Chapter 531: with translation of chapter title

Damn, these bastards won't act according to my script!

Every time he thought of this, He Chi felt his blood pressure skyrocket with the efficiency of sitting on a rocket.

What's worse, he's also extremely suspicious; as a lone ruler, he basically has no reliable advisor to share his burdens.

Moreover, the envoy from Deep Forest earlier told him a lot of information about the High Tower Community and the Pioneers, raising his vigilance another notch.

So after A Xi Bao had professionally carried out a three-day reconnaissance mission, he hadn't even had time to warm up before being assigned another three-day reconnaissance mission.

"???"

Not knowing what was going on, he didn't dare ask, so he had to bring the equally clueless reconnaissance team up the mountain again.

This time they expanded their reconnaissance range a bit, walking all the way to the place where he had previously been chased by a group of humans wearing ridiculous tight-fitting clothes.

The battlefield had obviously been cleaned up, but they only took the spoils, leaving plenty of messy battle traces behind.

Thus, the only thing around that could be called clean was probably the road that had been refilled, leveled quite flat, and already showed many wheel tracks.

……

!!!

A Xi Bao's heart stirred, and he hurriedly scouted both sides along the main road.

As expected, at the northern end of the road, the scouts discovered a large city surrounded by stone walls.

Moreover, on top of its walls were not only fully armed patrols, but also black cannons placed at intervals; its defenses left no room for negligence.

——Good, good, good, I was wondering why I couldn't find anyone anywhere; turns out they're shrinking back to play a turtle tactic!

But amidst the excitement, A Xi Bao, short on manpower, did not act rashly and alert the enemy.

Instead, he first sent two bird-people to swoop down from high altitude to roughly ascertain the city's internal situation.

After learning that the city had a sizable population and strict management, indeed qualifying as a 'big city', he immediately recalled his troops and hurried back to report to his father the king.

This wasn't due to his laziness in not providing the army with a few suitable targets, but rather the rear simply couldn't afford the delay.

There's no way; counting the logistics, this wave of troops conscripted before and after by the Wolf King amounts to an eight-hundred-thousand-strong army—people eat, horses chew, just how much resources are consumed each day?

With great difficulty they reached the restaurant's door, the gang was eager to dig in, but because of two sentences from the Wolf King, the brothers ended up stuck on the front line for over four days.

Thus, every minute and second the army spends at the main camp is actually consuming the Wolf King's already meager 'credibility'!

So now everyone's anger is bottled up tight; we must quickly find a suitable target to vent our resentment.

Otherwise, even if the upper ranks don't turn hostile, the lower ranks are very likely to mutiny!

Well, by the time A Xi Bao returned to the king's tent, the Ox King and the Fox King were already chattering away in front of the Wolf King.

You say you can't wait, he replies he can't hold back; although their words are somewhat polite, the resentment is plainly visible.

Even if the Wolf King is as ruthless and cunning as can be, in this vast wilderness he ultimately stands alone, unable to bear the burden.

At the very least, without these two 'royal brothers-in-law' helping him bear the load, relying solely on the Tianlang Tribe, he could never become a supreme figure among the barbarian peoples.

So seeing this, he didn't dare turn hostile, but could only place himself back in the elder brother's position to offer kind advice.

"Two younger siblings, don't be anxious; you don't understand—those humans on ShanShang are extremely sinister, and they absolutely must not be underestimated."

"Ah, second sister, you know—last summer my son led people up the mountain to scout, and in the end only he returned; we absolutely cannot be careless!"

The Nine-Tailed Tribe could become a 'minor royal court' not only because of its highest-grade Dragon-Subjugation Technique, but also because this lineage of white foxes possesses the talent to condense magical power into their tails.

Among the 'Three Siblings of Different Surnames Royalty', the white fox king, who is the second eldest and over level seventy, is the strongest, possessing a full eight tails.

When he sits on the ground, it's like a peacock spreading its tail, as if he wishes to occupy three people's space by himself—so……

Um, calm down a bit; they are white fox people, not white fox maidens.

What's perched on his neck is still a fox's head with pointed ears and a long snout; at most the facial lines are a bit more alluring, the body odor a bit stronger.

What?

You say you're even more excited?

