Chapter 172 - 170: Slaying the Three Overlords, Turning the Tide
However, as soon as he escaped onto the street outside the mansion, he saw a figure chasing him from the side, as if carried by the wind, suddenly appearing.
With a side kick, Jiang Kan didn’t even have time to draw his sword before Song Changming’s kick broke his spine.
Jiang Kan’s face showed a look of pain as he looked up at Song Changming in disbelief.
Under Blood Burst, Song Changming was so strong that Jiang Kan had no means of resistance.
Before he could even beg for mercy, Song Changming delivered another kick, breaking Jiang Kan’s neck, killing him cleanly and swiftly.
This time, the Dongcang Three Dragons, all three brothers without exception, were sent on their way by Song Changming.
"Hmm?" Song Changming glanced toward a corner of the street, where that scholar he had seen once before was smiling and waving at him, as if greeting him.
"So you’re the hero who resolved this chaos, Donglai Dragon Blade Guest, haha, noted, noted, when the Earth List updates next, surely you’ll have a spot..."
The scholar mumbled to himself with a smile, then took out a book and ink from the large wooden box strapped to his back, recording something there.
Song Changming ignored the scholar, and as the soldiers from the Governor’s Mansion chased after him, he flew away lightly.
The three heads of the enemy army, the three powerholders, were all killed by him tonight; this is bound to lead to a chaotic situation where the group has no leader.
Inside the General Prison of the Public Security Bureau, Governor Li Yan, Captain Chen Yan, and General Director Zhuang Ren were all present.
Among them, both Captain and General Director Zhuang Ren were injured, but only Li Yan was still in relatively good condition, with no injuries on his body.
The team of civil servants led by the County Governor was also somewhat intact, only being detained.
Many captured county soldiers and generals were also piled up and held inside the prison, awaiting treatment.
"Since they’re not killing us, it shows that the enemy probably has other plans." The County Governor said in a low voice.
"I guess, maybe they want us to submit, trying to use your identity as governor to persuade the various county cities to surrender, aiming to occupy the entire Donglai Prefecture as quickly as possible without effort..."
"Very likely." Zhuang Ren, with a pale face and blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, said weakly.
"Humph, simply wishful thinking!" Li Yan gritted his teeth.
If he complied with them, the name of traitor would be forever branded on him, never to be removed.
In the future, when Nanyang sends troops to retake Donglai Prefecture, he would not escape the death penalty!
Thinking of this, he made up his mind to stand firm this time.
Just as he was thinking, suddenly the prison guards rushed out, as if something significant had happened outside.
A moment later, the sounds of killing and blood began to spread outside the prison.
Inside the prison, everyone unconsciously held their breath, looking towards the prison door.
With a faint hope hidden in their hearts.
Bam!
The next moment, the iron lock on the prison door snapped, and a person walked in.
"Changming!" Li Yan, seeing the person, showed a look of joy.
Zhuang Ren also straightened his back, struggled to sit up, and looked at the approaching Song Changming.
And Song Changming did not disappoint them and released them.
"Thanks to Changming!" Li Yan walked out excitedly and grabbed Song Changming’s hand.
Song Changming rescued all of them, and his image in everyone’s heart was instantly raised, like a savior!
"Lord Governor, it is better to leave this place first. The Dinghai Water Gang and Bandit Army certainly won’t let us escape." Captain Chen Yan timely reminded.
"No need, before coming here, I had already..." Song Changming revealed the matter of him intruding alone into the Governor’s Mansion and killing the three heads of the enemy.
Everyone was all stunned, knowing Song Changming’s martial prowess was extremely high, and many years ago he had dazzling feats of defeating Extreme Realm Martial Artists.
But today, acting alone, surrounded by numerous soldiers, killing the enemy leaders, and still being able to retreat unscathed.
This undoubtedly refreshed their recognition of Song Changming once again.
"Changming, truly a divine person..." The County Governor sighed.
Song Changming did not become self-satisfied, merely shaking his head and saying.
"I can kill those three, but I can’t restore order to the entire County City. Afterward, the governor still needs to contact the various county cities to quickly dispatch troops to aid the County City."
"Good! There’s no time to lose!" Li Yan nodded in agreement.
That night, a wave of governor’s decrees were sent out from the County City amidst the enemy’s chaos, swiftly flying to various counties.
The counties responded to the call, dispatched troops overnight, and even the patrol guards in each county city were temporarily recruited as combat power, rushing to rescue the County City.
After that, the governor, accompanied by the captain, personally led the army to coordinate internal and external efforts and launched a counterattack.
The enemy’s camp was originally divided into three troops, not a solid piece, and now under the leadership gap, their formation became chaotic, quickly dispersed by the soldiers dispatched from various counties.
By the next day, the three troops of the enemy had been largely driven outside the city, and Donglai County City was regained under Li Yan’s control.
Outside the city, in a long-abandoned Xiaoye Village, several vagrants were digging for wild vegetables around.
Suddenly, a rush of horse hooves arrived outside the village.
Those vagrants scattered like startled birds, hiding away, fearing they would encounter the bandits or soldier bandits outside.
In their eyes, these were more terrifying than wild wolves and tigers.
