Chapter 782: The Horse-String Flowers Have Blossomed (This Chapter

Li Li Banfeng led a group of shadows out of the alley beside the workshop.

Outside the alley, the enemy surrounded him on the east, west, and south, with only the northern side slightly thinner.

To the north lay a hill, piled high with military equipment and fortified with positions—likely a regular training ground for assault and defense drills.

Break out to the north?

Li Li Banfeng glanced at the hill, a chill crawling up his spine; after a brief moment weighing fortune and misfortune, he chose to break out south.

The enemy's main force was to the south; because of Yu Yu Zhaixiu's nature, they could only make out the silhouettes of the shadows and mistook Li Li Banfeng for bringing a large force.

General Song Zhu, Wu Ji, and Lan Jue tilted their three heads together, staring at Li Li Banfeng.

He was not a squad leader, nor a ten-thousand-man commander—he was the General of Difeng Camp, a true veteran who had led troops and fought battles,

a general who had earned battlefield merits on the Tufang front.

Song Zhu, the central head, usually handled affairs; seeing so many men suddenly appear, he was genuinely startled.

Wu Ji added: "Does he have some mechanism? Where did all these people come from?"

Lan Jue chuckled: "Heh, who cares what mechanism? Cut off his head and send it to Lord Lan Qiao—we'll get another rank upgrade."

Wu Ji frowned: "Still thinking about ranks? Do you know how many men we've lost? Do you know how precious Difeng Camp's lives are? Think about how you'll explain this to Lord Lan Qiao!"

Lan Jue still smiled: "Isn't that exactly why we're doing this? His life is valuable too—he's held off Difeng Camp this long; he must be someone important in Pulu Province."

As they spoke, the two sides clashed—Li Li Banfeng charged at the front.

Li Banfeng Yi caught up from behind: "Old Jia, get behind us!"

Li Li Banfeng said: "No more distinctions—we're all brothers!"

He leaped forward, raised Tang Dao, and slashed at the central skull of a Captain.

"Every cut takes a head!" The Captain's skull was tough, but Tang Dao fought desperately—this slash sheared off half his head.

Yet the Captain didn't die; his two remaining heads each controlled one arm and clamped around Li Li Banfeng.

Before Li Li Banfeng could struggle free, he felt a chill down his spine.

A three-headed earth soldier swung a long blade toward Li Li Banfeng.

Li Li Banfeng didn't block or dodge—he swapped places with Li Banfeng Yi, who was cut cleanly in half.

"You said no distinctions—this is what you meant?" Li Banfeng Yi looked at Li Li Banfeng before being tossed to the ground by the Captain.

Li Li Banfeng spun and slashed again, cutting off another of the Captain's heads.

The third slash didn't need Li Li Banfeng's command—Tang Dao moved on its own, severing the Captain's third head.

All three heads gone, the Captain tumbled from his horse.

The Projector whispered to the Wine Gourd: "Tang Dao can only strike three times, and all three hit the same man—

from an artistic standpoint, isn't that a waste?"

The Wine Gourd replied: "I don't know what art is, but I think it's worth it—look at his clothes, this man had status."

The Wine Gourd had fought alongside Yao Xin; though she never truly battled on the front, she understood tactics well.

She felt Li Li Banfeng had chosen right—Yao Lao had used similar tactics in past wars.

As expected, this Captain was the squad leader of several hundred men; once he fell, the surrounding soldiers lost their coordination, and the shadows instantly gained the upper hand.

Yet though disorganized, the soldiers held their positions, their formation intact, their strength undiminished,

and though the shadows held advantage, they couldn't kill many, nor find a way to break out.

Wu Ji, the left head, frowned: "This man is cunning—he knows exactly who to target."

Lan Jue, the right head, laughed: "Just a Captain—what's the loss?"

Song Zhu, the central head, spoke: "That's true—we have nine deputy generals and twenty-two Captains. Let's see how many he can kill."

Wu Ji turned to a nearby deputy general: "Take his place."

This was the Dangkou Camp's rule: when an officer fell, another immediately replaced him—especially in Difeng Camp, the transition was seamless.

Everything Song Zhu's three heads said was heard by the Threaded Earrings.

Li Li Banfeng stared at Song Zhu and deduced his identity.

He first called Li Banfeng Chou and Li Banfeng Yin to his side; they stacked behind him, forming three heads.

With three heads, Li Li Banfeng mounted the Captain's iron steed; the Projector slipped out from behind and altered the image slightly—onlookers saw the fallen Captain rise again.

Li Li Banfeng whispered: "Old man, open the door."

The Portable Dwelling opened its door; the Lady's low voice rang out: "Hear my command—follow me into battle!"

