Chapter 19

Two thousand soldiers may sound like a lot, but scattered across the vast Luoying Mountains, they seemed insignificant. The Death Corps marched ostentatiously, as if they were afraid no one would know they were on the move, but in fact, their pace was not fast. According to Qin Feng's plan, they were moving in sync with the timeline, with specific times and locations predetermined.

Luring the enemy's attention, but never getting too close—yet never truly getting entangled. This small force, once caught in the midst of a large Western Qin army, would surely be swallowed whole.

The transition between spring and summer was not only a time when animals became restless but also when the Western Qin people were starving. This time, Qin Feng had the soldiers carry ten days' worth of rations to avoid being a burden during their retreat. When the time came, they would simply run.

However, by the second day of the march, Qin Feng sensed something was amiss. Not only him, but also Scissors, who was leading the vanguard, felt the same.

It was too quiet. The scouts reported everything was normal, but that itself was abnormal. Even in peacetime, both sides' scouts would engage in fierce battles in these deep mountains, constantly ambushing and counter-ambushing each other. This time, the Death Corps, with over a thousand men, marched boldly without encountering a single Western Qin scout, which was highly suspicious.

"This isn't right!" Scissors munched on a dry, tough strip of meat, looking at Qin Feng, who was washing his feet in the stream. "Do the Western Qin people want us to advance confidently so much that they don't even send out scouts? Don't they realize this will make us suspicious? It seems the Western Qin commander is a rookie!"

"Or perhaps an old fox who's been around for a long time!" With a splash, the monk's bald head emerged from the water, sending a cascade of droplets. Wiping the water from his face, the monk said, "What is real is often hidden, and what is hidden is often real. The subtlety of using reality and illusion lies in the heart."

"Wow, the monk is actually quoting classics. Truly impressive!" Scissors marveled.

"That's because you don't know me. A man like me must be both scholarly and martial, not only talented but also handsome. Otherwise, how could I do my job? Scissors, even though we've been together for years, you know only a little about me!" the monk said proudly.

"Spit." Scissors spat on the ground, "I don't want to talk to a scoundrel like you."

"Hmph!" The monk rolled his eyes and submerged his head back into the water, shaking it from side to side.

Qin Feng slowly put on his shoes and stood up. "Indeed, something is off. But tomorrow we'll be close to our destination. If they want to ambush us, they can only do so in a few specific places. Everyone should be on high alert. When things are abnormal, there's usually a reason. Scissors, pull back the scouts and stop probing. Let's see what the Western Qin people are up to. By the way, where's Doctor Shu?"

"Doctor Shu is unpredictable." The monk's head emerged from the water again. "He said there are a few rare beasts in the Luoying Mountains during this season whose blood and bones can be used in medicine. He's trying his luck. This is the time when these beasts fight for mating rights, so they might kill each other, giving him a chance to pick up some valuable items. Normally, catching them is very difficult."

"These beasts are the most ferocious during this season. He should be careful not to become their prey instead of picking up a bargain." Qin Feng snorted.

The monk laughed. "Doctor Shu is extremely cunning and devious. Those beasts stand no chance against him."

"You have a unique way of describing him. I'll talk to him when he returns." Qin Feng smiled slyly.

"Don't, Qin Boss. If Doctor Shu finds out what I said, he'll kill me." The monk was visibly alarmed. "I didn't say anything, and you didn't hear anything."

"I heard it!" Scissors said coldly.

The monk was furious. "Scissors, do you want to die?"

"Sure, why don't you try?" Scissors snorted.

The monk punched the water, sending droplets flying, and was about to jump up, but he glanced at Qin Feng, who seemed indifferent, and laughed. "I won't bother you now. I can't break Qin Boss's rules. After this battle, I'll challenge you. After all, you'll be leaving the Death Corps, and I won't have to hold back."

Scissors's eyes flickered, and he glanced at Qin Feng, who seemed not to have heard the monk's words. He let out a sigh of relief. "Who said I'm leaving the Death Corps?"

The monk just sneered, stood up, wiped the water from his bald head, and walked away. Scissors hesitated, then bid Qin Feng farewell and followed suit.

Seeing his two subordinates leave, Qin Feng's mood darkened. As the monk said, after this battle, Scissors would have accumulated enough merit to leave. He was different from most in the Death Corps. He didn't fit in with the monk and others. The monk and Wild Dog could work together, but Scissors always went his own way. He looked down on people like the monk and Wild Dog.

Deep down, Scissors believed he was a good person, while the monk and Wild Dog were just stinking stones in a latrine, not his kind of people. In the Death Corps, Scissors respected only himself and Doctor Shu.

Shaking his head, Qin Feng stood up and stared at the lush, distant mountains. The scenery was beautiful, but beneath it often lay great danger. He knew the Western Qin forces were hiding somewhere, but he couldn't find them, which was extremely dangerous.

Tomorrow would be the last day of his advance. If he still couldn't find the Western Qin forces, there would be serious trouble. Looking at the sky, Qin Feng decided to scout the area himself that night. No one in the Death Corps knew these mountains better than he did, having spent six years here, constantly clashing with the Western Qin forces.

After the Death Corps set up camp and established defensive measures, Qin Feng called Scissors and the monk to inform them of his plan to scout the area himself. They didn't argue, knowing Qin Feng was informing them, not seeking their opinion. Persuasion was unnecessary given the current dire situation. Only Qin Feng could handle this task.

"I'll be back by dawn at the latest." Qin Feng said, "If the enemy attacks while I'm gone, retreat immediately."

"Understood!" Scissors nodded.

"Boss, what about you?"

"I can take care of myself!" Qin Feng rolled his eyes. "Monk, don't be stubborn. This isn't about who can kill the most. You can't kill them all, and you'll only get yourself killed. If you see anything unusual, run immediately, got it?"

"Got it, Boss!" The monk nodded.

"Go on, both of you. I have a bad feeling about tonight." Qin Feng rubbed his head, sensing an ominous chill in the air.