freenovelworld Chapter 829 The dust has settled, but the aftershocks have not yet subsided (2) Blood-red sunset, th
Chapter 829 The dust has settled, but the aftershocks have not yet subsided (2) Blood-red sunset, th
As Ma San's final, incredulous, and venomous roar faded into the air, his massive body crashed to the ground, raising a cloud of blood. A suffocating silence instantly enveloped the main hall of Jing'an City.
The heavy stench of blood, like a tangible fog, permeated every corner, irritating the survivors' nostrils and serving as a stark reminder of the brutal battle that had just ended. Corpses lay scattered on the ground, some of rebels, others of guards loyal to the city lord's mansion. The groans of the wounded were weak and intermittent, like candles flickering in the wind, threatening to be extinguished at any moment. Broken tables and chairs, scattered weapons, blood-splattered beams and pillars… all combined to create a scene of utter hell.
Lin Xiaoyan stood silently amidst the chaos and corpses. Her once pristine white dress was now stained with dark red blood, revealing pale skin beneath through several tears. Her face, usually either charming or aloof, was now covered in frost, but after the initial violent turmoil, her eyes gradually regained a strange calm.
She had just personally ended Ma San's life, this traitor, one of the culprits who brought endless disaster to Jing'an City. Not long ago, she had teetered on the brink of death, only to be resurrected by the power of a "secret technique," breaking through her bottleneck in a desperate situation and advancing her martial arts to a completely new level. Logically, having experienced such a tremendous turn of events—resurrection, increased strength, and a successful counterattack—she should have been filled with ecstasy and excitement.
However, it did not.
What welled up within her was a sense of ease after an extreme heaviness, a relief that felt like a weight had been lifted. It was as if a traveler burdened with an immense weight had finally arrived at a resting place. But beneath this calm, undercurrents still surged: endless weariness, the pain of witnessing carnage, mourning for the lost lives, and a trace of… bewilderment about her own power and the act of killing. She slowly closed her eyes, took a deep breath of air mingled with blood and dust, and when she opened them again, that bewilderment was now covered by a layer of ice.
Now is not the time to indulge in personal emotions.
“Xiaoyan…” A slightly hoarse but concerned voice sounded beside me.
Bai Jie approached, her condition not much better. Her hair was disheveled, her clothes stained with blood, and she bore a deep, bone-revealing wound on her arm, clearly having endured a fierce battle. She first looked Lin Xiaoyan up and down with concern, then breathed a slight sigh of relief upon seeing that although Lin Xiaoyan was disheveled, her eyes were clear, and her breathing, though somewhat erratic, was steady. Then, her gaze fell upon Ma San's lifeless face on the ground, her eyes filled with complex emotions—hatred, pleasure, all ultimately culminating in a cold snort.
"It's over...for now," Bai Jie said softly.
Lin Xiaoyan nodded gently, her voice a little hoarse: "No, it's not completely over yet."
Her gaze swept across the main hall, then fell upon the gray sky outside. The last rays of the setting sun struggled to pierce through the clouds, dyeing the horizon an eerie blood-red hue, which reflected on the crumbling city walls, adding to the desolation.
“Although Ma San and Lieutenant General Liu have been executed, the main force of the rebel army has not been completely annihilated. These rebels have now lost their leader and will certainly fall into chaos and panic. However, this does not mean that we can let our guard down, because they may become even more violent and unpredictable as a result.” Lin Xiaoyan’s tone gradually returned to its usual calm and decisive state. “Black Iron City is still in danger and has not yet achieved true peace.”
Bai Jie wholeheartedly agreed, nodding and saying, "That's right, you're absolutely right. We absolutely cannot give the enemy any breathing room. We must seize this excellent opportunity, taking advantage of the rebels' escape, to concentrate our forces and launch a full-scale attack to wipe them out in one fell swoop, lest we leave behind a seed of disaster that could cause a great calamity in the future!"
