"Who is it?" Yan Lengsi hurriedly asked. Li Muzhan smiled, "Who could it be?" "The Black Hawk Riders and our men?" Yan Lengsi queried. Li Muzhan slowly nodded, "Mm... seems like the Xiaoqi Battalion. Come on, let's go check quickly." "Alright!" Yan Lengsi responded excitedly.

The two quickened their pace, faster than galloping horses, and in a flash, they covered three li. They spotted two groups locked in fierce combat, punctuated by dull thuds as riders were thrown from their mounts. Li Muzhan let out a long cry toward the heavens, the sound swelling like a tide, rushing out in all directions.

Zhao Shengli and his group were engaged in a tough fight. The Black Hawk Riders were indeed formidable, but fortunately, they had practiced the Mad Demon Cudgel technique, which lent great power even when wielded with spears. Zhao Shengli's group, along with another small band—seventeen men in total—had been on patrol. Lately, the Black Hawk Riders had kept hidden, seemingly terrified after Li Muzhan's last decisive action. They never expected to encounter them now. Zhao Shengli and his men inwardly cursed their bad luck. What annoyed them most was the absence of the Monk (Heshang); no one could truly restrain these foes. Their only viable option seemed to be retreat.

Luckily, their mounts were the same breed as the Black Hawk Riders', not inferior, and their horsemanship was adequate, so they managed to gallop away, initially outstripping their pursuers. Alas, fortune did not favor them. There was still a hawk in the sky, watching everything clearly, and riders from the opposition were already maneuvering to cut them off. Escape was impossible.

Zhao Shengli roared, "You all go first! Da Kun, a few of us will stay behind to cover the rear!" "Right, Head Zhao!" Feng Da Kun and the others agreed, urging the other group to flee quickly, report back, and ideally bring the Monk. The other group said no more, understanding that staying meant needless casualties. They watched as Zhao Shengli's group carved an opening, then spurred their horses and fled to carry the warning. With the others gone, Zhao Shengli's detachment held the line against the two pursuing waves, charging in and engaging in fierce, close-quarters fighting.

Their proficiency with the Mad Demon Cudgel had dramatically increased their martial prowess; otherwise, facing the highly skilled Black Hawk Riders in close combat would have meant immediate slaughter. In moments, Cai Yuzhang was knocked from his horse, followed shortly by Xiao He, whose fate was unknown. The remaining men fought with increasing fervor, holding their ground despite being surrounded. Because they were mounted, they lacked the agility they possessed on foot, granting them crucial seconds to breathe. Had they been cornered by over twenty men on solid ground, they would surely have met a terrible fate.

"Damn it, if the Monk were here, these bastards wouldn't even be enough to pick his teeth," Zhao Shengli cursed loudly while swinging his spear. Feng Da Kun countered, "Head Zhao, if the Monk were here, they never would have gotten close; he’d have finished them already... Head Zhao, perhaps we should try to retreat back?" Zhao Shengli laughed loudly, whirling his spear, "No point wasting that energy... We're all going down today anyway, might as well take a few more with us!" "Right, take a few more down with us," Xiong Sihai sneered darkly, his face grim.

As they spoke, the men fought relentlessly, their spears forming an impenetrable barrier. The twenty-odd Black Hawk Riders showed no haste, seemingly treating the confrontation like cats playing with mice, slowly increasing the pressure, aiming to break their will. They had superior numbers, and even if reinforcements arrived, they would be too late. The keen-eyed eagles kept watch over Tenglong City, ensuring any movement would be instantly detected.

Amidst their triumphant laughter, the riders grew bolder, their broadswords flashing. Suddenly, Feng Da Kun gasped; a sword strike sheared through his protective arm guard, hitting his left shoulder. "Da Kun, is it serious?" Zhao Zhao Shengli asked quickly. Feng Da Kun gritted his teeth and grunted, "Head Zhao, this little scratch is nothing, stop fussing..." "Damn these bastards for messing with us! We’ll fight to the death and take a few out!" Zhao Shengli bellowed. The others shouted in agreement, "Right, take a few out!"

Just then, a grey shadow flickered before their eyes, and two figures materialized. "Head Zhao," Li Muzhan said, his expression solemn. "The Monk?" Zhao Shengli’s eyes widened. "Am I seeing things?" "Haha, Head Zhao, you aren't mistaken; the Monk is here!" Feng Da Kun laughed heartily, quickly adding, "Monk, you arrived just in time! One moment later, and you wouldn't have seen us again!" Li Muzhan nodded and smiled, "Just in time."

Saying this, he stood motionless, raising both hands. Then came a series of continuous, soft swishing sounds—chih-chih-chih-chih—a sound that seemed endless. Riders of the Black Hawk Battalion were flung into the air, hurled great distances before crashing heavily to the ground, utterly motionless. His ten fingers moved rapidly, unleashing the pure power of the Canghai Divine Finger, weaving an inescapable net of energy that struck all in its path. Every thrust of his finger, whether inherently hard or soft, was robust and solid, striking the body like being hit by massive logs.

Watching the riders fly up and crash down, their lives hanging in the balance, Feng Da Kun grinned widely, feeling immensely satisfied. The twenty or so attackers had all been struck by the Canghai Divine Finger before they could react, resulting in immediate death. Li Muzhan’s cultivation had multiplied; the power of the Canghai Divine Skill was now immense. Yan Lengsi stuck out his tongue. He had been eager to show off and pummel these villains himself, but before he could even move, there was no one left to fight.

Zhao Shengli laughed heartily, "Haha, Monk, we owe you again this time!" Li Muzhan asked, "Head Zhao, how did you run into them again?" "What choice did we have?" Zhao Shengli shook his head, forcing a bitter smile. "We thought it was over. After you butchered them last time, they kept quiet for a while, but unexpectedly, they showed up again." Li Muzhan frowned, pondering, "It seems we need to acquire eagles sooner rather than later." "Acquire eagles?" Zhao Shengli’s spirits lifted. "Monk, you want to raise raptors?" Li Muzhan stated, "Yes. To deal with the ones above, we can only counter eagle with eagle." Zhao Shengli nodded repeatedly, "That’s a good idea, but do you know how to raise them?" Li Muzhan shook his head, "Not yet. I'll just ask someone who does know... I just don't know where we can get eagles." Zhao Shengli replied, "That's tricky... I heard Lingyun City has eagles; we could sneak over there to buy some." Li Muzhan smiled, "Good, understood. I'll go to Lingyun City in a few days."

As he spoke, he moved to where Xiao He and Cai Yuzhang lay on the ground to check their injuries. There were no severe wounds; their armor had protected them well. Li Muzhan applied internal pressure to promote blood circulation, and the two quickly recovered. Afterward, the group seized forty horses and the armor of twenty men before heading back toward Tenglong City. Li Muzhan sent Yan Lengsi ahead. He returned first to the Xiaoqi Battalion, restored his internal energy within the military lines, spoke briefly with the men, and then returned to the inner camp.