Chapter 118: Extracting the Poisonous Fang

After a night's rest, before dawn, the Jing'an Army had already struck camp and set out.

Although the successive days of suppression had been effective, the string in Chen Wen's heart grew ever tighter.

His intuition told him that those bandits and scattered scouts that had been rooted out.

They were merely a skin disease; the truly lethal threat still lurked in the darkness.

Like a hibernating venomous snake, waiting for a chance to strike a killing blow.

「Military Envoy, we have discovered! 」

At noon, Qian Gui, who was in charge of outer reconnaissance, returned drenched in dew, his face solemn.

「Speak. 」 Chen Wen gestured for him to come closer.

「My men, on the side path leading to the Eagle Beak Cliff supply transfer station, discovered a convoy. 」

Qian Gui spoke extremely fast.

「About twenty people, ten mules and horses, fully loaded with goods, appearing normal on the surface. 」

「Where is the suspicious point? 」

「First, their appearance location is wrong. 」

「That side path is remote, not a trade route; ordinary convoys would never take it. 」

「Second, the wear on their mules' and horses' horseshoes far exceeds what merchants should have, resembling that of long-distance raiding military mounts. 」

「Third, and most importantly…」

Qian Gui lowered his voice.

「Their guards' eyes are too sharp; there are faint signs of battle formation coordination while marching, definitely not ordinary estate martial artists. 」

「Moreover, I faintly sense that they carry a… a subtle killing aura. 」

「It is somewhat similar to the Iron Crow Army we encountered before, but much fainter. 」

Chen Wen's eyes suddenly became sharp as an eagle's.

At the Eagle Beak Cliff transfer station, the first batch of important supplies destined for the front lines was stockpiled.

It is one of the key nodes connecting Chen Prefecture to the frontline hinterland!

If this place were lost, the consequences would be unimaginable.

「How far are they from Eagle Beak Cliff? 」

「At their current speed, about two hours. 」

「Enough. 」

Chen Wen took a deep breath, his mind racing.

「They are disguising as a convoy, surely intending to approach silently and then launch a surprise attack to destroy. 」

「We will set a bag trap on the route they must take. 」

He immediately summoned Shi Dun and a few squad leaders, and on the spot drew a simple terrain map with branches.

「This is 'One Line Sky'; the canyon is narrow, with steep, densely forested slopes on both sides, making it an ideal ambush site. 」

「Qian Gui, take your men and keep tracking them, reporting their position at any time. 」

「Received! 」

「Shi Dun, you take two hundred men, carry strong bows and crossbows, and secretly seize the high ground on both sides of the canyon. 」

「Without my order, you must not expose yourselves, and certainly not fire arrows! 」

「Understood! 」

Shi Dun licked his lips, a bloodthirsty light flashing in his eyes.

「The rest of you, follow me to form ranks at the canyon exit. 」

「We will block them completely, leaving none alive! 」

Once the orders were given, the Jing'an Army immediately operated like a precise gear.

Under Chen Wen's widespread bestowal of double efficiency, the troops moved silently yet with extraordinary speed.

Soon they were all in place, like a spider waiting with its web, silently awaiting prey.

Time passed second by second; only the rustle of wind through leaves remained in the canyon.

Chen Wen hid behind the rocks at the exit, closed his eyes, focused his mind, and heightened his perception to the extreme.

With sixteenfold senses, he could clearly hear the distant hoofbeats and wheel creaks gradually becoming distinct.

Even the deliberately suppressed breathing of those "convoy guards."

They have arrived.

The convoy slowly entered the canyon entrance.

The leader was a sallow-faced man who looked ordinary, but his eyes occasionally swept the cliffs on both sides, showing extreme vigilance.

The entire unit stretched into a long line within the narrow valley.

Just as the unit had fully entered the ambush zone and was about to reach the middle section.

The leader seemed to sense something amiss, and abruptly raised his hand to signal the unit to halt!

「Attack! 」

Almost at the same moment, Chen Wen's order was conveyed via hand signal.

「Hum—! 」

On both sides of the canyon, bowstrings twanged like the death god's low moan!

The archers under Shi Dun's command had long been poised; upon receiving the order, they instantly unleashed a rain of death-dealing arrows!

