Xuanqing Guard

Chapter 336: Chapter 336: Ambush

In reality, the time to leave the Pass was even shorter than Old Rat had estimated. That afternoon, the Border Army went tent to tent, checking personnel against the roster, and used some unknown Magical Artifact to record the soul fluctuation of every person.

Then, at dusk, the bugle sounded to assemble the troops.

Tan Bin, his two companions, Old Rat, and three other veterans Old Rat had recruited formed a Roving Cavalry Scout Team, with Old Rat assigned as Decurion.

Tan Bin thought they’d get a chance to train together at the outpost, work on their coordination a little before leaving—but there was no such thing.

"Coordination my ass. We’re all old hands, who hasn’t served in the military? Everyone knows the way of battle arrays, no need for practice. Besides, if you dare to set up a battle array within the Pass, do you think the Border Army will tolerate us acting out? Once we’re outside, there’ll be plenty of time and opportunity to get familiar. Move, it’s our turn to go out."

In front were the team leaders handling the formalities. Once the Pass opened, the final check of documents was made, the barricades lifted, and people began to pass through.

Only one squad could pass at a time, and each person was checked again—this time using the soul fluctuation previously recorded by that unknown Magical Artifact, to prevent anyone sneaking through.

Stepping out of the Pass, a gust of wind hit. Tan Bin steadied himself, glanced at his companions, then mounted and followed the vanguard as they slowly rode south across the open ground ahead.

Outside the Pass lay a widened funnel shape, with Zhuo Huo Pass as the narrowest point. Heading south, it grew wider; all trees had been cleared, and not even stones bigger than a fist could be found—a sign of thorough cleaning.

"Up ahead are two Watchtowers. Beyond them is Southern Barbarian territory," Old Rat rode beside Tan Bin, pointing at two towers standing on the flanking hills.

"We’re just leaving in scattered squads like this?"

"What’s there to fear? We’re still at Zhuo Huo Pass, who would dare make a move on us here? Relax. The Southern Barbarians have been cut off for decades, and within a hundred miles you won’t even see a sheep’s hoof print. Loosen up, we’re far from anything real, still early days."

Sure enough, just as Old Rat said, once outside the Pass, everything before their eyes was barren. Not a single tree, not even knee-high grass anywhere, only some broken, rotting chevaux de frise scattered on the ground.

They traveled for almost an hour before forming ranks. They split up one battalion at a time. Tan Bin belonged to the Third Battalion, five hundred people total. There were five scout squads, thirty-five scouts like him. This time, Hongli Trading Company had sent four battalions, two thousand people out through the Pass.

"Split in three directions and search! Maintain Thousand-Mile Sound contact—rendezvous at Wu Lake in ten days!"

"Roger that!"

The three battalion commanders took orders and left, each picking a direction. The force officially marched out.

Not until after midnight did Tan Bin’s Third Battalion order a rest. They lit fires, drank water, then slept sprawled on the ground within the circle of wagons and horses.

At daybreak, the column continued on. It wasn’t until three days of methodical marching that Tan Bin and his squad received their first assignment: scout fifty miles east.

The opportunity had finally arrived.

"Let’s move!"

With the Token in hand, Old Rat took the lead, galloping ahead with the squad. He was a seasoned veteran, well familiar with the area and knowing the best places to scout.

Seven-man squad, advancing fast while searching in loose formation.

These scout teams usually stay within the assigned fifty-mile radius, only heading back when dusk falls. So, by afternoon, Old Rat signaled to regroup the squad.

"Alright, that’s it for today. Let’s eat something here and then head back."

All seven dismounted, formed a circle, and started pulling water and flatbread from their packs to eat.

"No luck today. Saw signs a few times, but no sheep. Damn shame."

"Don’t rush. I say we need to head further east for a few more days before we see any sheep. This line of work is getting harder by the year. Used to be, you’d see sheep in a day or two outside the Pass—now, not unless you walk five or six days."

"Exactly! If we go back empty-handed, that’ll be trouble."

"Trouble how? Don’t tell me you lost money gambling again, you idiot? Serves you right—sooner or later you’ll lose your ancestral grave!"

"None of your damn business. If I gamble, who asked you to care..."

Suddenly, a thin line of blood snapped open on the speaker’s neck, the stench of blood bursting forth.

"You guys..."

"Pfft!"

"Pfft!"

Using the Magic Disc to boost their speed and strength, then General Spirit Stones to activate a Talisman to numb the target’s senses, Tan Bin and his two companions struck together in that split second when everyone’s guard was down eating and drinking—each slicing their short blades precisely across the enemy’s neck.

Tan Bin’s target was even a Cultivator at Qi Refining Realm First Layer, but once Tan Bin added a Talisman sealing True Qi, caught off guard, that guy still couldn’t escape getting his throat cut.

First slash cuts the throat, silences; second slash thrusts down two inches into the left chest for instant death—a standard ambush kill: quick and ruthless.

"Are you insane?!" Old Rat tried to run, but barely three steps before collapsing, paralyzed and unable to even speak clearly.

"You ate the bread I handed you, and you still want to run?"

Tan Bin stepped up, stomped Old Rat to the ground, and tied him up efficiently. Meanwhile, his companions dragged the three corpses onto the horses, secured them, then cleaned up the blood stains.

Tan Bin, too, finished tying up the limp Old Rat and hoisted him on a horse.

"Let’s go!"

After a stick of incense’s time, Tan Bin signaled, and the three led the remaining four horses south. By midnight, they ran into a pack of wild wolves, tossed the stripped corpses down as feed, and picked a camp site, burning all clothing from the three dead men. Of course, anything valuable was kept.

"Brother Liu San, what exactly do you guys want?" Old Rat, now past the drug’s effect, was still tied up and unable to move, but could finally speak.

"Nothing else—just need you to guide us."

"Where?"

"White Head Gorge—then further south."

"What?! That place is way too far—and just us, we can’t handle the prize sheep! I think we should go back, report we lost three men to a Wolf Race scouting party—no one will doubt it, and we can still earn with the company. You guys... ah!"

Old Rat barely finished speaking before a sudden agony tore through his left cheek, as Tan Bin sliced off one of his ears and tossed it onto his chest.

"Leading or not?"

"I’ll lead! I’ll lead! Wherever you want to go, I’ll take you there—I know the shortest route!" Old Rat didn’t dare hesitate, yelling his agreement, feeling the freeze-cold blade touch his right ear, afraid that any delay would cost him the other ear.

"Very good."

Without waiting for daylight, after just two hours’ rest, Tan Bin and his two companions took Old Rat along and continued on...