Fierce Tiger Escapes Its Cage

## Chapter Fifteen

The opportunity soon arrived.

Three days later, a military order was issued. The main force of Northern Mang had made a move, suspected of dividing its troops to outflank our army's rear supply lines. The Vanguard Camp was ordered to dispatch several elite squads to scout ahead and ascertain the enemy's movements.

Chen Qing's unit was among them. Furthermore, they were assigned the most dangerous and deepest reconnaissance route—Black Wind Gorge.

The order was personally delivered by Squad Leader Zhao. This superior, usually quite fair, looked unnaturally pale. He avoided Chen Qing's gaze, merely emphasizing the urgency of the situation and ordering them to depart immediately.

"Black Wind Gorge..." Old Niu's face changed upon hearing the place name. "That place has sheer cliffs on both sides and a narrow path in the middle. It's a death trap for ambushes! Aren't they sending us to our deaths?"

Sun Quezi remained silent, his face grim, but he tightened his grip on his saber. The other soldiers also showed anger and worry. Being repeatedly targeted, even a fool could tell something was wrong.

Chen Qing's expression was calm. He looked at Squad Leader Zhao, "Your subordinate obeys. However, this mission is perilous. May we be issued more arrows and medicinal supplies?"

Squad Leader Zhao hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded. "Yes. I will try my best to apply for more for you."

Soon, the supplies arrived, thirty percent more than usual, but their quality remained questionable. The arrow shafts were slightly moldy, and the medicine was of the lowest grade.

Chen Qing said nothing. He merely instructed his men to carefully inspect their weapons and armor and to bring all the dried meat they were given.

"Squad Leader... Deputy Squad Leader, are we really going?" Hei Wa asked timidly. The injury on his leg had not fully healed.

Chen Qing's gaze swept over the nine faces before him—faces filled with anger, fear, or numbness—and he slowly said, "A military order is like a mountain. We have no choice but to go."

Everyone's eyes dimmed.

"However," Chen Qing's tone shifted, his voice carrying a chilling penetration, "how we go and how we return is up to me."

He looked at Old Niu and Sun Quezi. "Old Niu, take two men and be responsible for scouting ahead. Stay three li out. If you detect any anomalies, give an immediate warning and retreat. Do not engage in prolonged combat."

"Sun Quezi, take two men and be responsible for covering our rear. Watch the cliffs behind and to the sides."

"The rest of you, follow me in the center to provide support."

He assigned tasks clearly and his tone was irrefutable, bringing some reassurance to the anxious men.

"Remember, our mission is reconnaissance, not a fight to the death. Preserving our lives and bringing back information is the priority," Chen Qing emphasized finally. "If the situation becomes untenable, I will order a retreat. No one is allowed to turn back."

"Yes! Deputy Squad Leader!" Everyone responded in unison, their morale finally lifting slightly.

Half an hour later, the squad departed, silently melting into the wilderness outside the camp.

Black Wind Gorge was about sixty li from the main camp, and the terrain was rugged and difficult. Chen Qing heightened his perception to its limit, simultaneously circulating Fierce Tiger Iron Body, carefully experiencing the more refined control over his body after its Slight Accomplishment. He could feel the surrounding Sha energy, death qi, and even the vitality of the plants and trees, all presenting a vague outline within his perception.

They traveled in silence, the atmosphere heavy. The closer they got to Black Wind Gorge, the more intense the feeling of an impending storm became.

Two hours later, the entrance to Black Wind Gorge, majestic like the gaping maw of a giant beast, appeared before them. The cliffs on both sides were as sharp as if sliced by knives, soaring into the clouds. A narrow passage wound inward between them, dimly lit, and the wind whistling through the gorge made a mournful sound.

"Deputy Squad Leader, ahead... it's too quiet," Old Niu, who was scouting, retreated, his face grave. "Not even a bird is chirping."

Something is wrong when things are too quiet!

Chen Qing's sharp gaze swept over the cliffs at the entrance of the gorge. The jagged rocks there were excellent ambush points.

"Sun Quezi, take men to guard the retreat route. Old Niu, you and your men, use arrows to probe that rocky area on the left," Chen Qing calmly ordered.

Old Niu and the others immediately drew their bows and shot towards the direction Chen Qing indicated.

The arrows pierced the rocks with no reaction.

The moment everyone relaxed slightly!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Harsh whistling sounds suddenly erupted from the cliff on the right! Dozens of crossbow bolts shot down like venomous bees! Their target was not the probing Old Niu and his men, but Chen Qing, standing in the center of the formation!

As expected, there was an ambush! And their target was clear—to kill him!

"Shields!" Chen Qing roared, and at the same time, instead of retreating, he stepped forward, facing the arrow rain! A dark sheen flashed around his body, and Fierce Tiger Iron Body was activated to its fullest!

Clang, clang, clang!

Most of the crossbow bolts were deflected by his ring-hilted saber or withstood by his armor and Fierce Tiger Iron Body, but several armor-piercing bolts with immense force penetrated his defenses, embedding deeply into his shoulder blade and thigh!

Intense pain surged, and Chen Qing grunted, his steps faltering.

"Deputy Squad Leader!"

"Protect the Deputy Squad Leader!"

Old Niu and the others' eyes widened in fury, desperately trying to rush over.

"Don't come! Form a defensive formation!" Chen Qing roared, stopping them. He knew the enemy's killing blow was far from over!

