Chapter 146: Tragic Elite (2)

Luo Yan looked at Gu Yun in confusion, but he did not act rashly, instead taking a step back.

While observing the soft worms on Fang Qinghong's back, Gu Yun said, "Leng Xiao, bring me a torch and a small branch."

"Yes." Leng Xiao hurriedly brought over the torch and branch. Gu Yun brought the torch close to Fang Qinghong's back, and the soft worms immediately shuddered. Under the firelight, they turned into blood-red water sacs, a sight that made one's skin crawl and body itch. Many soldiers couldn't help but scratch themselves, terrified that these strange things might be on them too.

Picking up the branch and lighting it, Gu Yun burned the soft worms while explaining, "These worms are called leeches. They are found in fields and on ridges; many of you should have seen them. However, these leeches are different from the ones in rice paddies. The humidity in the rainforest is very high, so they don't just stay in the water; the grass by the water and the undersides of leaves can also be places where they hide. If a leech attaches to your body, never pull it off with your hands. Use fire to roast it, and it will fall off on its own."

Before long, the leeches all fell off. Luo Yan stepped forward and stomped on them, causing blood to splatter everywhere, and the smell of blood instantly permeated the air. Gu Yun continued, "They enter through collars, pant legs, and sleeves, attaching to the skin. They feed on blood and can consume a large amount. Before feeding, they might only be the thickness of a grass stem, but after feeding..." She didn't need to continue; everyone had already seen it very clearly just now.

Seeing that everyone was still shaken, Gu Yun said, "Alright, now pair up and check each other. If anyone still has leeches on them, remove them immediately."

In an instant, thousands of soldiers were busy looking for leeches, and they really did find some more on dozens of people, though none as exaggerated as Fang Qinghong's case.

Liu Xing, with a hint of hesitation and forcing back the terror on his face, walked up to Gu Yun and asked in a low voice, "Boss, what happens if you don't use fire and just pull them off directly?"

"You only pull off the body; their heads and suckers remain inside the body. You need to clean the wound well, otherwise, it will easily fester. In the rainforest, a festering wound is very troublesome." Gu Yun explained calmly. Liu Xing's face began to turn pale, his eyes widening, and he said with a trembling voice, "Then how do you clean it?" It wouldn't be hopeless, would it?

The obvious fear on his face was enough to explain everything. Gu Yun announced loudly, "Those who were bitten by leeches today and didn't treat them properly, step out."

No sooner had she finished speaking than three or four hundred soldiers stepped out in unison. Gu Yun was secretly shocked. She knew there were leeches in the rainforest, but usually, there wouldn't be this many, which is why she forgot to specifically warn them when discussing precautions yesterday. After all, leeches aren't fatal, but she never expected there to be so many here!

Sighing inwardly, Gu Yun said, "Let me see the wounds."

The soldiers couldn't care about shyness now and pulled up their sleeves and pant legs in unison. For a time, hands and feet, bedraggled and covered in mud and water, were extended. Most were just slightly inflamed, with the skin red and swollen, but many wounds had already begun to fester, oozing milky-white pus and blood. Looking at the horrific sight before her, Gu Yun lamented, "Military physicians—"

She had miscalculated; two military physicians were simply not enough.

After a night of turmoil, the military physicians were so tired their hands were cramping, and the wounded were finally treated. The soldiers were waiting for the order to return to camp for a good rest, only to hear Gu Yun give the order to "camp in the rainforest." This news made the hearts of all the soldiers sink to the bottom. Covered in mud, suffering from the pain and itching of mosquito bites, with all sorts of strange sounds in their ears, plus the stifling, humid air, everyone felt restless, fearful, and uneasy.

This was exactly the effect Gu Yun wanted. In the rainforest, despair and fear are the greatest enemies. They had only been in for one day; if they couldn't even pass this hurdle, how could they talk about fighting?

Gu Yun had already taught them the precautions for camping in the rainforest yesterday. She quietly retreated to the side and sat down, watching coldly as they made arrangements. After a burst of commotion and stifling, under the coordination and distribution of Luo Yan and Leng Xiao, the thousands of soldiers immediately got to work, arranging night patrols, finding camping spots, and protecting the fire, all done exactly as she had instructed. Gu Yun's lips curled slightly; she was quite satisfied with their performance.

Leaning against a tree trunk, Gu Yun took out ten maps, arranged them in order, and while marking them with a charcoal pencil, she studied the terrain. After a while, Yu Shijun's voice sounded in her ear, "Madam, please take a short nap."

Gu Yun looked up at the sky; it was actually already beginning to brighten. A whole night had passed just like that. Glancing at the soldiers who had only just closed their eyes to rest, Gu Yun didn't make them line up immediately. Stuffing the maps into a cloth bag, Gu Yun instructed, "I'm fine. It's almost dawn. Take these ten water system distribution maps back and give them to Su Ren. Tell him to redraw a large map. I'll discuss the location of the thieves' den with him when I return to camp tonight."

