That brat from the Song family actually had a decent temperament—it's just a pity he followed the wrong man.
"I wonder how Han Cheng's side is doing."
After disposing of the corpses, Chen Sanshi entered the [Tracking and Hiding] state and made his way toward their agreed meeting point.
…
In the forest.
Shan Yuanzhi and the old servant lay on the ground, limbs mangled, using their final breath to relive the flickering scenes of their lives before finally breathing their last.
"Han Cheng, you—you!"
Tang Ming looked down, eyes wide with rage and disbelief at the blade that had suddenly pierced through his chest. "Traitor… you'll die with me—!"
Even with a knife in his heart, he didn't die immediately. A terrifying burst of brute strength erupted from within him. He slammed his palm against Han Cheng's chest, knocking him back, then drew his sheathed Xiuchun Blade, clashing with him once more.
In the distance, Ji Guangxian and Xue Yuping sat on horseback, watching from afar, both utterly stunned.
"Ji, that Han Cheng—is he your man?"
"Yours, isn't he?"
Ji Guangxian frowned deeply. "Wait… could it be that the information was from him?"
Not long ago, someone had slipped a sealed letter into his residence.
Now it seemed clear—it was Han Cheng.
"He's not yours?"
Xue Yuping quickly understood. "Then he must be working for Sun Xiangzong."
"He's involved too?"
Ji Guangxian urged, "Magistrate Xue, stop pretending and tell the truth—what in the world are you people in Yunzhou plotting?!"
"Stop spouting nonsense! I'm only here to find the immortal treasure—I don't know anything else!"
Xue Yuping shouted as he pulled on his reins to leave.
"Hyah!"
"Stop right there!"
Ji Guangxian blocked his way, refusing to budge. "Xue, hand over the immortal treasure and tell me everything that's going on—I'll spare your life!"
"Ji Guangxian, who the hell do you think you are?!"
"Vulgar cur!"
"Fine then! A gentleman uses his fists, not his tongue. You and I—let's settle this!"
"Gladly!"
One wore crimson official robes, the other blue. Both dismounted, removed their black hats and belts, stripped off their outer robes until only their inner shirts remained, then rolled up their sleeves and started brawling.
One punched, the other punched back.
You grabbed my hair, I pulled your beard.
"Shameless!"
"Crude bastard!"
"Idiot!"
"Scheming toad!"
In no time, the two court officials were both beaten black and blue.
"Impressive skills, both of you."
Chen Sanshi appeared quietly.
"Lord Chen?!"
Xue Yuping's face lit up with joy. "Perfect timing! Quickly, kill this man, and then come with me—we'll go straight to the capital!"
"Lord Chen, kill him!"
Ji Guangxian had the upper hand, sitting on top of Xue Yuping, gripping his hair tightly. "Then come with me! Lord Gao of the Cabinet will protect you!"
Clang!
The Mountain-Suppressing Sword was unsheathed.
Ji Guangxian's head rolled to the ground.
"Good!"
Xue Yuping hadn't even exhaled his relief before he saw the shining sword edge pressing toward him. "Lord Chen—what are you doing? You've gone mad!"
Clang!
The sword rose and fell—his life ended in a flash.
They all deserved to die.
Every one of them trying to pull his strings.
Chen Sanshi sheathed his sword.
"Tang Ming is dead too."
Han Cheng finished his fight, soaked in blood, face pale. "Lord Chen, brilliant strategy—using one blade to kill another! If not for that, Xue Yuping would've ordered Tang Ming to turn back and kill you the moment he saw you stay behind."
"You alright?"
Chen Sanshi could see his wounds were serious.
"I won't die, but I've lost most of my strength."
Han Cheng coughed up blood and said weakly, "We'll leave the bodies here—once the barbarian scouts find them, the capital will conclude that the Yan and Gao factions killed each other.
"As for me, I'll be reported missing on my way back.
"In short, even if they suspect something, it'll only lead to me—and then to the Grand Commander's Office.
"Don't worry. If you can really save the young miss and young master, what's one scapegoat compared to that? The Grand Commander's Office's reputation is already worse than a dead pig in boiling water.
"Have you arranged what comes next?
"You'll take the young miss and young master through the back paths, right?
"According to intel, in two days, the barbarians will pull 20,000 soldiers from the main front to attack Poyang. Among them are likely Witch God Sect experts at the Transforming Strength realm.
"So if you're leaving, it's best to go tonight.
"Bring your wife, plus the young miss and young master. Travel light. Break out through the small south gate—you should make it."
"Hundred-Household Officer Han."
Chen Sanshi looked toward the city in the distance. "When did I ever say I'd only take them?"
Han Cheng froze. "Lord Chen, what do you mean?"
"Everyone goes."
Chen Sanshi's voice rang firm. "Everyone in Poyang County who fought to defend this city—soldier or civilian—goes together."
"That's impossible."
Han Cheng was stunned. "Lord Chen, the barbarians have surrounded the city on all sides. How can so many people possibly leave?"
"I have a way to make the Xi River tribe retreat for two days—long enough that they won't dare pursue even a single step. That'll buy us two to three days to withdraw. Then we can meet up with the 2,000 troops from Hengkang Prefecture. It might just work."
Chen Sanshi knew that fleeing with civilians was a burden.
But those soldiers who'd followed him into death—all of them had families.
If they stayed, every last one would die.
If they ran, many would die too. But even if one more life could be saved, it was worth it.
As always—within the limits of his ability, he had to stay true to his conscience.
And there was something else, just as important.
