the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn since the signal was sent, yet the Blood Sword Hall reinforcements remained completely invisible.

Meng Xiaosong finally couldn't hold back a curse, his voice now laced with a distinct sob. "What in the world is going on? How can someone openly attack the Imperial Guards right here in the capital's territory? I tell you, Sir, I have elderly parents and young children; coming out with you this time was incredibly difficult for me... Please, hurry and think of a solution! You are the local authority here in the capital! You need to come up with a plan!"

Meng Xiaosong’s Profound Arts were quite high, having reached the mid-stage Earth Profound realm. Among Zhao Wuji’s group, he was the strongest Earth Profound expert. However, years of pampered living had long eroded the sharp, decisive killer instinct he once possessed; he cherished his own life far more now. Even if there was a chance for promotion and wealth before his eyes, he needed to be alive to enjoy it! Seeing the dire situation now, his heart was filled with dread and deep regret.

It would have been so much better to just sit at home drinking tea, playing with birds, walking dogs, bullying commoners, and occupying beautiful young women. But he had been blinded by greed, wanting to earn this fifty thousand taels of silver... Now look—before he even got the money, his life was about to be forfeit here.

Zhang Cunxiao couldn't help but explode in anger. "What the hell are you yelling about? The morale is already shaky, and you’re squawking like a chicken, damaging my troops' morale and shattering their fighting spirit! Shut your trap! If you keep shouting, do you believe I won't cut you down with one stroke!"

Hearing this, Meng Xiaosong erupted in fury, using his saber to defend himself while shouting angrily, "What kind of logic is that! You noble Imperial Guards are close to the Son of Heaven; you are officials, and we are just a bunch of insignificant commoners following you officials to deliver goods. Now that our lives are in danger, you still put on airs, not even letting us speak?!"

Saying that, without waiting for Zhang Cunxiao’s reply, he suddenly threw his head back and yelled at the top of his lungs: "Help! Someone help!" His Profound Arts were deep; within this battle situation, only the three Heaven Profound masters like Lei Jianhong surpassed him. Furthermore, he had been hiding at the very rear since the fighting began and hadn't sustained a single injury. This cry truly shook the wilderness and traveled far into the distance.

Jun Moxie on the tree branch nearly tumbled off. Master, you are, after all, an Earth Profound expert. Even if you don't rank among the top in the world, you are still a prominent figure in your region! Why are you so cowardly and afraid to die?

Lei Jianhong, masked in black, couldn't help but stumble for a moment, then burst into roaring laughter, shouting hideously, "Shout! Shout louder! Even if you scream until your throat breaks, it’s useless! No one is coming to save you!"

Jun Moxie looked up to the heavens in despair, his whole body trembling violently; he had a strong impulse to faint: Heavens, just let me die! How could I, in this world, at this time, still hear such a classic line!

Meng Xiaosong crying for help was likely just pure fear of death, but Lei Jianhong’s words were genuinely infamous!

In a daze, Jun Moxie seemed to see a man with a ferocious and repulsive face standing in a secluded alley, laughing triumphantly at a frail little girl: Shout! Even if you scream until your throat breaks...

That fleeting vision, however cliché, was nothing compared to the scene unfolding before him—this was one man saying those words to another man!

Jun Moxie gulped audibly. He couldn't take it; he was going to throw up—it was too sickening.

The situation on the ground remained fierce.

The men Zhao Wuji brought, the Zhao family contingent, were virtually wiped out. As for Meng Xiaosong's side, the members belonging to the Jiangnan Guild were almost all lying dead in pools of blood. It had to be admitted that the two hundred Divine Wind Guards dispatched by the Second Prince had the highest quality personnel; the one hundred and fifty-odd survivors remaining were overwhelmingly members of the Divine Wind Guard.

In fact, in terms of individual strength, the Divine Wind Guards weren't particularly high—perhaps slightly inferior to the men from the Zhao family and the Jiangnan Guild. However, they excelled in their extensive combat experience. Even when disadvantaged, they could hold the line steady, particularly excelling at coordinated encirclement and fierce fighting, boasting very strong teamwork. Thus, in this pitch-black night confrontation, they naturally displayed a powerful advantage.

As for the men from the Zhao family and the Jiangnan Guild, although many individuals were indeed stronger in combat ability than the Divine Wind Guards, they were mostly martial artists accustomed to operating alone, rarely cooperating with others. Therefore, when faced with a large-scale melee like this, knowing only how to fight relying on individual strength, they were the first to die—these "masters" who were stronger but lacked cooperative spirit!

The three leaders, Lei Jianhong, attacked from three directions, clearly growing impatient. After all, this location was too close to the capital; if any news leaked out, the consequences could be disastrous.

(Alas, this writer is ashamed; I was disqualified from my bedside nursing duties. Sob!)

The story is this: I took a nap the day before yesterday, then pulled an all-nighter, and yesterday I didn't sleep either. After pouring everything out, I went to the hospital; feeling extremely tired, I fell asleep unintentionally on a nearby hospital bed...

In the middle of the night, my younger brother needed the restroom and kept calling for me, but I didn't wake up. Since he couldn't move on his own, when he finally couldn't hold it anymore, he wet the bed...

This morning, I was severely scolded by the nurse and doctor doing rounds. My brother, deeply aggrieved, pointed at me and said, "Get out!"

I apologized profusely, but it was useless... So, I was honorably dismissed!

Alas, as punishment, I have to pay out of pocket to hire a special nurse!

Covers face, tearing up. (To be continued)