Chapter 123: The Great Battle
Chapter 123: The Great Battle
Dong Hong Township.
On the parched riverbed, seven or eight elite Yu Clan swordsmen, along with two blade masters and a Green Robe Guard from the Demon Slayer Bureau, were surrounding a smaller-sized demon beast with black stripes all over its body, resembling a leopard but not quite, and a wolf but not entirely.
However, despite their combined efforts, they were still struggling to take down this demon beast. It continuously charged left and right within the crowd's encirclement, occasionally slashing with its sharp claws, causing blood to splatter.
Black-Striped Demonic Leopard!
To withstand the siege of so many people, and even with three Sinew Transformation Realm experts, it was undoubtedly a third-rank demon beast.
"Don't fight head-on, keep it entangled, don't let it escape!"
The Green Robe Guard, Ding He, shouted from the riverbank.
If they fought to the death, they might eventually kill the Black-Striped Demonic Leopard, but it would cost the lives of several people, and even their Sinew Transformation Realm martial artists might not escape unscathed. However, they were close to the township of Dong Hong, so there was no need to fight to the death. They only needed to contain the demon beast here, as support would arrive soon.
Although patrols were arranged at key locations throughout Dong Hong Township, there might still be some demons that slipped through. The Black-Striped Demonic Leopard, with its small size and fast speed, sneaked in under the cover of night, making it difficult to prepare in advance.
YouTube demon beast saw that no one nearby was engaging it head-on, and with three Sinew Transformation Realm experts leading the containment, it let out a deep, low growl.
It was, after all, a demon beast and not an ordinary wild animal. Sensing the unfavorable situation, it roared and pounced toward Ding He, forcing him to block its escape from the encirclement.
"Oh no."
Ding He's expression changed slightly.
If this demon beast escaped, it would be troublesome to pursue it later.
But his speed was no match for the demon beast, and it broke through the encirclement, leaving Ding He's blade unable to catch up.
However, just as the Black-Striped Demonic Leopard was about to break free and escape, a white-clad figure suddenly appeared. A sword beam slashed diagonally, forcing the demon beast to halt, and it was driven back into the encirclement.
The newcomer was Xu Hongyu.
"The adult is here!"
The many Yu Clan swordsmen were all invigorated by her arrival and swung their blades to join the battle.
Xu Hongyu's strength was already sufficient to deal with any third-rank demon beast, and she could independently slay most of them. With the support of the swordsmen, it only took a few moves to pierce the Black-Striped Demonic Leopard's throat.
"The adult's sword technique is exceptional..."
Ding He took a breath and praised Xu Hongyu as he looked at the demon beast's corpse.
Xu Hongyu didn't respond but quickly disposed of the demon beast's body, extracting its vital blood essence while gazing into the distance. Xiao He's figure appeared, hurrying over from not far away.
"Miss, there's unusual activity in the direction of Wilderness Mountain. A messenger reported that there's been an earthquake, and a mountain range has collapsed."
Xiao He quickly conveyed the news to Xu Hongyu.
Earthquake, mountain collapse...
Xu Hongyu hesitated slightly, then realized something, "Is this due to the great drought causing geological changes? There might be some rare treasures appearing, but with the current demon disturbance, it's not the right time to venture into Wilderness Mountain."
Chen Mu was on the other side of Wilderness Mountain, and he might go to investigate. However, compared to any treasures, Chen Mu's safety was more important. After all, Wilderness Mountain was located at the border of two counties, and both counties had received news of the disturbance. But Chen Mu was always cautious, and there shouldn't be any trouble.
Xiao He spoke softly, "Should I go and take a look?"
Although she might not be of much help with her strength, entering Wilderness Mountain would only become a burden. But at least, as a Sinew Transformation Realm expert, she could monitor the situation from the outskirts.
Xu Hongyu contemplated briefly. She also wanted to go, but reports from various places indicated that demon appearances were more frequent than the day before, as if they were becoming more agitated. Even demon beasts like the Black-Striped Demonic Leopard sneaked into the township at night. If she left, the threat from these third-rank demon beasts would increase significantly.
If she went without consideration and couldn't help Chen Mu, or worse, caused more trouble, it would be a real mess.
As she was pondering.
Suddenly.
A whistle sounded in the southern sky.
