Upon Yu Lie's command, Radish Head and the others immediately flushed with excitement, crouching down to rummage through the corpses of the fallen Daoist disciples on the ground.
Yu Lie himself walked over to the burly man's body, collecting the valuables from his person.
The group worked quickly, and within the span of ten breaths, they had gathered all the loose items and valuables.
Before the people of Greenwood Town could close in again, Yu Lie led his group out from the cliffside, charging toward the enemy.
Although Yu Lie was confident in his own strength, he didn't rush recklessly.
Instead, he skirted the edge of the village, heading toward the entrance of the stronghold.
This way, even if they encountered a formidable opponent later, and Yu Lie couldn't defeat them, they would still be close to the exit, giving them a good chance to escape into the surrounding forest.
The group of twenty to thirty people moved swiftly, killing, looting, and seizing treasures along the way.
The entire stronghold was in even greater chaos than before.
Daoist disciples from Greenwood Town were killing those from Blackwater Town, and vice versa.
Some from both towns even took the opportunity to stab their own allies in the back.
After all, it was nighttime, and chaos reigned everywhere.
As long as they weren't killed on the spot, they could always come up with excuses later!
Yu Lie led Radish Head and the others into this chaotic situation, and they found themselves thriving.
They soon realized that the enemy wasn't as fearsome as they had initially imagined.
Although the Daoist disciples from Greenwood Town had started their training half a year earlier than those from Blackwater Town, they weren't soldiers by trade.
Strictly speaking, the Daoist disciples from Greenwood Town were more skilled in cultivating spiritual plants and grains.
Overall, they were the least adept at combat among the three towns along the Black River.
When undergoing their transformations, the Greenwood disciples often used strange, living plants to gain an advantage in plant-based abilities rather than focusing solely on physical strength.
Ssshhhk!
The sound of flesh tearing echoed through the air.
Yu Lie and his group soon reached the vicinity of the stronghold's entrance.
His once-clean outfit was now stained with blood, and his fingernails had elongated like those of a zombie, glowing a sinister red.
A couple of his Poison Mouth disciples had fallen behind, though they weren't dead—just severely injured and hiding somewhere, leaving their fate to the heavens.
As for those who could still keep up with Yu Lie, they were drenched in blood, their Daoist robes torn and their hair disheveled.
Yu Lie led them like a pack of wild beasts—bears, tigers, and leopards, all baring their fangs like demons.
If they were to appear in a town, they could easily scare children into fainting.
However, what made the scene somewhat comical was that these ferocious beasts had bundles tied to their backs or necks, clutching them tightly with their claws, as if afraid of losing them.
On their way to the stronghold's entrance, Yu Lie's group encountered another squad of Greenwood disciples.
Their leader was killed on the spot by Yu Lie, while the rest were either killed or maimed by Radish Head and the others, scattering like frightened birds.
"Heh heh! This is exhilarating!" one of the blood-soaked Poison Mouth disciples panted, laughing.
"These guys have quite a bit of money and supplies on them. Looting one person is enough to cover several years of work in the Poison Mouth!"
"Killing and looting to get rich—the ancients weren't lying!" another chimed in, completely shedding the fear they had felt during the night raid.
He even called out to Yu Lie, "Boss, let's go a few more rounds! We could strike it rich in one night!"
The allure of wealth stirred everyone's hearts.
Even Radish Head, who was usually honest, now had a gleam of excitement in his eyes, his blood-stained face filled with anticipation.
But Yu Lie, standing in the midst of the chaos, wiped his hands and didn't respond to his companions' words.
Instead, he fixed his gaze in a particular direction.
After a moment of contemplation, Yu Lie spoke, "We're not going further into the stronghold. Let's head for the exit!"
Following his gaze, the group noticed that although there were no flames outside the stronghold, the screams seemed even louder than inside.
A figure stood at the entrance, cutting through bodies like a scythe, sending limbs flying into the air.
Without further explanation, Yu Lie rushed toward that figure.
He recognized the person cutting through the crowd like wheat—it was She Shuangbai.
She Shuangbai had charged from the bamboo tower at the back straight to the stronghold's entrance.