No matter what purpose that blood sacrifice served, no matter what schemes that dog emperor had with the barbarians—
He was going to ruin it all.
…
"Pay up, pay up!"
In the west of the city, inside the Zhao family estate belonging to Zhao's Martial Hall, nearly all of Poyang County's wealthy gentry and old nobles had gathered. Each wore fine silk and satin, their bellies round and faces oily—but their expressions were full of fear and unease, proof that the past few days had been far from peaceful.
Wang Zhi stood on the highest platform, his voice loud and forceful. "Pay up! Only silver notes are accepted—no raw silver!"
"Lord Wang!"
The hall master of Zhao's Martial Hall, Zhao Shanming, looked pale. "One thousand taels per household—isn't that too much?"
"Exactly! Wang Zhi, you're robbing us while the city burns!"
A gentryman who had once been an official, now retired to live in leisure, shouted angrily. "I know the commander of Anding Prefecture's military office. Watch yourself—if you cross the line, I'll report you!"
"Report your mother—go on, report me!"
Wang Zhi cursed and spat. "Anding Prefecture's surrounded by barbarians too, go ahead and complain! A bunch of ungrateful fools—too expensive, huh? Then don't leave!
"If it weren't for my friendship with you bastards, do you think I'd even bother with you at a time like this?!
"I'll say it one last time—pay one thousand taels in silver notes, and I'll take you to safety in Hengkang Prefecture. Otherwise, stay here and rot!"
"One thousand taels…"
The crowd muttered among themselves. "No limit on family size, that's not so bad."
"Right, let's just go! Poyang's finished anyway."
"Lord Wang, don't you dare trick us!"
"…"
"Relax!"
Wang Zhi's expression softened into a smile. "I, Wang, have always been a man of my word.
"As long as you pay, I guarantee you'll make it out of Poyang alive.
"Now hurry up—anyone who wants to live, gather at the west gate within one hour. Miss the time, and you're staying here."
"We'll pay!"
A line quickly formed as people began handing over their silver notes.
Before long, they packed their belongings in a rush and assembled their households.
Inside Poyang City, only two major martial halls and eight smaller ones remained, along with several dozen large families.
When all had gathered, there were nearly 2,000 people in total.
Of these, over 1,200 were adult men, with more than 300 who had practiced martial arts—and among them, dozens were at the tempering blood stage.
But even after defending the city for over a month, none of these people had ever stepped onto the battlefield—except the ones who had been forcibly conscripted at the beginning.
"Pan Quan, what the hell are you dawdling for?!"
Wang Zhi barked impatiently.
Pan Quan, Zhao Shanming, and the others weren't just bringing their families—they were also hauling horse carts stacked high with gold, silver, treasures, and precious medicines, unwilling to part with even a single item.
For over a hundred years, their families had hoarded immense wealth across generations.
"Enough, hurry up!"
Wang Zhi gave the order.
With them were Zhao Kang, Xiong Qiu'an, and 200 soldiers, distributing weapons to those who had none.
Since the city's defense had yielded many captured arms, there was more than enough supply.
An elderly gentryman surnamed Liu, already past sixty, looked down at the standard-issue long blade in his hands. "Lord Wang, what's this for? Aren't you leading us to escape? Why give us weapons?"
"To break out, what else?"
Wang Zhi explained, "The city's surrounded on all sides. The western side's defenses are the weakest, but we'll still have to fight through. Don't worry, I'll lead the charge up front. You just hold the weapons for self-defense."
"Move out! No more waiting!"
Boom—!
The west gate creaked open under the night sky.
Wang Zhi led at the front, with Zhao Kang and Xiong Qiu'an on either flank.
They marched about five li before several large enemy camps came into view.
Inside and outside the camps, guards were everywhere. Squads of cavalry patrolled constantly. Judging by the layout, there were at least 2,000 troops—it wasn't the weakest point at all, but clearly the main command base.
"Wang Zhi, you've made a mistake!"
Zhao Shanming rushed forward nervously. "Before they notice us, we should turn back and find another way!"
"Mistake?"
Wang Zhi smirked. "I'm going straight for their main camp!"
"What do you mean—"
Before Zhao Shanming could react, a thunderous roar filled the air.
"Kill—!"
"Kill—!"
"Boom—boom—boom—!"
Zhao Kang, Xiong Qiu'an, and their 200-plus soldiers suddenly shouted in unison, raising blazing torches.
"Kill!"
"Charge the main camp—capture U Muer alive!"
"What—?"
The wealthy gentry who thought they were fleeing were dumbfounded by the sudden chaos.
"Wang Zhi, you… what the hell are you doing?!"
Zhao Shanming stammered, words barely forming.
"What am I doing? Didn't you hear me?"
Wang Zhi shouted, "Charge the enemy camp—capture U Muer alive!"
"If you want to die, go ahead yourself!"
Zhao Shanming turned to flee.
"Run!"
Over a thousand people tried to turn back toward the city.
But before they could, Feng Yong led a squad out from behind and blocked their retreat. He thrust his spear straight through the first man who tried to escape. "Anyone who takes one step back dies where they stand!"
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
The commotion was massive—of course the barbarian main camp noticed.
Within moments, troops poured out, forming ranks as they advanced.
"Zhao Shanming! Pan Quan!"
Wang Zhi pointed his long saber at the incoming barbarian army. "There's no escape now. Either fight with me or get chopped to pieces right here!"
At the same time—
On top of the city wall—
"Truly brilliant, my lord. Even I must admit, your plan is impressive."
Xu Wencai, holding a feather fan he'd somehow found, gave a dramatic flourish. "Light the fire!"