Chapter 1108: First Volume, Chapter 1108: The Three Rebel Comrades

First Volume, Chapter 1108: The Three Rebel Comrades

After giving his instructions, Qin Feng proceeded methodically, continuing toward Jingdu.

To avoid further complications, Qin Feng deliberately slowed his pace.

Because the Heavy Armor Black Cavalry's armor was excessively heavy, Qin Feng specially dispatched men to the nearby County City to hire several carts and buy up every single war horse.

The Heavy Armor Black Cavalry, who had endured the "burden of armor" for days, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

They all removed their armor, placing the expensive yet cumbersome Heavy Armor onto the carts or loading it onto Draft Horses, even stripping the armor plates from their Warhorses.

Even the Warhorses, freed from their weight, galloped and leaped with excitement.

Thus, the fifty Heavy Armor Black Cavalry became Unarmored Light Cavalry; if cavalry now attacked, they would surely be crushed.

But this was still within Shedynasty's borders; unless a Chaotic Faction came to assassinate Qin Feng, there was no need to overly worry about their safety.

Yet for caution's sake, Qin Feng still sent out five Black Cavalry as "Scout Riders," combined with the Imperial Spies operating nearby, forming a security zone with a ten-li radius.

With the carts, Niu Er and his mother also felt much lighter—they no longer had to endure the jolting ride atop horses.

While Qin Feng waited for Zhao Yulong, who had been sent to contact the Imperial Spies, twenty-odd bandits in a small forest less than twenty li away were plotting something.

Their leader was Wu Heli.

"Boss! We spotted Qin Feng on the Official Road, twenty li away!"

Upon hearing the Imperial Spy's report, everyone present tensed instantly.

Chang Cheng did not hesitate a moment—he leapt to his feet and demanded harshly: "Are they chasing us?"

The Imperial Spy shook his head vigorously: "No, they've stripped off all their Heavy Armor—they're clearly not in combat formation."

Hearing this, Chang Cheng finally exhaled in relief; he had been thoroughly terrified by Qin Feng.

Chen Yanzong, however, grew wildly excited, his eyes wide open, and he staggered to his feet, limping on his injured leg.

"Perfect!"

"Big Brother, Qin Feng's Black Cavalry have stripped their armor—this is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity! Let's strike with One-Strike Victory and catch them off guard!"

Wu Heli did not hesitate—he immediately raised his hand and rejected Chen Yanzong's proposal.

"Without the constraint of Heavy Armor, those Black Cavalry become even more dangerous!"

"Have you forgotten how accurate their Bow and Arrow skills are?"

"Heavy Cavalry aren't good at pursuit, but without armor, they become Light Cavalry—if we reveal ourselves, they'll hunt us down to the last man."

"Since Qin Feng doesn't know our whereabouts, don't provoke him."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yanzong immediately deflated.

He silently cursed himself—he and his men had panicked and fled hastily after accidentally alerting civilians when they killed Wu Chenggong in Yuping County; otherwise, they could have seized some Bow and Arrow and Weapons and Armor.

"Big Brother, when we reach Ming County, we must find a way to acquire proper Weapons and Armor."

Chang Cheng shot him a scowling glare at the mention of this.

"If we capture someone alive, with Wu Chenggong as a hostage, don't you think we'll get weapons?"

"This time, when we go to Ming County, you must not act recklessly!"

At that moment, Wu Heli's gaze hardened: "We're not going to Ming County."

What?!

Chen Yanzong couldn't believe his ears: "Big Brother, why aren't we going to Ming County? Without weapons, how can we accomplish anything?"

Chang Cheng also didn't understand why Wu Heli had suddenly changed his mind.

Wu Heli remained firm: "At normal speed, Qin Feng should already be leaving Ben Zhou—but look, he's still lingering nearby; clearly, he intends to trap us all."

"After what happened in Yuping County, Ming County must be on high alert."

"Moreover… have you witnessed the exceptional Combat Effectiveness of the Black Cavalry?"

"From what I know, although the Black Cavalry excel in direct frontal battles, they pose little threat to us—they weren't designed to hunt down fugitives or suppress rebels."

"Besides the Black Cavalry, Qin Feng has two other sharp blades: the Tianji Camp Guards and the Imperial Spies."

Chang Cheng pondered, then spoke gravely: "Big Brother, are you saying the Imperial Spies will come after us?"

Wu Heli nodded firmly: "The Black Cavalry, Tianji Camp Guards, and Imperial Spies are Qin Feng's three most elite forces—this was proven in the Beidi Campaign."

"Once the Imperial Spies fixate on us, we'll never have a chance to rise again."

Chen Yanzong snorted dismissively: "Just a bunch of Imperial Spies—what's to fear? Bring them on; I'll kill them all."

Wu Heli and Chang Cheng exchanged a glance and shook their heads in unison.

That's exactly what "a young bull fears no tiger" means—Chen Yanzong.

Chang Cheng frowned heavily: "So if the Tianji Camp Guards show up, you'd kill them too?"

Even a man as arrogant as Chen Yanzong fell silent the moment he heard "Tianji Camp Guards."

After all, the Tianji Camp Guards had carried out too many astonishing feats—they were beasts, not men.

Seeing Chen Yanzong stammering and unable to speak, Chang Cheng sneered: "Rumors have long circulated that the Tianji Camp Guards are Qin Feng's tool to counterbalance the Imperial Spies."

"If it takes the Tianji Camp Guards to suppress them, how could the Imperial Spies possibly be just 'a bunch of spies,' as you claim?"

He ignored Chen Yanzong and turned to Wu Heli: "Big Brother, you're right."

"Qin Feng hasn't left yet—he's waiting to trap us all."

"So the Imperial Spies have likely already begun pursuing us—we must find a way to conceal our trail."

Wu Heli already had a plan—he spoke gravely: "Split into two groups."

"My two brothers and I, along with seven others, will head to the Rear to recruit men and gather supplies; the rest will remain here on standby."

"Although we can't go to Ming County for now, once Qin Feng leaves this area, we'll still infiltrate Ming County to seize Weapons and Armor."

"Without proper Weapons and Armor, no matter how many men we have, we can't accomplish anything."

All agreed instantly; Wu Heli immediately led his two brothers and seven skilled fighters away without looking back.

Another Shi Li remained hidden in place, continuing to watch Ming County.

Roughly One Envoy later, the Scouting Report came in: Qin Feng had already left, nearly Ten Li behind him.

At this rate, it wouldn't be long before Qin Feng was completely gone.

That very night, the Shi Li were lying in the Simple Tent, just about to rest, when they suddenly heard a sparse, rustling sound from outside the tent.

Their leader Sun Bai immediately grew alert. Gripping the single saber in his hand, he crouched at the edge of the tent and carefully surveyed the surroundings.

The pitch-black forest felt utterly oppressive.