Chapter 128: Night Raid – Offense and Defense (Part 2)

Leng Xiao was still lost in thought when the previously motionless formation before the gate suddenly surged forward at an astonishing speed, changing its arrangement as it moved. The soldiers bearing torches retreated to the rear, while rows of bronze shields rose high above the soldiers' heads in unison—two men to a shield, one holding it aloft, the other armed with a bow, advancing in perfect coordination.

Gu Yun couldn't help but marvel inwardly—such a swift and seamless formation shift, executed with not a trace of disorder. Hundreds moved as one, like limbs of a single body. Truly extraordinary. With shields and archers in tandem, the formation offered both offense and defense. If Su Yu merely sought to divert part of their forces, this alone would suffice—and it would hold for quite some time.

Turning around, Gu Yun addressed the soldiers crouched in the grass behind him, their faces also etched with awe.

"Take a good look at how others storm a city. Never underestimate your adversary. Learn from their strengths—and exploit their flaws."

No one dared respond aloud. The soldiers hastily straightened their posture, their eyes fixed unblinkingly on the front. Gu Yun finally turned back, satisfied, and resumed observing the evolving battle.

Just as the frontlines braced for imminent clash, unrest stirred in the rear. Ge Jingyun tucked the map into his sleeve and gave final orders to the chosen hundred warriors behind him.

"Follow the commander's plan. Move in groups of three. If you encounter defenders, ensure at least one man escapes to report on the room's condition. Move swiftly. Do not dawdle. Whether the box is found or not—return immediately. Understood?"

"Yes, sir."

In the shroud of night, agile shadows slipped into the enemy camp from all directions. Ge Jingyun, flanked by two soldiers, dashed toward the chamber closest to the inner court—the most perilous zone. Midway, faint rustles sounded behind them. Turning, he saw several men in blue robes also moving cautiously. Neither party had been instructed on how to react upon encountering one another. They stared each other down in tense silence.

At last, Ge Jingyun murmured, "Move."

The wooden box was their sole objective.

They advanced cautiously toward the chamber. Just as they neared, sounds of fighting erupted from the rear courtyard—someone had been discovered! They needed to quicken their pace.

Crossing the side yard, they reached the room at last—only to be met by a patrol unit. There was no cover nearby. A direct confrontation was inevitable. The patrol's leader, Dong Lin, showed no surprise upon spotting them. He merely commanded coolly,

"Capture them."

Just rookies, he thought. This so-called raid was an insult.

The scorn in Dong Lin's eyes made the trio's fists clench. Ge Jingyun forced himself to remain calm, then whispered to the slightly smaller soldier behind him,

"Go, check inside. We'll cover you."

The young man nodded and darted into the room. Ge Jingyun and the other soldier took positions on either side of the doorway, eyes wary as enemy troops charged forward. Years of battle had honed the patrol soldiers' murderous aura. Ge Jingyun barely withstood it, but his companion was already trembling.

Ge Jingyun shot him a glare and barked,

"Steady! Complete the mission!"

To bolster his own courage, Ge Jingyun charged forward. The burly guardsman didn't even take him seriously—even though Ge Jingyun was just as powerfully built.

Sensing his foe's overconfidence, Ge Jingyun closed the gap. As he reached for the soldier's collar, the latter sneered and blocked the move with a muscular arm. Yet unexpectedly, Ge Jingyun seized that arm, dropped his weight, gripped the man's belt with his other hand—and hurled him over his shoulder in a flawless throw.

The guard's massive body slammed into the ground with a thud so heavy it made the earth tremble.

All fell momentarily silent.

Just then, the door creaked open and the young scout rushed out, shaking his head—

"Empty. No box."

Ge Jingyun shouted, "Retreat!"

At once, the trio split in different directions as prearranged.

Dong Lin's gaze turned icy. With uncanny speed, his lean figure lunged at Ge Jingyun. Alarmed, Ge Jingyun reacted on instinct, drawing the short dagger hidden in his boot with a swift flick.

A sudden flash of steel cut through the dark.

Dong Lin hadn't anticipated a hidden weapon. Ge Jingyun wasn't weak either. That brief lapse allowed him to break free and vanish into the night.

"After him!" Dong Lin roared.

Damn it! And they still got away!

Outside, battle raged. Yet the main tent remained calm.

At the desk, the wooden board lay in disarray with scattered black and white pieces—bearing no resemblance to a game of Go. Su Ren sipped a delicate June brew in one hand while holding a white piece in the other, waiting for Han Shu's move.

Han Shu held a black piece, brows furrowed, uncertain where to place it. This so-called Gomoku seemed simple but was deceptively difficult. He took a long sip from his teacup and, with a resigned clench of his jaw, made his move.

Su Ren immediately placed his piece.

"You've lost."

Han Shu leaned in for a closer look. Indeed, five white pieces formed a line.

"How did I not see that?"

"Report!" a voice called from outside.

Annoyed, Han Shu barked, "Speak!"

Dong Lin, unfazed by the outburst, calmly reported,

"The blue-clad soldiers led by Vice Commander Su have launched their first assault on the gate. Lieutenant Wu is engaging them as planned. Meanwhile, over a hundred black-clad soldiers and thirty blue-robed soldiers appeared in the rear courtyard. The black-clad troops split into groups of three, moving swiftly from room to room. We've done all we can to intercept. So far, we've captured eighteen black-clad intruders. All blue-clad soldiers have been taken."

Su Ren paused mid-sip.

"Enter," he called.

Dong Lin stepped inside.

"Only eighteen?" Su Ren frowned.

Over a hundred had infiltrated—yet only eighteen were caught? Were his elite soldiers truly so ineffective?

Dong Lin stiffened slightly but kept his tone even.

"They moved with precision, covered one another seamlessly, and retreated from all sides once a room was cleared. Their techniques were peculiar, and their weapons—exceptional."

"What weapons?" Su Ren asked, brows tightening.

He didn't recall arming them with anything out of the ordinary.

"Daggers." Dong Lin presented one seized from a captured recruit.

Su Ren examined it. Sleek and compact—far more refined than standard fare.

Han Shu, who had been sulking, broke into laughter upon seeing it.

"Sharp and elegant, no? I had those made at my wife's request—took quite the effort to find master craftsmen. Looks like they worked."

Still, only eighteen captures? Qing Mo, is your training truly that remarkable?

Seeing Su Ren's serious expression, Han Shu chuckled.

"After this little test, your wife will surely guess you're just creating a diversion."

Su Ren set the dagger down, lips curling into a faint smile.

"I expected she would see through it—just not so soon. But it's already Shen hour. In one more hour, it'll be dawn. If she can't break my Double Yang formation before then, this raid is a failure. And tomorrow night—I may not keep the box in the same place."

Finding it won't be so easy. Otherwise, why give them three days?

Han Shu blinked, then muttered in amazement,

"So you do take this seriously."

He had thought Su Ren was merely toying with them—but he had even set up formations. A glance at the window told him: time was running out.

Su Yu, clad not in armor but in plain robes, stood at the rear of her formation. With swordlike brows and star-bright eyes, she stared intently at the unfolding battle ahead—her expression calm, yet unwavering.