Chapter 530: Attacking the Four Counties 3

With Da Hei here, the empty Shuanghe County next to Shuanghe Town is like taking something out of a bag.

When first encountered, the city of Shuanghe County didn't even have any decent resistance.

In this battle, the main force of the Red Lotus Sect in Shuanghe County was completely wiped out.

Over six hundred people were captured, and the rest scattered and fled.

Cheng Feng left fifty men here, temporarily led by Wei Zhuang, and urgently ordered another batch of Hong Sect disciples to be sent from Qingxi County to take over.

The Hong Sect disciples lurking in Shuanghe County could not be gathered for the time being.

Cheng Feng simply let Wei Zhuang sit in command at Shuanghe and organized the able-bodied among the captives into a "Tuntian Team," responsible for building the official road from Qingxi County to Shuanghe County.

Wei Zhuang hesitated slightly: "If you keep me here, what about the battles ahead?"

"There aren't many hard battles in the next two counties," Cheng Feng said. "For Songling County, I'll just let Zhao Liu follow me."

"You stay here and finish the road—once the road from Qingxi County to Shuanghe is open, both grain and men can move quickly."

"Once the road is finished, you can bring your men to catch up with me."

Wei Zhuang nodded: "Fine, road building it is."

Songling County

After resting for three days, Cheng Feng led his team west into Songling County.

At this time, the force around him was less than a hundred men, but the news of the great victory at Shuanghe had spread ahead, and the Red Lotus Sect branch in Songling County fell into chaos before they even arrived.

Those Red Lotus Sect leaders usually acted like tyrants, relying on the money and grain of pilgrims and intimidation tactics.

Once they heard that the Hong Sect from Qingxi was coming to kill them, half of them ran away overnight.

The remaining people huddled in a dilapidated courtyard on the west side of Songling County, terrified and unable to go on.

On the night Cheng Feng arrived in Songling County, he only brought thirty men.

He didn't enter through the front gate, but instead had Zhao Liu take men to block the back door of the courtyard first.

Then he rode the snake inside.

Standing on Da Hei's head, there was naturally no need to climb the wall.

He stepped down, and Da Hei flicked its head, its entire body slithering into the main hall.

There were still a dozen people sitting in the main hall discussing matters when they suddenly saw a black snake hanging down from the outer wall, its massive head probing into their midst, flicking its tongue with a "hissing" sound.

The whole room was scared out of their wits, unable to even hold their blades steady.

Cheng Feng's blade flashed, and two leaders fell.

Da Hei bit another one to death, and the rest all knelt.

In the entire Red Lotus Sect of Songling County, Cheng Feng only killed four people and forced over sixty to surrender.

It was too smooth.

Cheng Feng did not dare to be careless.

This smoothness was something he had fought for in the previous two battles.

Wiping out one branch in Shiqiao County and one in Shuanghe Town—after these two battles, the prestige of the Qinghe County soldiers had completely overwhelmed the Red Lotus Sect.

The battles that followed were not about who had better martial arts, but about whose knees went soft first.

The Hong Sect branch lurking in Songling County was still there, but the manpower had long since existed in name only.

The branch master, Sun Laoliu, was a carpenter in his thirties; when he saw Cheng Feng, his legs were trembling.

Cheng Feng helped him up: "Brother Sun, this Songling County will have to rely on you in the future."

Sun Laoliu wiped away his tears: "Master Cheng, I don't understand these things, I'm just afraid I can't hold it together..."

"Even if you can't hold it, you must," Cheng Feng said. "I'll leave thirty men with you."

"All the captives are yours; road building, farming, and house construction are all under your management."

"I only have one condition—give these people a full meal, don't let anyone starve to death. Can you do it?"

Sun Laoliu nodded heavily: "I can do it! I've been farming my whole life, if nothing else, I'm a good hand at farming."

Cheng Feng smiled: "Good. Once the road reaches Songling, I will send someone to see you."

Liuyuan County

The last of the four surrounding counties, Liuyuan County to the north.

Liuyuan County was built against the mountains and had the most dangerous terrain of the four counties.

The Red Lotus Sect's branch in Liuyuan was located on Liuyuan Mountain, north of the county seat, with five or six hundred followers.

The branch Elder was surnamed Zheng, a famous fierce warrior in the Red Lotus Sect, said to have reached the peak of the Organ Refining Initial Stage.

Hearing that the previous three counties had been cleared, Elder Zheng not only didn't run, but instead built stockade walls on the mountain and stockpiled grain and grass.

He also sent people to spread rumors everywhere: "The Qinghe County soldiers are going to wash Liuyuan in blood; anyone who believes in the Red Lotus Sect will be killed without mercy!"

