Flying Cloud Stronghold

Qingfeng County, Forge Pass.

A spacious semicircular plaza was packed with Qingfeng County's common folk.

Today was an exceptionally important day.

The campaign against Flying Cloud Stronghold.

As a bandit force, Flying Cloud Stronghold had gathered five or six hundred men. It was no weak force.

Its location also lay along a road connecting Qingfeng County to the outside world. Commoners, merchants, and caravans were often affected. Some nearby villages were even plundered by Flying Cloud Stronghold.

Flying Cloud Stronghold was a great scourge upon Qingfeng County.

Ever since the previous county magistrate, the problem of Flying Cloud Stronghold had remained unresolved, until the current magistrate, Lu Guangyi.

Though Lu Guangyi could not completely eliminate Flying Cloud Stronghold, every campaign against it could buy Qingfeng County a period of peace.

The people of Qingfeng County were therefore glad to see such campaigns take place.

Since a campaign against Flying Cloud Stronghold was no simple matter, Lu Guangyi raised funds from outside before every expedition. The local gentry and major powers contributed the most, ordinary commoners supplemented them, and the county yamen coordinated matters in between. The whole process ran quite smoothly.

By rights, the last campaign against Flying Cloud Stronghold had taken place less than three months ago.

Qingfeng County should not have chosen to launch another campaign.

However, Flying Cloud Stronghold's Fifth Chief Wu Jiu and Fourth Chief Ge Zhou had died one after another at the hands of the blue-clad constable Zhao Zhi, weakening Flying Cloud Stronghold to a certain extent.

Over the recent period, Zhao Zhi had spoken up for the people and helped them through difficulties within the county seat. He had earned the love of Qingfeng County's people, changing their attitude toward the yamen.

Thus, even though less than three months had passed since the last campaign against Flying Cloud Stronghold, everyone was still willing to contribute some money to fund another expedition.

County Magistrate Lu Guangyi stood atop a temporary platform. Beside him stood the heads of the Su Family and Tao Family, the leader of the Evergreen Gang, and a host of Qingfeng County's prominent figures. Every move these people made could influence all of Qingfeng County.

Lu Guangyi stepped forward. His bloated body made the temporary platform creak softly beneath his feet.

"People of Qingfeng County."

Though Lu Guangyi looked fat and kidney-deficient, his voice was resounding when he spoke.

"Flying Cloud Stronghold has repeatedly disturbed Qingfeng County and harmed its people. It is truly a great malignant tumor in Qingfeng County. This official and the many people of Qingfeng County have launched campaigns against Flying Cloud Stronghold time and again, yet the bandits are too powerful, and we have never been able to uproot them completely."

As Lu Guangyi spoke, he looked toward Zhao Zhi, who was also standing on the platform.

"But the county yamen has produced a fine constable who speaks up for the people—Lord Zhao Zhi."

The corners of Zhao Zhi's lips lifted slightly, revealing a faint smile.

"Lord Zhao!"

"Lord Zhao!"

"Lord Zhao!"

The people erupted into cheers.

Because of Zhao Zhi's actions in Qingfeng County over the recent period, his reputation among the people was extremely high.

Lord?

A trace of disdain surfaced in Lu Guangyi's heart.

How could a mere unranked lowlife, not even fit for the lowest tier, be worthy of being called "Lord"?

A pack of ignorant, foolish ants.

Lu Guangyi still wore a gentle smile. "Lord Zhao slew Flying Cloud Stronghold's Fourth Chief Ge Zhou and Fifth Chief Wu Jiu, dealing Flying Cloud Stronghold a grave blow. With this, it is also the best chance for Qingfeng County to strike Flying Cloud Stronghold again. Therefore, today we shall launch another campaign against Flying Cloud Stronghold and completely pull out this malignant tumor.

"This time, the county yamen's chief constable Cao Yun and Constable Zhao Zhi will serve as overall commanders, joining forces with the Su Family...

People of Qingfeng County, today we will surely resolve Flying Cloud Stronghold once and for all and return peace to Qingfeng County."

Lu Guangyi's voice rose and fell, impassioned and stirring as it carried outward.

"Set out!"

