Book 2 Chapter 59: The Dawn - Martial God

**Chapter 59: The Dawn** The night was dark and different, with its own unique silence. The mountains seemed to transform into shadows of giant beasts lurking around us, ready to pounce at any moment. The once impregnable Xu Family Fortress, after five days of relentless defense, had reached its breaking point. Though the elders of the Xu family had poured their heart and soul into constructing the fortress, they never imagined their descendants would face such a dire situation. The united force of the four major bandit groups of Tai'a County comprised over five thousand men, including five top-level experts with inner strength at the pinnacle of the tenth layer and more than a dozen experts at the ninth layer. Such a formidable force was one that no family in Taicang County could possibly withstand. Five days. For five whole days, under the leadership of He Wude and Xu Yinjie, the core members of the He, Xu, and Cheng families took turns battling. Almost everyone was wounded, and they were all in a pitiful, bedraggled state. During these five days, they had lost count of how many bandit attacks they had repelled. Now, beneath the Xu Family Fortress, the corpses of bandits had shockingly piled up to nearly a thousand. Among these were numerous seventh and eighth-layer experts and even two ninth-layer masterminds. This severe loss left the bandit leaders both infuriated and more determined to completely annihilate the fortress. Everyone within the Xu Family Fortress knew that if it fell, none would escape with their lives. "Ah..." A heartrending scream echoed from the city walls, carrying far into the still night. Yet, the others acted as if they hadn't heard it, not sparing even a glance in its direction. Xu Yinjie gently clapped his hands. His thin, sunken cheeks made him look ghostly under the dark sky. Wherever he passed, the young members of the three families stood tall, admiration and gratitude filling their eyes for this spindly old man. By now, Xu Yinjie had personally discovered and eliminated the seventh bandit attempting to sneak into the fortress. Without his tireless patrolling, their defense might have already crumbled. However, as Xu Yinjie looked at the valiant fighters of the three families, his heart was heavy. His gaze settled on the wall, now showing several breaches, which even the combined strength of the three families could not repair. The bandits had come too suddenly, with overpowering strength. "Brother Xu, you’ve taken down one more than I did yesterday." A weathered voice came from another direction as He Wude approached with confident strides, followed by the smiling old Cheng Ningsheng. It was as if he were strolling through his own gorgeous garden rather than a blood-soaked battleground. The young disciples and retainers of the three families were invigorated by the sight of his smile, their fatigue somewhat eased. Xu Yinjie nodded toward them, and the three tacitly moved to a part of the wall. Xu Yinjie waved his hand, and the guards there bowed deeply before quickly leaving. Though only three old men remained there, they were undeniably Taicang County’s most powerful forces. If any bandits attempted to strike from this direction, they would surely meet their end. People watched them from afar, beside a large torch whose light illuminated Cheng Ningsheng’s face. His smile was visible to all. Yet, despite his unchanged smile, Cheng Ningsheng’s voice turned low and carried no humor: "Brother Xu, tonight feels a bit off." "Indeed, I’ve felt it too. They're already assembling their forces below," Xu Yinjie replied with indifference. His expressionless face, a product of his deadwood kung fu training, was expected. If he ever wore a smile like Cheng Ningsheng, it would surely herald disaster. He Wude sighed, standing straight as an arrow. Having weathered over eighty years, his vitality was comparable to that of any youth. "If our expectations are correct, they’ll launch a total assault at dawn," he said, eyeing the crumbling gaps. "This time, we might truly not hold them off." Xu Yinjie and Cheng Ning both fell silent, their eyes showing their tacit agreement. Suddenly, Cheng Ning spoke: "Brother He, Brother Xu, I have a proposal. What do you think?" "Speak," He Wude replied solemnly. "I fear our three great families of Taicang County are doomed this time. However, we cannot let ourselves be truly annihilated. If you both agree, I propose we gather the most outstanding third-generation youths. At dawn, when the bandits attack, let He Quanyi, Xu Xiangci, and my family’s Jiayun lead them out through the back mountain path, to hopefully escape alive." Even as Cheng