Chapter 434: Undercurrents in Forest Source City

Hah…

In the Taiping Sect formation, a commander let out a long breath of foul air, his gaze still fixed on the direction where the last silver gleam vanished in the distance.

"Everyone, should we continue the pursuit?"

He turned his head to look at his fellow officer beside him, his brow showing a hint of worry and inquiry.

Upon hearing this, the surrounding Taiping Sect officers looked at each other, and for a moment no one responded.

The air was filled with a subtle silence, as if everyone was weighing the pros and cons, and also waiting for someone else to speak first.

"Pursuit?"

A commander in fine robes snorted coldly, breaking the brief silence. "General Li, have you forgotten how that White Horse Righteous Followers moved through our ranks like entering an empty land just now? Sending troops to pursue them would be like feeding a dog with a meat bun—gone without return."

"Light cavalry are known for their mobility, let alone being Dao Soldiers, well-trained and well-equipped White Horse Righteous Followers."

The man called General Li blushed slightly, yet he unwillingly argued: "Even so, if we let them just leave like that, wouldn't it show that our Taiping Sect has no one?"

"Hmph, General Li, your words are mistaken."

"After the White Horse Righteous Followers secured victory in the battle at Qi Zhou, they have long been famed as elite troops across the world; seeing them today, their reputation is indeed deserved."

"If we blindly pursue, we fear greater losses. In my view, it would be better to temporarily withdraw our troops and consider a long-term plan."

Another commander in black robes said.

"Consider a long-term plan?"

"Are we just going to watch them withdraw helplessly?"

General Li furrowed his brows.

"Withdraw?" the black-robed commander shook his head. "General Li, how do you know they aren't luring us into a trap?"

"The White Horse Righteous Followers are extremely mobile; if our army pursues deeply and falls into an ambush, what then?"

"One must know that warfare is based on deception; one cannot be careless."

Although the Taiping Sect indeed has many troops now, everyone knows in their hearts what their combat strength is like.

Facing the White Horse Righteous Followers, who are Dao Soldiers, not a single one makes a sound.

"Furthermore, our army has already lost considerable manpower today, and morale has taken a hit."

"If we now insist on pursuing, it will likely backfire."

The black-robed commander paused, then continued speaking.

Upon hearing this, General Li couldn't help but sigh, wanting to say more.

"Hmph, if you're really unwilling, then go ahead and seek death by pursuing; just don't drag us along."

One commander mocked.

"Yeah, didn't you see that ox-nosed guy blowing his horn loudly on the spot, the Profound Heaven Guard touted as able to match true Dao Soldiers, being run around by the White Horse Righteous Followers like a dog?"

"If we rashly pursue, we fear repeating past mistakes."

"If General Li is unwilling, he can lead troops forward himself; there's no need to provoke us here."

Another commander said, then glanced at that General Li with a meaningful look.

The General Li who had earlier proposed pursuit looked embarrassed, yet he also said nothing further.

The commanders argued loudly, each holding their own view, and the scene became somewhat chaotic for a while.

Just then, Chong Heqing walked over; although he had been shot in the shoulder, he still maintained his dignity.

"Enough!"

Chong Heqing let out a sharp shout, and the scene instantly fell silent. "Although the White Horse Righteous Followers are strong, our Taiping Sect is no ordinary lot. This time letting them escape is merely a tactical mistake on our part; there's no need to blame ourselves excessively."

Upon hearing this, the commanders looked at Chong Heqing with disapproving eyes, yet they all nodded in agreement.

"Issue the order: the entire army will rest and recuperate, to discuss again tomorrow."

Chong Heqing gave the order; his voice was not loud, yet it carried an undeniable force.

Facing Chong Heqing, who ranks foremost in strength among their camp, even if someone felt resentful, they dared not speak in his presence.

Out of deference to Chong Heqing's authority, they could only voice their assent in unison, then each withdrew to begin arranging rest and repair matters.

Meanwhile, on the distant horizon, that fleeting silver gleam had long since vanished.

The White Horse Righteous Followers swept across the battlefield like a gust of wind, leaving nothing but blood and fire on the ground and fear in the hearts of the Taiping Sect soldiers.

And at that very moment, amidst the battle on the front lines between the Cangzhou Army and the Taiping Sect, the withdrawal of the Cangzhou Army under Su Ye's command also came to an end.

As night deepened, the rear retreat route of the Cangzhou Army, Forest Source County City, appeared unusually tranquil under the moonlight.

However, this tranquil night was about to be broken.

Hundreds of silhouettes swooped past like night owls from the night sky,

light and agile, they silently evaded the patrolling Cangzhou Army on the city walls and slipped into this seemingly peaceful small town.

Among these uninvited guests, there was one whose aura was deep as the sea, seeming capable of devouring; judging from the internal strength emanating from him, he was actually a late-stage Cultivation internal strength expert!

Beside this expert were two early-stage Cultivation masters, their eyes sharp as eagles, revealing a fierce killing intent.

Following close behind were a dozen or so grandmaster-level internal strength masters, each possessing astonishing martial arts, capable of stirring up a storm in the martial world.

These masters gathered in Forest Source City with a single purpose—to turn the Cangzhou Army's feigned defeat into a genuine rout, further destabilizing the situation of Great Qian.

If successful, whether it leads to Prince Yun Su Kai breaking with the Great Qian imperial family, or taking the opportunity to eradicate Su Ye and the Cangzhou Army as an unstable factor, it will have a profound impact on the subsequent situation of Great Qian.

In the night, their shadows moved like ghosts through the city's streets and alleys, heading straight for the Cangzhou Army's supply depots and key facilities.

Their actions were swift and silent, sweeping past like a gust of wind, leaving only a faint killing intent and a biting cold wind.

Meanwhile, Wang Xiangyang, who had been secretly overseeing Forest Source City, was at this moment sitting alone in a secluded courtyard, closing his eyes to nurture his spirit.

Although he had not opened his eyes, his aura was as steady as a mountain, as if everything was under his control.

Suddenly, his brow furrowed slightly, as if he sensed something amiss.

However, he did not act rashly; instead, he continued to maintain his state of closed-eyed nurturing, secretly observing the surroundings.

Those little thieves heading to various rear logistics warehouses and important facilities.

Naturally there will be nets and people from the Divine Martial Hall going to deal with them.

What he has to do is to take those cultivators above the Cultivation (duplicate) realm from the martial world who dare to pluck the whiskers of the Cangzhou Army.

Smash them one by one!

The night in Linyuan County City should have been silent, but now it is filled with a killing aura.

Those experts who have infiltrated the city have already begun their destructive actions; firelight shoots up to the sky, explosion sounds rise and fall, the whole city seems to have fallen into chaos.

"Soul, the dragon roams!"

Swish!

Boom!

Among the three Cultivators of this group, one early-stage internal power cultivator named Yingyue, wearing a black robe as deep as night, with a silver belt around his waist inlaid with strange talismans emitting a faint glow.

His face is pale and gaunt, his eyes flicker with a cold light, like two deep pools.

The internal energy on his body shows a strange dark purple, like ghost fire in the night sky, flickering, exuding an ominous aura.

Just as he was about to strike down the Cangzhou Army Colonel guarding the grain warehouse with a single blow.

A burst of golden internal energy suddenly erupted, transforming into a soaring golden crow that swooped toward Yingyue with lightning speed.

(End of chapter)