In the city, at some unknown moment, a chorus of helpless wailing arose. Groups of frail citizens and haggard soldiers appeared on the streets, their expressions were equally resolute and determined.

They knew that Lu’an City was defended, but rather than being tortured and killed by the Exotic Beasts one by one, it was better to fight desperately.

The sound of horns continued to echo in the air, like a requiem played prematurely.

"Kill!" Just then, the thunderous sound of battle cries erupted from behind. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Seeing those young and agile figures, seeing those powerful Sword Lights filled with the Qi of a Sword Master, the citizens who were prepared to fight to the death were first shocked, then, as if all their strength had been drained, they collapsed to the ground, unable to control their tears.

But these were tears of joy; they knew they had been saved.

In just the blink of an eye, Mu Hanyan and the others had charged into the midst of the Exotic Beasts, just as they had seen before. These Exotic Beasts too had been through relentless battles and were already at the end of their strength.

Although earlier they could still fight the equally exhausted City Guard soldiers to the death, how could they possibly withstand this group of vital and high-spirited reinforcements?

Almost every Sword Light that flashed through was accompanied by a burst of blood mist and the anguished cry of an Exotic Beast.

With the combined efforts of Mu Hanyan and the City Guard soldiers, an hour later, the clearing was left with nothing but the corpses of Exotic Beasts.

At some point, fine raindrops began to fall, quietly washing away the bloodstains from the ground.

All the City Guard soldiers finally breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling an overwhelming fatigue, each one sat down where they stood, gasping heavily.

The elderly, white-haired general, however, with his tired steps approached Mu Hanyan and the others, and with great difficulty, clasped his fists in salute, saying, "I am Luo Pengcheng, the City Lord of Lu’an City; you must be the elite warriors from the Eight Great Families of the Capital and the Holy Court?"

"I am Dan Tai Xuan, Steward of the Outer Court of the Holy Court," Dan Tai Xuan said arrogantly. So easily slaughtering over a thousand Exotic Beasts, resolving the crisis in Lu’an City, his previous frustration was swept away, and he began to boast again.

"I am Mu Hanyan," Mu Hanyan said simply.

Although those Exotic Beasts were already at the end of their strength, greatly reducing their combat power, in her view, they seemed somewhat weaker; if it were merely this level of Exotic Beasts attacking the city, they wouldn’t need their assistance at all, it seemed.

"Indeed, you have come at the right time, hurry, quickly go to Beining Pass and Qingyang Pass; if those two points fall, Lu’an City will be finished," Luo Pengcheng said urgently.

"What Beining Qingyang?" Dan Tai Xuan asked, puzzled.

"Beining and Qingyang Passes are part of Lu’an City’s Sword Guard Mansion, strategically located by the mountains, making them extremely advantageous for defense. Importantly, these two gateways happen to block the main route of the Exotic Beasts attacking Lu’an City. If it were not for these two passes acting as horns alongside Lu’an City, Lu’an City would have long fallen.

This time, with the Exotic Beasts launching a major attack, they attacked Beining and Qingyang Passes simultaneously while attacking Lu’an City. Although those passes have the advantage of terrain, the defending forces are limited, and from the strength of the Exotic Beasts earlier, they don’t seem too strong, but the Exotic Beasts attacking Beining and Qingyang Passes might not be any weaker. If they are not rescued in time, they might not hold out.

At that time, Lu’an City will be isolated and helpless, and surely won’t hold out for long," Luo Pengcheng explained quickly.

The noble family’s sons looked at each other in dismay. Just having achieved a great victory and thinking that these Exotic Beasts in Lu’an City were not a big deal, they now realized they had underestimated the situation. It was far more severe than they had imagined.

"Report..." At that moment, a bloodied officer rode a Red Charcoal Cloud Smoke Beast that swiftly galloped over. As soon as it reached the gate, the Red Charcoal Cloud Smoke Beast let out a long neigh before collapsing heavily to the ground, spitting blood from its mouth, clearly unable to survive.

The officer on its back also fell to the ground but immediately got up again, stumbling towards Luo Pengcheng, half-kneeling on the ground, and said urgently, "Beining Pass is in urgent need, please send troops for rescue, my lord!"

This officer was evidently young, his voice hoarse and low, tinged with a sobbing tone, like a cuckoo crying blood, one sleeve dangling emptily at his side, severed at the shoulder, and faintly stained with fresh blood.

"What, the lord... what happened to your lord?" Du Pengcheng was shocked upon hearing this and asked.

"The lord swore to live and die with Beining Pass. If your lord does not send troops for rescue, he will surely not survive," the young officer said, choking with emotion.

"What about Qingyang Pass? What’s the situation at Qingyang Pass?" Du Pengcheng was silent for a moment before asking.

"This time, the Exotic Beasts’ attack focused on our Beining Pass, Qingyang Pass is slightly better, but if not rescued, it might not hold out for too long," the young officer said, catching his breath.

"Lord Tantai, Young Master Mu, you’ve seen the situation in Lu’an City; we’re stretched too thin, please assist," Luo Pengcheng said urgently, bowing deeply to Dan Tai Xuan and Mu Hanyan.

"No need for further courtesy, Lord City Master, we will split into two groups; I’ll lead the rescue to Qingyang, and Young Master Mu will lead the rescue to Beining, giving it our all and ensuring there are no mishaps at these two passes," Dan Tai Xuan said righteously.

Upon hearing these words, Luo Pengcheng was slightly taken aback. During the earlier chaos, he hadn’t noticed anything, but after the battle ended, he noticed that the noble family’s sons who came to Lu’an City were divided into two groups: one led by Dan Tai Xuan, numbering around thirteen or fourteen hundred people, and another led by Mu Hanyan, with only five hundred or so people.

Even if there were some strength disparities among the Eight Great Families of the Capital, the number difference was so large that who was stronger or weaker was obvious without needing to be said.

Knowing that the battle was most intense at Beining Pass, Dan Tai Xuan’s team, which clearly had an advantage in strength, did not go to rescue Beining but chose Qingyang. What was the intention behind this?

Though he harbored doubts, guessing it might be related to the power struggles among the Eight Great Families of the Capital or some personal vendetta between Dan Tai Xuan and Mu Hanyan, Luo Pengcheng didn’t feel it appropriate to ask further.

Dan Tai Xuan also noticed Luo Pengcheng’s perplexed expression and pretended to look troubled, saying, "Isn’t it a bit odd to you, Lord City Master, that our team, clearly outnumbering by several times, doesn’t go to Beining but chooses Qingyang? To tell the truth, we encountered an Exotic Beast attack while passing through Wind Pool City yesterday and gave it our all to help. Over two hundred perished on the battlefield, and the rest were wounded, many still bearing injuries, and during the battle with the Exotic Beasts in the city, some people’s injuries flared up again, so our combat strength has actually diminished. If we go to rescue Beining, it might cost us dearly."

As he finished speaking, Mo Yanhong and several other noble family’s sons cooperatively lifted their shirts, revealing conspicuous claw marks on their bodies. One had broken ribs, wrapped in thick bandages, and when he lifted his shirt, he grimaced in pain.