Chapter 131 The Yellow Dragon Strikes, A Battle of Danger

Late that night.

Li Xian felt full of energy, wielding swords and spears, punching and palming, using several martial arts techniques, yet his strength showed no signs of waning.

On the contrary, they enjoyed themselves even more and felt more comfortable.

The source of a martial artist's strength lies in the power of the physical body and the Qi of the Qi Lake.

The two complement each other and are rarely distinguished in daily life. They are only differentiated when practicing certain unique martial arts techniques.

Physical strength refers to the power generated purely from flesh and blood. Ordinary people use physical strength to plow fields, carry firewood, push millstones, and pull carts.

This force is simple and unassuming, yet it forms the foundation.

The Qi of the lake is its extension and deification, adding bricks and tiles, and "adding flowers to brocade".

Physical strength alone is insufficient to lift massive rocks or raise enormous cauldrons. However, a martial artist with refined internal energy can achieve this by combining strength and energy through the application of internal energy.

Li Xian's physical strength increased dramatically. He was full of energy, like a young dragon. With a solid foundation, he was less prone to fatigue.

Qi and force combine with nature.

[Proficiency +2]

[Proficiency +2]

...

[The Sword of Setting Sun and Fading Blood]

[Proficiency: 3569/6000 Minor Mastery]

...

[Great Luo Sword]

[Proficiency: 15/10000 Perfect]

Although Li Xian intended to slow down his training with the Great Luo Blade, his martial arts proficiency never declined, and he continued to accumulate skill as he occasionally used it.

When things fall into place naturally, one still enters a state of perfection.

The swordsmanship is simple and unadorned, with the sword movements being both expansive and dynamic.

"With such diligent study and practice, one day I will be able to glimpse even greater heights!"

Li Xian was full of confidence. Seeing that the night was getting dark, he splashed water all over his body to wash away the sweat.

Just as I was about to drift off to sleep.

The residence is located near a lake, which has the disadvantage of being too damp, but the advantage of being cool at night. For Li Xian, the disadvantage is negligible. After circulating his Qi throughout his body, ordinary moisture can hardly penetrate his physical form.

When resting in bed, you can relax.

Thinking of his younger brother's success and how he had already won the lottery, proving himself to be no less than his older brother, filled him with pride.

And I've heard... that my younger brother's master is named Fu Haoran, a very powerful figure. Although he doesn't practice martial arts, even my wife has to show him respect.

He once consulted his wife about the concept of destiny. His wife only mentioned it casually, but it gave Li Xian a rudimentary understanding.

Luck has two sources.

To seize the destiny of heaven and earth with literary talent.

The family's lineage has been passed down through generations.

Each one is hard-won. Even in the most chaotic times, just a single thread can be earned to ensure a family's well-being, providing food, clothing, and shelter.

I closed my eyes and was about to fall asleep.

Suddenly, he felt a slight tremor in the bed. Li Xian frowned and pressed his palm against the bed. He was certain it wasn't an illusion; the tremor was actually an up-and-down motion. Side-to-side shaking might be a natural earthquake. But this up-and-down motion felt like… a thousand horses surging forward.

"Could it be that my words have come true, and the Yellow Dragon Army has really arrived?"

Li Xian immediately dressed and summoned the guards, waiters, and servants of the manor.

Because they had been on guard, although everyone was flustered, they did not break the rules.

Li Xian said loudly, "The Yellow Dragon Army is inherently cruel, and wherever they go, lives are lost. Our village is located in a remote area, so I don't think they will be able to find us easily. Everyone, there is no need to panic."

"You all leave the village and cover up some key roads. Ding Hu, bring the tenant farmers into the village as quickly as possible and distribute weapons to them."

"Gather all our strength, and if it really comes to the final stage, we will fight the Yellow Dragon Army with all our might!"

Li Xian had planned this all along.

Although the village has high walls, they cannot compare to city gates. Naturally, they cannot stop thousands of troops. If he abandons the village and enters the county, hehe... Madam's methods are no more merciful than Huanglong Army's.

The best course of action was to hide, so they buried roads and transplanted trees early on, concealing Zhuangzi deep within the village.

If we can't avoid it, we can only use the mountainous terrain to our advantage and deal with them. At least we can wait until the lady is born before listening to her opinion.

Li Xian pondered deeply and personally oversaw the arrangements for the affairs of the manor.

Before long, tenant farmers from various villages arrived at the village, bringing with them grain.

