T/N:
My apologies for the long hiatus. I’ve been working on correcting all the chapters, literally chapter by chapter.
-Some technique names have changed, though they are still similar.
-The most noticeable changes are, for example, ‘Jade Beauty’ to ‘Emerald Beauty’, Ye Zi Yin is now called ‘Holy Jade Immortal’, and Su Mei is ‘Enchanting Fire Witch’…
-Supreme Immortal Pavilion is now Taisu Immortal Pavilion
-All premium coins spent on chapters (up to the last one before the hiatus) have been refunded to the purchasers.
Chapter 161: Mutual Destruction, The Tiger Roaring Saber Hero
Shi Hao hadn’t expected Yue Ya’er to come to the Ba Mountains.
He walked out and saw her standing there, a group of people behind her.
“Shi Chongyun!” Yue Ya’er, instead of her usual colorful, woolen attire, wore a simple, narrow-sleeved dress, her hair adorned with a peach blossom hairpin, a pink short jacket over her dress, and a pleated skirt. Her hands were on her hips, “We’re here to help.”
Shi Hao looked at the hundred or so martial artists behind her, “Who are they?”
“Don’t worry,” Yue Ya’er glanced at him, “They’re not royals. By the way, you’re in big trouble, you know?”
Seeing others approaching, she pulled him aside, “Let’s go inside.”
Shi Hao knew her sudden appearance meant something important. He followed her inside. As they walked, Yue Ya’er’s eyes widened, “Sister Yuejiao! You’re here too?”
Du Yuejiao emerged from a side room, her gaze fixed on Yue Ya’er’s hand on Shi Hao’s arm.
Yue Ya’er quickly released him.
Xu Xiaoyan also appeared, smiling, “Miss Yue, long time no see.”
Yue Ya’er had expected Xu Xiaoyan to be here, but not Du Yuejiao. Her expression was a mixture of surprise and confusion.
Shi Hao said in a low voice, “Let’s go inside.” He wanted to know why she had come here, and whether the people she brought could actually fight.
If they were barbarian warriors, or even imperial soldiers, he couldn’t let them join the fight.
“Yes, let’s go inside,” Yue Ya’er linked her arm through Du Yuejiao’s, “Sister Yuejiao, I didn’t even realize you were here! I forgot to bring you a present.”
Du Yuejiao’s face remained impassive, “I’m just a commoner, Miss Yue. You shouldn’t bother.” She couldn’t help but glance at Shi Hao, wondering when these two had become so close.
They entered a side hall. Yue Ya’er released Du Yuejiao’s arm, looked at Shi Hao, her expression turning serious, “You’re in big trouble, you know?” She repeated her earlier warning.
Shi Hao frowned, “What’s going on?”
Yue Ya’er said, “Huang Facai, the leader of the Hanyang Gang, wants you dead.”
Du Yuejiao snorted, “As if we didn’t know that.”
Yue Ya’er ignored her and continued, looking at Shi Hao, “Even if the Hanyang Gang is destroyed, and Huang Facai is dead, he still wants you dead.”
Xu Xiaoyan, understanding the implication, said, “How is that possible? If the Hanyang Gang is destroyed, and their leader is dead, why would he still want him dead? What’s the point?”
Yue Ya’er smiled, “There’s a plan, a secret plan, called ‘mutual destruction.’ The Hanyang Gang will be destroyed, but the Nine Villages will also suffer heavy losses. And some people, including you, Shi Hao, are marked for death.
“This battle will be a mutual destruction. Even if one side wins, it will be a pyrrhic victory. No one will truly benefit.”
Shi Hao frowned, “If it’s a mutual destruction, someone must still benefit. Who?”
Yue Ya’er said, “The Danyang Society.”
Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan exchanged glances. Xu Xiaoyan shook her head, indicating she hadn’t heard of them.
Yue Ya’er said, “The Danyang Society is a new, secretive alliance formed by those who oppose the Hanyang Gang’s tyranny. Many have suffered under Huang Facai’s rule, their families destroyed, their lives ruined.
“A hero called Xiong Wanghu, the ‘Tiger Roaring Saber Hero,’ couldn’t stand for it any longer. He secretly contacted other dissatisfied factions and formed the Danyang Society. And with Huang Facai’s increasing brutality, more and more people are joining them. But the Hanyang Gang, focused on their attack on the Nine Villages, is completely unaware of their existence.”
“Even within the Hanyang Gang, many have secretly joined the Danyang Society. When the Hanyang Gang attacks you, at the most crucial moment, the Danyang Society will strike from behind, destroying them, eliminating those responsible for their atrocities. The Hanyang Gang, hated by all, will be eradicated.”
