This response strategy is not particularly brilliant, but it's the best choice at the moment.

After all, the greatest advantage on our side is the elevated terrain and the towering temple gate.

And facing a group of aggressive bandits, making such a calm decision in such a short time, especially by a young lady from the inner chambers, is impressive enough.

At least, Zhao Ya thought so.

He immediately shouted, "Everyone, listen to the young lady!"

As he said this, he was the first to rush out of the temple gate and set up a formation.

This action awoke the uneasy guards, and they sprang into action.

Looking at the somewhat chaotic formation, Zhao Ya couldn't help but shake his head silently.

Like himself, most of these guards had been recently recruited into the Song Family. While their individual abilities were okay, their teamwork was lacking; simply put, they were a ragtag bunch.

Fortunately, Song Peiwan made a timely decision, or Zhao Ya and the others might have been fighting on their own.

In any case, these guards managed to form three small teams, while Ma Ling arrived with his men.

At times like this, there's nothing to say; once you meet, it's fight!

As the fight began, Zhao Ya couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

He initially thought his side was just a rabble, but it seemed Ma Ling's men weren't much better.

They, too, had a chaotic formation, attacking like a swarm of bees.

Yet, thanks to the advantageous terrain, they managed to suppress the first wave of attacks from the other side.

When you think about it, it's not too surprising. Even though Cyan Bamboo Ridge is powerful, it's still just a group of bandits, with all kinds of people mixed in.

It's mainly leaders like Ma Ling who are more formidable.

If even the ordinary bandits of Cyan Bamboo Ridge were disciplined and obedient, they might have already invaded the commandery city.

Even the elite troops of Great Yan can't claim to be very disciplined!

In fact, throughout history, only one army has ever truly embodied the eight words "disciplined and obedient."

Calming himself slightly, Zhao Ya dealt with the bandits ahead while glancing at Ma Ling in the distance.

He didn't join the battle but stood distantly supervising with a spear in hand.

This was the third time Zhao Ya met Ma Ling, but Ma Ling had no idea Zhao Ya existed.

Even now, because Zhao Ya deliberately hid his strength and didn't use the Meteorite Iron Saber, opting instead for the long saber provided by the Song Family, Ma Ling paid him no attention.

Ma Ling watched coldly, not the least bit anxious even as his men were held back, suffering occasional casualties. Instead, there was a hint of a cold smile on his face.

Seeing this, Zhao Ya felt a stir in his heart.

What's he smiling about?

Could there be some hidden card?

The more Zhao Ya thought about it, the more he believed it was possible.

After all, since Ma Ling dared to kidnap Song Peiwan, he wouldn't give up so easily.

But what could their hidden card be?

Just as Zhao Ya was pondering this, another group of people rushed up the mountain path, led by a Daoist priest.

The priest appeared to be forty or fifty years old, with a goatee, and his triangular eyes showed no trace of a monk's compassion but were filled with malice.

The people behind him all held peculiar devices, resembling oversized syringes.

Upon seeing this Daoist, Ma Ling was thrilled, hurrying forward to greet him.

"Third Brother Huo!"

"Laoliu, are these the Song Family people?" The Daoist asked coldly.

"Yes, the lady in white watching the battle from behind the temple gate is Song Linqing's sister, Song Peiwan." Ma Ling quickly introduced, speaking with great respect.

He had to be respectful because the man was the third village chief of Cyan Bamboo Ridge, known as the Fire Dragon Daoist, Huo Tianxiao.

This man not only had peak third-level cultivation but was also notorious for his fire-starting skills. The fires he set could burn until flesh and bones turned to ash unless dealt with quickly and effectively—a truly terrifying prospect.

Huo Tianxiao glanced at Song Peiwan behind the temple gate, then at the stalemate battlefield, and couldn't help but sneer.

"Can't you even handle this number of people, Laoliu? It looks like you've grown less competent with age!"

"You're right, Third Brother!" Ma Ling hung his head in agreement, adopting a very humble stance.

Seeing this, Huo Tianxiao didn't press further, "Alright, have your men fall back!"

"Understood!"

Ma Ling then sounded a whistle, and his men began retreating chaotically.

The Song Family's guards didn't pursue; they were too exhausted to do so. While the battle didn't cause heavy casualties, it greatly drained their energy.

Most of the guards were gasping for breath, propping themselves up with their sabers, feeling relieved.

To them, the bandits' sudden retreat seemed like they were giving up.

But Zhao Ya didn't think so; he had long noticed Huo Tianxiao and his followers arriving, particularly those peculiar devices in their hands.

What on earth are those?

Though he couldn't hear Huo Tianxiao's conversation with Ma Ling, Zhao Ya wasn't naïve enough to think those devices were just for fun.

Instead, a sense of foreboding surfaced in his mind.

As soon as Ma Ling's men retreated, Huo Tianxiao waved his hand.

"Do it!"

At his command, his men surged forward, raising their devices, pointing them to the sky, and activating the switches.

Sizzling!

Amidst the hissing sound, jets of black liquid shot into the air, then rained down on everyone.

Zhao Ya shuddered violently.

Because he smelled a pungent oily odor and instantly realized what they intended.

"Retreat quickly!"

All he could do was shout a warning and then dash into the temple gate.

As he ran, Zhao Ya covered his head with his outer garment, and once inside, he tossed the oil-stained clothing aside.

The other guards didn't react as quickly as Zhao Ya.

Some even laughed.

"Scared off by a little black oil. That's just…."

Before they could finish, there was a loud boom, and flames soared.

Anything touched by the black oil burst into flames, and these blazes were swift and tenacious.

No matter how the guards rolled and shouted, they couldn't extinguish the fire, which only grew fiercer.

"Help... help me!" Someone crawled painfully to the temple gate, reaching out to those inside for help.

The monks of the Great Buddha Temple were petrified, and Song Peiwan's face was extremely grave. No one knew how to cope with this sudden development.

Just then, Zhao Ya came running with a large incense burner, flipping it over so that all the ash fell onto the burning person.

The fierce flames, once covered by the thick incense ash, were surprisingly extinguished.

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