Li Xian said, "Now the rebel army is causing chaos, burning, killing, and looting wherever they go. Only by joining forces with us can you overcome this calamity!"

He had already shown his influence back in Heihe Village. Now, with his double pupils revealed, even though he tried to conceal them, his aura still captivated everyone.

In times of chaos and confusion, people seek refuge with the strong.

Li Xian displayed the demeanor and will of a strongman, showing no fear of being unable to subdue the crowd.

The many guards of Yihe Manor, having gone through many trials, were increasingly impressed by Li Xian. Now, seeing the sudden chaos, Li Xian shouldered a great responsibility, displaying extraordinary martial prowess.

They all obeyed orders without question.

Li Xian mobilized everyone, arranging for people to keep watch, dig traps, and so on. He himself was not idle either, traveling light and leaving Yihe Village.

Yihezhuang is dozens of miles away from Qingning County. Qingning County is mountainous and forested, with many obstacles, so it may not have been discovered.

Li Xian knew that Huang Longjun must be heading towards Qingning County. He dared not get too close, and after walking more than ten miles, he saw a towering mountain peak.

A thought struck him: "My eyesight is exceptional. With the help of the mountain's height, I can see the entire Qingning County. I have no fear of being discovered!"

He immediately leaped up and climbed the steep mountain path. The higher the mountain, the less path there was.

In the latter half of the climb, one could only grasp protruding rocks and ascend. Li Xianqi used his hands to firmly grip the rock face, nimbly climbing to a high point. The temperature was extremely cold, and the wind was fierce. His eyelashes were covered in frost.

The area was shrouded in mist and clouds.

Double pupils are prominent.

With a gaze piercing through the clouds, one could indeed see the Yellow Dragon Army surrounding Qingning County.

The Yellow Dragon Army soldiers were clad in yellow armor, their banners embroidered with a real yellow dragon, its five claws outstretched, exuding a formidable aura. Their leader was even more imposing, riding a horse that resembled neither horse nor deer. It somewhat resembled a qilin, but was definitely not a qilin.

Legend has it that a king, blessed by the masses, will display extraordinary signs of royalty. The commander of an army receives an invisible boost to his military power.

"The Yellow Dragon Army is quite large. This kind of riotous army is like a mudslide. Although they claim to be overthrowing the Great Wu, even the commander-in-chief doesn't know what he wants. He just charges forward with his violent temper."

Li Xian circulated his internal energy to dispel the chill from his body.

Huanglong Army was not small in size, but its formation was loose and its morale was low.

...

...

Qingning County.

Lin Guolong was prepared; the city gates were tightly shut. Standing atop the city wall, he shouted, "You traitors and rebels, do not harbor any unrealistic fantasies! This city... you cannot take!"

Upon hearing this, Qi Biao, the general of the Huanglong Army, frowned.

Huang Longjun originally looked down on "Qingning County". He had previously marched eastward and suffered several defeats, fleeing here in a sorry state.

The army has little food left, so we must quickly capture a city and use it as a base before seeking other cities.

Qi Biao said, "This small town dares to resist our army. Soldiers in the city, listen up! My Yellow Dragon Army is a righteous army. We have no choice but to rise up in rebellion because of the oppression of Da Wu."

"Da Wu is guilty, but the people are innocent. You shall capture that magistrate, open the city gates, and welcome us into the city. I, Qi Biao, guarantee that I will not kill any innocent people!"

Qi Biao's voice boomed.

Lin Guolong trembled with rage, "Nonsense! Your Yellow Dragon Army has captured several cities, burning, killing, looting, and plundering without restraint. Are you saying there wasn't a single innocent person among them?"

Qi Biao said coldly, "If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext. Besides, how many county soldiers does your small town have? Can you withstand my 30,000 troops?"

"Open the city gates immediately! This is your only way out!"

Qingning County was a small town, considered remote even in the vast and impoverished Sichuan province. Including the county soldiers and constables, it numbered only a few thousand.

Most of the county soldiers were paid for by the county government. Although the people were mobilized, the total number of soldiers was still considerable.

But facing tens of thousands of soldiers, a well-organized and brutal army that had killed and seen blood, it was inevitable to feel intimidated.

Lin Guolong's scalp tingled: "Li Xian, you scoundrel! I knew I shouldn't have listened to your lies. What kind of city am I guarding? I should have taken my ten wives and fled back to my family long ago, where I could have lived a life of idleness and waiting to die."

This is the first time I've seen such a spectacle.

