Chapter 1093: Who Dares Bully My Nephew and Niece!

The Imperial Court clearly had no intention of giving them a chance, opting to use a butcher's cleaver to kill a chicken. Barely a dozen people had managed to flee the Tang Manor, yet a force of over five hundred soldiers now blocked their path.

With pursuing troops closing off their rear, it seemed this ambush had been planned from the start.

"We can't retreat!"

"The only way to survive is to carve our way out in blood!"

Tang Zheng's gaze turned icy as he stared at the countless government troops ahead.

Amid the chaos, Tang Yuerong grabbed him and shook her head. "You can't die! If you do, our morale will shatter!"

Tang Zheng froze for a moment, looked at his younger sister, and nodded.

"I'll be careful."

Tang Yuerong gave a slight nod, then turned her gaze to Tang Shijing.

"The same goes for you, little brother. Above all else, keep yourself alive!"

Tang Shijing nodded in agreement. "Don't worry, Sister."

Raising the sword in his hand, Tang Zheng looked back at the crowd and roared, "Everyone, follow me and carve a path out of here!"

This was the sheer, unyielding grit unique to the martial artists of the jianghu.

"I'll stall the men in the rear for now!"

Tang Shijing wheeled around, leading a group of men to guard the rear.

Amidst the swirling chaos in Yingfeng Valley, Tang Yuerong had already lost track of how many of their people were still alive.

She clenched her fists, her palms damp with fresh sweat. Her racing heart refused to settle, and her breathing grew sharp and rapid.

Tang Zheng threw himself into the slaughter in the valley. With just one man and his sword, he showed absolutely no intention of backing down.

Backed by the seasoned jianghu experts brought from Nanbeilou, they actually managed to tear a bloody path straight through the encroaching government troops!

"Quick, take the others and go through!"

"Hurry!"

The driver immediately snapped the reins.

With a shrill neigh, the horse carriage lurched forward.

"Hyah!"

The jolting horse carriage barreled recklessly into the line of soldiers.

Tang Zheng fought fiercely in the thick of the fray, carving a path open for it.

But the real peril lay waiting in the valley just ahead.

The driver urged the horse carriage toward the valley.

Yet the moment they neared it, a lone Daoist appeared on the road to block their way.

"Get out of the way! Out of the way!"

The driver bellowed, but the Daoist merely flicked his Whisk.

Instantly, the horse's legs gave out, sending the beast crashing down.

"Crash..."

The horse carriage jolted violently before flipping onto its side.

The driver tumbled from the seat, one of his legs pinned beneath the carriage. A roar of agony tore from his throat.

"Ahhh!"

He yanked frantically at his trapped leg, completely powerless to free it.

Only when the Daoist barring their path waved his Whisk did the pressure lift.

The horse carriage levitated just enough for the driver to finally wrench himself free.

Tang Yuerong stumbled out of the overturned horse carriage. She stared around in a daze, a bloody gash stark against her forehead where she had struck it during the crash.

As Tang Yuerong laid eyes on the Daoist, her heart seized.

"Immortal Master Wuwei..."

Daoist Wuwei offered a shallow bow and said, "This humble Daoist greets Benefactor Tang."

Tang Yuerong paled, whatever shred of hope she had left dying in her chest.

Daoist Wuwei let out a soft sigh. "The emperor has given his decree. If Benefactor Tang forces her way through this pass, the rolling stones and flying arrows waiting upon the mountain will be loosed. Not a single soul in this valley will be left alive."

Hearing this, Tang Yuerong raised her eyes toward the ridges above the valley.

She looked back at Daoist Wuwei and murmured, "The Immortal Master had already deduced we would break out in this direction, hadn't he? How else could the Imperial Court's forces have mobilized so quickly?"

"Boundless heavenly honored one."

Daoist Wuwei let out another soft sigh. "Benefactor Tang, let this be the end of it. There are already enough worldly sins plaguing this realm. Accompany this humble Daoist back."

