Chapter Forty-Eight: The Arrival of Lu Li

City Lord Lingfeng carried a cup of tea to the window, took a gentle sip, and spoke without turning his head: “So, the best course for us is to watch the fire from across the river—help neither side, lest we draw disaster upon ourselves and end up with nothing but our own bones left!”

“But Father, dawn is near. The reinforcements the Lu family hired should arrive soon, just like those for Lu Li! What about the Ye family?” Ling Xiao asked hesitantly.

“Just wait and see. Whether the Ye family truly has ties to the Immortal Moon Pavilion will become clear as soon as day breaks.” Lingfeng gestured to Ling Xiao, signaling him to speak no further.

Lu Family.

Under the pale moonlight, fresh blood flowed at the feet of everyone present, corpses strewn in every direction as though they had stepped onto a battlefield—a scene now playing out once again in the small city of Ling.

In the Lu family’s martial arena, hundreds from both sides faced each other across a dozen paces. Each fighter’s body was stained with the blood of their adversaries; the hatred between them had long since grown irreconcilable.

“Hahaha! Ye Yunlong, did you expect this? The infamous Three Ghosts are here to aid my Lu family!” Lu Wushuang laughed heartily. “Even if the men of Clearwind Fortress support you, so what? Once dawn breaks, Ling City will fall into the palm of my Lu family all the same!”

He stared at Ye Yunlong, who stood spear in hand at the front of his group. Ye Yunlong bore bloody wounds on his shoulder, leg, and back. Though hastily bandaged, the blood continued to seep through. He faced Lu Wushuang, whose mocking laughter had not ceased.

Lu Wushuang himself gripped a broadsword, his other shoulder pierced through, while a thin wound trailed along his neck—one inch deeper, and his life would have been forfeit. Clearly, every injury on both men had been dealt by the other; neither had gained any real advantage.

Ye Yunlong sneered, “If my Breaker Spear had struck a little truer, would there still be room for your petty arrogance?”

“Hahahaha! So you see, even the heavens favor my Lu family, favor me, Lu Wushuang!” Lu Wushuang’s expression darkened; it was clear he had suffered at Ye Yunlong’s hands.

He pointed his broadsword at Ye Yunlong and declared, “Ye Yunlong, you have half an hour left! Once dawn breaks, my son will arrive, and the Ye family’s luck will run dry. Kneel! If you kneel before me, I’ll spare your life!”

“Bah! Hahaha, you said the same thing last time—how did that work out for you, old dog? Don’t get cocky. It’s not over until it’s over!” Ye Yunlong retorted.

“All talk and bluster! Last time you had that white-haired brat to save you—where is he now, I wonder? Did he die in his madness last time?” Lu Wushuang’s laughter was sly and cold.

“You seek death!” Ye Ruyue could no longer contain herself. Night Wuyai had vanished for two days without a trace, and now someone dared curse her husband. Though she was always meek around Night Wuyai, that did not mean she feared Lu Wushuang.

Let none forget—Ye Ruyue and Ye Ruxue were both masters at the fifth tier of the Spirit Gathering Realm. Among those present, only the eldest Ghost, at the seventh tier, surpassed them. The second and third Ghosts, both at the sixth tier, were currently locking Ye Ruyue and Ye Ruxue in a stalemate, neither side able to prevail after a night of combat.

The eldest Ghost, meanwhile, was held in check by Qing Bingxian, chief of Clearwind Fortress.

Ye Yunlong and Lu Wushuang both fought at around the fourth tier, while the four family elders, along with Ye Yunhu, Ye Yunwu, and Ye Yunque, were at the third or fourth tier. Additionally, Qing Yunfei, chief of Clearwind Fortress, had brought several other household heads, all at the Spirit Gathering stage.

The Ye family thus boasted around fourteen Spirit Gathering experts. The combined forces of the Lu and Mu families, along with a few other Spirit Gathering cultivators they could muster, were just barely able to match the Ye family’s strength.

Every single person on the field was exhausted; they had fought through the night, grown used to the sight of blood and the deaths of friends and brothers at their feet. Each one’s eyes were red with hatred, yearning to slaughter the enemy to the very last man.

“Well, well, little lady, still so energetic after our night together—impressive, truly impressive!” The Second Ghost, with his pockmarked face and missing front teeth, jeered, his words whistling through the gaps.

“Shameless cur!” Ye Ruyue replied coldly.

“Shameless, am I? Look at you and your sister—curves like those, legs so long. You shouldn’t call people shameless until you’ve joined me in bed. I guarantee you’ll both be left breathless with desire,” Second Ghost continued his lewd taunts.

“Shut your mouth!” Ye Ruxue was clearly infuriated, gripping her sword tightly and ready to charge.

“Don’t be rash, Xue’er!” Ye Ruyue quickly pulled her sister back.

