Reinforcements

The carriage curtain was abruptly pulled open, and a middle-aged man dressed in white martial attire leaped out. He possessed a robust build, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. The moment he appeared, everyone present felt an invisible pressure weigh down upon their shoulders, causing them to involuntarily hunch over.

This was none other than Wu Zhenghao, the Great Elder of the Profound Sword Sect, a martial artist at the Innate Realm.

In the small confines of Sanwen County, an Innate Realm expert could completely be considered an overlord who dominated the region.

Wu Zhenghao glanced at the command arrow in Lin Shan's hand and asked, "Are both Mu Qing and Xiao Xiao present?"

Lin Shan nodded and replied, "Indeed, both of them are still within the ranks."

Wu Zhenghao gave a slight nod and said, "Very well. It seems there are quite a few traitors among our ranks. If my guess is correct, that fellow Sun He should be arriving soon as well. Since that is the case, I shall go and meet him!"

With that, Wu Zhenghao looked at Linghu Chang and said, "Brother Linghu, I must go and rescue the junior members of my sect. I shall take my leave first."

Without waiting for Linghu Chang's reply, Wu Zhenghao set off immediately. His speed was so swift that Lin Shan could barely catch a glimpse of him; he only felt a gust of wind sweep past, and Wu Zhenghao's figure was already gone.

"This is the speed of the Innate Realm... Truly formidable..."

Lin Shan stared blankly in the direction where Wu Zhenghao had departed for a moment. Then, Linghu Chang gave a placid command, "All troops, listen up! Move out immediately to support Patron Xiao."

Afterward, he looked toward Lin Shan and said, "Little brother, I must trouble you to lead the way."

In truth, Lin Shan had no desire to mingle with these people. He had just bypassed Linghu Chang and approached Wu Zhenghao directly; he knew very well that this action had likely displeased the official. He had originally intended to slip away quietly behind Wu Zhenghao, but he had not expected Linghu Chang to single him out directly.

Lin Shan had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "Yes, My Lord."

With that, Lin Shan took the lead and ran ahead. The other bigwigs looked at one another in dismay, and having no other choice, they abandoned their horses and followed closely behind Lin Shan.

About another half an hour later, the sounds of battle and shouting could already be heard in the distance.

This trip back and forth had consumed a tremendous amount of physical energy for Lin Shan. He was well aware of his own limits; although he was a Blood-Consolidating Realm martial artist, such practitioners still held no overwhelming advantage against ordinary people. If dozens of soldiers swarmed him together, they could still wear down and exhaust a Blood-Consolidating Realm martial artist to death.

Therefore, Lin Shan did not press forward, but instead said to Linghu Chang, "My Lord, it is just ahead!"

Linghu Chang nodded and directed the troops to advance, while Lin Shan stayed concealed in the rear to observe the current form of the battlefield.

First and foremost, the most eye-catching combatants were Wu Zhenghao and Sun He, the First Chief of Clear Wind Stronghold.

As two Innate Realm masters exchanged blows, everyone else gave them a wide berth, clearing out a massive patch of empty space.

Sun He looked relatively young, appearing to be under thirty, with quite handsome features. His weapon was a long spear, while Wu Zhenghao, as the Great Elder of the Profound Sword Sect, naturally wielded a long sword.

As for the other martial artists, they fought individually, each tasting both victory and defeat.

Lin Shan noticed that at this moment, Lin Ping was engaged in combat with Xiao Xiao. Xiao Xiao bore multiple wounds on her body, presumably sustained while holding her ground moments earlier. Meanwhile, Mu Qing was also locked in a fierce battle with a red-faced middle-aged man.

Bandits and government soldiers were locked in a chaotic brawl, and judging by the scene, the bandits actually held the upper hand.

Lin Shan was not particularly surprised by this outcome. Before joining Clear Wind Stronghold, these bandits were essentially desperate men who had tasted blood, whereas these government soldiers had been ordinary farmers just before today.

Although the soldiers held a numerical advantage, once the real fighting began with zero tactical discipline, their sheer numbers paradoxically turned into a disadvantage.