In the past, this wouldn't have been necessary—Li Li Banfeng could have borrowed her voice directly with the Deep Courtyard Technique.

But now the Lady was no longer a dwelling spirit—her voice couldn't be borrowed out.

Not borrowing it didn't matter—the Portable Dwelling opened a single window for her to observe the outside; she immediately knew what to do.

Li Li Banfeng was impersonating the Captain; the Lady instantly issued the order.

Her cry was powerful and clear—everyone nearby heard it plainly.

Li Li Banfeng rode the iron steed forward; many soldiers didn't understand why he charged out.

Some didn't even know which way to charge.

But many didn't think at all—they followed him out.

It seemed unnecessary to think.

That man rode the Captain's horse.

That man had three heads.

That man looked exactly like the Captain.

Wasn't he the Captain?

Wasn't obeying the Captain's order correct?

As for slight voice differences, most soldiers on the battlefield didn't notice—especially since they were under the influence of Foolish Cultivator techniques.

As these soldiers charged with Li Li Banfeng, they broke formation.

Once they left their positions, the formation in that zone collapsed; Li Banfeng Bing shouted: "Cut them down!"

Wu Ji panicked: "Send reinforcements immediately!"

Lan Jue still laughed: "You know what? This guy's clever—but yes, we should send reinforcements now."

"Not yet!" Song Zhu shook his head. "If we reinforce now, every unit's formation will collapse—exactly what he wants. Have the deputy generals respond quickly and reform the ranks."

There was no time to reform—the deputy generals hadn't reached their positions when the shadows surged into the crowd, slashing wildly; within moments, the Captain's hundreds of men lay dead or dying.

But the enemy general wasn't fooled—the main army's formation remained intact, and Li Li Banfeng still couldn't break out.

Not being fooled didn't matter—Li Li Banfeng locked onto another Captain, waiting for another chance to close in.

But in the Thousand-Man Force Array, getting close wasn't easy—the soldiers had learned their lesson, coordinating defenses to deny Li Li Banfeng any opening near the Captain.

His gains vanished instantly; Li Li Banfeng and his shadows were once again surrounded, arrows flying, many shadows struck down; Li Li Banfeng frantically swapped positions between shadows, barely holding on.

Lan Jue laughed loudly: "Victory is ours—best to capture him alive!"

Wu Ji sensed something wrong: "Why are his men increasing as we fight?"

Song Zhu had vast battlefield experience, but he'd never seen such a technique—the situation was truly hard to judge.

After a moment's thought, Song Zhu raised his hand and summoned an eagle.

The eagle landed on his arm; Song Zhu whispered into its ear, then the eagle spread its wings and flew toward Li Li Banfeng.

Wu Ji nodded: "I knew this man was extraordinary."

Lan Jue laughed: "If you knew, why didn't you say so sooner?"

The eagle extended its talons, aiming for Li Li Banfeng's skull—powerful, heavy, clearly a Body Cultivator.

Li Li Banfeng ignored it, letting the Scythe handle it; the Scythe parried twice, then shouted: "Old Qi,

I can't beat him!"

Before the words finished, the eagle flapped its wing and sent the Scythe flying.

The Scythe scraped against the eagle's wing, dislodging feathers that flew like blades into Li Li Banfeng—he couldn't dodge or swap positions, so he took the blow with the House Heart's Thick Skin.

Many feathers struck him, cutting skin and drawing blood.

Feathers piercing House Heart's Thick Skin proved this eagle wasn't ordinary—it was a top-tier weapon.

Such speed, such force—this top-tier weapon must be a Blade Cultivator.

Li Li Banfeng felt no pain, only a creeping numbness.

"Poison!" The Wine Gourd leapt up, pouring wine over Li Li Banfeng's wounds; as she worked to neutralize it, the eagle vanished—Li Li Banfeng froze, then felt searing pain in his chest, blood seeping through his clothes.

Passing Horse, Glancing Flower?

Did this eagle carry a Traveler Cultivator technique?

As Li Li Banfeng searched for the eagle's whereabouts, he saw Song Zhu wave his hand—dozens of giant eagles, each differently shaped, flew toward him.

Li Banfeng Yi gasped: "All top-tier weapons? Lan Qiao Yi spent this much?"

Indeed, all the eagles were top-tier weapons—Lan Qiao Yi never stinted on resources for Dangkou Camp.

Surrounded by Dangkou soldiers below and a flock of eagles above, Li Li Banfeng and his shadows struggled desperately; his hat was torn with holes, blood streamed down his forehead.

"Look at him—he's turning into a rotten persimmon," Song Zhu tilted his head, grinning more sinisterly than Lan Jue.