Du Yuejiao said, “So… if we can hold out, the Hanyang Gang will be attacked from the rear?”
Xu Xiaoyan, however, shook her head, “No… this is a sacrifice.”
Shi Hao paced back and forth, repeating the name, “Xiong Wanghu, the Tiger Roaring Saber Hero… Xiong Wanghu, the Tiger Roaring Saber Hero…”
Yue Ya’er said, “Don’t bother investigating him. Not everyone in the martial world deserves the title of ‘hero,’ but he does. He’s known for his righteousness and has saved countless lives, earning him widespread respect. And he’s been risking his life protecting those targeted by the Hanyang Gang.
“Many people, on the verge of ruin, have been saved by him. With the Hanyang Gang’s increasing brutality, his reputation has only grown.”
Shi Hao said, “This Xiong Wanghu, openly opposing the Hanyang Gang, forming a secret alliance right under their noses, intending to destroy them…
“The Hanyang Gang is about to collapse, yet Huang Facai is oblivious, still gathering his forces to attack us?”
Yue Ya’er smiled, “That’s why it’s called ‘mutual destruction.’ You and the Hanyang Gang will destroy each other, and the Danyang Society will rise from the ashes.”
Shi Hao, once again, felt the chilling reality of the jianghu’s darkness. And he realized… he had no counter to this.
He looked at Yue Ya’er and sighed, “Who sent you here?” He knew Yue Ya’er wasn’t capable of such analysis on her own.
Yue Ya’er, hands on her hips, said, “Does it matter? I’m here to help. And don’t worry, these men I brought are all Chinese. Someone told me bringing the Yue Ke Tai warriors would only complicate things.
“And so far, this is still a conflict within the martial world. The court can’t officially intervene, so I only brought martial artists.”
Shi Hao’s mind raced. Whoever had sent Yue Ya’er clearly understood the situation and had access to valuable intelligence.
From the barbarian court’s perspective, they wouldn’t want any single faction controlling the Ba Mountains and the Hanyang River.
Secretly supporting them was a logical move.
But it was Yue Ya’er who had come, and whoever sent her knew that if the Yue Ke Tai family intervened directly, sending their warriors, he would refuse… This person’s foresight was impressive.
And there weren’t many people who could command Yue Ya’er, a young lady from such a powerful family.
He was curious about this person… The barbarian court still had capable people in its service. A dying beast was still dangerous.
Shi Hao asked, “How many skilled martial artists did you bring?”
Yue Ya’er smiled, “Three sixth-rank, nine seventh-rank, and the rest are eighth and ninth-rank. The one who sent me said the Nine Villages must be preserved. It would be a problem for him if they were destroyed, so he sent everyone he could spare.
“And don’t worry, they’re not connected to the Six Gates. Their backgrounds are clean. Just think of them as righteous martial artists who couldn’t stand for injustice and came to help.”
Shi Hao nodded slowly… He needed these reinforcements.
The three sixth-rank experts alone would significantly alleviate the pressure from the Hanyang Gang’s stronger martial artists.
But he was also wary. The Yue Ke Tai family could easily mobilize such a force.
The resources of these powerful families were truly vast.
And these were all Chinese martial artists with untraceable backgrounds.
He had to accept this favor.
Huang Facai, with his “mutual destruction” plan, wouldn’t care about casualties, whether victory or defeat. This battle would be even more brutal than he had anticipated.
“Oh, there’s one more thing,” Yue Ya’er crossed her arms and smiled, “I’m here to repay you for helping me those two times, especially that time you saved my life. So don’t think you owe me anything. I’m just repaying a debt.”
Du Yuejiao, her voice sharp, asked, “Two times?”
Yue Ya’er stuck out her tongue and chuckled, “Anyway, I’m entrusting these men to you. Oh, and that person also told you to be careful. He said open attacks are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are more dangerous. Huang Facai sees you as a major threat. He’ll try to kill you even if it means his own death.”
Shi Hao pondered the words “even if it means his own death.”
He integrated Yue Ya’er’s men into his forces.
They would operate under her command, while those they replaced were reassigned to other units.
This significantly increased his available manpower.
That night, under a dark and stormy sky, a series of battles erupted across the Ba Mountains, along the headwaters of the Hanyang River.
Canyons, forests, foothills… every strategic location became a battlefield.
Blades clashed, arrows flew, bodies fell in the rain.
The autumn rain, although not as violent as the summer storms, was relentless.
Logs and burning oil, although unable to ignite the damp foliage, created thick smoke that filled the narrow canyons.
The discordant sounds of a pipa, mingling with the wind and rain, assaulted their minds, causing unbearable headaches.
It was a sleepless night, a night of carnage and bloodshed—
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