Chapter 673 - 209: The Battle Begins (2)

After spending the time it takes for an incense stick to burn reading the letter, Ma Yuan couldn’t help but frown.

’Lord Shen is pulling a feint with this move.’

The letter instructed him to dispatch twenty percent of his men halfway through their journey, sending them along a secret route to Shen Bai’s destination.

As for Shen Bai’s destination, he only needed to send a member of the Observatory to quietly inquire at the Observatory headquarters.

Ma Yuan didn’t get to his position without being highly capable; both his strength and his intellect were top-notch.

He understood Shen Bai’s intentions in an instant and also sensed a hint of conspiracy from the letter.

’It seems Lord Shen has already made his decision. I’ll just do as he says.’

Having made up his mind, Ma Yuan abruptly stopped.

They were traveling at great speed and would reach the halfway point in another incense stick’s time.

When the others saw Ma Yuan stop, they all looked at him in confusion.

One of the members closer to Ma Yuan quietly approached and asked, "Lord Ma, has something unusual happened?"

The rest of the men also drew the weapons at their waists and vigilantly scanned their surroundings.

After all, they were the elites of the Observatory and some of the most renowned experts in Lingyun Dao, so they could react swiftly to any abnormality.

Ma Yuan shook his head. "When we reach the halfway point, I want you to take twenty percent of our men, return to Lingyun Dao via a secret route, and proceed to Lord Shen’s location. Then, lead your men to support him."

The Observatory member nodded quickly. "As you command."

After giving his orders, Ma Yuan didn’t pause any longer and continued toward Lianyun Medicine Mountain.

At that moment, a storm was brewing.

Ma Yuan knew that perhaps after today, the entire Observatory would undergo a massive change.

Before long, the group of Observatory members, led by Ma Yuan, disappeared at the end of the main road.

...

「Gale Camp」

As one of the military encampments in Lingyun Dao, it was entirely unremarkable, housing about a thousand soldiers.

The military was an institution that played a crucial role in the Great Zhou Country, as well as in other nations.

Their individual strength wasn’t high, but they knew a Military Array Technique that used numbers to compensate for the gap in power.

An army with an average cultivation in the Meridian Realm, if large enough, could even overcome a gap of two major realms and kill a Jianghu person at the Void Realm.

Therefore, in this world, sheer numbers could indeed play a decisive role.

Right now, this army of a thousand men was in a frantic flurry of activity.

Several of Gale Camp’s generals were inside a military tent, looking at the Marquis of Ren De lying on a bed.

At this moment, the Marquis of Ren De’s face was ashen. He lay on the bed, looking utterly weak.

On the floor lay three heads—the Jianghu Demons who had been cut down by the camp’s generals.

Not long ago, after visiting Gale Camp, the Marquis of Ren De had been the target of an assassination attempt and was hit with a powerful poison. He was now lying here to recuperate.

They had summoned many healers, but none could neutralize the strange poison, throwing the soldiers of Gale Camp into a panic.

The Marquis of Ren De had an excellent handle on his soldiers.

On the surface, he projected the image of a benevolent lord who loved his people, winning their hearts. But in secret, he treated these soldiers merely as tools for his own ambition.

Lingyun Dao had tens of thousands of troops in total.

And under the Marquis of Ren De’s methods, they were all rendered completely docile.

The lead general was named Yang Chuan, the highest-ranking commander in Gale Camp.

He removed the cloth from the Marquis of Ren De’s forehead, looked at the Vice General beside him, and asked, "Why hasn’t the soldier sent to summon Lord Shen returned yet?"

"The Marquis can’t hold on for much longer."

In his eyes, the Marquis was breathing his last—it looked as if he could die at any moment, which made him extremely anxious.

The Vice General quickly cupped his fists. "General, we’ve received word. The soldier is on his way and should arrive in a short while."

Hearing this, Yang Chuan nodded. "In that case, you all take care of the Marquis. I will go outside to welcome Lord Shen."

’No matter how urgent it is, I can’t neglect the proper etiquette.’

They had also heard many of the rumors from the Jianghu.

Yang Chuan was even aware that Shen Bai and the Marquis of Ren De did not get along.

He was loyal to the Marquis of Ren De.

Now that the Marquis was gravely poisoned and Shen Bai was willing to come to his aid, Yang Chuan felt it was necessary to show his respect openly.

The Vice General accepted the order, quickly took the Handkerchief from Yang Chuan, and continued to ease the Marquis of Ren De’s pain.

Meanwhile, Yang Chuan took a detachment of men and went outside the military camp.

...

At this moment, a cloud of dust billowed outside the camp.

In the distance, numerous figures were gradually approaching.

When Yang Chuan saw Shen Bai at the head of a large group of Observatory members, he was slightly taken aback.

He didn’t know the reason; why would Shen Bai bring so many people?

But since Shen Bai had arrived, Yang Chuan didn’t dwell on it.

As Shen Bai drew near, Yang Chuan quickly spoke.

"Yang Chuan, General of the Gale Camp, greets Lord Shen."

In terms of rank, addressing him as Lord Shen was correct.

Shen Bai, mounted on his horse, looked at Yang Chuan as the light of his Void-breaking Red Eye flickered.

He had uncovered some information, and it wasn’t bad news.

The general before him, Yang Chuan, was extremely loyal—but that loyalty was directed toward the Marquis of Ren De.

"Where is the Marquis? Take me to see him," Shen Bai said, retracting his gaze.

’I want to see exactly what poison this Marquis of Ren De has been afflicted with, and what the story is behind all this.’