"Ah, th-th-this…"
Niu Yang's eyes were wide as he pointed at the troops cleaning up the battlefield ahead, his voice stammering.
"Th-they just… won? Just like that?!?!"
Seeing this, a smile broke out on Xiao Jing's tense face.
'One look at Niu Yang's expression tells me my show of force was a success.'
'Zhou Cang and his men really didn't disappoint!'
Xiao Jing thought to himself as he watched the battle winding down in the distance.
'Is that general really from a mere village?'
'He's too strong, too terrifying. I feel like he could even rival Brother Zhang. Brother Zhang is a historical general—could he be one too?'
Niu Yang was horrified as he watched Zhou Cang's awe-inspiring display of power in the distance.
The same overwhelming strength, the same ability to take on a thousand foes by himself—it reminded him of a good friend from Yanmen City… He wondered how that old friend of his was doing now…
After the initial shock wore off, he watched as large swathes of Yellow Turbans were routed by Zhou Cang, some surrendering, others fleeing. He swallowed hard.
While his heart thrilled at the salvation of Da Liu Town, a sense of awe and reverence rose within him as he gazed at Xiao Jing's figure up ahead.
'Terrifying!'
'This army…'
'I hope I haven't just led the wolf into the house. Da Liu Town truly can't endure any more turmoil!'
At this moment, Niu Yang had lost all of his previous arrogance. His heart was filled with shock and wry amusement, mixed with a hint of regret.
...
Regardless of what Niu Yang was thinking.
With the death of the Yellow Turban chieftain, the remaining elite Yellow Turban soldiers were forced to surrender.
A system notification finally sounded in Xiao Jing's ears.
"Ding! Congratulations. Your subordinate's army has killed 427 Yellow Turbans, earning 1,233 experience points."
"Ding! Congratulations, you have reached Level 8."
[Level]: 8 (29/1700)
[Attributes]: Martial Strength: 11 (Average person: 2), Martial Intent: 0, Strategy: 0.
That's right. Although the troops led by Zhou Cang seemed valiant, they hadn't actually killed a large number of Yellow Turbans. Many of the Yellow Turban Army's combat-capable soldiers remained.
The reason they could so easily break the Yellow Turban camp was threefold. First, Zhou Cang was simply too ferocious. The majority of the Yellow Turban Army didn't even have time to react before he broke through their outer defenses and charged into the main camp.
Second, the Yellow Turban camp was set up in a scattered and completely illogical manner. Even the few Yellow Turban soldiers who did react were unable to provide support due to the 'trash' layout of their camp. Frankly, if it weren't for the hundred or so Personal Guards—the elite Yellow Turban Warriors—blocking the way for their leader, Zhou Cang's operation would have been even easier.
Third was the issue of morale and allegiance. The Yellow Turban camp's numbers looked intimidating, exceeding 6,000, but only 2,000 to 3,000 were actual combatants. A large portion consisted of 'civilians' who had been swept up by the Yellow Turbans. These people hadn't yet been brainwashed, so when Zhou Cang led his army in, their first instinct was to flee, causing even more people in the camp to panic and run with them.
Still, killing over 400 Yellow Turban units in such a short time was quite an achievement.
'So this is what it feels like to be Tier One?!'
Xiao Jing closed his eyes, savoring the feeling of enhancement that came from leveling up and assigning his points.
After gaining 1,233 experience points, Xiao Jing, as expected, leveled up twice, reaching Level 8. He immediately assigned the two free Attribute Points he gained to Martial Strength.
After adding 2 points, his Martial Strength reached 11, and his power officially broke through to Tier One.
The system notifications continued.
"Ding! Congratulations. Your subordinate's army has killed 22 unranked Yellow Turbans, 178 Tier One Yellow Turbans, 220 Tier Two Yellow Turbans, 5 low-level Yellow Turban officers, and 1 Yellow Turban chieftain, for a total of 678 Merit Points."
"Ding! Congratulations on routing the Yellow Turbans at Da Liu Town and saving the town. You have received 100 Merit Points and 10 Reputation. Your fame has begun to spread in Da Liu Town."