Song Changming looked at this desolate scene in front of him, feeling both unfamiliar and familiar.
At the entrance of the village, a broken sign made of several pieces prominently showed the words Song Family Village.
This is the small village where Song Changming spent his early childhood, and he still has some impressions of the place.
He slowed the horse’s pace, walking slowly through the village and then stopped in a desolate part of the village.
This place was originally the residence of Song Changming’s family, but now it has become a pile of stone ruins.
After taking a look, Song Changming regained his drifting thoughts, shook the reins, and continued on.
Once Song Changming was gone, the homeless people hiding in various corners dared to stick their heads out, and after confirming nothing was happening, they went about their business.
Song Changming led the horse to a secluded little hill behind the deserted village.
There, he buried Father Song, erected a tombstone, and after three days of companionship, he left.
Returning to Donglai County City, during the three days he was away, the city had been reorganized by Li Yan.
The city had now initially restored order.
Nanyang had also dispatched troops to pursue the three routes of enemy forces. This time, it seems that both the bandit army of Dongcang Three Dragons and the domineering Dinghai Water Gang are on the road to complete destruction.
With Gu Wenhui’s iron-fisted personality, he surely wouldn’t let them off easily.
Afterward, Song Changming brought back Song’s Mother and his third sister Song Yu, among others.
Originally, according to Liu Dingsheng’s plan, the convoy intended to head to Nanyang Prefecture, which is Gu Wenhui’s stronghold.
Staying there, as long as Gu Wenhui stands strong, Nanyang remains very safe, impregnable, untouched by war.
Song Changming also planned to send Song’s Mother and the others to Nanyang for a new life.
But after learning of the recent peace in Donglai County, Song’s Mother insisted that Song Changming bring her back, unwilling to be far from Father Song who was just buried.
Unwilling to force Song’s Mother, Song Changming chose to comply.
As for Liu Dingsheng, he no longer returned.
He first settled in Nanyang and might head north thereafter.
Because only by heading north can he occasionally see his granddaughter who lives within the Hidden Sect.
"Changming, if you tire of staying in Donglai, you can come north to find me in the future; you’ll be most welcome!" Liu Dingsheng said to Song Changming at their parting.
He offered an early invitation.
"When we meet again, I have only one request: don’t let your chess skills lag behind..."
Song Changming responded with a smile, assuring him he would certainly keep up.
If he ever decides to head north, he will definitely visit Liu Dingsheng, his old friend.
Speaking of their friendship, though there is a big age difference between them, it is very deep, and it is unlikely they will forget each other in the Jianghu.
The carriage slowly returned to Donglai County City.
At the city gate, Zhao Huaiming had been waiting for a long time, pacing anxiously back and forth.
Only upon seeing Song Yu and his children return safely, unharmed, could Zhao Huaiming’s heavy heart be completely relieved, as he embraced Song Yu for a long time, ignoring the gaze of others.
"Brother-in-law, save the hugging for when you get home." Song Changming teased.
"So many people are watching..." Song Yu, blushing, found the embrace satisfying but couldn’t help but blame after it ended.
"Hehe..." Zhao Huaiming scratched his head.
Everyone returned to the Song Residence.
The Song Residence had already been cleaned up by Song Changming in advance, so it wouldn’t appear dilapidated when Song’s Mother came back to live in it.
After resting her feet, Song’s Mother asked Song Changming to take her to see Father Song’s grave, and Song Yu followed as well.
That day inevitably brought tears to many people.
Even Song Ping’an kept wiping his eyes with his hands, his eyes moist.
After the ceremony for Father Song, life could finally return to its normal track.
It’s just that Song’s Mother has suddenly aged a lot since Father Song passed away, often sitting idly under the sun for half a day or an entire day.
Song Changming also resumed his usual cultivation.
Previously, during the battle with Xue Boyan, he realized that his qi refining cultivation still had much room for improvement.
If his inner qi were strong enough or if his mastery of the Wind Dragon Divine Saber Technique were exceedingly skillful, he would not have needed to use the Blood Burst Secret Technique to defeat Xue Boyan.
The role of qi refining cultivation in actual combat is indeed very significant.
In Song Changming’s eyes, if his inner qi were sufficiently powerful, a single slash could defeat thousands!
Thereafter, as Song Changming diligently cultivated day by day, his inner qi gradually accumulated.
This is a slow process of accumulating little by little, gathering sand to make a tower.
The longer he cultivates, the more thoroughly he settles, allowing his qi refining cultivation to continuously increase and become more profound.
At times, Song Changming cannot help but ponder, other qi refining martial artists are limited by their own lifespans, their qi refining cultivation also has limits, requiring them to enhance their qi refining cultivation as much as possible within a limited lifespan.
Given his immense longevity, if his qi refining can infinitely enhance, continuously accumulating, he’s curious about the depth he will reach in centuries or millennia.
Will he be unprecedented? The greatest of all time in qi refining?
Song Changming does not know, but he eagerly anticipates the formidable scene his strength will embody in centuries or millennia.
Time is almost every being’s greatest enemy, but for him, it does not wear him down or erode him; instead, it allows him to harness the power of time to grow ever stronger!
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