Chapter 426: Breaking Out of the City to Clear the Path

A figure, surrounded by Blood Qi, galloped like a gale across the rooftops, rushing toward the North Gate.

The sunlight spilled down, illuminating his resolute back.

That direction was precisely where the Red Lotus Sect had left one side open while surrounding the other three.

Moving to the corner of a residential house and confirming no one was around, Cheng Feng revealed his form.

"Babai, quickly contact the Sun, simulate the best route out of the city, and also, conduct a full reconnaissance of the situation five li outside the North Gate."

"Yes, Master." The internet signal was extremely fast; Babai soon obtained the information and provided the optimal route.

Cheng Feng's gaze was burning, staring fixedly at the virtual route map projected by Babai.

"Master, near the North Gate, the Red Lotus Sect has set up three layers of hidden sentries, each spaced three hundred meters apart, and they have linked hidden weapon mechanisms. There are no deployments three li outside the city gate." Babai's voice was steady and clear.

Cheng Feng pondered to himself: "Is this to maximize profit? Or just to block the gate? Or perhaps to intentionally let news escape?"

Cheng Feng truly did not understand; if he were commanding a large army, he would definitely set up an ambush perimeter far outside the city gate,

letting people relax their vigilance first, draining their stamina, and when the opponent thought they had escaped, catching them like turtles in a jar—that would be maximizing profit.

After all, what powerful Martial Artists could there be in a county town?

Thinking no more, Cheng Feng followed the route planned by Babai, shuttling rapidly across the rooftops, each step landing precisely on a safe point.

With the Master-level Void-Disrupting Steps aided by his Blood Qi, he nimbly leaped and shifted.

Suddenly, two Red Lotus Sect members ahead were slowly tightening their belts, talking as they walked.

"Hey, Big Brother, that woman tasted truly wonderful. Why do you think the higher-ups want to surround three sides and leave one open at the North Gate? Isn't that leaving people a way to live?"

"You don't know a damn thing. The Lord says this is called 'surrounding an army must leave a gap.' When those wealthy families bring their wealth and Secret Manuals and meet up at the North Gate, won't it be like catching turtles in a jar?"

Cheng Feng understood instantly; it was for wealth, fearing those great families would destroy their Martial Dao techniques—that made sense.

After dealing with these two sect members, Cheng Feng did not stop for a moment and continued to sprint toward the North Gate.

As the distance to the North Gate grew shorter, the tense atmosphere permeating the air became increasingly thick.

On the streets, corpses lay strewn about, blood overflowed, and screams and cries were intertwined.

Some soldiers were actually acting wantonly on the main street, engaging in open-air activities in public.

The darkness and brutality of human nature were exposed here without reservation.

Cheng Feng's expression was as cold as frost; encountering those who were committing evil, he casually picked up small stones and, with the reinforcement of his Qi and Blood, struck them directly in the head.

He saw some suffering women, some with blood on their faces like naked lambs,

some crying loudly as they took their own lives, others appearing like mad demons, picking up enemy weapons to hack corpses into pulp—all sorts of tragic sights, too many to recount.

Cheng Feng was filled with helplessness; this was the disaster brought by war!

The outline of the North Gate came into view. That thick city gate was now like a boundary between life and death; cross it, and perhaps one could regain freedom; but with the slightest mistake, one would fall into a place of eternal doom.

Ahead, a group from the Martial Arts Hall and the Hong Sect was walking in a hurry, some covered in blood.

Cheng Feng saw the scale of the group was half again as large as before, and there were even some acquaintances mixed in.

He focused on checking that the people he cared about were safe and sound, and he couldn't help but feel relieved. Old man Wang Tieshan had shown him kindness; it was good that he was fine.

"Cheng Sect Master is back!"

"Senior Brother Cheng!"

"Doctor Cheng?"

It turned out to be Jin Ying and the Jin Family who had happened upon Wang Tieshan's fleeing group, as well as the County Magistrate's wife, Liu Shi, whom he had met at the medical hall before, and some others.

Various carriages were gathered together, appearing extremely cumbersome and easily becoming targets for attack. But defending them was also a form of assistance.

