Fifty li outside Mengzhou City.
In an unnamed mountain, the Golden Saber Sect's warriors had all poured out, taking complete control of the small mountain.
Deep in a valley, Pei Wanchun, Sect Master of the Golden Saber Sect, stared sternly at a middle-aged man dressed in coarse hemp clothes.
"Mister Plainclothes, our plan hasn't even begun, yet the Golden Saber Sect has already suffered losses almost beyond imagining. Two elders, dozens of Inner Disciples, and among them even an Innate First Rank expert!"
The middle-aged man known as Mister Plainclothes held a string of ancient Copper Coins in one hand, a wooden sword strapped to his back, and kept making calculations with his fingers.
After a moment, he said helplessly, "Mr. Pei, this was an unforeseen circumstance. No one expected the imperial court to send an Innate Master."
"What do you mean by that, Mister Plainclothes? We were all persuaded by you to seize Mengzhou. Now the imperial court has sent someone here. Are you saying you won't get involved?"
Pei Wanchun's expression gradually turned cold.
There was no helping it. Elder Fire's death had shaken him badly.
The Golden Saber Sect and Sword Worship Sect had originally been evenly matched. Now the Sword Worship Sect had seized its chance and was showing signs of surpassing the Golden Saber Sect.
Mister Plainclothes smiled and shook his head.
"Of course I won't stand by and do nothing. The imperial court may have sent someone, but most likely it's to protect the Ninth Princess. They pose no threat to our plan. The Sect Leader has already promised that once everything is done, he'll help you sweep across the Martial World of Mengzhou."
Just then, another old man in a blue robe walked over, a sword on his back and an air of arrogance about him.
"Mister Plainclothes is quite right. Brother Pei, don't let a moment's anger ruin the bigger plan. If my Sword Worship Sect ends up reaping the benefits, won't you be even angrier?"
At this, Pei Wanchun let out a cold snort.
"Brother Ouyang, you overstate it. I'm not so lacking in judgment. It's just that I absolutely want the head of that imperial court Innate Master."
"That goes without saying." Mister Plainclothes nodded, then turned to the old man in blue.
"Sect Leader Ouyang, are the arrangements at Liuhe Mountain in order?"
The old man in blue clasped his hands. "Everything is going according to plan. Those Six Mansions Cave Lords are all greedy and lustful. After I sent them a few women from Cuiping Mountain, they were more than happy to become Mister's dogs. They're now less than thirty li from Mengzhou City."
"Very good. Remember, taking Mengzhou City is a secondary objective. Drawing out the Ninth Princess is our true purpose."
Mister Plainclothes' gaze turned cold. With a slight squeeze, he crushed a Copper Coin in his hand to powder.
Meanwhile, in the open country thirty li outside the city,
groups of bandits, armed with all kinds of weapons and looking like fiends, were heading toward Mengzhou City.
At their head rode a bandit chief on a fine horse, his face covered in rolls of fat. A young woman in tattered clothes was draped across the horse.
From her attire, she seemed to be a female disciple of Cuiping Mountain, from the same place as Lin Hanzhi.
Lin Hanzhi's Master and Senior Sisters had taken their own lives rather than suffer humiliation, but not everyone had done so. Some had become playthings.
As the bandit chief viciously whipped the woman, he roared with arrogant laughter.
"Today the heroes ride out of the mountains! Let's see who the real heroes are! Brothers, Mengzhou City is right ahead. Once we break through, we'll kill and plunder for three days and three nights! Take whatever you want!"
The bandits erupted with excitement.
"Great Leader, you're mighty! Liuhe Mountain is invincible!"
Countless shouts rang out. Most of the men weren't bandits from Liuhe Mountain, but came from other small strongholds to swell their numbers. They joined in the cheering, too.
The six leaders at the front heard the earth-shaking roar and felt a rush of exhilaration.
"Big Brother, now that someone's helping us hold off the Barracks, little Mengzhou City will be ours for the taking!"
