Li Muzhan also sensed that these twelve men possessed considerable internal energy; in the martial world, they would certainly rank as top-tier masters, but unfortunately for them, they had run into him.
Now, he had mastered the variations of latent strength, using it with effortless grace. Combined with his incredible reaction speed and flawless control over his internal power, borrowing force to repel an attack was easier than turning his hand, making him utterly unfazed by being surrounded.
To Li Muzhan’s mind, an assault by twelve men was no different from an attack by two; in fact, borrowing force became even more convenient. As for their techniques, they were simple and direct, lacking any genuine subtlety, and thus unworthy of his notice.
After being flung backward, six of them hit the ground hard and managed to rise, but the other six struggled desperately to get up, their bodies weak and limp, their chests tight with frustration, causing them to collapse once more.
Li Muzhan had used their own momentum against them, so those who managed to get up were the first ones he had struck. As the fight progressed, the recoil from the Flying Dragon Spear grew stronger, directly injuring the six men to the point where they could not rise again.
With another swing, Li Muzhan sent the Flying Dragon Spear whirling; a silver torrent swept around them, followed by a string of clear metallic clangs as their scimitars struck the shaft, sending them flying backward again.
Bracing against the saddle, Li Muzhan sprung into the air, gliding above the fray. The silver tip of his spear traced a delicate arc across the throats of the six men below, and instantly, sprays of crimson erupted.
Landing steadily back on the saddle, he hooked the Flying Dragon Spear onto his back, drew his bow, and nocked an arrow. With a series of swift whooshes, the six men lying on the ground were struck through the throat and expired immediately.
Li Muzhan leaped down from his horse and approached the remaining four. They were conscious, and as they witnessed this display, their eyes fixed intensely on him, their expressions fierce with emotion.
“Mingkong, is that truly you?” one man shouted, staring fixedly at Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan drew his blade and slashed through their ropes, helping him up. Despite the blood staining his face, Li Muzhan recognized him immediately— surnamed Zhu, known as Brother Zhu the Third, usually the most cheerful of the group, always laughing and fond of playing jokes.
He asked in a low voice, “Brother Zhu the Third, how are you?”
“Not dead!” Brother Zhu the Third roared with laughter, his face alight with joy. “I never imagined Mingkong, you’d dare follow to rescue us!”
Li Muzhan smiled. “You were all anxious, and I’m a foolhardy sort. I came to take a chance… Can you ride?”
He helped the large man up. The armor behind the man was polished bright, showing not a speck of rust— the result of grinding against the ground on this journey— and carried a faint, acrid scent of burning.
Li Muzhan dared not remove the armor. He felt the man’s pulse; it was strong. He channeled a surge of internal energy inward, meeting great resistance, as if an invisible force was blocking him.
This was military internal energy, antagonistic to his own, but his energy was pure as water, and it slowly penetrated. Seeing the man’s condition, he confirmed that both his hand and foot tendons had indeed been severed; they truly intended to leave no survivors.
Li Muzhan shook his head. “Brother Zhu the Third, I’ll tie them onto the horses, and we’ll leave.”
“Good, hurry, hurry,” Brother Zhu the Third nodded frantically, looking up at the sky. “That damned bird will sound the alarm. That whistle just now was a call for reinforcements; someone is likely on their way.”
“Very well, let’s go,” Li Muzhan affirmed, tying each of them onto a horse before leading the group, mounted, into a rapid gallop.
Brother Zhu the Third said, “Mingkong, if we can’t outrun them later, just give me a swift end first.”
Li Muzhan laughed. “Don’t worry, Brother Zhu the Third, Brother He the Second, Brother Niu the Second, Brother Feng the Second, we will definitely make it back.”
The four men, tied to their horses, nodded vigorously, their faces flushed with excitement.
Brother Zhu the Third laughed heartily. “Even if we can’t escape, dying like this is worth it!”
Li Muzhan smiled, understanding their excitement: it was because he had come to rescue them regardless of the danger, that he hadn't abandoned them. That feeling brought them warmth.
He closed his eyes for a moment, his expression shifting slightly, then snapped them open.
A force of over two hundred Black Eagle Riders, clad in black cloaks and armor, their gazes cold, were slowly closing in, having already formed a complete encirclement.
To break through now was impossible; it was too late. He sighed inwardly; his experience was clearly too limited, as he hadn't anticipated this maneuver.
Brother Zhu the Third noticed the change in his expression. “Mingkong, what is it?”
“They’re here,” Li Muzhan said in a strained voice, his gaze slowly sweeping over the four men.
Brother Zhu the Third sighed. “Mingkong, if it doesn’t work out, you must flee first. We are cripples anyway; there’s little flavor left in life.”
Li Muzhan frowned, glancing around the vicinity, then suddenly declared, “Go, into the woods!”
“Into the woods?” Brother Zhu the Third considered it, then shook his head. “We can’t enter the woods! They have too many men. If they surround us in there, it’ll be like trapping a turtle in a jar…”
Li Muzhan countered, “It’s the only way left… Running is useless now; we have to take a desperate gamble!”
