Li Muzhan slowly quelled the violent rage, which transmuted into serenity, and eventually, when killing, he wore a faint smile, truly treating slaughter as a mere game. The sight filled the onlookers with dread.

Li Muzhan's meditative skill ran deep, his mindset transcendent, yet facing this hellish spectacle for the first time delivered a shock so profound that disappointment and sorrow still gnawed at him. As arrow after arrow hissed forth, he gradually regained his composure, secretly laughing at himself; boasting of his understanding of human nature, yet still being shallow—his inner demon was indeed real.

Once a person falls into the demonic path, they cease to be fully human; executing such beings was akin to slaying fiends and eradicating demons—a deed of immeasurable merit. ………………………………………………,……”………………………… In the early morning, the cavalry of the Xiaoji Camp rode out beneath the sun.

The thundering hooves shook the earth, rolling up ochre dust, their imposing momentum filling the air. They had been marching continuously for ten days, moving north from the northwest before turning east at the northernmost point.

The journey had been anything but peaceful; they frequently encountered straggling remnants and small bands of Eastern Chu raiders pillaging the land. Whenever such groups were encountered, there was no need for the others to act; Li Muzhan’s arrows descended like rain.

Before the Eastern Chu men could even get a clear look, they were already falling, reduced to confused ghosts. Li Muzhan’s strikes were ruthless, his arrows flying both far and true, as if he were using a firearm against mere daggers.

Li Muzhan did not collect heads; instead, he distributed them directly to the men. Along the way, every saddle was adorned with a severed head, making their appearance all the more grim and terrifying.

It was a pity there was no one left to frighten. Every village they passed was deserted—either the inhabitants had fled or they had been utterly massacred.

Being amidst this emptiness sent a chill down one’s spine. They quickened their pace, eager to traverse this occupied territory swiftly.

Li Muzhan remained vigilant and cautious, riding at the very front with Zhao Shengzhou and the other six. His eyes remained nearly closed, surveying the area within a ten-li radius with his Void Gaze.

Zhao Shengli and his companions conversed cheerfully, their expressions relaxed. Feng Dakun brandished his long saber, chuckling heartily, "Commander Zhao, with Brother Hè (He is called 'Hè' here) leading the charge, this assignment is quite relaxed!

We’ve practically turned it into a sightseeing tour!" Zhao Shengli laughed, "You rascal, don't let your guard down too much. Once you hit the real battlefield, if you can't keep tight, you’ll lose your life." Feng Dakun laughed, "Saves trouble." Xiong Sihai smiled slyly, "Great Brother Hè is developing more and more the demeanor of a high monk." "It's just the excessive killing," Cai Yuzhang sighed.

Zhao Shengli shot him a sidelong glance, "Enough with the passive commentary! If the monk doesn't kill them, we will die!" Cai Yuzhang rubbed his nose—a habit picked up from Li Muzhan—and whispered, "Commander Zhao...

tell the monk to ease up a bit, let the others get some action in... otherwise, when we finally face the Eastern Chu head-on, if we don't know their depth, we'll suffer a huge loss!" "Hmm, that's a fair point," Zhao Shengli considered and agreed.

…………,…………,……”…………,………………………… He spurred his horse up to Li Muzhan, riding alongside him. After several steps in silence, Li Muzhan slowly opened his eyes and turned his head, "Commander Zhao?" "Monk, young Cai just said a few words to me, and I think he has a point," Zhao Shengli stated.

Li Muzhan displayed an inquisitive expression. Zhao Shengli continued, "Monk, you should ease up.

Don't wipe them all out. If you eat the meat, others should be allowed to sip the broth; otherwise, everyone will assume the Eastern Chu are just weaklings." Li Muzhan nodded thoughtfully, finding merit in the argument.

He pointed into the distance, "There’s another group five li ahead, about fifty of them." "Slaughtering another village?" Zhao Shengzhou’s face darkened. Li Muzhan shook his head, "Perhaps they are just on their way there." Zhao Shengli breathed a sigh of relief, glancing at Li Muzhan quickly.

