Chapter 300

Chen Wuji painstakingly persuaded Xu Guanshan, this foolish young man, to abandon his suicidal thoughts.

Entities: Chen Wuji, Xu Guanshan. Also note that the term "foolish kid" is generic, not a named entity.

To avoid having to see their masters off in old age, they would seek death; this notion is hardly surprising.

No named entities.

The soldiers teased Xu Guanshan with laughter, dispelling the earlier heavy atmosphere.

Entities: Xu Guanshan. Also note that the term "soldiers" is generic.

Because these things on the road distracted them, before they knew it, everyone had arrived at Elephant Trunk Ridge.

Entities: Elephant Trunk Ridge.

Chen Wuji slowed the march, preparing to send someone down the mountain to investigate, when a sudden rustling came from the nearby thicket.

Entities: Chen Wuji.

Chen Li and Chen Wushuang, flanking Chen Wuji, swiftly stepped forward, brandishing their knives to shield him, warily watching the rustling in the thicket.

Entities: Chen Wuji, Chen Li, Chen Wushuang. Also note that Chen Li and Chen Wushuang are names.

"What is it? Get out!" Chen Li shouted angrily.

Entities: Chen Li.

In the faint light of the torches, two disheveled figures burst out from within.

No named.

"Don't hit, don't hit, we're on the same side!" one of them shouted, raising his left hand.

No named.

Only then did Chen Li and the others slightly relax their guard, bringing the two men before Chen Wuji.

Entities: Chen Li, Chen Wuji.

"Brigade Commander!"

Entities: Brigade Commander.

The two rushed up to Chen Wuji and clasped their fists firmly.

Entities: Chen Wuji.

"Are you the ones left to guard this place?" Chen Wuji asked.

Entities: Xu Guanshan. Also note that the term "soldiers" is generic.

"Yes."

No.

"How many more are there?"

No.

"All together, there are ten of us. Ninth Uncle couldn't bear to part with those warhorses, so he left us behind to guard the horses and the weapons and supplies left by the Qiang people," the soldier said.

Entities: Jiu Shu, Warhorse, Qiang People, Luggage and Supplies, Soldier. Also note that the term "horses" is generic.

Chen Wuji nodded, asking, "Have you seen Wu Bu Yong and Qian Fugui?"

Entities: Chen Wuji, Wu Bu Yong, Qian Fugui.

"None."

No.

"Continue guarding this place, stay safe. If possible, try to bring the warhorses back; if not, stay here temporarily. After the war ends, I will send someone to relieve you," Chen Wuji ordered.

Entities: Warhorse, Chen Wuji.

"Understood!"

No.

Although the battle was urgent, Chen Wuji could understand Chen Luozi's actions.

Entities: Chen Wuji, Chen Luozi.

They were simply terrified of being poor.

No.

Ten people might not make much difference on the battlefield, but if they could guard these warhorses, the Chen clan would thereafter possess a cavalry numbering up to five or six thousand, and even with uneven troops they could create a luxurious cavalry where each rider has two horses.

Entities: Warhorse, Chen clan, Cavalry.

Also Cavalry appears (from the glossary).

Too extravagant!

No.

In this era, a cavalry's worth far surpasses what money can measure.

Entities: Cavalry.

After a brief exchange, Chen Wuji led the troops out again.

Entities: Chen Wuji.

After going only about ten li ahead, the front suddenly erupted in chaotic clashing sounds, and faint lights could be seen, likely from torches.

No named.

"Brigade Commander, I'll go check." Chen Wuyi volunteered, wanting to serve as a scout.

Entities: Brigade Commander, Chen Wuyi, Scout.

"Bring two more people."

No.

"Yes!"

No.

Chen Wuyi took two people and felt his way toward the source of the light.

Entities: Chen Wuyi.

Chen Wuji held back the army's pace, standing guard in place.

Entities: Chen Wuji.

After about two hours, Chen Wuyi hurried back with his people, saying, "Brigade Commander, it's the Qiang people; they're killing wolves, and I faintly saw in the distance what looks like a group of tigers watching the spectacle."

Entities: Chen Wuyi, Brigade Commander, Qiang People.

"Killing wolves? Tigers watching the spectacle?!" Chen Wuji furrowed his brows, even suspecting that Chen Wuyi had encountered a ghost wall.

Entities: Chen Wuji, Chen Wuyi, Ghost Hitting Wall.

Upon seeing Chen Wuji's expression, Chen Wuyi immediately explained, "Brigade Commander, I truly saw it; the Qiang people are indeed killing wolves, and there are exceptionally many wolves there—seems like over a hundred. The Qiang people seem to have been caught off guard by the wolves, having just formed their ranks, and now it's a one-sided massacre."

Entities: Chen Wuyi, Chen Wuji, Brigade Commander, Qiang People. Also note that the term "wolves" is generic.