Lan Jue joined in: "Brother, order the Mind-Explosion Technique—blow his brain to mush, make him rotten inside and out."

"Good—Mind-Explosion Technique!" Song Zhu ordered the use of Mind Technique.

Surrounding soldiers activated their Mind Cultivator techniques; Li Li Banfeng felt his skull splitting.

Luckily, his mind was cluttered with countless thoughts—hard for the enemy to pin down; anyone else would've had their brain exploded.

Seeing Li Li Banfeng grow more desperate, Song Zhu laughed uncontrollably.

Li Banfeng pressed against the ground, gazing up at Song Zhu.

Master Jia, hold on a little longer. Let him laugh a bit more.

He slid forward silently for over ten meters, arriving beneath Song Zhu's horse, where five shadows—Li Banfeng Mao, Li Banfeng Chen, Li Banfeng Wu, Li Banfeng Wei, and Li Banfeng Shen—emerged from beneath him.

Ever since hearing Song Zhu's voice through the thread-earring, Li Li Banfeng had fixated on him.

The Earthly Branch shadows all possessed excellent innate talent for dwelling, especially Li Banfeng Zi.

Li Banfeng Zi led three shadows, each grabbing a leg of the iron horse.

All four shadows exerted force together, resisting the Thousand-Man Power Array, and tore the iron horse apart.

Song Zhu, laughing loudly, was utterly unprepared and crashed heavily to the ground.

His mouth was wide open as he laughed; when he fell, his face hit first, swallowing a mouthful of dirt and sand.

He raised his head, ready to spit out the dirt, when Li Banfeng Chen stepped on his skull—Puh!

Song Zhu's face sank into the earth; his nasal bridge snapped, and blood mixed with dirt flooded his nose and mouth.

Li Banfeng Wu dragged Song Zhu's feet from behind, preventing him from rising, while Li Banfeng Zi and the other shadows seized the heads of Wu Ji and Lan Jue and tore with all their might.

Soldiers rushed to rescue him, but six shadows held off blades and axes and tore Song Zhu apart.

Li Banfeng Chen laughed loudly; Li Banfeng Chou wanted to escape quickly; Li Banfeng Wu and Li Banfeng Shen had just slipped into the ground when Li Banfeng Wei said: "Wait, this isn't the commander."

Li Banfeng Wei tore off a head—it wasn't Song Zhu's, nor Wu Ji's or Lan Jue's. He'd never seen this head before.

Li Banfeng Zi's gaze swept across the field and spotted Song Zhu's figure in the distance.

"Body Swap!" Xiao Huoche also saw it.

The Thousand-Man Power Array granted special protection to the commander; Song Zhu had been at the center of the formation, moments from being torn apart by the shadows. At the brink of death, the array activated, swapping his position with a soldier at the edge.

The soldier swapped in died instantly; Song Zhu himself was badly injured.

His nasal bridge was broken, several teeth knocked out, and both sides of his neck severely wounded—he couldn't straighten his head.

But he was still alive, and the soldiers knew it.

Song Zhu stared at Li Li Banfeng and laughed even louder: "Kill me? Still trying to kill me? A cornered beast's last struggle!"

Wu Ji laughed too. Lan Jue joined in.

Li Banfeng Zi and his shadows slipped into the soil, still seeking a chance to approach Song Zhu.

Li Li Banfeng fought desperately, yet the situation remained chaotic.

Song Zhu laughed until he could barely breathe: "He—he wants to kill me? Him? He thinks he can kill me—"

Wu Ji stopped laughing.

The battle isn't over. A couple laughs are enough. For the commander to laugh like this is unbecoming.

Lan Jue stopped too. His neck was nearly broken—he couldn't laugh anymore.

Only Song Zhu couldn't stop laughing; his face turned purple.

Wu Ji warned: "Brother, pay attention to the battlefield."

Lan Jue added: "Laugh later. Catch your breath first."

Song Zhu coughed and wheezed, still laughing: "We almost got killed by him. I'm scared."

Wu Ji froze: "What do you mean?"

Song Zhu grinned at them: "Why don't we just stop fighting?"

Lan Jue coughed twice: "Brother, that's a good joke!"

Song Zhu shook his head, still smiling: "This isn't a joke. Full retreat!"

Wu Ji and Lan Jue stared in shock. The surrounding soldiers froze.

A Yi laughed from afar: "He said retreat—didn't you hear him?"

Several soldiers turned to look at A Yi—only to see Song Zhu raise his general's banner and issue the retreat order.

"Brother, you're mad!"

A Yi laughed: "You're right—he's mad! Then join him in madness!"

