SWDnovel Chapter 91 Fierce Battle
Chapter 91 Fierce Battle
Chapter 90 The Counterattack
The garrison's study.
Liang Cheng's finger was still pressed on the missing points on the map. Lin Chong, Zhao Yuan, and Li Mu sat to his left, their expressions grim.
"Half a month, twelve people."
Liang Cheng's voice was calm. "It always happened during breaks in patrols, and each time no trace was left. Do you think it was done by a person or a ghost?"
Lin Chong's Adam's apple bobbed: "Governor, my father has repeatedly said that the root of Dongshan Mine is rotten, and even my Lin family cannot guarantee that we have completely eradicated the parasites."
Li Mu nodded. "That's right. To achieve this result, no one would believe it without an inside man."
Just as Liang Cheng was about to speak, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.
"guard!"
The door was flung open, and a garrison guard practically crawled in, his eyes filled with terror.
"Something's happened! The entire security team is wiped out!"
Liang Cheng put down his teacup and quickly stepped forward to help the guard up: "Don't panic! Tell me slowly, what exactly happened?"
The guard, panting heavily, tears streaming down his face, said, "We were escorting the third batch of ore this year to Linwu City. Two days ago, as we passed the narrow cliff at Sandao Gully, huge boulders suddenly rolled down from both sides of the mountain, blocking our way. Then arrows and oil canisters rained down on us, and the brothers had nowhere to hide!"
"Captain Chen, who was leading the team, tried to charge upwards with his men, but as soon as he showed his face, he was pinned to the rocks by three sword energies. I hid under the corpse and was lucky enough to escape with my life."
"After the bandits finished inventorying the goods, I got up and found everyone dead, including Lu Ming, the steward of the Lu family!"
After he finished speaking, the study fell into a deathly silence, and Lin Chong gasped in shock.
Liang Cheng's heart sank.
Chen Ping is dead?
The mole he had long suspected had actually been silenced?
With Chen Ping dead, all previous leads have been cut off; this silencing was incredibly timely.
There's also Lu Ming, the Lu family's manager at the Dongshan Mine. Because of Lu Qingzhou, he always cooperated with him, but he also died on the transport route.
Just then, Wu Zhenshan's face darkened, clearly he had also received the news. "Sitekeeper, something bad has happened. Chen Ping is dead, and the ore has been stolen."
Liang Cheng nodded.
Liang Cheng then said, "Treasurer Wu, I just found out about this. This is the only surviving guard."
Wu Zhenshan gently patted the guard's shoulder at this moment: "Thank you for your trouble. Go down and treat your injuries first. Leave this to us."
After his bodyguards were helped away, Wu Zhenshan slowly straightened up, turned to Liang Cheng, his face solemn and with a hint of worry.
He sighed, pressing his finger heavily on the three ditches on the map. "Lord Liang, the situation is dire. Chen Ping is a key figure in my Military Equipment Hall, and Lu Ming is a powerful ally of the Lu family. This shipment involves several other entities—"
"The bandits have laid an ambush here, knowing our itinerary inside and out. They came prepared to give us a taste of their own medicine!"
He looked at Liang Cheng and said sincerely, "Liang, the garrison commander has only been in charge of the mine for a short time, and he has encountered many troubles. I know the difficulties he has faced. Although we had some misunderstandings before, now that we are facing a formidable enemy, we should put aside our differences and cooperate sincerely."
The elite troops from the Armed Forces Hall that Wu brought are all at your command. The most urgent task is to recover the goods, capture and kill the perpetrators, and give everyone an explanation!
Liang Cheng remained calm on the surface, but inwardly he sneered. He cupped his hands and said, "Treasurer Wu is very understanding and righteous. I am extremely grateful. The loss of Sandaogou is largely due to the garrison's fault. However, the bandits' plan was meticulous and there must have been an inside man. I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly."
Wu Zhenshan immediately nodded: "That's exactly right, but the goods are lost, and everyone is pressing us for answers. Time is of the essence."
He looked troubled at this moment, as if he was thinking of Liang Cheng. "Zhen Shou Liang has to hunt down the murderer, investigate the missing miners, and appease the families. I'm afraid he can't manage all of these things at once."
"Wu has been in Linwu City for many years and has some influence with various families. Perhaps he can temporarily take over the task of coordination, so that you can concentrate on investigating the Sandaogou case."
