Wuxia: The Super Slave Master

Page 364

"How many patrolmen have been sent out?" Luo Chen asked.

“Each detachment will send out about twenty patrol teams, totaling about four hundred people,” Yan Qing said.

"Patrol area?"

"It's just around here. The desert is too hot, and the sandstorms are too strong; it's easy to get separated."

"No." Luo Chen's tone was somewhat stern. "Double the number of patrolmen. Double the patrol area as well. If you're worried about them getting separated, make the personnel more densely packed so they can look out for each other and see each other."

"The soldiers are all quite exhausted..." Yan Qing said with some difficulty. Luo Chen was always a benevolent ruler, understanding the soldiers' difficulties. If their interests weren't protected—for example, if they didn't receive land, weren't properly protected from the cold, or weren't fed enough—Luo Chen would be furious, severely reprimand them, and personally supervise the resolution. Therefore, although Luo Chen had many soldiers, their treatment was indeed the best among all the warlords. This was the first time the Central Plains soldiers had entered such a sweltering place, and everyone was struggling to cope. He wondered why Luo Chen was so strict with them...

“Our surroundings are very dangerous…” Luo Chen sighed. “Although the natural environment is harsh, it’s not fatal yet. Don’t forget that Chang Yuchun’s troops were attacked by a pack of wolves this morning. There’s a high possibility that enemies are watching us, and that’s the most dangerous thing.”

Yan Qing fell silent. The shock of last night was greater for him; the image of the wolf's eyes kept replaying in his mind—eerie, sinister. He wondered how the wolf had so easily gotten into the camp, where the tents were connected one after another. Was it there to drink water? Or out of curiosity? Or attracted by the smell of meat? "Understood, I'll take care of it right away," he said decisively.

"Soldiers have spotted a small pack of wolves!" someone suddenly shouted, and the messenger rushed to Luo Chen's side. The messenger was covered in sweat, his hat was askew, and he had taken off his shirt, leaving him shirtless. He was gesturing wildly, looking both panicked and excited.

Without a word, Luo Chen spurred his horse and charged forward. Yan Qing followed closely behind. A hundred of Luo Chen's personal guards also rushed forward.

The horse seemed to be stimulated as well, sensing the rider's excitement, and began to gallop. A hot wind whipped around Luo Chen's face, carrying sand that stung his skin. Sure enough, a dozen wolves could be seen in the distance, appearing and disappearing in the sand. Hundreds of riders surrounded them, howling and frantically shooting arrows. But the wolves skillfully dodged them all. The wolves were too fast; the riders began to fall behind.

"Notify the lead detachment to halt their march, advance northward, and block the wolves' path!" Luo Chen shouted the order. He felt his pulse pounding. This time, he absolutely couldn't let these guys escape; he wanted to see what kind of creatures they were. Perhaps this time, he could uncover some secrets of the grasslands and deserts. The grasslands and deserts were mysterious, mysterious in their vastness and uncertainty. There were settlements of the Xiongnu people here, but even more uninhabited places, deep within the grasslands and deep within the deserts, rarely visited by people, hence the various rumors and legends. Moreover, the wild animals here, especially the wolves, possessed a kind of intelligence that the beasts of the Central Plains lacked. Not to mention anything else, these wolves were able to wipe out Chang Yuchun's entire patrol, each move deadly, and they even cleaned up the bodies of their own companions—how could ordinary wild animals do that? "Third Detachment! All troops attack, flanking from the east and west!"

Clearly, some of the detachments had heard about the wolf pack before receiving Luo Chen's orders. The last four detachments accelerated their advance, while the three closest to the pack, without orders, launched a flanking attack from both sides. The second detachment also sent over a hundred men to join the attack. The first detachment was ahead, out of Luo Chen's sight, but they had likely taken similar measures.

Chapter 122 Pursuit

Suddenly, Luo Chen's troops discovered a small wolf pack, about a dozen or so. Without waiting for Luo Chen's orders, the soldiers excitedly rushed over. News of the attack on Chang Yuchun's patrol spread rapidly, shocking the soldiers. Various versions of the story emerged, becoming increasingly exaggerated. Seeing Luo Chen's extremely serious expression, indicating his high level of concern, the soldiers became even more curious about the wolves, eager to capture one immediately. Barrow, having personally discovered the wolf pack, was directly promoted to deputy commander of the detachment; if he captured or shot a wolf, Prime Minister Luo would obviously reward him handsomely.

