Chapter 47

Black Centipede was also satisfied with Poison Spider's tact. He took a portrait from his subordinate and said: "I have a portrait here!"

Poison Spider sent someone to take the portrait and brought it to the military advisor beside him to look at.

Just as Poison Spider was thinking about how much silver to demand, the military advisor beside him whispered: "Great King, these people left the stronghold a few days ago and have never returned."

The military advisor had followed him for many years, and all matters, big and small, in the stronghold were handled very well. Poison Spider naturally would not doubt his words, but he still asked unwillingly: "Are you sure?"

The military advisor nodded affirmatively: "There can be no mistake. Except for one person I haven't seen, the rest have all left the stronghold. This group should have more than ten people."

Seeing that the military advisor was so detailed, he thought there should be no mistake. Poison Spider could only shake his head with regret: "Black Centipede, you can go. The people are no longer in my Spider Stronghold!"

Unfortunately, Black Centipede would naturally not believe such words, thinking it was just a tactic for Poison Spider to raise the price.

"Poison Spider, is using such methods to drive up the price how a hero of the green woods behaves? Just state how much silver you want. If I can accept it, I will never haggle. If I can't accept it, then we fight!"

"The people aren't here, how can I give you a price?"

Poison Spider felt somewhat irritated instead. He did want the money, but the people really weren't here!

Black Centipede had clearly lost all patience: "I'll say it one last time, hand over the people!"

"Are your ears not working? The people aren't here, what do you want me to hand over? Do you want me to give birth to one for you?"

Poison Spider's words were not polite. We are all mountain kings; don't I have a reputation to maintain in front of so many people?

Could it be that my Spider Stronghold is afraid of your Centipede Stronghold?

What a joke!

Black Centipede calmed down, his tone becoming flat: "If you don't hand them over, we fight. You choose one!"

Those familiar with Black Centipede knew that he was definitely not joking at this moment; this was definitely a sign that he was going to get serious!

The Five Poisons strongholds occasionally had dealings with each other, and Poison Spider also understood that every word of Black Centipede at this moment was true, but it was still the same thing: without the people, what could he hand over?

"No people, can't hand them over."

The moment Poison Spider's voice fell, Black Centipede drew a large knife from a lackey and held it high toward the sky: "Brothers, attack!!"

The group from Centipede Stronghold was no more than ten steps away from the gate of Spider Stronghold. At the order, they immediately raised their large knives and launched a charge toward the inside of Spider Stronghold.

Poison Spider also did not expect Black Centipede to be this crazy, starting a fight without a word.

Now that the arrow was on the string, it had to be fired. Poison Spider would not let himself be beaten passively. He drew the long sword from his waist and shouted: "Brothers, meet the enemy!"

The first to launch an attack were the archers on the watchtower of Spider Stronghold. Although they were all self-made arrowheads, they still had considerable lethality at close range, it was just that the number of bows and arrows was not large.

Over a hundred people roared and poured into the stronghold gate. They could easily hit their targets without aiming. Accompanied by the flying arrows, wails came from the crowd from time to time.

Before the corpses had even fallen to the ground, the knife-wielders of Centipede Stronghold behind had already stepped on their companions' corpses and leaped up.

The moment the front lines of the two strongholds collided, the blade light drew cold arcs in everyone's eyes.

The scouts from the other three strongholds hiding in the trees were all dumbfounded. Weren't they chatting well just a moment ago? How could they start fighting so suddenly!

There was no time to think too much. They immediately turned around to send the intelligence back to their strongholds, with another person taking their place.

From the process of the exchange, one could see that the combat strength of Centipede Stronghold was slightly higher than that of Spider Stronghold, but this was Spider Stronghold's home turf; they had the advantage in both numbers and geographical location.

Under this balance, the two strongholds were evenly matched for a time.

Black Centipede raised his large knife and slashed at a bandit attempting a sneak attack. The moment the blade light fell, the bandit instinctively raised his arm to block.

But this strike was too fierce and too heavy. When the blade cut into the flesh, it made almost no sound, until a muffled "crack" sound, and the blade edge suddenly stopped on the ulna.

The bandit squeezed out half a scream from his throat, and the white bone shards at the severed arm stuck out.

The muscles were still connected to half the side, and blood sprayed out along the blade groove, splashing all over Black Centipede's face.

Black Centipede was not a fledgling boy; on the contrary, he had smelled too much blood. This not only did not make him afraid, but his body was trembling instinctively—that was excitement!

Poison Spider did not show weakness. He had also fought his way up from the bottom with a knife and a sword. The knife wounds of varying depths on his body were his honor as a Great Chief.

The two looked at each other from tens of meters away and simultaneously stepped toward each other.

The battlefield separated in an instant to make way for the two. Black Centipede took a running start, raised his large knife with both hands, and slashed toward Poison Spider.

Poison Spider knew he was no match for Black Centipede in strength, so he rolled to the right to dodge the blow. The moment he balanced his body, he stabbed his sword toward Black Centipede's waist.

Now the entire battlefield was watching this fight. Once the leader of either side fell, the battle would end in an instant.

Black Centipede reacted quickly. The large knife that had missed its target twisted direction in the air and collided with Poison Spider's long sword.

Poison Spider's tiger's mouth felt a shock. Looking at the approaching large knife, he kicked off with his feet and his figure retreated rapidly.

The short exchange made Poison Spider feel a bit of palpitations. A burly man like Black Centipede was actually not inferior in reaction speed.

In fact, this was the first time the two had fought since they knew each other. The only advantage Poison Spider had in front of Black Centipede was speed.

The battle situation would certainly not end so hastily. This time, Poison Spider changed his strategy: he would dodge Black Centipede's attacks whenever possible, and only choose to take them head-on if he couldn't dodge.

Once he caught a gap in Black Centipede's attack, he would suddenly stab with his sword.

Neither of them had undergone professional training and did not understand any techniques; they relied entirely on years of fighting experience to cope, but every move was aimed at vital points, striving for a one-hit kill!

It didn't take long before both of them were covered in wounds.

A sword wound on Black Centipede's chest, a full arm's length long, was oozing blood. Originally, this upward slash was aimed at his neck; he had only escaped disaster by dodging in time, but the tip of the sword had cut three points deep into the flesh, which could not be considered a fatal wound.

The knife wound on Poison Spider's left arm was deeper, and the flowing blood had soaked the entire arm. At this moment, he was panting heavily and confronting Black Centipede.

Black Centipede looked around. The battle was still deadlocked, and his side's casualties were even heavier.

Even if he was a bit unconvinced in his heart, what Adder said before was right. Even if he barely took down Spider Stronghold this time, would the other three strongholds wait for him to slowly recover from his injuries?

At that time, both sides would suffer, which would be even more counterproductive. So, Black Centipede stretched his neck and shouted: "Retreat!"

Hearing this, the people on both sides breathed a sigh of relief. Several bandits quietly climbed up from the ground and left, mixed in with the crowd.

Poison Spider did not order a pursuit, just letting the people from Centipede Stronghold retreat.

Today's battle ended temporarily, and neither side had gained any advantage, but both knew that this matter could not end like this.

The grudge had been formed; from now on, it would depend on their own abilities!