Liang Cheng's gaze sharpened; Wu Zhenshan was after power.
He flatly refused: "I appreciate Treasurer Wu's kindness, but I can handle things myself. As for the matter of pursuing the murderer, I have my own plans."
Wu Zhenshan's smile froze for a moment, then quickly returned to normal: "Very well, very well. Then I, Wu, will await Commander Liang's arrangements and be ready to obey orders at any time without complaint."
The next morning, Lu Qingzhou arrived, looking travel-worn.
When they saw Lu Ming's body in the morgue, his back was ramrod straight, his fingers were clenched tightly, his knuckles were white, and it took him a long time to squeeze out a sentence through his teeth.
"Brother Liang, Lu Ming has been with me for over ten years. He has always been hardworking and conscientious, and has never made a mistake. I never expected this—"
Lu Qingzhou paused, then turned around, his eyes filled with coldness: "Brother Liang, the power of the Lu family is at your disposal. This grudge will be avenged."
Liang Cheng solemnly clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Brother Lu, please accept my condolences. I, Liang, will personally kill the murderer to comfort your spirit in heaven."
Lu Qingzhou calmed himself down and reminded him, "The disappearance of the Sandao Gou mine is a serious matter. I'm afraid the other mines will be here soon, so you need to be careful."
Before Liang Cheng could even express his gratitude, the sound of horses' hooves rose again outside the courtyard.
Qin Huaiyu strode in, his face filled with urgency and worry: "Brother Liang, Wuxing Iron has been robbed, and my father is pressing me for answers. How is the situation on your end? Any leads?"
There was some worry in his tone, after all, he had some past acquaintance with Liang Cheng. Just as Liang Cheng was about to answer, Wu Zhenshan led in a scholar in a blue robe.
"Lord Liang, this is Steward Zhou Jin from the Internal Affairs Department of the City Lord's Mansion."
Zhou Jin bowed gently and said, "I have come on the orders of the city lord to offer my condolences and convey his message that this case will be handled entirely by Garrison Commander Liang, and all parties must cooperate fully."
In an instant, the small courtyard was filled with people from the Martial Arts Hall, the Lu family, the Qin family, and the City Lord's Mansion, creating a solemn atmosphere.
Liang Cheng surveyed the crowd and declared resolutely, "Gentlemen, the goods were robbed within my jurisdiction, and the responsibility lies with me. I, Liang, hereby swear that I will recover the goods and bring the culprit to justice!"
He walked to the map and pointed to Laoya Mountain: "The bandits were carrying heavy goods, so they couldn't have gone far. According to the guard's account and the traces left at the scene afterward, the bandits should have fled northeast after checking the goods."
"Thirty miles to the northeast, only the underground river of Laoyashan can hide a large number of goods and people. I will set off immediately and personally lead the elite troops to pursue them. During this period, the mining area will be temporarily managed by Lin Chong and completely sealed off. No one is allowed to enter or leave. I hope everyone will cooperate."
Wu Zhenshan immediately responded, "That's only right. Wu and Deacon Zhou will stay here to hold the fort and stabilize the rear for Liang!"
Zhou Jin smiled and nodded: "I, Zhou, will await good news here."
Liang Cheng said no more, and looked at Zhao Yuan and Li Mu: "Take fifty of your most capable personal guards, with sufficient equipment, and set off immediately!"
Lu Qingzhou and Qin Huaiyu stepped forward simultaneously, saying, "We'll go with you!"
Liang Cheng thought for a moment and nodded in agreement: "Okay, but you must obey my orders on this mission."
"Of course."
"drive!"
Liang Cheng took the lead, followed closely by Zhao Yuan and Li Mu with fifty elite guards. Lu Qingzhou, Qin Huaiyu, and others rode up and broke through the morning mist, heading straight for Laoya Mountain.
Garrison post.
Wu Zhenshan and Zhou Jin watched Liang Cheng leave. Zhou Jin then asked softly, "Treasurer Wu, what are your chances of winning this mission, Garrison Commander Liang?"
Wu Zhenshan slowly said, "Zhou Shou is young and ambitious, which is a good thing. However, the terrain of Laoyashan is crisscrossed by underground rivers and is treacherous. If the bandits really have an inside man to guide them, I'm afraid it will be difficult to find him."
He paused, looked at Zhou Jin, and gave a meaningful smile: "Besides, if bandits can rob with such precision, how could they not have a backup plan?"