Ning discussed such grave matters, his unwavering smile seemed to calm those listening. "Why choose them?" Xu Yinjie questioned, dissatisfied. "Let Xiangqian replace Xiangci." "No," Cheng Ning replied firmly. "I understand your feelings, knowing Xu Xiangqian is the finest of your family’s second generation. But precisely for this reason, using him would draw too much attention, sealing the third generation’s only escape route." "Brother Cheng is correct. To send out those with the most potential from the third generation, not only must we stay, but Xiangqian must remain here as well," He Wude sighed. Cheng Ning, still smiling, said, "It’s a pity. If your Xu family's ancestor could return, we wouldn't fear even ten groups of bandits, let alone four." An indescribable light flickered in Xu Yinjie's eyes, part regret, part frustration. "Brother Cheng, what’s the point of saying this now?" he paused and asked, "Have you already selected the ones to go?" "We have," Cheng Ning nodded. "Seven, who've shed blood in this battle and who have shown potential. Entrusting the Cheng family's future to them gives me some peace of mind." He Wude shrugged slightly. "Our He family lacks numbers. Upon receiving word of the attack, those with less than sixth-layer strength were hidden in the mountains. Only Quanming, Quanyi, and Yihai, Yixuan came with me. We've decided on Quanming taking Yihai and Yixuan to try breaking through, while I and Quanyi stay." Xu Yinjie’s expression shifted slightly. Abruptly, he proposed, "Your plan is sound, but I suggest a change." He Wude and Cheng Ning exchanged a puzzled glance, surprised this old man might have an uncharacteristic idea. Xu Yinjie's voice dropped to a near whisper, forcing the others to strain to hear him. "Tomorrow, I’ll stay. You must all go." He Wude and Cheng Ning simultaneously rolled their eyes. Cheng Ning snapped, "Stop joking! If we leave you alone here, and march out conspicuously, none of us will escape." A peculiar light shone in Xu Yinjie's eyes. "Gentlemen, there’s something you don’t know. Our Xu Family Fortress has a secret passage leading directly to the back mountain. It’s been here since the day the fortress was built but never used in over a hundred years." Joy and surprise flared in He Wude and Cheng Ning’s eyes. With such a passage, while it couldn't save everyone, it could evacuate the key figures safely. Xu Yinjie continued, "Tomorrow at dawn, the bandits will likely attack. Gather everyone quickly, and escape." Cheng Ning hesitated. "What about you? Aren’t you coming with us?" Xu Yinjie smiled wryly, not replying directly. Instead, he muttered, "We three families are touted as Taicang County's greatest, yet compared to others, we are nothing. Ha! Taicang County, too small and too weak." He Wude and Cheng Ning's faces turned grave. True, their families combined represented over half of Taicang County's might. But compared to even the four major bandit factions of Tai'a County, they paled in comparison. It was a truth hard to swallow, leaving He Wude and Cheng Ning understandably grim. "Let's not dwell on this any longer," Xu Yinjie sighed. "Let us return and send away the most promising youths from our families. Do not hesitate to give them a chance at life; it is far better than sending them to die here. I trust that after this calamity, these young ones will rise again, reviving the names of our three families throughout Taicang County, and maybe even in Linlang Prefecture." "And you? Are you truly not leaving?" Cheng Ningsheng suddenly asked. Xu Yinjie's gaze swept around the fortress, filled with deep attachment. "This is my home, where I was born, and where I shall be buried. I must give an account to all those who rely on the Xu family," he said, lowering his eyes. "As for the secret passage, Xiangqian knows. Once you've selected the right individuals, go to him, and he'll lead you out." Their conversation exclusively involved the core disciples of the three families; the servant staff and retainers were not even mentioned. Not even the women within the Xu Fortress seemed to weigh on Xu Yinjie's mind. To them, ensuring the safe exit of the core members of the three families was priority enough. He Wude took a long look at Xu Yinjie, then turned and left decisively. Cheng Ningsheng took a few steps back, then paused. "Yinjie, you don't blame me for leading them here, do you?" Xu Yinjie smiled faintly. "Brother-in-law, the four great bandit groups of Tai'a County united—do you think their goal was just the county town? Even without you and He Wude coming here, they would have leveled the He family and the Xu Fortress. Otherwise, why would they make the trip in vain?" Cheng