Departure, Beginning Fierce Battle

Su Fei looked at the extreme panic on his face, no longer avoiding his gaze, knowing that this time he was likely telling the truth.

Commander Feng frowned and asked, "How many people are in Li Family Village, and what are their specific cultivation levels?"

Zhao Feiying answered readily. "As for the number of people, based on the frequency of the White Lotus Envoy purchasing grain, it's around two hundred. I don't know their cultivation levels; I haven't been there. The White Lotus Envoy is the person in charge there. He's a Grandmaster. There shouldn't be any Grandmasters there, otherwise, he wouldn't be qualified to be in charge."

"As for how many Grandmaster Realm experts are there in total, that's not something I can know. The White Lotus Envoy wouldn't tell me such crucial information."

Commander Feng and Su Fei exchanged glances, seeing solemnity in each other's eyes.

The hidden strength of this White Lotus Sect was deeper than they had anticipated. A force of two hundred martial artists, with a Grandmaster Realm expert like the White Lotus Envoy in charge.

Commander Feng sternly issued an order. "Captain Li, I recall you know many people in various gangs, as well as several chief escorts from escort agencies. I'll give you two days. Find some people to pretend to be passing by Li Family Village and verify the truth of this information."

"Report back to me quickly once you've confirmed the details."

Captain Li accepted the order and left.

Two days later, in the morning, in Commander Feng's office.

Su Fei sat to the side, flipping through case files, while Commander Feng pondered over a map of Qingzhou City on the desk, lost in thought.

The office door was pushed open, and Captain Li strode in, a look of gravity on his face.

"Commander, Captain Su, we have news."

Commander Feng looked up. "Tell me, what exactly is the situation with Li Family Village?"

I found three escorts from the 'Zhenyuan Escort Agency.' They are all late-stage Body Tempering Realm martial artists with unremarkable martial cultivation. They were transporting an escort cart and deliberately passed by Li Family Village. Just as they reached the village entrance, they were stopped by two guards.

"They used the excuse of asking for a bowl of water to try and enter the village."

"Those two guards said the village was celebrating a joyous occasion and that outsiders were forbidden to enter. No matter how the escorts tried to persuade them, they refused entry, their attitude extremely firm. Even offering a few copper coins wouldn't work."

"The escorts also noticed that the guards, while wearing simple cloth clothes, kept their eyes scanning their surroundings. Their posture was upright, their steps steady, and their every move exuded the spirit of a trained martial artist. They were undoubtedly martial artists."

"This is a bit strange. Why would an ordinary small village afford to use martial artists as guards?"

"Even stranger, after being refused, the escorts circled half of the village and discovered that the entire outer perimeter was fortified with a fence wall, with people on guard duty along the wall. The security was exceptionally strict."

"What kind of village celebrating a joyous occasion would be so heavily guarded?"

Commander Feng tapped his finger heavily on the map. "An ordinary village, refusing entry for a drink of water for a few copper coins, using martial artists as guards, and fortifying the perimeter with a fence wall."

"It seems Zhao Feiying wasn't lying."

Su Fei put down the case file, his eyes sharp. "The 'joyous occasion' was just an excuse. They fundamentally don't want anyone to get close. If so many people from the White Lotus Sect have become villagers, and they don't maintain strict security, their activities will still be exposed."

Captain Li nodded in agreement. "Exactly."

"The escorts said the village was abnormally quiet. Logically, a joyous occasion should be lively, but apart from the guards at the entrance, there wasn't a single villager or hunter moving about outside. This is truly suspicious."

Commander Feng stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the training ground, his tone solemn. "It seems this Li Family Village is indeed a stronghold of the White Lotus Sect. Zhao Feiying, that kid, has provided an important clue."

He turned around and looked at Su Fei. "Su Fei, what do you think we should do?"

Su Fei pondered. "A team of two hundred martial artists, with a Grandmaster Realm White Lotus Envoy in charge. If they are determined to escape, many might get away."