“Getting impatient, little lady? Come over here and let me show you some real affection!” Third Ghost called, his voice shrill as a cat’s wail, his own broken teeth on full display.

“Come here, darling! I’ve never enjoyed such a beautiful little fairy before,” Second Ghost chimed in with a lecherous grin.

“Humph!” Ye Ruxue sheathed her sword, ignoring the provocations and returning to the Ye family’s ranks.

“Oh, look at that—she’s angry now. Makes me want to pity her even more…” The taunting from across the field continued.

Ye Ruxue glanced at Ye Ruyue, then turned away, refusing to listen to their verminous taunts.

The Three Ghosts were all demonic cultivators, bloodthirsty fiends who preyed especially on young women, always violating and murdering before draining their blood for cultivation—unspeakably cruel.

“Yuer, Xue’er, Ye Tian, Ye Qing, Yunque! Come here!” Ye Yunlong called his people together.

The Ye family gathered around him as he addressed them: “Yunque, listen well. Soon, we’ll stay behind and hold off the Lu and Mu families. The brothers from Clearwind Fortress will carve a path for you to escape with the younger generation. Flee as far as you can—do not return until you have the strength!”

“No, Uncle. As a son of the Ye family, how can I flee the battlefield?” Ye Tian protested.

“Father, we’re not leaving either. We’ll stay and fight,” said Ye Ruyue and Ye Ruxue.

“I’m not going,” Ye Yunque added coldly.

“Nonsense! Yunque, you’re over twenty now—stop behaving like the youngsters!” Ye Yunlong scolded.

“How am I acting rashly? If we leave, do you think you’ll survive?” Ye Yunque retorted, equally upset.

“Your staying only adds more bodies for the Lu and Mu families! You are all blessed with talent; as long as you live, our family has hope. If we old men die, that’s nothing—but if you all perish, who will avenge the ten thousand lives of the Ye family?” Ye Yunlong’s tone was grave.

“Listen to Brother Yunlong,” interrupted a burly man who squeezed in, axes in hand.

Seeing the black-haired giant, Ye Yunque and the others fell silent. He had rushed here from Clearwind Fortress, a hundred miles away, fighting for three days and losing so many of his own—an unrepayable debt.

Looking at his friend, Ye Yunlong forced a bitter smile and sighed. “Brother Yunfei, I owe you so much. So many of your brothers have died for us…”

“Enough apologies! I’m a simple man. In Clearwind Fortress, we have one rule: repay kindness with kindness, vengeance with vengeance! You’re the one who should be angry—I brought so many men and still couldn’t help. I led them here; it’s my duty to bring them home. In the end, we have to count on you to cover our retreat. If it were just me, I’d stay and fight by your side to the end.” The big man’s voice was rough but sincere.

“Don’t say that, Yunfei. Taking our younger generation is the greatest kindness you could show us,” Ye Yunlong said, stepping forward to embrace Qing Yunfei and clapping him on the shoulder.

“Get ready—we’ll charge out in one go. If we get bogged down, there’ll be no escape,” Ye Yunlong said grimly.

“Alright. I’ll gather my men. You all stick close, don’t get separated,” the big man instructed Ye Yunque, Ye Ruyue, and the others.

Everything was in place.

Now, all that remained was to provoke the enemy, creating an opening for Clearwind Fortress to break through.

As long as the young ones escaped, they could fight with all their might—every enemy killed was a victory.

Ye Yunlong, with Ye Yunhu, Ye Yunwu, and the four elders, moved to the front.

The Lu and Mu families, who had been watching closely, saw this and Lu Wushuang called out with a laugh, “What now, Ye Yunlong? Ready to kneel and beg for mercy?”

“Ha! You think you’re worthy? I, Ye Yunlong, fear neither heaven nor earth, and I’d never beg you. Don’t flatter yourself!” Ye Yunlong scoffed.

“Not surrendering? What else can you do? Do you not care for the thousands of lives left in your family?” Lu Wushuang eyed him suspiciously, unable to guess his intent.

“Hah! Do you think the mighty Ye family fears the likes of you?!” Ye Yunlong pointed his spear boldly at Lu Wushuang.

He shouted, “Ye family’s lions, awaken! Show them we are not to be trifled with—even in death, drag one down with you!”

“Kill!”

Ye Yunlong led the charge straight at Lu Wushuang.

Behind him, thousands surged forward.

Seeing the overwhelming momentum, Lu Wushuang remained still, raising his blade and shouting, “With me! Attack!”

“Master, Clearwind Fortress is escaping!” a Lu family guard cried, spotting the Ye family’s rear guard breaking away in another direction.

“Stop them! No one escapes!” Lu Wushuang bellowed.

“Father, rest assured, not one will get away!” A clear, youthful voice echoed across the field.

From the distant sky, atop a flying ship, a lone young figure stood proudly at the bow.

“Li’er!”