Xu Hongyu, Xiao He, Ding He, and the others all looked up simultaneously.
The whistle, after soaring into the sky, didn't gradually fade but took a turn and sounded again, followed by a third long whistle, three consecutive blasts that echoed through the clouds.
Three whistles! Everyone's expressions changed!
During the demon disturbance, three whistles indicated a severe situation, and even the sound alone couldn't fully determine the circumstances. Someone had to deliver a message to know the details.
Regardless of the situation, three whistles meant that people from one area had to gather.
"Let's go!"
Xu Hongyu reacted swiftly and immediately ordered, "Gather the remaining personnel in the township, notify the surroundings, and evacuate the residents in the direction of the three whistles. Once specific news arrives, immediately inform the county governor's office..."
As she headed back to the township, she quickly gave instructions. Soon, the troops stationed in the township and the surrounding areas without immediate threats gathered and headed south, where the three whistles were heard.
On the way south.
More people from various places who had heard the three whistles joined, and the number quickly reached nearly a hundred. It wasn't just Xu Hongyu's troops but also some 'experts' from the township who were mobilized.
They hadn't gone far south when Xu Hongyu's team met the messenger, a Black Robe Guard. He seemed to have run all the way, and when he reached Xu Hongyu, he was already panting heavily.
"Adult... there's unusual activity in the direction of Nan Gou Mountain. There are over a hundred demons, seemingly gathered from various directions, including third and second-rank demons, fighting among themselves. They haven't advanced north yet..."
Hearing this, Xu Hongyu's eyes narrowed. No wonder there were three whistles. It was rare for such a large gathering of demons between townships, even during a great drought. After all, demons, unlike humans, don't form alliances, and a hundred of them together would often result in a deadly fight among themselves.
But since such a large gathering of demons had occurred, chaos might ensue, and an attack from the north was highly likely. Indeed, they must gather forces in advance to respond.
"Keep moving."
Xu Hongyu listened to the report and immediately ordered.
The team continued south, and after traveling about seven or eight li, they met another messenger, a county office messenger, who was almost out of breath, his face turning pale. He met the team and spoke in a disjointed manner:
"Adult... the demons... are attacking from the south..."
"Let's go!"
Xu Hongyu remained calm and continued forward.
After advancing another two or three miles, they reached a hilltop. Looking south, they saw a vast expanse of flat land teeming with bizarre and monstrous demons. Although they didn't form a cohesive unit, they were scattered across the distance, and there were hundreds of them as far as the eye could see—a number that was not an exaggeration.
"All units, follow me to engage the enemy. Don't disperse, and take them down one by one!"
Xu Hongyu's voice, as cold as ice, echoed across the wilderness.
Although the scale of the demon horde was somewhat overwhelming, with hundreds of demons, mostly second-rank and very few first-rank, and even some third-rank demons visible in the distance, the situation was not as dire as it seemed. The demons were disorganized, their formations chaotic and widely spaced. Despite their lack of intelligence, as long as Xu Hongyu's forces could maintain local superiority and engage in small-scale battles, they could still defeat the demons.
"Yes!"
Numerous Qingyi Guards and even some Hei Yi Guards from the Demon Slayer Bureau, experienced in demon hunting, responded with solemn voices. However, there were also some inexperienced individuals, facing demon chaos for the first time, who felt anxious at the sight of demons covering the mountains and plains.
Kill!
Xu Hongyu, clad in white, took the lead from the hilltop and charged downhill. She approached a second-rank demon, the closest one, and with a flash of her sword light, beheaded it instantly."
Behind her, a large group of people, including her maid Xiao He, Qingyi Guard Ding He, and others from the Demon Slayer Bureau, also charged downhill, soon engaging the oncoming demons on the wilderness.
The importance of strategic decision-making became evident at this moment.
If Xu Hongyu had dispersed her forces, attempting to form a linear defense to block all demon paths, it would have resulted in scattered battles and only temporary resistance. However, by concentrating her forces and engaging in small-scale battles, she quickly defeated a significant number of demons.
The demons that were far away and not in the path of the interception also didn't take advantage of the situation to bypass the hilltop defense line. Instead, they noticed the battlefield where Xu Hongyu and others were fighting and began to gather from various directions, eliminating the need for Xu Hongyu to send out troops to engage them.