Chen Wuji looked toward the place where the firelight shone.

Entities: Chen Wuji.

There, it seemed not far from the mountain-top plateau where he had encountered the menagerie of animals.

No named.

In Divine Immortal Ridge, there are many wolves, and there are even rumors of wolf kings.

Entities: Divine Immortal Ridge. Also note that the term "Wolf King" is a descriptive term, not a specific named beast.

Chen Luozi had once borrowed wolf pelts from Chen Wuji, using them to attract wolf packs to achieve his goal.

Entities: Chen Luozi, Chen Wuji, Wolf Skin.

Besides those unverified rumors, the villagers of West Mountain Village generally believe that the wolf packs on the mountain number only in the dozens, far from reaching hundreds or even thousands.

Entities: West Mountain Village. Also note that the term "wolf pack" is generic.

Could it be that place is the wolves' territory in the mountains?

No.

Did the Qiang people sneak in at night and kill the wolves, causing the wolf packs to go berserk and directly trigger a wolf-war?

Entities: Qiang People. Also note that the term "wolf-war" is generic.

"What's the deal with tigers outside watching the spectacle?" Chen Wuji asked.

Entities: Chen Wuji. Also note that the term "tiger" is generic.

"I..." Chen Wuyi's expression was somewhat awkward, "I don't know this either; I merely noticed that tiger silhouettes occasionally appear around that valley, but I don't know what they're up to."

Entities: Chen Wuyi. Also note that the term "tiger" is generic.

Chen Wuji suddenly understood why the villagers have warned generation after generation not to linger in the mountains at night; this has nothing to do with any ghostly superstition.

Entities: Chen Wuji. Also note that the term "villagers" is generic.

Rather, it is the Divine Immortal Ridge at night that is truly dangerous.

Entities: Divine Immortal Ridge.

"Everyone, extinguish half of the torches and rest in place." Chen Wuji ordered.

Entities: Chen Wuji.

No matter how the Qiang people ended up fighting the wolves, Chen Wuji doesn't care whether he understands this mountain secret; as long as the Qiang people suffer losses, it's good.

Entities: Qiang People, Chen Wuji.

Now, he is right here, steadily waiting for the Qiang people to escape.

Entities: Qiang People.

It would be best to last until dawn.

No.

His guess was correct; the Qiang people simply did not find the correct way out of the mountains at night.

Entities: Qiang People.

This prominent figure of the Qiang people is indeed decisive, but he seems to have somewhat underestimated this mountain range.

Entities: Qiang People. Also note that the term "prominent figure" is generic.

The place they are currently in is actually to the north.

No.

Chen Wuji glanced at the not-so-distant ancient riverbed, resembling a black ribbon drifting through the jungle, and suddenly wondered whether the Qiang people might be traveling along that ancient river route.

Entities: Chen Wuji, Qiang People, Ancient River Way.

Although it is indeed possible to exit that way, it would require taking a huge detour.

No.

Moreover, this detour goes deep into the mountains where few people tread.

No.

Chen Wuji had never dared to venture deep into that area, despite his long experience hunting there.

Entities: Chen Wuji.

"Have you noticed Ninth Uncle's group?" Chen Wuji asked after regaining his composure.

Entities: Jiu Shu, Chen Wuji.

Chen Wuyi shook his head, "There are no other lights or shadows around."

Entities: Chen Wuyi.

"They must be nearby, perhaps they extinguished their torches." Chen Wuji frowned, thought for a moment, then said, "But it's fine now; as long as our torches stay lit, they should see us and come over."

Chen Luozi is not an impulsive person; his squad could not possibly have been completely wiped out by the Qiang.

Moreover, in this pitch-black jungle, the difficulty of killing the enemy is too great.

Once the torches go out and they duck into the thickets, even a dog's eyes can't see clearly.

With the Qiang's manpower, wiping out over a hundred people is indeed not difficult, but in such an environment they simply could not manage it.

"Everyone spread out, form groups of three, archers get ready, others prepare more stones—we're going to repeat the old trick." Chen Wuji shouted the order.

With so many torches planted here, in this pitch-black night they are completely like a bright lamp.

Although he thought it impossible, what if the Qiang leader loses his wits and tries to wipe them out under these circumstances? The necessary preparations still need to be made.

In fact, Chen Wuji very much hopes that this Qiang force will have such pride.

If they really could come and kill, that would be great!

While Chen Wuji was arranging his troops, the Qiang on the other side suddenly made a new move.

They began moving toward the south.

It looks like they seem to have dealt with that pack of wolves.

"Brigade Commander, the Qiang people seem to have… fled; pursue the desperate foe—let's chase them quickly and cut them down!" Xu Guanshan, clutching a pile of stones in his arms, shouted excitedly.