Comprehensive Martial Arts: My Master Is Huang Rong

As Lin Xuan had described on the sand table, the terrain here was treacherous. The sheer cliffs on both sides were as sharp as if sliced by knives, piercing straight into the clouds. Within the valley, ancient trees towered to the sky, strange rocks lay scattered, and thorns grew thick, exuding an aura of desolation and killing intent.

The valley entrance was relatively wide, but the further one went, the narrower the valley became, until it was only wide enough for a few riders to pass abreast. It was like the gaping maw of a beast, waiting for prey to walk right into its trap.

"Take cover in place, conceal your presence!" Lin Xuan raised his hand, making a simple gesture.

Over a hundred experts instantly became like chameleons blending into their surroundings, silently lurking behind the rocks and bushes, merging completely with the night. If one hadn't seen it with their own eyes, no one would ever discover the hidden killing intent here.

Lin Xuan did not rest. He led Yue Buqun, Ning Zhongze, Daoist Wuchen, and Luo Bing, along with other core figures, leaping onto the cliff faces like agile apes to conduct final confirmations of the planned ambush points.

"Sect Leader Yue, Heroine Ning." Lin Xuan pointed to a narrow pass below that could only accommodate three riders abreast. "This is the enemy's unavoidable choke point, only allowing three riders to pass side-by-side, and it's where their formation is most easily disrupted. I ask the two of you to lead the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect and ambush them within this stone forest on either side of the pass."

The area he indicated was filled with strange rocks, making it easy to hide, and it offered a commanding view. Once they attacked, their sword energy could cover the entire pass.

"Our targets are not to cause mass casualties among ordinary soldiers, but to precisely eliminate the enemy's centurions, chiliarchs, and any Shamans who might employ secret arts!" Lin Xuan's tone was calm and decisive. "Once the enemy's command system falls into chaos, their combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced."

Yue Buqun nodded, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. Lin Xuan's tactics were precise and ruthless, fully leveraging the strengths of these martial arts experts.

"Heroine Luo," Lin Xuan's gaze shifted to Luo Bing. Her deep, calm eyes seemed to possess a different brilliance in the night. "Your mission is the most crucial and the most perilous; it can even be said to be the key to the success of this operation!"

He pointed to a relatively flat, seemingly safe area deep within the valley. "According to intelligence, the Wolf Riders' main general will set up his command tent here. You will lead the brothers of the Red Flower Society and a group of skilled martial artists specializing in lightness kung fu to circle around from the other side of the cliff face and lie in wait here."

"When the ambush at the valley entrance begins and the enemy is in disarray, your mission is singular – to decapitate the enemy's main general at all costs!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Bing showed no fear. Instead, the bright flames of excitement ignited in her luminous eyes. She licked her delicate lips, her voice clear and crisp, with a touch of unrestrained heroism. "Young Master Lin, rest assured, my flying daggers have never missed their mark. I, Luo Bing, will personally bring you the Mongol general's head, even if it costs me my life!"

Lin Xuan nodded slightly, then issued a series of instructions to Daoist Wuchen and others regarding igniting oil, creating chaos, and blocking the retreat path. His deployment was meticulous, with each step interlocking seamlessly, arranging everyone's strengths and tasks clearly, earning their heartfelt admiration.

With the deployment complete, everyone took their positions. The entire Yan Hui Valley once again fell into a deathly silence, like an ancient tomb awaiting its sacrifice.

Time seemed to stretch infinitely in the waiting. The cold wind swept across the cliff faces, emitting a piercing shriek, like the wail of ghosts, testing everyone's nerves.

Finally, on the distant horizon, a faint yet heavy vibration could be felt. The vibration grew closer, becoming clearer, eventually transforming into the thunder of ten thousand galloping horses.

They're here!

Lin Xuan lay hidden on the highest stone cliff, like a sculpture fused with the rock, motionless. Through the gaps in the leaves, he coldly watched below.

A torrent of black flowed surging from the valley entrance. It was the vanguard of the Mongol "Wolf Riders." They wore heavy black iron armor, their helmets adorned with ferocious wolf heads, and their steeds were exceptionally spirited.