"There is an ambush at the gate. Everyone, once we charge out, we go our separate ways, otherwise no one will get out. I will clear the way, everyone follow!"

Cheng Feng had no time to say more; he took a deep breath, condensed all his Qi and Blood into his feet, and prepared to launch the final sprint.

Saving one is saving, saving a group can also share some pressure, why not do it?

Just at this moment, the Red Lotus Sect's hidden sentries seemed to have sensed something unusual, and a sharp whistle pierced the sky.

Immediately following, countless Red Lotus Sect members poured out from all directions, surrounding the North Gate so tightly that not even water could pass through.

Cheng Feng's heart tightened, but he did not retreat in the slightest; instead, he accelerated, rushing toward the city gate like a cannonball fired from its chamber.

"Stop him!" a Red Lotus Sect leader roared loudly. Instantly, all kinds of hidden weapons shot toward Cheng Feng like raindrops.

Cheng Feng's figure was like lightning, nimbly shuttling through the hidden weapons, his long saber dancing in his hand, turning into streaks of cold light, knocking down the approaching hidden weapons one after another.

Just as Cheng Feng was a few dozen meters from the city gate, the three layers of hidden sentries launched simultaneously.

The sect members of the first layer of hidden sentries brandished long sabers, hacking toward the group;

the sect members of the second layer of hidden sentries shot poison arrows, attempting to block the group's retreat;

the sect members of the third layer of hidden sentries even activated mechanisms, and a huge iron net descended from the sky.

A flash of determination crossed Cheng Feng's eyes; he let out a loud shout, and the Qi and Blood around his body erupted instantly, forming a layer of blood-red flaming energy.

The long sabers hacked onto his body, emitting sounds of clashing metal;

the poison arrows shot onto the flaming energy and were instantly deflected;

the iron net fell, only to be directly melted by the high-temperature flaming energy.

Taking advantage of this gap, Cheng Feng exerted force again, breaking through the obstruction of the three layers of hidden sentries like a fierce tiger, arriving beneath the city gate.

He pushed with both hands, his muscles bulging, and single-handedly pushed open the city gate that required a winch to operate. Sunlight shone through the gap in the gate, instantly spilling onto him, as if draping him in a golden suit of armor.

Immediately, he turned and charged into the Red Lotus Sect's formation, charging left and right as if entering a place with no one there.

As his long saber danced, blood splattered everywhere, and screams followed one after another.

That blood-red flaming energy rolled around his body like an angry beast, devouring every enemy who dared to approach.

"Cheng Sect Master, impressive!" someone cheered loudly from the side, their long spear not stopping, knocking away several Red Lotus Sect members who were attempting to ambush Cheng Feng.

Jin Ying and the Jin Family followed behind, struggling to fend off the enemies pouring in from the sides, their faces filled with determination and hope.

County Magistrate Liu and his wife, Liu Shi, appeared to have no strength to truss a chicken, but they also followed closely within the group, their eyes revealing an indescribable expression.

Watching some of the carriages still desperately protecting their wealth and engaging in fierce combat with the soldiers, Cheng Feng was amused to the point of anger.

Cheng Feng did not want to be dragged down; he shielded the core personnel at the front of the group and roared, "Forget the wealth, do not get entangled in the fight, move quickly!" He then strode forward, no longer paying attention to those who valued money over their lives.

Wang Tieshan brandished his broadsword and naturally understood the current situation; he no longer exchanged words with those he had chanced upon, for the city gate was right before them, and it was time for everyone to go their separate ways.

"Charge quickly, there is only one chance!"

A group of people rushed forward in a flurry, yet no one noticed that the Red Lotus Sect soldiers were gradually slowing their pace.

"Ha, ha, we escaped!"

"Quick, move quickly!"

"This place is not suitable for a long stay!"

On the North Gate city wall, a general from the Red Lotus Sect camp watched the scene before him and issued an order with an expressionless face: "Men, seal the city; no sheathing of blades for three days. Whatever benefits you can obtain depend entirely on yourselves."