Originally, the situation had been completely one-sided, but after Linghu Chang led his men into the fray, the deterioration of the situation was instantly halted.

Linghu Chang was fighting a man clad in scholar's robes and shouted loudly, "Sun He, you didn't hide in Clear Wind Stronghold, yet you dared to come out? Today, this place shall be your burial ground."

Sun He laughed heartily and said, "Linghu Chang, since I dared to come out, how could I not have made preparations? The world today is already in utter chaos; how many people still take your imperial court seriously?"

"Sun He, you dare to be distracted while fighting me?!"

Wu Zhenghao let out a fierce shout, his long sword slashing through the air as sword qi rained down upon Sun He like a torrential downpour. Sun He hastily focused all his attention, not daring to exchange any more words with Linghu Chang.

For a time, the battlefield was filled only with the sounds of battle cries. Lin Shan stripped the uniform off a fallen soldier on the ground, grabbed a saber, and crept toward Xiao Xiao's direction.

Having already been injured, Xiao Xiao was steadily forced back under Lin Ping's relentless offensive.

She glared indignantly at Lin Ping and shouted, "Lin Ping, the Xiao family has treated you well! How can you be so ungrateful and devoid of conscience?"

Lin Ping sneered and said, "Treated me well? I have been in your Xiao family for three years, doing my utmost. But how have you treated me? Ever since that Lin Shan entered your doors, have you ever given me even a single pleasant look?"

"Since you have been unrighteous, don't blame me for being unfaithful."

Hearing this, Lin Shan could not help but touch his nose. He really had misjudged this fellow; the man indeed possessed a petty mind and had even betrayed the Xiao family just to vent his spite.

By this time, Lin Shan had already circled behind Lin Ping. Lin Ping swung his sword down, but Xiao Xiao had no strength left to parry; she was struck down to the ground by the blow, and the sword in her hand clattered aside.

At this life-or-death juncture, there was no fear on Xiao Xiao's face; she merely stared viciously at Lin Ping.

Lin Ping said coldly, "Xiao Xiao, keep your eyes wider in your next life. What kind of person is worth relying on?"

Meanwhile, Lin Shan had silently slipped up right behind Lin Ping and immediately chimed in, "I am the one who can kill you!"

With that, he unleashed a punch. This strike was the most powerful move of the Lesser Bright Sun Fist: Mountain-Splitting and Road-Clearing.

The fist force condensed into a near-tangible entity, causing Lin Ping's expression to alter drastically. By the time he realized something was wrong, it was already too late. Lin Shan's punch landed squarely on his back, striking his heart with full force.

With a loud crash, the ribs on Lin Ping's chest even protruded outward. His entire body flew backward like a tattered sack, slamming heavily onto the ground before falling completely silent almost instantly.

Xiao Xiao had thought she was doomed for sure, but she never expected such a sudden turn of events. Seeing Lin Shan, an expression of the joy of surviving a catastrophe appeared on her face.

"Brother Lin!"

Lin Shan hastily pulled Xiao Xiao to her feet and retreated to the rear.

Xiao Qiang was stationed right there, tears welling in his fierce eyes. He had been closely following the fierce battle between Lin Ping and Xiao Xiao just moments ago. Although he desperately wanted to do something for Xiao Xiao, he was not a martial artist and could only watch helplessly.

When he saw Lin Ping's sword descend, he had felt the world spinning around him.

He never expected that it would be Lin Shan once again who rescued Xiao Xiao from the jaws of death.

After pulling Xiao Xiao back, Lin Shan quickly asked, "Start healing your wounds first. Can you move?"

Xiao Xiao nodded, retrieved a medicinal pill from her waist pouch, and swallowed it.

Most of Xiao Xiao's injuries were external, alongside a degree of physical exhaustion, but there was nothing life-threatening.

With reddened eyes, Xiao Qiang said to Lin Shan, "Lin Shan... I have no way to repay this immense kindness..."

He had saved Xiao Xiao once before, and now he had done so again; this debt of gratitude was truly difficult to repay.

Lin Shan waved his hand and said, "Since I am a retainer of the Xiao family, all of this is only my duty."