Chapter 356 - 267: Annihilate the Camp

Chapter 356: Chapter 267: Annihilate the Camp

The Queen also looked at Li Zi. ’That girl’s children will certainly never go hungry.’

It had to be said, the Queen’s way of thinking was always a bit different from everyone else’s.

Tang Wen glanced at Zhou Bing from the corner of his eye. Seeing her relaxed expression, devoid of any displeasure, he breathed an inward sigh of relief.

’Then again, I expected as much. Sister Bing picked out a Maid for me a long time ago. Why would she get jealous over something like this?’

Li Zi knew General Zhao and Qian Dong and had seen her fair share of intense situations, so she wasn’t the least bit intimidated upon entering the hall.

She smiled at everyone, cupped her fist in a gesture of goodwill and greeting, and then said, "Just now, Sister Qi and I interrogated a few people. They confessed some things."

"Tell us."

Li Zi cut right to the chase. "The one behind them is Lin Zhiheng, a son-in-law of the Huang Family. He recently broke through to the Senior Fifth Grade Realm and wants to expand his own power. He found out about the camps and cities to the north and wants to take over this region and enslave everyone here!"

"When is he coming in person?"

Flame Camp was located thousands of miles away from Ganshan City. The land here was cold and barren, vast and sparsely populated. No one would ever think to find a small city here.

Li Zi continued, "According to Ganshan City’s New Year traditions, if Lin Zhiheng is coming, it won’t be until at least half a month after the holiday. The two brothers we captured said he’s likely trying to secure an estate for his illegitimate son, which is why he’s set his sights on this place."

Tang Wen sneered. "Building an estate at my expense! In that case, even if he does come, he definitely won’t bring anyone else with him."

If he brought other Fifth-Grade masters from the Huang Family, it would no longer be his decision who to give Flame Camp to after its capture. How could he secure an estate for his illegitimate son then?

General Zhou was exceptionally cautious. "That may be, but we captured the men he sent. How could he possibly come without backup?"

Before Tang Wen could answer, Li Zi said, "This place is simply too far from Ganshan City. Even an Extraordinary Exotic Beast would have to travel for more than ten days to get here. I asked them. The fastest mounts these Sixth-Grade masters had were merely High-level Exotic Beasts. Even if they had successfully taken the camp, they wouldn’t have been able to make it back in time."

"How did the Black Mountain Ghost contact these people?"

"It seems to be the Huang Family’s internal messaging system. It can only be used in specific locations."

Tang Wen nodded. If that was the case, the probability of Lin Zhiheng, this son-in-law of the Huang Family, coming alone was very high.

"This man has eight Sixth-Grade subordinates under his command, and he sent six of them this time."

"He emptied the nest, quite the appetite." Tang Wen then asked, "Where did the other two go?"

"Five Families City."

Hm?!

Everyone was startled.

"Two Sixth-Grade masters went to Five Families City. Their strength doesn’t compare to ours; they don’t have a single Sixth-Grade Master. I’m afraid they’re in danger."

"Those families in Five Families City are as cunning as they come. They might just surrender on the spot!"

"..."

Tang Wen sat up straight. "Five Families City cannot fall to the Huang Family! I originally planned to move our camps to Ganshan City, one after another. But then some things happened, and I gave up on that idea.

We’ll have to stay and develop this region, but the masters from the camp can come with me to Ganshan City to train. Elixirs, resources—they will have everything they need."

People form attachments to their homes.

Especially a place they had managed for years, a place of survival for which they had repeatedly risked their lives.

Hearing Tang Wen say this, smiles appeared on everyone’s faces, and they nodded in agreement.

Not having to leave the camp, yet still having access to resources and a brighter future for the younger generation—it couldn’t be better.

General Zhao said in a joking tone, "Our Young Master is so considerate!"

"Hahaha, that’s right. The Young Master is very thoughtful."

"..."

The room was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

General Zhou waved his hand to quiet the room. "So, are we going to rescue Five Families City?"

Tang Wen looked at Li Zi. "Ask what time those two left."

Li Zi turned and left the room, returning moments later. "The two Sixth-Grade masters left from nearby today, along with five Extraordinaries and a squad of Martial Artists. Their mounts are a group of Middle-level Exotic Beasts."

"Then they won’t be moving too quickly. Calculating the journey, it should take them two or three days to reach Five Families City," General Zhou said thoughtfully.

"Let’s assume they travel day and night; it will only take them two days," Tang Wen said, a sharp glint in his eyes.

"In that case, if we hurry and bring the Sand Wolves and the Silver Wolf, we can reach Five Families City before they do!"

"There’s no time to lose. I’ll go prepare at once!" With that, Qian Dong stood up.

Tang Wen quickly reached out a hand to stop him. "Wait!"

"What is it?"

