King of Hundred Victories Saber-Chapter 576 - 192: Thousand Lanterns Illuminate the Night: Changmen Weng City Endgame, the Mastermind Revealed (Part 5)
In no time, a large pool of blood gathered beside their corpses, the headless torsos lying silently on the ground, narrating the brutality of the fierce battle. Changmen Weng City, like a Xiuluo Scene soaked in blood, was filled with a nauseating bloody scent.
The ground was littered with countless bodies, some were Wokou, while others were innocent civilians unfortunately caught in the conflict.
The corpses were layered one upon another, some separated from their heads, with severed limbs scattered around; others had their chest and abdomen pierced by sharp blades, intestines spilled all over, and the crimson blood gathering into streams, meandering along the ground’s crevices, pooling into shocking pools in low places.
The flames still flickered, illuminating the horrific scene even more clearly, occasionally accompanied by faint groans from the dying, echoing in the air, adding to the desolation.
Hiding in the shadows was Ding Hong, Elder of the Beggar Gang, sheltering behind a ruined wall, eyes fixed on the fierce battle in the field.
Seeing Zhong Renwang locked in a fierce and evenly matched duel with Yili, a strange cold smile appeared on his originally gloomy face. He secretly calculated in his heart, if Zhong Renwang were killed by Yili, wouldn’t the position of Gang Leader fall to him?
This dark thought slithered through his heart like a venomous snake.
His eyes flashed with greed and desire, as if he already saw himself seated on the Gang Leader’s throne, accepting the homage of all.
Beggar Gang Elder Wu Xue stood beside Ding Hong, his sharp eyes had long seen through Ding Hong’s thoughts. He repeatedly lowered his voice, murmuring at a volume only they could hear, indicating to join forces with Ding Hong to seize the chance to ambush Yili.
However, Ding Hong kept feigning ignorance, avoiding Wu Xue’s gaze deliberately, his eyes wandering.
Wu Xue was secretly furious, well aware of Ding Hong’s selfishness and greed, yet the die was cast, leaving no room for retreat.
At that moment, Shi Feiyang demonstrated formidable might, wielding the Celestial Frost Blade with brilliance gleaming, slaying the Wokou Leader with overwhelming force.
Wu Xue’s heart tightened, understanding well that if he didn’t act now, he would miss the opportunity completely.
Helplessly, he gritted his teeth, tightly gripping an iron staff, let out a shout, jumped into the air, and with a whistling wind, aimed it straight at Yili. Ding Hong saw Wu Xue already took action, cursing inwardly in distress.
Though unwilling, to conceal his own intentions, he reluctantly had to engage.
Gripping the iron staff, he employed the Beggar Gang’s "Dog-Beating Stick Technique", launching fierce strikes with stick shadows flickering, targeting Yili.
However, his mind was not on the intense fight, causing his execution to seem absent-minded, with vulnerabilities evident between moves.
"Flying Eagle Detective" Xie Wen had been utilizing the "Feixu Qingyan Technique", like an invisible wisp of smoke, monitoring every move from the air. His gaze sharp, he quickly noticed the despicable acts of Ding Hong and Wu Xue.
Infuriated, he decisively flung down a Celestial Silkworm Silk Net from mid-air.
The net unfurled in the air like a giant silver flower, enveloping Ding Hong and Wu Xue beneath.
Unfortunately, Ding Hong reacted swiftly, slipping away from the Celestial Silkworm Silk Net skillfully, whereas Wu Xue was accurately ensnared.
He struggled fiercely within the net, like a beast trapped, roaring with rage.
Noticing the attack from behind, Yili’s eyes sharpened, swiftly whirling around with a reverse strike.
The slash was as fast as lightning, imbued with fierce Sword Qi, striking straight at Ding Hong’s iron staff.
With a resounding clang, Ding Hong felt a numbness in his arm, his iron staff struck askew, almost slipping from his grasp.
Seeing the unfavorable turn, Zhong Renwang was filled with dread, cold sweat pouring like rain.