The final words struck the ground like iron.

Qingfeng County's force set out against Flying Cloud Stronghold, a mighty procession marching toward Cloudflight Mountain.

Zhao Zhi had not expected the speech to end so quickly. Only County Magistrate Lu Guangyi had spoken; no one else followed with a speech.

Though the county yamen was indeed leading this campaign against Flying Cloud Stronghold, the ones doing the main work were powerful local gentry forces such as the Su Family, Tao Family, and Evergreen Gang.

Even the Fan Family, which had originally not participated in campaigns against Flying Cloud Stronghold, had sent some people.

Ever since the Fan Family had lost face at Zhao Zhi's hands, it had been much more obedient on the surface.

The Su Family and Tao Family contributed more than a hundred guards and servants combined. The Evergreen Gang dispatched over three hundred gang members. Adding the various large and small Lineage forces and more than seven hundred ordinary people who had been mobilized, a force of a thousand had taken shape.

The Su Family, Tao Family, and Evergreen Gang naturally had the standing to speak, yet none of them opened their mouths.

Lu Guangyi's control over Qingfeng County exceeded Zhao Zhi's expectations.

Zhao Zhi and the others set out.

Lu Guangyi watched the vast force depart, a strange gleam stirring in the depths of his eyes.

A force of a thousand was not an army that obeyed orders like a single command, so its speed could not possibly be fast.

Nearly three shichen later, the force finally arrived at the foot of Cloudflight Mountain. After a brief rest, they began climbing.

Another half a shichen passed before they finally reached the outer stockade of Flying Cloud Stronghold.

Flying Cloud Stronghold was situated on the side of Cloudflight Mountain near the cliffs.

Three sides were ringed by sheer cliffs, while the remaining side was a rugged mountain path only about three meters wide.

The stronghold was divided into the main stockade and the mountain stockade. No one lived in the outer stockade, where two tall watchtowers stood, allowing one to see three or four hundred meters into the distance.

Inside were catapults obtained from who knew where, along with piles of stones and torches.

The entire stronghold was easy to defend and hard to attack.

This was why County Magistrate Lu Guangyi had failed in every campaign against Flying Cloud Stronghold without receiving rebuke from his superiors.

After all, even before Lu Guangyi, county magistrates—and even forces sent from the prefectural city—had all returned empty-handed.

A handsome young man with a ponytail stood atop one of the watchtowers.

He was Flying Cloud Stronghold's Third Chief, Li Muguang, and his archery was exceptional.

His gaze slowly swept across the expeditionary force as his lips parted. "Cao Yun, what an imposing display. You've truly scared me to death."

A smile rested at the corner of Li Muguang's lips. There was not the slightest trace of fear on his face.

Cao Yun's expression was ice-cold as he looked up at Li Muguang. "Li Muguang, Qingfeng County's army has arrived today. We will surely take Flying Cloud Stronghold."

"Is that so? Then I'll see whether you have the ability."

As soon as the words fell, Li Muguang drew his bow and nocked an arrow in one smooth, lightning-fast motion.

A chill flashed through his eyes, and his fingers released.

In an instant.

The arrow shot forth at astonishing speed, tearing through the sky and becoming a streak of light as it flew toward an Evergreen Gang hall master.

To serve as a hall master of Qingfeng County's greatest gang, one had to have at least entered the realm of an Innate Warrior.

When he saw the sharp arrow flying toward him, his face abruptly changed. His inner energy surged as he snatched the treasured sword at his waist and raised it to block the arrow.

Pfft.

The Evergreen Gang hall master's eyes widened. Blood gushed uncontrollably from his mouth as he lowered his head and saw the arrow's fletching trembling faintly.

With his life force drained away, the Evergreen Gang hall master fell from his horse.

Everyone was shocked.

A dignified Innate Warrior had been unable to block even a single arrow.

"Cao Yun," Li Muguang said with a smile, "you are nothing more than this."

Cao Yun's face darkened terribly.

Li Muguang nocked another arrow, but did not hurry to fire. He slowly shifted his aim.

"Who will the next arrow be?"

Amid his soft laughter, Li Muguang suddenly loosed the arrow.