Seven days later.
Inside the Assault Camp's tent, the air was heavy and stifling.
Ji Ye sat cross-legged on the ground, bare-chested, the bandages all over his body long since removed. The penetrating wound in his chest that had once been deep enough to show bone had now left only a savage pink scar, like a centipede sprawled across his chest.
With every breath he took, the muscles all over his body rose and fell like waves, while a faint dark blue metallic sheen surfaced over his skin.
"Ha!"
Ji Ye suddenly opened his eyes and exhaled a stream of white breath that shot out like a sharp arrow for more than three feet.
He casually grabbed a dagger beside him, held it in a reverse grip, and viciously slashed it across his left arm.
"Screech—"
A teeth-aching scraping sound rang out, like a dull blade cutting through old cowhide. The dagger left only a faint white mark where it passed, without even breaking the skin.
[Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield], first layer: Iron Skin Realm.
Combined with his already exceptionally tough muscle density and the bone hardness of the [Bone Forging Realm], Ji Ye was now a humanoid lump of iron. Unless it was a sharp weapon infused with Internal Strength or a heavy blunt weapon, ordinary arms could no longer easily inflict fatal wounds on him.
"This Blood Wolf Marrow really is good stuff."
Ji Ye clenched his fist, and his knuckles cracked explosively. That pouch of Blood Wolf Marrow had not only healed his injuries, but forcibly pushed his physical strength to a whole new level.
If he encountered Hulei again now, even if he could not defeat him, he certainly would not be as miserable as last time. At the very least, he could withstand more than ten of Hulei's strikes without dying.
"Boss!"
The tent flap was lifted, and Pockmarked walked in carrying a brand-new set of black iron armor.
Someone had come from General Qin's side, asking him to go to the central command tent for a discussion. They had also sent over this armor, saying it was his reward.
"A reward?"
Ji Ye stood and accepted the iron armor. The armor was exquisitely made, clearly the standard equipment of a Border Army Captain.
"Looks like there's dirty work to do again."
Ji Ye put on the iron armor. The pitch-black plates set off his cold, stern face, giving him an aura of grim slaughter.
Central command tent.
Qin Wuji stood before a massive map, holding a vermilion brush as he circled a location.
"Ji Ye, you came at just the right time."
Qin Wuji turned around, his gaze lingering on Ji Ye for a moment. A trace of satisfaction flashed through his eyes. "Looks like you've mostly recovered. How has the Assault Camp been training?"
"A pack of hungry wolves. Give them meat, and they'll dare bite anyone," Ji Ye replied blandly.
"Very good."
Qin Wuji tossed the vermilion brush onto the table and pointed at the red circle on the map.
"This is Zhao Family Fortress. Fifty li from the main camp."
"According to the scouts, Zhao Family Fortress has colluded with the Barbarians, hoarded goods, and intends rebellion. I order you to lead the Assault Camp out at once and wipe out Zhao Family Fortress."
Ji Ye glanced at the map.
He knew Zhao Family Fortress. It was the greatest local powerhouse near Black Stone County. Its fortress lord, Zhao Tianba, was also a martial man, with several hundred retainers under him. He occupied strategic terrain and had stockpiled vast quantities of grain and ironware.
The so-called "collusion with the Barbarians" was nothing but an excuse.
The real reason was that Qin Wuji's several thousand troops ate like wolves and horses chewed like dragons, and their provisions were running short. The Imperial Court's supplies had yet to arrive. He was planning to turn his blade on the local powerful clans, killing the hen for its eggs.
"This subordinate understands."
Ji Ye did not expose him. Instead, he clasped his fists and accepted the order. "But Zhao Family Fortress has high walls and stout defenses. With only the hundred-odd men of the Assault Camp, I fear..."
"I will assign you two bed crossbows and another three hundred auxiliary soldiers."
Qin Wuji cut him off, his eyes cold. "I don't care what method you use. Within three days, I want to see Zhao Family Fortress's grain transported into my camp. As for the Zhao family..."
He made a throat-slitting gesture.
"Leave none alive."
"Yes."
Ji Ye turned and departed.