Once this was said, the Liuyuan followers who had originally wanted to run instead hardened their hearts and decided to fight to the death with Qingxi County.

When Cheng Feng led his men to the foot of Liuyuan Mountain, the mountain was already covered with rolling logs and stones, the stockade gates were tightly shut, and banners were fluttering.

"This Elder Zheng is quite a character," Cheng Feng said, riding on his horse and looking at the camp on the mountain.

"A frontal assault will likely cost lives," Zhao Liu said.

"My time is running out. Life and death are fated, and wealth is in the hands of heaven. Let Da Hei attack first as before."

As Cheng Feng's voice fell, Da Hei had already darted out like a bolt of black lightning, speeding up the steep mountain path.

Seeing a giant snake charging straight at them, the crossbowmen on the stockade wall hurriedly fired, but the arrows landed on Da Hei's scales with a clatter, not even leaving a mark.

Rolling logs and stones came crashing down the slope, but Da Hei swayed its body, shifted three yards to the side, and bypassed them by hugging the mountain wall.

With another flick of its tail, it smashed the caltrops piled in front of the stockade gate to pieces.

The stockade gate was made of thick wood wrapped in iron, but when Da Hei rammed into it, the bolt snapped, and the entire door panel flew inward, crushing a dozen followers who were holding the line behind it.

"Set fire to the snake!" someone screamed on the stockade wall.

Several buckets of kerosene were splashed down, and torches were thrown after them. Da Hei had already slithered into the stronghold a step ahead; the kerosene splashed into empty space, burning only a patch of black smoke on the muddy ground.

Cheng Feng spurred his horse to the stronghold gate, leaped off, and his blade light shone like snow.

More than thirty men followed him in to slaughter; blades and spears clashed, and the sounds of killing shook the heavens.

Elder Zheng rushed out from the main hall with the sect protection guard, holding a staff of Refined Iron. Thick-waisted and broad-backed, he ran close and barked, "A brat from Qinghe County dares to come to my Liuyuan Mountain to act wantonly!"

Cheng Feng did not waste words with him; his figure shifted, his blade moved with agility, and he attacked three times in succession.

Elder Zheng danced his iron staff horizontally, the fierce wind whistling; in the blink of an eye, the two exchanged over a dozen moves.

Cheng Feng put away his dismissive attitude—this Elder Zheng had the cultivation of Organ Refining, his staff momentum was heavy and fierce, and his techniques were seasoned and ruthless; he was not comparable to those leaders from the previous few battles who only knew a few tricks.

Even if he hadn't been fighting seriously, his strength was quite good.

Suddenly, a long whistle erupted from behind the main hall, piercing the clouds and shattering stone.

A gray shadow swept down from the roof of the hall, not even kicking up much dust when it landed.

The newcomer was around fifty, thin as a stick, yet his eyes were piercingly cold, and the Gang Qi around his body surged like thin mist under the moonlight.

He walked slowly with his hands behind his back, and the several Red Lotus Sect Bone Refining elites behind him automatically stepped aside.

"Zheng Tong, stand back." The gray-clothed man's voice was not loud, yet it made the eardrums of everyone present buzz.

Elder Zheng leaned on his iron staff and retreated to the side, his chest heaving violently; clearly, he had already exhausted quite a bit of his strength.

The gray-clothed man looked at Cheng Feng: "Cheng Feng of Qinghe County, truly young."

"The Red Lotus Sect has branch altars in four counties, and you have broken three of them in a row."

"You have a good Immortal Seed, yet you do not cherish it."

"It is a pity that today ends here."

Cheng Feng stood with his blade held horizontally: "A Martial Artist of the Gang Qi Realm?"

"This old man is Li Qianshan, one of the Dharma Kings of the Red Lotus Sect. Today, I will take your head to sacrifice to the brothers of our sect who died in the four counties."

As Li Qianshan finished speaking, his entire body pressed toward Cheng Feng like a ghost, his five fingers hooked to strike directly at his throat.

This move was unimaginably fast. Cheng Feng only had time to turn his body to the side, and a tearing, sharp pain erupted on his shoulder; five bloody marks appeared through his clothes.

"This old man, what fast speed."

He swung his blade back, but Li Qianshan had already retreated three zhang, standing with his hands behind his back, blood dripping from his fingertips.

"Your reaction is passable," Li Qianshan said indifferently.

Cheng Feng did not hesitate for a moment; he exerted force through his feet, his blade momentum like a rainbow, and lunged straight at him.

With his Iron Bone Golden Body operating at full power, a faint golden glow emerged all over Cheng Feng's body.

Dragon Snake Nine Transformations, activate.

The Blood Qi and muscles within his body suddenly tightened.

Faint blood-colored scales formed armor, protecting Cheng Feng's body.