Just then, a series of hurried and orderly footsteps sounded. Lin Ping, the eldest daughter of the Lin family and one of the main commanders of the guard force in this suppression operation, arrived at the main hall entrance with a team of guards with grim expressions and excellent equipment. Her armor was stained with blood, and her face showed the exhaustion of battle, but her eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. When she saw that Lin Xiaoyan and Bai Jie were safe and sound, and especially when she saw Ma San's corpse on the ground, a glint of light and relief flashed in her eyes.
"Second Sister! Miss Bai!" Lin Ping strode in, first bowing to Lin Xiaoyan. Although the news of Lin Xiaoyan's previous "death" had devastated her, seeing her sister "resurrected" and turning the tide filled her with excitement and relief. "The main hall has been completely cleared! The remnants of the rebel army..."
“They’ve already started to crumble.” Lin Xiaoyan interrupted her and gave the order directly, “Big sister, immediately gather all the guards we can use, including the city lord’s guards, family private soldiers, and the loyal servants we have temporarily organized, and form the first echelon to wipe them out.”
Lin Ping's spirits lifted, and she solemnly accepted the order: "Yes!"
“Your mission is,” Lin Xiaoyan walked to the map of Black Iron City hanging on the wall. Although the map was splattered with blood, its general outline was still clearly visible, “to immediately take control of the main streets, intersections, city gates, and key facilities such as granaries and armories. Hold them firmly to prevent the remnants of the rebel army from breaking through the gates or attacking these vital locations. At the same time, conduct preliminary mopping-up operations and expulsion of the small groups of rebels scattered throughout the city, compressing their space for maneuver.”
"Understood!" Lin Ping's gaze was firm. "I will complete the deployment as soon as possible!"
"Where are Lin Xue and Zhou Mi?" Lin Xiaoyan asked. Lin Xue's "Night Owl Guard" is the Lin family's most elite intelligence and assassination force, specializing in infiltration, reconnaissance, and precision strikes. Zhou Mi's "Night Shadow" special female soldier squad is a secret force that Lin Xiaoyan personally built and trained. It is small in number, but each member is a top-notch expert, skilled in close combat, infiltration, and combat in complex environments.
“They had already moved out according to plan when Ma San was besieged,” Lin Ping replied. “Lin Xue’s ‘Night Owl Guard’ should have already taken control of several key high points and intelligence nodes, and has begun to target and eliminate mid-level leaders of the rebels. Zhou Mi’s ‘Night Shadow’ has broken into smaller groups and infiltrated areas where the rebels might be hiding or fleeing, to cooperate with our operation.”
A hint of approval flashed in Lin Xiaoyan's eyes. Lin Xue was calm and experienced, while Zhou Mi was brave and agile. With them around, the success rate of the operation would undoubtedly be greatly increased.
“Very good.” Lin Xiaoyan nodded and continued, “Pass on my order to have Lin Xue’s ‘Night Owl Guard’ increase their reconnaissance efforts, focusing on searching inns, abandoned houses, cellars, sewers, and any other places in the city where a large number of rebel remnants might be hiding. Once a target is discovered, do not alert them. Report immediately and begin surveillance and encirclement.”
"Yes, sir!" A communications soldier immediately bowed, accepted the order, and ran off quickly.
"Zhou Mi's 'Night Shadow' squad," Lin Xiaoyan continued, "let them utilize their flexibility and mobility to cooperate with the eldest sister's first echelon in quickly infiltrating, dividing, and annihilating the scattered small groups of rebels. They are elite troops, meant to tackle the toughest challenges and deal with those die-hards who stubbornly resist. Tell Zhou Mi to be mindful of her own safety and strive for the greatest victory with the least cost."
"Understood!" Another communications soldier quickly recorded and relayed the order.
Bai Jie watched Lin Xiaoyan issue commands methodically and decisively, and couldn't help but feel impressed. In such a short time, this second young lady, who had mostly been under Lin Ping's wing, had truly grown into a leader capable of standing alone and shouldering the safety of the entire family and even the city. Her breakthrough after her resurrection wasn't just in martial arts; it seemed to have also made her mind more mature and resilient.
"Xiaoyan, what about me?" Bai Jie volunteered, her fighting spirit soaring despite the pain from her arm wound.
