Blades Unsheathed!

Sixin District, Xizhou City. Wooden walkways and trestles crisscrossed the shattered ruins. From watchtowers pieced together from concrete rubble and rebar, fierce faces peered out. Rifles hung across their backs, and around their bodies hung human or animal teeth and bones—symbols of barbarism and martial prowess. This was the urban area of Xizhou City closest to Xizhou Lake. Neglected for years, the water conservancy facilities had fallen into disrepair, allowing excess lake water to spill into the city and submerge half of Sixin District into a swampy realm. This newborn river carved through low-lying ground, coursing northward before merging into the eastward-surging Tianshui River. The Fang Clan's main encampment was perched along the northern bank of this river. The flooded streets formed a natural barrier, where moisture-loving mutant species like split-claw crabs nested in droves. Connecting the buildings with wooden walkways and shoring up the surrounding ruins, these marauders had fortified their camp into a river-encircled fortress. Several spacious buildings had been converted into workshops for forging weapons and ammunition. Ragged slaves sat before workbenches manipulating crude tools, clanging away at rough metal parts. Wide rooftops had been repurposed into plantations, sown with green wheat, ram horn potatoes, or stewing beans for meat broth. In truth, though these marauders lacked education and despised using their brains, that did not make them stupid. Both their chieftain and the legion's staff officers understood all too well what a staggering sum it cost to feed, water, and supply ammunition for a force numbering over ten thousand men every single day. To solve their logistical needs, relying solely on a handful of merchants to fence their plunder was nowhere near enough. Several newly joined tribals who possessed crafting knowledge had been promoted to "artisans." They designed transport rafts, water wheels for generating electricity, and makeshift cranes for hauling cargo, allowing the clan to rely on the waterways for logistics between dispersed industrial zones. In exchange for their services, each artisan was permitted to keep three slaves and raise their own children instead of surrendering them to the clan's "nurseries." Even with these measures in place, however, the Fang Clan remained strapped for resources. The city lacked neither steel nor aluminum, but copper—which was relatively easy to work—had been nearly exhausted a century ago. They had no choice but to dig up unexcavated underground cables, braving the constant threat of ambush by the resistance's guerillas. Those gutter rats scurried like ghosts. Though poorly armed, every appearance brought immense trouble. For that very reason, any resistance member captured faced nothing less than sadistic cruelty and torture. Inside the Fang Clan's main tent. Gazing at Iron Fang kneeling on one knee before the dais, the man seated upon a throne of human bones furrowed his brow. His name was Skullcrusher Golden Fang—the former a self-bestowed title, the latter his true name. Standing two meters tall with shoulders as broad as truck tires, he looked like a small mountain. His dark skin carried a faint greenish sheen, and two gold teeth glinted in his mouth. He was the leader of the Fang Clan and the supreme chieftain of the Bone Chewer tribe, commanding tens of thousands of warriors. Some claimed he was the offspring of a mutant and a human. In reality, a human violated by a mutant could only produce a mutant; hybrids between the two simply did not exist. "...A copper mine was found in Yuanxi Town?" Iron Fang spoke in a muffled, rumbling voice. "Yes, honored Chieftain." Golden Fang pressed, "Why didn't you find it while you were still there?" Iron Fang hesitated for a second. "I don't know, Chieftain... We don't know what copper ore looks like. But our scouts spotted the blue mole-rats of Qingquan City mining copper!" Whispers broke out across the tent. Excitement flared in the eyes of many marauders. Just then, a burly, bear-shouldered brute stepped forward. Without sparing the kneeling Iron Fang a glance, he clasped his fists toward the seated Golden Fang. "Chieftain, allow me to lead my men into battle! Within ten days, I will plant your Fang banner upon Yuanxi Town!" His name was Bear Fang. A sneer of pride tugged at the corner of his lips as he spoke. When the Chieftain had entrusted the southward march to Lion Fang, that coward had failed everyone's expectations. He hadn't even breached Qingquan City; after cowering in Yuanxi Town all winter, he had fled with his tail between his legs without firing a single shot, and now he was holed up in Qingshi County digging ditches. Such a spineless chiliarch was an absolute disgrace to the clan! Had Bear Fang led the vanguard, let alone the blue mole-rats of the northern suburbs, even the fabled Boulder City would not have lasted a single round against his ferocious pack! Bear Fang was not the only one harboring such thoughts. Seeing this, other chiliarchs stepped forward