As he stepped out of the tent, the sunlight outside was somewhat dazzling.
"Boss, this Qin Wuji really is no good," Pockmarked spat as he waited outside. "He's having us play bandits."
"What's so bad about being bandits?"
Ji Ye swung onto his horse and looked toward Zhao Family Fortress in the distance, a cruel curve lifting at the corner of his mouth.
"Zhao Family Fortress has stood for a hundred years. Its fortune is ten times richer than the Black Tiger Gang's. Qin Wuji wants grain. What we want..."
He touched the copy of Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield in his robes, which he had not yet finished cultivating.
"Is everything that can make us stronger."
"Pass down the order. Assemble the whole camp."
"Tell the brothers to sharpen their blades. This time, we're going to feast on a fat household."
Zhao Family Fortress.
It was a fortified manor built against the mountain, its walls towering high and covered in arrow slits.
Zhao Tianba, the fortress lord, stood atop the walls, staring at the distant force flying the banner bearing the character "Qin," though clad in disorderly armor. His expression was grim.
"Father, it's the government troops!" Zhao Long, the young fortress lord beside him, said in panic. "What are they trying to do?"
"Government troops?"
Zhao Tianba snorted coldly. "These days, troops passing through comb the land like a comb, while bandits passing through scrape it like a grater. These border troops are greedier than the Barbarians! Qin Wuji has set his sights on our grain!"
He drew his saber and roared at the retainers behind him, "Listen up! Hold the gate! Whoever dares let a single government soldier inside, I'll skin him alive!"
Below the walls.
Ji Ye reined in his warhorse and looked at the fortress, bristling like a hedgehog.
"Boss, do we force an assault?" Black Bear asked in a deep, muffled voice, carrying a mountain-cleaving axe seized from the Barbarians.
"A direct assault?"
Ji Ye shook his head. Zhao Family Fortress's defenses were even more complete than Black Stone County's. A hard assault would only bleed dry the little capital the Assault Camp had.
"Push those two bed crossbows up."
Ji Ye pointed at the gate.
"Aim at the crack in the gates and nail them in!"
"Boom! Boom!"
Two thick crossbow bolts howled forth. Though they failed to pierce the heavy iron-bound gates, they sank deeply into the gateframe and the walls.
"Bring up the fire oil!"
Ji Ye did not pause.
Dozens of clay jars were hurled from hastily constructed crude catapults, smashing against the gates and walls as black oil spilled everywhere.
"Light it!"
Fire arrows shot out, and the gates of Zhao Family Fortress instantly became a sea of flames.
But that was not enough. Gates in fortified manors like this were all designed against fire, and there was also a thousand-catty portcullis inside.
"Black Bear, bring a few men and come with me."
Ji Ye jumped down from his horse and removed his heavy black iron armor, wearing only a single garment that exposed his lean, powerful muscles.
"Boss, the fire hasn't gone out yet!"
"That's exactly why we strike while the fire's at its fiercest."
Ji Ye carried a huge battering log dismantled from a siege cart—it was a genuine tree trunk, weighing several hundred catties.
He hoisted the log onto his shoulder. Empowered by Triple Brute Force, he was like a humanoid tyrannosaur, charging toward the gates through the rain of arrows from the walls and the blazing flames.
"Golden Bell Shield!"
Ji Ye let out a low roar. The muscles throughout his body tensed, and his skin glowed blue. Several stray arrows struck him, only to be forcibly deflected, leaving behind a few white spots.
"Open for me!!"
Reaching the gates, Ji Ye roared and hurled the log from his shoulder like a javelin at the gates, already scalding hot and warped from the flames.
"Boom—!!!"
The several-hundred-catty log, combined with Ji Ye's terrifying monstrous strength, made this blow as powerful as a siege ram.
The gates, long unable to bear the strain, let out a mournful groan. Their hinges snapped, and the entire gate crashed inward, sending sparks flying into the sky.
"Kill our way in!!"
Ji Ye drew the Wild Goose Feather Saber from his waist and charged into the sea of flames first.
The condemned men of the Assault Camp behind him let out a wolfish howl and followed close behind.
Before you continue