"The bandit forces below have withdrawn."
The scout's report rippled through the White Pole Soldiers like a gust of wind. A cheer rose instinctively, relief spreading across weary faces.
Li Daoxuan quietly exhaled.
Good.
They pulled back.
For a brief moment, hope flickered in his chest.
Maybe the butterfly effect has already taken hold. Maybe Houjia Village can still be spared.
Zhang Fengyi stepped forward, her voice firm and commanding, instantly restoring order.
"Do not relax your vigilance. Expand reconnaissance immediately. Keep Zijing Liang's movements under constant surveillance."
She swept her gaze across the ranks.
"We did not come to Qinzhou and Wuxiang merely to preserve ourselves. Our mission is to protect the prefectures, counties, and villages of this region. For several days, we have tied down Zijing Liang's forces, preventing them from spreading destruction elsewhere."
Her tone sharpened.
"But now that he has abandoned his assault on us, he will resume plundering. We cannot allow that. Wherever he goes—we follow. We will hound him without respite until other government forces arrive and the net closes around him."
A unified roar answered her.
"Understood!"
The White Pole Soldiers immediately began packing their equipment, preparing to descend Laoye Mountain.
Scouts fanned out, keeping Zijing Liang's army under distant watch.
Zijing Liang did indeed march north.
But less than half a day later, a scout came racing back, face pale.
"General," he said grimly, "something terrible has happened."
Zhang Fengyi raised an eyebrow. "Speak."
The scout swallowed hard.
"Zijing Liang's forces have occupied Houjia Village. All the men were slaughtered. The women and children were spared. Their intentions… are unclear."
Zhang Fengyi's heart lurched.
Beside her, Li Daoxuan stiffened.
"H—Houjia Village?" he asked, disbelief flickering across his face.
"Yes," the scout confirmed. "Houjia Village."
Li Daoxuan clenched his fist.
"Damn it."
Zhang Fengyi turned to him, her gaze suddenly searching, thoughtful.
"Mr. Xiao," she said slowly, "you've been asking about Houjia Village from the very beginning. It clearly holds great importance to you."
Importance?
Li Daoxuan nearly laughed bitterly.
According to the original timeline, this place is where you and your thousand White Pole Soldiers die.
But such words could never be spoken.
Instead, he nodded. "Yes. It's important."
That was enough.
Zhang Fengyi's suspicions instantly solidified. There must be someone dear to him there. A woman, most likely. Young men, after all, were always bound by sentiment.
She made her decision.
"Mr. Xiao has aided me greatly," she said resolutely. "I will not stand by while someone important to him is endangered. For both duty and personal obligation, we will immediately reinforce Houjia Village and rescue the women and children."
She turned sharply.
"All troops—move out! Full speed to Houjia Village!"
"Wait!"
Li Daoxuan stepped forward.
"You cannot go."
Zhang Fengyi froze, staring at him in disbelief.
Li Daoxuan spoke plainly. "It's a trap."
Her confusion deepened.
"The rebels spared the women and children on purpose," he continued. "They want to lure you in. They've hidden ambushes around the village, waiting to encircle your force the moment you attempt a rescue."
Zhang Fengyi frowned. "Our scouts are not blind."
Li Daoxuan nodded. "Even if your scouts detect the ambush, what then? When you see women and children kneeling under blades, crying for help—will you still retreat?"
Silence fell.
"…No," Zhang Fengyi admitted quietly.
Li Daoxuan pressed on. "You'll charge. You'll gamble everything on the ferocity of the White Pole Soldiers, hoping to break through and carve out a path of survival for them."
Her jaw tightened.
She knew he was right.
After a long pause, she asked, "Then what do you propose?"
Li Daoxuan met her gaze. "Let me take the lead."
Her eyes narrowed. "You don't look like a military commander."
He coughed lightly. "Poor wording. I won't command your troops. I'll design the plan. You execute it."
"…Go on."
"I will enter Houjia Village alone," Li Daoxuan said calmly. "You will take the White Pole Soldiers and my men to a distant hillside outside the village. Do not approach. No matter what you see—do not approach."
Zhang Fengyi's expression changed instantly.
"Absolutely not! One man against thousands?"
"I won't face thousands," Li Daoxuan replied evenly. "As long as your main force stays hidden, the bandits won't spring their ambush. They'll only send small detachments to deal with me."
"And those," he added quietly, "I can handle."
"Once I neutralize the forces directly threatening the hostages, you move in. At that moment, the ambush will reveal itself. Guard the women and children, and hold the village until reinforcements arrive."
Zhang Fengyi fell into deep thought.
If only one man entered the village…
The bandits would hesitate.
The trap would remain dormant.
But could one man truly handle hundreds—and protect hostages?
Before she could ask, Li Daoxuan's focus fractured.
His consciousness leapt.
On Bai Mao's shoulder, the Puppet Dao Xuan Tianzun stirred.
"Head northeast," Li Daoxuan commanded.
—
Shi Jian's unit.
"East. Increase speed."
—
Back to Zhang Fengyi.
"Once the immediate threat is eliminated—"
—
To Gao Chuwu's shoulder.
"North road. Move fast."
—
Zhang Fengyi stared, stunned, as he continued speaking without missing a beat.
"—that's when you advance."
She frowned. "Reinforcements? From where? Zhang Zongheng? Xu Dingchen? They're tied down elsewhere."
"Neither," Li Daoxuan replied.
His mind jumped again—this time to Cheng Xu, the Golden Thread Dao Xuan Tianzun humming softly against his chest.
"Northeast, twenty-five li. Full march."
—
Then to Lao Nanfeng.
"Force march east. Twenty li. Your men excel at pursuit. You'll finish this."
Lao Nanfeng saluted sharply. "Understood!"
In Li Daoxuan's mind, a vast tactical map unfolded.
Houjia Village blazed red at its center.
Blue arrows surged inward from west, south, and east.
Timing. Distance. Momentum.
Perfect.
"Let's go," Li Daoxuan said, his attention returning fully to Zhang Fengyi.
She met his eyes and nodded.
"Houjia Village."
They set out at once.
Twenty li to the north.
At the same time, multiple forces from Gao Family Village began converging, unseen, from every direction.
Meanwhile—
Zijing Liang had already deployed his net.
Twenty thousand men lay hidden around Houjia Village—in forests, ravines, caves, trenches, and gullies.
Small detachments lurked close to the village itself.
Larger formations waited farther out, carefully concealed.
The plan was simple.
Lure the White Pole Soldiers in.
Fix them in place.
Close the encirclement.
This time—
Zijing Liang was certain.
Zhang Fengyi would not escape.