“…Fine,” Brother Zhu the Third conceded with a helpless nod.
Li Muzhan smiled. “Brother Zhu the Third, don’t worry. At worst, it’ll be a fight to the death. If we kill a few, it’s a profit.”
Brother Zhu the Third laughed heartily and nodded. “Right, right… Hah, dying after taking down some Black Eagle Riders will be a glorious end!”
“Let’s go!” Li Muzhan said cheerfully, launching himself forward like a streak of red shadow. The horses followed behind him as they charged into a patch of woods in the northwest corner.
At that moment, the distant Black Eagle Riders had appeared, a few black dots barely visible in the distance.
Once inside the woods, Li Muzhan untied them, grabbed one man in each hand, and leaped onto the high trees, moving swiftly through the canopy until he reached the center of the forest, where he placed two men on a sturdy fork between branches.
The trees here were tall and thick; the outer trees were smaller, but toward the center, they grew increasingly stout, the thickest being about the girth of two men embracing.
Li Muzhan returned for the other two, setting them on another branch fork. He then took out his blade and lightly shaved off the treetop, catching the piece and setting it aside. Next, his blade flashed into a small whirlwind, spiraling down the trunk like an electric drill.
A faint, fragrant scent drifted out— pine— as wood shavings fluttered down. Li Muzhan flicked his left sleeve, and the shavings scattered as if swept by a strong gale, settling silently onto the ground, indistinguishable.
In a short while, he had bored a hollow into the tree, about the width of a man and half a man high.
Li Muzhan jumped inside, his body slowly sinking until he disappeared, as if sinking into a marsh. Soon, he reappeared, flicking his sleeve; a large clump of shavings shot out, suddenly dispersing in the air, caught by the wind, and drifting down to mingle with the soil.
“All set, Brother Zhu the Third, hide inside.”
With that, he placed Brother Zhu the Third inside the tree, then closed the wooden plug so tightly that it was hard to notice the trunk had been hollowed out; it was completely concealed.
Subsequently, he followed the same procedure, carving hollows into three more trees and placing the other three inside. Then, skimming across the leaves, he flew back down into the forest. By now, the assembled riders had reached the treeline.
Li Muzhan settled on a branch overhead, his eyes narrowed, and he let out a cold laugh as he drew his bow and loosed arrows. Three sharp hisses sounded out.
Three streaks of dark light shot forth, followed by three riders flying upward, pinned to the trees.
Li Muzhan let out a loud, mocking laugh. “I’ve long heard of the great name of the Black Eagle Riders, but seeing them today, they amount to nothing more than this. Haha…”
His laughter echoed through the woods, lingering long after, startling a flock of birds into flight.
A muffled grunt sounded, like spring thunder cracking beside the ear. Li Muzhan frowned; this person’s internal energy was profoundly deep. Brother Zhu and the others were in danger.
Thinking of this, he let out a burst of laughter and sprang out of the woods. While airborne, he kept his eyes closed and loosed arrow after arrow, accompanied by a mournful whistling sound.
Muffled groans rose one after another. Many riders concealed behind trees were struck. They hadn't anticipated Li Muzhan suddenly flying out; just as they were preparing to shoot him, his arrows arrived.
Li Muzhan closed his eyes, and the Eye of the Void opened, revealing the entire forest before him— nothing could hide. Every single person was within his sight.
He multitasked perfectly: from the moment he leaped out until he landed, he loosed ten arrows; ten riders were struck and killed. His arrows were imbued with immense internal energy— anything they touched instantly perished, more potent than the deadliest poison.
In this brief interval, thirteen riders were dead. He floated down to the ground, landing about twenty paces from the woods.
The Black Eagle Riders poured out from the forest, surrounding him— over a hundred men, packed tightly, leaving no gaps, arrayed in three ranks.
The innermost rank held shields— small round shields, but sufficient to guard vital spots.
The second rank gripped scimitars, the blades flashing coldly, reflecting the looks beneath their helms. They appeared like automatons, cold and merciless, gazing at him as if at the dead.
Li Muzhan had killed so many, yet they showed no anger, only a detached, expressionless stare.
The outermost rank consisted of archers, who were raising their bows and drawing their arrows, ready to fire at any moment. The arrowheads gleamed with a blue light, clearly poisoned.
Li Muzhan turned his head to look around, and then burst into a loud laugh.
“What are you laughing at?” a deep voice boomed, like an exploding thunderclap.
Li Muzhan turned toward the sound. A Black Knight stood on a distant tree, looking down coldly, and sneered, “Men of the Dayan Cavalry Camp, how could they have a master like you?”
Li Muzhan smiled. “I only joined the Cavalry Camp this year. I have long heard of the great reputation of the Black Eagle Riders, but seeing you now, I am profoundly disappointed, very disappointed indeed.”
The Black Knight was entirely encased in iron armor, his features invisible. Only his eyes were exposed, shooting out cold, piercing light that seemed to penetrate the soul, radiating intimidating pressure.
Li Muzhan surmised this man held a high rank, being accustomed to giving orders.