one after another, loudly volunteering to lead their warbands and fight for the clan! Golden Fang said nothing. He studied Iron Fang kneeling on the ground, pondered for a moment, and said slowly: "I will grant you five hundred men. Carry a message to Lion Fang for me. Within one week, I want to see the Fang Clan's banner planted on the soil of Yuanxi Town." Iron Fang bowed his head to receive the command. "Yes, Chieftain!" After the meeting adjourned. Standing beside Golden Fang, a man with a distinct ridge on the bridge of his nose nodded slightly. "The copper mine is likely a feint... Yuanxi Town lies on the front lines. Even in the unlikely event there truly is copper ore, the survivors in the northern suburbs would never dare mine it so openly." His name was Dillon, a former myriad-leader of the Legion's expeditionary force. After the expeditionary force collapsed, he had led his remnants to join the Bone Chewers. Following an audience with Golden Fang, he had been appointed as the chief strategist and served as the tribe's prophet. Hearing his counselor's assessment, the seated Golden Fang gave a faint smile. "I know. That dog Lion Fang probably just used the copper mine as an excuse to beg for reinforcements, so I gave him five hundred men. With reinforcements in hand, he'll have no excuse not to attack." Once Yuanxi Town fell, the northern gateway to Qingquan City would fall into the Fang Clan's grasp. Whether there was copper or not, thousands of acres of fertile farmland south of Yumu District were clearly visible. Lately, more and more marauders had flooded into Xizhou City to join them, swelling the tribe's population to over thirty thousand. The meager crops grown by their slaves were rapidly becoming insufficient. To make matters worse, a plague of rat fever had broken out across Xizhou City, leaving him with constant headaches over provisions. While now might not be the optimal time for a southern campaign, seizing Yuanxi Town first would allow them to threaten the safety of the northern suburbs and force those blue jackets to offer tribute, resolving their immediate crisis. Once the autumn harvest arrived, he would order a full-scale invasion into Qingquan's northern suburbs and thoroughly seize the survivors' overflowing granaries. At the thought, a cruel grin spread across Golden Fang's face. This play was what they called fattening the sheep before slaughtering them! ... At the very moment Iron Fang led five hundred reinforcements toward Qingshi County, a "Server Announcement" suddenly appeared on the official Wasteland OL website. [Expansion Pack: "Blades Unsheathed" Officially Launched!] [Overview: Chaos spreads across the River Valley. The Fang Clan entrenched in Xizhou City is plotting to march south once more. Before they can strike, we will nip the threat in the bud.] [Details: 1. All "Corps" must complete check-in at the muster point prior to the event launch and deploy to the front lines once war mobilization concludes. 2. "Points" earned during the expansion pack will determine player rewards during the post-campaign settlement phase and can be redeemed in the lottery draw after the expansion ends. 3. When completing orders or quests marked with the expansion pack tag, "Lifestyle players" will earn points in addition to Contribution Points and silver coins. 4. ...] The expansion pack was live! Chu Guang expertly pinned the announcement to the top. Almost the instant the post went up, the official forum—which had been abuzz just seconds earlier with gossip about the Administrator and Boss Xia—instantly shifted its focus to the newly launched expansion pack! Tail: "Eeeeh?! The expansion pack updated? Weren't we just talking about adult topics a second ago? (*/ω＼*)" Jieyan: "Northern Expedition! Finally! Hahaha! Grinding Corps levels these past few days almost broke me!" Midnight Chicken Slaughter: "My great axe is already starved for blood!" Brother Edge: "Death Corps standing by!!!" Tail: "Whoa! White Bear Knights, charge! ψ(｀▽′)ψ" Lao Bai: "Burning Corps has already reached Yuanxi Town! See you in the game, everyone! (Grin)" Canyon Mole: "Damn it! How are you guys so fast?! Where are the boys of the Skeleton Division! Assemble!" Commander Spring: "Hahahaha, time to show some real skill. (Smug)" WC Really Has Mosquitoes: "Ace pilots of the Goblin Corps! Log in right now!!! (Voice cracks)" "..." Replies flooded the post at lightning speed. Players who had checked in strapped on their helmets and logged into the game. Viewing the player roster via the Administrator interface, Chu Guang watched the online count surge at a blistering pace. An involuntary smile touched his lips, and he nodded in satisfaction. Splendid! He had deliberately omitted an advance notice this time to test whether players could assemble into organized units on short notice during an emergency. Now it appeared their enthusiasm for the new expansion pack far surpassed his expectations. According to the plan formulated by him, his staff officers, and the commanders, the first phase of the offensive would seize Qingshi