Chapter 3422

Hao Tai was indeed very satisfied with his performance, feeling that Ye Liuyun really knew how to conduct himself, unlike some martial cultivators who knew nothing but cultivation. However, he did not tell him much about what would happen afterward, merely instructing him to ensure his own safety while carrying out missions and then improve his cultivation as quickly as possible.

As for Zhao Yuanpei, Hao Tai merely said that Ye Liuyun had saved someone and that the Marquis would reward him handsomely, glossing over the matter.

Hao Tai had not cared in the slightest that Zhao Yuanpei had set Ye Liuyun and the others up when they were rescuing people. Even Xiao Han did not particularly care. He merely knew that Zhao Yuanpei was a person of poor character and had not taken the matter to heart.

In the eyes of these people, the lives of soldiers truly were worthless.

Ye Liuyun, however, would not forget. Although he paid lip service by saying things like how grateful he was to the Marquis, he had already made up his mind: if he got the chance, he would definitely kill Zhao Yuanpei and avenge Qin Yuan, Qiang Shi, Chen Mo, and the others.

Afterward, Ye Liuyun returned to the military camp as well. After resting for a while, he continued taking Qi Tianlin with him to scout ahead, while Liao Yaotian led Ye Liuyun’s thousand soldiers from far behind, coordinating with Ye Liuyun to surround and wipe out small groups of bandits.

Chen Mo’s injuries had not yet healed, so he temporarily remained with the army to recuperate.

Xiao Han’s army still served as the vanguard and main force, following behind Ye Liuyun’s group. He did not need to do anything; as long as he coordinated with Ye Liuyun, the credit would go to him.

The thousand soldiers under Ye Liuyun were already enough to deal with most bandit groups.

Moreover, Ye Liuyun tried to minimize casualties in every battle, focusing on tempering his and Qi Tianlin’s combat skills. Whenever they were outmatched, he would release several golden dragon puppets to help fight, so the soldiers’ casualties remained low.

When they encountered large numbers of bandits, coordinating with Xiao Han was enough to handle most situations.

However, as the army continued to advance, the bandits also realized that they were about to be wiped out. They did not have the courage to flee toward the higher-level martial cultivators, fearing that those cultivators would kill them.

Thus, they were eventually forced to keep retreating and fleeing, gradually gathering together until they could join forces and fight the soldiers to the death.

Ye Liuyun also sensed that something was wrong and immediately had Liao Yaotian lead his soldiers back first.

“What’s wrong?” Qi Tianlin’s divine sense and golden eyes could not see as far as Ye Liuyun’s. Seeing Ye Liuyun solemnly order the troops to retreat, he could not help asking him.

“I saw all these refugees gathering together. It looks as though they intend to join forces against us.”

Ye Liuyun explained.

“Sigh! Actually, these people are all pitiful souls with no way to survive!” Qi Tianlin sighed as well. Zhao Yuanpei’s actions had affected him, making him feel that the soldiers were actually not much better off than these refugees.

“That’s true! But we’re enemies now. If we don’t kill them, they’ll kill us! Their numbers are growing larger and larger. I’ve already detected more than ten thousand people. There may be even more beyond the range of my divine sense!”

Ye Liuyun was also worried about their numbers. If a battle really broke out, their army would suffer heavy losses.

“Report it and see what the higher-ups say! If we make the wrong decision on something this serious, we’ll become the scapegoats!” Qi Tianlin said at once.

Ye Liuyun immediately reported the situation to Xiao Han as well.

Xiao Han was startled when he heard the number and hurriedly reported it to Hao Tai.

Hao Tai became cautious as well upon hearing this.

“Can you determine their exact numbers?” he asked Xiao Han.

“If the scouts move any closer, I’m afraid they’ll be discovered, causing the enemy to attack us prematurely!” Xiao Han said worriedly.

Hao Tai thought for a moment before instructing Xiao Han, “Have your army prepare to defend and retreat, and send the scouts to determine the enemy’s exact numbers.”

He felt that if the opposing force numbered no more than thirty thousand, this battle would earn him great merit. But if there were more, his army would be in danger.

Therefore, he still had to take the risk and test them. If the enemy’s numbers were too great, the entire army would immediately retreat into the city.

After receiving the order, Ye Liuyun could only continue scouting ahead.

“You should go back first. If we’re discovered, I should be able to escape!” Ye Liuyun was worried that Qi Tianlin might not be able to get away.

“I’ll accompany you. If we’re discovered, at least we can look out for each other!” Qi Tianlin did not run off first out of fear of death.

“All right, then. Let’s go!” Ye Liuyun said no more and continued scouting ahead with Qi Tianlin.

After advancing another six or seven li, the enemy discovered the two of them as well.

However, Ye Liuyun’s divine sense detected people everywhere behind them. The number of people he could currently see had already exceeded fifty thousand.

He immediately reported this to Xiao Han while continuing to scout as far ahead as possible.

At that moment, the enemy also sent a group to pursue and kill Ye Liuyun and Qi Tianlin.

“We’ve detected more than fifty thousand people so far. Should we retreat? Ye Liuyun and the others are now less than ten li from the enemy. They’ve been spotted, and the enemy has already sent people to deal with them.”

Xiao Han immediately sought Hao Tai’s instructions. After all, Xiao Han had never fought such a large-scale battle before and was somewhat panicked.

Only then did Hao Tai display the bearing of a great commander. He calmly asked Xiao Han, “Doesn’t Ye Liuyun possess a special kind of flame? If he burns them with all his strength, how many enemies could he kill?

If we retreat now, your force may have to cover our withdrawal. In that case, not only will the soldiers suffer heavy losses, but it also won’t count as a victory. It will be much harder for you to claim battle merits afterward!”

Xiao Han immediately asked Ye Liuyun as well.

“Burn all these people to death?” Ye Liuyun was somewhat stunned when he heard that.

His Golden Crow Fire Spirit could indeed do it; he simply had not expected Hao Tai to be so ruthless. Deep down, he did not want to kill all these people. However, Hao Tai was right: once the entire army retreated, if these people counterattacked, Xiao Han’s force would inevitably have to stay behind to intercept them, and the entire army might be annihilated.

Although he did not want to kill all these people, he did not want his comrades and soldiers to be killed by them either.

Moreover, he knew that since Hao Tai had asked this question, he had already seen the power of his Golden Crow Sacred Flame, so he did not dare conceal it.

“If they have no defensive measures, burning more than half of them to death shouldn’t be a problem!” he replied truthfully.

“Given the current situation, this counts as a battle between two armies. If we aren’t ruthless enough, it’ll be our own people who die!” He consoled himself with that thought before proposing his plan of attack to Xiao Han.

After receiving the report, Hao Tai thought for a moment and immediately ordered the entire army to follow Ye Liuyun’s suggestion and divide into four groups. His ninety-thousand-man army would split into three groups to prepare frontal and flanking attacks, while Xiao Han’s army would get ready to pursue the enemy.

After receiving Xiao Han’s confirmation that the army would deploy according to his suggestion, Ye Liuyun immediately used the golden dragon puppets to kill the group of martial cultivators approaching them. He then had Qi Tianlin return to join Xiao Han, while he himself charged into the enemy formation.

As he drew closer step by step, he finally caught sight of the rear of the enemy force.