On that night.

Li Xian gathered the nursing home guards at the Guardian Mansion, briefly informing them of the situation. Some followed with sincere hearts, while others harbored complaints. Yet all complied, forming neat ranks, donning armor and swords, with an imposing aura.

The last time Yellow Dragon oppressed the village, the soldiers were captured and later sent to the Prefecture City. However, their weapons, horses, and armor were left behind, with the good armor stored in the warehouse and the fine horses kept at Ma Village.

The guards were ready for battle as soldiers, with armor on their bodies and Inner Qi supporting them. They were all considered elite, with strong capabilities. Their usual training now found its use today.

To boost morale, Li Xian spent his own savings, rewarding each with varying amounts of silver, reaching dozens of taels each. All his savings were spent here, completely emptied out.

Thus, their momentum was overwhelming.

They awaited the time of the Chen hour, under the bright daylight, to break into the city.

...

On the other side.

Luo Xia donned the Fish Scale Armor, tying her long hair into a high ponytail. From under the bed, she took out a half-mask.

The red face was fierce, like a demon resembling Rakshasa. It covered her beautiful half-face, making her truly terrifying. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, unable to sleep all night.

She disassembled the water-carrying yoke and assembled it into a long spear. Practicing the 'Red Dragon Spear' throughout the night.

To kill on the battlefield, one should drink strong wine.

In recent days, Luo Xia had earned fifteen taels of silver. She used half to buy strong wine and now drank half a jar boldly, sitting quietly in the courtyard, calculating the time.

Around the Mao hour, when dawn was not yet fully bright. At the transition between day and night, people were most relaxed. Luo Xia hurried to the County Soldier Camp.

It was said that Cao Kai was suspicious and arrogant, looking down on everything in Qingning, employing only Prefecture Soldiers and Cao Soldiers. Firstly, they were elite, and secondly, loyal. Although there were many soldiers in the county, they were stranded in the camp and ignored.

"Who goes there?!"

The soldier on guard outside the camp had stayed half the night, his eyes hazy with sleep when suddenly, he saw a terrifying figure approaching. His drowsiness vanished instantly, and his hairs stood on end.

Luo Xia raised her waist token, her voice hoarse like a ghostly mutter, indistinguishable as male or female, "By the order of the County Magistrate, I am here to mobilize the county soldiers. You have half a quarter hour to assemble; anyone who circles around will be slain!"

The county soldier captain named "Commander Gutou," tall and burly with a stout figure, came over immediately upon hearing the commotion: "A message from the County Magistrate?"

Luo Xia tossed the waist token to him. Commander Gutou compared it, confirming its authenticity, frowning, and asked, "What else did the County Magistrate say? Why are we being assembled?"

Luo Xia glanced over. Her formidable presence emanated, overwhelming Commander Gutou who, despite being quite powerful, felt like a rabbit facing a tiger, filled with dread, breath caught in his chest, unable to swallow or spit it out, his face flushed purple.

"Are you the officer here?" Luo Xia barked: "Your military discipline is lax; in usual circumstances, I'd have you whipped twenty times. But today, the matter is urgent, so I'll let it go."

"Yes, yes." Commander Gutou felt reborn, having served twenty years, retired from the Prefecture City. Throughout his military career, he heard many tales and saw many formidable armies. This person's odd attire and intense aura indicated an extraordinary individual.

"You need not ask much, just follow my orders!" Luo Xia said flatly.

The undercurrents of Qingning County surged, thrillingly intense.

The next day.

During the Chen hour.

The daylight broke through, dark clouds hanging yet not dispersing. The birds were silent, and the mood was heavy.

The city gate commander was about to change shifts, opening the city gate as merchants and townspeople queued to enter. Suddenly, they saw dense smoke billowing in the distance and hundreds of people charging on horseback.

The city gate commander shouted, "Close the city gate, close the city gate! Clo..."

By the third word, an arrow flew through the air from afar, killing him on the spot. Li Xian shouted, "Innocent civilians, retreat swiftly to avoid getting hurt!"

His voice echoed. The civilians and merchants queuing to enter the city had never seen such a scene before, and in their panic, they fled through any available path, flooding into the city in a rush. The Prefecture Soldiers knew something was amiss and intended to close the city gate:

However, Li Xian's archery was precise, and shooting from horseback was a breeze. Even amidst chaotic civilians, he aimed directly at enemy throats, anyone attempting to close the gate was shot dead on the spot.

