Chapter 149: The Noble Unit Seems to Have Vanished!

Ram's fall caused the remaining hundred-plus tribal warriors to immediately collapse, and the Storm Army pressed the advantage.

When the last savage fell, cheers erupted.

"We've won! We've won!"

"Hah! Lord Gervas is mighty—we've taken Aojinmubao!"

"Clear the battlefield immediately, rescue the wounded—we don't have much time!!"

"Yes, my lord!"

Gervas knew the savages behind them were very likely already on their way.

So there was little time to waste.

And indeed, the left flank's main camp was now a sea of fire.

Most of the savages had completed their pursuit and slaughter of the noble forces.

Only a few noble units had slipped through, still being chased.

"Commander, we've interrogated the prisoners!"

"Good. Which noble killed two hundred Black Tiger warriors? Tell me—is he dead or alive?" Tila Ka asked.

"Commander, it's a noble named Gervas Gail. Fortunately, that damned noble is still alive!"

"Oh?" Tila Ka's face broke into a smile.

A living noble meant they could exact revenge through a blood sacrifice.

That would grant sufficient honor to the fallen Black Tiger warriors.

"Commander, although Gervas is alive, we didn't capture him—he was one of the noble units that escaped early!"

"According to the noble prisoners' confessions, Gervas headed for Aojinmubao!"

"Is that so?" Tila Ka frowned slightly but didn't dwell on it. "Send out eight hundred Black Tiger warriors and one thousand ordinary tribal warriors to pursue him immediately."

"Eight hundred Black Tiger warriors and one thousand ordinary tribal warriors? Commander, that's too many! I heard it was only a four-hundred-man noble unit!"

"That small noble killed two hundred Black Tiger warriors—he must be taken seriously, and we must capture him!"

"Yes, Commander!"

After a pause, the subordinate added: "Commander, what do we do with these surrendered nobles in the camp?"

At this, Tila Ka's eyes turned cold.

"Cowardly, dishonorable nobles—kill them all!"

…

"My lord, we killed five hundred enemies total—no survivors!"

"Casualties: eleven from the Pirate Squad, eight from the Slave Squad, no deaths in the Storm Guard—only two seriously wounded!"

"Good. Order a one-hour rest—then march southwest immediately!"

"Yes, my lord!"

Inside Aojinmubao, the battlefield had been cleared, and spoils and losses tallied.

Notably, the surprise attack succeeded—the enemy was caught completely off guard.

Thus, five hundred tribal warriors were slain, yet Storm Army losses were less than half of the previous engagement.

Of course, besides the element of surprise, two other reasons were critical.

First, Gervas's slave soldiers and pirates had adapted to battle through prior combat—no more fear.

Without fear, their performance naturally improved.

Second, these ordinary tribal warriors were nowhere near the strength of Black Tiger warriors.

Gervas could clearly sense this during the fight.

Just now, when those three hundred tribal savages faced them on the wasteland, they instantly panicked upon sensing the Storm Army's strength.

Last time, even when ambushed, the Black Tiger squad fought with ease.

The two sides were incomparable.

…

Soon, one hour passed.

Gervas dared not delay further—he ordered his men to set out immediately.

He had to hide before the main tribal force caught up; otherwise, even his elite troops would be doomed if surrounded.

For the next three or four hours, Gervas's force marched nonstop—even as dawn began to break, they dared not pause.

This overnight pursuit, coupled with a hard battle, left his men exhausted.

Then, worse news arrived.

Splash! Splash!

"Report, my lord! Eighteen hundred western savages detected fifteen li behind!"

"So soon?"

Gervas hadn't expected that, despite marching on foot, the savages moved so fast.

This was likely because the tribes had learned he'd wiped out five hundred at Aojinmubao.

Thus, they hated him even more intensely.

"My lord, should we halt and prepare for battle?" Ram asked, sensing escape was no longer possible.

According to estimates, the western savages' speed was already twice theirs.

In another hour or two, they'd be caught.

So it was better to rest now and strengthen their combat readiness!

"No. Accelerate the march. Zhuiyue has scouted ahead—seven or eight li forward, there's a hidden spot where we can conceal ourselves!"

"A hidden spot?"

Hearing Gervas, his men dared not hesitate—they gritted their teeth and pushed forward faster.

When the maple forest appeared as described, Gervas immediately ordered his men into the dense woods.

"My lord, behind the waterfall is a cave—and it connects to a vast valley, spacious enough for thousands to camp without crowding!"

At the waterfall, Ram and his knight retinue returned with good news.

"Hah! This is perfect! Zhuiyue, you're incredible! We're saved!"

Upon hearing this, Mi Gen and the others broke into smiles.

After all, if the tribal savages found them, battle would likely mean mutual annihilation.

But if they could hide, there was still a chance to survive!

Instantly, everyone turned to Zhuiyue with worshipful gazes.

Hmph!

Zhuiyue didn't understand why these creatures were staring at him so happily.

But he lifted his proud head. "Two-legged beasts, are you delighted because you've beheld the divine visage of this unicorn?"

"Don't be infatuated with this divine beast—I'm only temporarily accompanying Gervas. My future self will be legend!"

…

At noon, Aojinmubao!

Commander Tila Ka strode into the wooden fortress, face dark.

He would never have come here under normal circumstances.

But when the morning's swift rider brought word, he rode here without pause.

Seeing the bodies of tribal warriors inside and outside the fortress, Tila Ka was heartbroken, fists clenched till his knuckles cracked.

"Report!"

A messenger hurried from the southwest.

"Found them yet?" Before the messenger could speak, Tila Ka demanded.

The messenger flinched but forced himself to answer: "C…Commander, we…we haven't found them yet…"

"What?" Tila Ka's face turned ashen.

Calculating their speed, the pursuit force should have reached Lord Walker's territory by now.

There, a thousand tribal warriors were stationed—no human unit could possibly pass through.

The messenger panicked, fell to his knees, and hurriedly reported: "Commander, Deputy Commander Dowa has led eighteen hundred tribal warriors to Lord Walker's territory!"

"But according to the tribal warriors there, they saw no noble force at all!"

"S…so the noble unit… it seems… it seems to have vanished!"