"That’s good then, let’s ride back together and report to the Commandant!" He was deeply worried that this band was indeed committing massacres; if so, there was no point in trying to restrain the monk, who would surely deliver swift death, refusing to grant them another moment of life. Li Muzhan smiled, understanding Zhao Shengli’s earnest concern.

"Alright, we will return and report everything." With a gentle pull on the reins, Chiying turned, and Zhao Shengli closely followed. The group galloped back, covering a li in the blink of an eye, arriving before Commandant Hu.

Commandant Hu rode at the head of the column, back ramrod straight, his gaze sharp and spirited. Although his armor was dusted with dirt, it could not conceal the keenness of his eyes.

Seeing Li Muzhan and the few others approaching, Commandant Hu urged his horse forward to meet them. He reined his mount to a halt and asked in a grave voice, "Mingkong, any news?" Li Muzhan nodded, "There is a party of men ahead, about fifty strong, five li distant." "Damn it, run into them again!" Commandant Hu spat with hatred.

"Are they taken care of already?" Li Muzhan shook his head, "Commander Zhao spoke, asking me not to move. He said the men should get some experience facing Eastern Chu cavalry themselves, lest they become complacent.

Is that correct?" "Hmm, as expected of a squad leader, he has some insight!" Commandant Hu looked at Zhao Shengli approvingly and nodded, "I had the exact same thought. Very well, you stand by and observe.

Let these young lads take the lead!" He turned and roared, "All officers from company commander rank upward, step forward!" His voice resonated like a massive bell, and over twenty men separated from the ranks and approached. Commandant Hu issued soft instructions, assigning tasks to each one.

The officers nodded, and Zhao Shengli stood among them, listening intently with focused attention. Li Muzhan, however, gave Chiying a light tap.

Chiying ambled to the roadside, sniffing the withered grass tentatively with his mouth, occasionally nibbling with great pickiness. Moments later, Commandant Hu shouted loudly, "That is all!

Proceed according to orders, disperse!" The men scattered back into the ranks, and the atmosphere, without any apparent shift, grew tense. …………,…………,……,……”……”…………………… Commandant Hu sat astride his horse, standing before the assembled men, his eyes like blades as he slowly swept his gaze over them.

Wherever his eyes landed, the cavalrymen immediately straightened their backs and raised their heads, their spirits invigorated, utterly still, radiating a chilling aura. Commandant Hu nodded in satisfaction and began, "Brothers, there is a contingent of Eastern Chu whelps ahead, about fifty of them, heading out to burn, kill, and plunder, to wreak havoc upon the people of our Great Yan!" This time, we cannot let Mingkong take the vanguard again; I simply lack the face for it.

It is time for all of us to take action and spill some blood ourselves!" "Yes..." the men responded in a resounding chorus. Commandant Hu raised his hand to quell the noise and said solemnly, "Perhaps you all think the Eastern Chu whelps are not worth mentioning, that killing them is as easy as turning a hand." That would be a grave mistake!" He boomed, "That’s because Mingkong has superior strength and range; those Eastern Chu whelps couldn't reach him, so they died unjustly.

If it were us, we wouldn't possess that ability!" He continued, "The men of the Divine Light Camp are no pushovers either; they are no inferior to us. If they could defeat the Divine Light Camp, we must not look down on them." Seeing the men fall silent, Commandant Hu cleared his throat.

"Ahem... however, there is no need to be overly anxious.

We have two hundred men, and they have fifty. Four men against one; even if they had three heads and six arms, they couldn't win." He roared the final instruction, "What I mean is, put your full effort in; do not be careless!

Anyone who gets wounded gets no head tally! Do you understand?" "Understood!" The men answered in unison, their expressions relaxing.

Four against one gave them complete confidence, and furthermore, the severed Eastern Chu heads hanging from their saddles greatly bolstered their courage; they no longer perceived the Eastern Chu as terrifying foes. Commandant Hu nodded contentedly and waved his hand, "Good.