As expected, from the right cliff, dozens of figures descended like apes, quickly blocking the gorge entrance and cutting off their retreat! These people were not dressed as Northern Mang soldiers. They wore motley leather armor, their faces covered with black cloth, their eyes fierce, and their movements agile. They were clearly experienced bandits or... some people's privately kept assassins!

The leader, tall and thin, wielded a slender curved saber. His aura was cold, and he was in the middle stage of the Bone Forging Realm! He stared at the wounded Chen Qing, a cruel smile appearing in his eyes.

"Deputy Squad Leader Chen, someone paid to have your life taken. If you're smart, you'll end it yourself. You might even keep your body whole," the masked leader said in a hoarse voice.

Chen Qing slowly straightened his body, reached for the shaft of the crossbow bolt embedded in his shoulder blade, and without even frowning, he exerted force!

Pfft! The arrow was yanked out with a stream of blood!

He also pulled out the arrow in his leg, letting the blood flow freely. His gaze, cold as ice, swept over the masked men surrounding him, finally landing on the leader.

"Squad Leader Li, or Commander Wang?" he asked, his voice terrifyingly calm.

The leader's eyes flickered slightly, then he let out a sinister laugh, "Why would a dying man need to know so much? Kill!"

At his command, dozens of masked bandits howled and charged! The leader, who was in the middle stage of the Bone Forging Realm, moved like a phantom, a slender curved saber in hand, aiming straight for Chen Qing's vital points!

"Form a circle! Fight to the death!" Old Niu roared, leading the remaining men to hold back the enemies attacking from the rear and flanks, buying Chen Qing time.

Facing the swiftly thrusting slender curved saber, Chen Qing's eyes held no fear. Instead, a fierce fighting spirit ignited within him, along with... a deeply hidden trace of excitement!

He needed this fight! He needed the enemy's blood and Sha Qi to nourish his nascent power!

"Good!"

Chen Qing grunted, advancing instead of retreating. The mid-stage Bone Forging Realm blood and Qi within him, along with the Slight Accomplishment of the Fierce Tiger Iron Body Sha Qi, erupted! A wave of Ferocious Sha Qi, far more potent and violent than before, rose around him like tangible black flames!

His ring-pommel saber, carrying a piercing black-red saber glow, slashed out ferociously! No technique, no flourish, just the purest release of strength and Sha Qi!

Black Tiger Saber Technique—Melting Sha! Tiger Devours the World!

Clang!!!

The saber edge collided fiercely with the slender curved saber!

The masked leader felt an indescribable surge of immense force mixed with bone-chilling Sha Qi surge along the blade! His tiger's mouth instantly split open, and the slender curved saber flew from his grasp with a mournful cry! He himself staggered backward as if struck by a heavy blow, his eyes filled with horror and disbelief!

"Impossible! You..."

His words were cut short.

Because Chen Qing's saber, like a leech clinging to flesh, was right behind him! The saber light flashed, too fast for him to react!

Pfft!

A head, wrapped in black cloth, flew into the air! Blood spurted from the severed neck, soaring over ten feet high!

[Killed a mid-stage Bone Forging Realm death warrior leader, gained a large amount of blood and Qi, and pure Sha Qi. Fierce Tiger Iron Body proficiency +120! Black Tiger Saber Technique proficiency +100!]

A torrent of energy instantly poured into him. His shoulder and thigh wounds, wrapped by the swirling black-red Sha Qi, closed and healed at a visible rate! His depleted strength was instantly replenished, even pushing his cultivation towards the late stage of the Bone Forging Realm!

Chen Qing suddenly turned, his gaze falling upon the masked bandits who were stunned by their leader's instant death. The Sha Qi in his eyes was almost tangible, like a primeval beast fixing its gaze on its prey.

He licked his slightly chapped lips, feeling the surging, roaring power within him, and a cold, cruel smile spread across his face.

"Now, it's my turn."

He moved.

His figure transformed into a deathly whirlwind, entwined with black-red Sha Qi, charging into the enemy ranks!

Every flash of his saber meant a life ended! Limbs flew, and blood stained the earth at the entrance of the gorge.

He was no longer merely killing; it was more like a sacrifice. Nourishing himself with the lives and Sha Qi of his enemies!

[Killed...]

[Fierce Tiger Iron Body proficiency +25]

[Black Tiger Saber Technique proficiency +20]

Old Niu and the others watched Chen Qing rampage like a demon amongst the enemy, the almost tangible Ferocious Sha Qi surrounding him, the uncanny sight of his wounds healing rapidly. They were all too shocked to speak.

Was... was this still human?

The battle quickly turned into a one-sided slaughter.

When the last masked bandit was bisected by Chen Qing's saber, silence returned to the gorge entrance, leaving only the thick, cloying scent of blood and the ground littered with shattered corpses.

Chen Qing stood in the center of the mountain of corpses and sea of blood, leaning on his saber, breathing slightly. The Sha Qi around him slowly receded, but the coldness in his eyes seemed branded into his very soul.

He walked to the headless leader's corpse and searched it carefully. From its personal clothing, he retrieved a token, neither gold nor wood, inscribed with strange patterns. On the back of the token, a faint trace of the character "Li" was visible.

He pocketed the token and looked towards the depths of the gorge.

"Deputy Squad Leader... are we still going in?" Old Niu asked, his voice trembling.

Chen Qing shook his head, his tone calm, "Mission complete. Discovered a squad of Northern Mang (?) ambushers, all annihilated. Return to camp and report."

He turned, looking back the way they came, his eyes deep.

It was time to go back and have a meeting with that "Squad Leader Li."