Chapter 85: Twin Dragon Society
The Iron Wall Guard Barracks, merely a li or so from the Yamen, was now in complete chaos.
Fires broke out in all directions, with thick black smoke billowing upward.
Numerous soldiers scurried about like headless flies, surrounded by the clashing sounds of weapons, mixed with incessant shouts of killing and screams of agony.
This barracks was adjacent to the mansions of the wealthy and powerful families, most of which belonged to the forces of the Xiang Family, originally protected by the Iron Wall Guard. At this moment, every mansion was filled with chaotic noises.
The nobles of the great families did not know what shocking change had occurred in the Iron Wall Guard, so they could only send out scouts on one hand while ordering their guards to arm themselves with weapons and stand ready in strict formation on the other.
“Who is causing this chaos? Who dares to cause chaos?”
In the Iron Wall Guard Barracks, Commander Xiang Kun, protected by over a hundred armored soldiers, swung his steel saber and shouted sternly, his face showing some bewilderment.
He too had been focused on Mingguang Courtyard, but he never expected a fire to break out in his own backyard. This dramatic change came suddenly, leaving him completely unprepared.
“My lord, Commander Zhang killed Commander Zhou and has rebelled!”
A bloodstained general in armor rushed over in panic to report.
“What?” Xiang Kun’s face changed drastically, his eyes wide in disbelief: “How dare Zhang Sanshi? His wealth and honor were all given by my Xiang Family.”
That Zhang Sanshi was originally a mere grassroots martial artist. Due to his superior skills, he made a name for himself in the prefecture city and was valued by the Xiang Family, becoming one of their retainers.
Over the past dozen years, he had been diligent and loyal, even saving Xiang Kun’s life once during an assassination attempt. That was why he was highly regarded, entered the army, and was gradually promoted to the position of Commander.
Immediately, Xiang Kun flew into a rage. A dog daring to bite its master was simply outrageous.
“Call the men! I will personally chop this dog…”
Xiang Kun was about to give the order when he suddenly felt the ground tremble violently, followed by bursts of rumbling. Then, the barracks gates on all sides were successively breached.
Xiang Kun looked up and saw ranks of armored soldiers with gleaming scales bursting through the gates, swinging their blades to chop. Many officers also drove their horses forward, shouting loudly and forcing the Iron Wall Guard soldiers to surrender.
“White Scale Guard!” Several generals beside Xiang Kun cried out in alarm, their faces as if they had seen a ghost: “Why didn’t the scouts on the watchtower give the signal?”
Xiang Kun’s eyes bulged in fury, his body trembling—not from fear or panic, but from rage boiling to the extreme in his chest.
“Good! Very good, does the Wei Family want to go to war with my Xiang Family?!” Xiang Kun roared.
“My lord, we cannot gather our forces for the time being. The White Scale Guard is numerous and powerful. We will protect you as we fight our way out and seek aid from the Family Head!”
A young general hurriedly said. This man was a disciple of the Xiang Family.
“None of you are going anywhere!” Suddenly, a cold and resolute voice rang out. Xiang Kun was startled and saw a figure shooting toward him like a sharp arrow amid the chaotic soldiers.
Bang bang bang!
That figure moved at an unbelievably fast speed, charging straight ahead. The soldiers who met him head-on were all sent flying horizontally, their flesh and blood splattering.
Xiang Kun’s vision blurred, and a tall figure appeared before him. One hand of the figure was gripping a man like a dead dog, then “pa”—it tossed him at Xiang Kun’s feet.
“This…”
Xiang Kun retreated several steps and looked closely, his eyes filled with horror: “Big Brother!”
The bloodied figure on the ground, unknown if dead or alive, was none other than the head of his Xiang Family, Marquis Xiang, the top figure in the prefecture.
Whoosh!
A hand like forged iron suddenly reached out, swift as lightning, piercing the air like a sharp sword.
Xiang Kun felt a chill hit his face, a strong sense of terror descending upon him. He was also an Entering Force Martial Artist and abruptly retreated, but that hand followed him like a shadow.
With a ‘whoosh,’ it overtook him, and in the next moment, it effortlessly gripped Xiang Kun’s neck. Xiang Kun tried to burst his force, but the hand shook lightly, shattering all the bones in his body. How could he still gather his qi and blood?
“Let go of the Commander!” The armored soldiers nearby finally reacted, their steel sabers and spears slashing and stabbing down.
