Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the western sky a poignant orange-red, like spilled blood or the final gasp of a dying beast. The rolling Black Wind Ridge mountains, in the twilight, took on a somber, dark blue-green hue, like the back of a crouching giant.

The team silently lay in ambush deep in a dense forest, about five miles from the warehouse. The area was covered in lush vegetation and was on higher ground, which not only concealed their movements but also allowed them to see the outline of the gray-brown buildings in the valley in the distance.

Chen Xing lay prone behind a thicket of bushes, squinting as he strained to see into the distance. Thanks to the enhanced vision granted by his "Ancient Martial Arts Body," he could clearly see the earthen and wooden wall, which was about ten feet high, the sentry figures that moved slowly like black dots on the wall, and even the stream that meandered like a silver ribbon outside the north gate.

"That's it," Chen Xing said softly, his tone calm, but his heart involuntarily quickened. Confirmation of the target meant the real test was about to begin.

He turned around, his gaze landing on Chen Wei, who stood beside him as steady as a rock. The commander of the personal guard showed no sign of fatigue, only the calm and focus of a cheetah before its attack.

"Chen Wei".

"Your subordinate is here."

"You personally lead two people, Wang Jian is one, he's skillful and observant. Then pick the most astute one. Go and scout close in at night; I need to know things we can't see during the day."

Chen Xing's instructions were clear and specific:

"First, confirm the exact location and route of the water collection point outside the north gate, and whether there are sentries guarding it at night."

"Second, we need to ascertain the extent of the damage to the wall as much as possible and find the most suitable spot to climb or breach it."

"Third, listen! Listen to the sounds in the village to determine the bandits' routines, when they go to sleep, when they change shifts, and whether there is any drunkenness or noise."

"Fourth, if possible, try to confirm the approximate location of the bandit leader and his main leaders' residences."

"Remember, your mission is to be eyes and ears, not swords. Never reveal yourselves unless absolutely necessary! You must be back before dawn!"

"Yes, sir! Rest assured, I understand!" Chen Wei clasped his hands in acceptance, his eyes sharp. He had no further questions. Although he felt the reconnaissance points his lord had raised were somewhat too detailed, his unwavering commitment to execution overwhelmed everything else.

He quickly selected Wang Jian and another scout named Li Shu. Li Shu, true to his name, was small in stature, agile, and especially skilled in stealth and nighttime operations.

The three men quickly removed their conspicuous black armor, leaving only their dark undergarments. They smeared their exposed skin with mud and grass juice to mask the smell and reduce smudges. They checked their short blades, daggers, and crossbows (the bolts were also silenced), and carried a few pieces of dried meat and leather water bags, without any unnecessary burdens.

Seeing that they were ready, Chen Xing said in a deep voice, "Be careful, I'll wait for you to come back."

"We will not fail in our mission!" Chen Wei and the other two shouted in a low voice, bowed to Chen Xing again, and then disappeared silently into the increasingly dark twilight and forest like three wisps of green smoke, vanishing without a trace in a few leaps.

Chen Xing withdrew his gaze, took a deep breath of the air, which carried the cool scent of grass and the earthy smell of soil, and forced himself to calm down. Waiting was the most unbearable thing at this moment.

He returned to the core of the temporary camp. Zhao Tiezhu immediately greeted him, his face filled with tension and anticipation: "My lord, Commander Chen and the others..."

"They've gone to scout ahead. They'll be back before dawn," Chen Xing replied briefly, then instructed, "Have your men continue processing those mechanical components while the daylight lasts. Especially the bridge deck; make sure it's secured with multiple layers of straps. Be quiet and don't make too much noise."

"Yes!" Zhao Tiezhu accepted the order and hurriedly went to supervise his able-bodied men.

After two days of rest and a good meal, the refugees looked much better. Knowing that a great battle was imminent, they all had solemn expressions and buried themselves in their work. The rustling sound of chopping wood and the subtle rustling of vines being pulled apart were particularly clear in the silent forest.

Chen Xing walked to the side, sat down against a big tree, closed his eyes again, and focused his mind into the system.

He first checked the [Real-time Path Navigation] function. The light spot representing Chen Wei and the other two had broken away from the green light spot of the main group and was moving at an extremely fast speed along a more concealed route that was different from the main path, meandering towards the gray marker of the warehouse.

This feature really does display friendly units! Chen Xing was overjoyed; this undoubtedly greatly enhanced his battlefield awareness.

Then, he reopened the rudimentary "Shop". His gaze swept over the few lit icons.

"Basic Queue Training Method" (20 points)? Not needed for now.

"Making Simple Traps" (10 points)? It might be somewhat useful, but it's not something I urgently need.

His gaze eventually fell on "Basic Wilderness Survival" (15 points) and "Healing Medicine (Small)" (5 points/serving).

Casualties are inevitable in battle. While the Wei infantry were formidable, they were not invincible. The refugees were even more vulnerable. More first-aid knowledge and more medicine could potentially save more lives and preserve more vitality.

Without much hesitation, he spent 15 points to exchange for the "Basic Wilderness Survival" knowledge. A stream of information about finding water sources, identifying edible plants, treating common injuries, and dealing with snakes, insects, and rodents flooded his mind. Although basic, it was extremely practical.

Then, he gritted his teeth and spent 25 points to exchange for 5 "Small Healing Pills". As a result, his original 90 system points were reduced to only 50 points.

The points were being used up quickly, but Chen Xing felt it was worth it. All this investment was to increase the success rate and survival rate of the upcoming operation.

He exited the system, savoring the new knowledge in his mind, and touched the five small but heavy medicine bottles in his pocket, feeling somewhat at ease.

Night completely enveloped the mountains and forests, and the temperature plummeted. No fires were lit in the camp, and everyone waited silently in the darkness, chewing on their cold, dry rations. A sense of impending doom hung in the air.

Chen Xing didn't sleep, nor could he fall asleep. Leaning against a large tree, he listened intently to every subtle sound in the forest—the whistling of the wind through the treetops, the hooting of an unknown owl, the distant barking of dogs that seemed to come from the direction of the warehouse… His brain was racing, combining the intelligence Chen Wei had reported during the day, the system map, and the wilderness survival knowledge he had just acquired, constantly refining and elaborating on the attack plan.

The water source at the north gate is a key point of attack. Controlling it would be a death knell for the bandits. A night raid is the preferred strategy, taking advantage of the enemy's complacency. Simple weapons must be used effectively…

Time passed slowly in silence and waiting. The moon appeared and disappeared through the clouds, casting dappled and cool light.

After an unknown amount of time, just before dawn, at the darkest moment of the night, the Wei soldiers on guard outside the camp issued an extremely faint whistle signaling that "our own men are returning."

Chen Xing suddenly opened his eyes and abruptly stood up.

In the darkness, three figures, almost blending into the night, emerged silently from the woods like ghosts and appeared at the edge of the camp. It was Chen Wei, Wang Jian, and Li Shu!

They were soaked with night dew, their faces showed exhaustion, but their eyes shone with an astonishing light.

"My lord!" Chen Wei strode up to Chen Xing, his voice low but filled with barely suppressed excitement and a hint of solemnity. "Your subordinate is back!"

Chen Xing's heart was in his throat. He knew that the decisive moment had arrived.

"What's the situation? Report back in detail!"