Under the soldiers' expulsion, the crowd of onlookers hastily dispersed and fled in all directions. Wang Yun and Liu Xie also escaped one after another. Having no other choice, those soldiers really got into action.

  Only Yang Chengye and Nalan Yanran did not move, continuing to look towards the center of the lake.

  Suddenly a soldier raised his knife and chopped towards Yang Chengye, Yang Chengye's eyes turned cold, just about to take action, a whip shadow suddenly appeared, instantly wrapping around the soldier's wrist, pulling him away. At the same time, Nalan Yanran flew up, kicking the soldier in the chest with one foot.

  Seeing Nalan Yanran saving himself, Yang Chengye was stunned for a moment. Nalan Yanran's kung fu was actually so powerful.

  However, Nalan Yanran couldn't bear Yang Chengye's thoughts and after driving away the soldiers, she stepped forward to block Yang Chengye's path, asking: "Young Master Yang, are you alright?"

  Yang Chengye opened his mouth and shook his head: "Nothing."

  At this time, Nalan Yanran seemed to have changed into a different person, with a solemn expression, like a mother hen guarding her chicks.

  "Let's go!"

  Nalan Yanran spoke as she swung her long whip, wrapping it around a soldier's neck and throwing him away.

  Nalan Yanran grabbed Yang Chengye's hand and quickly ran towards the outside of West Lake.

  At this time, Xi Hu's heart was cold, Zhao Ji looked at Zhang Sanqiang with a chill and said: "Zhang Sanqiang, since you know my identity, don't think about leaving alive!"

  Zhao Ji finished speaking and shouted towards the lake: "Release the arrow!"

  As soon as Zhao Ji's words fell, the soldiers holding bows and arrows by the lake simultaneously shot arrows. Countless arrows mixed with the cold wind sound, quickly shooting towards Zhang Sanqiang.

  Seeing the arrow rain coming, Zhang San sheathed his short gun and said: "Zhao Ji, do you think that just relying on this can keep me here?"

  "You're underestimating me, Zhang!"

  "Heaven and Earth, Great Shift!"

  Only saw Zhang San's hands dancing quickly in front of him, a strong aura burst out from his body, forming a powerful atmosphere around him.

  At this time, the arrows were coming down like rain, but at the moment they entered the aura, all the arrows changed direction and returned to their original path, shooting towards the soldiers by the lake.

  Witnessing this scene, Zhao Ji's face changed slightly, and she exclaimed in surprise: "I didn't expect you to actually learn the Zhēn Jiào Gōng Fǎ Qián Kūn Dà Nuó Yí (Great Void Shifting Method)!"

  "Hmmph!"

  Zhang San sneered and said: "Zhao Ji, there are still many things you can't think of!"

  Zhang San finished speaking, drew out a short gun from behind his back, and flung it at Zhao Ji. He himself also rushed towards the lake shore amidst the arrow rain.

  Zhao Ji didn't expect Zhang Sanqiang to suddenly flee, his body flashing and dodging, one palm slapping the short gun flying, while his body seemed to spin rapidly like a top, in the blink of an eye he sucked up the lake water, forming a whirlpool, chasing after Zhang Sanqiang.

  Zhang San glanced at the huge waterspout and curled his lip, continuing to sprint towards the shore. He was confident that he could escape when the waterspout caught up with him.

  "Zhang San, stay behind!"

  Just then, a voice rang out, followed by a palm print that suddenly appeared and slapped Zhang San's back.

  Zhang Sanqiang immediately spat out a mouthful of blood, and at this moment, Zhao Ji's water dragon also surged forth, sending Zhang Sanqiang crashing towards the lake shore, smashing into countless soldiers, and the powerful air wave spread in all directions, shaking many soldiers to scatter and fly.

  After the smoke and dust had dispersed, a pit appeared by the lake. Zhang San saw Zhao Ji standing at the edge of the pit with a thin man, spitting blood.

  "Shangguan Jian Nan, I never thought you'd actually defect to the imperial court, you..."

  Zhang San coughed up blood again.

  "Hmm!"