He drew his bow, and a faint streak of cold light shot out, silent and unseen.
Clink! A crisp sound echoed, followed by a flash of light that knocked the arrow aside as if flicking away a fly, effortlessly. The Black Knight’s eyes held a cold smirk, seemingly contemptuous.
Li Muzhan smiled. “Truly a master.”
He suddenly produced a handful of small pebbles from his robes and flung them out like a scattering of heavenly flowers. Amidst a series of muffled thuds, more than a dozen knights in the front rank collapsed.
“Fire!” the Black Knight commanded coldly.
Instantly, the archers in the outer ring loosed a volley; an arrow storm enveloped Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan let out a great laugh, his form flickering like a phantom, vanishing from his position and plunging into the ranks of the knights. Those he struck flew outward, falling to the ground dead before they landed.
He utilized his movement technique; these armored knights were no different from wooden stakes against him. As he struck them, his internal energy pierced the armor, destroying their internal organs.
The Black Knight let out a long roar to the sky and shouted fiercely, “Disperse!”
The knights immediately scattered, fleeing in all directions. Their warhorses were nearby; they leaped onto them and galloped off, moving with incredible speed.
Li Muzhan did not pursue. He simply drew his bow and shot five or six arrows. Suddenly, the view before him darkened as the armored Black Knight pressed forward, descending like Mount Tai crushing down.
Boom! A muffled impact followed as the two met palm to palm, both retreating a step simultaneously.
Li Muzhan was shocked. He had not expected this man’s internal energy to be so overwhelmingly fierce and dominant, causing a surge of chaotic energy in his own blood. Such profound internal power was genuinely rare.
“Good!” the Black Armored Knight roared coldly, leaping forward again.
Though heavily armored and cumbersome, his movements were ghostly and elusive. He arrived instantly, a ring of pale light sweeping toward Li Muzhan; though the blade hadn't arrived, the chilling cold preceded it.
Li Muzhan put away his longbow, drew his saber, and met the attack.
Tsssk! A light sound of parting air, and Li Muzhan was suddenly forced back, his arm already bleeding.
He hadn't anticipated that Xiong Sihai’s treasured saber would shatter upon contact with the enemy’s curved blade. Caught off guard, his arm had been gashed open.
He tossed aside his longbow, lightly touched his right forearm a few times with his left hand to staunch the flow of blood, halfway sheathed the broken saber, and slowly took a step back, fixing his gaze on the Black Knight’s eyes, motionless and still as a mountain.
The Black Knight’s eyes glinted with a cold smile as he advanced slowly. His curved blade trembled slightly, shimmering like water, chillingly reminiscent of autumn water under a cold moon.
Li Muzhan sighed. “A fine blade.”
The Black Knight walked forward, speaking lightly. “This blade is named Cold Spring. It has slain twelve top-tier masters. Counting you, that makes thirteen.”
Li Muzhan smiled, diverting his eyes from the saber to look at him. “Are you truly one of the Black Eagle Riders, sir?”
The Black Knight said slowly, “Indeed. I am the leader of the Black Eagle Riders.”
“So, such an important figure. No wonder,” Li Muzhan chuckled, sounding utterly unconcerned.
The Black Knight let out a deep snort. “Since the Black Eagle Riders were founded, today marks our heaviest loss. Even if you die, you should be proud. Watch your blade!”
A sheet of cold light swept over, like a sheet of autumn water being violently splashed forth.
Li Muzhan’s body swayed, flashing away instantly. The cold light fragmented, yet he drifted left and right, weaving and dodging, dancing with the light. Each time, he narrowly evaded the blow at the hair’s breadth.
The Black Knight’s swordplay was exquisite, but he could not touch Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan’s movement technique was astonishingly fast, coupled with superior reaction time; he was like a drifting feather that the curved blade could never grasp.
The Black Knight suddenly roared, “Take this!”
The cold light instantly vanished from his hand and reappeared, now embedded in Li Muzhan’s left shoulder blade, sinking deep into the bone, causing blood to stream down.
Li Muzhan frowned but didn't pull out the blade. He merely tapped his right arm a few times to stop the bleeding while simultaneously employing his movement technique to evade the Black Knight’s relentless advance.
This Black Knight was truly formidable. A cold dread settled in Li Muzhan’s heart; his intuition failed to warn him until the danger was imminent, and his curved blade was already in flight. Had it not been for that instinctual sensing, causing him to desperately shift sideways, the blow would have pierced his chest and ended his life. Li Muzhan was immensely relieved; one must never underestimate any hero in the world, for everyone has a hidden killer move.
This Black Knight’s hidden move was akin to his own flying knife technique, and the power of this strike was astonishing— it nearly succeeded.
The Black Knight was deeply disappointed that Li Muzhan had managed to evade the strike. However, seeing that his left shoulder and right arm were both injured, preventing him from using his saber or bow, this was a rare opportunity he must seize to kill Li Muzhan.
He knew that killing a master like Li Muzhan was exceedingly difficult; if he missed this chance today, there would never be another.