Once Towering Palace left, the people from various factions of power finally popped up in Yangzhou City's restaurants.
This battle could be said to be the most devastating battle the likes the Chinese world of martial artists had never seen before!
There was no need to even mention the fact that Towering Palace had brought out all their resources from their headquarters, they had even worked together with Class One Hall as well as a group of elites with unknown identities! They fought from night till day.
Class One Hall lost nearly two thousand men, which meant that all of the soldiers they brought to this battle were lost.
Towering Palace lost nearly twenty thousand men.
Mu Clan successfully broke out of the encirclement with less than four hundred people, and they lost nearly three thousand elites.
The Guanlin Temples near Yangzhou City were now cordoned off.
Towering Palace guarded Guanlin Temple tightly, and only those from Towering Palace could walk out of those places. Those from Mu Clan will either have to hide inside the temple or just log off. Some of the players who were unrelated to the fight will not readily leave the temple when they faced the hostile lineup outside.
All of this caused many of the factions of power in Yangzhou City to have a vague feeling that the battle at Yangzhou City had not ended just yet.
Towering Palace might be thinking about killing this group of Mu Clan elites in Yangzhou, or rather, she wanted to completely destroy them!
"This woman is ruthless!"
The people in the restaurants still did not dare readily talk about the battle, because Towering Palace's members could still be seen everywhere on the streets, and they were only somewhat safe in the restaurants.
"I reckon they still have to fight…"
"Mu Clan lost nearly three thousand of their elites this time! That's practically the same as losing nearly one-third of their middle-rank elites. With Happy's temple, there's no way he will tolerate this."
"Duh!"
"Happy has long since taken action at the south of the coastal area! The number of Towering Palace members who died there are more than those who died in Yangzhou City, and Towering Palace suffered even more from those battles. They lost more than twenty branches."
"What…?"
"Then what's the situation over there right now?" Quite a number of people in the restaurant had stayed in Yangzhou to keep a close watch over the situation there. When they heard this, they quickly gathered together.
"How's the situation there?" The martial artist who was more well-informed cackled coldly. "Right now, all of Jiangnan have set up a bounty for Towering Palace's members. If those from Towering Palace want to live, they'll have to quit their palace.
"I heard that Happy is no longer far away from Yangzhou. At that time, the flames of war will definitely return to Yangzhou. Heh heh, everyone, if you want to have a good show, you'll have to seize the time to occupy the front seats in the restaurants near Towering Palace's headquarters."
The thundering sounds of people going down the stairs were heard!
Chapter 760 - Phantasmal Shadow Arrives at the Stage
"Palace master!"
"Our members are too far away. If we chase after them, we might be in danger."
"What a load of bull!" Clear Music threw a tantrum to a group of elders while she was on Yangzhou City's city walls. "We had twenty thousand of our own die when we surrounded that measly Mu Clan branch with more than sixty thousand people, and we even let a group of them escape. When this gets out, how will we face the people in the future?!"
A few of them braced their courage and continued to advise her. "But palace master, Happy will reach Yangzhou very soon. If we chase after the remnants out of the city, the headquarters will be in danger."
"Happy?"
But it would have been better if the elders did not mention that name, because once they did, Clear Music's expression changed, and she felt the anger in her c.h.e.s.t churn. It was difficult for her to calm down. "It'll be good if he came!"
Clear Music had been frustrated that she had nowhere to vent her anger.
This time, even though her actions had been instigated by Dragon Sect and Class One Hall, causing her to wage full-on war with Mu Clan, Happy's fearless and harsh tactics had thrown her off guard, and it was hard for her to withstand his attacks.
Towering Palace lost dozens of branches at the south of the coastal area, and it was as if Happy cut off a large part of her flesh and blood from her body. Right now, her attack against Mu Clan's branch was also unsuccessful, and she was both afraid and hateful of Happy!
She wanted badly to swallow him whole!
Right now, when she heard that Happy was about to come to Yangzhou, she did not bother about anything else. Her first reaction was to mobilize all forces so that she can kill Happy and those remnants in Yangzhou.
When the elders heard it, they looked at each other in stunned silence.
'Do you really think Mu Clan is just an empty but beautiful vase?'
"Don't worry. Right now, Mu Clan's forces at the south are busy dealing with our old branches. The elites at Changjiang River Basin and the headquarters have to fend against Class One Hall marching south. The Yangzhou branch also lost a large group of elites. Right now, even if Happy fights against us, he will not be able to mobilize a lot of forces. Besides, based on reliable sources, he's currently coming here alone. He did not ask any of his other branches to mobilize their forces. Hmph!" Once she said this, Clear Music's tone changed. "We have our friends from Dragon Sect and Class One Hall helping. Are we to be worried that we can't even get rid of Happy?"
The group of Towering Palace elders s.u.c.k.e.d in a deep breath when they heard Clear Music's words, and their minds instantly began moving.
'If everything was just as Clear Music said… we might be able to fight this war.'
After all, Towering Palace's headquarters will not be destroyed for the time being. They had time to go back and defend it as well as deal with any kind of situation.'
