Chapter 228: Chapter 228: West Wind Valley, Grain Plunder

"Benefactor, rest assured, I have a deep-seated grudge against the Blood Evil Sect. If they dare show themselves, I will certainly let them taste the effects of a new poison!"

"Alright." Chu Ming turned around to leave, but stopped at the door, his gaze seeming to pierce through the buildings to the distance.

[Sword Gourd Spirit] sensed that Jiaang Jing and Jiaang Yan brought back the junior constable Shen Yi.

"Yao Qi." He stopped at the door.

"Yes, I am here."

"Here are fifteen hundred-year-old Treasure Medicines, along with two sets of formulas for refining Qi Blood. One set for Jiaang Jing and Jiaang Yan, and the other set for the person they brought back."

Chu Ming threw some items and disappeared in front of the Treasure Medicine Tower.

The Medicine Maniac stepped forward, picked up the two formulas, and his eyes immediately lit up.

"What exquisite proportions!"

"How did I never think of that?"

"..."

After a moment, three figures appeared.

"You must be Shen Yi?" Yao Qi looked at one of them.

Shen Yi hurriedly saluted.

"From today on, you are my third disciple."

"Thank you, senior."

"Call me senior sister," Jiaang Yan teased.

"Ah?" Shen Yi was dumbfounded for a moment.

Jiaang Jing looked inside and saw a cup of tea on the table.

"Master, was our benefactor here?" she asked.

"You little girl, you’re quite observant." The Medicine Maniac laughed and said, "He just left not long ago."

Speaking, he pointed to the counter: "Look, your benefactor left these for you, fifteen hundred-year-old Treasure Medicines."

"Hundred-year-old Treasure Medicines?!" Shen Yi was startled.

"Wow, the senior is so generous." Jiaang Yan happily ran over, grabbed the Treasure Medicines, and rushed inside, "I’ll go brew them right away."

"..."

...

After leaving the Treasure Medicine Tower, Chu Ming left the city and headed west.

In the mountains thirty miles away from the county city, he found a spot that was rarely visited, with towering trees.

Through meticulous observation, he confirmed that no one had been here for at least ten years.

This will do.

He took the Wind Vine from the clay pot, planted it in the ground, and concealed it with the surrounding vines and plants.

The fragile Wind Vine blended in, making it difficult to discover even upon close inspection.

After settling the Wind Vine, Chu Ming did not linger and moved in a different direction.

He reached a certain mountain ridge.

With a wave of his hand, he stored the treasures hidden at the Black Wind Stronghold into the Golden Fragments.

Subsequently, he hurriedly collected the valuable treasures from the Teng Family Manor and Blood Vine Castle and stored them in the Golden Fragments.

With the money in hand, Chu Ming headed to several major grain-producing counties under Xirong County.

Under the cover of darkness, he sneaked into several grain warehouses, knocked out the guards, and with a wave of his hand, stored the grain into the Golden Fragments, leaving the corresponding money.

In one county city, the guards emitted Blood Evil Qi. He did not knock them out but eliminated them all, leaving no money behind.

As for whether there were issues among the officials in the county government, he didn’t investigate due to time constraints.

The space in the Golden Fragments is only two zhang wide and high. Even if filled with grains and fodder, it is still a drop in the bucket for the Tiger Armor Army, which numbers in the tens of thousands.

But, something is better than nothing.

Filling the Golden Fragments, he traveled day and night to the Tiger Armor Army’s main camp.

Concealing his form in the shadows, [Sword Gourd Spirit] covered the Tiger Camp.

Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander Meng Zhen was not at the camp, nor did he sense the presence of Commander An Guang of the Fourth Tiger Camp. Only Commander Duan Chong of the Sixth Tiger Camp was in the camp.

After a brief investigation, he understood the reason.

A day or so ago, Commander An Guang of the Fourth Tiger Camp, leading ten thousand Tiger Armor Army soldiers, went to deliver provisions to Commander Xiang Yue, who had penetrated deep into the Nine Hordes Kingdom.

Chu Ming didn’t linger, silently leaving the Tiger Armor Army camp and continued westward.

