"Since we know those bandits are just ahead, let us charge in and eliminate them all at once!" Upon hearing Ye Tian's words, Liu Hongwu's eyebrows lifted in excitement as she prepared to leap forward, only to be swiftly restrained by Ye Tian.
"What are you doing pulling me back?" Liu Hongwu turned around, glaring at Ye Tian with fury.
Ye Tian rolled his eyes, gazing at her as if she were a fool. "Do you have any idea how many bandits there are? Do you even know their strongest member's level? You want to rush in without any information? Please! If you're seeking death, don't drag us down with you!"
The nine captains standing nearby nodded in agreement. Though they feared Liu Hongwu's strength, they weren't foolish enough to gamble with their lives.
Momentarily taken aback by Ye Tian's words, Liu Hongwu's anger surged, and she let out a huff, sulking in silence with her small face taut with indignation.
Seeing her demeanor, Ye Tian felt a sense of relief and chose to ignore her. He turned to one of the captains, saying, "Old Zhang, I've heard you were a hunter in the past. I've seen your skills; you're quick and adept at hiding. This reconnaissance task is yours. Be cautious and ascertain the number of bandits. If you can discern the strength of their leader, that would be even better."
This captain, referred to as Old Zhang, was remarkably slender, resembling a monkey, with dark skin that made him seem unremarkable. However, Ye Tian didn't underestimate him, for Old Zhang was one of the strongest among the captains, possessing the prowess of a Level Eight warrior, second only to Liu Hongwu.
"Rest assured, little boss; I'll accomplish the task you've assigned," Old Zhang replied with a smirk, a hint of disdain flickering in his eyes.
Ye Tian noticed the expression but paid it no mind, understanding that his youth would require time to earn the respect of these seasoned veterans.
Although Old Zhang and the other eight captains outwardly respected Ye Tian, it was clear that if not for their apprehension of his strength and the severe military discipline of the Blood Cloak Guards, they would not heed his commands.
Ye Tian was indifferent to whether they truly respected him; as long as they obeyed his orders, that was sufficient.
Once Old Zhang departed, Ye Tian instructed the remaining eight captains to prepare their fire arrows. As Blood Cloak Guards, each one was equipped with a bow and arrow, with arrowheads capable of igniting at any moment, ready to become fiery projectiles.
Surveying the surrounding forest environment, Ye Tian noted the cold weather, yet the sun shone brightly today, promising that the humidity in the woods would likely dissipate by noon.
At that time, if a single fire arrow were launched, it would undoubtedly spark a blaze.
With five hundred men at their disposal, if each fired a few arrows, it would amount to thousands of flaming projectiles, enough to set the entire gorge ablaze.
This was Ye Tian's strategy: to initiate a fire attack, shattering the bandits' morale and weakening their strength before launching a collective charge to eliminate them all.
Of course, this plan hinged on the opposing leader's strength remaining manageable; otherwise, if the enemy leader turned out to be a formidable captain, then it would be prudent to retreat.
Ye Tian wasn't naive; if the bandits could be defeated, they would be eliminated, but he wasn't about to gamble with his life.
"Hey, you little brat, what are you scheming over there? You look all sneaky!" Just as Ye Tian was deep in thought, an irritable voice interrupted him.
Without needing to think, he knew it was Liu Hongwu. Turning slightly, he saw her fuming, her small fists raised defiantly. "Why am I the only one without a task? Do you look down on me?"
Ye Tian smirked dismissively. "You're no match for me. Are you seeking humiliation?"
"You..." Liu Hongwu's face flushed with anger at his retort.
Just as she was about to retaliate, Ye Tian quickly interjected, "Enough bickering; the mission is paramount. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to act. Once the battle begins, focus on taking down the strong among the bandits without wasting time."
"Hmph, there will come a time when you need my assistance. Don't worry, with me in the fray, these bandits will be mere trifles," Liu Hongwu declared, raising her chin with a haughty demeanor.
Throughout the history of the Blood Cloak Guards, no bandit had ever triumphed over them. Growing up within the ranks of the Blood Cloak Guards, combined with her remarkable talent, she naturally looked down upon these bandits.
Seeing her arrogance, Ye Tian sensed trouble. However, after some contemplation, he refrained from offering another warning; he believed that without facing some setbacks, she wouldn't grow.
Time passed, and about an hour later, a lean figure darted from the forest ahead and swiftly approached Ye Tian.
It was Old Zhang, the captain who had gone out for reconnaissance.
"Little boss!" Old Zhang beamed at Ye Tian, wearing a smug expression. The other captains, seeing him return, gathered around without needing to be summoned by Ye Tian.
"What have you discovered?" Ye Tian asked directly, unconcerned about Old Zhang's informal address.
