Chapter 82: Subduing A Thousand Troops, Dark Currents Surge
Linjiang Prefecture City, Jinming Ward.
In a three-story pavilion, inside a dim room, several black-clothed men shrank their heads and hid in the shadows, fearing detection by that killing god who might spear them flying, decapitating their heads from their necks.
Their bodies trembled uncontrollably, and with a glance at each other, they could see the horror and shock on their companions’ faces.
Too terrifying!
Just one man with one spear had slaughtered through two thousand elites gathered by the Guo Family and Hua Family in a short moment, and even more unbelievably…
“Invulnerable to blades and spears?! Am I seeing things, or am I still asleep?” one black-clothed man muttered dreamily.
“The Guo Family and Hua Family, these two great clans, are finished. This is not someone we can deal with. Hurry back and report to the Manor Lord.”
“Hm? Something’s off. That man hasn’t left; he’s turned back to Mingguang Courtyard. What does he intend to do?”
Whistling wind roared by his ears, and the fierce cold gale made Hong Yuan’s clothes flap loudly, with torn cloth strips flying everywhere.
Hong Yuan frowned, simply reached out to rip off his robe, revealing his bare upper body.
His muscles formed increasingly smooth and perfect lines, every part seeming cast from copper and iron, neither bulky nor inflated, yet brimming with explosive power.
Wearing only a fitted long pants, Hong Yuan flashed across the rooftop ridges and leaped down, striding toward Mingguang Courtyard.
In this bout of killing, he had truly caused only two or three hundred casualties. Even with many fleeing earlier, at least a thousand troops remained in the courtyard—why wouldn’t he take them for himself?
If he just walked away now, wouldn’t that be making a wedding dress for others?
Along the way, some fleeing soldiers spotted Hong Yuan; some bolted madly, crying for father and mother, while others collapsed directly, slumping limp on the ground.
Hong Yuan ignored them, and with a few breaths, he was already blocking the gate of Mingguang Courtyard.
In the courtyard, hundreds and thousands of soldiers, many already weeping profusely with pale, ashen faces from terror.
They had seen Hong Yuan chase after several riders and leave in panic, thinking it safer to stay in the courtyard, so they didn’t flee— who would have thought this “demon” would kill his way back? Did he intend to exterminate them all?
Whoosh!
Silver light flashed in Hong Yuan’s palm, and the Life-Snatching Throat-Locking Spear shot out like an angry dragon, compressing the air into a shrill whine. The formless gas turned into a flood, drawn into the spear, then slammed fiercely into one side of the gate.
Boom!
Immediately after, everyone in the courtyard heard a massive roar like a thunderclap on a clear day. Ripples visible to the naked eye spread across the thick gate, and splintered wood exploded outward in all directions.
Tidal Wave Force!
This Grain Transport Gang’s Microscopic Level force technique was most exquisite in its ability to layer power like ocean waves, one pushing the next, wave upon wave superimposing force.
And in Hong Yuan’s spear, three layers of force were superimposed—one spear’s power roared like thunder, truly wielding the might of heavenly lightning and fire.
In the great courtyard, many soldiers gaped in shock, hearing a clear voice emerge from the boiling smoke and dust.
“Aside from those of the Guo Family and Hua Family who need vetting, the rest of you, lay down your weapons…”
“Kneel and you won’t be killed!”
“Surrender and live!”
Over half a shichen later, the courtyard still reeked of blood, but all the corpses had been moved outside, awaiting centralized burial later.
Besides those initially killed by Hong Yuan, more had been added.
Hong Yuan had the surrendered soldiers identify the most wicked among the officers—not just Guo Family and Hua Family disciples, but others too, unleashing a great purge.
Those guilty of serious crimes were executed on the spot; those with lighter sins were imprisoned first for later punishment.
Those knowing they faced death naturally refused to submit tamely and resisted immediately, but before Hong Yuan could act personally, they were swarmed and killed by the surrendered soldiers.
After this action, about eleven hundred remained.
Among them were actually some Hua Family and Guo Family people, but since they weren’t identified for evil karma, Hong Yuan merely demoted them and kept them in the army.
