Chapter 34

The sound of hooves thundering across the earth came from the opposite side of the mountain path.

Ranks of elite iron cavalry, like a flood of steel, charged towards the bandits scattered across the mountainside, their banners fluttering with images of eagles ready to take flight and agile foxes. The fierce hunters rode tall horses, wielding long knives and sharp spears. With a roar, the two forces collided like two surging tides, instantly splashing boiling foam. The two tides shattered and merged, the cries of battle echoing through the mountains.

The War Hunt Battalion, stationed on the western border of the tribe, arrived promptly after seeing the signal arrow Zhou Lu had fired. The battalion of iron cavalry poured into the valley, blocking the bandits and engaging in fierce combat.

The western border of the Tianyao Clan was guarded by the Fox Hunt Army and the Eagle Wing Cavalry, consisting of forty-six hundred-man squads. The border had always been on high alert, but this time the bandit raid was too sudden. They had come up the rarely used path behind the Array Fire Pavilion, catching the tribal garrison off guard.

If Zhou Lu and his team hadn't sent out the signal in time, the bandits might have attacked the mine directly.

Even so, many of the clan members around the mine were affected. Wherever the bandits went, there was blood and screams, and tents set on fire sent plumes of smoke into the sky.

This bandit raid was swift and on a large scale. The vast western border of the Tianyao Clan could not mobilize all forty-six hundred-man squads to the West Mine in a short time. The nearby War Hunt teams seemed to be stretched thin.

On a high slope, Fox Hunt Army Commander Xin Baishou looked at the distant scene where the War Hunters and bandits were clashing, his brows furrowed tightly. He and his three hundred-man squad leaders spread out a map of the mountain area, carefully studying the bandits' attack route and the key points they needed to defend.

The most urgent task was to quickly understand how many enemies had come so they could divide their forces to counterattack.

Lei Meng, drenched in sweat, dismounted and ran towards the hill. Seeing Xin Baishou's tall and solemn figure, Lei Meng raised his eyebrows and shouted from a distance, "Commander, I didn't expect to find bandits in my territory, and it turns out you arrived first."

The few men turned their heads with a teasing look.

Lei Meng ran up the slope, nodded to the three hundred-man squad leaders beside Xin Baishou, and, wiping his thick beard, declared, "Brothers, the battle is on my territory, and I must be the one to command it."

"Based on what?"

"Haha, Old Lei, do you think any of us would listen to you?"

The hundred-man squad leaders teased, their lips curled in challenge, and they glared at Lei Meng with a confrontational air, making the slope tense.

The Fox Hunt Army and the Eagle Wing Army had competed for battle honors more than once. Both teams were unhesitant in cooperating to repel enemies, but they often argued fiercely over the distribution of rewards after the battle.

There hadn't been a bandit problem on the western border for a long time, and Lei Meng feared that after his brothers fought to the death, all the credit would be taken by the Fox Hunt Army.

This time, the three hundred-man squad leaders and Commander Xin Baishou were on rotation, staying at the West Mine, and they happened to encounter the bandit raid. Their eagerness to rush to the scene clearly showed their ambition to claim battle honors.

Lei Meng narrowed his eyes, watching the sixth hundred-man squad of the Eagle Wing Army bravely charge into the valley. His killing intent grew, and he glared at the three hundred-man squad leaders, shouting, "Not convinced? Let's see who kills more. I thank you for coming to help, but on my territory, this battle must be under my command!"

"Enough."

Xin Baishou, his face stern, turned from the map and shouted at Lei Meng, "The bandits are still wreaking havoc in the mountains, and you're arguing here, not thinking of the bigger picture. Look at yourselves, do you still look like Tianyao Clan War Hunters?"

His words left the hundred-man squad leaders deflated.

The three hundred-man squad leaders were Xin Baishou's old subordinates, so his reprimand didn't hurt them much, but Lei Meng's face was red with embarrassment. He couldn't argue back.

Xin Baishou's gaunt face was stern, and he waved his hand, declaring, "I am the Commander, the highest-ranking officer here. The battle against the bandits will be under my command. Lei Meng, don't blame me for not warning you. Your brothers are also fighting below. If you don't follow my orders, any losses will be your responsibility."

Lei Meng was stunned, his anger rising. The other man was using his rank to pressure him, and he had no way to argue.

"But..."

Lei Meng protested, "This is our Eagle Wing Army's territory..."

Xin Baishou turned sharply, his face cold, and shouted, "What Eagle Wing Army, what Fox Hunt Army? In the face of the enemy, we are all Tianyao Clan War Hunters. Lei Meng, don't use narrow interests to sway the troops during the battle, or I'll send you to the Elder Pavilion's military council after the battle!"

Without waiting for Lei Meng to respond, Xin Baishou turned and shouted, "Has the scout returned? Is the situation in front still unclear?"

The distant valley was undulating, and it was hard to see how many bandits had come.

With the enemy situation, numbers, and attack direction unknown, Xin Baishou was eagerly awaiting intelligence.

Lei Meng stood there, his dark face full of resentment.

