The Eight Great Kings tilted his head, narrowly dodging the blade that Zuo Liangyu slashed toward him, then snapped out a kick in retaliation. Zuo Liangyu twisted his waist and slipped aside. In the same motion, both men spun and hacked at each other's vital points.
Clang.
Their sabers collided midair, sparks bursting between them.
Zuo Liangyu might have been rotten in character, but his martial skill was real. The Eight Great Kings was hardly a saint either, yet his blade work was first rate. Steel rang again and again as they traded blows, neither able to gain the upper hand.
At that moment, a shout rose from the side.
"Father, I'll help you!"
Zuo Menggeng came charging in with his saber raised.
From the other side, Sun Kewang roared, "Godfather, I'll deal with Zuo Menggeng!"
The two young men crashed together in their own duel.
All across Red Stone Valley, fighting erupted in chaotic knots. Neither the official troops nor the Eight Great Kings' men could form ranks. The valley was a forest of jagged rocks. No formations were possible. It became a simple matter of hacking at whoever stood in front of you.
Then, on the eastern cliff, a head popped up.
It was Gao Jie. He pointed down at the melee. "Not bad blade work from the Eight Great Kings. That strike nearly got Zuo Liangyu."
Soon another head appeared beside him.
Fan Shangjing shook his head. "Zuo Liangyu's last swing was a pity. Almost had him."
On the western cliff, Flat Rabbit stuck his head out, glanced over the valley, and sighed. "All sabers. Not a single sword user. Morals decline, hearts grow old."
From the southwest ridge, Cheng Xu leaned out. "Oh ho, quite lively. Everyone's here."
Shi Kefa also peered down. "Cold steel against cold steel. Quite a spectacle."
Tie Niaofei called out, "Zhai Tang's dead. I'm free of burdens. Perfect day to watch a show."
Luo Xi muttered, "If they kill each other, what happens to my military merit?"
Lao Nanfeng shouted, "Chen Qianhu, bring out the camera that Tianzun granted me. Quickly!"
Gao Chuwu craned his neck. "My wife's on the opposite cliff. She looks beautiful."
Zheng Daniu grumbled, "Watching a show without food feels wrong. Chuwu, give me some of your rations."
"You ate yours already?"
"Finished them yesterday."
Bai Yuan smiled faintly. "Even a gentleman must sometimes sit and watch from the wall."
Wang Er snorted. "He who commits many injustices will surely destroy himself."
Ma Shouying stood cold and silent, saying nothing at all.
Then the mass produced Tianzun made his entrance. His first words were, "Place your bets. Small wagers for entertainment."
Unlike the others, Li Dao Xuan did not need to shout across cliffs. The embroidered icons on everyone's chest carried his voice. Within moments, the entire force knew the betting had opened.
"I'll wager five taels. Eight Great Kings wins."
"Three taels on Zuo Liangyu."
"Five hundred taels on the Eight Great Kings."
"Too much. I said small wagers. No more than five taels."
"Fine, five taels then."
The cliffs ringing Red Stone Valley were now lined with spectators, as if seated around a grand theater.
Time passed.
Suddenly the Eight Great Kings feinted, then drove his blade straight into Zuo Liangyu's chest.
Zuo Liangyu screamed, blood spraying from his mouth, and collapsed. He was clearly finished.
The Eight Great Kings raised his saber high and laughed wildly. "Zuo Liangyu, you dog. Just you? Hahaha. With you dead, great fortune indeed. Tonight, we celebrate with chicken."
No sooner had he spoken than cheers and wails erupted from the cliffs.
"Yes! I won. Eight Great Kings took it. Five taels earned!"
"Damn it. Why did I bet on Zuo Liangyu? Am I stupid?"
The Eight Great Kings froze.
He looked up.
The cliffs were packed with spectators, all staring down at him with amusement.
A chill ran through him.
The next instant, the mass produced Tianzun spoke calmly. "All right. Time for us to act. Begin."
Cannon thunder exploded.
Howitzers, small mortars, grenades.
From both sides of the valley, explosives rained down like a storm. Gaocun's forces had gathered in unprecedented numbers, over fifty thousand strong. Including the weaker Henan garrison troops, Anqing garrisons, the Prince of Chu's guards, and the new Sichuan militia, the total exceeded eighty thousand.
Eighty thousand men throwing explosives into a confined valley.
The sight was indescribable.
A moment earlier, the Eight Great Kings' rebels and Zuo Liangyu's soldiers had been locked in joyful, savage melee.
In a blink, the era changed.
Boom.
Two fighters, one rebel and one soldier, were blown into the air.
Boom.
Shrapnel scythed through a cluster of men.
Grenades fell as if free of cost. Blossoms of fire bloomed everywhere in Red Stone Valley. Smoke rolled thick and heavy, filled with screams and howls.
Ordinary soldiers were not even the worst off.
When people threw bombs, they aimed for the leader.
The Eight Great Kings stood at the center of the densest barrage.
Boom.
A shell blasted him skyward.
Before he hit the ground, another explosion hurled him sideways.
He flew back and forth like a scrap of paper caught in a gale.
As long as the explosions continued, he kept flying.
A life thin as paper.
Not far away, Sun Kewang and Zuo Menggeng had long since stopped fighting. Both lay flat on the ground, staring in horror.
After a long moment, Zuo Menggeng muttered, "Your father's dead."
Sun Kewang snarled, "Yours too."
They both cursed, leapt up, and charged at each other again.
Boom.
A grenade detonated beside them.
Both were thrown backward and did not rise again.
At the mouth of the valley, Pan Du'ao tried to lead a handful of hardened bandits in a breakout.
They burst out of the gorge only to find ranks of musket troops waiting in formation.
The exit was sealed tight.
Not even a rat could slip through.
At that point, even the fiercest bandit could only raise his hands.
"I surrender! I surrender!"
Shi Kefa stepped forward and sighed deeply. "You were once a scholar. Why become a bandit?"
Pan Du'ao replied bitterly, "The court was unjust. Corrupt officials seized my land."
Shi Kefa closed his eyes briefly. "As a former magistrate, I regret that deeply. Reform yourself well. After your sentence, come assist me in restoring the rule of law."
And thus, under the net cast on all sides, Red Stone Valley fell silent.