...

The time goes back to a day or so ago.

In a dense forest ten li away from the Tiger Armor Army camp.

"Grand Commander An, trading this batch of provisions for the safety of your An Family, isn’t it worth it?" a teasing voice sounded in the forest.

"How dare you!" Commander An Guang of the Fourth Tiger Camp, Tiger Armor Army, was furious.

"Hehe, what’s so daring about it?" The person continued to sneer, "You don’t think two Refining Organ Realm people can protect your An Family, do you?"

An Guang’s expression changed dramatically.

His An Family in Xirong County had been secretly guarded by two Ten Thousand Soldiers Commanders taking turns. The opponent even knew this, which means...

The family might really be in trouble.

"Commander An, you think, with An Hengying dead, your An Family can escape our control?"

An Guang remained silent.

"If the armor affair is exposed, will you still be the Commander of the Fourth Tiger Camp?"

"Grand Commander An, compared to your brother, the gap is not a tiny bit."

"Fine, I agree!" An Guang was clenching his fists so hard they cracked, struggling several times before finally nodding.

"Haha, that’s more like it." The figure flickered and easily leaped to the top of a tall tree, "Rest assured, as long as you complete this mission, your two daughters will be returned unharmed."

Swish—

Leaves fell as An Guang looked upward, his eyes like burning fire.

After a full stick of incense’s time, he suppressed his inner rage and returned to the Tiger Armor Army camp.

"Commander, all the provisions are loaded on the vehicles, and the brothers are ready," Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander Jie Yuan reported respectfully under his command.

"Good, let’s set off."

Before leaving the camp, An Guang returned to his tent, only emerging about half a quarter later.

Ten thousand Tiger Armor Army soldiers, escorting provisions, marched majestically out of the camp toward the direction of the Nine Hordes Kingdom.

...

At the border between Xirong County and the Nine Hordes Kingdom, the First Tiger Camp and Fifth Tiger Camp are stationed for border defense.

The First Tiger Camp and Fifth Tiger Camp are the two major Tiger Camps of the Tiger Armor Army that are regularly stationed at the border.

In the main tent.

Two armored men were deploying troops and arranging formations on the sand table.

One had a stern face and sharp eyes, while the other had a burly physique.

"Report!" A voice came from outside.

"Enter."

A member of the Tiger Armor Army entered the tent.

"What’s the matter?" Commander Meeng of the First Tiger Camp glanced away from the sand table, looking at the member of the Tiger Armor Army.

"Commander, a message has arrived from the station."

"Hand it over."

"Yes." The Tiger Armor Army handed over the letter and respectfully exited the tent.

Commander Meeng of the First Tiger Camp opened the letter and lowered his eyes to read.

In an instant, his eyes suddenly focused.

"Commander Meeng, what’s wrong?" Commander Qii of the Fifth Tiger Camp immediately sensed something was amiss.

"The Nine Hordes Kingdom has learned of the transport route for those supplies!" Meeng’s voice was somber.

Qii, upon hearing this, hurriedly took the letter to look.

The letter bore the secret seal of the Tiger Armor Army, indicating its authenticity!

"Commander Qii, these supplies concern Commander Xiang, and the lives of tens of thousands of the Tiger Armor Army; we cannot let the Nine Hordes Kingdom succeed."

"Commander Meeng, I’ll lead a thousand Tiger Cavalries to support!"

"No," Meeng shook his head gravely, "Commander Qii, you cannot go; if the Nine Hordes Kingdom knows you’re not here, they will surely seize the opportunity to attack."

"...Commander Meeng, Commander Xiang has done me a great favor..." Qii still wished to speak further.

"Commander Qii, why did Commander Xiang have you stationed here?" Meeng said with a hint of anger: "Because the Nine Hordes Kingdom doesn’t know you’ve already broken through to the Meridian Unlocking Realm!"

"If you go for the rescue, Commander Xiang’s previous arrangements will be entirely thwarted!"

Qii fell silent.

Meeng stepped out of the tent, personally assembled troops, and quickly organized a thousand Tiger Armor Army mounted on Blazing Fire Tiger Horses.