"I fear that Liang Zhenshou's journey will be fraught with difficulties."
Zhou Jin's eyes flickered slightly, but she said no more.
He remembered what Shen Wenyuan had told him before he came.
"If things don't go as planned, protect Liang Cheng."
In the early morning, the fog on Laoyashan Mountain is thicker than that at Dongshan Mine.
Liang Cheng reined in his horse and stopped at the foot of the mountain. His fifty personal guards, Lu Qingzhou, Qin Huaiyu, and others also stopped.
"map."
-
Zhao Yuan immediately handed over the map, which Liang Cheng unfolded, his gaze falling on the markings of several underground river entrances circled in vermilion.
Laoya Mountain is shaped like a crouching giant crow, with three main ridges intersecting, and a dense network of underground rivers and numerous branching paths like a spider web.
"There are three main channels of the underground river, and no fewer than twenty branch channels."
Lu Qingzhou rode forward, his brows furrowed slightly. "If the bandits are really hiding among them, searching them one by one would probably take more than a month."
The two old craftsmen from the Qin family that Qin Huaiyu brought were also inspecting the terrain. One of them squatted down, grabbed a handful of soil and smelled it, then picked up a few pieces of gravel to examine them carefully before standing up and shaking his head.
"There are no signs of a large group of people passing through this area. If it really was a convoy that hijacked a heavy cargo, it would be impossible not to leave traces."
Li Mu returned from scouting ahead and whispered, "Senior brother, there's a gentle slope three miles ahead where we found wheel tracks, but they disappear at the edge of a cliff. There's the sound of flowing water below the cliff, so it should be one of the entrances to an underground river."
As Liang Cheng listened, his gaze turned northeast.
"Zhao Yuan, Li Mu, come with me for a moment."
Liang Cheng suddenly spoke, dismounted and walked to the side. Lu Qingzhou and Qin Huaiyu exchanged glances, thought for a moment and did not follow.
Liang Cheng whispered a few words to Zhao Yuan and Li Mu, who looked astonished, and then nodded emphatically.
Liang Cheng then returned and bowed to Lu Qingzhou and Qin Huaiyu. "Senior Brother Lu, Brother Qin, I plan to split into three teams to search the three main underground river channels. I would like to ask that you two lead one team with your best fighters, and Zhao Yuan and Li Mu each lead another team. Is that alright?"
Lu Qingzhou was taken aback: "Brother Liang, what about you?"
Liang Cheng pointed to an unmarked blank area on the edge of the map. "I traveled alone. This is the most dangerous place, rarely visited by people. But if I were a bandit and needed to hide a large amount of goods, I would choose this place."
Qin Huaiyu hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded: "Very well, Brother Liang, please be careful."
Liang Cheng said no more, but gave Zhao Yuan and Li Mu a wink, and the two understood and nodded.
"Set off!"
More than fifty people were divided into three teams and disappeared into the thick fog and forest.
Liang Cheng rushed towards that empty, dangerous spot, but a moment later, he leaped directly into the canopy of an ancient tree and stood there, holding his breath.
After a stick of incense had burned, three masked figures emerged silently from the woods behind them. After looking around for a moment, one of them turned back, while the other two gritted their teeth and headed towards the dangerous northeast.
Sure enough, someone was watching.
Liang Cheng's eyes were icy cold.
He floated down from the tree and chased after the two informants. In no time, he caught up with them. The two were terrified and had no time to make a move. Liang Cheng's blade struck out with the force of wind and thunder.
With a single strike, two more souls perished.
Without hesitation, Liang Cheng removed their masks, his brows furrowed. He looked somewhat familiar; they seemed to be the outer guards of the Lin family.
He then searched around for a while but found nothing. He then turned around and sped off in the direction of the Dongshan Mine he had come from.
Liang Cheng couldn't understand why the Zoroastrian Church, which had been lying low for eight years, would be so unwise. The robbery was too big a commotion and would inevitably attract investigation from all sides.
Unless the robbery is just a pretext, and the real purpose is to lure the enemy away, then I will not do as he wishes and will launch a surprise attack.
At the same time, Dongshan Mine.
Wu Zhenshan stood in the courtyard, his hands behind his back, gazing in the direction of Laoyashan.