Lin Xiaoyan looked at her injured arm: "Your injury needs to be treated."
"What's a little injury like this!" Bai Jie waved her hand dismissively. "Now is the time when we need manpower, how can I afford to stay in the back recovering from an injury?"
Lin Xiaoyan pondered for a moment and said, "Alright. Sister Bai, you are experienced and highly skilled in martial arts. You will lead a mobile squad composed of elite guards as my personal guard and general reserve. You will be responsible for supporting all parties, handling emergencies, and at the same time... protecting the safety of civilians in the city and preventing the rebels from resorting to desperate measures and harming innocent people."
Protecting civilians was something Bai Jie cared about very much, and she immediately nodded: "Don't worry, leave it to me! Anyone who dares to harm the people, my sword, Bai Jie's sword, will not discriminate!"
As orders were relayed down, the command system, which had been brought to a standstill and into chaos due to the battle in the main hall, quickly resumed operation under Lin Xiaoyan's direction, becoming efficient and orderly.
Lin Xiaoyan took one last look at the map, her gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping across every area of the city. She knew that the real test had only just begun. Street fighting, searches, mopping-up operations… this would be a tough and bloody tug-of-war.
"Go!" With Lin Xiaoyan's order, Lin Ping, Bai Jie, and the other generals who received the order turned around and led their respective teams like arrows released from a bow, rushing into the streets of Jing'an City, where dusk was falling and danger was lurking.
Silence returned to the main hall, broken only by the groans of the wounded and the faint sounds of battle cries in the distance. Lin Xiaoyan stood alone in the center of the empty hall, her back to the blood-red setting sun. She gently stroked the sword at her waist; the blade was cold, yet it seemed to give her strength.
"Father, Mother, Eldest Brother... and all those who have passed away," she murmured in her heart, "I will definitely protect Jing'an City and our home. I will use the blood of these rebels to comfort your souls in heaven!"
Having said that, she took a deep breath, straightened her back, and walked resolutely out of the hall. She wanted to see for herself where this decisive battle to wipe out Jing'an City would lead.
Chapter Two: Night Owl Hunts, Bloodshed in the Streets
Night falls in Jing'an City.
Normally, this time of day would be when the city lights are just coming on, the streets are bustling with activity, and wisps of smoke rise from chimneys. But tonight, the entire city is shrouded in a deathly silence and fear. The streets are deserted, every house has its doors and windows tightly shut, and only the occasional candle flickers behind a window, a flicker of terrified eyes peering into the darkness. The air is thick with the stench of blood and gunpowder, even stronger than during the day, mixed with a chilling sense of oppression.
However, beneath this deathly silence, countless figures roam, lurk, and hunt in the darkness.
In the south of the city, there stands a long-abandoned and somewhat dilapidated City God Temple. In the past, this temple was bustling with activity, with a constant stream of worshippers. But times have changed, and now it is deserted, covered with cobwebs, and the statues of the gods have long since tilted and collapsed, as if silently telling the story of the vicissitudes of time.
At this moment, a dozen rebel soldiers huddled in a corner of the main hall, their bodies trembling uncontrollably, their eyes filled with deep fear and despair. These men were originally garrison soldiers of Jing'an City, but fate had cruelly forced them to join the rebellion by General Liu. Just recently, the devastating news of General Ma San's death on the battlefield had struck like a thunderbolt, leaving them dizzy and bewildered. In an instant, this rabble scattered like headless flies, completely losing their will to fight and their sense of direction.
The dozen or so survivors were in a panic and ran frantically, eventually stumbling upon this place and finally getting a brief respite.
A grim-faced old soldier with a long, scarred scar on his face took a deep drag on his extremely poor-quality, foul-smelling pipe. Sparks flew from the pipe, and a pungent cloud of smoke billowed up and quickly filled the air. In the thick smoke, the old soldier's already gloomy face grew even darker, like the bottom of a pot: "He's dead! It's all over the main hall. Our leader was brutally murdered by that ruthless young lady from the Lin family! Even someone as capable as Lieutenant General Liu couldn't escape her clutches!"