"Tell Grim Green and Vast Heaven that they are to bring some men to chase after Mu Clan's remaining forces!"
"Understood."
*****
[Wind Chimes died.]
[Feng Zhi died.]
[Silver Wolf is trapped.]
[Our branch in Yangzhou is destroyed.]
[Little North is trying to get out of the city with our remaining members. They're currently chased down by a large group of Towering Palace elites!]
[Thousands of our dead friends who are revived are surrounded in the different Guanlin Temples in Yangzhou. They can't leave the place and can only log off for the time being.]
The bad news that came one after another struck at the hot blood raging in Happy's c.h.e.s.t. Gradually, it was as if there was a flame burning in him, but it slowly turned as cold as ice. The only thing that did not change was that Hoof Shadow's speed remained at the max.
'It's not far away now! I'm already very close to Yangzhou!
'If Hoof Shadows runs from night until day, I'll finally reach Yangzhou!'
"Hang in there!"
Another half an hour passed, and a messenger pigeon flew into the sky.
*****
Within a forest outside Yangzhou City was a graceful and pretty figure with a white veil over her face. She had her back turned toward Wu Kuo and the others while she slowly folded the letter in her hands.
"Lil' sis."
"Tower master, how is it?"
"What did he say in the letter?"
A few members asked eagerly.
That group of people were naturally the higher ups of Wind Assault Tower. This time, they came to Yangzhou for Mu Clan.
'We succeeded!'
"Mobilize our forces!" Phantasmal Shadow ordered quickly without hesitation. "We'll go to this place."
She pointed at the government-made road six miles away from Yangzhou City.
Right when she finished s
peaking, messenger pigeons flew out from Wu Kuo and the others' hands.
Then, Wu Kuo could not hold back the storm in his heart and continued asking, "What are his conditions?"
The others also stared at Phantasmal Shadow nervously. They wanted to know how negotiations went with Happy.
In truth, it was a pure gamble for Wind Assault Tower to come over this time!
Class One Hall had rebuilt their prestige, and Towering Palace worked together with Dragon Sect's elites to fight against Mu Clan. This caused Wind Assault Tower, which lived in a narrow space in Beijing and was one of the three great sects there, to be in a very awkward situation.
However, there were always some fortuitous events hidden in danger.
Without hesitation, she mobilized two thousand elites from a few her branches, split them up into a few groups and drew close to Yangzhou City!
In the beginning, she could tell from Happy's actions that he did not have the intention to mobilize a large group of forces to fight against the two top-class sects, and she had been slightly disappointed, thinking that Happy was prepared to spare Towering Palace again.
But when the events at the south of the coastal area happened, the extraordinary actions and resolution Happy instantly showed allowed Phantasmal Shadow to regain her confidence, and she wrote a letter to Happy stating that she was willing to send forces to help him take down Towering Palace.
Phantasmal Shadow mentioned her battle plans in the letter at great length, and she even included an analysis of the situation in the Chinese world of martial artists.
She also mentioned the benefits Mu Clan will have after Happy took action against Towering Palace.
Toward the end, Phantasmal Shadow stated that Wind Assault Tower only wanted to take a few of the cities in the coastal area to expand their territory, and she was willing to become allies with Mu Clan forever. Besides, she mentioned that the headquarters of Wind Assault Tower will go through a change as well and will move to Yangzhou because of the matter with Class One Hall.
Wind Assault Tower did not show too much ambition, and it was perfectly reasonable for her to ask for a few cities in the coastal area, because she had to give up on the resources in Beijing.
*****
Phantasmal Shadow was very confident that if Happy headed to Yangzhou City alone, there was a high chance that he will not be able to destroy Towering Palace.
Because Class One Hall was ready for war, and it was difficult for Happy to mobilize forces and use up more of Mu Clan's manpower to increase the results of the war.
In her letter, Phantasmal Shadow used the simplest words and figures to set up a very favorable and beneficial future for Mu Clan!
They were also willing to offer two thousand elites from Wind Assault Tower to take down Towering Palace and destroy all the Towering Palace forces in the east of the coastal area!
Happy agreed to it.
But it was not only because Phantasmal Shadow had already reached Yangzhou with her two thousand men, which displayed her sincerity, or neither was it solely for the reasons she mentioned in her letter.
There was one more reason.
At the very end, Phantasmal Shadow mentioned the situation and layout in the Chinese world of martial artists right now, as well as the possibility of foreign organizations coming into China.
This one point alone allowed Happy to completely understand why Phantasmal Shadow was capable of standing on equal grounds with Class One Hall with only a small foundation of power in Happy's previous life!
He made his decision.
He will give Phantasmal Shadow a chance to shine in the light once more.
Chapter 761 - A Force of Two Thousand
A smart woman will usually have ambitions other people did not have. A strong woman will not be content with her current situation.
Phantasmal Shadow was a woman with both strength and talent. Ever since World of Martial Arts was launched, she can always increase her strength while keeping a low profile. Then, she will take everyone by surprise by acting boldly once to use the chance to gain even more chances for herself.