Ningsheng laughed silently and without saying more, slowly descended from the wall. Once his figure disappeared, another stepped out from the shadows: the most outstanding of the Xu family's second generation, Xu Xiangqian. "Father, why did you tell them about the secret passage?" Xu Yinjie shook his head slightly. "Xiangqian, remember this: Taicang County is our root. Its leadership must never fall into a power vacuum. We can let the He and Cheng families occupy the top positions, we can even submit under their leadership. But remember, never allow outsiders to gain a foothold here if you can help it." Xu Xiangqian's expression shifted subtly, as if about to speak, but Xu Yinjie nodded, "I understand your meaning. If another He Wude arises in the county, strive to make him regard Taicang as his true homeland. Understand?" Xu Xiangqian finally bowed his head. "Yes, I understand." "Hmm. This time, the fall of the Xu Fortress seems inevitable. Once you lead everyone out, seek aid from our ancestor immediately. Though the fortress may fall, if the ancestor intervenes, rebuilding one, two, even three Xu Fortresses will be a simple task." Xu Yinjie's voice was low and firm. "This is a golden opportunity, perhaps our only one, and you must seize it." Xu Xiangqian nodded firmly. His voice suddenly quivering, he asked, "Father, are you really not planning to leave?" "Stop your nonsense." Xu Yinjie's brow furrowed. "This is my home. Anyone who tries to invade it will pay dearly." Though his words were calm, they bore an indisputable determination. Xu Xiangqian clenched his fists tightly, aware that countless eyes were fixed on him, making him careful not to betray anything. If people deduced that the three families' core members planned to abandon the fortress and flee, it would destroy the morale within. One charge from the bandits would be enough to slaughter everyone. Taking a deep breath, Xu Xiangqian turned and left, his heart heavy with sorrow, knowing this would be his final meeting with his father. ※※※※ A thousand meters below the walls, a team of bandits methodically patrolled, ready to intercept and mercilessly slay anyone attempting to escape from the fortress. A tall, grim-faced middle-aged man watched the Xu Fortress intently under the night sky, his gaze as sharp as a serpent's. This was Zhong Wei, leader of the Wolf Fang gang among the four bandit factions. Though appearing only in his forties, he was actually over sixty. All the leaders of the four great bandit groups of Tai'a County were esteemed men over sixty, each a renowned tenth-layer inner strength master. However, the Red Scarf Bandits boasted two such masters, making them slightly superior in strength compared to the other bands. Having been invited by the Red Scarf Bandits, Zhong Wei deliberated long and hard before finally agreeing. Not only did he seek a share of the spoil, but he also preferred not to offend the Red Scarf Bandits. After all, even among tenth-layer inner strength masters, some were stronger than others. Zhong Wei knew he was the weakest among the five major leaders. This foray into Taicang County started smoothly, but no one anticipated the steadfast resistance of Xu Fortress after the easy conquest of the county seat. Compared to the fortress, the county town was but a miry wall, crumbling at the slightest push. Even with their formidable forces, it took five days and the lives of a thousand bandits to breach the high walls of the Xu Fortress. But finally, with those breaches, the end was in sight. Zhong Wei licked his dry lips, eyes gleaming with savage intent. He clenched his fists, then slowly relaxed them. An inner force coursed through his meridians, causing his right shoulder to throb. His face twitched with irritation, the aura of killing intent around him growing, causing his subordinates to shiver, knowing their notorious leader was again in a foul mood. During the first assault on the fortress, Zhong Wei had encountered Xu Yinjie. After a few exchanges, he suffered a hard blow to his right shoulder. Though not fatal, it had taught him a painful lesson. Thus resolved, he planned that when the fortress fell, Xu Yinjie would be captured alive. He intended to execute every male of the Xu family and let his men ravage the women, ensuring Xu Yinjie regretted ever wounding him. Suddenly, another scream cut through the dark night, followed by the dull thud of a body hitting the ground. Zhong Wei frowned. "Are there still ambush teams being deployed?" His subordinate replied at once, "Chief Zhong, the ambushes have been ongoing, overseen personally by Madam Hai." Zhong Wei snorted softly. Though he thought the ambushes unnecessary with the impending