Their movements were silent, with only the muffled clanging of armor and the rumbling of hooves on the ground, exuding an aura of killing intent and oppression.

The discipline and ferocity of this force far surpassed that of ordinary Mongol armies. They carried the arrogance and confidence of battle-hardened elites, stepping into this valley of death without any precautions.

A thousand-strong contingent, like a long serpent, slowly writhed, filling the entire narrow valley floor.

Lin Xuan's gaze was like a falcon's, precisely locking onto the middle of the formation, onto a war chariot pulled by eight fine horses, clearly more ornate than any other vehicle. Dozens of burly personal guards surrounded the chariot; among them must be the Wolf Riders' vanguard commander.

Now!

Lin Xuan slowly raised his right hand, then abruptly waved it down! There was no deafening horn blast, nor a sky filled with flying arrows.

"RUMBLE--!"

The moment the signal was given, hundreds of pre-prepared massive stones on the cliffs of Yan Hui Valley were forcefully pushed down by the hidden martial artists. The stones, carrying immense force, like moving mountain peaks, tore through the air with a howling sound, smashing down onto the Wolf Rider army in the valley below.

"Ah--!"

Screams erupted instantly. The Mongol soldiers didn't even have time to react before they were crushed by the falling stones, their bodies mangled and bloody. The horses, startled, let out piercing neighs, charging wildly in the narrow valley path, their formation instantly thrown into chaos.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Immediately after, countless pre-prepared fire arrows whistled out from the hidden spots on both sides of the cliff faces, like a rain of fire, accurately landing on the grass and bushes in the valley that had been pre-sprayed with oil.

"WHOOSH!"

Flames soared into the sky! Two roaring dragons of fire erupted on both sides of the valley! The raging flames, several stories high, illuminated the already narrow valley like a purgatory or the Yellow Springs. The tongues of flame, carrying thick smoke, completely sealed off the Wolf Riders' retreat and advance paths, forming a veritable cage of fire.

"Ambush! Form ranks! Form ranks!" a Mongol centurion roared hoarsely, trying to stabilize the chaotic situation.

However, his voice was quickly drowned out by new killing intent.

"Kill!"

With Yue Buqun's clear, long cry, it was as if the hidden killing intent had been detonated. The Mount Hua Sect disciples and various swordsmen who had been lying in wait descended like lightning. Sword light cascaded like a waterfall, flashing with a chilling glint under the firelight. They specifically targeted the Mongol officers attempting to regroup, each sword strike precise and fatal.

Ning Zhongze's figure was like a dancing stream of light, weaving through the chaotic battlefield. Her long sword was agile and graceful, her sword shadows crisscrossing. While seemingly weak, each strike contained extremely subtle variations, always finding unexpected angles to precisely pierce the enemy's vital points. Her usually gentle face now held only resolute determination to kill!

At the same time, deep in the valley, Luo Bing's assault team also moved!

They were like leopards in the dark night, emerging silently from the rear of the Mongol army. Luo Bing flicked her wrist, and several cold glints flashed. Several personal guards standing by the main general's chariot fell to the ground. Her flying daggers were as fast as lightning and never missed their mark, truly messengers of death!

In just a few short breaths, the entire Yan Hui Valley transformed from a silent tomb into an Asura's hell.

Firelight, rolling stones, sword energy, screams, slaughter… all intertwined into a symphony of death.

The arrogant Mongol "Wolf Riders," facing this sudden, three-dimensional, and devastating assault, completely collapsed. Their cavalry advantage was rendered nonexistent in the narrow valley, and their superior equipment was fragile against the falling giant stones. Their proud ferocity seemed laughable against these elusive, highly skilled martial artists.

Lin Xuan still stood on the highest stone cliff, coldly observing everything below. His face showed no joy or excitement, only a calmness and coldness as deep as the ocean.

He knew this was only the beginning. Although the Wolf Riders' vanguard was in dire straits, the real tough battle was yet to come.

He slowly drew the long sword at his waist. The blade, reflecting the firelight, emitted a chilling gleam, and also reflected his bottomless eyes, burning with fierce ambition.

Chapter Forty-One: Ning Zhongze in Peril

The night sky of Yan Hui Valley was torn in half by the soaring flames.