Song Zhu moved from the center of the formation to its edge, giving A Yi the perfect chance to approach him.

A Yi used her technique. Song Zhu went mad.

All company captains saw Song Zhu's banner and immediately organized retreat.

As the army moved, A Yi shouted: "Brother, blow the damn thing up!"

Li Li Banfeng was still under siege by a flock of eagles. Two male eagles lunged at him, about to claw his face—when the air shifted violently, and the two eagles collided head-on.

One eagle snapped its neck; the other broke its wing. The flock lost control of the air currents and tumbled to the ground.

Though these were top-tier weapons, once grounded, the eagles' combat power plummeted. Li Li Banfeng crushed the earth with one foot—

Feathers fluttered, flesh and blood sprayed.

Riding wind and clouds—this technique was truly fun.

But Li Li Banfeng and the eagles had both had enough. Had it not been to deceive Song Zhu, Li Li Banfeng would've killed them long ago.

He gathered the eagle corpses, picked up the explosives, and with A Yi attacking from within and without, detonated thousands of the Bandit-Suppressing Army into a field of corpses.

Song Zhu still raved, waving his banner, continuously ordering retreat. Soldiers rushed forward to subdue him—when Xiang Xiang Hongying suddenly appeared, slaughtering over a hundred soldiers and shielding Song Zhu.

Normally it was hard to say, but on the battlefield, Xiang Xiang Hongying's mind was razor-sharp:

Song Zhu was the commander. By military convention, the entire army must obey the commander's orders. As long as they protected this madman, the Bandit-Suppressing Army couldn't reform its battle array.

A Bandit-Suppressing Army unable to form ranks was nothing but live targets. Her logic was sound—but Xiang Xiang Hongying underestimated the Difeng Camp's quality.

Seeing Song Zhu had lost control, all deputy commanders simultaneously shook their flags, ordering the Bandit-Suppressing Army to reform.

All company captains immediately ordered their men back to their positions.

This was the Difeng Camp's rule: when all deputy commanders issued unified orders, the entire army ignored the commander's command and followed the deputies'.

This rule was specially established by Lan Qiao Yi to guard against commander anomalies.

If one deputy defied the commander, he was guilty of insubordination. But if all deputies defied the commander, the fault lay with the commander himself.

As the Bandit-Suppressing Army began to re-form, Su Leaving Leaving Suishenju suddenly appeared, let out a piercing cry, and charged through the formation. His cart rolled forward, crushing corpses on either side. Before the army could stabilize, Su Leaving Leaving Suishenju carved a bloody path through them, then turned to Li Li Banfeng and shouted: "Go!"

It was time to go.

The Qingrui Camp was annihilated; the Difeng Camp suffered thousands of casualties. This battle was already a decisive victory.

Originally trapped in despair, now they could escape intact—this opportunity must not be missed.

Li Li Banfeng broke through the encirclement, called for Xiang Xiang Hongying, and went to find A Yi.

Song Zhu still raved. Wu Ji and Lan Jue, having held back for so long, began laughing hysterically too.

The three laughed together—then Xiang Xiang Hongying raised her blade, and their laughter ceased abruptly.

Everything settled, but Li Li Banfeng still hadn't found A Yi.

An explosion erupted on the hillside beside the workshop. Li Li Banfeng turned toward the sound—A Yi was surrounded.

When Su Leaving Leaving Suishenju broke out, A Yi moved to assist—but misjudged her position, pushed by the Bandit-Suppressing Army to the north of the workshop, forced onto the hillside.

Li Li Banfeng had previously used "Seeking Auspiciousness, Avoiding Misfortune" and knew this hillside was extremely perilous—full of hidden troops.

And numerous traps. By the time A Yi realized the danger, the Bandit-Suppressing Army had already formed a perfect circle around her.

A Yi drew every weapon she carried and laughed loudly, provoking the enemy into madness.

Some enemy soldiers did go mad, abandoning their positions.

Those mad soldiers triggered explosions that obliterated dozens nearby.

But most soldiers stood their ground, collectively using mind arts to gradually stabilize their minds.

Her explosives were nearly gone. A Yi's smile didn't fade. She sang softly:

"Brother~ the horsehair blossoms bloom on the hill,

Brother, walk slowly~ pick me a flower,

Standing on the petals~ I'll wait for you to return, brother~ come back soon—

Li Li Banfeng promised to return A Yu to Hulucun. He would never break his word.

A Yi promised to help Li Li Banfeng fight the Bandit-Suppressing Camp. She always kept her word.

She held her last pack of explosives, looked at the surrounding soldiers, and sang her mountain song with a cheerful smile.