After being attacked by a pack of wolves, Chang Yuchun gritted his teeth and declared that someone had launched a war against them. His entire army was now burning with rage, eager to encounter the wolves again and wipe them out. The Imperial Guards of Luochen tribe were no less eager for wolves than Chang Yuchun's own troops.

On the rolling yellow sands of the desert, thousands of cavalrymen howled and desperately chased and surrounded the wolves. This was the first time since entering the desert that the soldiers had been so excited.

Luo Chen's army was very long. The vanguard, the first detachment, numbered 5,000 men, followed by the second and third detachments, arranged in order in the middle, with the third detachment on the right and the second on the left. Finally, the fourth detachment, also 5,000 men, brought up the rear. The wolf pack was discovered to the right of the third detachment, slightly to the north. Perhaps due to the strong sandstorm, the wolves were disoriented, or perhaps they were overconfident and careless, daring to enter the vicinity of Luo Chen's densely packed cavalry column. Several riders from different patrols immediately spotted them, and soon almost everyone in the third detachment knew there was a pack of wolves on their right. Some squad leaders began to lead their troops in a proactive attack, and the patrolmen almost immediately joined the battle. News quickly reached Luo Chen and the other detachment commanders. The third detachment, being closest to the wolf pack, reacted the fastest. Without waiting for Luo Chen's orders, the detachment commander ordered two squads (each 1,000 men) to flank the wolf pack from the left and right. Once Luo Chen gave the order, all the riders of the three detachments joined the pursuit. A cloud of yellow sand billowed, and the sounds of men and horses filled the air. The second detachment, on the left, though not directly involved, still dispatched over a hundred elite riders to give chase and gather intelligence. The fourth detachment, furthest from the wolf pack, was at the rear and began to accelerate, hoping to at least witness the spectacle of the hunt… As for the first detachment, upon receiving the order, its five squads immediately halted, forming a long, layered line along the desert frontier, clearly determined to block the wolves.

If someone could see this from above, they would be astonished. The swirling sandstorm made it utterly unsuitable for human activity, yet tens of thousands of riders galloped back and forth with incredible excitement. Dust lashed their faces, leaving them covered in dirt and even burned, but they paid no heed. Some knights tried to shoot with their bows and crossbows, but the wind was too strong; they couldn't aim properly and missed. Others simply gave up, drawing their signature cavalry sabers, their imposing presence like a force of nature, as if they could cleave a bull in two. The dozen or so gray wolves in the yellow sand all ran with their heads down, their movements indistinguishable between fear and defiance. They were far ahead, moving with lightning speed, but as time passed, their fur became covered in sand, and their speed noticeably decreased.

The dozen or so wolves seemed to be leading the way, followed by a large group of horses on the left and right, desperately trying to overtake the wolves and surround them, but to no avail. They couldn't close the distance at all; the wolves were simply too fast.

However, less than a kilometer or two ahead, a large cavalry force had already been lined up in layers, waiting in ambush. The entire encirclement and pursuit involved nearly ten thousand cavalrymen, all for these dozen or so mysterious wolves.

Luo Chen was still behind the wolf pack, galloping wildly. He needed to find a better mount… he thought to himself. While the horses from Xiliang were good, they were rare finds when used in large-scale troop deployments. They were exceptionally fast, tall and majestic, and very agile, often towering over Mongolian horses. This was one reason why the Guanzhong cavalry held an advantage in direct combat with the fierce Xiongnu cavalry. Their stamina was also good, though not as impressive as the Mongolian ponies, which weren't known for their endurance. However, they weren't suitable as a mount for his lord, especially in the desert where Luo Chen couldn't quickly reach the command position and had to rely on his subordinates to make decisions on the spot.

Closer still, Luo Chen could even see his own cavalry unit with the naked eye. Some men raised their gleaming sabers, which faintly reflected the sunlight. Others held bows and crossbows, waiting for the wolf pack to approach. If a volley of arrows were fired, even if these wolves were incredibly powerful, they would likely be doomed.

Clearly, the wolf pack spotted the layers of cavalry ahead and decisively turned north!

"… Order the First Squadron! Send two squads north! The Third Squadron on the right, make sure to block them!" Luo Chen gave orders repeatedly, and the messengers and flag bearers around him began to relay the commands. The wind and sand were quite strong, and the flag bearers repeated Luo Chen's orders over and over with their flags, while the fastest messengers had already sprinted over to deliver the orders face to face.