Old Zhang, cautious not to offend Ye Tian too much, given the latter's formidable strength, began to relay his findings.
"Those bandits are truly arrogant, having robbed our Blood Jade City merchants, yet they exhibit no vigilance, as if they believe we wouldn't dare to retaliate. You wouldn't believe it—I found them celebrating over drinks when I went to scout. Almost all of the bandits were gathered together, feasting and drinking, with not a single guard posted!" Old Zhang chuckled mockingly.
Upon hearing this, the others let out sighs of relief, their expressions turning into smirks. A mere group of bandits, lacking in combat readiness, spelled inevitable victory for them.
Ye Tian pressed on, "How many of them did you see, and what is their strength?" This was the matter of utmost importance to him.
"I observed for half an hour, and they have approximately five thousand members, the majority of whom are at the third or fourth rank of martial arts. Among them, there are thirty at the seventh rank, six at the eighth, and two formidable warriors at the ninth rank, who are presumably their leaders," Old Zhang reported with a degree of ease.
Although the bandits outnumbered them ten to one, the disparity in combat capability was stark. It is essential to note that among their five hundred, even the weakest possessed at least the seventh rank, with ten at the eighth rank, and two, including Ye Tian and Liu Hongwu, at the pinnacle of the tenth rank.
The only significant threats among the bandits were the two ninth-rank leaders; however, if Ye Tian and Liu Hongwu could eliminate them, the remaining bandits would be utterly powerless, easily vanquished after just a few charges.
Moreover, most of the bandits were cowardly; once defeated, they would undoubtedly flee in chaos.
Upon learning the situation of the bandits from Old Zhang, the other captains, including Liu Hongwu, felt a wave of relief wash over them, eagerly awaiting Ye Tian's command to charge forth and dispatch their foes!
Ye Tian also displayed a hint of relaxation; the enemy's strength was even weaker than he had anticipated. In fact, as long as the enemy did not possess warriors of the Master rank or above, he felt unthreatened.
With his combat prowess rivaling that of a Master, he could easily eliminate the two ninth-rank bandits in just a few swift strokes.
After a moment's contemplation, Ye Tian waved his hand and began to formulate an attack plan with the ten captains. The previous strategy of using fire was not abandoned; despite the enemy's weakness, caution was still prudent to minimize casualties.
Once the attack plan was finalized, they advanced cautiously. As they neared the vicinity of the canyon, a cacophony of sounds echoed up from below.
Standing atop the canyon, through the dense underbrush, Ye Tian finally caught sight of the bandits' lair.
The immense canyon was punctuated by numerous caves carved into the rock, undoubtedly serving as the bandits' dwellings. They were quite clever, residing in caves that provided protection from beasts and the elements, ensuring warmth in winter and coolness in summer.
In the central area of the canyon, various wooden structures, houses, and platforms stood erect, clearly designated as gathering spots for the bandits. A large square was filled with many bandits who were enjoying meat and singing merrily, seemingly carefree.
"Brothers, we have successfully robbed the merchant convoy from Xueyu City, and our big boss is about to break through to the Master rank! Our gang is truly blessed, so drink to your heart's content!"
From a distance, Ye Tian observed one of the ninth-rank leaders rallying the bandits in the square, but he could not catch the specifics of the speech due to the distance.
"Little Boss!"
At this moment, the captains were all prepared, their gazes fixed on Ye Tian.
Ye Tian surveyed the bandits reveling below and, with a glint of cold determination in his eyes, raised his hand and shouted, "Fire!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
With Ye Tian's command, the five hundred blood-clad warriors stood ready, aiming their prepped fire arrows at the bandits and structures in the canyon below, unleashing a volley.
The air was filled with the sound of countless arrows raining down like droplets of rain, igniting the bandits and nearby structures in a conflagration that spread like a volcanic eruption, spectacular in its ferocity.
"Ah..."
"Damn it! Where did the enemy come from?"
"It's an enemy attack!!!"
"Kill them! They're above us; wipe them out!"
...
Chaos erupted in the canyon, with angry shouts echoing endlessly. Some bandits fell victim to the arrows, while others were consumed by the flames, even those who narrowly escaped were struck with terror, their morale shattered.
Seizing the moment, Ye Tian leaped into the air, bellowing, "Kill them! Annihilate these bandits and show them the might of the Blood-Clad Warriors!"
With that, he unsheathed his sword and charged toward the oncoming bandits below. Instantly, the scene transformed into a maelstrom of blood, flashing blades, and severed limbs.
Ye Tian was immensely powerful; wherever he went, there was hardly a foe to challenge him, as no bandit could withstand his onslaught.
"Kill!" roared the Blood-Clad Warriors as they surged forward. Witnessing their leader Ye Tian's ferocity, they were electrified, their spirits soaring to new heights.