Soon.
After a short while, the intense battle concluded. Although Xu Hongyu's team suffered some casualties, the ratio was less than one-tenth. On the other hand, the demons suffered several times more casualties, with at least fifty to sixty second-rank demons and over ten third-rank demons killed. Many injured demons also fled.
However, despite this, Xu Hongyu and Xiao He, who were still on the battlefield, didn't show any signs of relief or joy. Instead, as the battle continued, their expressions grew increasingly grave.
Because.
The number of demons killed, injured, and fled had already exceeded a hundred, but when they looked into the distance, the demons still rushing towards them seemed no less than at the beginning. The wilderness was teeming with demons.
It was no longer just over a hundred demons; there were at least two to three hundred of them!
"How can there be so many?!"
Xu Hongyu struck again with her sword, killing a third-rank demon with the help of Xiao He and others. Her chest rose and fell slightly, and she took a moment to catch her breath, her eyes fixed on the distant wilderness with a hint of doubt.
The number of demons gathered was undoubtedly excessive, and what was most bizarre was the nature of the demon she had just killed. It was a species that should have been agitated only during the Great Cold, yet it was acting frenzied during the Great Drought.
Something's wrong! Xu Hongyu instinctively felt that something was amiss, but she couldn't immediately pinpoint the cause. As she watched the demons continuing to surge forward, her heart grew heavier.
The situation was dire.
Although the demons were disorganized, Xu Hongyu's forces maintained local superiority and engaged in small-scale battles. However, the problem was that these intense battles also consumed a lot of physical strength. While Xu Hongyu could still fight, the martial artists who were only at the Body Transformation Realm suffered severe Vital Energy depletion, and their physical strength was visibly declining.
Defeating over a hundred demons resulted in less than one-tenth of casualties, but if another hundred demons arrived, the number of casualties would undoubtedly increase significantly.
It was even uncertain if they could hold out.
Ding He, covered in bloodstains, pierced through a second-rank demon's body with his sword. He took two deep breaths, exhaling a thick white mist, and with a grim expression, glanced at the distance. He quickly retreated and joined Xu Hongyu.
"Ma'am, the number of demons is overwhelming. Continuing the fight might be disadvantageous. Should we temporarily withdraw?"
Under these circumstances, if they didn't withdraw and take the opportunity to rest and recuperate, the casualties would inevitably increase, and the situation would worsen until a complete collapse.
Xu Hongyu's gaze shifted to the nearest village, which she had already sent people to evacuate. There was indeed some room for temporary withdrawal, but the problem was the current situation. Even if they withdrew, it might be difficult to find a chance to catch their breath, as the demons were still pouring in continuously. A withdrawal would only shift the battle line backward.
Ding He's suggestion was likely leaning towards temporarily abandoning resistance, allowing all the demons to pass through, and waiting for reinforcements from the County Office before counterattacking. However, if they did that, the impact would be significant. Over a hundred demons rampaging through the villages would wreak havoc on several villages, and even the township might fall into a demon disaster.
But if they didn't withdraw, it would be challenging to hold out for much longer.
Just as Xu Hongyu was frowning, unable to make an immediate decision, Xiao He suddenly reached out and poked her.
Xu Hongyu was startled but quickly followed Xiao He's gaze to the distant hilltop. There, a figure dressed in a dark robe, carrying a fine iron sword, was walking from the east. The setting sun in the west cast a long shadow behind him, making him appear as if he was striding on a river and wearing mountains on his head as he descended from the hilltop and approached the battlefield.
"I encountered some issues and was delayed, but it seems I made it in time."
Chen Mu reached the front line and nodded slightly at Xu Hongyu before stepping forward.
Watching Chen Mu's figure advancing towards the battlefield, Xu Hongyu's clear eyes glinted with a hint of light. She glanced at Ding He beside her and said, "No need to panic. Continue the fight."
"But..."
Ding He was taken aback and was about to say something more when he saw Xu Hongyu charging forward again.
Xu Hongyu had just considered withdrawing, but why did she change her mind suddenly? Could it be because of Chen Mu's arrival? But at this point, even with Chen Mu's strength, what could a single reinforcement...
The thought abruptly stopped.
(End of Chapter)
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