Ah this……

In any case, seeing the Wolf King throw the topic to him, the Fox King didn't retreat either, but directly performed a classic-to-the-extreme Tai Chi routine.

"Elder brother, it's not that we younger siblings want to make things difficult for you; it's just that this involves too much, and many things… really aren't for us two to decide."

"So actually we came today mainly to give the people below an explanation, to shut them up… sigh, we three siblings really each have our own difficulties!"

Damn it!

The Wolf King really wanted to curse, but hearing that he could only echo in agreement.

"Right, right, right, long live understanding, long live understanding!... And the third brother, what does the third brother think?"

Although the Fox King's build is indeed large, the Ox King's muscles are by no means small either.

Piece by piece, section by section, the lines are exaggerated to the point of looking like they walked out of the Baki world.

Moreover, the Earthly Royal Court belongs to the ox people, so unlike those brownish underground kin, his build is larger, his skin dark, and his body covered with a fair amount of thick hair.

In short—innate ox-headed holy body!

Unfortunately, he is only over level sixty, still too young, and he actually hemmed and hawed, honestly expressing his dissatisfaction to the Wolf King.

If it were an ordinary leader, daring to do this in public would already be dead.

But the Wolf King's disposition is similar to Liu Bang and Song Jiang; the more devious his heart, the more he likes such simpletons.

Moreover, although the Ox King said a lot, going back and forth it actually boils down to the same first point.

——Elder brother, we're being way too timid this time; we might as well charge straight in and enjoy a good slaughter!

So after hearing that, the Wolf King didn't get angry either, since being mad at a straightforward fool is pointless.

"Third brother, you… you're just too……"

He had just been about to use rhetoric for a point‑to‑point pacification when he heard a report from outside the tent: the little prince has returned.

"Hmm, let him in!"

Thus A Xi Bao hurried into the king's tent, went straight to his father's side, and whispered.

Father King, I have not failed my mission; I have discovered a great human city!

The Wolf King's face lit up with joy instantly, but it faded just as quickly.

By the time he lifted his head, he had returned to his usual calm and carefree demeanor.

He even pretended to be nonchalant, waving his sleeves.

"What are you panicking about? You're younger! Rushing about like that, where's any semblance of a wolf prince's decorum?"

"Besides, your two elders are still here; no matter how urgent the matter, you can't forget to pay your respects to them first!"

"Oh, yes, yes..."

The three great kingdoms are closely allied; none can afford to provoke the others.

Naturally, this made Prince Aoxibao willingly bow and scrape, paying deep respect to the two elders.

The Ox King didn't understand what was happening, but the Fox King saw that the Wolf King was trying to use his son as a stepping stone, and quickly moved on.

She didn't stop him; instead, she went along, adopting an elder's demeanor and repeatedly praising Aoxibao's bravery and intelligence.

As everyone knows, praising the son is praising the father, so Hechina's actions could well be a test of obedience.

At least seeing them heap praise, his smile grew ever wider.

Seeing the atmosphere ease, he promptly called a halt and steered the conversation back.

"Alright, time is pressing; we'll talk about auspicious matters later."

"Didn't my son just say he discovered a great human city? Come, tell the uncles in detail!"

Aoxibao then briefly recounted how he discovered the city, directed his subordinates to observe it, and finally ordered a retreat to the royal camp.

"Hmm, not bad!"

The Wolf King nodded satisfied, having praised his son to his siblings, then added another question.

"By the way, Aoxibao, what's the name of that city?"

……

"Right, what was that city called again?"

"It seems there was no sign?"

"Maybe I just didn't look closely enough?"

……

Aoxibao's mind raced, and he promptly offered another salute.

"Reporting to Father King, the city's garrison is extraordinarily fierce; thus it is called Hancheng!"

The three kings all frowned at the words, but since it was a trivial matter they couldn't openly question it, so they silently complained to themselves.

"Damn, what a weird name!"

Now that they had a target, the two beast kings said no more, immediately setting off to return to their own camps, following the Wolf King's footsteps across the barbarian plains!

But the Wolf King didn't send all two hundred thousand troops at once; instead, he ordered the Fox King to lead thirty thousand elite forces to scout the city's strengths and weaknesses first.

"Humans are cunning; we must proceed carefully, lest it be a trap!"

