Chapter 48: First Battle

Li Tieniu informed Cao Meng of the impending attack and added:

"The scout reported that Cao Meng this time has sent out all his forces, clearly intending to annex our Tieniu Stronghold!"

Jiang Xiaomu nodded, his face solemn.

"Bai Shen, do you have any plan to repel the enemy?"

Bai Shen stepped forward, pointing to several strategic locations on the map:

"We can use the terrain to set an ambush and catch them off guard."

"Or we can set traps on the essential route from Hulao Pass to our Tieniu Stronghold."

Jiang Xiaomu listened, tapping his fingers on the table one by one, his brows furrowed.

The several plans Bai Shen mentioned are indeed effective, but against an old fox like Cao Meng, they might not suffice.

"These tactics would work against ordinary bandits."

"But Cao Meng's troops are all battle-hardened elites; they'd likely be ineffective."

Jiang Xiaomu shook his head,

"They won't fall for it easily; if we're caught, we could be surrounded and annihilated."

"Not a single one of us would survive."

Bai Shen felt a bit embarrassed,

"Then… we can hold our ground without sortieing, relying on the stronghold's defenses to wear them down!"

"The stronghold has ample supplies; lasting ten days or half a month is no problem."

"By then, Cao Meng's supply lines won't keep up, and he will naturally retreat without fighting."

Jiang Xiaomu decisively rejected it:

"No,"

"What about after ten days or half a month? We'd be inside while they're outside."

"Cao Meng is treacherous and crafty, full of dirty tricks; who knows what underhanded move he'll pull?"

"If he sends men to cut off our food and water, or poisons the well, wouldn't we be sitting ducks?"

Lei Bao couldn't help but interject:

"Chief, why not… we go all out against him! Eighteen years later we'll still be a hero!"

Jiang Xiaomu glanced at him,

"Fighting to the death? Go die yourself, don't drag the brothers with you."

"Not everyone can fight like you; being able to fight doesn't mean you can lack brains!"

The atmosphere in the council hall grew solemn again.

Jiang Xiaomu's gaze fell once more on the map, his finger slowly tracing a winding mountain path.

From Hulao Pass to Tieniu Stronghold, the route is far, requiring at least a day's travel.

Cao Meng is naturally suspicious; his marching speed will certainly not be fast, and he will surely need to camp and rest en route……

"Where will Cao Meng's army camp?"

Jiang Xiaomu suddenly asked.

Bai Shen thought for a moment, then pointed to a place on the map called Black Wind Mouth,

"If nothing unexpected happens, they should camp at Black Wind Mouth."

"The terrain there is flat, water abundant, making it the ideal campsite."

A gleam flashed in Jiang Xiaomu's eyes,

"Good! Let's choose Black Wind Mouth!"

Li Tieniu and the others exchanged bewildered glances, not understanding what Jiang Xiaomu was up to.

"Master Jiang, what do you mean?" Li Tieniu probed.

Jiang Xiaomu looked at the location of Black Wind Mouth on the map, a cold smile curling his lips.

"Black Wind Mouth, a good place…" his gaze, however, flicked to a corner of the hall.

There, Huang Quan faced a small bronze mirror, carefully applying rouge and powder.

A wicked thought flashed through Jiang Xiaomu's mind.

He rose, walked over to Huang Quan, took the rouge from her hand, and lightly dabbed it on her face.

"Huang Quan, tonight you are the star."

Huang Quan lifted her head, gave a bewitching smile, "Oh? Chief, what do you want me to do?"

"Tonight, I want you to become a death-reaping impermanence and go to Black Wind Mouth."

Jiang Xiaomu leaned close to her ear and whispered a few words.

After hearing it, Huang Quan covered her mouth and chuckled, "Chief, you're really bad, but I like it."

Cao Meng is naturally cautious; he will definitely send out a vanguard to scout the route during his march.

The leader of this vanguard unit is named Shen Yi, brave and skilled in battle, a capable aide of Cao Meng.

Night fell, and Black Wind Mouth was shrouded in thick fog.

After Shen Yi set up camp, he early on retreated into his tent to rest.

"General! General! A heavy fog has risen outside!" a soldier burst into the tent, startling Shen Yi.

"Nonsense, it's just fog; what's there to make a fuss about?"

Shen Yi, impatient, sat up and threw on his outer garment.

"But… but this fog… feels a bit sinister…"

The soldier's voice trembled,

"In the mist… it seems… it seems there is something…"

Shen Yi walked outside the tent, only to see the thick mist permeating the air, unable to see his hand in front of his face.

Suddenly, a faint voice came from the mist,

""Little lady, I have seen General Shen…""

Shen Yi felt a chill run down his spine; he drew his waist sword and shouted sternly:

""Who? Who is playing tricks there? Come out quickly. Don't be sneaky!""

The mist roiled, and a figure slowly appeared.

""Ghost Face Army… Huang Quan?""

Shen Yi recognized the woman at a glance.

""General Shen has a good memory."" Huang Quan's voice was alluring,

""Today I am here to take your life.""

Shen Yi let out a cold laugh,

""Just you? Overestimating yourself!""

He brandished his waist sword, slashing at Huang Quan.

""General Shen, where are your soldiers? Where did they go?""

Huang Quan's voice sounded like a summons from hell,

""They've all gone to keep King Yama company over tea, hehehehe!""

As it turned out, Jiang Xiaomu had already sent people to infiltrate Black Wind Mouth, poisoning the water source.

Cao Meng's vanguard unit had already been hit without realizing it, colorless and tasteless.

Only then did Shen Yi realize he had fallen into a trap.

Although Huang Quan is a woman, her cultivation is the sinister, vicious Western Regions evil art.

""General Shen, you had better surrender.""

Huang Quan's voice was full of mockery,

""With just you, you can't beat me.""

""Besides, I've already slaughtered all your troops.""

Shen Yi roared, swinging his sword at Huang Quan, but his blade only ever grazed the edge of her robe.

""General Shen, why waste your strength?""

Huang Quan laughed coquettishly, her voice echoing in the thick mist,

""Those soldiers of yours who died from poison are now waiting for you down below!""

""They say they'll follow you in the next life, hehehehe!""

Shen Yi's eyes were blood-red; as a veteran of the battlefield, he had never suffered such utter humiliation.

""Demon woman! Hand over your life!""

Shen Yi swung his sword again, but could not touch Huang Quan in the slightest.

Huang Quan's figure was light and agile, moving freely in the mist like a cat playing with a mouse.

""General Shen, your swordplay is too slow.""

Huang Quan's voice carried a hint of mockery,

""You can't even touch the edge of my robe, yet you still want to kill me?""

Shen Yi panted, realizing he was no match for Huang Quan at all.

This woman was like a ghost.

""You… what exactly are you, a monster?""

Shen Yi asked through gritted teeth.

""General Shen, guess why I am called Huang Quan…""

A strong smell of blood filled the air, mixed with rouge fragrance; a fly buzzed around the objects on the table, eventually landing on the human head that had only half a face left.

Jiang Xiaomu pinched a handkerchief between two fingers, disgustedly covering his nose.

On that half-face, the eyeballs still hung outside the sockets, trembling slightly as the fly crawled over them—an indescribable sense of nausea.