"Since Scholar Yun Geng is joining the expedition, you'll naturally take over command. You're a Purple Gold Ribbon Grand Scholar, so you're the rightful person to lead them. Remember, don't be rash. Protecting the cargo comes first. How many enemies you kill isn't important, and don't get bogged down in a fight."
In the end, Elder Yin Qiao gave Grand Scholar Tong Ye this order.
"Don't hold back. If things really get critical, I'll step in myself." He then gave Grand Scholar Tong Ye a reassuring promise.
Grand Scholar Tong Ye naturally said nothing, but inwardly he thought, If you're going to step in, do it sooner rather than later. Don't wait until it's too late and you don't even get the chance.
Of course, as the deputy commander of this operation, he still had to put on a show. Otherwise, if Elder Yin Qiao noticed something was off about him, there would be trouble.
Taking over command wasn't a big deal. Grand Scholar Tong Ye had more than enough status and ability to handle a situation like this.
The bad news came back soon.
Not only had the first group of elite scouts he sent out been wiped out, but several more teams of elite troops he dispatched afterward—all top-notch soldiers under Scholar Yun Geng—had vanished without a trace.
Scholar Yun Geng sent out signals again and again to contact them, even telling them to withdraw from the perimeter. But the dozens of elite subordinates he had sent out seemed to have sunk into the sea. Not one of them responded.
Scholar Yun Geng realized something was wrong and completely panicked. These dozens of elite soldiers were almost all the subordinates he trusted most and relied on most in a fight. He had devoted immense effort to training every