xymnovel Chapter 135 Leisurely Pleasures on the Road
Chapter 135 Leisurely Pleasures on the Road
As the morning light pierced through the carriage window screen, Lin Chen was resting his head on Qin Shuyan's soft thighs, enjoying Xiao Yulou's head massage.
Ye Qingying quietly peeled an orange to the side.
"Eighth Brother, it's time to get up." Qin Shuyan gently patted Lin Chen's face with the account book.
"Today we must cross Black Wind Gorge, which is said to be quite unsettled lately."
Lin Chen didn't even open his eyes, and mumbled:
"If things aren't peaceful, just wipe them out. Let the Eight Great Vajras lead the Tiger Legion. I'm going back to sleep."
"You..." Xiao Yulou smiled helplessly, then increased the pressure on his hand.
"Does he really think he's a spoiled brat? This is a great opportunity to train his troops."
Ye Qingying handed over a segment of orange: "There was progress in the interrogation last night."
The man in black robes was named Han Li, and he came from the Netherworld Sect in Central China. He was an inner and outer sect steward.
He arrived in the North three months ago on a mission to assist the Cui family in gaining control of the North and to find an 'ancient relic.'
Lin Chen finally opened his eyes, sat up, and took the orange:
"Ancient relics? What exactly are they?"
"He's not high enough rank; I don't know the details." Ye Qingying shook her head.
"All we know is that this item is related to the battle that the old Duke fought three years ago."
The higher-ups of the Netherworld Sect suspected that the old Duke, while deep behind enemy lines, might have discovered something else besides destroying supplies.
Lin Chen's eyes narrowed slightly:
"So...the deaths of my father and brothers might not only be a setup by the Cui family and Zhao Yuan, but also involve forces in Zhongzhou?"
"Very likely." Zhuge Liang's voice came from outside the carriage. "My lord, may I come in?"
"Please, Mr. Kongming."
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Zhuge Liang walked in, holding a feather fan.
Seeing Lin Chen sitting disheveled among the three ladies, he bowed with a composed expression:
"My lord, we have just received two secret reports."
"explain."
"The first one comes from Chen Ping of Tingfeng Tower." Zhuge Liang handed over a slip of paper.
"Recently, about eight hundred bandits have gathered in Black Wind Gorge. Their leader is nicknamed 'Black Wind Demon' and has a mid-stage Grandmaster cultivation level."
Strangely, these people were not ordinary bandits; they were well-equipped, highly trained, and suspected to be... veterans retired from the Northern Shuo army.
Lin Chen raised an eyebrow:
"A veteran from Beishuo becoming a bandit within the territory of Dayan? What is Wanyan Honglie trying to do?"
"The second secret report might provide the answer," Zhuge Liang said.
Ten days ago, Wanyan Honglie secretly dispatched an elite team of three thousand men, disguised as a merchant caravan, to infiltrate the territory of Dayan.
Their mission was to harass supply lines and create chaos to support the offensive on the main battlefield.
The group from Black Wind Gorge were very likely their outpost.
Qin Shuyan frowned: "Three thousand elite troops infiltrated? What are the border guards doing?"
"The northern defense line stretches for thousands of miles, but there are bound to be loopholes," Zhuge Liang said.
"Moreover, if it is escorted by a Celestial Realm expert, it is not difficult to deceive the ordinary guards."
Lin Chen finished eating the orange and wiped his hands:
"Interesting. Mr. Kongming, do you think Wanyan Honglie sent these three thousand men simply to harass the supply lines?"
"Not only that." Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan.
"Liang believed that the army's true purpose was to cooperate with the Cui family's ambush at Luoyingjian."
Once our army is blocked at Luoyingjian, this surprise force can attack from the rear, launching a pincer attack.
"Quite the appetite," Lin Chen laughed. "Three thousand men think they can devour my eight thousand elite troops?"
"Three thousand ordinary soldiers are certainly not enough." Zhuge Liang's eyes flickered slightly.
"But what if it were three thousand Northern Northern Iron Wolf Guards?"
There was a moment of silence inside the car.
Xiao Yulou gasped: "Iron Wolf Guard?"
The most elite special forces unit in Northern Shuo, all members of which are of the fifth rank or above, are skilled in mountain warfare and harassment tactics, and once achieved a victory of 300 men defeating 5,000 border troops.
