Avoid the Edge?

The disparity in military strength was so great because of the high-level leadership.

The Heaven Dou Empire's approach was far too mild, while the Star Luo Empire was the opposite, worshipping force.

As a result, the Heaven Dou Empire had always been on the defensive. Every clash along the Northern Border ended in passive defense.

But Lin Jin was not someone who liked being passive.

On the contrary, Lin Jin preferred taking the initiative.

He wanted to control his own will. Otherwise, he could never have kept secretly resisting the corrosive Demonic Nature of the Demon Armor.

He liked the feeling of holding his own fate in his hands.

"Of course." Seeing Lin Jin deep in thought, Qin Yue said, "My guess about a Soul Sage leading an assassination squad is only speculation. Even if such a squad exists, as long as you remain at Iron Blood Pass, I can keep you safe. But Dugu Xiong gathering the Main Force is no joke in the army."

"So, Lin Jin, what have you decided?"

Lei Ke lightly nudged Lin Jin's arm and urged, "Lin Jin, you heard what General Qin said. You're still young. With your talent, you have a great future ahead of you."

"So I think you should leave Iron Blood Pass and return to Heaven Dou City. Of course, this isn't desertion—it's merely avoiding the edge."

"I should avoid the edge?!"

The moment he heard those words, Lin Jin's gaze turned razor-sharp.

"I came to the Northern Border when I was six years old. Over the past five years, I've fought more than a hundred battles, large and small, and received twenty-seven wounds. Every single time, I stood at the front."

Lin Jin's voice gradually rose.

"How many brothers died during that time? And now, because the Star Luo Army is about to bear down on us, you want me to avoid the edge?"

"When I encounter a little difficulty, you want me to avoid the edge. How is that any different from being a deserter? How is that any different from being a coward?"

"Star Luo wants to kill me because they're afraid! They're afraid that this 'Young Wolf' they speak of will truly grow into a beast that tears them apart! The more they fear me, the more I must stand here! If they send Soul Kings, I'll kill them! If they send an army, I'll still break their teeth!"

He fixed Qin Yue with a blazing stare. "General, you asked what I had decided? My decision is to kill... our... way... back!"

Inside the Commander's Mansion, one could have heard a pin drop.

Everyone was shaken by the undisguised killing intent and madness in Lin Jin's words.

It was as though they had seen a ferocious beast, utterly enraged, baring its sharpest fangs—not merely to defend itself, but to bite back!

Lei Ke opened his mouth, but in the end, nothing came out.

He realized that he had underestimated the pride and ruthlessness in this youth's Bones.

Qin Yue looked at the beast-like youth before him and the unyielding fire in his eyes, remaining silent for a long time.

"Hahaha... Good! Good! Good!" Qin Yue suddenly burst into hearty laughter, so loud that the roof beams seemed to tremble. "I knew I hadn't misjudged you! This is the bloodlust a Northern Border soldier should have!"

"Since you want to kill our way back, tell me your plan." Qin Yue stepped before Lin Jin once more. "But I can tell you plainly: with our current troops, if we clash head-on with the Star Luo Empire, the odds are sixty-forty. But we can't afford the losses."

Lin Jin walked to the sand table. His finger crossed the opposing defense lines and landed behind Iron Rock Fortress—Gray Rock City.

In an incomparably calm voice, Lin Jin said, "Generals, the reason the Star Luo Northern Territory Legion's offensive is so fierce lies in Gray Rock City, their Logistics Hub."

His voice was steady and utterly certain. "Dugu Xiong dared to commit his entire force, so his rear must be relatively empty. I only need to lead the Blood Blade Army in a proactive strike and sever its foundation! Then he'll be unable to support both ends!"

"Once we capture Gray Rock City, Dugu Xiong's fifty thousand troops on the front line will fall into chaos without sufficient supplies, and their combat strength will be greatly reduced."

Lin Jin then carefully laid out his plan to Attack in the East, Strike in the West, and Secretly Cross the Chencang Pass.

After explaining the plan, Lin Jin gave the operation its name. "The operation will be called 'Break the Spine.' What we will break is not merely Star Luo's supply line, but the spine of their Northern Territory Legion. General, please make your decision."

After hearing Lin Jin's plan, Qin Yue's two Deputy Generals voiced their doubts.

"Go a hundred li behind enemy lines? Attack Gray Rock City? Lin Jin, do you know how heavily guarded that place is?"

"This is simply wishful thinking! It's practically suicide!"

"General Qin, I, Lin Jin, am willing to sign a Military Order!" Lin Jin said, his tone utterly firm and fearless.

Lin Jin's declaration struck the ground like iron, leaving himself no path of retreat. "If I fail, I am willing to forfeit all my past honors. But I will not fail, because this Break the Spine operation can only have two outcomes."

"Either I destroy the enemy, or the enemy destroys me!"

"If I fail, wrap my corpse in the flag of the Heaven Dou Empire."

"Heaven Dou will triumph!!!"

After saying that, Lin Jin gave a military salute and walked out of the Commander's Mansion.

His sonorous words, his resolute salute, and his retreating figure as he turned and left without the slightest hesitation instantly shook everyone present.

The two Deputy Generals who had initially raised objections stood with their mouths open, unable to voice another word of opposition.

They had served in the army for decades and seen countless valiant warriors, but never had they seen a commander so young, yet so unafraid of death—someone who had cast aside personal honor, disgrace, and even life itself!

Such courage and resolve made even these veteran generals feel their hearts tremble with shame.

Lei Ke watched Lin Jin's retreating figure with a complicated expression. He knew that the recruit he had once looked down on the most had completely grown up.

Qin Yue remained where he was, unmoving for a long time.

After a while, he drew a deep breath. "Did you all hear that? That is what a Heaven Dou soldier should be! Hear my command!"

"First, effective immediately, the entire army enters highest alert. Send all Scouts forward and keep a close watch on Dugu Xiong's movements!"

"Second, have the Engineer Battalion transfer every last unit of High-Explosive Soul Guidance Explosives in storage to Blood Blade!"

"Third, the Quartermaster Department will open the Armory. Lin Jin and his unit are to receive priority access to the finest equipment!"

"Fourth, the Intelligence Department will fully cooperate. Within six hours, I want Gray Rock City's latest Defense Map!"

"Yes, Grand General! This subordinate accepts the order!"

Qin Yue walked to the Commander's Desk, picked up a brush, swiftly wrote a Secret Letter, and stamped it with his Commander's Seal.

"Dispatch it by eight-hundred-li emergency courier directly to Marshal Ge Long's residence. Tell him that there is a wolf in the Northern Border, named Lin Jin, who seeks to carry out Break the Spine. If he succeeds, we may expand our territory by a hundred li. If he fails, ask the Marshal to pardon Qin Yue for poor judgment and reckless Military Strategy!"

He handed the Secret Letter to his Personal Guard, then strode to the window and looked north toward the Star Luo Empire, blazing Battle Intent burning in his eyes.

"Dugu Xiong... this time, I've prepared a grand gift for you! Let's see whether your old bones can handle it!"

Meanwhile, Lin Jin had already returned to Blood Blade's encampment.

He offered no further explanation and merely issued the simplest order:

"Blood Blade personnel, carry three days of rations and assemble in light gear. We will undertake a special mission. Target: behind enemy lines."

The Blood Blade Army, personally forged by Lin Jin, made no noise and asked no questions.

They only assembled swiftly and efficiently.

After collecting their equipment and waiting until midnight, Lin Jin led a thousand Blood Blade soldiers out of Iron Blood Pass.