Twin Dimension Yin-Yang Mirror: Attaining immortality through the martial path
Chapter 302 - 269: East Mountain Anomaly, Decapitation Strike

Chapter 302: Chapter 269: East Mountain Anomaly, Decapitation Strike

"From now on, whether you’re eating or sleeping, try not to let anyone know your exact location,"

The Green Lady’s figure flashed as she jumped over the courtyard wall from outside.

Her landing was so light that not a speck of dust stirred.

She appeared graceful as ever.

However, with the keen eyesight of both Zhou Ping’an and Lin Huaiyu, they could tell that she was slightly short of breath when she entered, clearly indicating her unease.

"What’s the situation?" Lin Huaiyu asked hastily.

In the realm of intelligence gathering, the Green Lady was extremly adept, always staying ahead of the curve.

Even before Tang Lin’er and others had sent out their scouts, she had already hidden her people in various villages and forests.

Of course, the spies within the territories of East Mountain County and Pinghu County had also gone completely silent, ceasing all activities, and only transmitted the observations they made.

With Red Lotus Army scouts leading the way and a large force mobilized, their approach was very different from before.

In past attacks, the leaders would surge forth with a ragtag mob to besiege a city.

Not like this time, with the sense of a well-organized scouting troop leading a grand and legitimate army.

There’s something fishy when things deviate from the norm.

Concerned, the Green Lady went out of the city to investigate and was now rushing back urgently; she must have discovered something.

"I just went to Zuoxi Town and got a message from Zhang’s Tavern..."

The pigeon-delivered message specified two matters. The first one, a Red Lotus Army major general commanding fifty thousand men at East Mountain is a Divine General named Ran Sifei, who possesses monstrous strength and is exceedingly skilled in military tactics."

"We know of this man; we’ve met him before. What’s the second matter?"

How strong is Ran Sifei’s cultivation and combat power?

Zhou Ping’an had exchanged blows with him on Emerald Peak of Cloud Water Sect and had not gained an advantage.

They were quite familiar with this Divine General.

Initially, they estimated that he might have achieved the Fifth Level of ’Purifying World Lotus Body’.

Rough on the outside, yet meticulous at heart.

He harbors his own deep-seated thoughts and plans.

Why make such an assumption?

The outcome speaks for itself.

Both Ran Sifei and Ye Xiaoqian managed to cause an uproar on Emerald Peak and still left unscathed.

This proved that they were not merely brave but foolhardy.

Ye Xiaoqian was as cunning as a fox.

Ran Sifei wasn’t far behind.

Moreover, they had the support of a powerful force behind them.

Zhou Ping’an and Lin Huaiyu exchanged a glance, their expressions growing more solemn.

They were thinking of the same thing.

If Ran Sifei had appeared in East Mountain, then where was that Red Lotus Dharma King level expert, Yi Heavenly King Lian Yi?

The Green Lady gently wiped away the fine sweat on her forehead, continuing, "The change in the army’s leadership indicates that the main rudder increased its support.

They acknowledge this Red Lotus Army as the main attacking force.

The most dangerous part is that none of the five undercover agents in East Mountain discovered the whereabouts of the sub-rudder Helm Master Fang Buping. Since the city was breached, he disappeared without a trace, and he wasn’t even seen looting the wealthy households and making a fortune."

"How is the collection of information on Fang Buping’s life going?"

Zhou Ping’an felt secretly relieved at this point.

It was purely coincidental that he went to the Washing Flowers Pavilion that day.

And he had given a poem to the Green Lady, which began their acquaintance.

After several battles fought side by side, they opened up to each other and formed an Iron Alliance.

Without the long-term layout by the Green Lady, known as ’Little Qin Xian’, within the three counties of Liyou, he would have been completely clueless about the war situation, like a deaf and blind person.

Completely unaware of being maneuvered and kept in the dark.

It can only be said that there is a predestined law for all things.

Hearing the urgency with which the Green Lady rushed back to report the news from East Mountain County City, he roughly guessed what that one of the Thirty-Six Sub-Rudders Helm Master Fang Buping was planning.

"According to rumors, Fang Buping was born to a fisherman’s family in Jiangzhou Ping County and at the age of eight, because he secretly sold a yellow croaker and pocketed eighty coins, his parents were beaten to death by the chief fisherman in front of dozens of fishermen..."

"Since then, Fang Buping moved to Ping City to beg for a living. As luck would have it, by a fortunate coincidence, he caught the eye of a passing Scholar Lin who saw potential in him and became his errand boy, hence beginning his rise to prosperity."

"Especially after Scholar Lin achieved success in the imperial examinations, Fang Buping took advantage of his connections and learned various martial arts disciplines from Jianghu...

"It must be said that this man had extraordinary martial talent. In just three years, relying on some crude martial arts, he entered the Refined Energy State at the age of thirteen."

