Army Sweeps Wolf Valley

Six hundred men formed up in a column of six and marched grandly through the Mountain Stronghold, entering the hidden passage behind it.

The new Clones were taking part in an operation for the first time. They were both nervous and excited, constantly looking around.

"Stay sharp!" Lin Er walked along the side of the formation and barked:

"If we run into a pack of wolves later, remember what I taught you:

Three to a group, back to back, and don't get separated! Packs of wolves are best at splitting up and surrounding their prey!"

"Yes!" the new Clones answered in unison.

The passage was narrow, stretching the formation out into a long line.

Torches formed a winding ribbon of light through the dim cavern.

Lin Mo walked in the middle of the formation, with Lin Yi and Lin Er guarding him from ahead and behind.

"My lord, how should we fight once we reach the valley?" Lin Yi asked.

"Use the Blood Badger Powder first," Lin Mo said:

"The old hunter wouldn't have kept this stuff if it were useless. Scatter the powder upwind and let the wind carry it into the area where the wolves are gathered."

"And then?"

"Once the wolves have nearly torn one another apart, we'll go in and clean up the mess." Lin Mo sneered. "It'll save time and effort."

"What if the Blood Badger Powder isn't effective enough..."

"Then we fight them head-on." Lin Mo tightened his grip on the Mountain Splitting Axe.

"We have six hundred men, as well as the advantage of our poisonous blood.

If a wolf bites us, it'll be poisoned first. Even when we're wounded and bleeding, we'll only contaminate the battlefield."

Lin Yi's eyes lit up. "Brilliant, my lord!"

The formation traveled through the passage for about the time it took to burn one incense stick before light appeared ahead.

They had reached the exit.

It was still the same opening in the cliff, with thick vines hanging down from it.

"Lin Yi, take fifty men down first and scout the area," Lin Mo ordered. "Make sure it's safe nearby."

"Yes!"

Lin Yi selected fifty agile Old Clones and climbed down along the vines.

Before long, a signal came from below—safe.

"Send them down in batches!" Lin Mo waved his hand.

Everyone began descending in an orderly manner.

It was the first time the new Clones had climbed such a high cliff, and many of their hands and feet went weak.

Fortunately, nothing went wrong, and in the end, everyone made it safely to the ground.

Standing in the valley, they could clearly hear the howls of wolves coming from the depths of the distant forest.

They rose and fell one after another. There were quite a lot of them.

"Judging by the sound, the pack is to the northwest, near a water source," Lin Er concluded.

Lin Mo nodded. "Lin Yi, send a squad of brothers to sneak over and find out the pack's exact location, numbers, and distribution. Pay special attention to where the Wolf King is. Stay hidden and don't alert them."

"Yes!" Lin Yi accepted the order, immediately turning around and selecting ten men from the Old Clones. "Lin Wu, you lead the team. Report back as soon as you've figured things out!"

"Understood!" Lin Wu and the others straightened with solemn expressions and quickly removed any unnecessary items that might make noise.

Like a group of nimble wildcats, they silently disappeared into the dense forest to the northwest.

Everyone else stayed where they were and stood by.

Time slowly passed amid the tense wait.

About half an incense stick later, Lin Wu's hushed voice, filled with shock, came through the Consciousness Link:

[My lord, we found them! About two li northwest, there's a large clearing in the forest right beside a bend in the stream.

Wolves... there are so many wolves! It's a black, crawling mass—there must be at least three hundred!]

[There's a large bluestone in the center of the clearing, with a huge silver wolf crouching on top!

It's a whole circle larger than an ordinary wild wolf, about the size of a small calf. Its fur is gleaming, so it should be the Wolf King!

There are also more than ten particularly strong male wolves surrounding it, seemingly acting as guards.]

[The other wolves are scattered around the clearing in groups of two or three. Some are lying down, some are tearing at the bones of prey, and several small teams are moving through the outer woods, as if patrolling.]

The information came back clearly. Lin Mo nodded and took the packet of Blood Badger Powder from his robes.

"The wind is currently..." He raised a hand and felt the air currents. "Southeast. Perfect—the wolves are northwest."

"Lin Er." Lin Mo handed him the Blood Badger Powder. "Take fifty men and, when the time is right, circle around to the upwind side of the area where the wolves are gathered.

Scatter all the powder in this packet. Spread it wide and evenly, and use the wind to carry it over the wolves' heads."

He paused, then emphasized, "Withdraw to a safe distance immediately after scattering it. Don't linger. Wait for the pack to fall into chaos on its own."

"Understood!" Lin Er took the Blood Badger Powder, selected fifty men, and silently slipped into the forest.

To get a better view, Lin Mo and Lin Yi climbed a nearby ancient tree of extraordinary height.

Hidden within its thick crown, they looked into the distance through gaps in the branches and leaves.

With his extraordinary eyesight, he could already make out most of the scene in the forest clearing two li away.

Just as Lin Wu had said, the pack was enormous.

Some wolves lay down while others stood. Their gray-brown fur rippled in the shifting light and shadow of the forest, gathering into a terrifying "tide."

At the very outskirts, seven or eight especially burly male wolves with wary eyes paced back and forth, serving as sentries.

In the center of the clearing, a gigantic wolf with silver-white fur crouched atop a boulder.

Its shoulder height exceeded five chi, and its body was twice the size of an ordinary wild wolf. Its eyes were fierce, and its every glance carried the majesty of a king.

"That's the Wolf King," Lin Yi whispered.

Lin Mo nodded and swept his gaze across the entire pack.

The wolves were more disciplined than he had imagined.

I hope the Blood Badger Powder works...

Time passed second by second.

About one incense stick later, the signal finally came through the Consciousness Link: Lin Er had reached his position and was ready.