In times of chaos and famine, I traded one pound of rice for two royal flushes.

Her words were clear, logical, and incisive.

Although she also felt that the plan was extremely crazy, she inexplicably trusted the man in front of her.

Trust his judgment.

Qin Shaolang glanced at her with some surprise.

This woman's keen insight and courage once again exceeded his expectations.

"She's right."

Qin Shao-Lang's voice drowned out all the noise.

"This is our only chance, and our best chance."

He walked to the pile of weapons that had been stripped from the bandits' corpses and picked up a steel knife that was still stained with blood.

"Black Wind Stronghold's main force is still intact, but their morale has been shattered."

"Tonight, they will surely be filled with fear and their guard will be down."

"And we are in high spirits."

He pointed the tip of his knife into the deep darkness.

"Strike while the iron is hot and kill him."

"Tonight, I will make Black Wind Stronghold vanish completely from the territory of Lantian Town!"

His words struck like thunder, reverberating in everyone's hearts.

mad!

That's insane!

But for some reason, looking at the man holding a steel knife, exuding a murderous aura, their fear was replaced by a slightly crazy thought.

perhaps……

Maybe it really can work?

By following this man, they have already created a miracle.

Why not create it again?

I'm taking the gamble!

Bet your life on a stable future!

"Sir! Just tell us what to do, and we'll do it!"

Zhao Wu was the first to step forward, his bloodshot eyes gleaming with a bloodthirsty light.

"That's right! Let's storm the mountain! Seize their food and women!"

Wang Tiezhu roared back.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The suppressed ferocity was completely ignited.

The shouts of the crowd, which started as a jumble, gradually coalesced into a torrent powerful enough to shake the valley.

Qin Shaolang nodded in satisfaction.

What he wanted was that spirit of fighting to the death.

"Zhao Wu, Wang Tiezhu!"

"exist!"

"You two, immediately select thirty of the bravest and most agile able-bodied men! Take all the captured weapons with you!"

"yes!"

"Uncle Li!"

"I am here!"

"You take the rest of the men and guard the valley. Clear a path through the corpses and rocks at the valley entrance, but be prepared to re-block it at any time! Also, prepare all our oil and arrows; if we fail, you must hold the position to the death, and do not retreat an inch!"

"Yes, sir! Don't worry!"

"Su Jin".

"I am here."

"You are in charge of coordinating the rear, comforting the wounded and women and children. Tell them that their men have gone to fight for their lives and the lives of their children."

Su Jin nodded solemnly: "I understand."

Each order was clearly issued.

The previously chaotic camp was once again operating efficiently.

Half an hour later.

Thirty selected able-bodied men, holding swords and knives captured from the enemy, stood silently before Qin Shaolang.

Each of them wore a look of determination and madness.

Qin Shaolang tucked the steel knife back into his waistband, then took out several pieces of smoked meat wrapped in oil paper from his pocket and handed them to Su Tang beside him.

"Keep an eye on the house."

Those three simple words were his only words.

With tears in her eyes, Su Tang nodded forcefully.

Qin Shaolang said no more. He turned around and said only one word to the thirty men who were about to face death with him.

"Walk."

Dark as ink.

There is no moon, no stars.

Thirty-one figures, like ghosts, moved through the rugged mountains and forests.

Leading the way was Qin Shaolang.

His footsteps were so light they were almost inaudible. Each step landed precisely on the firmest ground, avoiding any dead branches or fallen leaves that might make a sound.

Behind him were Zhao Wu and Wang Tiezhu.

The two of them, imitating Qin Shaolang, crouched down and moved their feet lightly.

Behind them were twenty-eight able-bodied men.

Their movements were far from professional.

The tension made their breathing heavy.

Fear stiffened their muscles.

Every now and then someone would step on a pebble or trip over a branch, making a soft rustling sound.

Whenever this happens, Qin Shaolang, who is walking at the front, will stop and raise one hand.

A simple gesture.

Everyone immediately froze, as if struck by a spell, holding their breath and remaining motionless.

Qin Shaolang's ears twitched slightly.

He was listening.

Listen to the wind, listen to the insects chirping, and listen for any unusual sounds that might exist in the darkness.

A full dozen or so breaths passed.

Only after confirming that he hadn't disturbed anything would he lower his hand again and continue forward.

No one speaks.

There were only heavy breathing sounds and the sound of a heart pounding wildly in the chest.

This team is less on an offensive and more on a pilgrimage of life and death.

And the one they worshipped was the man who walked at the very front, silent as iron.

They didn't know where to go.

They didn't know what they would encounter.

All they knew was that following this man meant they had a chance to survive.

Qingya Mountain was more difficult to traverse than they had imagined.

Especially in the darkness of night.

Several times, people slipped and nearly rolled down the steep slope.

But they were all held back tightly by the people around them.

No one shouted.

They just gritted their teeth, encouraged each other with their eyes, and continued, step by step, climbing upwards.

Qin Shao-Lang's stamina seemed to have no end.

He maintained a constant speed, like a tireless machine.

In my past life, carrying dozens of kilograms of equipment and marching continuously for three days and three nights in the jungle was commonplace.

The short distance ahead was nothing more than a warm-up for him.

His brain was working at high speed.

Based on the traces left by the deserters and his observation of the terrain during the day, a three-dimensional map of Qingya Mountain was slowly forming in his mind.

Wind direction, humidity, vegetation distribution...

Everything is useful information.

It took about an hour and a half to walk.

Qin Shaolang raised his hand again.

This time, he didn't give up.

Instead, he made a "squatting" gesture.

Everyone immediately ducked down and hid behind bushes and rocks.

"Sir, what's wrong?"

Zhao Wu lowered his voice and leaned closer, his heart pounding in his throat.

Qin Shaolang did not turn around.

He pointed to a branch of a large tree about fifty paces ahead.

There are people there.

Zhao Wu and Wang Tiezhu stared wide-eyed in the direction he pointed, looking for a long time.

They could see nothing but the dark shadows of the trees.

"I...I didn't see it, sir," Wang Tiezhu said softly.

"breathe."

Qin Shaolang only said two words.

In the absolute silence, an ordinary person might be able to hear their own heartbeat.

But Qin Shaolang could hear the breathing of another person, hidden among the leaves, fifty paces away.

His breathing was somewhat rapid, carrying a hint of unease.

He is a sentry.

Moreover, he was a nervous sentry.