On a vast plain near the southernmost border of Gouquan, two armies, numbering around twenty to thirty thousand each, faced each other across a shallow river.
On one side stood the Gouquan army; on the other, the crocodilian-headed, human-bodied forces of Eijiao. The river was shallow enough to barely reach a person's knees. Once serene, its waters now flowed murky and red, littered with broken bodies—both those of Gouquan warriors and Eijiao soldiers. The sight was a ghastly display of bloodshed.
Eijiao, the nation south of Gouquan, bore inhabitants with human physiques but crocodilian heads. Their sharp teeth and fearsome visages could terrify children into silence. In the boundless wilderness, rarely did two nations of equal strength coexist peacefully. Instead, resources, land, and food often drove them into near-frenzied warfare.
Slaughter, conquest, and subjugation were the dominant themes of this unforgiving land.
Within the Gouquan military camp, a hulking figure clad in black armor sat at the head of the command tent. Unlike other members of his kind, this Gouquan warrior's fur gleamed an unusual crimson.
In Gouquan society, fur color determined one's social standing. Gray signified the lowest caste, while black represented nobility. Other colors were almost unheard of. Crimson fur was seen as an aberration, a mark of disgrace and death.
Yet, within this tent, not a single general dared show disrespect to the crimson-furred figure.
He was Dusang, the strongest warrior of Gouquan, a national general who once delivered a mortal blow to a rising power of Taicang, leading to the hero's untimely demise. Dusang wielded unparalleled authority within the army.
"General, the Eijiao forces have launched three major offensives and paid dearly for each. It's unlikely they'll attack again in the next few days," one of the Gouquan officers reported, bowing low.
Dusang picked up a chunk of raw, blood-soaked meat from the table before him and tore into it with his sharp teeth. Blood oozed from the flesh, dripping down his jaw and adding to his savage aura.
"What's your point?" Dusang growled between bites.
"General, the capital's defenses are critically undermanned. Should Taicang catch wind of this, they may seize the opportunity to..." the officer began, only to be interrupted by another.
"Taicang?" The second officer scoffed. "Even if they had the courage of a hundred lions, they wouldn't dare march on Gouquan! Their strength is a shadow of its former self after two catastrophic blows!"
"Yet that foolhardy young ruler of Taicang slaughtered the envoy we sent to demand tribute, along with his hundred-strong entourage!"
"That brat's insanity is matched only by Taicang officials' folly in making him king! Once Eijiao retreats, I'll personally request permission from the general and the king to march into Taicang, cut off that mad boy's head, and hang it in the royal palace!"
The tent erupted into a cacophony of voices, each shouting over the other.
"Silence," Dusang commanded.
Instantly, the noise ceased.
"Taicang's new ruler and his mysterious, elite forces, equivalent to an Evil Hound Legion, won't miss such a golden opportunity. If they can strike us from behind and disrupt our morale, Eijiao could secure a victory on the frontlines."
Dusang took another bite of his raw meat, chewed loudly, and spat out a greenish chunk—evidently a piece of crocodilian hide from an Eijiao soldier's neck.
"Who prepared today's meal? They didn't even bother skinning it properly," he muttered.
Casting a cold gaze over the assembled generals, Dusang's expression turned cruel.
"As for that fleeing soldier? He's likely already led Taicang right into our hands. Let them come. Let them come! The king has a special surprise prepared for them."
The 2,000 soldiers newly dubbed the Taicang Silver Guard marched in precise formation, their progress steady and unwavering. Among the most exceptional warriors from the Cangshou Army, each possessed the formidable strength of a Sixth Heavenly Realm cultivator, surpassing even the elite Cangwei troops in raw power.
Taicheng lay 800 li from the southern border. For these hardened warriors, the journey took less than two hours at their rapid pace.
The border itself was a desolate expanse of barren wasteland, devoid of vegetation and teeming with colossal beasts. Neither Taicang nor Gouquan bothered to fortify this no-man's-land, as it held no strategic or economic value.
The Silver Guard's overwhelming spiritual energy sent the beasts scattering, temporarily keeping the path clear. Had a smaller party ventured through, they would likely have been devoured.
At the head of the formation, Jixia, Ji Qianqing, and Po Xian led the march, their leisurely strides keeping pace effortlessly with the troops. Behind them followed Generals Ronglu and Meng Yan.
"We've encountered no resistance or patrols along the way. Could it be that Gouquan has left the path entirely unguarded?" Ronglu mused, suspicion clouding his expression.
"It is strange," Ji Qianqing agreed. "But before we set out, I dispatched Shadow Minions led by Yin Ding to scout ahead. They're adept at hiding in the shadows, leaving no trace of spiritual energy, making them ideal for reconnaissance.
"If Gouquan has laid any traps, they will detect them and report back immediately," Jixia reassured her.
Moments later, a group of figures approached rapidly, their armor glinting dully. Despite their swift pace, they moved with an uncanny silence.
Po Xian recognized them instantly: the Shadow Army, the spectral warriors Jixia had summoned to aid Taicang in its darkest hours.
Among them, Yin Ding stood out. His pallid complexion and gaunt frame gave him the appearance of a ghost. Ignoring Po Xian's curious gaze, he knelt before Jixia.
"Master, Yin Ding has scouted the route to Gouquan's capital. The path is clear, with no signs of ambush. Within the capital itself, only 3,000 soldiers remain to defend it. There are no additional reinforcements," Yin Ding reported.
Jixia nodded in satisfaction and turned to his generals.
"There is no need for undue concern. If Gouquan truly had the capability to set an undetectable trap capable of wiping out our 2,000 Silver Guard warriors, they would have already annihilated Taicang instead of luring us into their territory.
"Even if that fleeing soldier was a decoy, as some of you suspect, as long as Gouquan remains unaware of the Silver Guard's true strength, we have nothing to fear."
Ronglu pondered the young ruler's words and realized their logic. Gouquan's arrogance, coupled with sufficient strength, would have led them to launch a direct invasion rather than resorting to subterfuge.
If traps awaited, they would meet them head-on, confident in the unparalleled might of the Silver Guard.
"This force will undoubtedly give Gouquan the shock of their lives," Ronglu remarked with a wry smile.