"Exactly." Zhuge Liang nodded.
"If it really is the Iron Wolf Guard, combined with the terrain of Black Wind Gorge, they could indeed cause quite a bit of trouble."
Lin Chen lay back down on Qin Shuyan's lap and said lazily:
"Then let's wipe them out, Zilong, did you hear me?"
Zhao Zilong's steady voice came from outside the carriage:
"This subordinate understands. My lord, should we spare them?"
"Leave a few officials for questioning, the rest... do as you please." Lin Chen waved his hand.
"By the way, let the Great Snow Dragon Riders stretch their muscles a bit, instead of always having such a stern face, like someone owes them money."
"Yes."
The footsteps faded into the distance.
Lin Chen closed his eyes: "I'm going to take a nap. Wake me up when we get to Black Wind Gorge."
The three women exchanged a glance and smiled helplessly.
Qin Shuyan continued looking at the account book, Xiao Yulou covered him with a thin blanket, while Ye Qingying began to sort through the intelligence that the Bad People had just sent.
Zhuge Liang shook his head and chuckled before stepping out of the carriage.
……
Two hours later, at Black Wind Gorge.
This is a narrow canyon about five miles long, with steep mountain walls and jagged rocks on both sides, only wide enough for three riders to pass side by side.
It is the only way to go north.
Lin Chen's carriage stopped a mile from the valley entrance. He lifted the curtain and squinted at the canyon ahead.
"The Eight Great Vajras, leading two thousand elite warriors, have entered the valley to scout." Zhao Zilong rode up.
"My lord, should we wait until they've finished cleaning up before proceeding?"
"What are we waiting for?" Lin Chen yawned. "Let's just go. What can a mere eight hundred bandits do to us?"
Qin Shuyan said softly, "Eighth Brother, it's best to be careful, just in case..."
"There's no 'what if'," Lin Chen smiled nonchalantly. "Don't worry, Third Sister-in-law, I know what I'm doing."
Then he beckoned to Li Chunfeng:
"Mr. Li, could you please add a protective array to the carriage so that stones, arrows, or anything else won't disturb my sleep?"
Li Chunfeng chuckled lightly: "Rest assured, my lord, with me here, not a speck of dust will remain."
As he spoke, he took out several array flags and tossed them aside.
The battle flags transformed into streams of light and disappeared around the carriage, and a faint, transparent light shield rose up, enveloping the entire carriage.
"Let's go." Lin Chen lowered the carriage curtain.
The army continued its advance.
The five hundred Snow Dragon Riders were divided into two teams, one leading the way and the other protecting the carriages on both sides.
These cavalrymen were expressionless, with cold, sharp eyes, and their spears gleamed coldly in the sunlight.
The Tiger Legion soldiers, on the other hand, appeared somewhat "disorganized," with loose formations, chatting and laughing as if they were truly sightseeing.
Inside the carriage, Lin Chen had indeed fallen asleep again.
until--
"boom!!!"
Suddenly, countless boulders rolled down from the mountain walls on both sides of the canyon!
At the same time, a dense barrage of arrows rained down like a storm!
"Enemy attack—!!!"
An alarm sounded in the Tiger Warriors' army, but unexpectedly, the soldiers did not panic.
Instead, they quickly formed a battle formation, raised their shields, and blocked all the arrows.
The boulders crashed against the shield formation with dull thuds, but they could not break through the defenses.
The five hundred Great Snow Dragon Riders didn't even raise their shields; they merely glanced up and continued onward.
The arrows struck them, producing a metallic clang before falling limply to the ground.
The armor of these cavalrymen was at least made of black iron!
On the mountainside, a burly man with a face full of scars stared in disbelief:
"What...what the hell kind of army is this?!"
His deputy beside him said in a trembling voice:
"Boss, something's not right! Ordinary border troops don't have this kind of equipment! Look at those silver-armored cavalry, even arrows can't penetrate them!"
"Shut up!" Black Wind Fiend gritted his teeth. "Put down the rolling logs! Pour oil! I refuse to believe we can't burn them to death!"
However, no sooner had the order been given than a beam of silver light suddenly shot into the sky from the valley!