Execute your assignments." The cavalrymen immediately dispersed. This area was open flatland, but groves of trees lined both sides.

They split into four groups, two on the left and two on the right, plunging into the woods. Zhao Shengli said, "Monk, the Commandant ordered us to act as bait...

We should retreat two li back, then advance this way. When we meet them, we run back here, luring them this way." Li Muzhan nodded, "Mm, good." They turned their horses and rode back about two li.

Li Muzhan nodded again, and they halted, then pivoted back. Except for Chiying, the other seven black horses trotted leisurely, their hooves shuffling gently.

Zhao Shengli and the others felt a degree of nervousness; after all, this was their first direct confrontation with the Eastern Chu cavalry, renowned as the second most elite force in the world, a reputation they certainly hadn't earned lightly. Two li passed in a flash.

They spotted the Eastern Chu cavalry in the distance, immediately pulled the reins, turned, and fled at top speed, successfully attracting the attention of the distant Eastern Chu horsemen. The Eastern Chu cavalry had no scouts; all fifty-plus men moved together.

Seeing the flight, they gave chase immediately, moving with incredible speed, for Eastern Chu horses were also famous for their fine breeding. One group chased, the other fled, covering over a li in moments.

……,…………”…………,…………”……………………,………… Just as the Eastern Chu riders began to feel cautious, fearing an ambush, the rumble of hooves sounded, shaking the earth. They were startled and looked back.

From the distant woods on both sides of the road, four streams of men emerged—four cavalry groups sweeping in from the left, right, front, and back. Seeing this, the Eastern Chu cavalry showed no panic.

An order was given to charge straight ahead. Li Muzhan surveyed them with his Void Gaze; every face was perfectly clear.

He saw Song Shiqi, a brigade commander of the Xiaoji Camp, gritting his teeth, slowly drawing his long saber, his face contorted fiercely. He pointed the saber abruptly forward and roared, "Charge them and cut them down!

Avenge the people! Kill—!" "Kill!" The cavalrymen drew their blades in unison, a flash of cold light spreading everywhere, then accelerated to meet the charging Eastern Chu cavalry head-on.

Li Muzhan frowned. Under these circumstances, Song Shiqi had no choice, yet this choice required immense courage.

The momentum of fifty-plus charging cavalrymen felt like that of a thousand marching armies. Most of the Xiaoji Camp cavalry had honed their bravery fighting the Black Eagle Riders outside Tenglong City, and the ferocity of the Eastern Chu men actually ignited their own fighting spirit.

The Eastern Chu men also had no choice. Behind them and on both flanks, over fifty horsemen were charging.

Only by breaking through Song Shiqi’s contingent could they have a slim chance of survival. Li Muzhan tapped his heel, and Chiying transformed into a streak of shadow, instantly appearing behind the Eastern Chu line.

He reached out and grasped an arrow, gathering six or seven shafts—two held between his teeth, five fitted onto the string. "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"…… The two columns of men crashed together amid flashing blades.

More than a dozen riders fell from their mounts, either trampled by hooves or tossed tumbling far away, narrowly escaping the crushing charge. Li Muzhan narrowed his eyes slightly, his heart as cold as ice, utterly motionless.

Song Shiqi was furious, his face red and neck thick. He hadn't expected these men to be so formidable.

Most of those unhorsed were Great Yan knights; only two Eastern Chu men fell, and they quickly remounted to continue the fight. Great Yan immediately fell to the defensive.

The Eastern Chu riders wielded their curved sabers like half-moons, swinging them faster, while the Great Yan riders were slower in their swings, struggling to block. Moreover, every Eastern Chu rider fought with suicidal frenzy, employing tactics of mutual destruction, caring nothing for their own injuries so long as they could kill the enemy.

The morale of the Great Yan cavalry plummeted instantly. It seems the power of monthly passes is great; seeing such a rise, I feel too ashamed to do anything but summon the strength to write an early update.

(To be continued)