Showdown in the Wilderness

As dawn broke, Julang of the Fish Tribe led a force of eight hundred men from the temporary camp. He walked at the very front, having not slept well all night after hearing that the Green Grain Tribe had also been captured; his eyes were bloodshot. Shentan led a dozen or so cavalrymen to scout ahead, quickly widening the gap between them and the main force.

Half a day later, Shentan and his group arrived near the Green Grain Tribe. Suddenly, a sharp-eyed cavalryman pointed ahead and shouted, "Chief! There are horses!"

Shentan Tan looked closely and, sure enough, saw several figures on horseback loitering in the distance. They were clearly sentries from the Wolf Tribe. The sentries also spotted Shentan and his group, paused for a moment, and then, without a word, turned their horses around and galloped towards the Green Grain Tribe.

"Damn it!" Shentan spat, knowing he couldn't catch up. "Let's go back and report!"

When Shentan returned to the main force, Julang was impatiently urging the team to speed up.

"You saw it?" the Julang asked.

"I saw them. Several Wolf Tribe sentries have run back to report." Shentan wiped his sweat. "We've definitely been discovered."

Julang gritted his teeth and said, "Then hurry up and get there!" He turned to the messenger behind him and roared, "Pass the word down, everyone get running! Quickly!"

The group of eight hundred people immediately quickened their pace.

After traveling for a while longer, the camp walls of the Green Grain Tribe came into view. Only then did Julang raise his hand. "Stop! Let's rest here!"

The soldiers immediately collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, and hurriedly drank water and ate dry rations. Julang stood on high ground, squinting as he surveyed the distant camp. Figures moved about inside, clearly indicating that they were ready.

After resting, Julang stood up. "Let's go, slowly approach."

They walked until they were about forty meters from the camp gate before stopping. Julang gestured for the group to form ranks, and he stood at the very front.

Inside the main house of the Green Grain Tribe camp, Xueya finally woke up refreshed as dawn broke. Looking at the two timid, scantily clad young women of the Green Grain Tribe beside him, and recalling the exhilarating revelry of the previous night, Xueya couldn't help but burst into unrestrained laughter.

The loud laughter terrified the two women even more. Xueya ignored them, gave them a couple more hard squeezes before leaving with a satisfied smile!

Standing at the entrance, watching the Wolf Tribe warriors busily sorting through their spoils inside and outside the camp, Xueya felt a surge of pride welling up from the bottom of his heart. This feeling of conquering everything and having everything he wanted was too captivating.

"This area..." Xueya narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping across the distant mountains and forests, "Should all be the Wolf Tribe's granary, should all belong to the Wolf Tribe..."

He was basking in the joy of victory when a cavalryman rushed over, shouting, "Chief! Chief! Something terrible has happened!"

Xueya frowned. "What's the panic?"

"Fish... Fish Tribe! They're already outside the camp!"

Xueya was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage. "Damn it! I haven't even gone looking for them, and they've already delivered themselves to my doorstep!" He kicked a nearby wooden stake. "Since they're so eager to die, I'll grant their wish!"

He summoned several trusted men. "Pass down the order! Everyone, take your weapons, put on your leather armor, and assemble at the camp gate!"

The order was given, and the entire camp immediately stirred. Before long, Shichui, Duyan, and Yexiao arrived, their faces filled with excitement and ferocity.

Xueya donned leather armor, slung a bone knife over his shoulder, picked up a small wooden shield, and strode towards the camp gate with several leaders.

As soon as they reached the door, they saw a large, dark mass of people outside. Julang stood at the very front, followed by four hundred well-equipped Fish Tribe warriors, and then another four hundred ragtag soldiers.

Xueya observed carefully for a while, then suddenly grinned. He pointed to the opposite side and said to the leader beside him, "See? I thought they were all the elites of the Fish Tribe, but half of them are just there to make up the numbers." His shoulders shook with laughter. "We've got this battle in the bag!"

As they were talking, the Julang on the opposite side could no longer contain itself.

"Xueya!" Julang's voice boomed like thunder, "You bastard, hiding in the camp like a coward? Come out and fight if you dare!"

The warriors of the Fish Tribe joined in the jeering: "Come out!" "Scared now!" "We'll burn down your kennels!"

The insults grew increasingly offensive, and Xueya's smile gradually vanished. He stared grimly at the people shouting insults across from him.

The camp was piled high with food and supplies looted from the Green Grain Tribe. The hundred men who escorted supplies from the Marsh Tribe last night had also arrived here. If the camp were set on fire, all their belongings would be lost.

"Julang!" Xueya roared back, his voice shrill and sharp, "You defeated wimp, you still have the nerve to yell? Last time in Wolf Fang Valley, if I hadn't held back, you'd be dead already!"

These words struck a nerve with Julang, who turned purple with rage. "Enough nonsense! I was careless last time! If you have the guts, come out now, and I'll twist your head off!"

Xueya, who had been enjoying great success lately, didn't take Julang seriously at all. He sneered, "Fine, let's fight! You guys back off, I'll take my men out here and let you die knowing why!"

"Fine!" Julang gritted his teeth. "I'll wait for you! Don't back down then!"

The Fish Tribe's troops began to retreat slowly, until they reached an open area two miles away, where they regrouped.

Watching the opponent retreat, Xueya turned around and began to make arrangements.

"We have over nine hundred men now, more than them," Xueya said quickly. "Those four hundred ragtag soldiers on the other side are obviously just ragtag troops from somewhere else to make up the numbers; they're even worse than our vassal troops." He looked at Yexiao, "You take the cavalry and, once the battle starts, circle around to their rear and flanks to harass them and prevent them from concentrating."

Yexiao nodded. "Understood!"

Then Xueya instructed a Xiaotou, "When the battle begins, leave only a few men in the camp to watch over the supplies and prisoners!"

The Xiaotou nodded in agreement.

After giving these instructions, Xueya walked over to the vassal army, which numbered over five hundred. Although their formation was loose, each of them had a fierce glint in their eyes—they had changed after the looting.

"Brothers!" Xueya shouted at the top of his lungs, "We're about to fight! We outnumber them, we'll win!" He waved his arms, "If we win, half of the Green Grain Tribe's food and supplies will be yours! And you can have all the women you want!"

A commotion arose in the vassal army, and many people's eyes lit up.

"But!" Xueya's tone shifted, his face contorting with rage, "Anyone who dares to retreat, dares to run away—" he drawled, "the White Stone Tribe! That will be your fate."

The vassal army immediately fell silent!

"Follow me, and kill the enemy!" Xueya raised his bone knife.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!" The vassal army, their eyes bloodshot, roared along with the Wolf Tribe, their voices growing louder and louder until they merged into one.

Xueya nodded in satisfaction, then turned to face the camp gate. "Open the camp gate!"

The camp's wooden gate was pushed open, Xueya charged out first, followed by three hundred elite warriors and five hundred vassal soldiers from the Wolf Tribe.

On the Huangye, the two armies drew ever closer, and a great battle was about to erupt.