morning attack, he decided not to interfere since they were organized by Hai Huijiao. Hai Huijiao was the wife of Lan Hanyang, both leaders of the Lan Hai bandits. Though one was a tenth-layer, and the other a ninth-layer master, their combined skills were formidable, nearly equivalent to two tenth-layer masters. More importantly, Hai Huijiao was a clever strategist, known as a star of wisdom. During the planning for the five-thousand bandit raid on Taicang County, she alone advocated tackling Xu Fortress first before the county seat. Except for Lan Hanyang, none supported her plan, likely because they resented taking orders from a woman. Yet their march proved her insight correct. The county seat fell without effort, but the reinforced Xu Fortress pierced like a thorn in their side. Not until they sacrificed nearly a thousand bandits did they glimpse a sliver of victory. The upcoming assault seemed poised to finally capture the fortress, but at what cost? Nearby, groups began to assemble amid the lingering night. For five days, they had rotated their stays in Xu Family Town. The town's residents had either fled to the fortress or died at the hands of the bandits. Now they occupied the entire town, using it as a base for their thousands. Despite the lingering darkness, the entire town had assembled here, their presence thick with a fearsome aura of bloodlust. Though they lacked siege tools, these bandits were no ordinary men but skilled inner strength practitioners. For them, the fortress walls were formidable but not insurmountable, as the protracted battle had already shown. Without the wall, had thousands of bandits stormed in on horseback, the people of Xu Fortress would have disintegrated long ago. Now, with breaches opened by the combined might of several experts, all it needed was a well-organized push to seize victory. Five figures now stood beside Zhong Wei. Among the five figures, there were four men and one woman. They were none other than the Red Scarf Bandits' leader Guan Qing, second-in-command Guo Shaofeng, Liehu's Xu Hanbai, Lan Hai's Lan Hanyang, and Hai Huijiao. Though each man's appearance differed, even the youngest, Lan Hanyang, was over sixty. Despite being the youngest, in terms of martial prowess, he was undoubtedly the strongest amongst them all, even Guan Qing hesitated to challenge him. "Is everyone gathered?" Guan Qing's voice rumbled like distant thunder. "Everyone's here," came the somewhat unpleasant but undeniably authoritative voice of Hai Huijiao. Despite being the only woman present, none dared underestimate her. Her stature was earned, not from her husband's influence but through her own achievements. All eyes turned in unison toward the looming black fortress wall, more menacing under the cloak of night. As the night darkened further, they reached the dimmest hour, just before dawn. Silence enveloped them as they waited, not even the incessant nighttime attacks broke it. Both sides seemed in accord, waiting for the first light of day. A faint whitish thread appeared in the sky, seemingly binding the mountain peaks together, followed by a blush of crimson, like drunkenness. Then came the sweep of heavy gray clouds overhead! The sky remained pale blue as a rosy glow widened its reach, brightening until the first ray of dawn broke… Hai Huijiao nodded slowly, and Guan Qing raised his hand high. Every bandit gripped their weapon firmly, eyes blazing with manic anticipation. Yet at that very moment, a thunderous, earth-shattering sound roared through their ears, resembling a mountain collapse or a tidal wave… ※※※※ On the fortress wall, Xu Yinjie kicked a bandit who had just scaled the wall, sending him flying off. His face remained placid, as though kicking away a bandit was as mundane as brushing aside a dead leaf. He turned and saw a familiar face, a rival of many decades. His eyes showed a hint of inquiry, puzzled why this old fellow was still atop the wall. He Wude, hands behind his back, calmly approached and stared into the dark below. "Why haven’t you left?" "I wanted to, but there's a wish I must fulfill in this lifetime." "What wish?" "I want to see whether your Deadwood Kung Fu is superior to my Grand Guandao," He Wude gestured to the darkness ahead, "There are plenty of bandits for us to compare against." Xu Yinjie finally opened his eyes slightly wider, the sunken orbs glinting with a bit more vitality. "And your Grand Guandao?" He Wude hesitated, then chuckled wryly, "Gave it away." Xu Yinjie dipped his head, a twinge of envy in his voice, "You have a good grandson." He Wude roared with laughter, "Yes, with Yiming, the He family will surely rise again." He clapped his hands, suddenly