Starting with helping Zhao Kai ascend the throne in the snow

Just then, a thunderous sound of hooves suddenly rang out from outside Twenty Mile Fort, startling the people who were lost in grief.

"Everyone, prepare to meet the enemy!" As the sound of hooves approached, Hama, disregarding his grief, immediately led everyone out of Tian Youcai's house. He then mounted his horse and formed ranks on the street inside the fortress, placing two huge logs in front of him as obstacles.

"Huh, not those scum from the Chi Yue Tiger Tribe..."

"They are from Liyang..."

As the distance between the two sides closed, some sharp-eyed soldiers immediately recognized the cavalry on horseback as not the Chi Yuehu tribe that had been chasing them.

"Just as I expected, it really is them." In the group, Shen Qing saw the barbarian soldiers' disheveled appearance and revealed an expression of "I knew it."

"Shen Lang? What are you saying? I don't understand." Xuan Yuan Qingfeng looked at Shen Qing with confusion.

“Qingfeng, if I’m not mistaken, these people in front of us should be the remnants of the Liyue tribe. After being ambushed by the Chiyue Tiger tribe at Peach Blossom Ridge, they were herded like ducks all the way here.” After seeing the obstacle ahead, the fifty riders of the Xuanyuan family slowly stopped. Shen Qing pointed to the Liyue tribe barbarian soldiers in front of them and said to Xuanyuan Qingfeng.

“People of Liyang, we, the Liyue tribe, have no objection to being your enemies. Make way for us and we will leave immediately.” Hama looked at the fifty cavalrymen opposite him, who exuded a fierce aura, and his tone carried a hint of weakness.

The cavalrymen in front of them were all dressed and wiry, like warriors from the Liyang tribe. They were all burly and looked formidable. Although they were all barbarian warriors from the Liyue tribe, they did not want to cause any trouble while being pursued by the Chiyue Tiger tribe. They just wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.

Seeing the enemy soldiers showing weakness, Xuan Yuan Qingfeng turned to Shen Qing and asked, "Shen Lang, what should we do?"

"The Li Yue tribe previously invaded Kuaiji County and committed considerable crimes. How can we let them say whatever they want?" Shen Qing said with a cold smile.

When the 60,000 barbarian soldiers invaded Kuaiji County, the Liyue tribe, as the largest force, destroyed many towns and villages like Ershilibao along the way, committing considerable atrocities. Now that they see their strength waning, it's impossible for them to escape. Moreover, Shen Qing has other purposes for capturing them, so naturally he won't grant their request.

"Does Shen Lang mean to kill them?" A cold glint appeared in Xuan Yuan Qingfeng's eyes.

Shen Qing smiled and said, "I have long heard of the Xuanyuan family's fifty riders, which are an elite force of the Xuanyuan family. I wonder if I could see them? As for these barbarian soldiers, it depends on their own fate. If they are willing to surrender, I will spare their lives. If they are not willing, I will kill them."

Mercy to the enemy is cruelty to oneself. Although Shen Qing wanted to capture these barbarian soldiers, he wouldn't risk the lives of his own people.

“Uncle Hong, Young Master Shen wants to see the strength of my Xuanyuan family. Don’t disappoint him.” Xuanyuan Qingfeng immediately adopted the imposing manner of the Xuanyuan family head and spoke to Hong Biao.

"Don't worry, Patriarch. I, Hong Biao, have no concern for such a mere bunch of barbarian rabble. I will never tarnish the reputation of the Xuanyuan family," Hong Biao said in a deep voice, then picked up a large sword and looked at the barbarian soldiers in front of him with disdain.

"Don't be careless, be careful," Xuan Yuan Qingfeng reminded him again.

"Don't worry, Patriarch. If even one man or horse is lost, it won't count as my achievement." After saying this, Hong Biao immediately brandished his sword, leaped onto his horse, and rode away, with the fifty riders of the Xuanyuan family following closely behind like cunning rabbits.

Only Shen Qing, Xuan Yuan Qingfeng, and the Old Sword God remained seated on horseback, not moving.

In the blink of an eye, the two groups of people quickly approached each other. When the barbarian soldiers saw the warriors rushing towards them, some of them drew their bows and arrows, while others drew their swords to prepare to meet the enemy.

"Splitting Mount Hua, clear the way for me!" Hong Biao roared as he rode his horse close to two huge trees blocking the road. He leaned forward slightly and cleaved the giant trees in two with a single stroke.

He then swung his sword to parry the incoming arrows, like a sharp spearhead, stirring up a bloody storm in the barbarian ranks. His broadsword flew up and down, leaving heads rolling wherever it passed.

Standing at the rear, Shen Qing witnessed for the first time the powerful deterrent force of a first-rank martial artist on the battlefield (excluding the old sword god, who was not in the same league as Hong Piao). The martial artists of the Li Yue tribe were powerless to fight back under Hong Piao's attacks, almost like a flock of lambs to the slaughter.

It's no wonder that a first-rank martial artist can dominate a region. With such combat power, unless a fearless army is deployed to surround and kill them, or a specific battle formation is used to counter them, it is extremely difficult to kill a first-rank master simply by relying on numbers. They can fight when they want and run when they want; ordinary people simply cannot do anything to them.

With Hong Biao, a first-rank martial artist, leading the way, the fifty riders of the Xuanyuan family followed closely behind. In one round of charging, they broke through the barbarian soldiers' formation. Moreover, those selected for the fifty riders of the Xuanyuan family were all skilled martial artists, with at least a fifth-rank combat strength. Therefore, in one round of charging, not a single person died in battle.

In comparison, the enemy's barbarian soldiers suffered more than ten casualties, but almost all of these dead warriors were killed by Hong Biao; the others did not kill a single barbarian soldier.

After all, none of those who managed to break through the encirclement of the Chi Yue Tiger Tribe's ten thousand troops were mediocre. Their strength was roughly equivalent to that of the fifty riders of the Xuanyuan family, and they each had their own means of survival.

After a brief exchange, Hama realized the huge gap between the two sides, and after directly experiencing Hong Piao's strength, he immediately felt despair.

With a formidable enemy in front and pursuers from the Chi Yue Tiger tribe behind, their hundred or so men were likely doomed to die. Moreover, Li Ze's body was still lying in the courtyard, and he could not abandon it.

Just when Hama was in despair, Hong Biao led fifty riders from the Xuanyuan family to break through their formation from the rear once again. The remaining barbarian soldiers were thrown into chaos, completely losing their organization and becoming a group of scattered soldiers who were constantly being devoured by the fifty riders from the Xuanyuan family.

When the barbarian soldiers had suffered about forty casualties, they finally collapsed completely. Some chose to flee on horseback, some chose to dismount and surrender, and some even abandoned their horses and dismounted to sneak into the courtyards of the people on both sides of the street.

"It's over, all over. The Li Yue tribe is going to be wiped out, old chieftain. I have failed you..."

As the barbarian soldiers collapsed, Hama gave up his last struggle, watching the approaching cavalry in despair, then turned his blade and placed it against his own neck.