Looking at the situation before her, Tang Yuerong finally understood.

Just how many men were lying in wait atop those ridges?

How could their people possibly break through such a blockade?

The very thought of it was nothing but a foolish fantasy.

Tang Yuerong looked back toward the rear. Amid the slaughter, she watched one person after another fall to the ground.

Prince Yu's soldiers, the righteous fighters of the jianghu, and the servants of the Tang Manor were being butchered under a flurry of blades. With every passing breath, another person collapsed into the dirt, their struggles swiftly ending in death.

Tang Yuerong squeezed her eyes shut. After a fleeting moment of hesitation, she bowed her head.

"Immortal Master, stay your hand..."

But just as Tang Yuerong spoke...

...a voice rang out.

"Who dares bully my nephew and niece?!"

The thunderous shout echoed across the battlefield.

In the blink of an eye, Lotus Flowers drifted up from the battlefield.

The Lotus Flowers transformed into sabers and swords, instantly pressing against the necks of every government soldier.

Tang Zheng stumbled back, following the sound of the voice.

He looked up to see a figure leaping down from a cloud of water mist, transforming into a little girl in red. A dot of red cinnabar marked her brow, a wine pot hung at her waist, and a palm-sized person stood on her shoulder.

"Is it you, you old ox-nose?!"

Tang Shijing froze the moment he heard that voice.

"L-Little Auntie?"

Tang Shijing murmured in disbelief.

It suddenly dawned on Tang Zheng as well.

Of course. He had almost completely forgotten about this little auntie of theirs.

Yu Hongjin took a swig from her wine pot and glared directly at Daoist Wuwei.

Daoist Wuwei stiffened slightly, seemingly recognizing the newcomer as well.

Yu Hongjin let out a cold snort. "Ox-nose, did you forget how you ended up a mute back then? You actually have the gall to lay a hand on the people the one surnamed Chen specifically cared for?!"

Daoist Wuwei gazed at the little girl in red. "Boundless heavenly honored one. The Daoist Gate has received the emperor's favor and been decreed the State Religion. As a pillar of the Daoist Gate, this humble Daoist must repay that kindness so my original heart remains clear."

"Fine, fine, fine!"

Yu Hongjin said these three words.

Then she turned to the tiny figure on her shoulder. "Rebellious son, go take care of those soldiers in the rear! I'll deal with this old ox-nose!"

Yu Hongdou paused and muttered in annoyance, "You're the rebellious son."

But despite his grumbling, he still flew off.

Yu Hongjin turned her gaze back to the old ox-nose. "Ox-nose, I might not be great at fighting, but when it comes to harming people, you are far beneath me!"

With that, Yu Hongjin raised her hand.

The swimming yin and yang twin fishes within her Dantian began to revolve, and the black fish manifested directly in the center of her palm.

Daoist Wuwei's expression froze at the sight. "Karma!" he murmured.

And it was no ordinary karma!

Yu Hongjin said, "This is the karma of Heaven and Earth! Either you get out of my way, or I'll let this karma of Heaven and Earth entangle you until your body dies and your Dao Cultivation crumbles!"

She wasn't just saying this to scare people.

Back in the day, even Mo Yuan, the ruler of Beicang, had nearly failed to pull through after being tainted by just a sliver of it. No matter how high this old Daoist's Dao Cultivation was, he could only throw his weight around here in the Mortal World, let alone survive being tainted by a speck of this karma!

Daoist Wuwei's expression shifted slightly. "Do you realize that if such karma leaves your hands, everyone present will lose their lives?"

Yu Hongjin took a step forward and said, "I'm playing for high stakes! Old ox-nose, just tell me if you dare to play. If you don't, then get out of my way!"

Watching the karma swirling in her palm, Daoist Wuwei felt a deep surge of worry.

He fell silent.

Letting so many people die in this place just for a single Tang Manor simply wasn't worth it.

Furthermore, Daoist Wuwei wasn't even certain whether she actually had a means to control this karma.

This was a gamble he could not take!