Several captains of the Azure River Army gathered together, fear and despair still lingering on their faces.
The camp was in shambles. Last night's surprise attack had inflicted devastating casualties on the Azure River Army. Besides the Card Adepts killed directly by the enemy, many others had frozen to death or suffered frostbite. In weather like this, Card Adepts were extremely vulnerable without the protection of an Energy Shield. Not many had frozen outright, but a considerable number had suffered frostbite. Everywhere they looked, Card Adepts were wailing in pain. Morale had plunged to the freezing point.
The captains fell silent despite themselves. None knew how to begin.
Only after a long while did an older Card Adept speak. "What do you all think we should do now?"
The other captains exchanged looks, finding nothing but fear in one another's eyes. Yan Yu was dead. The dragons had lost their head.
"Lord Yan Yu is dead, and we've suffered terrible casualties. We should go back and leave the decision to Lord Lan," one captain mumbled.
"Do you want us all to die?" another captain barked. "Lord Yan Yu even had his head cut off! If we go back like this, how could Lord Lan possibly spare us?"
At those words, everyone felt a chill at the back of their necks. Cang Lan ruled his subordinates harshly, and as the first force he had established, the Azure River Army naturally knew his methods well. If they returned like this, the rank-and-file Card Adepts might escape unscathed, but the captains would certainly not escape punishment.
"Then what do we do? Look at these men! Can they still fight?" The Card Adept who had made the suggestion flushed red and raised his voice.
The men's morale had sunk to rock bottom, and countless