"Later, because he had an affair with a concubine from Scholar Lin’s family, and upon being discovered, he went all in, annihilating the entire Lin Family of Ping City, eloped with the concubine, and turned to banditry, eventually joining the Red Lotus Army.

"His bravery in battle brought him many accolades, and he was heavily rewarded by the main rudder, gradually climbing to the position of Helm Master of a sub-rudder...

"Now thirty-three years old, Fang Buping has long reached the Mortal Rank Ninth Refinement Martial Intent level."

In the eyes of the world, he was merely at the First Level of Martial Intent [Chaotic Heart Realm]...

In reality, many within the Red Lotus Army knew his cultivation was understated, he should have broken through to the Second Level of Martial Intent [Spirit Infusion State]."

Green Lady said this, her eyes filled with more worry.

She had only just received this news.

It was a night half a month ago when Fang Buping had been attacked by Chen Taizhong, the chief steward of the Cui Mansion of Guangyun County; the two had exchanged a few moves.

Not only did he not get injured, but he also pursued and tried to kill his attacker.

According to bystanders, when he struck, his halberd shone like a full moon over Pinghu...

Those who watched from afar felt their Blood Essence recoiling and their bodies growing weak and limp.

Such an aura could clearly not belong to someone only at the First Level of Martial Intent.

The First Level of Martial Intent, sowing chaos and confusion, involves using Mental Strength to cling to Gang Qi, only affecting those who face it as adversaries.

Only upon reaching the Second Layer does the Gang Qi harbor a spirit, able to widely influence hearts.

The circulation of Gang Qi becomes more flexible and variable, with its attacking power greatly improved.

"You’re saying he’s still hiding some of his abilities," Zhou Ping’an couldn’t help but be moved as well.

Though he had a general understanding of the various realms of Martial Intent, he wasn’t too clear on their specific manifestations.

But he could still distinguish the strength of each layer.

Back then at Emerald Peak, when he saw his master Su Lianxue in action, it was the Third Level of Martial Intent [Reality-Illusion Realm].

Where Martial Intent becomes reality, changing at will, unmatched in offense.

In the Subduing Demon Order trial scene, the Shanhe Fist Intent displayed by Young Master Xiao of the Manor, the Shanhe Divine Fist, was at the First Layer.

With firm and condensed Fist Intent, it could influence the hearts of people.

Even the First Level of Martial Intent was still very difficult to deal with... If it weren’t for him seizing the moment of distraction with Chen Guang’s death as a cover, suddenly trading injury for injury, he might well have already died at the opponent’s hands.

When the spirit merges with Gang Qi, launching an attack from both the Divine Soul and power aspects, the might of the technique skyrockets.

If the First Level Shanhe Fist Intent is already that strong.

Then Fang Buping, who has reached the Second Level "Spirit Infusion" State, his halberd technique must be immeasurably difficult to contend with.

After a moment of thought, Green Lady continued, "Speaking of Fang Buping’s cultivation for now, he has fought forty-seven battles in his life, with twenty-eight of them involving beheading operations.

This shows that he is extremely confident, and he revels in taking risks..."

This was the source of Green Lady’s anxiety.

"Are you saying that he might have already set off, has begun lurking within Qingyang Territory, and may strike like thunder at any moment?"

Zhou Ping’an’s eyebrows twitched slightly, suddenly feeling that the air was thick with a chilling intent to kill.

The crisis was subtle but omnipresent.

Thus.

He realized that the crisis was imminent, that the adversary was preparing.

The time left for him was actually not much.

"Precisely so."

Green Lady firmly said, "If I were Fang Buping, wanting to accomplish my goal in one fell swoop and quickly seize the Three Counties of Liyou... the best course of action would naturally not be a head-on clash with the army.

After all, the death of Divine Envoy Zhong Ming has already revealed that our position here is not something that can be pushed around at will. Our soldiers are also formidable... and within just over ten days, we have made Qingyang City impregnable.

Given Fang Buping’s character, both cautious and risk-taking, the most likely course of action would be to carry out an assassination."

Lin Huaiyu felt a ripple in her heart.

Turning her head to look at Zhou Ping’an.

She thought that if Fang Buping had indeed stealthily infiltrated Qingyang City as Green Lady speculated.

Then, he would soon discover.

Qingyang City, united as one, had only one true backbone: Zhou Ping’an.

If anything were to happen to Zhou Ping’an.

This power would also vanish like smoke.

Even finding another leader capable of commanding respect would be impossible.

Only a loose sand remained.

Easily shattered upon attack.

This point was clearest to Lin Huaiyu.

It wasn’t that she lacked the ability.

But rather, in this era, she was acutely aware of her self-identity...

As a woman, she could be strong, she could be independent, but to be a leader, to command in all directions, there will always be those who obey in word but not in spirit.

Unrelated to ability, but tied to gender.

......