A moment later.
The Iron-Scaled Giant Rat raised its head from the pool of blood, its scarlet eyes slowly sweeping over everyone present.
Then it meekly lowered its head again and retreated to Wang Yuan's side, like an absurdly enormous black dog.
Inside and outside the camp, not a crow or sparrow made a sound.
The remaining bandits locked in cages were pale as clay, their bodies limp with terror.
Some fainted outright. Others clutched their heads and curled into balls. No one dared harbor the slightest further disloyalty.
Wang Yuan leisurely wiped the nonexistent dust from his hands with a white cloth, then raised his eyes to Zhou Cheng.
"Before we depart tomorrow, interrogate every last one of these bandit remnants."
"Those whose hands are stained with innocent blood will be executed on the spot. Those who joined recently and have committed no evil will be assigned to the baggage train as laborers."
"Leave none behind. I will not feed idle mouths."
Zhou Cheng cupped his hands and accepted the order. "Yes!"
Wang Yuan turned and headed for the central command tent. The Iron-Scaled Giant Rat quietly followed behind, dragging its massive body along.
The night wind stirred the hem of his azure robe, and his seven-foot figure cast a long shadow beneath the moonlight.
Watching his retreating back, everyone behind him arrived at the same thought without prior agreement.
This youth was becoming more impossible to look at directly with every passing day.
Meanwhile, at Crossridge Pass on the eastern foothills of Cloud Province.
This was the only route north. The mountain walls on both sides stood steep as knife-cut cliffs, with a narrow valley road three li long between them. At its narrowest point, it could only accommodate ten riders abreast.
Kaoshan Sect had guarded this