Chapter 23

"General, it seems there's no movement at all?" Outside the main tent, the soldiers of Auckland had already set up a tight net according to Wolf's instructions. The longbowmen were ready with their oil-soaked arrows, waiting for Wolf's command to turn the entire main tent into ashes. If the people inside didn't come out, they would be burned to a crisp; if they did come out, they would be chopped into pieces by the soldiers. However, seeing no movement inside, Wolf's adjutant felt a bit puzzled.

The commotion outside was so loud, and Wolf had not deliberately lowered his voice when giving orders. This was clearly meant to be heard by the people inside, to force them out. The adjutant was certain that the Tianhua youth named He Ping, who had killed Chris, had heard the commotion and knew he was exposed. But the current silence was still a bit eerie, and the adjutant felt an inexplicable unease.

Wolf frowned but did not waver, replying, "Don't panic. We have completed the encirclement. Even if he had wings, he couldn't fly out. Even if he could suddenly disappear, based on my estimation, his re-emergence point would not change. So even if we can't find him, we only need to surround this area and wait for him to show up. We have food, drink, and can rotate shifts outside, but he doesn't have these luxuries. I won't let him off easily for killing Chris. We will wait here, and I will wait for him to come out!"

Hearing Wolf's words, the adjutant frowned slightly. He wasn't doubting Wolf's judgment; he was also certain that He Ping would only reappear at the same spot. However, the unease in his heart could not be dispelled. Although he didn't know where this unease came from, the adjutant secretly prepared himself. In his view, although Wolf's plan was almost flawless, this operation would not go smoothly.

"Fire the arrows!"

After a few more minutes with no movement from the main tent, Wolf gradually lost his patience. Since He Ping wasn't coming out on his own, he would burn the place to the ground. He wouldn't believe that He Ping could still stay inside. Hearing Wolf's command, the longbowmen, who were already prepared with oil-soaked arrows, quickly lit the arrowheads and shot them toward the main tent, which instantly burst into flames.

As the fire raged, the Auckland soldiers outside gripped their weapons tightly. Such a large fire would be unbearable for anyone inside. If they ran out, the soldiers would be ready. Especially Wolf's personal guards, who were the most combat-effective among the soldiers, were particularly tense. They would be the main force in the battle when He Ping came out, but the memory of General Chris's gruesome state made them feel a bit uneasy.

One minute! Two minutes! Five minutes! The fire had been burning for five minutes, and due to the oil, it showed no signs of weakening or extinguishing. It burned even more fiercely, but why was no one coming out? Could He Ping be burned to death inside? If that were the case, it would be great. The soldiers outside thought this, trying to ease their unease.

Whoosh!

But at that moment, a figure suddenly burst out of the flames, moving so fast that it even stirred the surrounding flames. The scorching heat hit the faces of the Auckland soldiers, turning them red, but their spirits sank to an icy low. It was clear that the person inside was not only not burned to death but also had not lost any fighting ability. No one present felt any confidence in facing such a person.

At this moment, He Ping's figure became clearer. He was still wearing the strange outfit from the battle that day, with a plain, undecorated helmet on his head. However, unlike before, he was not holding the all-metal halberd that had left a deep impression on everyone present. Instead, he held an all-metal Auckland halberd!

He Ping had put considerable thought into his choice of weapon. The halberd was powerful, but it was mainly effective in single combat or against a small number of enemies. Now, He Ping was alone, facing many enemies, so the halberd was not the best choice. The Auckland halberd, similar to the Swiss halberd used in the cold weapon era of the original world, was perfect for the current situation.

While both the halberd and the Auckland halberd belong to the same general category of weapons, they differ in structural details. The halberd is based on a long spear with two small branches, each connected to a crescent blade. Although it can be used for slashing, the force is not great, and the inward-curving blade requires high skill. It is effective in single combat or against a few enemies but lacks the necessary killing power in large-scale battles.

The Auckland halberd, on the other hand, is a more general and formal name. Often, people refer to this weapon as a "battle-axe," which accurately describes its structure. Below the spearhead of a long spear, there is an axe, and on the opposite side of the axe, there is a hooked blade. The spearhead can pierce, the axe can chop, and the hooked blade can cut horse legs or pull people closer. It is a versatile and effective weapon.

Emerging from the flames with a halberd in hand, He Ping looked like a demon god. Despite his young age, small stature, and slender build, the many adults present felt immense pressure. For a moment, no one dared to attack, all holding their weapons and nervously watching, hoping others would go first and set an example.

"What are you waiting for! Charge! Kill him and tear him to pieces! I want him to die without a whole body, to never find peace!" Wolf, seeing his enemy, was filled with red-hot hatred. The last bit of reason and restraint he had was swept away by anger. Without hesitation, he ordered the troops to charge at He Ping. The personal guards looked at each other, and one who seemed to be the captain gritted his teeth and, with a stiff upper lip, led the charge.

Facing the charging soldiers, He Ping found himself extremely calm, almost too calm. Previously, he had thought their weapon skills were quite good, but now he saw countless flaws. He had numerous ways to deal with them with minimal effort. However, He Ping's attention was not on the soldiers; his eyes were fixed on Wolf!