Taking advantage of the wolf pack turning around, a large number of cavalry finally closed the distance with the wolves, and it seemed that encirclement was in sight. Luo Chen took the lead, with Yan Qing directing the guards to surround him on both sides, and charged at the forefront.

More and more cavalrymen gathered, and the pack of wolves was surrounded in the center.

A circle with a radius of less than 500 meters, with Wang Zhao's wolf pack at the very center, surrounded by layers upon layers of densely packed iron cavalry.

"First and second ranks, sabers! Third and fourth ranks, bows and crossbows!" Luo Chen commanded. Immediately, the riders at the front drew their sabers, the gleaming blades forming a circle. Those behind raised their bows and crossbows, aiming at the center. The circle was so tight that the riders behind could no longer see the wolf in the middle. Yan Qing began directing them to retreat, leaving a clearing as depth to prevent any wolves from jumping out of the front lines. If they did jump into the open, they could be immediately killed or shot by the soldiers behind.

Gray wolves, all of them gray. Their fur was thick, glossy, and stood upright. Although the pack was exhausted from their long run and was panting heavily, their fur covered in sand and dust, their upright and vibrant fur was still evident.

Chapter 123 Life-or-Death Struggle

Luo Chen pushed through the crowd, mounted his horse, and rode to the front. Yan Qing wanted to stop him, but seeing that Luo Chen was resolute and had made up his mind, he quickly gathered a dozen or so attendants to surround him, ready to draw their swords at any moment.

A dozen or so gray wolves instinctively formed a circle, their backs hunched, clearly ready to defend themselves at any moment. Luo Chen looked into their eyes again; they were deep gray, perhaps blinded by the yellow sand, with a few bloodshot veins. They weren't as awe-inspiring as the first time he saw them, but still possessed a profound and mysterious quality, though now they held a hint of ferocity.

The largest wolf was likely the alpha of the pack, with glossy fur and sharp eyes. It gave Luo Chen a cold look, then froze, shaking its head as if confused. Luo Chen observed its entire reaction. Did this wolf recognize him? Or was there some other reason?

A surprising, brief stillness descended upon the scene. The wolves formed a circle, baring their sharp teeth and claws, while the fallen soldiers stood ready, sabers and crossbows at their sides. For a moment, only the sound of wind and sand filled the air; everything seemed frozen in time. The fallen soldiers were stunned by the wolves, and the wolves, too, were seeing so many riders for the first time and were likely momentarily speechless.

"Fire!" Within seconds, Luo Chenguo 800 gave the order. These wolves couldn't possibly be captured or caught, unless one was wounded and possibly captured, but even that was highly unlikely. How could these unruly warriors, these mysterious attackers who hid their comrades, be captured? There wasn't even a corpse to be found; how could they capture any live wolves? The only way was to fire a barrage of arrows; whether the wolves were dead or alive was of no concern.

However, the wolves were just as quick. Before Luo Chen could finish speaking, at least two wolves pounced on him. There were twelve wolves here; given this troop strength, the pack should have recognized Luo Chen and their commander. Yan Qing cried out in alarm, stepping in front of Luo Chen and pushing him into the crowd of guards. The guards immediately shoved Luo Chen inside. Inside, Luo Chen heard Yan Qing scream in agony, followed by the wolves' shrill howls. In an instant, the soldiers behind reacted, and arrows rained down.

Luo Chen cursed under his breath, "These wolves are fast!" "Get out of the way!" he yelled angrily, shoving aside the guards beside him. "I don't need your protection!" he shouted, already poking his head out. "I'm commanding on the battlefield, who gave you permission to push me aside? You damn bastards! Nonsense!" Luo Chen cursed as he pushed the crowd aside. Seeing Luo Chen's anger, the guards became somewhat intimidated and quickly moved aside. Luo Chen suddenly charged forward, almost hitting the wolf. The large wolf was fighting with two guards, its sharp teeth digging into one guard's throat. The guard immediately used his arm to protect himself, but his arm was instantly bitten and mangled. The other guard screamed in alarm, helpless. In desperation, he stabbed the wolf's neck with his saber. Although the wolf's fur was thick and not easily pierced by ordinary teeth, it couldn't withstand the gleaming steel blade. The blade instantly pierced the thick fur, drawing dark red blood. Despite this, the wolf remained unmoved, biting relentlessly at the guard's throat. The guard was already on the verge of death, his flesh mangled and bloody. This is the nature of a wolf: if it wants to kill, it will bite tenaciously, regardless of external wounds, determined to kill its enemy.