First, he killed the commander, leaving the group leaderless. Then he killed the Prefecture Soldiers, spreading terror. Thus, the city gate remained open, with no soldiers daring to risk closing it.

Li Xian, leading three hundred nursing home guards on swift horses, was like lightning. Having seen Yellow Dragon attack the city, he knew the city gate was a fortification; even three hundred, or three thousand, skilled in Martial Arts would struggle to breach it.

Disguising oneself to enter the city and creating chaos was a good plan but would inevitably lead to having no retreat, surrounded on all sides like a turtle in a jar. Instead, it was better to break through head-on with speed.

Thunderous methods! Swift and fierce!

At this moment, the shift-changing commander arrived, roaring, "Close the city gate, close it for me!"

He grabbed several men, tossing them toward the gate, kicking others to serve as human shields. Yet he feared the flying arrows and hid behind a cover.

With him overseeing, even with Li Xian's excellent archery, it would be hard to stop the closing of the gate. If the gate closed, the situation would surely reverse.

Li Xian was only about ten yards from the gate. He thought, "If the gate closes, we'll be at a disadvantage. No matter what, I must prevent this!" Clenching his thighs around the horse's belly, the steed, pained, galloped even faster.

The commander, fearing his might, ordered arrows to be shot. Li Xian used his sword to deflect them all.

When he was ten yards from the gate, Li Xian stepped on the horse's back, gently stroking the horse's head: "Good horse, bear with the pain." With a strong press, his body soared into the air, striking like a meteor, landing outside the gate.

The gate was almost closed, leaving only a narrow gap. The commander smiled with joy, and the Prefecture Soldiers cheered. Yet suddenly, they found that no matter what, they couldn't close the last half step.

Li Xian's hands had grasped the city gate. With the strength of one man, he resisted dozens!

"Use your strength! Damn it, use your strength!" The commander personally joined the effort but it was still a drop in the bucket. The gap slowly widened, his face twisted in horror, wondering how there could be such superhuman strength in the world.

Know that the city gate is as heavy as ten thousand jun, with molten silver inside, making it difficult to move. Moreover, behind the city gate, there are dozens of soldiers desperately pulling it closed.

Li Xian roared, and his heavy pupils opened instantly. His imposing manner made those soldiers weak in the knees, and even the battle-hardened generals were terrified.

Li Xian's strength was like a dragon or tiger, and his might resembled a celestial or Buddha. His Qi Lake spanned nineteen zhang, and he exerted all his strength to pull forcefully.

Using up a full ten zhang of Inner Qi, the city gate was pulled open enough for people to pass. Li Xian squeezed through, immediately slashing a wave of "Yang Yuan Sword Qi." Within three zhang, seven or eight soldiers were swept by the sword Qi and instantly died.

Li Xian looked around and thought: "This city gate is thick and heavy. Just by pushing and pulling the gate, I've used up more than half of my Inner Qi. I must use it more sparingly!"

Unsheathing the sword, he used the Daluo Saber Technique combined with the "Four Directions Fist," charging alone into the enemy army. Those who had just seen his heavy pupils were so frightened their legs went limp, unable to escape, and were immediately killed.

Nursing Home troops arrived under the city, took out iron chains, and tied them to the horses. Ding Hu shouted, "Giddy up!" The horses galloped and pulled the city gate. Dozens of strong Nursing Home troops pried open the city gate with both hands, pulling it wide open.

The city gate was almost unobstructed, Ding Hu led the charge, shouting, "Commander, I'm here to help you!" as he slashed several people with his saber.

Ding Hu had already mastered Blood Solidification and Aperture Closure. Li Xian usually entrusted him with trivial matters, so he cultivated him diligently, teaching him Martial Arts, imparting essential knowledge, and sharing with him the secret of "Food Essence."

However, the "Innate Washing Fetus Image" could not be practiced without the wife's permission. Ding Hu's killing power was very strong, forcing several government soldiers to dare not approach.

Three hundred Nursing Home troops entered in procession, both sides fighting intensely. The general angrily said, "Block them for me, reinforcements are on the way."

But how can they stop it? Li Xian's strength was boundless, just pulling the city gate had already intimidated all the soldiers. Within two zhang around him, no one dared approach. A glance from him, and the faint of heart nearly abandoned their weapons and fled.

