Chapter 99

"To hold out until reinforcements arrive is unlikely, but we can bluff, first scare off the enemy, dampen their morale. Once we get a breather, we can then discuss strategy."

"Su Mo pointed to a location on the map and said, 'Here, perhaps we can do something.'"

"Xuan Shuang looked at where her finger pointed and quickly understood her meaning."

"'But all the people our tribe can use are already up front; we really can't spare anyone.'"

"Su Mo frowned: 'Move all usable people from the courtyard over there; even the lightly wounded soldiers whose toxin is under control can be moved to assist.'"

"Xuan Shuang hesitated a bit; if we move everyone from the courtyard, and the enemy sneaks in from here, we would truly have no room to maneuver."

"Su Mo frowned and said: 'If the Second Miss goes all-in now, perhaps she can still seize a slim chance; but if she keeps hesitating, the situation will likely only get worse.'"

"Xuan Shuang pondered for a moment, then lifted her gaze to Su Mo: 'Good!'"

"Lord Black Tiger beside them frowned and said: 'Why don't I go ask the Second Miss? Hear her opinion first.'"

"Xuan Wei shook her head: 'No time; she's currently overwhelmed on her end, don't distract her further.'"

"The current situation indeed leaves no room for them to hesitate."

"Lord Black Tiger's doubtful gaze turned to Su Mo."

"Su Mo understood his concern; after all, she is not a Tiger Clan member, so his suspicion is natural."

"But in this situation, she simply had no time to explain to him, nor did she deign to say so much."

"She slightly narrowed her eyes and said: 'Lord Black Tiger, if you have the energy, you might as well study how to maximize the courtyard's forces.'"

"Lord Black Tiger glanced at the spot Su Mo had circled; they were all crucial chokepoints."

"When he and Xuan Wei discussed the defenses, they did not avoid Su Mo either."

"However, Miss Su seemed uninterested in their layout, and I don't know where she found a bone; she is now holding it in her hand, playing with it."

"Lord Black Tiger frowned: 'What time is this, and she still has the leisure to study a broken bone? Miss Su really is inscrutable.'"

"He could not possibly know that the bone in Su Mo's hand is the rib that Long Yan gave her when she left the Dragon Tribe last time."

"As Fei Yan said, as long as one forms a Blood Pact, even if separated by tens of thousands of li, Long Yan will rush to her aid."

"Su Mo had never thought she would need to use it."

"She never imagined that the first time she would use it would be in the Tiger Tribe."

"She is not one to pity heaven and mankind, yet seeing the wounded soldiers in the courtyard and the tribesmen lying dead in the streets, she could not help but feel a pang of compassion."

"Given the current situation, the Tiger Tribe cannot break through on its own."

"Even with system support, she can only treat the wounded soldiers; repelling the outsiders is difficult."

"If the Tiger Tribe loses this time, the outsiders' next target will be the Dragon Clan and the North Wing."

"In the future, only by sticking together can we resist external enemies."

"Su Mo decisively pricked her finger, and a drop of bright red blood fell onto the characters 'Long Yan' on the bone."

"In an instant, the characters emitted a dazzling light."

"Then that light shot through the wall… so fast it could not be caught."

"Xuan Wei and Lord Black Tiger, who had been speaking, looked in astonishment at the bone in Su Mo's hand."

"Only then did they recognize it as a dragon person's rib."

"Lord Black Tiger exclaimed in shock: 'Miss Su, you actually have a Blood Pact with the Dragon Clan Beastmen?!'"

"Su Mo calmly explained: 'If we sent someone to request reinforcements, the round trip would waste time. I have summoned a Dragon Clan Minor General for you; upon receiving the news, he will surely bring troops promptly.'"

"'A Dragon Clan Minor General?!' Lord Black Tiger frowned: 'But the attackers outside, it's still unclear whether they include Dragon Clan members…'"

"'Those outside cannot be Dragon Clan people.'"

"Su Mo said firmly: 'Once the Minor General arrives with his men to reinforce us, everything will become clear.'"

"Lord Black Tiger was about to say something, but Xuan Wei promptly interrupted: 'Hurry up and make the arrangements; before nightfall, we must have everything set!'"