Hearing this, Commander Feng nodded repeatedly. "You're right. If even one person escapes, that's a loss of merit. The map shows Ling Family Village has two entrances, front and back. We can ask the Qingzhou Army for help. Armed with military weapons, they can block both entrances, cutting off their retreat."

"Then we'll lead the Imperial Guard in to charge. It would be best to eliminate the White Lotus Envoy first, and then dismantle this stronghold. What do you think?"

Su Fei thought about it and felt the plan was quite reasonable. He just wasn't sure if Commander Feng's strength was sufficient to take down the White Lotus Envoy.

However, Su Fei still nodded, indicating his agreement with the plan.

After receiving the approval of Su Fei, Qingzhou's top Imperial Guard investigator, Commander Feng felt more confident. He turned to look at the Qingzhou map on the desk and said excitedly, "I didn't expect the White Lotus Sect to hide so many people in Qingzhou without anyone noticing. If we can take down this stronghold this time, with so many cultists, this will be a great merit!"

"I'll go contact Long Teng now. It'll also be a way to share some merit with that old fellow. He'll definitely come."

Ding! Task triggered: Eradicate White Lotus Sect Stronghold.

Task requirements: Assist in eradicating the White Lotus Sect stronghold (Ling Family Village), capture or kill all key figures.

Task reward: God of Slaughter's Blade Slash, one hundred years of cultivation.

The system has issued a mission, so Ling Family Village is definitely a White Lotus Sect stronghold.

Fine, since I'm an Imperial Guard, as long as I contribute, I'll get mission rewards and merit.

Three days later, at dusk, the setting sun was like blood, and a chilling aura spread across the land.

Four hundred Imperial Guards, clad in Flying Fish Robes and with Spring Embroidered Sabers at their waists, moved through the woods.

Behind them were five hundred Qingzhou Army soldiers led by Long Teng, each with bright armor, holding spears or long poles, and some with military crossbows on their backs.

Their military bearing was solemn. Although their martial cultivation was inferior to that of the Imperial Guards, their formations were much neater.

At the very front of the procession was Commander Feng, wearing the Commander's Flying Fish Robe.

"We're only a few miles away."

Half an hour later, the outline of Ling Family Village emerged in the twilight. The outer fence of the village was much higher than that of ordinary villages.

Dark figures flickered vaguely on the wall, the White Lotus Sect members on sentry duty.

"Halt."

Commander Feng raised his hand, and the formation froze instantly.

He looked at Long Teng beside him.

Long Teng grinned.

"Don't worry, I've sent three hundred of my men to the village entrance behind Ling Family Village, led by the newly promoted Deputy Commander Zhang. That kid is stubborn; not even a rabbit could slip past him."

He patted Commander Feng's shoulder.

"My five hundred men will guard the front entrance, and the archers are ready. We won't let a single White Lotus Sect member rush out. You guys just charge in, all the merit is yours. I'll just be a gatekeeper."

Then, Long Teng's smile vanished, and he exuded a murderous aura.

"Just one thing: kill these White Lotus Sect members thoroughly. They tried to poison me before, and now it's my turn to get revenge."

Commander Feng smiled.

"You're a good man, you're really something. Don't worry, Old Long."

He turned to the Imperial Guards.

"Do you see this, my men? The opportunity to achieve great deeds is right before you. Every White Lotus Sect member is merit. If they resist, kill them all without mercy!"

"Charge!"

With Commander Feng's order, the Imperial Guards surged towards Ling Family Village like arrows released from a bow.

The guards at the village entrance had just reacted and were about to sound the alarm when they were cut down in pieces by several saber strikes.

The crisp sound of Spring Embroidered Sabers hacking at the wooden fence pierced the twilight. The moment the Imperial Guards flooded into the village, the previously silent Ling Family Village erupted with earth-shattering shouts and killing cries.

A group of people dressed as villagers grabbed weapons from their homes.