Who could blame them for the absence of the Eagle Wing Army's Commanders nearby?

This time, Xin Baishou was the highest-ranking officer, and if he insisted on using his rank to pressure them, Lei Meng had no choice.

Lei Meng wasn't afraid of battle, nor was he overly concerned about small matters, but from past experience, if Xin Baishou took command of this bandit raid, the Fox Hunt Army would take most of the credit, regardless of the Eagle Wing Army's losses. Lei Meng, fighting on his home turf, would only get a small share.

How would that make his brothers feel? How could he face those who fought bravely in the front?

Lei Meng was indignant.

A scout ran up the slope from a distance, nimbly leaping up and excitedly shouting, "Commander, we've found three alchemists. They were out prospecting and discovered the bandit raid. They escaped quickly and fired the signal arrow. They should know more about the bandits. Do you want to ask them?"

"Three alchemists?"

Xin Baishou and Lei Meng were both taken aback. Xin Baishou waved his hand and said eagerly, "Go, take us to them."

Zhou Lu, Xiao Luan, and Ke Ling were standing by the roadside, leading their horses.

The Eagle Wing Army and the Fox Hunt Army had charged into the valley, blocking the bandits' advance. Zhou Lu and his companions were exhausted from their flight, passing by the arriving War Hunters.

They were finally safe.

Xiao Luan and Ke Ling, still shaken, were gradually regaining their color.

A few Fox Hunt Army War Hunters, holding long knives, tightly guarded the three, giving Xiao Luan and Ke Ling a sense of security.

The distant cries of battle made them feel as if they were in a different world.

Just a few steps away, they had almost been trapped inside.

Xin Baishou led a group of men running towards them from the distant mountain path.

Seeing the three alchemists protected in the middle, Xin Baishou frowned.

He urgently needed detailed information about the bandits. The three alchemists, having escaped from the enemy, should have seen things they hadn't. However, Xin Baishou was disappointed to see that two of them were frail women and one was a fat, dull man.

Xin Baishou knew that the noble alchemists were pampered in the clan and had never undergone real combat training. Their combat experience was almost zero, and they were terrified by the sudden event. Escaping was their greatest achievement, and he couldn't expect them to provide useful intelligence in such a critical moment.

If it were the powerful elder from the Array Fire Pavilion, it would be different, but it was two women and a fat man.

Xin Baishou and his squad leaders quickly approached, and he bowed to Zhou Lu and the others, "Alchemists, you have been through a lot."

"Alchemist" was a respectful title for alchemists. Even a Commander would greet an alchemist respectfully in the wilderness.

Xiao Luan, brushing her hair aside, replied calmly, "Commander, no need to thank us for saving us. The military situation is urgent. If you need our cooperation, please let us know."

Xin Baishou was impressed by Xiao Luan's composure.

Escaping from the brink of death, she could still be so composed, and her first words were about the military situation. This woman was not simple. Compared to her, the fat man's presence was merely to hold the reins.

Xiao Luan was the granddaughter of Elder Mo Xuanyi, and her upbringing had given her the air of a leader. Although Xin Baishou didn't know her true identity, he could see her exceptional qualities.

Xin Baishou took a step forward and asked anxiously, "Very well, I won't waste time. Alchemist, you said you escaped from the bandits. Can you tell me how many bandits there are, which path they took, and how many of them are strong?"

Xiao Luan blushed, and Ke Ling quickly said, "A lot, the slopes on both sides were full. Some were chasing us, and some were charging down the slopes. We took two horses and managed to escape without being surrounded..."

"Right, most of them had bone spears, thick and long..."

Ke Ling spoke quickly, still shaken by the danger, and described what she had seen.

Xin Baishou frowned.

Ke Ling's description was almost all useless to him. Without specific numbers, the information was of no use in battle.

"They shouldn't be expected to provide useful information," Xin Baishou thought, disappointed. He was about to wave the hunters to take the three to a safe place when Zhou Lu stepped out from behind Ke Ling, smiled at her, and turned to Xin Baishou, saying calmly, "There are about 240 bandits on the left slope, 180 on the right, and at least 300 more behind, though their formation is spread out."

"Most are fierce bandits, and there are at least 20 high-level hunters with iron weapons, including at least 10 Blood Savages."

"Less than 30% are on horseback, and they don't have baskets, so they are likely not here to raid the mine. I suspect they have another purpose."

"Hmm?"

Xin Baishou and the squad leaders were taken aback, turning to look at Zhou Lu with surprise.

These numbers were astonishing. An alchemist who had escaped from the bandits could provide such precise information? Even the elite scouts of the Fox Hunt Army couldn't do better.

Xiao Luan and Ke Ling were also surprised.

They hadn't expected that in such a life-and-death situation, Zhou Lu could observe so much and provide such precise numbers. They had only been screaming in fear, seeing the bandits as a vast sea.

Ke Ling's face turned red, and she stomped her foot in frustration.

What did Zhou Lu's smile mean? Was it mocking her? Humph, you're impressive, aren't you?

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