County—eighty kilometers from Yuanxi Town—to consolidate local defenses and establish artillery emplacements. Only then would they launch the second phase: a full-scale assault against the Fang Clan garrisoned in Xizhou City. Closing the website backend, Chu Guang rose from the sofa. "Xiao Qi." An energetic voice chimed beside him. "Right here, Master!" Chu Guang commanded without delay: "Deploy two Hummingbird drones to Yuanxi Town. Once the forward command post is established, divert them immediately to Qingshi County! Furthermore, notify all departments that everything proceeds as planned!" Xiao Qi: "Roger that!" Leaving the browsing room, Chu Guang stepped onto the elevator, descended directly to B1, and walked into the armory to don his deep-blue power armor. The thick cuirass radiated a chilling gleam. Chu Guang reached out, gripped the blocky warhammer, and hung it beside his Gauss rifle. Taking a slow, deep breath, he felt the blood surging through his veins. All preparations and deployments had been finalized over the past month and a half. He had placed all his chips on the table. Now, he would march alongside his soldiers. This battle would decide the future of the Alliance! ... Five in the morning. The tranquility north of Dawn City was shattered by the roar of a locomobile engine. A steel behemoth rolled slowly out of the industrial zone along the iron rails, hauling a train of wooden freight cars mounted on steel chassis. Gray clouds billowed steadily from its towering smokestack, while reciprocating pistons and connecting rods propelled the colossal machine forward. Accompanied by the rhythmic clanking of steel wheels, the hundred-meter-long titan slipped past the edge of Yumu District and disappeared over the horizon. Windows along Dawn City's North Street were pushed open one after another. Traveling merchants, mercenaries, and local residents awakened from their slumber stood bleary-eyed at their sills, gazing northward to see what had just happened. Many walked outside dressed only in nightclothes. "What was that sound just now?" "Didn't you see? An enormous carriage as wide as half the street came out of the industrial zone and headed north along those iron tracks!" "A train?! Is that a train?" People exchanged astonished glances, whispering among themselves. Dawn City's railway had been under construction for some time, yet many living here were seeing a train with their own eyes for the first time. For survivors from smaller settlements in particular, that thick, long smokestack and massive wagons were wonders beyond belief. Many stood on their tiptoes to crane their necks northward, hoping for a clearer look, but it had already vanished from view. A mercenary in a leather jacket murmured to his companion: "Where's it heading?" "To the north should be the New Alliance's outpost in Yuanxi Town. Further north lies Xizhou City!" "Xizhou City... Isn't that Bone Chewer territory?" The Bone Chewers! Hearing that name, many merchants and travelers visiting Dawn City for the first time showed startled expressions. They were not shocked by the existence of the Bone Chewers. Most wastelanders doing business in the River Valley Province had heard of those ruthless monsters who devoured men without spitting out the bones. What they had never anticipated was that the New Alliance would actively provoke those demons! "Have they gone mad?!" a merchant from the eastern provinces cried out, giving voice to what many travelers were thinking. Picking a fight with the Bone Chewer tribe on their own initiative—no matter how one looked at it, that was sheer lunacy! Yet not everyone shared that view. Old Hook, standing by the inn entrance, happened to overhear the remark. Seeing the ignorant expressions on these outsiders, the old man sneered. "Mad? We've waited for this day for far too long!" Sun Shiqi, standing nearby, couldn't help swallowing hard. "...Do you even know what you're up against? The Fang Clan stationed in Xizhou City has at least thirty thousand men! And that was a month ago!" Before Old Hook could reply, the young stable hand tending their two-headed oxen lifted his chin, gazing toward where the train had disappeared, and declared with immense pride: "So what? Under the rule of the Administrator, our Alliance is invincible! If he gives the word, every one of us would grab a rifle and march to the front lines right now! Who cares if it's thirty thousand, three hundred thousand, or three million!" Looking at the young man whose face was etched with unyielding loyalty, Sun Shiqi's throat bobbed, at a total loss for words. Old Hook looked at him and said softly: "Those animals have already destroyed our homes once. We won't give them a second chance. It's not just the survivors of Highway Town—everyone here is willing to shed their last drop of blood for the land that took them in... You don't have a home of your own; you wouldn't understand." Sun Shiqi protested, "Who says I don't? I'm planning to build one right here." Old Hook merely chuckled without arguing. The two mercenaries standing beside Sun Shiqi