One half was hellish scarlet, the other was deathly silent black.

The roar of rolling stones and the howl of flames intertwined, composing a savage and bloody battle song. The Mongol Wolf Riders at the bottom of the valley, like beasts trapped in an iron cage, were mercilessly slaughtered in terror and chaos.

However, the reason the Wolf Riders could shake the northern desert was not solely due to their excellent equipment and strict discipline, but more so to the ferocity and tenacity rooted in their bloodline, like that of vicious wolves.

Amidst a cacophony of ghostly wails, a unit of about fifty elite Mongol soldiers, led by an exceptionally burly general, managed to carve a bloody path through the falling rocks and arrow rain.

Abandoning their horses, they wielded curved sabers and shields, like a pack of bloodthirsty leeches clinging tightly to the mountainside, launching a desperate counterattack towards the ambush point of the Mount Hua Sect.

The general leading them was none other than the deputy commander of the Wolf Riders, Batu.

He stood nine feet tall, his muscles coiled like a moving iron tower. He wore three layers of heavy armor, rendering him impervious to ordinary swords and blades.

The curved saber in his hand was heavy and ferocious. With every swing, it emitted a piercing shriek that tore through the air, cleaving an approaching martial artist and his sword in half, a ferocity that chilled the bone.

"Kill all the southern barbarians! Avenge the warriors!"

Batu's roar, like a clap of thunder, was clearly audible on the chaotic battlefield. His eyes blazed with mad fury and a thirst for revenge.

He keenly sensed that this pass occupied by the Mount Hua Sect was one of the most critical nodes in the entire ambush network. If they could tear open this breach, they might have a chance to break out of this death trap.

"Junior Brothers and Sisters, form the sword array! Defend the pass!"

Yue Buqun stood atop a large boulder, his robes fluttering, his expression stern, exuding the demeanor of a grandmaster. The long sword in his hand pulsed with sharp sword energy, continuously striking down Mongol soldiers attempting to scale the cliff.

Under his command, the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect quickly formed an exquisite sword array.

The sword lights intertwined into a net, like an indestructible silver barrier, tightly sealing off the passage up the mountain.

However, Batu and his personal guards were all battle-hardened veterans, their martial arts far superior to ordinary soldiers.

They feared no death, using their comrades' corpses as shields, and pushed forward step by step against the sword net.

Yue Buqun's brows furrowed deeply.

He could see that Batu was a tough opponent. His martial arts skill and profound internal energy were likely not inferior to his own. To defeat him would require all his strength, and perhaps even come at a cost.

As he considered this, a subtle, almost imperceptible thought flickered through Yue Buqun's mind.

The Mount Hua Sect had been severely weakened after the conflict between the Sword and Qi factions, and had only recently begun to recover. The disciples he brought with him were the future foundation of the sect; their loss here would be a grave misfortune.

Moreover, the main players in this battle for Xiangyang were Guo Jing and Huang Rong, and that rising star Lin Xuan. He, Yue Buqun, was merely here to "assist."

To risk his sect's foundation for the glory of others – this calculation simply didn't add up.

Once this thought arose, it grew like a vine, subtly influencing his every move.

"Clang!"

Yue Buqun's long sword clashed heavily with Batu's curved saber, erupting in dazzling sparks. A tremendous force surged from the sword, numbing his arm slightly.

He used the momentum to retreat several feet, his posture still graceful, and declared loudly, "Well fought, Mongol Tartar! You indeed possess some brute strength!"

On the surface, he fought fiercely with Batu, his sword techniques exquisite and drawing cheers from the surrounding crowd. Under the activation of the Purple Cloud Divine Skill, his sword energy crisscrossed the air, appearing incredibly sharp.

However, only he knew that he held back three parts of his strength in every move, his swordplay emphasizing defense over offense, more about containment than a life-or-death struggle.

His plan was to stall this fierce general. Once the battle in the valley concluded, other reinforcements would arrive to surround him, and he wouldn't need to risk injury by engaging in a head-on fight.

This subtle shift was difficult for ordinary people to detect, but Ning Zhongze, caught in the heat of battle, sensed something amiss.

