Chapter Forty-Six: Guerrilla Warfare in the Desolate Village

Lin Shize: "How many enemies are there?"

Liu Wu: "About thirty. I was the first to return to the camp early this morning and came to find you, but I was ambushed by the Mengla people. I used a hill to shake them off, but I estimate they’re close behind."

Lin Shize pondered for a moment and asked, "Did you bring the iron shovels?"

Zhao Dahur patted the warhorse beside him and said, "Yes, we did."

"Have a few brothers dig concentrated horse traps at the village entrance. The rest, follow me," Lin Shize immediately ordered.

There were simply too many Mengla enemies. He planned to deal with this group first. If the others retreated and encountered more enemies, being caught in a pincer attack would be disastrous. Besides, Chu Luolong was a burden to carry; he had to secure the rear.

Zhao Dahur led ten men toward the village gate.

Liu Wu glanced behind Lin Shize and asked, "Who are those?"

Lin Shize turned and saw Zhao Shantong standing behind him.

"Are you sure you want to join this fight?"

Zhao Shantong raised her long sword and said, "I have to reclaim the dignity I lost myself."

Lin Shize nodded silently. The group quickly set up tripwires at every corner of the village.

Zhao Dahur and his men dug horse traps at the village entrance.

Zhao Shantong noticed Lin Shize’s entire demeanor changed when he fought—like a drawn sword, sharp and unyielding.

The other soldiers moved swiftly and efficiently, clearly experienced in such tactics, using dust to conceal their movements.

As soon as everything was ready, the sound of galloping hooves came from afar. The enemy had arrived.

The group lay in ambush beside the earthen wall, silently waiting. Leading them was an armored Mengla warrior wielding a long knife, cautiously eyeing the village.

He waved his hand, signaling the Mengla horsemen behind to maintain formation and advance steadily.

But they overlooked the dense network of horse traps beneath their hooves.

Perhaps they underestimated the small pits, not realizing their horses’ slender hooves would break under the animals’ heavy weight once trapped.

The horses stumbled, throwing their riders off. As they landed, Lin Shize’s bow suddenly twanged, and a triangular arrow pierced the chest of a Mengla warrior.

At the same time, dozens of arrows rained down from behind the earthen wall, and within three breaths, seven or eight enemies fell lifeless.

Zhao Shantong gasped inwardly. Just last night, ten Mengla warriors had driven her group into a dead end.

But now, seven or eight enemies had been wiped out in an instant before her eyes. It felt unreal.

Though the Mengla suffered heavy losses, they didn’t hesitate; instead, they charged more rapidly into the village.

The armored Mengla warrior’s face darkened. He knew they had fallen into a trap. Now, he had to use the speed of his horse to break through the encirclement and then circle back to kill them all.

Raising his left hand with five fingers spread, he gave a signal. The Mengla quickly split into several squads and dispersed to break through.

Zhao Shantong wanted to ask Lin Shize what to do next but saw they were already running deeper into the village.

Without hesitation, she followed closely.

They came upon a group where tripwires blocked a five-man squad, and six soldiers of the Great Qi were fighting them.

Although outnumbered, the Mengla fought fiercely, even seeming to gain the upper hand.

Seizing the chance, they broke through a gap. The Qi soldiers were on the verge of collapse.

Suddenly, a battle knife blocked the lead Mengla warrior’s path.

Before he could react, a soldier behind Lin Shize swung a blade, severing his throat.

With one man down, the Mengla formation fell apart and was slaughtered after a few exchanges.

Lin Shize immediately led his soldiers toward the next ambush point.

After a few steps, they found Liu Wu and two others engaged with Mengla warriors by the earthen wall.

Lin Shize snatched up his bow, drew an arrow.

The lead Mengla, in pursuit, caught a glint of cold steel flying toward him and abruptly halted.

The arrow whizzed past his face, narrowly missing and chilling him to the bone.

Though the Mengla had seized the deadly arrow, Liu Wu took advantage of their distraction, striking back.

His battle knife slammed onto the enemy’s arm. Wounded, the Mengla warrior roared fiercely and charged at Liu Wu.

Liu Wu stepped back skillfully to parry, while his comrade lunged forward, slicing the Mengla’s calf.

In pain and weakened, the soldier’s strength waned. Liu Wu stepped forward, slashing his throat. Blood sprayed like a fountain.

Determined to finish off the wounded, Liu Wu swiftly dispatched the rest.

Lin Shize asked, "Have you seen the others?"

Liu Wu pointed ahead. "I see Dahur over there."

Lin Shize: "We’ve taken out half the enemies. Hurry and regroup with the others. Let’s move!"

As they rounded a corner, a terrified scream rang out. Dahur and his men were locked in fierce combat with the Mengla at the end of a narrow alley.

On the other side, Chu Luolong and a few others, somehow separated, were being chased desperately by an armored Mengla warrior.

Lin Shize dared not open his eyes, hoping it was a hallucination.

Five men being chased down by a single Mengla warrior was utterly shameful. He was about to shoot an arrow to end it.

Suddenly, a graceful figure charged forward, sword drawn.

This time, Zhao Shantong held nothing back, thrusting her blade into the Mengla’s vital points with unflinching resolve, refusing to dodge the incoming curved blade.

Her life-for-life strategy suppressed the Mengla warrior, forcing him to retreat step by step.

Lin Shize looked at the trembling few hiding in the corner and shook his head in disappointment—their courage had completely shattered.

He plucked an arrow, nocked it on his full-moon bow, and released.

Though Zhao Shantong held the Mengla at bay with her fiery courage, the gap in skill was too great to overcome with bravery alone.

Seizing a flaw, the Mengla warrior knocked Zhao Shantong’s sword aside.

Just as he raised his blade to strike, an arrow pierced his chest.

Zhao Shantong swiftly snatched the enemy’s battle knife, hacking again and again at his neck until his head was severed.

In the distance, Zhao Dahur and Liu Wu had already encircled the enemy. The battle ended within moments.

With the Mengla all dead, Chu Luolong and four retainers emerged, cheering loudly.

Chu Luolong kicked the fallen Mengla’s corpse and bragged arrogantly, "I told you these barbarians aren’t so scary—they’re all dead clean."

Another retainer added, "Exactly, we deliberately lured them here. Otherwise, the boss wouldn’t have been able to take them down."

"This kill will count as your military merit, boss."