Li Qianshan dodged to the side, his palm hooking back at Cheng Feng's wrist like an eagle's claw.

Cheng Feng's blade edge swirled, forcing Li Qianshan to withdraw his hand and lean back. The two fought with speed against speed, the blade light and gray afterimages churning into a ball.

"If it's fast blades you want, look at my Master-level Galloping Thunder Blade."

Cheng Feng used a physical body comparable to a Gang Qi Realm Martial Artist to execute the Galloping Thunder Blade; his short-term explosive speed would absolutely not be slower than Li Qianshan's.

However, this kind of flesh-and-blood explosive speed could not be sustained.

Da Hei had already cleared the remaining enemies in the stronghold and turned back to assist Cheng Feng.

Li Qianshan struck out with a palm, actually using Gang Qi to hit the snake's head from a distance; Da Hei felt the pain.

The snake's head tilted, the scales on its forehead cracked in three places, and blood seeped out.

"Da Hei, back off!"

Cheng Feng roared in anger, his blade momentum suddenly becoming three times more violent.

Li Qianshan remained unhurried, his figure drifting like smoke; occasionally, a claw strike would hit the blade, the Gang Qi vibrating and making Cheng Feng's tiger's mouth go numb.

"The strength of your physical body is breathtaking; if you practiced for another three years, I might not be able to take you down," Li Qianshan sighed. "It is a pity. You are, after all, not a true Gang Qi Realm Martial Artist."

His aura changed abruptly; he brought his palms together, and when he separated them, the Gang wind between his palms was like a blade, faintly carrying the sound of wind and thunder.

This was a true killing move of the Gang Refining stage, condensing Qi into a blade; those struck would die instantly.

"Clear breeze and bright moon, a fine time in the human world; it is only right that you die once."

"Qingfeng Gang Sword!"

Cheng Feng advanced instead of retreating.

He knew he could not run, and he could not let those behind him die in vain.

One blade, one life; everything depended on this round.

"Chi!"

Li Qianshan's right palm struck, the Gang blade almost piercing through Cheng Feng's left chest.

"You damn... you are the one who should die!"

At the last moment, Cheng Feng shifted three inches to the side, letting the Gang blade pass under his ribs, while his blade followed Li Qianshan's right palm, slicing upward and sinking into the opponent's right shoulder in a flash of lightning.

Blood bloomed.

"Ah!"

Li Qianshan let out a pained roar, his left hand turning into a claw to strike directly at Cheng Feng's throat.

Cheng Feng did not dodge or avoid, blocking hard with his elbow; his wrist bone emitted a crisp crack.

Borrowing the force of Li Qianshan's Gang Qi rebound, he switched the blade to his left hand and wiped it back, the blade edge passing across Li Qianshan's neck.

Li Qianshan widened his eyes, a low, hoarse "gurgle" sound emitting from his throat.

The gray clothes fell to the ground, and blood gushed out like a spring.

Cheng Feng stumbled to his knees, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

His left ribs had been pierced by a Qi blade; though no vital organs were hit, half his body was soaked through with blood.

The wrist fracture, shoulder wound, and rib injury dragged him to his limit.

"Avenge the Dharma King!"

Zheng Tong's cry of "Avenge the Dharma King" was heart-Human Cauldron, like the long howl of a trapped beast before death.

The dozens of remaining Red Lotus Sect members before the hall had already been terrified, but spurred by this cry, their ferocity surged; over a dozen of them gritted their teeth, raised their blades, and charged toward Cheng Feng along with Zheng Tong.

Cheng Feng knelt on one knee, blood dripping down his armor.

His right wrist bone was fractured and could exert no force, so he could only grip his blade with his left hand, using the tip to brace against the ground to barely support his body.

The wound under his ribs was deep enough to see bone, and every breath he took was accompanied by blood foam.

This time, this was truly a loss to the grandmother's house.

The Hong Sect disciples swarmed over, blades pointed outward, shielding Cheng Feng in the center.

But the one who truly blocked the enemy was Da Hei.

The black snake raised its head nearly two zhang high, its golden pupils like flames, and opened its mouth to unleash a foul wind at the charging Red Lotus Sect members.

Its massive tail swept across, sending three or four sect members flying into the air, where they crashed into the hall pillars with broken bones and shattered tendons.

Zheng Tong lunged forward, his iron staff smashing down at the head, striking Da Hei's snake head directly.

Da Hei hissed in pain, yet it forcefully coiled its snake body, wrapping around Zheng Tong, man and staff alike, squeezing until his entire skeleton crackled.

Zheng Tong sprayed blood from his mouth, his eyes bulging, yet he still swung his staff wildly.

Da Hei's Snake Scale cracked and blood flowed down the black scales, but it refused to let go.