But unfortunately for her, when Phantasmal Shadow decided to show her might, there were another great players popping up one after another in the game.
There was One Emperor, the strongest on Dragon Rank, One Emperor, whose sword technique was unmatched! He was like a presence who stood among clouds, and no one could touch him.
There was Dream Clouds, the strongest on Phoenix Rank. She had the greatest and most compact organization in the Chinese world of martial artists, and during the early stages of the game, she established her might and occupied one corner of the entire Chinese server.
There was Happy, the top on Famous People Rank, who could pull the strings in the events in the Chinese world of martial artists. With his skills that made him move like a swimming dragon and his techniques, he moved about the Chinese server and stirred up a storm in the game.
The Music sisters were extremely lucky. With a group of elites helping them, they occupied the advantages in the coastal area.
Wind Void was a martial arts maniac, She was a woman who continuously chased after Dream Clouds, and she was supported by the resources from Chivalry Sect, allowing her to constantly threaten Dream Clouds' position as the strongest woman in the game!
As for Phantasmal Shadow, while she was good, she was not as dazzling as Happy, One Emperor, and the others.
Phantasmal Shadow might have leadership abilities, when Wind Assault Tower became powerful, the Chinese world of martial artists had already become a place where the four top-class sects ruled.
Wind Assault Tower's development was extremely limited and restricted.
Phantasmal Shadow could not fight against any of those four sects at all.
But Phantasmal Shadow refused the requests from many other sects to form an alliance.
Because once she formed an alliance, she will not be truly strong. Instead, forming an alliance was a presentation of the weak. Unless she became the head of the alliance, it will not bring a lot of benefits for Wind Assault Tower, but who will want to have a woman as the head of an alliance?
Besides, Phantasmal Shadow's goal was not limited to only this!
She was willing to lurk around in the shadows and wait for a chance.
Class One Hall and Mu Clan's relationship, Chivalry Sect and Class One Hall's relationship, along with Clear Music's wild ambitions allowed her to not be in a hurry to realize her ambitions. Instead, she slowly developed Wind Assault Tower and stabilized her strength.
Right now, her chance had finally arrived.
Even though she was rather surprised by how Towering Palace would dare to attack the largest force in the Chinese server—Mu Clan—and was also surprised that the first to be stripped off their title as a top-class sect was not Class One Hall, when Phantasmal Shadow made her decision, she did so without hesitation and was incredibly resolute!
She knew that the time had come for her to leave Beijing and break free of Class One Hall's influence and shadow.
Rumble!
Two thousand Wind Assault Tower elites appeared on horseback with an orderly formation outside the forest six miles away from Yangzhou City. They stared at the hundreds of people who appeared in the distance, and they did not move.
Those hundreds of people were the Mu Clan members who came out of Yangzhou City.
*****
"Big Brother Silver Wolf also came out!"
"Let's slaughter our way back!"
Once Little North received the news, he did not care that there was still a large group of Towering Palace members chasing after him. He and his three hundred Mu Clan members turned around with an indomitable spirit and launched a charge so vicious that they scattered Towering Palace's forces, allowing them to receive Silver Wolf and the others, who had been escorted out of the city by One Emperor.
Once both groups of people met up with each other, the people behind them had already ret
reated far away and did not dare approach them.
"Since you're already out, I've achieved my goal. Take care of yourselves now."
Whoosh!
Silver Wolf, Little North, and the group of Mu Clan members watched One Emperor leave into the distance with a complicated gaze. "Let's go. Once One Emperor leaves, the people from Towering Palace will definitely continue chasing after us."
The Mu Clan members had their eyes turn red, and they were filled with endless sadness as well as hatred.
"Big Brother Silver Wolf, we still have thousands of our friends trapped in the Guanlin Temples around Yangzhou City. Those bastards from Towering Palace surrounded those temples. We definitely have to save them!"
"Don't worry." Silver Wolf stared at Yangzhou City with a scowl. "We'll definitely come back."
Wind Chimes was also in a Guanlin Temple. He never forgot about her.
"We'll leave this place first and make sure that we remain useful. Our main priority is to meet up with Happy now! Once the boss comes here, we'll settle our grudge with Towering Palace!" Little North said through gritted teeth.
"Alright!"
The group responded to his call, and their morale was lifted.
"Happy's letter."
Both became high-spirited.
They quickly spread out the letter, and the information contained in the letter caused both to be stunned.
"Boss Silver Wolf, Boss Little North, what's the news? Where's the clan master?"
"We'll tell you once we get on our horses!"
They said nothing else. The group of people summoned their steeds and followed behind Silver Wolf to charge forward.
Rumbling horse hooves could be heard clearly from Yangzhou City. The people from Towering Palace had already begun chasing after them!
*****
"Take a shortcut!"
"We must stop them before they meet up with Happy!"
The sounds of horse hooves were like thunder, and the Towering Palace members shouted madly behind the Mu Clan members.
Sword Among Us c1-1268 Page 376