Given his anger and status, it was clear he wasn't planning to abandon the stronghold and flee.
Instead, he had likely found the mastermind behind the night raid and was now locked in combat with them.
Yu Lie wanted to take this opportunity to see just how powerful a high-ranking Daoist disciple was and whether there were any significant benefits to be gained.
Seeing Yu Lie rush forward, the Poison Mouth disciples didn't hesitate.
With howls and shouts, they followed closely behind.
………………
"Haha! Truly a bunch of cowards!"
A haughty voice rang out at the stronghold's entrance.
She Shuangbai, the hall master of the Alchemy Hall, rode atop a black panther, wielding a dark green double-headed whip.
He swung it like a plow, cutting through the crowd of Daoist disciples at the entrance.
With each crack of his whip, a body would be torn apart, as if being dismembered by five horses.
Even when some disciples managed to slap talismans onto their bodies for protection, the talismans would shatter upon contact with She Shuangbai's whip, and the disciples would be killed instantly.
At best, their deaths would be slightly less gruesome than being torn apart.
"Ahhh!" Screams filled the air.
Those who were lucky enough to survive with half their bodies intact cried out in terror, "Save me! Help!"
In just thirty breaths, She Shuangbai and his panther, without any assistance, had cut through seventy to eighty Greenwood disciples, leaving a trail of blood and screams in their wake.
He killed one person per breath, and among the dead were three mid-ranking disciples.
As soon as the thirty breaths passed, the Greenwood disciples at the entrance began to scatter.
Even though the Greenwood leader, Ku Mu, tried to stop them by killing a few who attempted to flee into the forest, he couldn't prevent the collapse of his forces.
Seeing Ku Mu kill his own men so ruthlessly, the remaining Greenwood disciples decided to run back into the burning stronghold, unwilling to get involved in the fight between the two high-ranking Daoist disciples.
She Shuangbai, still atop his panther, watched the fleeing disciples and finally stopped, his expression cold.
He shook his double-headed whip, stretching elegantly under the moonlight.
His masked face revealed a mocking smile.
"The old folks in town were right. On the first night out, some fools would come knocking!"
Ku Mu, the Greenwood leader, looked at She Shuangbai with a troubled expression.
Hearing She Shuangbai's words, he was momentarily stunned.
"You knew about the night raid? Then why didn't you set up defenses today?"
She Shuangbai lowered his head, flicking his whip lightly.
"Your Greenwood Town wanted to ambush and kill our mid-ranking disciples to reduce the number of high-ranking disciples next year. So why shouldn't we lure you out and eliminate your high-ranking disciples instead? That would be even more effective."
"Heh! Let me cut off your head and claim the reward from the old folks. A high-ranking head is worth much more than a mid-ranking one. Consider it a small achievement!" She Shuangbai's voice was cold as he lashed out with his whip, aiming straight for Ku Mu's face.
Ku Mu's heart skipped a beat upon hearing She Shuangbai's words, but a surge of anger quickly followed.
Veins bulged on his face like earthworms, and he let out a cold laugh.
"If you knew about our plan, why did you come out alone? At the very least, you should have brought another high-ranking disciple with you!"
"Youngsters like you are always too naive!" Ku Mu sneered, flicking his sleeve.
Vines shot out like whips, lashing toward She Shuangbai.
Clang! Clang!
The two whips collided, producing a metallic clang.
In an instant, their figures flickered like ghosts, moving at incredible speeds.
The sound of their whips was like thunder, crackling incessantly.
After five or six breaths, neither had gained the upper hand.
Their whips were locked in a stalemate, each trying to overpower the other.
Hiss!
Suddenly, She Shuangbai's double-headed whip changed.
The ends of the whip lifted, revealing two snake heads that lunged at Ku Mu's vines.
Ku Mu's expression changed drastically.
He tried to retract his vines, but it was too late.
The snake heads bit down, severing the vines.
She Shuangbai sneered, standing tall as he swung his whip again, aiming for Ku Mu's head.
Thud! The whip struck, but it hit a layer of green light surrounding Ku Mu's body.
Rip!
Ku Mu's face showed a flicker of surprise.