The sight of the vast army made his legs go weak.

Lin Guolong said with a forced smile, "I don't care how many soldiers you have. Stop talking nonsense and come up to the city wall if you dare, and cut off my head."

"Listen up, Qingning County! Fight them to the death! After this is over, each person will be rewarded with a hundred taels of silver!"

He can't come up with that money.

Qi Biao's face was grim; he had learned his lesson from sieges before. He knew the city was difficult to conquer, and surrendering without a fight would be ideal. In such a remote county town, the troops were scarce, and the magistrate was cowardly; a simple show of force would surely terrify him.

But there are some tough challenges among them.

Encountering one is quite troublesome. Qi Biao thought to himself, "This magistrate is tough, but it's a remote place, so his troops probably won't be too many. It would be best to take it down in one fell swoop!"

He immediately ordered his two guards to lead troops to attack the city.

The drums roused morale, and the soldiers charged forward. Heavy weapons, used to breach the city gates, pressed forward.

"Oh dear, it's really happening!" Lin Guolong said, trembling. "Shoot an arrow! Shoot an arrow!"

The soldiers fired arrows in defense, but the enemy's advance was overwhelming, and several volleys of arrows failed to stop it. Life was lost, and the siege engines were already at the city walls.

A siege ladder was hung on the city gate.

Some soldiers, eager for glory, were filled with excitement and risked their lives to scale the wall. On the Qingning County side, they threw boulders and poured hot oil to fend off the attack.

"ignition!"

Lin Guolong roared.

The hot oil was ignited. The siege ladders were made of a special material, sturdy and impervious to flames. However, the soldiers scaling the city walls were afraid and could not take them down immediately.

Lin Guolong roared, "Shoot! Shoot hard!"

The local people helped transport stones and timber, ensuring a continuous flow of resources. Although Qingning County had few soldiers, the mobilization of its people made its defense for the city quite formidable.

The log came crashing down...

There were continuous screams.

Qi Biao's face was grim: "A bunch of useless trash, attack fiercely, attack fiercely!"

We continue to send people to push forward.

After his initial fear, Lin Guolong realized that although the enemy outnumbered him, they were not easy to defeat. His fear subsided, and he began to give bold commands.

They fought like this for several hours.

Thousands were killed or wounded. Qi Biao already knew that the siege had failed. His supplies were insufficient, and if he besieged the city without attacking, it would be bad for him.

This series of defeats...

This is really bad.

"General Qi, we can't launch another attack!" Huanglong Army's left wing guard warned, seeing the situation was dire.

"withdraw!"

Qi Biao's face was grim. He ordered the entire army to retreat several miles away and set up camp in a mountain forest.

"Damn it, damn it!"

Inside the military tent.

Qi Biao was furious. The Huanglong Army had suffered successive defeats, which greatly reduced morale; secondly, their supplies were running out. Ultimately, the blame lay with his incompetent command and reckless orders.

"Hu Fang, what's your opinion on the current situation?" Qi Biao asked an advisor beside him.

The strategist, Hu Fangyan, said, "General, given the current situation, attacking the city is no longer an option. We should instead focus on raiding the surrounding villages."

"If there's rice, they'll fight over rice; if there's grain, they'll fight over grain; if there's money, they'll fight over money. But if there's no rice, no grain, and no money, aren't there still people? Even if everyone's starving, they still need to eat some meat, right?"

"Let's eat and drink our fill before we regroup!"

Qi Biao nodded, having no other choice: "Alright, I'll do as you say! Tomorrow, let the elite soldiers each lead some troops to scout and plunder the surrounding villages."

"Search thoroughly, take everything edible. Leave no dog, no person untouched!"

...

...

Li Xian, observing the battle, felt both pleased and worried. The Huanglong army's crushing defeat, sparing the county's inhabitants from slaughter, was naturally a good thing. However, this meant the Huanglong army would inevitably shift their focus.

Qingning County was able to withstand the siege.

The city gate was so tall that no corners were cut during its construction.

Yihezhuang has no city gates.

The estate had over a thousand people, mostly tenant farmers, maids, shop assistants, and laborers, many of whom were incapable of fighting. If a real battle were to break out, they would be utterly crushed.

"If the Yellow Dragon Army finds us, things will be bad," Li Xian thought to himself.

One person alone cannot defeat an entire army. If the Yellow Dragon Army were to attack all at once, even the Lady must avoid their onslaught.

(End of this chapter)