The Golden Bell Shield Envelops the Body, "Suppressing Bandits" by Imperial Decree

Seven days later.

Inside the Assault Camp's tent, the air was heavy and oppressive.

Ji Ye sat cross-legged on the ground, his upper body bare. The bandages had long since been removed. The penetrating wound on his chest, once deep enough to expose bone, now only bore a hideous pink scar, like a centipede crawling across his chest.

With every breath he took, the muscles around his body rippled like waves, and his skin faintly shimmered with a dark, metallic sheen.

"Hah!"

Ji Ye's eyes snapped open, and he exhaled a stream of white mist that shot out over three feet like an arrow.

He casually grabbed a dagger lying beside him, gripped it in a reverse hold, and slashed it down hard onto his left arm.

"Screeeech--"

A grating sound, like a dull blade sawing through old leather, echoed. Where the dagger passed, it left only a shallow white mark, not even breaking the skin.

[Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield], First Layer, Iron Skin Realm.

Combined with his already abnormally tough muscle density and the bone hardness of the [Bone Forging Realm], Ji Ye was now a human iron lump. Unless it was a sharp weapon infused with Internal Strength, or a heavy blunt instrument, ordinary weapons would find it difficult to inflict a fatal wound on him.

"This Blood Wolf Marrow is truly good stuff."

Ji Ye clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking. The pouch of Blood Wolf Marrow had not only healed his injuries but also pushed his physical strength to a new level.

Now, if he encountered Hulei again, even if he couldn't win, he definitely wouldn't be as pathetic as last time. At the very least, he could withstand over a dozen of the opponent's blows without dying.

"Boss!"

The tent flap was pulled open, and Pockmarked walked in, holding a brand-new set of Xuan Iron armor.

"Someone from General Qin's side is here. They want you to go to the main command tent for a meeting. They also sent this armor, saying it's a reward for you."

"A reward?"

Ji Ye stood up and took the iron armor. The craftsmanship was exquisite, clearly a standard for a Border Army Captain.

"Looks like there's more dirty work to be done."

Ji Ye donned the iron armor. The dark black plates contrasted with his stern face, exuding a murderous aura.

Main Command Tent.

Qin Wuji stood before a huge military map, a red brush in his hand, circling a location.

"Ji Ye, you've arrived at a good time."

Qin Wuji turned around, his gaze lingering on Ji Ye for a moment, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. "It seems your injuries have mostly healed. How is the Assault Camp training?"

"A pack of hungry wolves. As long as there's meat, they'll bite anyone." Ji Ye replied calmly.

"Very good."

Qin Wuji tossed the red brush onto the table and pointed to the red circle on the map.

"This is Zhao Family Fortress. It's fifty li from the main camp."

"According to scout reports, Zhao Family Fortress is colluding with the Barbarians, hoarding goods, and plotting rebellion. I order you to lead the Assault Camp and depart immediately to annihilate Zhao Family Fortress."

Ji Ye glanced at the map.

He knew of Zhao Family Fortress. It was the largest powerful family in the vicinity of Black Stone County. The fortress lord, Zhao Tianba, was also a skilled practitioner. He had several hundred retainers under him, occupied a strategic location, and had stockpiled a large amount of grain and ironware.

The so-called "collusion with the Barbarians" was just an excuse.

The real reason was that Qin Wuji's army of several thousand men consumed a lot of supplies. The imperial court's provisions were delayed, so he was going to make an example of a local powerful family, killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.

"Your subordinate understands."

Ji Ye didn't expose him. Instead, he cupped his fists and accepted the order. "However, Zhao Family Fortress has high walls and a thick perimeter. With just the more than a hundred men of the Assault Camp, I'm afraid..."

"I will allocate two ballistae to you, and three hundred auxiliary soldiers."

Qin Wuji interrupted him, his eyes cold. "I don't care what method you use, but within three days, I want to see Zhao Family Fortress's grain transported into my main camp. As for the people of Zhao family..."

He made a throat-slitting gesture.

"Leave none alive."

"Yes."