A man dressed in ordinary miner's clothes strode closer and whispered, "Treasurer, Liang Cheng has already sent some troops into the mountains. He himself has gone alone to the dangerous northeastern region."
Wu Zhenshan raised an eyebrow. "Oh? He went to the most dangerous spot himself?"
"Yes, our people are keeping an eye on things and have confirmed that all the troops have entered the mountains and won't be coming out anytime soon."
Wu Zhenshan nodded, waved for the man to leave, and turned to walk towards the town's garrison. Zhou Jin was in the side room reviewing the recent mining records of Dongshan Mine.
"Deacon Zhou."
Wu Zhenshan smiled gently, "Since Commander Liang has gone into the mountains to hunt down the killer, we can't just sit idly by. The mines have been in a state of panic these past few days. I'd like to inspect each mine shaft to reassure the miners and also check for any other clues. Would you like to come along, Steward?"
Zhou Jin put down the dossier, pondered for a moment, and said, "Treasurer Wu can go on his own. The city lord ordered me to stay here to coordinate, so I will remain in the office and deal with any news promptly."
"Alright, I'll be right back."
He walked out of the garrison and seemingly casually headed towards the main mining area, but halfway there, he suddenly turned and entered a secluded, narrow alley filled with waste ore, a place rarely visited by anyone.
At the end of the alley, a figure in a gray robe was already waiting; it was none other than the Zoroastrian protector from before.
"Liang Cheng is gone?"
"They've gone into the mountains. All the men have scattered, and they won't be back for at least ten days."
Wu Zhenshan said calmly, "Zhou Jin is currently staying at the garrison, but he is not familiar with the situation at the mine and will not wander off easily."
A low chuckle came from beneath the gray-robed man's hood: "Good, the altar is ready, and the blood sample is sufficient. We can open the altar at midnight tonight."
Wu Zhenshan's eyes narrowed: "Can that thing really manifest after a blood sacrifice?"
"The blood marrow jade buried eight years ago has taken initial shape after being nourished by two blood sacrifices. If Liang Cheng hadn't tricked me before, the effect would probably have been even better."
"However, this time, although it is only a prototype, the essence of blood and qi contained within it is enough to allow your cultivation to advance further."
Wu Zhenshan was silent for a moment, then said, "Don't make too much noise. Zhou Jin can't die here, or it'll be hard to explain."
"Don't worry, the Lin family is ignorant. Let's use them as a guinea pig first. Ordinary miners are no match for them. We've been cooperating for so long, and we've never made a mistake. Just wait to get the Blood Marrow Jade Seed and improve your cultivation."
Wu Zhenshan shook his head: "Lin Yue is seriously injured, and the Lin family is already trapped. I need to show myself in front of Zhou Jin and can't give myself away."
The gray-robed protector sneered, "Heh, Treasurer Wu is indeed cautious. Rest assured, the Blood Marrow Jade Seed will be presented at the appropriate time."
After saying that, the gray-robed man's figure flickered and he disappeared.
Wu Zhenshan stood there, gazing at the faint outline of the mine shaft visible outside the alley, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
Then no one noticed that the Lin family guards had mysteriously disappeared, and the elite soldiers of the Armed Forces Hall seemed to have seen nothing.
Lin House.
Lin Yue is currently recovering from his injury.
Suddenly Lin Mao burst in, looking terrified.
"Master, the young master has gone missing."
"What?"
Lin Yue's eyes widened suddenly. The next moment, he propped himself up, drew the twin halberds from beside the bed, and said, "What happened? Tell me in detail."
As Lin Mao introduced the product, he approached and suddenly threw out a packet of powder. Lin Yue was startled and immediately activated his true energy to protect himself.
"Lin Mao, why?"
-
"My son died in the mine eight years ago, and you stood by and watched him die in order to cover it up. And now you're asking me why?"
"And then there's that idiot Lin Fu, who was incompetent. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been exposed. He deserved to die. He wasted so much time."
The next moment, Wu Zhenshan and a gray-robed figure suddenly appeared. Lin Yue, who was already seriously injured, could not react at all. He was attacked by the two of them, his true qi protection was broken, and he inhaled the powder. His true qi in his body stagnated, and before long, he fainted under the combined attack of the two.
At this moment, the gray-robed protector gave a cold smile.
"Lin Mao, the entire Lin family, leave no one alive."
"Yes."
midnight.
