Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 571: Chapter 424: The Fire Burns Baili Mountain

Flowers bloom on two branches, each displaying its splendor!

More than a hundred thousand elite soldiers and valiant warriors from the Three Kingdoms, stationed outside Liuzhou City, had advanced halfway into the city. They surrounded Hengtang Lake, all to take Gu Changsheng’s life, while the other half pressed directly towards Baili Mountain!

In the midst of Baili Mountain, Mr. Ban Shan held the little bundle in his arms, his face grave as he watched the scout rushing from outside the stronghold. A shade of gloom spread across his wise old face.

”Report!”

The scout had not even entered the main hall when he presented the token in his hand. The guards at the door, seeing this, naturally did not dare to stop him.

”To report to the master, there are no more than fifty thousand coming, already deep into Baili Mountain and soon upon the Soul-Bewitching Formation set up by the sir!” The scout panted slightly, his forehead dripping with sweat, as he knelt on one knee and hurriedly reported.

Mr. Ban Shan, upon hearing this, suddenly narrowed his eyes dangerously and murmured in disbelief, ”Fifty thousand... it is actually fifty thousand...”

Upon hearing this, Diao Chan and Yhan Ting at his side showed a glint of joy on their faces.

”Master, with only fifty thousand men, as they step into the Soul-Bewitching Formation, we can advance into the formation to meet the enemy! We can annihilate them without leaving a single piece of armor!” Yhan Ting’s eyes were blood-red, his face murderous as he spoke, his killing nature evident for all to see.

”No, we can’t! Before Lady Changsheng went down the mountain, she instructed that if the Three Kingdoms send troops against Baili Mountain, we must retreat immediately!” Xiao Cui immediately rebutted upon hearing this, her face unkind as she glared at Yhan Ting, fiery anger leaping in her eyes, ”All you know is to kill people, do you even intend to disobey the orders of the master?”

”You!” Yhan Ting turned to look at Xiao Cui, upon hearing her words, and seeing her angry expression, he could only wave his hand helplessly, ”How tender-hearted of a woman!”

Diao Chan glanced at Yhan Ting and Xiao Cui, hurriedly stepping forward to bow and speak anxiously, ”Master, with the enemy at the foot of the mountain numbering no more than fifty thousand, although we only have eight hundred men, with the advantage of time, location, and harmony, we are not without the capacity to fight. The arrow is on the string and must be released; I ask the master to make a decision quickly!”

”Indeed, master, if not now, when? Each of us can fight a hundred on our own!” Jiang Liu agreed, fists clenched.

”To raise soldiers for a thousand days is for the use of one moment, please give the order, master. Even if we are to die, we must ensure Young Master’s safety!” General Qi stated solemnly.

The little bundle watched everyone, their indignation filling the room, a hint of confusion in their eyes, yet obediently staying silent, quietly nestled in Mr. Ban Shan’s arms.

The tense atmosphere around caused his small brows to furrow tightly.

Under the hopeful gaze of everyone, Mr. Ban Shan shook his head with a heavy expression, ”Fifty thousand! Only fifty thousand! With fifty thousand soldiers, you might see the chance for a battle, but with the Crown Prince of the Three Kingdoms visiting Great Zhou, bringing more than a hundred thousand personal troops from Liuzhou City, now having used only fifty thousand to besiege Baili Mountain, where are the other fifty thousand?”

As he said this, Mr. Ban Shan’s wise gaze grew heavy as he looked towards the few commanders standing below.

Everyone was taken aback.

Indeed! Where had the other fifty thousand plus soldiers gone?

”Liuzhou City! My daughter is still in the city! Since they have shown their true colors by sending troops to Baili Mountain, how could they spare Changsheng’s Beloved Daughter!” Mr. Ban Shan considered this possibility and immediately stood up from his chair, his face overcast as he held the little bundle.

”What!”

”Oh!”

The crowd gasped, their fears blatantly apparent in an instant.

The master is in danger!

”Master! What do we do now? Do we meet the enemy or what?” Han Qiu spoke gravely, ”Now that they have surrounded the stronghold, if we gather everyone to break out, it shouldn’t be difficult!”

”Master, given this, Lady Changsheng must be in danger. She’s alone; if surrounded by more than fifty thousand soldiers, what should we do?” Xiao Cui was desperately anxious, tears welling in her eyes, stomping her feet in agitation, longsword drawn, her voice firm, ”No, we must fight our way out, we must go to the city to meet Lady Changsheng! She must be safe!”

Mr. Ban Shan nodded somberly upon hearing this, ”Correct, we must abandon the mountain! Only then can we save my daughter!”

”All commanders, hear my order. With my command, the arrows ready, swords drawn, flammable oil poured on the stronghold, cutting a bloody path through the back mountain, we set out immediately to Liuzhou City, Lady Changsheng must be unharmed!”

”Yes, sir!”

”Yes, sir!”

In the next moment, the main hall echoed with the unanimous voices of assent.

The messengers went first, with Yhan Ting, Diao Chan, Han Qiu, and Xiao Cui guarding Mr. Ban Shan’s side, all quickly retreating towards the outside of the stronghold.

In just a short while, the choking scent of flammable oil began to spread.

”No good! They’re setting the mountain on fire!”

Suddenly, Yhan Ting pointed to the smoke rising around the top of the stronghold and roared furiously, his eyes seeming to split apart.

Mr. Ban Shan’s expression changed dramatically at the words.