Knowing well that his life hung by a thread if he lingered, he seized the confusion to make his escape.
He sprinted onto the high city wall, unhesitatingly leaping, diving into the Moat.
Ding Hong also had no choice but to jump down after him.
With two splashes, water doused with bounding sprays, their figures soon vanished beneath the surface.
After a heart-stopping fierce battle, the heroes of the Heroic Sakura Association, with their superior martial arts and tenacious spirit, finally succeeded in slaying all the Wokou, thereby thwarting their last conspiracy.
With the fall of the last Wokou, Gusu City finally returned to its former tranquility.
The smoke of gunpowder gradually dissipated, sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining on this land washed by war.
And the legendary stories of Shi Feiyang and others spread once again in the Jianghu, becoming the heroic tales in people’s mouths.
Shi Feiyang, with a stern gaze, looked at Wu Xue, still struggling within the Celestial Silkworm Silk Net, feeling endless disgust.
Collaborating with Wokou and acting so despicably, such a one should by no means be spared.
So, with a sweeping gesture, he spoke in a low yet resolute tone: "Off with his head! Hang Wu Xue’s head on the city gate of Gusu City for the world to see the ugly face of the Beggar Gang!"
With the order given, a flash of cold light followed, Wu Xue was beheaded, his head hung high on Gusu City’s gate, warning everyone with his baseness in the cold wind. Zhong Renwang and Ding Hong witnessed this scene, filled with panic.
They knew well that they stood no chance before Shi Feiyang.
At this moment, they resembled stray dogs, their forms haggard, clothes tattered, shivering in the cold wind.
Seeking a refuge, they dragged heavy steps, reaching Divine Sword Manor of Kaifeng Prefecture, hoping Xie Zhichuan would take them in.
But upon arrival, they found only ruins and desolation before them.
Divine Sword Manor had long been abandoned, Xie Zhichuan and his aides gone without a trace, the whole manor charred beyond recognition by fire, leaving nothing but blackened beams standing stoically in the cold wind, whispering past calamities.
Shi Feiyang led the hero cohorts of the Heroic Sakura Association and thousands of disciples back to Suzhou Prefecture.
Knowing well the complex undercurrents of the Jianghu, to avoid drawing the Imperial Court’s Jinyi Guard’s attention and ensuing massacre, he appointed Liao Pei as the acting Grand Squad Leader, arranging for Heroic Sakura Association disciples to henceforth operate underground.
Their undertakings quietly expanded into inns, taverns, discreetly investing in Escort Agency, commerce, banks, transport, becoming increasingly low-key in their affairs.
After handling various matters, Shi Feiyang, accompanied by Yili, "Flying Eagle Detective" Xie Wen, "Round Barrel" Lu Dechu, "Bamboo Pole" Jiang Huotian, and "Iron Flute Scholar" Xiang Kun, took a brief respite at the grand Shi Mansion.
Three days later, they embarked on the journey escorting Yili back to her maiden home — the Hengshan Sect for a family visit.
As a newlywed bride, after months of marriage, it was customary for Yili to return to her natal family for a visit.
In the cold wind, they traveled by carriage, the journey was bumpy, and after half a month, they finally entered the boundaries of Taiyuan Prefecture.
In the early winter of Taiyuan Prefecture, the cold wind was biting, like a roaring beast rampaging through the streets and alleys.
The sky was gray and lowered, heavy clouds seeming ready to break at any moment. Trees along the streets had long shed their green, leaving only bare branches shivering in the cold wind, the dried leaves rustling in the breeze, as if narrating the vicissitudes of this city.
A thin layer of frost coated the ground, glistening with a chilling gleam under the weak sunlight, the breath of pedestrians instantly forming white mist, hovering in the air.
Upon entering the city, Shi Feiyang and his group sensed something amiss.
There was unexpectedly a black market of poisonous insects here, gathering all sorts of bizarre people and objects.
The air was permeated with an eerie scent, faintly mixed with rot and medicinal aromas.