Ji Ye turned and left.

Stepping out of the tent, the sunlight outside was a bit blinding.

"Boss, this Qin Wuji is really a scumbag." Pockmarked, who had been waiting outside, spat. "He's asking us to be bandits."

"What's wrong with being a bandit?"

Ji Ye mounted his horse, looking towards the direction of Zhao Family Fortress in the distance, a cruel smile curving his lips.

"Zhao Family Fortress has stood for a hundred years. Its foundation is ten times thicker than the Black Tiger Gang's. Qin Wuji wants the grain, but we want..."

He patted the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield manual in his arms.

"...everything that can make a person stronger."

"Pass down the order, assemble the entire camp."

"Tell the brothers to sharpen their blades. This time, we're going to hit the big houses."

Zhao Family Fortress.

This was a fortified village built against the mountain, its walls towering high, riddled with firing slits.

Fortress Lord Zhao Tianba stood atop the wall, his face grim as he watched the distant procession flying a banner with the character "Qin" but clad in mismatched armor.

"Father, it's the regular troops!" the young fortress lord Zhao Long exclaimed in panic beside him. "What are they trying to do?"

"Regular troops?"

Zhao Tianba snorted. "In this day and age, soldiers are like a comb, bandits like a sieve. These border troops are greedier than barbarians! Qin Wuji has his eye on our grain!"

He drew his saber and roared at the retainers behind him, "Listen up, all of you! Defend the gate! Anyone who lets a single soldier in, I'll skin him alive!"

Below the wall.

Ji Ye reined in his warhorse, gazing at the fortified village that resembled a hedgehog.

"Boss, are we going to storm it?" Black Bear asked in a deep voice, hefting a mountain-splitting axe captured from the barbarians.

"Storm it?"

Ji Ye shook his head. Zhao Family Fortress's defenses were even more complete than Black Stone County's. A frontal assault would only deplete the Assault Camp's meager resources.

"Bring those two ballistae forward."

Ji Ye pointed at the city gate.

"Aim for the gap and nail it shut!"

"Thwack! Thwack!"

Two massive crossbow bolts whistled through the air. Though they couldn't pierce the thick, iron-clad gate, they embedded themselves deeply into the doorframe and the wall.

"Bring on the fire oil!"

Ji Ye didn't pause.

Dozens of clay pots were hurled by hastily constructed trebuchets, smashing against the gate and walls, spilling black oil.

"Light it!"

Flaming arrows were shot, and the gate of Zhao Family Fortress instantly became a sea of fire.

But it wasn't enough. Such fortified village gates had fireproofing designs and a thousand-pound portcullis inside.

"Black Bear, bring a few men, follow me."

Ji Ye dismounted, shedding his heavy black iron armor, leaving only a single layer of clothing, revealing a lean and powerful physique.

"Boss, the fire hasn't even died down yet!"

"That's exactly when we go, while the fire is raging."

Ji Ye carried a massive battering ram, dismantled from a siege engine—a genuine log, weighing several hundred pounds.

He hoisted the ram, empowered by Triple Brute Force, and like a humanoid Tyrannosaurus Rex, charged towards the gate, braving the arrows and flames raining down from the wall.

"Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield!"

Ji Ye roared, his muscles tensing, his skin glowing with a faint blue light. Several stray arrows struck him but were deflected, leaving only white marks.

"Open for me!!"

Reaching the gate, Ji Ye roared again, tossing the battering ram on his shoulder like a javelin, hurling it fiercely at the already scorching and deformed gate.

"BOOM--!!!"

The hundreds of pounds of the battering ram, combined with Ji Ye's monstrous strength, made this blow comparable to a siege ram.

The gate, already groaning under the strain, let out a mournful cry. The hinges snapped, and the entire gate collapsed inward with a deafening crash, kicking up a sky full of sparks.

"Charge in!!"

Ji Ye drew the Wild Goose Feather Saber at his waist and was the first to charge into the inferno.

The condemned soldiers of the Assault Camp behind him let out a war cry and followed close behind.