Having been married to Yue Buqun for many years, she was intimately familiar with his every move.

She could feel that her husband's swordsmanship today lacked some of its usual decisiveness and sharpness, replaced by a degree of caution and subtlety.

Her heart sank slightly, knowing her husband's old habits had resurfaced. She understood his concerns, but on a battlefield where lives hung in the balance, any hesitation or reservation could lead to fatal consequences.

"Senior Brother, finish this quickly! Don't let these Tartars break through our defense!"

Ning Zhongze cried out, her long sword flicking like a nimble snake emerging from its hole, stabbing towards Batu's flank from an unexpected angle, attempting to create an opportunity for her husband.

Ning Zhongze's swordsmanship was light and swift, complementing Yue Buqun's steady and imposing style. Though a woman, her martial arts were undeniably of the highest caliber, her movements imbued with the grace of a noble lady.

However, the situation on the battlefield changed in an instant.

While locked in combat with Yue Buqun, Batu, though seemingly suppressed, had been secretly observing the entire battle.

His beast-like eyes had long since noticed the striking Ning Zhongze, who posed a significant threat to him. He had also perceived the "deception" of Yue Buqun preserving his strength beneath his seemingly fierce attacks.

Opportunity often arises in such moments!

"Hah!"

Batu let out a heaven-shattering roar, the sound wave like a tangible shockwave, making the ears of the surrounding Mount Hua disciples buzz and their minds momentarily falter.

He no longer blocked Yue Buqun's long sword with his curved saber. Instead, in a move that risked mutual destruction, he swung his saber fiercely towards Yue Buqun's chest!

This move was a complete gamble!

Yue Buqun's pupils contracted sharply. His "gentlemanly" instinct prompted him to instinctively evade the blow rather than exchange injuries.

With a flick of his toes, his body drifted backward like a falling leaf, perfectly dodging the fatal strike.

However, this was exactly what Batu wanted!

The moment Yue Buqun retreated, Batu's massive body twisted with a strange agility that belied his size!

He deliberately endured a sword thrust from a Mount Hua disciple on his flank, allowing the blade to pierce his shoulder blade. Blood splattered, yet he didn't even flinch.

At the cost of an injury, he had created a precious opening!

He suddenly reached for his waist with his left hand, and a black, menacing metal grappling hook was in his grasp. The tips of the grappling hook's five fingers flickered with a strange, eerie blue light, clearly poisoned.

"Bitch, die!"

Batu's target was not Yue Buqun at all, but Ning Zhongze, who had just intervened and was currently between breaths, her old strength gone and new strength not yet arrived!

Everything happened in the blink of an eye!

The poisoned grappling hook, like a ghostly hand extended from hell, whistled through the air with a sharp tearing sound, tracing an arc of death straight for Ning Zhongze's fair neck!

"Junior Sister, be careful!"

Yue Buqun's heart was torn to shreds, and he cried out in alarm. He wanted to turn back to rescue her, but he was already a step too late. He and Ning Zhongze were separated by the enormous Batu, a distance as vast as the heavens and earth!

Ning Zhongze's face also turned pale with fright. She had never encountered such a fearless enemy, nor had she ever imagined that their target would be her.

A strong sense of danger made every hair on her body stand on end. She put all her strength into holding her long sword horizontally in front of her chest, attempting to block.

"Clang!"

The grappling hook struck the body of the long sword heavily, emitting a piercing metallic screech. The immense force transmitted through, and Ning Zhongze felt her tiger's mouth go numb, her long sword almost flying from her grasp.

However, this grappling hook was not a one-hit weapon.

Batu flicked his wrist, and the chain on the hook coiled like a viper, cleverly bypassing the sword's block. The sharp claws fiercely slashed towards Ning Zhongze's arm.

"Screech—"

A sound of tearing fabric rang out. A long gash was torn in the sleeve of Ning Zhongze's left arm.

Although she had dodged with all her might at the last moment, the sharp claws still left a wound on her fair and smooth jade arm that was deep enough to see bone.

Five black bloody streaks instantly appeared around the wound.

"Ah!"

An indescribable pain and chill surged from the wound on her arm into her meridians like a tide.