Deep within the Dongshan Mine, below the No. 3 Mine, in a hidden crevice, lies a cave far more expansive than the one where Liang Chenglin and Yue had their fierce battle. In the center of the cave, an altar more than three times larger than before has been built.
The altar is nine-sided, with a black banner with blood patterns stuck in each corner. The surface of the altar is covered with twisted runes, and in the central depression, there are hundreds of dark red "blood marrow jade" raw stones, which are now emitting an eerie blood light.
Nine Zoroastrians dressed in gray robes stood at the nine corners of the altar, chanting incantations.
Below the altar, twelve miners and more than one hundred members of the Lin family were all bound to the ground, their faces pale and their eyes filled with despair.
Lin Yue was unconscious, lying in the very center.
-
On a protruding rock high in the grotto, the gray-robed protector stood with his hands behind his back. Behind him stood two black-robed figures with a chilling aura, both wearing ghost masks.
Lin Mao looked at the Lin family with a fawning expression and eyes full of satisfaction. "My lord, thank you for your generous help. My wish has been fulfilled."
"Really?"
"More real than pure gold, may our Holy Church live on forever!"
"That's good!"
The next moment, the gray-robed protector flicked his finger, and true energy shot out. "Since you are grateful to the Holy Church, then you shall dedicate your life to the Holy Church, become the bloodline, and pave the way for the Holy Sacrifice."
Before Lin Mao could react, he was sent flying backward and crashed onto the altar, unable to move, his face filled with despair.
"The time is approaching."
The gray-robed protector's voice was hoarse, "Open the altar, blood sacrifice!"
Nine believers simultaneously slit their wrists, their blood dripping into the grooves along the rim of the altar. The blood spread rapidly along the runes, and the blood-red light on the entire altar suddenly surged!
The miners and the Lin family below the altar began to struggle violently, but they could not make a sound. The gray-robed protector's eyes flashed with blood, and he raised his right hand to strike.
"Bang!"
With a muffled thud, a cultist guarding the entrance to the cave was sent flying like a rag doll, crashing heavily against the rock wall, his bones shattered!
Everyone turned their heads sharply.
At the entrance, a figure stepped over the corpse of the cultist and slowly walked in.
He was dressed in black, carrying a sword on his back, his expression calm.
It was Liang Cheng.
"Looks like I'm not too late, this place is quite hard to find."
Liang Cheng's gaze swept across the altar, finally landing on the gray-robed protector high above. "Robbing the goods is a pretense, a diversionary tactic. What you really want is to complete this final blood sacrifice while I'm gone."
The cave was deathly silent.
The gray-robed protector's pupils contracted, and he exclaimed, "How could you be here?! My men clearly watched you enter Crow Mountain!"
Liang Cheng did not answer.
With a flick of his wrist, the Blade of Struggle was drawn, its dark blade gleaming coldly in the blood-red light of the altar.
"I let you escape last time, but I won't this time."
The gray-robed protector's expression shifted several times, then transformed into a ferocious, maniacal laugh: "Fine! Fine! Liang Cheng, since you've come to your death, don't blame me!"
He roared fiercely, "Activate the Blood Fiend Array! Today, I will use the blood of you, a true disciple of the Martial Academy, to help it fully take shape!"
The nine believers simultaneously bit their tongues, spraying their blood and essence onto the banner!
Nine black banners fluttered without wind, their blood-red patterns bursting with dazzling red light!
The pile of blood marrow jade stones in the center of the altar trembled violently, the blood vessels on the surface wriggling like living things, and a huge blood evil aura suddenly erupted, filling the entire cave!
Meanwhile, the gray-robed protector and two black-robed masked men leaped down from the high cliff, forming a triangle that surrounded Liang Cheng in the center.
The three were connected by their auras, their gray-black true energy mixed with a dense bloodthirsty aura, making them far more powerful than when they last fought.
"Liang Cheng, today is your death day!"
Liang Chengjin's hard skill activated spontaneously, and a faint golden light emanated from his body, blocking all the blood evil from entering.
He gripped the Blade of Struggle, raised the blade, and pointed it at the gray-robed protector.
"Then let's give it a try."
The words had barely left his lips when he moved!
Liang Cheng unleashed the full power of the Dragon Step within the narrow cave, his figure flashing like a pale golden lightning bolt as he pierced straight at the gray-robed protector!
The sword was drawn, and a sudden sound of wind and thunder arose!