exchanged glances, shaking their heads as they mumbled about the residents: "Mad!" "...Everyone here is stark raving mad!" Survivors throughout Dawn City were talking about the train bound for Yuanxi Town. Many had even spotted heavily armed soldiers and exoskeleton-clad fighters bristling to the teeth aboard several of the wagons. Those men clearly weren't heading out to dig up ore! At that same moment, on the third floor of an inn, half a length of antenna wire was quietly extended from a window. Carried by rhythmic radio pulses, a telegram was transmitted to the Horseshoe Trading Firm's post in Red River Town. In the office of the trading firm's headquarters. After reading the telegram sent by his subordinate, Sim's face instantly lit up with the ecstasy of parched earth greeting sweet rain, and he threw his head back in wild laughter. "The war's begun! Hahahaha! My guess was spot-on! They've finally started fighting!" The so-called copper mine had indeed been a decoy! Once the New Alliance's war machine roared to life, its appetite for resources would flood in all directions like a deluge! Their industrialization speed was astounding, but they couldn't conjure raw industrial materials out of thin air. In the end, they would still have to buy those desperately needed resources from him! Sim's face was flushed with frantic glee. The mountain of copper ore filling his warehouses was finally saved! ... A single train departing the industrial zone for Yuanxi Town drew the gaze of factions far and wide, with everyone watching to see the young survivor settlement's next move. On one side stood the New Alliance, with a permanent population of fewer than six thousand; on the other stood a seasoned marauder tribe numbering thirty thousand warriors. Apart from the New Alliance's own residents, virtually no one believed they had the slightest chance of victory. Red River Town's assessment of the conflict was that the New Alliance might leverage superior equipment and logistics to hold the front line in the mountainous region between Yuanxi Town and Qingshi County. The council of Garbage City worried they might lose a potential trading partner. As for Boulder City, beyond the bluster of radio host Mr. House spouting bombastic commentary, those who actually held power barely spared the matter any attention. Whether it was the Bone Chewers or the New Alliance, both were northern affairs. And the north was far too remote from their core interests to warrant concern. Chu Guang had no time to care what outsiders thought. The war had begun. The First and Second Corps, along with military supplies, had already departed for Yuanxi Town aboard the train. They would erect makeshift forward fortifications there, preparing secure ammunition depots and respawn points for the players. They were the shield of this war, responsible for safeguarding rear positions and supply lines. At the same time, over twenty player corps had completed assembly outside the barracks next to the airfield. Their unit designations and sizes varied wildly. One corps of thirty players had brought along twelve 88mm mortars, while the remaining eighteen members each carried an ammunition crate—evidently intending to plow the enemy's positions before making a charge. Another corps was maxed out in headcount, with one hundred players carrying not a single artillery piece, all outfitted in "conscript kits." Even before the fighting started, they had already fixed bayonets under their barrels and strapped grenades and Molotov cocktails to their waists, their intentions plain as day. As for special-ops units like the Burning Corps, their style remained somewhat conventional: their twenty vanguard members were all Awakened equipped with Type 5 and Type 6 exoskeletons, maxing out individual combat power. The remaining eighty slots were reserved for reserves, mixing newbies with veterans, with weapons and gear bought out of the commander's own pocket while logistical points were poured entirely where it mattered most—on exoskeletons. The Skeleton Corps led by Brother Mole possessed a peculiar style but a fairly reasonable setup: fifty brothers each wore a conscript kit, while all their remaining logistical points were invested in two quad AA trucks. The trucks' cabs and doors were reinforced with welded steel plates, leaving only a slit for an observation window—clearly aiming for an infantry-armor coordination doctrine. Commander Spring's Storm Corps followed standard military convention: one company with three platoons and three squads each, led by veteran squadmates. Every squad featured assault troops, support gunners, and designated marksmen, each filling their role with balanced firepower—making them look the most like an NPC military unit. Midnight Chicken Slaughter's Jungle Corps adopted an approach similar to the Burning Corps, focusing on special operations. However, rather than spending exorbitant logistical points on high-end gear, they balanced quality with cost. From the commander down to the grunts, everyone wore identical KV-1 exoskeletons welded with steel