Next, he still needed to take over the Guo and Hua families’ businesses; these people would be useful. If they worked diligently for him, Hong Yuan wouldn’t mind sparing them, resentful or not.
But if they paid lip service while scheming in secret, he would simply slap them dead.
With Hong Yuan’s powerful spiritual sense, anyone nearby harboring malice or making moves against him could never escape his perception—no chance of enduring humiliation to bide time for a comeback.
Moreover, Hong Yuan remembered the Hua Family Young Lady was from the Profound Ice Sect, one of Mingzhou’s three great sects; keeping some Hua Family disciples could still serve as fishing bait.
Hong Yuan chuckled lightly as a fair-faced middle-aged scholar in his forties, with a five-strand beard under his chin, approached him, bowing and presenting a roster with both hands: “Lord, this is the newly recommended officer list for your review.”
This middle-aged scholar was originally Hua Shouren’s staff officer, named Xie Yansheng.
He knew no martial arts; when Hua Shouren fled, he was left behind. When Hong Yuan called for surrender, he knelt immediately.
He even identified several Hua Family disciples on the spot to show sincerity.
Hong Yuan had suspected a self-injury ploy, but under his heart-sense perception, Xie Yansheng’s emotions held only fear.
It was clear he truly didn’t want to die.
Hong Yuan flipped through the roster, memorizing several names.
These eleven hundred were broken into four camps, each about three hundred men, with four captains.
Under each captain, several squad leaders and various fire chiefs.
Hong Yuan didn’t take it to heart; these were temporary appointments—perform well and get promoted, perform poorly and the able rise while the inept fall.
With great power in his own hands, he feared no deception from below.
He tossed the roster back to Xie Yansheng and smiled: “Mister Xie, for now, stay by my side as an advisor. I’m focused on the martial path; many matters will need your planning.”
Xie Yansheng was overjoyed, immediately prostrating himself to kowtow respectfully: “This humble fool, favored by Lord with such heavy responsibility—how dare I not exhaust myself and serve wholeheartedly.”
Hong Yuan wasn’t surprised by Xie Yansheng’s attitude.
In this world with martial arts, even before the imperial examinations were abolished, military posts always overshadowed civil officials. Many destitute scholars, proud of their talent, groveled before noble families and clans for an official post.
Let alone now?
“Good, Mister Xie, please rise.”
Hong Yuan nodded and asked in a testing tone: “Mister Xie, what do you think my next step should be?”
Xie Yansheng had clearly prepared his pitch upon surrendering to Hong Yuan and now spoke confidently without hesitation: “That depends on Lord’s intentions toward the prefecture city.”
Standing up, he kept his hands at his sides, head bowed, glancing at Hong Yuan from the corner of his eye and seeing his smile, not daring to tease, continued: “If Lord has designs on the prefecture city, better to cut through the chaos swiftly—seize this moment to take Golden Soup Camp immediately.”
“Golden Soup Camp originally had only over three thousand soldiers, many drawn off by Guo Family and Hua Family, leaving just over a thousand now. With Lord’s supernatural power, taking it is effortless.”
As Xie Yansheng spoke, he recalled Hong Yuan’s spear shattering the gate and crushing the army, his eyes still unable to hide the shock.
“Oh? The Linjiang Three Guards—why not Iron Wall Guard or White Scale Guard?” Hong Yuan said with a faint smile.
“White Scale Guard is nearly monopolized by the Wei Family; hard to crush in short order.” Xie Yansheng said, then added: “With Lord’s supernatural power, you could certainly cow them, but it would take some time. White Scale Guard is in the east city, while Golden Soup Camp is at the South Water Gate, closest.”
“As for Iron Wall Guard, its situation matches White Scale Guard; the Xiang Family holds most of its power, the rest divided among the great families.”
At this point, seeing no rebuttal from Hong Yuan, Xie Yansheng continued: “Golden Soup Camp controls the South Water Gate; all ships, people, and goods entering or leaving the prefecture city by water must pass their inspection. Combined with the Grain Transport Gang under Lord’s control, eight or nine out of ten grain transport affairs on the surface and in Jianghu would fall into Lord’s hands.”