Luo Chen was startled and, almost reflexively, pressed his index and middle fingers against the wolf's belly: "Explode!"

Using this method of explosion, Luo Chen had no idea what the outcome would be. Previously, he would point at something from a meter away and shout "Explode!", and the explosion would also occur a meter away, just beyond his finger's reach. Now, Luo Chen pressed his finger directly against the wolf's belly. With a loud "boom," Luo Chen felt his finger go numb from the shockwave, and blood splattered all over him. Looking down, he saw a huge hole blown into the wolf's entire belly, a bloody mess, with fragments scattered everywhere. He felt the wolf's taut fur soften.

Another guard yanked hard, and the wolf was thrown to the ground. Its abdomen was a bloody mess; it appeared dead. Blood still gushed from its neck, and its teeth were still tightly gripping the soldier's flesh. Some flesh had been torn from the soldier's throat and arm; he was barely alive. The wolf's gaze was defiant, as if in a final mockery.

"Drag him to the back! Medic!" Luo Chen shouted. "Yan Qing! Quickly, go save General Yan Qing!"

Blood was also flowing from Yan Qing's throat, a deep crimson stain, the extent of his injury unknown. When a wolf pounced on Luo Chen, Yan Qing stepped in front of him, only to be struck by the wolf. Without hesitation, the wolf bit down on Luo Chen's throat, its sharp teeth poised to slice it away. How fast was Yan Qing? His skill was so exceptional that he dared to run in front of Luo Chen, thinking he could easily maneuver back, but the wolf was as fast as lightning; before he could react, its teeth were already at his throat.

Yan Qing felt a surge of heat in his throat. Despite his extensive battle experience, he had never witnessed a wolf's fangs suddenly looming at his throat, poised to sever and kill him instantly. A wave of fear washed over him; in less than a second, the fangs would cleave his throat, blood would spurt, and he would be finished. Fortunately, despite his tension, Yan Qing's movements were swift and decisive. The moment the wolf pounced, he had already discarded his long saber and instantly drew the short sword from his waist. While others used their arms to block the wolf's fangs, Yan Qing fought desperately, prioritizing speed, and thrust the sword directly into the wolf's throat. He even heard a muffled thud as the short sword pierced the wolf's neck, and simultaneously felt a burning sensation in his own throat as blood began to seep out. Yan Qing clearly sensed the wolf's slowing and weakening, unable to cut any deeper. He forcefully twisted the hilt of his sword 180 degrees, and blood gushed from the wolf's mouth. The gray wolf struggled a few times, still trying to bite Yan Qing, but it was too weak and died in a pool of blood.

At this moment, Yan Qing lay entwined with the wolf in a pool of blood, blood still gushing from his neck, his hair soaked with blood. Luo Chen, who hadn't noticed while fighting the wolf, glanced to the side and was shocked, screaming for the medic. Yan Qing weakly gestured, indicating he was still alive and in relatively good condition, which reassured Luo Chen somewhat. The medics behind him grabbed a stretcher and bandages, quickly bandaged Yan Qing's wounds, and carried him away.

Chapter 124 Facing Death

The other wolves were equally swift. Led by that wolf, six large wolves charged in twos and threes side by side in the same direction. The remaining three charged in three different directions, causing a chorus of exclamations.

At this moment, the archers began to fire arrows wildly. Many wolves, wounded, howled and desperately pounced on the riders. The alpha wolf's pack, having more wolves, had one that lagged behind and failed to pounce on the riders in time. It was instantly riddled with arrows and turned into a pincushion. It struggled a few times in despair before dying, bleeding profusely on the ground.

The alpha wolf's tactics were indeed different from the other wolves; instead of biting the riders' necks, they fiercely tore at their riders and desperately opened a path. They were trying to break through!

The other five wolves provided cover. Two pounced on Luo Chen, immediately drawing considerable attention and leaving Luo Chen's command function temporarily disrupted—a testament to their meticulous planning. Of course, if they could kill Luo Chen, their deaths wouldn't have been in vain. The other three wolves were equally ferocious, lunging towards the breakout direction and instantly attracting the attention of many riders. One wolf was clearly unlucky; a rider's arrow pierced its head instantly, causing the wolf to stumble and tumble in front of the front-row riders. The soldiers, swords in hand, were already on high alert, and in a few swift strikes, the wolf's head was mangled and bloodied, and it died instantly.