Ignoring Xiang Xiang Hongying's attempts to stop him, Li Li Banfeng charged back into the enemy ranks like a madman.

Su Leaving Leaving Suishenju closed the carriage window. Zhao Xiao wan couldn't see what happened outside, but she sensed something was wrong.

Zhao Xiao wan shouted: "Old Master, let me out!"

Jiang Linger stood: "I'll go with you."

2

Su Leaving Leaving Suishenju gave no reply.

Hong Did Did Honglian said: "What good is letting you out? Let me out too!"

Zhao Xiao wan asked: "What would you do outside?"

Hong Did Did Honglian said: "I have to save Li Qi. I don't want to be trapped here forever!"

"You don't need to save him!" Zhao Xiao wan yanked desperately at Su Leaving Leaving Suishenju's door—but it wouldn't budge.

Hong Did Did Honglian screamed: "Xiao Huoche, let me out! I have to save A Yi! She's A Yu's daughter!"

"Daughter!" A Yu burst from the entrance of Hulucun, racing desperately toward the Bandit-Suppressing Camp.

Of her entire family, only A Yi remained alive.

Jiu'er was gravely wounded, unable to stand—she crawled forward.

She knew her sister was in trouble. She dared not imagine the worst—she only prayed her sister was still alive.

A Yun was about to stop Hua Jiuer when Long suddenly ran up, panting: "The mistress is back."

A Yun froze. "Which mistress?"

Long said: "The one the village chief loves most."

"Which one does he love most?" A Yun hadn't yet remembered who it was, but then Qiuluoye roared and charged over.

"Where is he?" Qiuluoye bellowed.

A Yun blinked. "What… who?"

Qiuluoye said: "Where's my brother?"

A Yun pointed toward the distance. "Fighting in the military camp."

"Where's your village chief?"

"Also fighting in that military camp."

Qiuluoye dashed straight toward the enemy camp.

After he left, A Yun felt another gust of wind sweep past her.

A Yun asked Long: "Why did the village chief's mistress suddenly come back?"

Long said: "He said he brought two helpers."

"Where are the helpers?"

Long pointed outside the cave. "One just left."

Was that the wind just now?

Who is this person? How fast can he run?

A Yun gazed up the slope. She couldn't see the helper's form—only dust swirling on the ground.

"Why can't I see him clearly?"

Long said: "Good. If you could see him clearly, you'd have nightmares."

"But there were two helpers. Where's the other one?"

Long turned around. A middle-aged man, plain-faced and humble, walked over with his hands tucked in his sleeves.

"Where's my brother?" the man asked.

Why is everyone asking that?

A Yun didn't recognize the man, but Hua Jiuer did.

Hua Jiuer looked up and said: "Fighting in the Dangkou Camp."

The man crouched down. "Child, how did you get so badly hurt?"

Hua Jiuer shook her head. "Don't worry about me—Mother and Big Sister are over there."

Sun Sun Tiecheng stood up and sighed. "What kind of nonsense is this? You're attacking the Dangkou Camp—and you didn't even call me?"

Li Li Banfeng charged desperately up the slope. The enemy forces surrounding Ayi were too numerous—he couldn't break through. Just as he was thinking of a way forward, a massive object suddenly rolled up beside him.

Yes, it rolled.

The monstrous shape drove back many enemy soldiers—it was simply too bizarre.

Li Li Banfeng took a closer look. He thought he'd seen this thing before.

It was a human head, about three meters in diameter, hairless, yet with fully formed facial features—neatly arranged.

Its eyes were open, pupils fixed on Li Li Banfeng.

Li Li Banfeng remembered. He had indeed seen this head before.

Long ago, after offending Feng Daiku, Li Li Banfeng had accidentally wandered into the Tiexian River. When he emerged, lost, he'd passed through a thicket of thorns—and there, inside, he'd seen this head.

That head had tormented him. He'd circled helplessly in the thorns, too terrified to leave his Portable Dwelling.

The head stared at Li Li Banfeng for a moment, then spoke: "Have we met before?"

Li Li Banfeng nodded. "Probably."

The head said: "Are we friends?"

Li Li Banfeng thought. "Probably."

The head bobbed up and down—as if nodding. "If we're friends, that's easy. You help me, I help you. I'm always fair."

Li Li Banfeng didn't understand his meaning, but his way of speaking felt strangely familiar.

The head added: "Help me crush the flies. Push me uphill—it's too exhausting!"

Li Li Banfeng looked at the head's shape, then at its rolling motion, and nodded. "Yeah… it really is exhausting."

PS: This character appeared earlier than Old Train—see Chapter 151.

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