"Exactly! I've been itching to go in and loot the place for ages. We'll haul every brothel in the city back to our Mountain Stronghold, hahahaha!"
"Look at how little you're aiming for! This is our six brothers' chance to make a name for ourselves across the land. After this battle, the Six Mansions Cave Lords will be the greatest heroes in the Martial World!"
All six men burst into laughter.
Dust kicked up by the horses' hooves nearly swallowed the open country.
At that moment, many warriors had come of their own accord to help defend Mengzhou City.
Among them were hidden First-class experts, stationed on the city walls to bolster the soldiers' morale.
Of course, in Ye Kang's eyes, a dozen or so First-class experts wouldn't change the situation.
There was only one way forward: rely on the system.
Seeing Ye Kang's grave expression, Lin Hanzhi walked over.
"Lord Ye, if things go badly, will you defend the people of the city, or go protect the Ninth Princess?"
"Her Highness comes first," Ye Kang replied without hesitation.
He wasn't a saint.
If he could fight, he'd fight. If he couldn't, he'd take the Princess and run.
Hearing his answer, Lin Hanzhi felt somewhat relieved.
"You're right, my lord. Then before things become impossible, please kill a few more bandits for Mengzhou!"
Lin Hanzhi clasped her hands and bowed deeply.
Her eyes were rimmed with tears, but she still forced herself to keep going, moving among the city's defenders.
Ye Kang said nothing more. He simply took Lin Hanzhi by the arm and slowly sent his green Wood Element True Qi through it.
"Don't worry. You don't need to do anything. Just wait and see what I do tomorrow."
Lin Hanzhi felt her body go soft and couldn't help letting out a soft moan. When she came to her senses, her cheeks were already burning red.
Lord Ye's True Qi felt so good...
Night fell.
At the Grand Tutor's Mansion,
an Imperial Guard finished his report and left the Princess's room.
The Ninth Princess wrote a letter with a brush in one hand and said bleakly, "Old Wu, the bandits are closing in. Can we succeed?"
Old Wu nodded kindly.
"Your Highness, don't fret. You came to Mengzhou at the risk of your life to draw out those Rebels. Her Majesty knows how determined you are. That's why she ordered me to stay by your side every moment."
"But if we can't deal with those Rebel Faction martial artists in time tomorrow, and the bandits break into the city, the people..."
"The moon waxes and wanes. Your Highness has already done all you can. This old woman will stake my life to beat those Rebels to death with my staff. I won't let the Princess bear a stigma for all eternity."
Old Wu gently stroked her cane. Its head was unmistakably a dragon fashioned from pure gold.
In the past hundred years, countless people had died beneath that dragon-headed staff.
That night, no one was destined to sleep.
At dawn, when the sound of horses' hooves rang out beyond the city, a guard on the wall jolted awake.
He saw a streak of fire, then ten, then a hundred, then thousands of flames forming a long dragon as they advanced across the distant open country.
"Enemy attack!!!"
A horn blared. Flames flared along the city walls, and hundreds of siege crossbows were brought out.
At that moment, every soldier defending the city felt their heart leap into their throat.
The bandits had come, and they had come in overwhelming numbers!
A black mass stretched across the land, as if nothing could stop them!
Sweat began to bead on everyone's palms, and many were already thinking of retreat.
Lin Baichuan put on his official robes and stood with Lin Hanzhi at the highest point of the city tower, resolve already in his eyes.
"Father, you're not in good health. Be careful not to catch cold."
"It's fine. If my death can awaken this world, where martial force runs unchecked, I'll meet it without fear!"
Defiance burned in Lin Baichuan's eyes.
Just then, the crisp clatter of approaching hooves rang out, accompanied by the sound of the city gate opening.
Everyone stared down in astonishment.
They saw Ye Kang, dressed in black and carrying a long saber, riding out at an unhurried pace on the Red Mane Horse.
The gate closed behind him. Ye Kang was already several hundred meters outside the city.
Before you continue