Li Xian said loudly, "County Magistrate Cao Kai intends to rebel, I, the Martial Captain, am acting on behalf of heaven to punish the officials!"

Charging into the crowd, he kicked forcefully, knocking down more than ten people. Seeing this scene, the enemy army felt a chill in their hearts, such divine might, how can it be stopped?

A county magistrate rebelling, acting on behalf of heaven to punish an official... Such a thing has only been heard once in a few thousand years!

The Nursing Home troops were full of excitement, their morale skyrocketed. Ding Hu seized the moment and shouted, "Punish the corrupt official, raise the village's might!"

They then stormed into the city.

"Bold rebels, with unforgivable crimes, why don't you surrender quickly!" Suddenly, there was the sound of hoofbeats, and the Cao soldiers, wearing black armor and wielding Cao family's sabers, had already arrived as reinforcements.

There were dozens of them, followed by hundreds of government soldiers. The battle at the city gate was raging fiercely.

Meanwhile, within the Government Office, upon hearing the news, Cao Kai was shocked, then his face turned grim.

"That Li Xian is quite capable, I was merely convicting him, and he... he actually dares to claim he's acting on behalf of heaven and wants to kill me?!"

"Cao Nuwu, you go to the army camp, draft the county soldiers, we are many in number, let's show him what it means to be an overconfident mantis trying to stop a chariot."

"Hmph, today it's not him acting on heaven's behalf, but me exterminating rebels! Showcasing the Cao family's divine might!"

Cao Kai spoke loudly. The attendant "Cao Nuwu" immediately rushed to the camp. Yet, half a quarter of an hour later, he returned with a grim face: "County Magistrate, the camp is empty!"

"Empty?" Cao Kai asked: "Could it be that the county soldiers' commander has already led troops to intercept the rebels?"

"No..." Cao Nuwu said in horror, "I just saw the camp was empty, so I checked around. I found out... found out..."

"What exactly did you find?" Cao Kai asked angrily.

"I found the county soldiers seem to be heading towards the Government Office!" Cao Nuwu said.

"What!?" Cao Kai stood up from his chair, panic-stricken and filled with ominous feelings, "Rebelling, rebelling, I am the County Magistrate of Qingning County, they don't resist, why come to the Government Office? Are they rebelling too?"

"I... I don't know." Cao Nuwu stammered.

Cao Kai angrily said, "I'm not afraid of him, fine, fine, it's really turning the world upside down. Immediately convene the three halls and two factions, have them send people. I will wear armor, wield weapons, and fight him in battle, let's see who loses!"

...

Meanwhile on the other side.

The Cao soldiers and government soldiers' reinforcements had arrived, fighting at the city gate. Both sides were engaged in a bloody battle, swords and sabers clashing. Sparks and blood splattered.

Li Xian, unafraid, wielded his saber and charged at the Cao soldiers. He harbored deep hatred for the Cao family, so he first targeted the Cao soldiers. These Cao soldiers knew formations, attempting to encircle and kill Li Xian.

Li Xian was already on guard, not daring to go deep. After killing four or five Cao soldiers, he immediately withdrew. He never entered formations. In this way, the Cao soldiers couldn't capture him, leaving them helpless.

"The county soldiers are coming!"

Suddenly, there was the sound of hoofbeats again, another troop arrived. The county soldiers' commander, with a big belly, wielded the Guan Blade, and slashed towards the government soldiers.

The Cao soldiers and government soldiers were caught off guard, their morale was already weak. They relied on numbers to barely hold but secretly hoped that reinforcements would arrive quickly to resist together and break this stalemate.

However, the reinforcements, when they arrived, only killed their own. In an instant, emotions collapsed, morale dispersed, and they broke into disarray. Although the Cao soldiers were elite, in this situation, they could do nothing.

Soon, they were all slaughtered.

Li Xian was covered in blood, fierce and unmatched. He charged straight towards the Government Office, passing by civilian houses, he vaguely heard the cries of children.

Feeling apologetic in his heart, he realized this sudden move must have frightened the innocent.

Li Xian said loudly, "Dear fathers and elders, I am Martial Captain Li Xian. My target this time is Cao Kai, I will not harm you at all. You need not be afraid, just trouble yourselves to stay indoors for a day."

As soon as these words were spoken, the cries gradually subsided. Some even opened their windows to watch, seeing that it was indeed Li Xian, they smiled: "It really is the Martial Captain."

They were no longer afraid.

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