Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains

Wufa's expression was anxious. He was not just being alarmist; a powerful Sub-Saint of Martial Dao could rival an elite force of a million people from the Holy Land, not to mention the Earthshade Monastic Soldiers, who were still a notch below that elite force.

The million-strong Red Flame Army from Hexi could not be dealt with without the World-Honored One's intervention, especially with Hou Yuxiao...

Seeing that Abbot Wuxing still refused to relent, Wufa was filled with urgency. At the same time, a terrifying speculation emerged in his mind, and his expression instantly fell.

"Just a mere Hou Yuxiao has you all in such disarray. Is there no dignity left for our Chan Sect? What is everyone panicking about?"

Suddenly, an indignant voice echoed from Leiyin Temple, and Wuxing, Wufa, and the Southern Medicine Master quickly turned to look at the small temple, their faces lit up with joyful expressions.

"Hexi has just marched into Pengkang and Jiuchi counties; they won't launch another offensive so quickly. Wuxing, Wufa, quickly gather reinforcements from the three counties and fourteen districts, along with the million-strong Huang Chan Army from the prefectural city, and head to Yeyun County to defend against the Hexi army."

"Disciple takes the order!"

"Disciple takes the order!"

Wuxing and Wufa bowed in worship, unable to hide their joy.

"Nu Yuan, Jin Guang."

"Disciple present!"

In the small temple, the voice echoed again, followed by two different voices, which were those of Nu Yuan and Jin Guang, two of the three World-Honored Ones of the Chan Sect.

"Hou Yuxiao's strength is not to be underestimated. You two accompany the army to Yeyun County, and remember not to act impulsively. Just hold the city and don't let the Hexi army breach it!"

"Disciple takes the order!"

After four years, ever since returning from Wanglong Mountain, Shitian Buddha, suspected to be gravely injured and on the brink of death, spoke for the first time. His voice was resonant, showing no signs of frailty. Everyone present, be it the Southern Medicine Master, Wuxing, Wufa, or many of the monks from Leiyin Temple, was filled with excitement and joy at that moment.

As long as Buddha is still here, Leiyin Temple is safe.

Hexi is not to be feared!

Under the personal direction of Wuxing and Wufa, the million-strong Huang Chan Army from the prefectural city quickly prepared for action. Orders were relayed, and the reinforcements from the three counties, already gathering, accelerated their march, all heading toward Yeyun County to prepare to defend against the Hexi army.

...

New Yu Era, the year 1332, the tenth day of the seventh month.

After the great battle, the air in Pengkang County was thick with a pungent, nauseating stench of blood, lingering for a long time. Although the Red Armored Soldiers patrolling the city did not harm the common people at all, at the first sign of any clue related to the sect members of Leiyin Temple, they would immediately make arrests. Anyone found helping to hide them was considered the enemy, civilians included.

This high-pressure cleansing, which lasted through the night until daybreak, finally brought a degree of calm to Pengkang County. The disturbances that lasted from dusk until deep into the night ultimately subsided.

With the great battle just past, the city's residents mostly cowered in their homes. Despite the Hexi alliance, which had newly taken control of Pengkang, being considered by them as a more suitable ruler than Leiyin Temple, it had only been a single night, and full acceptance was not something that could come so quickly.

The bloody stench in the city made the people uneasy. Not only did it not dissipate with time, but it grew stronger, accompanied by occasional shouts of anger and cries of anguish from the city center, leaving many clever individuals guessing at the truth.

Hexi is executing war captives!

Last night, the Hexi faced not only the 300,000 Earthshade Monastic Soldiers but also those temporarily recruited from the city, combined with the sect members from Leiyin Temple, numbering nearly 500,000. In the wake of a massive battle, some were directly killed in action, some managed to escape, and others were captured.

The citizens of the county might not know the exact number of captives, but seeing that the killings went on from last night until dawn, it was surely quite substantial.

This kind of rampant slaughter brought a heavy oppressive feeling to the people, and they dared not harbor the fugitives from Leiyin Temple. Anything related to Leiyin Temple in their homes was quickly discarded.

In the center of the prefectural city, in a spacious area, Hou Yuxiao looked at the bodies being continuously dragged away and processed, his pupils full of a chilling gleam.

"Family Head, we've executed all nine thousand of the captives, and the three thousand who surrendered have all been incorporated. As expected by the Second Master, once they've pledged loyalty to us, these people follow our orders to the letter. Integrating them into the new army temporarily, no one dares to voice any objections. Even though their combat power is lacking, in the upcoming battles, even if used just to cause trouble for Leiyin Temple, they should serve some purpose."

When Gao Changlong mentioned executing the nine thousand captives, there was not a hint of sympathy in his eyes, only a disdainful smile, and even a hint of satisfaction in his tone.

Hou Yuxiao nodded slightly. He understood why Gao Changlong felt this way. Yesterday's siege yielded abundant results for the Red Flame Army, with over 200,000 enemies killed, but they also lost over 50,000, a significant casualty.

Gao Changlong had always served as a commanding leader for the Red Flame Army, and those fallen soldiers were all comrades he trained personally, so naturally, he harbored no sympathy regarding the execution of captives.

Besides, it wasn't his hands doing the killing.

"The Second Master's method proved effective indeed. We've captured seven cities, and with these surrendered captives numbering a total of 130,000, once we take Jin Guang Pingchuan's two counties, we'll likely have 150,000 new troops. While not expecting these new troops to greatly contribute, even just to vex Leiyin Temple would be quite satisfactory!"