The most eye-catching was Barrow, who was at the very front and dismounted first. The wolf pounced on him, but Barrow, already holding his sword, gripped the hilt tightly and leaped into the air. His body was almost level with the leaping wolf, and he raised his sword high, bringing it down in a swift motion. A muffled thud, like two pieces of wood colliding, was heard—the blade striking bone. The sound was so loud that even the other wolves were startled, and the riders all turned to look.

Wolves are probably the most well-constructed creatures on the grasslands. Their extremely thick fur protects them, and even in sandstorms and exceptionally hot weather, wolf packs still have a survival advantage over humans. Sharp claws and teeth are their weapons, while other organs are thick protective structures. For example, the human head is fragile, but the skull of a steppe wolf is heavy and thick.

With a muffled thud, Luo Chen couldn't help but look over. The blade snapped in two instantly, the shorter piece falling to the ground. The wolf, meanwhile, was cleaved in two from top to bottom, starting from the head, splitting in two and spurting blood everywhere. The scene was so gruesome that even these seasoned veterans were horrified. Barrow had used too much force, leaping up and channeling his full strength, the blade striking the wolf's solid skull. The saber did its job, actually splitting the skull, but that wasn't all; the blade cut almost in two from the upper half of the wolf. The force was so great that even the fine blade couldn't withstand it, breaking in two, the smaller piece flying off and landing on the ground.

Barrow's face was splattered with blood. He wiped it off vigorously, drew his spare knife from his horse, and pounced on another wolf. Others were horrified by the bloody scene, but Barrow seemed unfazed, moving on to his next target without a care.

Not even the desert soldiers, let alone the ferocious wolves, had ever witnessed such a scene. One of the wolves attempting to break through the encirclement, seeing Barrow's horse cleaved in two, howled in terror and abruptly stopped its attack. But this hesitation, lasting less than a second, cost it its life. It fell behind, and immediately the archers behind it fired no fewer than five arrows, each one deeply embedded in the wolf's head and body. The wolf whimpered and staggered to the ground. The bloodthirsty desert soldiers ruthlessly swung their sabers at its head.

However, the wolves that broke through the encirclement were numerous. The alpha wolf pounced at the front, nimbly charging at a rider. The rider knew what it was going to do and frantically covered his throat with his hands, but it was too late. The wolf bit through his throat, but without stopping, it pounced on the next target. The rider immediately fell off his horse, and bright red blood seeped from his throat. His teammates hurriedly carried him to the side, while the medic frantically weaved through the ranks of soldiers with their sabers.

Six large wolves, five remaining after the one that had just died, charged westward in a neat formation, coordinating their attacks. A week ago, Luo Chen would never have believed such a thing. These weren't wolves; they were clearly well-trained, intelligent soldiers. And these soldiers were probably more elite than any other human soldier. Yet now, all the Luo army riders, including Luo Chen, felt nothing unusual. The brutal reality of the battle was right before their eyes. The soldiers were already bloodthirsty, treating these wolves as real soldiers, fighting against some kind of powerful force. These soldiers were strong and tactically skilled; they had to focus on dealing with them. And the ferocity of the battle, the closeness of the riders to death, had already surpassed the brutality of a normal battlefield. A wolf could pierce a soldier's throat with its sharp teeth in seconds, and if it held its bite for three or four seconds, the soldier would die instantly, beyond saving. Death was that close, and so fast that there was no escape. This pushed the physical and psychological limits of what soldiers could endure. It is only when death arrives in an inescapable manner that people learn what true fear is.

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However, the soldiers also knew that cowering and hiding were useless. If a wolf targeted you, you were done in ten seconds. The only way to survive was to grip your weapon tightly, keep your eyes fixed ahead, and fight death! Use your strength to slash at the charging wolf, delaying its attack, allowing your comrades in the rear to shoot arrows at its head, and giving your comrades nearby a chance to slash its body with their sabers. There was no other way. The only way to survive was to fight, to kill the enemy. Running away and retreating would only hasten your death.

Some soldiers began to choose to stab the wolves directly with their sabers instead of protecting their own throats. Sure enough, two wolves were deeply pierced by the sabers, and the soldier who chose offense over defense had his throat severely bitten through and died instantly. But this was at least better than trying to protect his throat with both hands, only to have it bitten through by the wolf, lingering for a while before bleeding to death; at least he died in the act of fighting. They could see their sabers plunging deep into the wolf's belly, the wolf howling, and their comrades slashing their sabers viciously at the wolf's neck. Three wolves that had broken through the encirclement fell at the first line of defense.