"Lord Black Tiger nodded and immediately withdrew."

"When only Xuan Wei and Su Mo remained in the room, Xuan Wei stared at the dragon bone in Su Mo's hand for a long time."

"She knew a bit about the bone‑removing rite of the Dragon Clan Beastmen's coming‑of‑age ceremony; precisely because she knew, she was all the more astonished that the Minor General's rib would end up in Su Mo's hand."

"After all, once this rib is given away, it cannot be taken back."

"What kind of bond could make the Dragon Clan Minor General give away this dragon bone?"

"Xuan Wei finally could not help but ask: 'Miss Su, why do you have the Dragon Clan Minor General's dragon bone?'"

"'I once saved his life in the North Wing; he is rather stubborn, so I suppose he wants to repay my life‑saving kindness.' Su Mo chuckled lightly: 'Today is perfect—let him come repay my life‑saving favor, and it will spare him from constantly worrying about it.'"

"Xuan Wei's expression shifted slightly; she stared at the object in Su Mo's hand and said dazedly: 'This Dragon Clan Minor General is indeed thoughtful.'"

"She guessed that Su Mo did not know the true significance of the Dragon Clan Beastmen giving away a dragon bone."

"Even if he merely wanted to repay Su Mo's life‑saving kindness, there are countless ways to do so; without special affection, why would he give away a dragon bone?"

"But now this favor has fallen to our Tiger Tribe; we do not know how we will ever repay these two debts of gratitude."

"Xuan Wei no longer worries about reinforcements, for once the Blood Pact is activated, the other side will surely come running."

"All we need to do is buy time until the Dragon Clan reinforcements arrive."

"Dusk gradually deepened."

"Cang Lan had already told the people on the city wall about Su Mo and Xuan Wei's plan, and he also brought Su Mo's bone whistle and its antidote."

"Once Lord Black Tiger's side had finished preparations and fired the signal, they would then use the bone whistle to confuse the enemy."

"Tian Huan, listening nearby, couldn't help but frown: 'Miss Su is simply fantasizing; withdrawing the main force from the courtyard—if someone sneaks in, will they even have a chance to survive? Wouldn't we then lose everything? How can the Second Miss heed only her one‑sided advice? This is truly too dangerous!'"

"After all, he still does not trust Su Mo, after all, she is not a member of the Tiger Tribe Tribe."

"If, after her scheming, she deals them a fatal blow, that would be nothing short of a catastrophe."

"Xuan Qing and Xuan Shuang exchanged a glance; each understood in their heart that this was already the best plan they could devise under the circumstances."

"Xuan Shuang understood the principle: employ without suspicion, suspect and do not employ."

She looked at Cang Lan and asked, "You just said that if we hold out a little longer reinforcements will arrive—where are those reinforcements coming from?"

"Dragon Clan Minor General."

Tian Huan shouted angrily, "Absurd! The Dragon Clan members are fighting us below, and you still expect them to come to rescue? Miss Su, are you crazy?!"

Xuan Shuang tilted their head and glared at the outspoken Tian Huan.

After half a day of fighting, she had already been puzzled: although the opponent wielded Dragon Clan weapons and used Dragon Clan techniques, they still looked rather odd.

It seemed more like they were impersonating the Dragon Clan to fight them.

Xuan Shuang asked again, "Miss Su, how can you be sure the Dragon Clan will definitely come to rescue?"

"Blood Pact."

Cang Lan said only two words, yet everyone present understood.

Both Xuan Shuang and Xuan Qing's faces involuntarily flashed with surprise.

Yue Ying, who was fighting, turned his head, glanced at the side where Fei Yan stood, and snorted, "Wife Master indeed still cares most about that dragon; that's why she's hurrying to have Long Yan come to prove her innocence!"

Fei Yan was speechless; even at this point, the fox still couldn't help being jealous.

Upon learning that reinforcements would definitely arrive, Xuan Shuang felt confident.

After handing out the Bone Whistle Antidote to everyone, Xuan Shuang transformed into a majestic white tiger, charging into a hail of arrows to fight. Its snow‑white fur rippled like silver waves, its roar shook the heavens, and wherever its tiger tail struck, the arrows shattered!