Three Sides

Because the Mo Clan team had not been able to thoroughly investigate the river, it thus remained a big question mark as to why the bandits placed importance to it.

To Qai, it was not just the treasures found in the cave that made this particular group of bandits a powerful group because that was not actually the norm for bandits—to him, the river must have had something to do with it. And that is why he thought of making use of the remaining items left in the cave as bargaining chips.

"Sorry to interrupt your meeting," the Han Valley chief said with a polite gesture.

The entire Shu family members present greeted back the chief with a bow.

"Chief," Shu Wei said, "you could just send someone to summon us if you have a need for us."

"No.. no..," the chief replied. "I personally came to tell you the new assignment of your team in our next attack."

"Eh."

The Han Valley chief then explained in detail that 'The Hunters' Plateau' team shall lead the group that would make a feint assault in the gorge while the rest of the teams shall proceed to the original strategy.

"Your group's feint attack shall be crucial to our plans and could very well be dangerous," the chief added.

"Indeed," Shu Wei replied. "If the bandits really prepared an ambush then we will be in for a tough fight."

"And that is why we thought that it should simply be a feint attack," the chief said. "You really don't have to fully engage them.. but to lure them outside the gorge and fight them in the open."

"But what if it turned out that there are no bandits?" Qai suddenly asked.

The chief paused and sighed. In truth the chief and the elders had thought about it and could not come up with a good idea.

"Wouldn't that leave us and the rest of the cultivators in our group without any loot?" Qai curiously asked.

Back in the deliberation with the elders, the chief already said that the group could not be left without any bandit to slay, because that would be unfair as the main reason why other cultivators joined the extermination was exactly the promise of reward from the spoils.

"What we actually came up with was for your group to split and follow the two main groups..," the chief answered.

"That makes sense," Shu Wu said in agreement.

"If, say..," Qai once again interrupted, "we got past the gorge without any obstacle, then instead of splitting the group and directly follow your groups, we could actually just position ourselves in front of the enemy territory between the two encampments.. and make use of the darkness of the dawn to confuse the enemy.."

"What are you actually suggesting?" The chief asked with admiration.

Once again, Qai showed a different kind of smarts for a young cultivator and the Han Valley chief was no longer surprised.

"Once we position ourselves in a bit of scattered position," Qai explained. "We could light up torches and alarm the bandits by appearing that the entire Han Valley cultivators have arrived."

"Hmmn," the chief softly uttered.

"Well," Shu Wei said, "it might actually be what the bandits are expecting.."

"True..," Qai replied quickly, "..but when the bandits answered the alarm by lining up to their defensive formation facing us, then they would be surprised when all of a sudden both their encampments would be attacked.."

Indeed, Qai's idea was something most of them would never think of. It was not because they lack the smarts in fighting, it was just that in a world of cultivation, taking too much precaution was not the way to battle—the standard of fighting was to overpower an enemy in terms of strength.

"That might work," the chief replied with a grin obviously impressed.

"That way, the bandits will be caught off-guarded on three sides," Qai concluded with a soft smile. "And when the bandits try to retaliate your onslaught, only then our group shall join the fight."

******************

The Han Valley chief of course called the elders and related the adjustments according to Qai's suggestion.

Few hours later, the designated time for attack had come.

And with enough time to prepare, all the cultivators in the Han Valley side geared up to finally head to their groups.

"Tell everyone to proceed," the Han Valley chief instructed.

Instantly all the participating teams heeded the chiefs orders.

"Let's go."

"Let's move."

Shu Wu had already given the details of the plan to all the teams within his group. And so when all the cultivators under 'The Hunters' Plateau' team's lead had gathered Shu Wu also gave the instruction to proceed.

"Move with caution everyone," Shu Wu urged. "Expect an ambush in the gorge."

And with that, the another day of battle had begun.