Chapter 125 Massacre

However, the real massacre had only just begun.

The four wolves, including the alpha wolf, bravely tore through the dense first line of defense and rushed into the open ground.

The alpha wolf howled, its voice tense and shrill. The sound was chilling, a clear indication of extreme anxiety. The pack clearly recognized the signal, but it was too late. They had expected to pounce on another group of people, continue tearing them apart, and perhaps, with luck, reach the outside and escape unscathed. Instead, they pounced on an open area, and terrifyingly, behind them were densely packed riders. The first rank of these riders wielded sabers, while the rest carried gleaming crossbows.

They pounced into a huge trap and became live targets.

Before the wolves could even react to the "8-5-7" signal, a volley of arrows had already been unleashed. The archers were highly skilled, their arrows aimed straight for the wolves' heads. In an instant, several wolves were riddled with arrows, staggering and collapsing to the ground. —Except for the alpha wolf, which rolled on the spot, lowering its body, and many of the arrows aimed at its head missed their mark.

The alpha wolf was lightning fast, struck two or three times in the back and head, but none of them were fatal. In mere seconds, it had crossed the clearing and pounced straight at the riders. The fallen riders, confident that after the hail of arrows, no wolf would survive. Startled by the sudden charge of a large wolf, they instinctively dodged, much to the wolf's delight, as it slipped under the horse's belly. The outer ring of riders formed a dense four or five-layered circle, but the wolf, with its body at its lowest point, moved with incredible speed, weaving under the horse's belly and reaching the outside in less than a minute.

The detachment commander, at the forefront, hastily brandished his saber and shouted, "First rank, charge!" The riders pounced onto the open ground, hacking and slashing indiscriminately. This was indeed the most humiliating death for this pack of wolves. They were shot into pincushions by arrows and then chopped into mincemeat by sharp sabers.

The two wolves at the first defensive line were surrounded and attacked by a pack of riders, and died from exhaustion.

Luo Chen rushed out from the first line of defense and shouted, "Commanders of all detachments, return to your positions! There are twelve wolves. Have any escaped?" Before he finished speaking, the soldiers beside him exclaimed in alarm, "There's another big wolf!" As they spoke, they fired an arrow, but the alpha wolf nimbly dodged it and calmly began to gallop westward into the desert. "He's escaped! He's escaped!" the soldiers cried out repeatedly, and without waiting for orders, they spurred their horses and galloped off alone.

Luo Chen immediately spurred his horse and followed. Without Yan Qing's command, the Imperial Guard appeared disorganized and followed loosely behind. The commanders of the Second and First Detachments arrived. Seeing this, Luo Chen, who had already personally charged forward, shouted, "All troops attack! Encircle from both sides!"

Luo Chen charged ahead, leading the pursuing troops. His horse, seeing the blood, seemed excited and roused, galloping wildly without hesitation. The alpha wolf, wounded, was slower, and for a moment Luo Chen was only inches away from it. The surrounding guards fired arrows, but the horse was unsteady on its feet, and the alpha wolf moved too quickly for the arrows to hit.

No sooner said than done, Luo Chen brought his index and middle fingers together again: "Explode!"

The wolf seemed to have dodged by the sound of arrows. Hearing the whooshing sound behind it, it quickly judged the direction and swiftly dodged, so the guards' arrows missed. This time, Luo Chen's explosive grenade made a whooshing sound. The wolf was confused and glanced back, only to see a fireball, not large, but quite dazzling. The wolf panicked and dodged, but the speed of the explosion was incredibly fast. In an instant, it was already on the wolf, but fortunately, the wolf dodged with all its might. The bomb grazed the side of the wolf and exploded instantly, throwing the wolf to the ground, its side a bloody mess. The wolf seemed to freeze for a moment. The horse rushed to the wolf's side, and Luo Chen jumped off. But the wolf was still struggling. In the time it took to dismount, it had actually struggled forward a foot, leaving a long trail of blood behind it.

Luo Chen crouched down beside it. Its grey eyes faintly gleamed with green. They seemed strangely familiar, exactly the same as the eyes from that night. But perhaps it was Luo Chen's imagination; after all, wolf eyes all looked like that. —But Luo Chen couldn't help believing it was the wolf from that night. Otherwise, why had the alpha wolf paused slightly when it saw him?

