Chapter 431: Chapter 431: One Man Scares Off Hundreds of Thousands of Troops
The servant had never seen such a vast army. It stretched as far as the eye could see.
"Are there many?" Lin Fan asked, smiling.
"Yes, a great many. The earth trembles beneath their feet. So many, so many."
The servant was terrified. He had never witnessed such a scene. He had only been at the Purple Mountain Lin Manor for a few years and hadn't experienced the previous incident.
He was the younger brother of another servant. Because life outside was difficult, his older brother had brought him to the Lin Manor. Over the years, he had come to feel that the Lin Manor was truly a good place, not as terrifying as he had imagined, and even quite warm and welcoming.
Lin Fan reassured him, "It's alright. I'm here. You're safe."
The servant's heart pounded in his chest. Even though the master said they were safe, the sight of so many soldiers charging up the mountain was truly frightening, creating an immense pressure in his heart.
Anyone who saw such a sight would be nervous.
After the servant retreated, a calm maid pulled him aside and told him there was nothing to fear. They had been through this before. There was no need to panic. He should trust the master; everything was a minor issue and there was no need to be so serious.
The servant was stunned.
Are you serious? he thought.
In this situation, they were still so calm. Was this the mentality of a senior maid?
The Earth Saint and Heaven Saint pondered.
Indeed, they trusted Lin Fan.
However, looking at the surrounding situation, they didn't believe they could emerge unscathed. Last time, the Emperor had been directly slain, causing the army's morale to shatter, leading to their immediate retreat.
But now…
They sensed a killing intent emanating from these soldiers. It was honed through rigorous training and tempered by actual combat. They were completely different from the ones they had encountered before.
"Master Lin, if you need our help, just say the word. Although we two cannot withstand hundreds of thousands of troops, we can hold them off for a while," the Earth Saint said.
This was the demeanor of a true expert.
They were both powerful cultivators. After years of enlightenment by Lin Fan's side, their strength had increased rapidly. Although they couldn't completely resist this army of hundreds of thousands, holding them off for a short time was no problem.
If they were on a real battlefield, where these soldiers could form formations, they weren't sure how long they could last, as their spiritual energy would be depleted quickly.
One small mistake could lead to irreversible consequences.
Their purpose in helping Lin Fan resist the army was to allow him to evacuate the manor's residents first. The Lin Manor, having existed for so long, must have secret passages. They could escape through those.
"No need. I'll go talk to them," Lin Fan said.
He believed that people could coexist peacefully. The other party sending so many people to find him must mean they had something to discuss. Certainly, some matters could be talked through; there was no need to make things so complicated.
The Earth Saint said, "This matter cannot be discussed."
Lin Fan smiled, saying nothing more, and walked towards the main gate. That was the path leading down the mountain, and the soldiers would also come from that direction.
Waiting there was no problem for him; it would allow the other party to see his sincerity.
Soon.
As they stood there, they saw the mountainside densely packed with figures. The sound of their marching feet resonated with Purple Mountain, creating a continuous rumble, as if it could collapse at any moment.
Han Yan tightly gripped her sister's hand.
She no longer understood Lin Fan's actions. She had always wondered what he would do, but now, after so many years, he still hadn't acted, making her fundamentally doubt her own deductions.
Was I wrong? she wondered.
Lin Fan looked at the scene with calm eyes. For him, the arrival of so many people was a joyous occasion. He enjoyed meeting all kinds of people, especially friendly ones.
Because the uphill path was narrow, many soldiers climbed the slopes, surging from all directions, blocking all escape routes. It seemed they didn't intend to let anyone from the Lin Manor escape.
Soon.
The well-trained soldiers stopped. Clad in armor, they gripped sharp sabers. As they drew closer, they gathered together, a thick wave of bloodlust washing over everyone.
The Earth Saint sighed inwardly. The current Emperor was far more formidable than the previous one.
These soldiers had undergone physical honing. They were definitely not like the conscripted soldiers of the past, randomly assigned to various units. Those were a mixed bag, while these were elites.
It seemed that in order to take revenge, the Emperor had made extensive preparations over the years.
"Hello, everyone," Lin Fan greeted them with a wave and a smile. "My place is quite large, but you've come in such great numbers. I might not be able to entertain you all at once. Does anyone want to come in for some tea? The tea here is quite good."
He smiled, his eyes radiating sincerity.
Anyone who met Lin Fan's gaze would only have one feeling: this person before them was definitely hospitable.
The soldiers remained impassive, their faces cold and stern. The sabers in their hands gleamed brightly, like ferocious beasts with gaping maws, ready to strike and tear their prey to shreds.