saying, "Rest assured, even without the Guandao, my hand blades are just as formidable." "Impressive claims about your hand blades, I'd like to see them," Cheng Ningsheng sauntered over with a chuckle. Xu Yinjie and He Wude turned simultaneously, eyes wide with disbelief as if witnessing the sun rising from the west. Though thick-skinned, even Cheng Ningsheng felt a touch of embarrassment at that moment. "What are those looks for?" Cheng Ningsheng snapped. He Wude exclaimed, "Brother Cheng, have you gone senile? Is the old fox of Taicang truly unafraid of dying?" The corner of Xu Yinjie's mouth twitched slightly, expressing his thoughts despite silence. In his youth, Cheng Ningsheng was renowned as the Taicang Fox. As he aged, he naturally became the Taicang Old Fox. This cunning fox had outsmarted countless foes, so the Cheng family maintained a strong position even when lacking peak martial prowess, avoiding suppression by the Xu and He families. Cheng Ningsheng’s greatest weakness was his fear of death. Perhaps because he was as clever as a fox, he was suspicious and indecisive, faltering in his martial path advancement. Such was his nature, ingrained to his core, unchangeable. Neither He Wude nor Xu Yinjie imagined he would climb the wall at this moment, a notion too extravagant even in dreams. Cheng Ningsheng joined them, mimicking He Wude’s posture, hands behind his back. "I didn’t intend to come, but something wouldn’t let me rest, so I returned to join the excitement." "What matter could trouble even you?" He Wude asked, surprised. Cheng Ningsheng replied irritably, "We've dueled our entire lives, and I must know which of you two is Taicang’s foremost master." He Wude and Xu Yinjie exchanged glances, then gazed at the irate Cheng Ningsheng, bursting into unrestrained laughter. Even the hardened Xu Yinjie, practiced in Deadwood Kung Fu, revealed a ghastly, ghostly smile. Darkness enveloped them as they ceased laughing, peering intently at the ground below. Cheng Ningsheng spoke softly, "Having you two as rivals, my life wasn’t lived in vain." He Wude and Xu Yinjie remained silent, though their hearts echoed in agreement. As dawn’s light crept in, the sun concealed behind peaks, the subtle glow bathed the surroundings, gradually suffusing the pale blue sky with golden morning light. Under their watchful eyes, the first light appeared… The three elders’ gazes turned fervent, their inner strength steadily gathering, their formidable auras surging. But then, a thundering, earth-shaping roar erupted around them, akin to a mountain collapsing or tidal waves crashing… ※※※※ In a courtyard near the Xu Fortress's rear mountain, Xu Xiangqian, He Quanming, and Cheng Jiahui led nearly fifty individuals standing before a giant rock garden. Xu Xiangqian drew upon his ninth-layer inner strength, moving the garden’s corner to reveal a dark passageway wide enough for three to walk abreast. Inside, countless steps indicated the immense dedication the Xu family ancestors had when constructing this passage. The darkness loomed, broken only by the torchlight in the group's hands, bringing a sense of warmth to the abyss. "Go now," Xu Xiangqian said sternly, "Xu Yucai takes point, the He brothers follow, Cheng brothers in the center, the Xu descendants rear." Xu Yucai nodded, his voice tinged with a sob, yet no one mocked him. This escape consisted solely of Xu family's elite, those truly exceptional. Not even Xu family women were included, including Xu Yucai's mother. "Hold on," He Quanming said softly. Xu Xiangqian and Cheng Jiahui turned. He Quanming whispered, "Third brother, Yihai, Yixuan, join me in bowing thrice to father for the last time." He knelt facing the wall, He Quanyi, He Yihai, and He Yixuan followed, bowing deeply. Xu Xiangqian and others started, then slowly, everyone knelt, the sound of foreheads hitting the ground echoing amidst the layered sorrow. The dawn mist thickened, a faint blue hue hovered over the horizon like a wisp of rising smoke. The first light appeared before them. He Quanming stood, a resolute look shimmering in his eyes. "Let's go!" Yet then, a thunderous roar echoed around them, akin to mountains crumbling or sea waves raging… ※※※※ Far off, a lone figure emerged in their sight. The first beam of dawn sliced through the darkness like a blade, illuminating him. He was like a blinding flash breaking through the darkness, rending the sky, the earth, the eyes, the heart with a striking fissure. His head raised, he howled mightily, a thunderclap that shook the world. He rode the clouds, guided the rain, wielding an overwhelming, awe-inspiring momentum, sweeping across the sky, engulfing the land, advancing relentlessly…