Chapter 488: First Volume, Chapter 488: Convergence at Qingyu Mountain

First Volume, Chapter 488: Convergence at Qingyu Mountain

Seven or eight night owls lurking nearby rushed to the scout's side and found him barely alive—the arrow had struck from behind, piercing his internal organs.

The scout spat blood and mumbled: "Enemy… enemy infiltration…"

Then he died.

The night owls exchanged glances and, without hesitation, mounted the scout's and pursuers' horses, heading toward the Front Line.

Qin Feng chased for a full twenty Li before eliminating the Xiongying Brigade cavalry, then immediately turned his horse and returned without delay to regroup with the scattered cavalry units.

Nearly one Envoy passed before all personnel had barely assembled; counting heads, there were one hundred and sixty-five men, three of whom had been killed by enemy arrows during the pursuit of the Xiongying Brigade cavalry.

Even so, two were still missing—Qin Feng immediately realized those two were the cavalry chasing the scout!

"Trouble!"

Qin Feng muttered sharply, leaving no room for hesitation, and ordered: "All of you, march immediately to Qingyu Mountain!"

According to Qin Feng's estimation, within another Envoy, the Bei Di Qian Xian garrison would receive word; within three Envoy, the entire DefensiveLine would know; within five Envoy, all garrison troops within a hundred Li radius would learn a hostile force had infiltrated.

At that point, facing dozens or even hundreds of times their number in enemy troops, death would be his only fate.

Five Envoy were not the time left to escape Bei Di—they were the time until death!

In other words, if Qin Feng could not leave Bei Di territory within three Envoy, escaping this place was virtually impossible.

One Envoy later, Qingyu Mountain finally appeared in Qin Feng's line of sight.

As Qin Feng led the cavalry into Qingyu Mountain, the tripwires hidden beneath the sand were suddenly yanked up.

"Whoa!"

Qin Feng yanked the reins hard; fortunately, his quick reaction saved him—if he'd been thrown, and the horse landed on him, he'd be dead or crippled.

Before Qin Feng could react, Tianji Camp Guards surrounded him from all directions.

The cavalry had pulled all tripwires, while Tianji Camp Guards held long spears; behind them, more guards and Brocade Uniform Guards held bows and arrows, staring at Qin Feng and his men with deadly intensity.

At the same time, a roar came from nearby.

"Whoever moves will be killed on the spot!"

Ning Hu, disheveled and grimy, stepped slowly from the dense woods, shouldering a long spear, grinning widely as he gazed at the trapped prey like a butcher eyeing slaughtered lambs.

"Hahahaha! I've smashed countless enemy camps, but never seen such a stupid commander—leading cavalry into mountain terrain? Men! Bring out the enemy commander—I want to see who's this brilliant fool!"

Hearing this, the surrounding cavalry cast Qin Feng looks of helpless amusement.

Ning Hu followed the cavalry's gaze and spotted the Commander standing among them; his grin froze, then burst into ecstatic shock: "Qin Brother?!"

"I… I can't be dreaming, can I?"

Ning Hu rubbed his eyes hard, stared again—and saw Qin Feng seated on his horse, watching him with a half-smile.

It really was Qin Feng!

Ning Hu dashed forward in a few leaps, eyes filled with disbelief: "Qin Brother, how are you here?!"

Qin Feng gave a cold laugh: "Who called me an idiot just now?"

Ning Hu's face flushed red—an idiot? If Qin Feng was an idiot, no one in the world was clever.

The Tianji Camp Guards also recognized Qin Feng, dropped their spears, and surged around him in a wave of excitement.

"Young Master? It's really you!"

"How did you get here? Good heavens!"

"Quick! Remove the tripwires! Welcome Young Master Qin!"

The Tianji Camp Guards erupted into chaos, frantically pulling up the tripwires, gazing at Qin Feng with burning eyes, carefully helping him dismount.

Ning Hu scratched his head, stunned and bewildered: "Qin Brother, tell me—how did you end up here? Did Bei Di collapse? Did our army chase them all the way here?"

Bei Di collapsed?

Qin Feng nearly laughed in anger—it wasn't even night yet, and this fool was already dreaming?

Seeing the Tianji Camp Guards' confused expressions,

Qin Feng didn't beat around the bush—he slapped Ning Hu's shoulder, turned, and tidied the disheveled armor of nearby guards, his voice thick with sorrow: "Brothers, you've suffered. I came here specifically to take you home."

At first, Qin Feng assumed the guards would cheer at the news they could return home.

But the result was unexpected—the field fell utterly silent, no movement, everyone staring at him with complex eyes.

"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"

Qin Feng touched his face—there was nothing.

At that moment, Ning Hu suddenly erupted, glaring at Qin Feng and roaring: "Qin Brother, don't tell me you came here just to rescue us!"

"If that's true, don't blame me for turning on you!"

Ning Hu glanced at Qin Feng's cavalry and spare horses—he didn't need an answer; the truth was already clear.

Ning Hu clenched his fists, roaring: "Nonsense! You're County Commander of Beixi—how could you abandon your post, risk your life to save us? If you're harmed, how will Beixi County face the world? Even if we return, we'll live our lives in shame!"

Facing Ning Hu's furious rebuke, Qin Feng's heart warmed.

Under Ning Hu's lead, the other guards also began to scold Qin Feng.

"Young Master, you shouldn't have come!"

"This is Bei Di territory—if your location is exposed, they'll send an army to crush you. Your life is worth far more than ours."

"Young Master, what merit do we have to make you risk yourself…"

The guards' eyes were red and swollen, emotions raw, filled with guilt and fury.

Qin Feng smiled faintly.

But that smile immediately drew Ning Hu's shout.

"How can you still smile?!"

Qin Feng reached to pat Ning Hu's shoulder—but Ning Hu slapped his hand away; clearly, this little tiger was truly enraged.

Qin Feng reluctantly pulled his hand back and, forcing patience, explained the stakes to everyone, then pounded his chest and swore solemnly: "If I could have recalled even one general, I wouldn't have come here myself."

Ning Hu was already moved to tears; after all, the Main General had risked his own life, infiltrating enemy territory, solely to rescue two hundred soldiers — a thing Ning Hu had never heard of, and one the Heaven itself had surely never witnessed.

But Ning Hu was not appeased, his face flushed with anger: "Don't try that on me! If you can't recall the Deputy General, just promote someone from Beixi County!"