plates, sporting an all-green camo paint job and brandishing an LD-47j light machine gun—a stark contrast to the Burning Corps' "knights and squires" aesthetic. Besides these, there were scattered pug corps whose corps levels weren't low, yet lacked full rosters, leaving vacant slots. As fledgling new forces, they needed battle records and medals to prove their mettle to other players. Chu Guang granted players ample autonomy, allowing them to seek their own teammates and explore tactical styles that suited them, learning from death to push their combat potential to the limit. Dying only meant waiting three days anyway. If one death didn't reveal the problem, they could die a second time. Such a peculiar mode of warfare was unfit for any military composed of living souls, yet for players, it was the perfect fit. They were heroic spirits summoned forth. To them, death was merely a return... ... On the drill grounds outside the barracks, rifles and banners stood like a forest. Clad in power armor, Chu Guang walked to the front of the ranks. The clamor around him subsided into silence. Looking at the pairs of eyes burning with martial spirit and resolve, Chu Guang switched on the armor's external speaker, speaking in a calm, steady voice: "Everyone, it is an honor to see you here today. Your courage fills me with immense pride." Pausing, Chu Guang swept his gaze across the assembled players. "From the day that vault door opened, we lit bonfires in the dark, drove away beasts with blade and steel, beat our swords into plowshares to rebuild our home, and used civilization to dispel ignorance. Yet the threat of barbarism still lingers around us—it has never left." "Chaos continues to ravage the north, and our neighbors still struggle on the brink of death." "Those beasts in human skin are whetting their teeth and thirsting for blood. Right under our noses, they cast greedy eyes upon our towns and fields!" Chu Guang raised his voice. He drew his warhammer and slammed its pommel heavily against the ground. "They will not succeed!" "We will never cease our war against barbarism!" "Today, now, departing from this place, we shall take the initiative and sever their filthy claws with our axes before they can reach out!" "Even if we are vastly outnumbered!" "Even if it is one thousand against thirty thousand!" "We will never retreat! Never negotiate! Never compromise!" "Not until they are wiped from the map! Not until they flee in terror before our artillery, raising their hands in surrender—" "Forward!" "Forward!" "Forward!!!" The soaring fighting spirit matched the roar echoing throughout the camp. Chu Guang could feel the blood boiling within his veins. Not only him—the players standing on the drill grounds felt that same pulse-pounding exhilaration. The offensive on New Year's Eve remained fresh in their memories. Many companions who had built their home alongside them had fallen that night. Blood debts had to be paid in the enemy's blood. For this moment, they had waited far too long! Every shout of "Forward!" was an answer to the call of war. Having said all he needed to say in three minutes, Chu Guang slashed his right hand forward with crisp authority. The 1,137 combat-class players quickly boarded the fifty trucks parked outside the drill grounds. The inspection was over; the next stop was the front line! Meanwhile, at the nearby airfield. A group of players wearing aviator caps hurried out of the barracks, sprinted into the hangars, and climbed into their assigned aircraft. These included 50 W-2 "Mosquito" ground-attack aircraft emblazoned with shark mouths and mounted with twin 10mm heavy machine guns, and 70 "Moth" gliders equipped with 7mm pea-shooters. The former were piloted by twenty players who had mastered flying and landing techniques, while the latter, serving as low-cost, stripped-down versions, were flown by thirty "reservists" who were not yet fully proficient. In the end, Mosquito hadn't managed to level the Goblin Corps up to Level 8, which would have allowed all the "ace pilots" to join the roster and claim base rewards; he had even fallen a hair short of Level 5. Did that matter? Not in the slightest! Unofficial personnel flew unofficial planes, while rostered personnel flew official gear. Those seventy "Moth" gliders hadn't cost the Alliance a single copper of its budget—he had purchased every one out of his own pocket! The reason? None needed! Because he felt like it! "Check your ammo and batteries!" Leaping excitedly into his cockpit, Mosquito ran through his pre-flight checks while barking non-stop: "Our allies are already on their way to the front! Those rascals are flooring it so hard their tires are smoking! But no matter how fast they drive, they can't outrun us!" "The Goblin Corps will reach the battlefield before anyone else! The MVP is definitely ours!" Frantically adjusting his aviator cap, Luo Yu asked nervously, "Coach! Without ground forces directing the airstrike, what if we-we-we can't spot the enemy?" This was his first time in real combat. Before this, he had only dropped logs onto