He had managed to activate a protective talisman in time, but it had already turned to ash.
He took the opportunity to leap back.
She Shuangbai commented, "Not bad. You're ruthless enough to use your own disciples to wear me down. And you have plenty of talismans. That protective charm you just used isn't cheap."
Ku Mu, having blocked the attack, retorted with a cold smile, "Likewise. You're just as ruthless, Hall Master. After this battle, I wonder how many of your disciples will survive?"
She Shuangbai pointed his whip at Ku Mu, his voice ambiguous in tone.
"Enough talk. Let's see if your talismans can save your life tonight!"
He laughed, urging his panther forward as he lashed out at Ku Mu again.
Ku Mu's expression turned serious as he retreated, pulling out more talismans from his sleeve.
He activated them, sending a wave of ghostly green flames toward She Shuangbai.
Crack! Crack!
She Shuangbai didn't dodge.
Instead, he used his whip to shatter the ghostly flames, continuing his charge toward Ku Mu.
Ku Mu's heart tightened.
"This guy... he feels like he's on par with Ye Zhuosan and Miao Mu!"
But then he snorted inwardly, "Even if you're stronger than them, so what?"
Ku Mu was confident in his own abilities.
He steadied himself, glaring at his approaching opponent, no longer retreating.
"Stay still!" Ku Mu barked.
Ssshhhk!
A thick, dark green vine suddenly shot up from behind She Shuangbai, wrapping around his panther.
The vine sprouted sharp thorns, piercing into the panther's flesh and sucking its blood.
The vine that She Shuangbai had severed earlier had come back to life, now even more ferocious and carnivorous!
She Shuangbai leapt off his panther just in time, landing nearby and avoiding the vine's grasp.
Ku Mu, watching She Shuangbai fall from his mount, smiled smugly.
"Did you think your beast would give you the upper hand? Now that you're on foot, let's see how you fare once my little pet drains your panther dry, and then you!"
In Ku Mu's eyes, the only reason She Shuangbai had the upper hand earlier was because of his panther.
Without it, She Shuangbai would be at a disadvantage.
She Shuangbai's eyes narrowed as he glanced at his panther, now writhing in agony.
Behind his mask, he seemed to smile faintly.
"Green-robed fellow, you're not entirely useless. You must be someone of note in Greenwood Town. What's your name?"
Ku Mu, seeing that She Shuangbai's mount had been incapacitated, was taken aback by the man's arrogance.
He coldly replied, "The one who kills you is Ku Mu!"
Ku Mu immediately reached into his sleeve for another talisman, but before he could act, a figure from the burning stronghold, who had been watching the fight for nearly ten breaths, suddenly drew a bow and fired an arrow at Ku Mu.
It was Yu Lie!
He had initially planned to just observe and see how She Shuangbai would handle the situation.
But when he saw that the high-ranking disciple from Greenwood Town had managed to capture She Shuangbai's mount and was about to drain it dry, Yu Lie decided to intervene.
He fired a single-shot divine arrow, aiming to assist She Shuangbai.
"Hall Master She, Yu Lie is here to help!" Yu Lie shouted, making sure his presence was known.
Ku Mu, with his sharp senses, heard the arrow's whistle and dodged just in time.
He turned to see an arrow flying toward him.
Boom!
Ku Mu glanced at the spot where the arrow landed, then back at Yu Lie's position.
He sneered, "A gunpowder arrow? It seems Hall Master She has some capable underlings after all. At least you're not fighting alone."
She Shuangbai, hearing Yu Lie's shout and Ku Mu's taunt, let out a laugh.
"Help me?"
His long hair disheveled, She Shuangbai walked over to his panther, which was being drained by the blood-sucking vine.
He extended his slender fingers, and in a flash—
Splat!
Blood sprayed as She Shuangbai tore off the panther's head.
The headless body of the panther twitched before collapsing, the vine now glowing red like a writhing intestine.
She Shuangbai, now barefoot, held the panther's head by its neck, blood dripping from between his fingers.
He pressed his right hand against the panther's still-fluttering eyelids, forcing them shut.
With his pale mask and cold gaze, She Shuangbai looked toward Ku Mu and Yu Lie, his voice icy.