The old fox couldn't say much, so he just bowed.

"As you command!"

Thus the eight-tailed white fox led thirty thousand prairie warriors up the hill, guided by the Wolf Prince, approaching that large city nestled between mountains and water, existing thanks to natural defenses.

According to steppe custom, as a commander she should have gone forward to challenge the enemy, exchanging blows to showcase our troops' vigor.

But before departure, the Wolf King specifically warned her that the humans also have seventieth-level experts, surely specialized in melee, and must not be underestimated.

Thus, as a fragile spellcaster, the Fox King decided that her main duty would be to cast buffs and area-of-effect spells in group fights.

Engaging in duels... life is precious; we can't afford any mistakes, so we shouldn't idle about challenging melee masters away from home.

So she skipped that stage, taking advantage of the humans not yet noticing them, she led her white fox mage squad a few steps forward, chanting spells, and began a magical barrage on Hancheng.

Naturally, similar to Earth, among low-level magic the most destructive are explosive spells, so all the mages frantically cast second-tier magic, Fireball.

The next second, with brilliant red light, countless fireballs the size of soccer balls traced beautiful arcs in the air, falling into Hancheng like birds rushing home.

"Enemy attack!"

"There's an enemy attack!"

Instantly, behind the city walls it was as if a hornet's nest had been stirred, and countless panicked human cries rang out.

Burning, explosions, fleeing—it quickly descended into chaos.

Unfortunately, having followed the Wolf King through countless southern and northern campaigns, the Fox King's hands were already stained with blood, and she was long accustomed to such horrors.

Thus she felt no pity, even letting out a soft hum as she led her mages in a second barrage.

But the humans were not subdued by the relentless rain of fireballs; on the contrary, under the bombardment brave souls still tried to fight back.

Moreover, although the Fox King placed the mages far out of range of ordinary firearms, she still underestimated the pioneers' methods.

"Come on, everyone, hurry up!"

Several burly humans with thick wrists quickly reached the firing slit on the wall nearest the mages, and without a word set up a huge sniper rifle whose caliber was as thick as a machine gun.

Some with high vitality helped steady the gun, archers stabilized their hands, and even observant specialists skilled in wisdom and agility provided crucial data like wind direction and enemy positions.

A series of formidable magical enhancements turned these already professional snipers into virtual killing machines, so they hardly needed to aim— a bullet as big as a finger, wrapped in layers of buffs, was fired.

"Steady! Accurate! Ruthless!"

Even though the elite white fox mages average at least level twenty, their base vitality could not withstand a headshot from such a bullet.

Thus it happened almost in an instant.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Moreover, because the distance was so great, the gunshots were torn apart by the cold wind and vanished.

So, in the eyes of the grassland people, our camp seemed haunted, and mysteriously the fox heads of several powerful mages were blown up!

——Hilarious, too hilarious!

Then it was their turn to panic and shout 'Enemy attack! There's an enemy attack!' each of them looking flustered and fearful, truly ironic to the extreme.

However, the Fox King did not lose her composure; the experienced she immediately saw that this was the sorcery of the Tower People.

She then ordered her subordinate mages to cease bombardment, switch to defense, and quickly put shields on themselves!

Fortunately, she commanded well; by the time the snipers ejected their shells and pulled the trigger a second time, most of the targets aimed at by the gun barrels already had a three-ring magical shield protecting them.

Although after the gunfire, there were still one or two inept or hard-of-hearing fools whose heads were blown apart by the Pioneers, red and white matter spilling all over the ground.

But many mages promptly put on one or even multiple layers of shields, turning themselves into super shielded individuals, using their magic to clash with this group of gunners.

Moreover, the three-ring shield will shatter with a bang the moment it contacts the bullet, unable to hold; correspondingly, the bullet will lose its kinetic energy, becoming a useless piece of junk that clatters to the ground.

So although they didn't hold much hope, the snipers on the wall still let out a hysterical sigh upon seeing this.

"Damn it, we've enlarged the gun barrel caliber to this extent, yet we're still being bullied by this bunch of bastards?"

The observer was so angry he kept slapping his thigh.

"Damn, I just clearly saw a mage without any shield, goodness! In just this short time, he managed to put his shield back on?"

(End of chapter)