990: Gongshu Wu's Will of the Martial Artist (Part 2) [Wishing You Peace on the Winter Solstice]

"Huff—"

Lu Ji kicked aside the corpse blocking her path.

The corpse's head was caved in on one side, connected to the wound by only a strip of flesh. Her kick sent it rolling over, pinning its head beneath its body as warm blood continued to spurt out. Lu Ji bent down, tore off a piece of cloth, and wiped the filth and blood from her shoe.

"I've been on edge this whole time."

When she finished, she tossed the cloth aside.

The icy killing intent etched into her features from years in the military softened, replaced by a relaxed smile. She said to Gongshu Wu, "I was afraid enemy ambushers might spring out from somewhere. That would've been a real headache. Thankfully, fortune favored us, and everything went smoothly."

Lu Ji and the others had successfully ambushed the Northern Desert grain convoy.

The number of supplies and the size of the escort matched the intelligence they had intercepted earlier. The grain escort's general was two ranks stronger than Gongshu Wu had estimated. It seemed the Northern Desert had taken this shipment very seriously. The route was remote, and the convoy was heavily guarded.

But even the most meticulous plans couldn't overcome a disparity in strength.

Nor could they withstand an overwhelming advantage in intelligence.

The enemy had been in the open, while they were hidden; they had struck the unsuspecting.

Their own casualties were within expectations.

Gongshu Wu barely managed to suppress his increasingly intense reaction. He knew he couldn't make a rational judgment right now, and his attention wandered as he asked, "Zizong, what should we do with this grain?"

Lu Ji put away the heavy hammer she had been carrying over her shoulder.

"Poison it, or douse it with fire oil and burn it here."

She had