"Yes." Tying the cloth bag to his waist, Yu Shijun took two steps, then turned back and asked, "Madam, do you need me to send some dry rations for you and the soldiers?"

Gu Yun shook her head and replied firmly, "No need."

Yu Shijun was startled. He hadn't known before that a persistent and determined woman could look so dazzling. The General was truly blessed!

Clutching the cloth bag, Yu Shijun quickened his pace.

Let them sleep for another hour.

Gu Yun leaned against the tree trunk and closed her eyes to rest.

After half a stick of incense had passed, the Ice Refinement at her side suddenly began to tremble gently. Gu Yun opened her eyes abruptly, stood up quickly, and vigilantly observed the surrounding environment. However, everything appeared so tranquil; there was absolutely nothing unusual.

Gu Yun looked at the Ice Refinement in her hand in confusion. It was still trembling incessantly. What on earth did this mean?!

Holding the Ice Refinement, Gu Yun patrolled the area and discovered that when she walked toward the east, the Ice Refinement trembled particularly violently. Following this direction, Gu Yun walked forward cautiously, step by step. After walking about a kilometer, the Ice Refinement suddenly stopped moving!

Looking around again, apart from the lush greenery, there was nothing! What was this? Playing with her? Gu Yun glared at the Ice Refinement, just about to start cursing, when a verdant green shadow in the distance caught her attention. Gu Yun shouted, "Who is it?"

There was no movement in the distance for a long time. Gu Yun tightened her grip on the sword hilt, applying slight pressure. A soft hum accompanied a flash of cold light as the Ice Refinement left its sheath.

Just as she was about to walk over to investigate, that verdant green figure slowly walked out from behind the bushes.

Gu Yun was momentarily flustered. It was an exquisitely beautiful woman. Her ink-black hair reached her ankles, and without any special hair accessories, a green vine with green leaves wove through her hair, braiding it for her. Her emerald green dress was very simple, without layers of shawls or ribbons. The sleeveless style exposed her fair, crystalline right arm completely to the air, with only a verdant green ribbon—no, it moved. Gu Yun squinted to look; what was obediently coiled around the woman's arm wasn't a ribbon, but a small, entirely emerald green snake, about a meter long, coiling from the woman's wrist to her shoulder. The snake's crimson eyes stared straight at her, flicking its small black tongue from time to time. The woman seemed to blend in with the surrounding grass and trees, so harmonious and eerie.

If Gu Yun weren't an atheist, she would have thought she had seen a mountain spirit. Gripping her sword tighter, Gu Yun asked in a low voice, "Who are you? Why are you in the rainforest?" Even though she looked so sacred and pure, Gu Yun would never let her guard down. She had never dared to underestimate a woman who could appear in the rainforest in such a mysterious and unpredictable way!

The woman just looked at her quietly without replying, her eyes deep and tranquil. Gu Yun couldn't detect any emotion on her face. Taking a step forward, Gu Yun continued, "Are you a native here?"

Upon hearing the words "native," a flash of strange brilliance crossed the woman's eyes. Before Gu Yun could analyze what it was, a verdant green long whip struck straight at her face. Gu Yun immediately swung her sword to parry, the sword body and the long whip entangling. What Gu Yun didn't expect was that the whip didn't break. Looking closely, the whip was actually a snake-skin whip, with alternating emerald green and ink-black patterns, looking just like a living snake, full of vitality and spirit. Gu Yun subconsciously looked at the small snake on the woman's arm, only to see it baring its fangs and flicking its tongue at her, as if it were about to pounce at any moment.

The Ice Refinement in her hand began to vibrate again. With its vibration, a burst of cold air and cold light erupted from the sword body. The long whip was knocked away, and the woman and Gu Yun both took a large step back simultaneously.

The surroundings were silent, with only the sound of the small snake hissing. Both stared at each other vigilantly, neither making another move.

"Boss." Behind Gu Yun, the sound of complex footsteps indicated that Leng Xiao had arrived with a group of people.

The woman didn't even look at the hundred or so people who had suddenly swarmed behind her, as if they were completely insignificant existences. Moving her cold, deep eyes away from Gu Yun, the woman calmly retracted her whip and turned to leave.

Leng Xiao and the others were about to give chase, but Gu Yun said in a low voice, "No need to chase." Intuition told her that Leng Xiao and the others wouldn't be able to catch her.

Who exactly was that woman? Was she in league with the rebels? Or was it that in this rainforest, besides the rebels, there lived another group of people?

Main Camp.

Night had just fallen, and a dozen oil lamps had been lit beside the large desk, illuminating it as brightly as day.

In front of the desk, Yu Shijun was neatly spreading out the small maps next to the large map, carefully checking every subtle detail. Su Ren held a brush, marking the intersections one by one. Both of them were so focused on the maps that they didn't even notice when two tall figures entered the tent.

Su Ling raised his dark eyes and walked slowly behind Yu Shijun. Perhaps his presence was too overwhelming; Yu Shijun realized something was wrong, turned his head, and saw Su Ling and Han Shu standing behind him, exclaiming in surprise, "General, Vanguard!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 147 =====