The Earth Saint and Heaven Saint were helpless. Master Lin's state of mind was always so elevated. It was something they could never learn, even after a lifetime of study. If they were in this situation, they would have long been on high alert. They wouldn't be like Master Lin, who actually had the leisure to talk to these soldiers, and in such a friendly tone.
It felt terrifying.
Even the soldiers felt that the man before them was insane.
"Leave no one alive! Kill them all!"
A voice came from behind. A man clad in general's armor stood behind the soldiers, issuing commands. He didn't approach, keeping a distance from Lin Fan.
He had accompanied the previous Emperor in the attack on the Lin Manor and had personally witnessed the Emperor's tragic death. He had ultimately concluded one thing: Lin Fan was terrifying, and one shouldn't get too close.
The soldiers roared, their voices deafening.
The general shouted, "A hundred taels of gold for every Lin Manor rebel killed! Kill the rebel Lin Fan, and be granted titles and lands! Seize his corpse, and be rewarded with official positions! Kill them all…"
Offering rewards before battle could incite the soldiers' ferocity. When such conditions were presented, the eyes of all the soldiers gleamed with a predatory light. Each one howled and yelled, surging madly towards the Lin Manor.
The maids and servants standing behind Lin Fan showed expressions of panic.
One maid muttered to herself, "I've lived to this age and never thought I'd be worth so much."
She was moved.
As she spoke, tears streamed down her face. Not from fear, but from pride at being so valuable.
The Earth Saint and Heaven Saint stood before Lin Fan, ready for battle.
Lin Fan patted their shoulders and walked slowly to the front. "I'll handle this. I have no hatred for them. Perhaps this is just a misunderstanding."
They looked at Lin Fan, unsure of what he was thinking. At this point, it was no longer a misunderstanding, but a battle about to erupt. Even with their great strength, they couldn't guarantee everyone's safety.
A soldier raised his saber high, his body radiating a fierce bloodlust, his eyes filled with malice as he stared at Lin Fan.
"I want to be a king!"
"Die!"
This was just a microcosm. Everyone shared the same thought.
"Stop."
Lin Fan frowned. With so many people charging towards him, he felt it was dangerous. He was afraid that in dealing with one, he might accidentally annihilate them all. He didn't like killing, and even less so, killing those weaker than himself.
The Earth Saint and Heaven Saint were bewildered when they heard Lin Fan tell the soldiers to stop. If they could actually stop, things would be much easier.
But unexpectedly…
The charging soldiers, as if controlled by some force, abruptly halted. Their eyes widened, staring at Lin Fan in fear and unease.
They felt a terrifying aura enveloping them.
Lin Fan's eyes sharpened. Previously, no matter who he faced, his gaze was always sincere, giving off a warm light. But now, it had changed.
With each step he took, all the soldiers retreated a step.
Another step.
Another retreat.
"What's going on?"
The Earth Saint was astonished.
The Heaven Saint said, "I don't know, but Master Lin has always been mysterious. It's normal for him to have some special methods. It's just a pity. Why doesn't the current Emperor learn his lesson and insist on provoking Master Lin? Based on our observations over the years, I've found that Master Lin has no interest in treasures or power, and doesn't engage in disputes."
"Yet he's always provoked. I have to say, sometimes, it's because he's forced to."
A very accurate analysis.
While they were discussing this…
The soldiers who had surged up the mountain had already retreated halfway down. Lin Fan continued walking down the mountain, step by step. The hundreds of thousands of troops retreated as if they had encountered an insurmountable monster, using retreat as their only means of ensuring their own safety.
Liu Xun, who accompanied the Emperor, saw the soldiers retreating despite the Emperor's presence and couldn't help but yell.
"What are you all doing?"
"The enemy is on the mountain! Why are you retreating?"
Liu Xun was furious. Were they all out of their minds? Hundreds of thousands of troops, actually retreating? Was the path ahead too narrow, or had the mountain collapsed?
His roars were useless.
The soldiers completely ignored his words, continuing their retreat.
As the most loyal minister by the Emperor's side, how could he sit idly by? With a clang, he drew his sword and placed it on a soldier's shoulder. "Whoever dares to retreat again will end up like this man."
Swish!
With one stroke, the soldier's head fell to the ground.
In the past, such bloody tactics could intimidate many, but for some reason, even though he had killed this soldier, it had no effect. The soldiers continued to retreat.
As if they had truly encountered something terrifying.
Something that crushed their spirits, leaving them with no thought of resistance.
The Emperor, seated on his imperial chariot, had a calm expression, but the killing intent in his eyes gradually intensified. He didn't stop the soldiers, but looked into the distance.
After an unknown amount of time…
Lin Fan had reached the imperial chariot, and the soldiers had long retreated into the distance. To those unaware, this situation seemed fantastical, but only those who experienced it firsthand knew how truly terrifying it felt.
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