The tall figure gripped Xiang Kun with one hand and swept with the other. “Clang clang clang”—sounds of metal clashing rang out as all the sabers and spears were blocked by that palm and then shattered into fragments that scattered everywhere.
The man let out a long whistle, leaped up, and landed on the rooftop nearby. He shouted sternly: “Xiang Kun is in my hands…”
His voice shook the camp. In the chaotic barracks, numerous soldiers looked up in shock toward the rooftop, seeing a man cloaked in radiant light holding their Commander with one hand, then hurling him fiercely.
It was as if throwing an egg. Xiang Kun’s entire body shot out, flying over ten zhang before crashing into a thick wall, followed by an explosion of blood and gore.
“All Iron Wall Guard soldiers listen: I am Song Yinglong, Lord of Crouching Tiger Manor. In today’s world, the wealthy and powerful families are tyrannical, oppressing the people. There is rotting alcohol and meat behind vermilion gates while frozen bones lie by the roadside. Song hereby gathers the righteous to stand up for the common folk…”
“Those who follow me will prosper, those who defy me will perish!”
A moment later, in the original Iron Wall Guard Council Hall, Song Yinglong sat at the head, a hint of joy appearing on his cold, stern face.
Under the shock of him publicly killing Xiang Kun, combined with the pressure from the White Scale Guard, the numerous Iron Wall Guard soldiers surrendered one after another.
At this time, figures filed in one after another and stood in the hall.
Song Yinglong looked at a stern-faced, unsmiling middle-aged general among them and smiled: “Brother Zhang, this time we took down the Iron Wall Guard in one stroke thanks to your great merit. Song will not forget your contribution.”
This middle-aged general was none other than the Iron Wall Guard’s Right Commander Zhang Sanshi. He bowed and respectfully said: “This subordinate dares not claim credit. Achieving today is all due to the Manor Lord’s and brothers’ strategic planning…”
“Still calling him Manor Lord? From now on, it should be Great King.” A seductive woman smiled charmingly. It was none other than Lady Miaoyun.
“Proclaiming king is not urgent. We’ve only taken two of the Linjiang Three Guards. Rest briefly, then strike swiftly to force Golden Soup Camp to surrender.” Song Yinglong waved his hand.
Mr. Wuchen, wearing the face of Old Master Wei, had his face wriggle and transform into an unremarkable man who blended into a crowd, though somewhat pale-faced. He said: “Manor Lord, to take Golden Soup Camp, we still need you to personally deal with one man.”
“Hm?” Song Yinglong was slightly surprised, his gaze sharp as a sword as he looked over.
Mr. Wuchen did not keep him in suspense and straightforwardly gave a brief account of Hong Yuan’s matter, finally saying: “When we made our move on your side, that man also headed to Golden Soup Camp. He’s probably taken it by now.”
Song Yinglong’s expression grew serious as he said gravely: “Invulnerable to Blades and Spears… it must be Gang Body. Who would have thought that in this Linjiang Prefecture, besides myself, someone else has cultivated Gang Body? And he’s aiming for Linjiang Prefecture just like me.”
Song Yinglong suddenly laughed and stood up: “Great minds think alike. In that case, let’s go meet this man.”
The Linjiang Prefect Yamen had been attacked, and the news of the clash between the Iron Wall Guard and White Scale Guard could not be concealed—especially since Song Yinglong had not hidden it at all.
Inside the Golden Soup Camp station.
Hong Yuan soon received the shocking news that Song Yinglong had appeared, captured Prefect Marquis Xiang, publicly executed Iron Wall Guard Commander Xiang Kun, and that the Wei Family’s White Scale Guard had somehow submitted to the other side, suddenly attacking the Iron Wall Guard and seizing two guards in one stroke.
“Crouching Tiger Manor Song Yinglong…”
Hong Yuan murmured to himself. He had long heard of this man’s reputation, and even his former dean Chen Huanshan had joined under him.
Regarding this Song Yinglong, Hong Yuan had long felt that he would be one of his peers, but he had not expected his earlier guess to prove prophetic.
While he was making moves on the Guo Family and Hua Family, Song Yinglong had also set his sights on this fat piece of meat in the prefecture city, and his ability to take it swiftly showed it was long premeditated.
“Lord, that Song Yinglong has already brought men toward the southern district!” The scout continued reporting.
“Oh? Having swallowed the Iron Wall Guard and White Scale Guard, he’s still not satisfied and wants to clash with me? Just as well, Hong also has this intention.” Hong Yuan laughed.
