Chen Qing's order made both Old Niu and Sun Quezi suck in a cold breath.
Raiding Northern Mang's nest? Wild Wolf Plains? That was the crucial grain depot for Wuwei, the Northern Mang Left Virtuous King, guarded by at least ten thousand elite troops. There might even be Meridian Condensing Realm peak experts, or perhaps Aperture Opening Realm powerhouses, stationed there! And they were going with just five hundred men from the Black Tiger Camp?
This was no longer an adventure. It was practically suicide!
"General, think thrice!" Old Niu said urgently. "Wild Wolf Plains has countless defenders, and the terrain is wide open. If our small force charges in, I'm afraid..."
"Afraid there'll be no return?" Chen Qing cut him off, his tone terrifyingly calm. "Precisely because they have so many defenders and such open terrain, they would never imagine we would dare go."
His gaze swept across the two men. "Northern Mang thinks that a few roving cavalry raids can tie us down and run us ragged. I'll do the opposite and catch them completely off guard! If Wild Wolf Plains falls into chaos, Wuwei's frontline army will inevitably be affected. This is besieging Wei to rescue Zhao—and the way to break this deadlock!"
Sun Quezi's eyes flickered. He had thought more deeply than Old Niu. He knew Chen Qing was no reckless man. Though this move seemed insane, there had to be something backing it. Recalling Chen Qing's terrifying Killing Intent and his endless stream of methods, he gritted his teeth and bowed. "This subordinate is willing to follow the General unto death!"
Seeing Sun Quezi state his position, Old Niu hardened his heart as well. He craned his neck and said, "Damn it! A head falling off only leaves a scar as big as a bowl! If the General dares to go, then if I, Old Niu, furrow so much as a brow, I'm no man!"
"Good!" A trace of approval flashed through Chen Qing's eyes. "This matter is confidential and must not leak. Go prepare at once. We depart at midnight tonight!"
"Yes!"
Night fell, and the cold wind across the Northern Frontier wasteland howled bitterly.
The Black Tiger Camp's five hundred riders gagged their horses and wrapped their hooves in thick cloth. Like shadows flowing through the night, they silently left the main camp and galloped north.
Chen Qing rode at the front, pushing the perception of the Fierce Tiger Domain to its limits. Like a precise radar, he avoided every Northern Mang patrol they might encounter. He had already memorized the rough map of Wild Wolf Plains and its defensive information provided by the Shadow Guards.
Five hundred men became an arrow, stabbing straight into Northern Mang's heartland!
At dusk two days later, the distinctive hills of Wild Wolf Plains, like a colossal wolf crouching on the ground, appeared on the horizon. From afar, they could see rows upon rows of tents and patrolling cavalry. The defenses were indeed tight.
Chen Qing ordered the entire force to conceal themselves and rest within a grove of dead poplars.
"General, how do we strike?" Old Niu asked in a lowered voice. Looking at the massive camp in the distance, his palms had begun to sweat.
Chen Qing did not answer immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes and focused, slowly extending his perception.
The camp was enormous. Grain stacks rose like mountains, patrols crisscrossed back and forth, and fierce auras filled the air. At the center of the camp, a powerful presence faintly emanated like a sleeping volcano, carrying a scorching, violent quality. It was at least at the peak of the Meridian Condensing Realm, perhaps even with one foot already inside the Aperture Opening Realm!
Beyond that, several Meridian Condensing Realm auras were scattered throughout the camp.
There truly were experts stationed here!
Chen Qing opened his eyes. His gaze was grave, but even more than that, it was excited. The stronger the enemy, the richer the "resources" they could provide!
"A frontal charge would be suicide," Chen Qing said heavily. "Our goal is to create chaos and burn their grain, not wipe out their defenders."
He looked toward Sun Quezi. "Take a squad of men skilled in stealth and crossbows. Bring all the fire oil and specially made fire arrows, then circle around to the west side of the camp. That is the upwind side, and also where the grain stacks are concentrated. The moment you see my signal, set everything ablaze!"
"Yes!"
"Old Niu, take the main force and lie in ambush in that depression south of the camp. Once the fire starts and the camp falls into chaos, the defenders will surely prioritize putting out the flames and hunting down the arsonists. Then lead your men in a feint attack from the south. The bigger the commotion, the better—draw their attention!"
"Understood! I'll make sure the noise is huge!"
"And I..." Dark red light flickered in Chen Qing's eyes. "I'll infiltrate from the east, find that expert holding down the fort, and have a good little 'game' with him."
"General, going alone is far too dangerous!" Old Niu and Sun Quezi both changed expression at once.
"Carry out the order!" Chen Qing's tone allowed no argument. "Remember: whether we succeed or fail, half an hour after the fire starts, we must retreat and regroup at the designated location!"
"...Yes!" The two men knew they could not persuade him and could only accept the order.
The night deepened, and the cold wind grew sharper.
Just after midnight, Sun Quezi led several dozen of the finest scouts. Like ghosts melting into the darkness, they silently vanished westward.
Old Niu also led the main force, sneaking into the southern depression and holding their breath as they waited.
Alone, Chen Qing suppressed the Killing Intent around him to the utmost. Like a wildcat, using the terrain and shadows for cover, he slipped toward the eastern side of the camp. His target was clear—the strongest aura!
The eastern side of the camp was guarded relatively loosely, but there were many hidden sentries. Chen Qing pushed his perception to its limit. He always discovered the sentries' positions in advance, either silently dealing with them with lightning speed before they could cover their ears, or cleverly avoiding them.
[Killed a Northern Mang hidden sentry... Proficiency +10]
Like the finest assassin, he moved through the heavily guarded military camp, gradually approaching the largest golden-topped hide tent at its center.
That was the source of the powerful aura!
Just as he came within less than a hundred paces of the tent and was preparing to find an opening to infiltrate—
Inside the tent, that volcano-like aura suddenly stirred!
"Where did this rat come from, daring to spy on this one's camp?!"
A furious roar exploded from within the tent like a thunderclap! Immediately afterward, a scorching and violent pressure erupted with a crash, sweeping outward in an instant like a tangible shockwave!
He had been discovered!
Chen Qing's pupils contracted. He stopped hiding, his body shooting forward like an arrow released from its bow toward the great tent! Since a sneak attack would not work, he would launch a direct assault!
"Enemy attack!"
"Protect the High Priest!"
The entire camp was instantly alarmed. Countless torches flared to life, and cries of battle rose on all sides!
And at that very moment!
In the western sky, dozens of fire arrows trailing flames suddenly lit up the darkness. Like meteors, they flew with precision toward the mountain-like stacks of grain!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The fire oil ignited the instant it met flame, erupting into towering firelight! The dry grain and fodder became the finest fuel, and the blaze spread madly like an enraged dragon!
"The grain! The grain is on fire!"
"Put it out! Put out the fire!"
The camp fell into complete chaos!
To the south, the moment Old Niu saw the flames rise, he immediately roared and led his men charging out of the depression. Arrows rained down, battle cries shook the heavens, creating the illusion of a vast army assaulting the camp!
Chaos! Utter, absolute chaos!
On the eastern side of the camp, Chen Qing had already collided fiercely with the figure charging out from the great tent!
It was an old man dressed in shamanic robes, holding a bone scepter. His face was withered, yet scarlet flames burned within his eyes—Northern Mang's High Priest, Wugutuo! A peak Meridian Condensing Realm expert with one foot inside the Aperture Opening Realm!
"Junior, you court death!" Wugutuo was enraged beyond measure. Scarlet flames capable of burning everything clung to his bone scepter as it smashed fiercely toward Chen Qing's head!
Before you continue