"Ku Mu, let me personally end you."
Both Ku Mu and Yu Lie, watching from a distance, felt a chill run down their spines at She Shuangbai's ruthless act.
They quickly realized that She Shuangbai's movements were even faster and more ferocious now that he was on foot.
It was as if a coiled serpent had sprung into action!
Ku Mu's instincts screamed at him to retreat.
He frantically pulled out talismans from his sleeve, throwing them at She Shuangbai while slapping a few onto himself for protection.
In an instant, the entrance of the stronghold was lit up with flashes of red and green spiritual light.
Ku Mu's body was now shielded by three layers of protective talismans.
He also reached out to the vine, commanding it, "Go!"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The blood-sucking vine shot toward She Shuangbai like a serpent.
But She Shuangbai didn't even turn his head.
With a flick of his wrist, he sent his double-headed whip to tangle with the vine, leaving it to fight the blood-sucking plant on its own.
Meanwhile, She Shuangbai's figure flickered, dodging the ghostly flames Ku Mu had thrown at him.
In the blink of an eye, he was standing right in front of Ku Mu.
Ku Mu's pupils contracted as he found himself face-to-face with She Shuangbai's pale mask.
But he wasn't inexperienced in combat.
With three layers of protective talismans on him, Ku Mu didn't panic.
Instead, he pulled out a yellow-and-white talisman from his sleeve and slammed it toward She Shuangbai.
"Die, you little pest!" Ku Mu snarled.
But She Shuangbai didn't flinch.
His pale fingers shot out, piercing through Ku Mu's protective talismans as if they were paper.
Rip!
The three layers of protection burned away instantly.
Ku Mu's hand trembled as he felt his defenses crumble.
He instinctively wanted to throw the talisman and retreat, but he gritted his teeth and thrust it forward.
A golden blade of spiritual energy emerged from the talisman, aiming straight for She Shuangbai's fingers.
Clang!
She Shuangbai's brow furrowed behind his mask as the blade cut into his finger, drawing blood that was an eerie white.
Ku Mu's eyes widened in shock.
He had expected She Shuangbai to falter, but the sight of the white blood made him hesitate.
The two were locked in a stalemate.
"What kind of blood is that? Why is it white?" Ku Mu muttered in confusion.
But before he could ponder further, a voice sounded behind him.
"A seventh-grade talisman? Impressive."
Ssshhhk!
A golden blade fully emerged from the talisman, but Ku Mu found himself slashing at empty air.
She Shuangbai had already vanished, reappearing behind him.
With a swift, decisive motion, She Shuangbai slapped the back of Ku Mu's head.
Crack! Thud!
Ku Mu's body was sent flying forward, the golden blade dissipating into thin air.
The entire deadly exchange had taken only three breaths.
………………
Yu Lie, standing a hundred paces away, watched the scene unfold with wide eyes.
He had been holding his bow, an arrow nocked, but now he lowered it, feeling both amazed and wary.
The sound of Ku Mu's skull cracking had been loud enough for Yu Lie to hear even from a distance.
Yu Lie couldn't help but marvel, "She Shuangbai is truly something else. Not only did he rise to high rank in just a year and a half, but he can also kill a high-ranking disciple with just two slaps."
After delivering the fatal blow, She Shuangbai stood where Ku Mu had been, holding the dissipating golden blade in his hand.
"What a pity. If you had used this talisman earlier, we could have fought a bit longer."
But just then, Ku Mu, whose skull had been shattered, began to stir.
Despite being flung several steps away, he managed to stagger to his feet.
He wasn't dead yet!
Ku Mu's head was misshapen, blood pouring from his seven orifices.
His nose was leaking a clear fluid, and his mind was in turmoil.
"Jade-blooded high rank... I can't win, I can't win!"
Ku Mu pulled out an escape talisman and stumbled toward the dark forest, abandoning his fellow Greenwood disciples still fighting in the stronghold and leaving behind the blood-sucking vine.
She Shuangbai watched Ku Mu flee with a look of surprise.
He wanted to give chase and finish him off, but he glanced at the golden blade he was still holding and