Tang Wen looked slightly exasperated. "I never said we were going to the rescue now."

"We have to wait?"

"What I’m saying is, since we have time, let’s wipe out Black Mountain Camp first. It won’t be too late to rescue Five Families City after that!"

Everyone was stunned.

The Queen was heard clapping her hands in excitement as she stood up. "That’s right! We should wipe them out first."

Tang Wen turned his head. Since he was sitting on the steps, he was looking up, and a pair of towering peaks unavoidably filled his vision. "Her Majesty the Queen, you can’t go." 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

"It’s just a minor injury." The Queen, wrapped in bandages, shot him a look, her voice thick with displeasure.

’You bled all over the floor, and you call that a minor injury?’

"Just hurry up and heal that ’minor injury’ of yours. Don’t delay your trip with me to Ganshan City to break through to Fifth Grade."

The Queen raised an eyebrow. ’Eh?’

She looked down at herself and said drily, "I’ll just go to watch. I can take care of the small fry."

Tang Wen still shook his head. "The three who raided our camp may have been crippled, but a Sixth-Grade master is still a Sixth-Grade master. We need someone who can keep them under control to stand guard!"

The Queen could only sigh. "Then I suppose it has to be me."

"Her Majesty is wise," Tang Wen said perfunctorily.

There was no time to lose. Aside from the injured who remained behind, the Generals, Commanders, and elite guards of Flame Camp quickly fell into formation.

Hu Qi stirred the clouds, summoned a gale, and lifted several hundred people into the air, flying them toward the southwest.

Tangtang, Zhou Bing, and the Queen stood in the courtyard, their eyes filled with amazement as they watched the force depart.

GULP.

The Queen chugged a few mouthfuls of wine and muttered, "Fifth Grade..."

「Black Mountain Camp. Soldiers descending from the sky.」

Flame Camp had never in its entire existence fought such a one-sided, overwhelming battle—the strong crushing the weak, a war of pure dominance.

Led by Martial Artists, they formed squads of ten.

They fanned out from the center, attacking in all directions, rushing into buildings and killing anyone on sight.

If they encountered anyone they couldn’t handle, they immediately fired a Whistling Arrow to call for aid.

"Someone’s broken in!"

"It’s Flame Camp!"

"Run!"

"Go find the General!"

When the Black Mountain Ghost was cornered by several Extraordinaries in a secret underground chamber, he was in the middle of "enjoying himself" with his sworn sister.

Tang Wen and Hu Qi headed straight for the Black Mountain King’s residence.

It was a complex of interconnected bunkers. According to an informant they’d snatched along the way, the bunkers had at least seven or eight exits.

Besides the Black Mountain King himself, no one knew the exact number or location of all the doors.

When they arrived, the man and his striped tiger discovered that the bunkers were all hidden beneath wooden houses.

That was why Tang Wen hadn’t discovered any bunkers when he had scouted the area not long ago.

"Living underground without seeing the light of day... The Black Mountain King is truly terrified of dying!"

Just as Tang Wen finished speaking, he noticed a strange expression on the face of the Martial Artist he’d captured.

"If you have something to say, say it."

The Martial Artist couldn’t discern Tang Wen’s origins, nor was he sure if this young nobleman with the giant tiger could actually conquer their camp.

"You’re already a traitor for bringing me here," Tang Wen said in a cold voice.

The Martial Artist from Black Mountain Camp trembled for a moment. "There are Fluorescent Stones below, so it’s very bright. The pathways inside are extremely complex, and I’ve heard there’s a second and even a third level, but I’ve never been down there myself."

Tang Wen had seen Fluorescent Stones before; they could be mined in many places around Ganshan City.

"Are there any rare treasures down there?" Tang Wen asked casually.

"Rare treasures?"

The Martial Artist looked hesitant.

Tang Wen didn’t press the issue. Time was short, and capturing his target was the priority.

There was no way he was going down into the bunker in front of them.

The Black Mountain King was terrified of death. Who knew how many traps were laid out below?

Even if it contained one million gold taels, it wouldn’t be worth the risk.

"How goes it?" General Zhao asked, rushing over. "I heard the Black Mountain Ghost was captured alive and revealed a lot of secrets."

Before Tang Wen could answer, he thrust his spear into the bunker wall.

SHINK!

The gleaming spearhead flashed, leaving a gash half a foot long.

"Damn! It’s a turtle shell!"

A single thrust from an Extraordinary wasn’t even enough to pierce the wall.

It was a testament to the bunker’s sturdiness.

"What should we do?"

Tang Wen smiled faintly. "Ah Qi tells me there’s a Sixth-Grade master hiding below, and the Blood Crows haven’t seen anyone leave the vicinity. The Black Mountain King is right under our feet.

First, we’ll finish clearing out the camp. As for this turtle shell, I have a way to crack it open!"