Crimson blood soaked the surrounding sand. Although the wolf was severely wounded—one arrow to the head, two to the back, and its side mangled beyond recognition—it didn't seem to have any fatal injuries. While the side wound was extensive, it didn't blast through the abdomen like the previous wolf; it merely grazed it. The major organs in its abdomen appeared undamaged—otherwise, the wolf wouldn't have survived this long; it would have died the instant it was hit.

The guards dismounted, swords in hand, awaiting Luo Chen's command. With a single order, they could chop him into mincemeat.

Unexpectedly, Luo Chen did not do that: "Medic, see if it can survive. If it can, try your best to save it and then bring it to me." With that, he mounted his horse and left to see Yan Qing.

The accompanying medic dismounted and found that none of the fallen soldiers were injured or dead, not even with minor wounds. The large wolf lay on the ground, seemingly knocked down. The medic breathed a sigh of relief. Unexpectedly, the commander of the second detachment said to them, "The lord has ordered that you try your best to save this wolf and then send it to him." The medic hesitated for a moment, but did not object. Instead, he silently began to apply simple first aid, treating it as if it were one of his own soldiers, one of his own wounded.

Yan Qing's wounds have been cleaned up. He was bitten on the throat, but it wasn't deep or large. After being bandaged, it didn't look so scary anymore.

“The wound will get infected…” Luo Chen watched as the medic cleaned the wounded soldier’s wound and then bandaged it. “Don’t you have any other medicine?” The medic looked at Luo Chen blankly and shook his head. It was understandable; the position of medic was even added on Luo Chen’s orders, as there wasn’t originally such a strict structure or scale. Most of the time, they relied on battlefield self-rescue or help from comrades. Fortunately, there were no firearms, and the war wasn’t as brutal as it later became.

"I need a professional surgeon to guide them..." Luo Chen thought to himself, troubled.

Chapter 126 Burial

Luo Chen mobilized a force of ten thousand men, killing or wounding all the wolves. Luo's army lost twenty riders in the process; all of them were bitten in the throat, either dying instantly or severely wounded and on the verge of death. Dozens more were injured, including Yan Qing.

Eleven large wolves were neatly laid out on the yellow sand. The desert wind seemed to have subsided slightly. The soldiers dismounted to rest, quietly watching the medic and guards clean up the battlefield. After galloping for so long, Luo Chen seemed to have forgotten his fatigue. A guard handed him water, which he drank a little. It seemed their only place to rest at midday was on this yellow sand under the scorching sun; there wasn't a single tree for miles around.

"No oasis? No shade? No shelter from the wind? The back of a dune or something will do?" Luo Chen was a little surprised after hearing the terrain report. The patrolman shook his head apologetically.

"Alright, let's rest here and set off in thirty minutes," Luo Chen ordered.

Despite the harsh conditions and the meager rations and water, the soldiers' faces were etched with contentment. Perhaps they were simply exhausted, finding happiness in a little rest, or perhaps they had just faced death and suddenly realized how precious it was to be alive.

"Should we bury them? The wolf pack? What about our fallen soldiers?" a guard asked.

Luo Chen fell silent. This was death far from home, soldiers from the Central Plains falling in the distant desert. Their families might not even know the desert existed, couldn't imagine what the battlefield was like, only know it was far away, and only hope they could return as soon as possible… Luo Chen desperately wanted to take his brothers' bodies with him, but this vast desert…

"Bury our soldiers on the spot," Luo Chen said simply. "As for those wolves, just leave them there. After all, that's how the enemy treated our soldiers."

"Understood." The guard received the order and walked away with a heavy expression.

The guards dug deep into the sand with their sabers, but it was still sand. They were about to set off. Seeing this, the riders nearby knew their comrade would be laid to rest forever in this desert, and some volunteered to help dig.

More and more people gathered, the pit was dug deeper and deeper, and more soldiers silently gathered to the side to see their brothers off. Twenty riders stood in neat rows.

Sometime during the night, Luo Chen had walked ahead. The guards saw him and stopped. Luo Chen drew his sword, and with a "whoosh," a pile of yellow sand covered the fallen soldiers, followed by another. The guards bent down and began to bury them, and more people followed Luo Chen, silently filling the large pit.