It was the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, with dry leaves covering the ground, a spark could quickly spread into a blaze.

”They must not have been able to get out of the Soul-Bewitching Formation, that’s why they resorted to such measures!”

”Master, there’s smoke and fire from the back mountain too!”

”Master, what do we do now?”

In just a few breaths, flames leapt high on the mountain peaks surrounding the stronghold!

The tongues of fire filled the sky; the scorching heat seemed to envelop everything...

Looking up at the sky, Mr. Ban Shan’s eyes showed resolve, ”Everyone, down into the mud pit! Even if a sea of fire engulfs us, we must get my grandson out!”

Little Gu Ze was his daughter’s life; nothing could happen to him!

”Understood!”

”Understood!”

All around, there was a chorus of orders being acknowledged.

The next instant, Yhan Ting hoisted Mr. Ban Shan onto his back, Han Qiu grabbed the little meat bun, and several people dashed toward the training ground’s mud pit!

The mountain fire was ruthless, spreading across the sky. Even with mud all over their bodies, it was uncertain whether they could make it out!

The disparity between friend and foe in this battle was not the most frightening part; what was terrifying was their shameless willingness to inflict mutual destruction by igniting the mountain fire!

...

”General, we should retreat quickly. With the mountain fire rising, no one in the mountains can escape, even if they had wings!” A personal guard, with a face full of fear, said to a man dressed as a general.

Not far in front of them was the rising inferno!

The leaves, dead branches, and vegetation were all ablaze; the scorching temperature, even from this distance, was unbearable against their faces!

”No! We must ensure that all of Gu Changsheng’s men die here, including his dearest flesh and blood, his precious son!” The general spoke with a murderous tone.

”But the Prince’s command was that as soon as we set the mountain on fire and lure Zhou Mu out of the city, our task is complete. If we delay further, the spreading fire will engulf our entire army here!” The concerned personal guard replied, clearly disagreeing.

Upon hearing this, the general’s expression darkened, and with a wave of his sleeve, he coldly ordered, ”More flammable oil, now!”

”General!” The personal guard exclaimed, in disbelief.

A vicious look flashed across the general’s face as he spoke with deadly intent, ”Zhou Mu has fought in countless battles but has never used fire to attack. He must be frightened of fire. We’ve been buying up all of the flammable oil and making military moves. We’re bound to lure him out!”

”Haha!” As the general reached this point, he laughed arrogantly, then spoke with disdain, ”So much for the War God of Great Zhou, invincible in battle, unstoppable in attack. Today, I’ll see Zhou Mu fall here, and by killing Zhou Mu, I will become famous in one fell swoop! Hahaha...”

”What wishful thinking!”

Suddenly, a cold rebuke sounded not far behind him.

Turning in disbelief, the general glimpsed a flash of terror in his eyes.

The next instant, Zhou Mu’s longsword swept at the general’s neck without hesitation.

Before the general could speak again, his head had already hit the ground.

”Boom!”

The headless torso collapsed with a thunderous fall.

”All generals, heed my command, kill! Even if we die, we must carve out a path to the mountain stronghold for this prince!”

Zhou Mu looked at the fire engulfing the sky, his expression as cold as ice.

”At your command!”

In the following moment, the few hundred men from Prince Mu’s Mansion threw themselves into the battle against the forces surrounding Baili Mountain!

The sounds of fierce combat instantly rose within the depths of Baili Mountain.

Severed limbs, spilled blood, anguished roars...

”Master, the fire is too fierce; if this continues, we’ll all perish with them here!” Yuan Bao anxiously spoke as he launched a flare, ”This is too wicked! What do we do now? Mr. Ban Shan and the Young Master are still in the stronghold; if anything happens to them, Lady Changsheng will...”

At this, Yuan Bao couldn’t help but pause!

Lady Changsheng doted on the Young Master to the bones; if anything were to happen to him, Yuan Bao truly couldn’t imagine how Lady Changsheng would react!

Zhou Mu’s face was grave as he looked at the raging fire before him, a heavy expression passing over his face, ”I can only hope that by the time Jiang One and the others rush back, she is unharmed!”

As his words fell, Zhou Mu’s body soared up, charging straight toward the blaze that filled the sky.

Yuan Bao was shocked, ”Master! You mustn’t!”

Others may not know, but Yuan Bao was well aware that his master feared fire above all, especially due to the incident with the great fire at the Eastern Palace!

”Someone help! Follow the master! Clear a path!” In a panic, Yuan Bao cried out, his plump body the first to follow in his master’s direction!

”Boom!”

”Boom!”

”Boom!”

The Purple Gold Python Robe billowed as Zhou Mu struck palm after palm, blowing away the burning trees in front of him.

Xiao Gu Ze! That was the life of his woman!

He would spare no expense to save him!

Sparks flew everywhere. Tree after tree in front of Zhou Mu was blown away by his Palm Force. The searing heat felt as though it could melt a person, but Zhou Mu had no time for such concerns!

Dozens of his men arrived to protect his rear, slapping away the flaming branches and leaves.

...

”My master is here!” Yhan Ting spotted the soaring purple flare and a flash of elation crossed his eyes.

Upon hearing this, everyone’s faces lit up with joy.

Mr. Ban Shan heard this and, looking in the direction of the purple fireworks, his wise eyes sparkled, ”Zhou Mu is here! He will find a way to clear a path for us! Bring me the grenades!”

”Toward the direction of the flare, blow a passage for me. Let’s meet up with Zhou Mu!”