Zhao Liu seized the opportunity to rush up and plunge a blade into Zheng Tong's back.

Zheng Tong stared, a sound squeezed from his throat: "Despicable wretch..." His head tilted to the side, and he fell silent.

Da Hei slowly loosened its snake body, its head drooping, the scales on its forehead and back torn open and dripping with blood.

"Da Hei!" Cheng Feng called out, his voice hoarse.

Da Hei raised its head as if responding to him, then turned its head and flicked its tongue at the Red Lotus Sect members who had been stunned into silence.

"Kill them all." Cheng Feng used his remaining strength to say it again.

Da Hei had no objections; with Zheng Tong, that Lianzhan Martial Artist, gone,

the remaining Bone Refining martial artists were like delicious pastries.

Da Hei swallowed them one by one.

Until the area was cleared, not a single enemy martial artist remained, and even the corpses of Zheng Tong and Li Qianshan were entirely devoured by Da Hei.

Visibly, Da Hei's belly had bulged.

Zhao Liu helped Cheng Feng up: "Master Cheng, you cannot sleep. We must go down the mountain; there is medicine below, we must stop the bleeding first."

Cheng Feng gritted his teeth and nodded: "That will do, Liuyuan... this was the final battle."

Even though Cheng Feng was severely wounded, he could lie on Da Hei's snake head, avoiding the jolting.

Da Hei led the way, injured, to clear the path.

Snake blood mixed with human blood, dripping onto the stone path of Liuyuan Mountain, winding all the way down.

As the mountain wind blew, the stench of blood dispersed into the forest.

The Qingxi County soldiers and Hong Sect disciples waiting at the foot of the mountain were overjoyed to see them descend,

but then they saw Cheng Feng's state and all turned pale.

The accompanying physician spent the night cleaning his wounds, setting his bones, and applying medicine.

The piercing wound in his left ribs was the most dangerous, missing his heart and lungs by only two inches;

his right wrist was fractured and would be unable to exert force for fifty or sixty days;

the five claw marks on his right shoulder were deep enough to see flesh.

The physician's hands were shaking, but Cheng Feng did not make a sound, biting down on a cloth roll, the veins on his forehead bulging.

At daybreak, the Ordinary captives on Liuyuan Mountain were escorted down the mountain in batches.

Over four hundred people knelt in a dense mass outside the camp, awaiting their fate.

Zhao Liu came out to relay the message: "Master Cheng says, those who wish to surrender may join the Hong Sect and be organized into the various counties for land reclamation.

Those who do not wish to surrender will be given travel expenses, must hand over their weapons, and leave the territory of Qingxi from this day forth.

If they return to commit crimes, they will be executed without exception."

The captives stirred for a moment, but in the end, only a dozen people chose to leave.

The rest were all willing to stay.

With this aftermath handled, the four counties were all pacified.

The foundation of the Red Lotus Sect around Qingxi was uprooted.

Of course, the news that those who left encountered a Strange Beast and were devoured would not be spread.

Three days later, Shiqiao County, Shuanghe County, Songling County, and Liuyuan County were shaken.

People on every street corner were discussing how a man named Cheng Feng had emerged in Qinghe County,

having slain the Red Lotus Sect Dharma King under his blade and raised a black snake to assault cities and break strongholds, invincible wherever he went.

The rumors grew more mystical, until later some even said that what he rode was not a snake, but a flood dragon.

At this time, Cheng Feng was lying in a tent, his left ribs wrapped in thick white cloth, his right arm in a sling across his chest, with only Da Hei coiled in a circle beside him, keeping watch.

Zhao Liu brought in medicine and, seeing him with his eyes open, said in a low voice: "Master Cheng, a letter has come from Qingxi County saying that Magistrate Li wishes to come to Liuyuan to see you in person."

Cheng Feng gave an "un," his gaze resting on the top of the tent, wondering what he was thinking.

After a long while, he suddenly spoke: "Zhao Liu, tell me... how are things going with Wei Zhuang regarding the road construction?"

Zhao Liu was stunned, then gave a bitter smile: "Master Cheng, you are injured to this extent, yet you are still thinking about building roads."

"If the roads are not open, the four counties are not truly held in our hands."

Cheng Feng said in a low voice, "The Red Lotus Sect is destroyed today, but there will be other sects tomorrow."

"Only when the roads are open can grain and salt move quickly, people move quickly, and information move quickly; only then can this game of chess be considered alive."

Zhao Liu was silent for a moment, then said: "Sect Master Wei does things steadily and will not make any mistakes."

Cheng Feng did not speak again and slowly closed his eyes.

Outside the tent, the mountain wind carried the sound of pine waves. Da Hei raised his head slightly, his golden pupils half-closed, his snake tongue flicking lightly, as if keeping watch.