A total of 778 Merit Points and 10 Reputation.
Even ignoring the spoils of war left in the Yellow Turban camp, the rewards from the system alone meant Xiao Jing had already come out ahead.
The 700-plus Merit Points were nothing to sneeze at; they could be exchanged for plenty of good items on the redemption list.
And Reputation was something money couldn't buy!
During his time in Wild Hill Village, he had come to deeply understand the importance of reputation...
'I can't believe this Yellow Turban battle gave me 10 Reputation points?!'
'Not bad, not bad at all!'
He laughed out loud.
At this time, the nearby Da Liu Town had clearly noticed the disturbance in the Yellow Turban camp.
Previously, the guards of Da Liu Town had been too afraid to leave the walls and investigate, fearing it was some kind of trick by the Yellow Turbans to lure them out.
But then, the commotion from the Yellow Turban camp grew louder and louder, suggesting a real riot was taking place. A glimmer of hope inevitably ignited in the hearts of the once-despairing defenders.
Now, the sounds from the camp were finally dying down. The faded yellow banners of the Yellow Turbans had been replaced by an unfamiliar flag bearing the character 'Xiao', and the camp was being taken over by strangers.
They finally couldn't hold back any longer and sent a village militiaman to inquire.
"Who are you?"
Xiao Jing's encampment was not far from Da Liu Town.
Thus, the inquiring militiaman on horseback quickly reached Xiao Jing's side. His face was grim, and he asked, his voice lacking confidence.
Xiao Jing glanced at the Da Liu Town militiaman, who was clearly putting on a brave front, and then gave Niu Yang a meaningful look.
Niu Yang, understanding the situation, immediately stepped forward, barked at the militiaman, and said,
"Are you blind?!"
"This is the chief of Wild Hill Village! These are the reinforcements I specifically requested! It was the reinforcements from Wild Hill Village who just defeated those Yellow Turbans!"
"Hurry back and report to the town mayor!"
Defeated the Yellow Turbans?!!
A look of horror appeared on the militiaman's face. He gulped several times, and the way he looked at Xiao Jing changed instantly.
First came elation, followed by suspicion, and finally, caution.
He looked at Zhou Cang's troops in the distance—the ones who had defeated the Yellow Turbans and were now marching over, exuding a murderous aura. He was terrified and asked haltingly,
"Did you... really defeat the Yellow Turbans?!"
Niu Yang shot a careful glance at Xiao Jing.
'This idiot!' he cursed the militiaman inwardly. 'Doesn't he have any sense? The Wild Hill Village army is powerful and aggressive. If the town mayor doesn't make preparations soon, Da Liu Town is going to have a hard time. Why aren't you hurrying back to report?!'
His face immediately turned cold. "I am the assistant to the mayor of Da Liu Town. Would I lie? Get back to town at once and tell the mayor to prepare to welcome the reinforcements!"
He heavily emphasized the words "mayor" and "prepare," almost spelling out his warning. This, however, also drew Xiao Jing's attention.
"Y-yes, sir!"
"We'll report right away!"
Watching the militiaman's retreating figure, Niu Yang sighed internally.
'We've driven away the wolf that was the Yellow Turbans, only to welcome the tiger that is 'Wild Hill Village.' Is this a blessing or a curse?'
"Messenger Niu, I get the feeling you people aren't exactly happy to see us."
Xiao Jing frowned, glancing at the departing militiaman before turning back to Niu Yang with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Cold sweat immediately beaded on Niu Yang's forehead. He glanced at the approaching god of death, Zhou Cang, shivered, and forced a placating smile.
"How could that be! Of course not!"
"Welcome! Of course, we welcome you! Anyone who doesn't welcome you is making an enemy of me!"
"I was just worried that the humble conditions of Da Liu Town might be an inconvenience to the reinforcements from Wild Hill Village, so I made a special point of telling him to have the mayor prepare a proper welcoming banquet for your arrival!"
"Is that so!"
Hearing this, Xiao Jing nodded, as if he believed Niu Yang completely.