Luo Chen saluted and then mounted his horse. The soldiers followed suit, and under the swirling yellow sand, the army was instantly ready to go again.

The placement of the wounded and sick was a major problem, so they had to unload and discard some supplies on the spot to free up wagons for the wounded to lie on. Luo Chen led a group of guards, walking in the middle of the column. Normally, Yan Qing would give Luo Chen detailed reports on the army's progress during marches, but now four messengers, under the command of the detachment commander, were taking turns reporting. Unfortunately, instead of discussing and analyzing the situation with Yan Qing, Luo Chen could only listen to the messengers' mechanical reports.

"Shooting down these wolves is done, but the more important issue is to find out their identity—whether they are wild beasts of the grasslands or under the command of a certain force... If they are the Xiongnu, then..." Luo Chen couldn't help but say, but the messengers looked confused and bewildered, so Luo Chen immediately stopped them. Yan Qing wasn't here... But his thinking didn't stop. If the Xiongnu were behind these wolves, then their whereabouts would likely be known to the Xiongnu... This would require Xu Da to do a good job of covering for them.

"Messenger! Long distance!" Luo Chen shouted. Immediately, a soldier came to report.

"Send the order to Xu Da. First: We have reached the desert, and are still three or four days away from our destination. However, the Xiongnu may have discovered our movements. We hope he will launch a large-scale operation soon, preferably a battle, to confuse the Xiongnu. Second: Unidentified wolf packs have appeared in the desert and grasslands. We hope they will pay attention and report any unusual activity immediately. Third: Since I am currently quite far away, I hereby grant General Xu Da temporary authority over the more than 400,000 troops to the north. In case of emergency, there is no need to report; execute the order immediately."

This was the second time Luo Chen had given the general in charge of troops temporary discretionary power. Discretionary power is a completely autonomous power that is not subject to punishment, which can be said to be a great sign of trust. Moreover, Xu Da had a large number of troops at his disposal.

"Summon Barrow here," Luo Chen said to a guard beside him.

A moment later, Barrow rode up at breakneck speed. "My lord, you called me?" He bowed slightly and gave a military salute.

"You fought the wolf today, and you did exceptionally well." Luo Chen looked at him; there seemed to be a shallow wound on his neck, probably from a wolf's scratch. "You're injured? How bad is it? Is it serious?"

"It's nothing, just a minor injury. I accidentally got pounced on by a wolf's claws," Barrow said nonchalantly.

"Many of our cavalry are experienced veterans, but wolves are just too fast. How come you're so adept at fighting them? Do you have any experience?" Luo Chen saw that he had killed a large wolf that morning, and another wolf that had broken through the encirclement must have also died at his hands. "You were so decisive in killing the wolf this morning, you didn't seem to have any fear at all?"

“I hunted wolves with my father when I was a child,” Barrow said simply. “I am from Xiliang, a hunter from Xiliang.”

"No wonder!" Luo Chen chuckled. "Why didn't you say so when we met yesterday?"

“You didn’t ask…” Barrow’s words were extremely simple. Perhaps his taciturn and aloof personality had hindered his promotion. Barrow 570’s sudden promotion to deputy commander yesterday inevitably caused a stir, with some feeling it was inappropriate. Even the brigade commander felt the promotion was too fast, but dared not speak out. However, today, during the wolf-slaying incident, Barrow’s calm demeanor and decisive actions truly impressed everyone. The scene was bloody, and veteran soldiers were horrified, but Barrow seemed completely unfazed.

“General Yan Qing is injured, and I’ve been much more exhausted without him,” Luo Chen said. “I plan to transfer you to the position of guard commander, and promote you to the rank of captain, the same rank as the detachment commander.”

Barrow was taken aback, clearly unfamiliar with these official ranks. He had only heard the words "General Yan Qing" and was then told to take over as commander of the lord's personal guard. Even the usually aloof Barrow was somewhat surprised, stammering, "My lord, how can I compare to General Yan Qing... how can I replace General Yan Qing... I am truly unworthy..."

Luo Chen chuckled: "I'm not asking you to replace General Yan Qing, I'm just asking you to temporarily manage General Yan Qing's personal guard. General Yan Qing can participate in the command of four detachments, that's his lieutenant general's authority. You're only commanding the personal guard, not the main force."

"Is this how it is..." Barrow still seemed confused, "It means I'm to lead these few hundred Imperial Guards? To protect the lord at all times? And that's it, nothing else for me?"

"That's right."