painted circles on the ground and sprayed machine guns at static targets. About to take to the skies, he was panicking hard. Yet Mosquito's reply offered him zero comfort: "What?! Can't spot the enemy? Is that a question an ace pilot of mine should be asking?!" "???" Luo Yu was dumbfounded. Whether that was a question an ace pilot should ask, he didn't know. But was that an answer a normal human being would give? In another plane nearby, a short-haired girl with the ID Qing Feng squinted sleepily, gripping the flight stick while bobbing her head as she recited poetry: "Crimson blood paints the clear sky, Though spring has fled, its wild grace abides, Turning heaven and earth to red." The morning glow cresting the distant horizon lent the words an apt atmosphere. Yet Luo Yu listened in sheer bewilderment. Was she already reciting her last rites?! Shangshan Da Laohu stared at the flight stick in his hands, looking utterly lost. If he remembered correctly, he had learned to fly so he could crop-dust fields with pesticide. "Wait, why are we farmers getting dragged into this mess too?" In another plane, Makabazi grinned, pulling down his goggles. "Who cares! There are more planes than people—let's just have some fun first!" Hearing his crew bicker, Mosquito laughed heartily, pulled down his goggles, and started the engine. "Remember what I taught you! Flip the siren during the dive, drop the bombs right on their heads, then open fire, pull up, dive, and fire again!" "And strap your VMs tight to your thighs! That's your radar and your eyes!" Clearing his throat, he screamed at the top of his lungs over the roar of the propeller: "Boys! Onto the runway! Floor the accelerator—" "Take off!!" ... North of Yuanxi Town. Prone on a ridge, Tong Lu held binoculars to his eyes, watching the small town in the distance. All was peaceful there. Shrouded in morning mist, the settlement was as silent as a graveyard. Yet just then, a steel behemoth belching plumes of smoke rolled slowly toward Yuanxi Town from the direction of Qingquan City. A marauder spotted it and pointed excitedly at the massive train, whispering: "Boss! Look, a train!" "I know!" Tong Lu growled, keeping the binoculars glued to his eyes. For some reason, watching the train locomotive chug forward in a swirl of smoke and steam gave him an uneasy feeling. But they were too far away, and the poor visibility made it impossible to see what the train was carrying. The marauders beside him whispered in excitement: "Say, that train is way bigger than the one we saw before!" "Heh, now that you mention it, you're right!" "Could they have found a massive ore vein? That's why they need such a big train!" "Hahaha, makes sense!" Just then, the train negotiated a bend, exposing its flank. Tong Lu didn't miss the opportunity. Yet when he made out the rows of heavily armed figures riding inside the cars, his face drained of color. Soldiers?! Weren't they here to dig ore? Why send soldiers! And so many of them! Almost simultaneously, a droning hum sounded from the sky. Black specks emerged from the morning mist winding through the mountains. The well-traveled marauder pointed up enthusiastically, eager to show off his worldly knowledge: "Boss! Look, airplanes!" "Shut up! I see them! Everyone get down!" Unable to comprehend where so many planes had come from, Tong Lu hissed in terror, signaling his men to scatter. The aircraft roared directly over their heads. Diving into a thicket, Tong Lu pressed his face firmly into the dirt, not daring to twitch a muscle. Fortunately, the planes were not after them, failing to notice the few rats hiding in the underbrush. Dozens of aircraft flew straight north. Toward Qingshi County—the garrison of Lion Fang's thousand-man force! Realizing the gravity of the situation, Tong Lu's face turned completely ashen. Even a fool would realize by now: there was never any copper mine in Yuanxi Town. The supposed copper mine was nothing more than a smokescreen tossed out by the blue mole-rats, and the railway had been built from the start to rush supplies to the front lines. As for what they planned to do... It was blindingly obvious. Scrambling up from the ground without caring about the mud covering him, Tong Lu urged his men to their feet, shouting in furious panic: "Move! Run, all of you! We have to get back right now!" "Report this to Lord Lion Fang!" "Right, right!" The marauders nodded frantically, scrambling down the mountain. However— It was already too late. The instant Tong Lu's words fell, a convoy of trucks tore northward along the path where the train had come, churning up clouds of dust. They didn't pause in Yuanxi Town at all, cutting straight past the western side of the town and charging toward Qingshi County to the north. Tong Lu couldn't even count how many trucks there were. Instinct told him this was a force of at least a thousand men. No matter how fast he ran, there was no outrunning people riding in trucks. At the thought, sheer despair flooded Tong Lu's face. At that very moment, fifty-two aircraft had already reached the battlefield...