  A lean man let out a cold snort and said, "My Iron Palm Sect has been established for over a hundred years, always taking it as our duty to drive away the Jurchen invaders and protect our Great Song Dynasty. Now that the Great Song has external troubles with the Jin State and Western Xia eyeing us covetously, and internal troubles with your Ming Cult rebelling against the authorities, if we don't eliminate you, how can the court focus on dealing with the external threats and recovering lost territory?"

  Hehe

  Zhang San's face turned pale with a wry smile, his voice hoarse as he said: "Shangguan Jian'nan, you don't need to deceive yourself either. Today, the imperial court is corrupt, Zhao Gou is incompetent and indulgent in pleasure, using treacherous officials, abusing power, framing innocent people, harming Yue Yuanshuai, and even wanting to curry favor with others, content with a small gain."

  "What hope is there for the imperial court now? It's better to overthrow it and start anew."

  "Shut up!"

  Shangguan Jiannan angrily shouted, saying: "Your Mingjiao is a small foreign religion that has been introduced to China and has misled the hearts of the people for personal gain. From Fang La onwards, it has opposed the imperial court, and up until now, which one of you, including Yu Wupao, is not a rebellious subject who offends against authority?"

  "If it weren't for your Mingjiao sect holding back the imperial court, how could our great Song Dynasty be bullied by the Jin and Western Xia nations at will?"

  "Besides, the princess has already promised me that as long as we eliminate the Ming Cult, she will reform the imperial court, reinstate General Han, and drive out the Tartars - all of which can be accomplished in a matter of days!"

  "Hmmph!"

  Zhang San's mouth cornered again with a hint of fresh blood, saying: "Deceiving oneself with one's own words, do you believe it yourself?"

  "Kill if you want to kill, no need to say more. Even if you kill me Zhang Sanqiang, there are still Li Siqiang, Wang Wuqiang and Zhao Liuqiang. The spark of Mingjiao will not be extinguished!"

  "Stubborn and unrepentant!"

  Shangguan Jiannan said to Zhaoji: "Princess, too much talk is useless, let's take action!"

  Zhao Ji nodded and took a long sword handed over by a soldier, stabbing Zhang San's chest.

  "Master, we've come to rescue you!"

  "Kill!"

  …………

  At this moment, a loud shout burst out, followed by fierce battle cries that grew louder and closer. Many agile experts suddenly rushed over and engaged in an intense battle with the soldiers.

  At the same time, five figures rushed towards Zhao Ji and Si Tu Jian Nan, surrounding them.

  Another person came forward and said in a low voice: "Five scattered people, you entangle them, I will go to save the master!"

  Five scattered people responded in unison, each drawing their weapons, and gazed fiercely at Zhao Ji and Si Tu Jian Nan.

  "Wu Sanren, Chen Zuoshi, I am acting on the orders of my master to kill Zhang Sangun, a traitor to our sect. Are you two also going to betray our leader?"

  Zhao Ji shouted at the five scattered people who were treating Zhang San's wound and surrounding her.

  Chen Zuo was a robust man eight feet tall with a pair of white eyebrows.

  At this time, Chen Zuo made a palm seal on the back of Zhang San's gun and slowly input his true energy into Zhang San's gun body, repairing Zhang San's injuries.

  Upon hearing this, Chen Zuoshi turned to Zhao Ji and said: "Zhao Wushuang, I will report this matter to the Master myself. You have colluded with the imperial court in order to contend for the position of Master, surely the Master will not forgive you lightly once she finds out."

  After hearing Chen Zuoshi's words, Zhao Ji's face changed color. Tonight's matter is likely to end badly. She had been secretly infiltrating the Ming Cult for nearly twenty years; could it all be ruined now?

  How can I explain this to the Emperor?

  Zhao Ji's mind turned a hundred times, her face changing from cloudy to sunny and back again. In the end, she gritted her teeth and made up her mind.

  "Superior officer, help me. After annihilating the Ming Cult rebels, I will ask Father Emperor to reinstate General Han and discuss counterattacking the Jin State."

  "Good!"

  Shangguan Jiannan responded with a single word, took out a palm-sized bamboo tube, pulled out the plug, and instantly a flame shot up into the sky, followed by a dazzling fireworks display in the air.