They were already accurate archers, and now, with Chen Wen's concentrated grant of double precision and power boost, their arrows flew as if they had eyes, striking vital points of men and beasts!

「Enemy attack! Form ranks! 」

The leading man reacted extremely quickly, shouting as he drew his waist saber, and it was actually a Northern Han-issue military saber!

The other guards instantly tore off their disguises, revealing their true capable selves, quickly relying on the wagons and horses to form a small circular formation.

Wielding weapons to block arrows, they displayed extremely high military competence.

However, the Peaceful Army occupied advantageous terrain, and it was also a surprise attack.

The first volley of arrows already caused heavy casualties, with nearly half of the guards falling, the mules and horses startled, braying and scattering in panic, and the formation instantly fell into chaos.

Kill!

At the canyon exit, Chen Wen drew his long sword, leading the troops forward to cover the attack!

He charged with sixteen times his base ability, his speed already as fast as a ghost!

Block them!

That Northern Han leader's eyes almost burst as he swung his blade to meet Chen Wen.

Clang!

The two blades clashed, emitting a piercing loud sound!

That Northern Han leader felt a huge force transmitted, his tiger's mouth split, the saber almost flew from his hand, his whole body staggered back, his face full of shock!

He boasted of his courage, yet could not even withstand a single blow from the opponent?

Chen Wen gave him no chance to catch his breath, the sword light sweeping like a silk ribbon, instantly leaving a deep wound visible to the bone on his chest!

At the same time, the Peaceful Army soldiers who had received Chen Wen's widespread twofold boost in strength and speed, like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, fiercely crashed into the remaining enemy formation.

Already chaotic, the enemy formation, facing this absolute power, melted like snow and was instantly divided, surrounded, and annihilated!

The battle ended even faster than expected.

From the arrow rain's onset to the last stubborn Northern Han elite being hacked to death, it took only the time it takes to burn an incense stick.

"Military Envoy, cleanup complete, enemy twenty-three, all killed, none escaped! Captured nine mules and horses, five wagons."

Shi Dun came to report, his body splattered with enemy blood.

"Inspect the wagon cargo."

Chen Wen sheathed his sword, his tone calm.

The soldiers pried open the oilcloth covering the wagon, and what was revealed underneath was not merchandise.

But rather fire-starting materials, incendiary oil, and a large quantity of packaged bow and crossbow bolts!

"Sure enough, they came to burn the grain and fodder!"

Qian Gui sucked in a breath of cold air.

Chen Wen walked over to the corpse of the Northern Han leader, crouched down, and searched carefully.

Soon, from a hidden layer in his close-fitting clothing, he felt out a small scroll wrapped in oilcloth made of parchment.

Unfolding the parchment, it showed a simple terrain map of Northern Chen drawn in vermilion.

Several points were specially marked, among them Eagle Beak Cliff.

Beside them were a few lines of hastily written Northern Han script.

Chen Wen could not read Northern Han script, but the System Interface, as he gazed at these characters, spontaneously produced a simple explanation:

【Target: Eagle Beak Cliff, Black Water Crossing…】

【Mission: Destroy, create chaos, coordinate with the main force offensive.】

【Contact: Upon encountering the 'Black Crow' signal, joint action possible.】

"Black Crow..." Chen Wen muttered, his eyes icy.

This undoubtedly points to the Iron Crow Army!

The Northern Han sabotage team actually really had connections with those shadowy existences, and even prepared to act together!

This intelligence is of utmost importance!

It not only confirmed the Northern Han's plan to infiltrate and sabotage the rear, but also brought the Iron Crow Army back onto the stage again.

It indicated their possible area of activity and means of contact.

"Pack up all captured weapons and supplies, together with this corpse and this intelligence, immediately, send by fast horse to the Military Governor's office, and report to the Envoy!"

Chen Wen gave the order in a deep voice.

"The rest of you, clean the battlefield, bury the bodies on site, we will proceed to the next location—Black Water Crossing!"

He raised his head, gazing northward, his gaze seeming to penetrate the layers of mountains.

The poison fang has been pulled out one, but more poison fangs remain hidden in the dark.

And that intelligence about the 'Black Crow' let him know that a clash with the true 'Purgers' was likely not far off.