Rumble—

A thousand Fire Cavalry galloped out of the camp.

Dust and smoke rolled, sand and stones flew.

...

Nine Hordes Kingdom, Yangjia Plain, West Wind Valley.

Autumn winds stirred the yellow sand, stones collided, making a hissing sound.

Soon, gales rose, with sand covering the sky.

Five miles away from West Wind Valley, a ’dragon’ advanced slowly against the wind and sand.

"Commander An, the wind and sand are too strong." Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander Jie Yuan shouted.

An Guang took out a map and squinted to look.

"Five miles ahead is West Wind Valley; have everyone speed up, get into the valley to shelter from the wind and sand."

"Yes!"

Jie Yuan immediately passed down the orders.

The team escorting the supplies braved the wind and sand, heading towards West Wind Valley.

West Wind Valley, atop the tall yellow-brown rock formations on either side.

"General, scouts report that An Guang, the Fourth Commander of the Qin Kingdom Tiger Armor Army, is leading ten thousand Tiger Armor Army into the valley."

"Indeed, they’ve come!" A general, tall and holding a long knife, sprang up from his seated position.

"Commander Xiang of the Qin Kingdom’s Tiger Armor Army slaughtered ten thousand of our Nine Hordes Kingdom soldiers here in this valley; today, I, Rong Luo, will blood-sacrifice these Tiger Armor Army to avenge our ten thousand fallen soldiers of the Nine Hordes Kingdom!"

"Pass the orders, once the Tiger Armor Army enters the valley, block the entrance immediately, all ready arrows and falling stones!"

"Yes!"

"..."

...

West Wind Valley, northwest direction, a place ten miles away, five figures hid here.

"Blood Envoy, An Guang is leading the Tiger Armor Army, about to enter the valley."

"Hehe, the show is about to begin." The Blood Envoy wore a bronze mask, upon which three blood-red lines extended from the right ear to the left jaw, resembling beast claws shredding blood marks, fierce and terrifying.

Behind the Blood Envoy were four figures also wearing bronze masks, with only two blood-red lines.

"Fierce Soul, it seems your Blood Evil Technique has been cultivated to the late stage of Refining the Internal Organs?" The Blood Envoy looked at one person.

"Reporting to the lord, your subordinate only needs to devour one more middle stage Refining Organ and will reach Refining Organ Perfection." Fierce Soul said excitedly.

"What of you?" The Blood Envoy smiled sinisterly, looking at the other three.

"Reporting to Blood Envoy, we only need the early stage Refining Organ." The other three were equally excited.

"That’s easily done," the Blood Envoy grimly laughed, looking towards West Wind Valley, "the Nine Hordes Kingdom is about to engage the Tiger Armor Army, generals, Ten Thousand Soldiers Commanders, Commanders, many might perish."

"Aren’t those all Refining Organs?"

"Hahaha..."

The whistling wind and sand couldn’t hide their raucous laughter.

"Fight, be it the Nine Hordes Kingdom or the Tiger Armor Army... aren’t they all toyed with by me, Chi Jue!"

"Blood Envoy wise!"

"Hahaha..."

"..."

...

Yangjia Plain, somewhere.

"Such a strong wind and sand!"

Chu Ming masked his face against the wind and sand, quickly advancing.

...

West Wind Valley.

An Guang led ten thousand Tiger Armor Army into the valley, where the wind and sand were indeed much weaker.

"Set up camp and rest, wait for the wind and sand to end."

Military orders passed down, ten thousand Tiger Armor Army camped in the valley. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Commander, the wind and sand in Yangjia Plain during this season is too much."

In the center of the camp, Commander An Guang, Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander Jie Yuan, and Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander Meng Zhen were inside a temporary tent checking the map.

They roughly discussed the next marching route and sat beside to rest.

"Old Jie, come winter, Yangjia Plain will not be a plain, but a frozen wasteland, barren with no vegetation." Meng Zhen said nearby.

"The Nine Hordes Kingdom has been attacking our Great Qin Dynasty for years, aiming to expand territory and have more fertile land."

"..."