Chapter 185: Control

Not long after, the three men—Babai, Cheng Yi, and Wu Feng—received instructions from Cheng Feng. They understood in their hearts that this mission was critical, so without a word, they set out rapidly with their subordinates.

The mission they were to execute was to delay the Green Bamboo Gang's reinforcements and buy time for Cheng Feng to take the Green Bamboo Gang's main hall directly; this plan was of vital importance, so they had to give it their all.

At the same time, the rotating disciples of the Green Bamboo Gang also noticed the signal arrow sent from the main hall. Realizing the urgency of the matter, these disciples immediately took action, gathering fellow sect members resting at various strongholds or leaders who were handling affairs.

Upon seeing the signal arrow, those busy leaders, though grumbling, still scrambled up from flower beds or other places as quickly as possible, grabbed their weapons, and rushed toward the strongholds.

As for those disciples who had been resting, they quickly packed their gear, took up their weapons, and lined up neatly within the strongholds to await further instructions.

At a branch hall closest to the main hall, watching his subordinates all return to their posts, Li Shan ignored their strange looks and waved a hand: "The main hall calls, move out!"

Li Shan was a rising star of the Green Bamboo Gang, but because of bullying by the gang's elders, even though he was already a Martial Artist at the Blood Refining Mid-Stage, he had not been given important responsibilities in the Green Bamboo Gang; his subordinates often spoke out against the injustice for Li Shan, but Li Shan ignored it, stating plainly that the Gang Leader had been kind to him and he did not care about those opinions; after the main hall's signal arrow was fired, he was also the first to emerge from his study to respond to the main hall.

The remaining branch halls of the Green Bamboo Gang also gathered their disciples and converged on the main hall.

As time passed, every second felt exceptionally long. The teams of Babai and the others gradually blocked the path that the Green Bamboo Gang's reinforcement disciples had to take, making it impassable. This large force was clearly already familiar with this terrain and had cleverly devised a detailed interception strategy.

And the Green Bamboo Gang disciples were the ones who suffered.

A group of over fifty people from a Green Bamboo Gang branch hall were speeding toward the main hall when, in those corners where visibility was dim and it was difficult to see the situation ahead, they were ambushed by quietly lurking Hong Sect disciples. It left the Green Bamboo Gang's reinforcement disciples unable to defend themselves. This was the team led by Babai.

Two other Green Bamboo Gang branch halls converged due to their locations, but at an intersection with only one straight road, a huge log blocked the way, making it impossible to pass easily. This was the team led by Cheng Yi.

As for the team led by Wu Feng, the intersection they occupied had no obvious features or advantages to exploit, so they had no choice but to occupy the road without hesitation and set up a formation to engage the enemy in a head-on slaughter.

In this way, no matter how the enemy tried to break through the defensive line, there was only one road to take, and that was to step over the bodies of all the Hong Sect disciples led by Wu Feng, and half of the team led by Wu Feng consisted of well-trained Ren Men Disciples.

This was also Cheng Feng's arrangement; after Wu Feng's strength recovered, it had gone a step further, reaching the level of Blood Refining Perfection, and since this road could only be held by brute strength, Cheng Feng had no choice but to place the strongest, Wu Feng, here.

In the night, the carriage trotted along with a rhythmic patter; Xu Miao had been sent out by Cheng Feng to assist Wu Feng, while he himself watched the four-in-one view displayed by the Mechanical Dog, steadily deploying his troops and mastering the situation.

Borrowing the cover of night, the Mini-Kong, transformed from the Mechanical Dog's steel balls, moved unimpeded through South City, continuously transmitting the information it saw to the Mechanical Dog, which then relayed it to Cheng Feng, and this was the source of Cheng Feng's confidence.

The gap in information allowed Cheng Feng to make the best choices faster and better, especially since he was the Hong Sect Leader and had hundreds of men under his command.

The strength of Babai and Cheng Yi was at most at the Blood Refining Initial Stage; Cheng Feng was afraid they would be injured or damaged in a head-on fight, so they could only take them by wit, issuing orders to the Hong Sect disciples around them, as long as they could delay the time.

The most difficult task belonged to the team led by Wu Feng; they had to face Li Shan, this rising star of the Green Bamboo Gang, and engage in a life-or-death struggle.

The Green Bamboo Gang's reinforcement disciples had originally been full of confidence, believing they could pass through these intersections smoothly and arrive at the main hall quickly.

But they never expected that while walking on roads they were familiar with in their daily lives, they would encounter sudden attacks.

Although they were numerous, under Cheng Feng's meticulously designed interception, their speed of advance was severely affected, not only trapping them in a passive situation but also causing many to be injured or even killed. They could only move forward slowly.

The Hong Sect disciples led by Babai did not retreat or fear because the other side had more people; instead, they looked at the leader of this team with admiration, because Babai always seemed to be able to anticipate the enemy's moves, directing the disciples to kill or repel the opponent with a slight geographical advantage.

Little did they know it was Cheng Feng controlling the overall situation from behind.

Wu Feng's side, however, encountered fierce counterattacks; the branch hall led by Li Shan was famous in the Green Bamboo Gang for being able to fight, with Strength Refining Martial Artists accounting for about eighty percent—roughly forty-some Strength Refining initial and mid-stage Martial Artists—plus over ten Skin Refining Martial Artists, and on top of that, Li Shan, a Martial Artist at the Blood Refining Mid-Stage; this battle could only rely on Wu Feng and Xu Miao, who was in the shadows.

Cheng Feng's idea was to exchange the lowest cost for the highest profit; two Martial Artists at Blood Refining Perfection made this idea possible.

Li Shan was in a hurry to rush to the main hall to report the situation, while Wu Feng wanted to delay time to prevent him from going to the main hall; both were doing their best to defeat the other.

When two tigers meet, there must be a battle.

Li Shan was anxious to go to the main hall and struck first; the blade in his hand danced so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through, and every strike carried a sharp, fierce wind.

Wu Feng's Sword was the same, every strike containing endless killing intent. The two exchanged blows, blade and Sword clashing, emitting crisp clanging sounds. Every collision caused the surrounding air to fluctuate, as if the entire space were being torn apart.

Li Shan's Blade Technique was fierce, the blade flashing with cold light like a ferocious giant dragon, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws as it lunged at the enemy.

Wu Feng's Sword Technique was agile, the Sword dancing as naturally and fluidly as moving clouds and flowing water, yet also like a spirit snake emerging from its hole, making it impossible to defend against.

Both of their moves were exquisite and peerless, containing countless variations; a moment of carelessness would lead to an irredeemable situation.

Seeing that Li Shan could have such strength at such a young age, Wu Feng, who had broken through not long after recovering, seemed to see a prey that had drawn blood: "Not bad strength, I'm going to get serious now."

A flash of determination crossed Li Shan's eyes: "Come on, you Hong Sect scum, hurry up and die; this young master has urgent business, I'll send you on your way right now."

He knew the importance of the main hall's signal arrow, and it was a signal arrow fired in the night; if he couldn't arrive at the main hall in time, the consequences would be unimaginable; others could die if they died, but that person must not die!

So he used all his strength, the blade in his hand stained with Blood Qi, the speed of the blade becoming faster and faster, and the momentum of the blade becoming increasingly fierce.