Shao Bu was Suryehok’s Chief Commander for this operation.
He didn’t join the hijacking directly. Instead of descending with the Mountain Bandits, he signaled when they should move.
True to their impatient nature, the bandits nearly rushed out the moment the ‘Trade Caravan’ came into view—but Shao Bu held them back.
Pouncing immediately would’ve meant certain death. Yang Su’s troops pressed from behind, and the caravan included his Vice General. Instant annihilation was inevitable.
Shao Bu waited for the perfect moment. Once the ‘Trade Caravan’ reached the second bend, they’d strike.
“Don’t activate your War God Imprint recklessly. Wait until the guard in the first row, to my right, activates his War God Mark. Then you activate yours. Understood?”
“Understood!”
Forcing these men to activate their War God Marks was part of Suryehok’s plan.
To make Yang Su order a deep advance, Suryehok layered safety locks. The Great Ming’s War God Mark was the most crucial.
No one expected Mongol Troops to break through to the Tahang Mountains. The Northern Frontier was guarded by General Zhao Helie—‘the Butcher’—Emperor Zhu Youcheng’s most trusted border commander. How could he let anyone slip through? Sadly, Zhao Helie was utterly lustful. Easily bewitched by women, he couldn’t think straight. They seized this gap to slip in.
Indeed, no one knew this secret. Zhao Helie never spoke of it. Several Mongol tribes periodically offered beautiful women from their tribes to curry favor. The Northern Frontier’s economy relied on trade with the Great Ming. Whoever pleased Zhao Helie most gained greater benefits.
The ‘Trade Caravan’ neared Shao Bu’s anticipated spot.
“Attack!” Shao Bu commanded the instant the caravan’s last member crossed his mental line.
“Kill!!!” The nearly fifty Mountain Bandits charged fiercely. For them, this deal was lucrative. Banditry was high-risk; death could strike anytime. But a big heist meant loot to last months.
In the cave, Suryehok first told the two leaders to pick the fastest runners. Later, he changed it: half strong fighters, half fast runners. Only strong fighters could force the Vice General to activate his War God Mark. Then the plan would unfold smoothly. Choosing only fast runners wouldn’t compel the activation. Activating the War God Imprint was crucial—it had to happen.
The moment she heard “Kill!”, Lieutenant Liu drew her sword and instantly activated her War God Imprint.
Suryehok wouldn’t have expected her to activate it so fast. He didn’t know this female general aimed to annihilate all enemy forces immediately.
She saw any opponent as ‘enemy troops’ on the battlefield.
To enemy troops, any mercy is cruelty to oneself.
Shao Bu on the mountain was startled. This Vice General was ferocious. Her first move—the Five Armies Camp’s signature “Sweeping Thousands”—instantly crushed the front ranks into pulp.
If they hadn’t scattered during the charge, three-fifths would’ve died from Lieutenant Liu’s “Sweeping Thousands” by now.
“A fourth-stage War God Mark user is truly terrifying,” Shao Bu muttered. He realized he’d broken into a sweat after her strike.
Though terrifying, the goal was achieved.
On the bandits’ side, the strong fighters activated their War God Marks.
Shao Bu observed the strongest was only second stage—and likely not even second rank, given the weak aura.
But they didn’t let these men actually kill Lieutenant Liu. This was enough.
Those meant to flee had already started running.
Their foot speed was indeed fast.
“Truly a bunch of weaklings…” Shao Bu thought. If he trained them a month or two, their strength would double. They wouldn’t suffer such a crushing defeat.
After crushing the last enemy blocking her path, the fleeing bandits vanished.
The Tahang Mountains’ terrain was treacherous. No one knew where they’d scurried.
Lieutenant Liu deactivated her War God Mark and wiped enemy brain matter from her face.
The gore was warm, still steaming.
“Truly terrifying…” Shao Bu dared not move. Even a fraction of motion would alert them. He was key to the plan’s success: staying hidden from the Great Ming army.
“Vice General, won’t you pursue them?”
“Even if I chase, I can’t catch them. No idea where they ran,” Lieutenant Liu said, anger flickering on her face. To her, her “Sweeping Thousands” should’ve killed every enemy.
A proud Vice General of the Five Armies Camp, failing to wipe out mere Mountain Bandits—this was shameful.
Yang Su sensed the War God Marks’ clash and fluctuations the moment battle began. He also felt the gap between Lieutenant Liu’s fourth stage and the enemy’s second stage.
When silence fell, he brought a few men to her side.
“This subordinate failed the mission. I beg the General to punish me!” Lieutenant Liu knelt immediately upon seeing Yang Su.
“Bandit forces differ from regular troops. We can’t learn their tricks. It’s not your fault,” Yang Su said from horseback. He scanned the area, then the distance. “Bring the map—the one the old man drew personally.”
The Emperor’s official map missed details. When they first reached the Tahang foothills, Yang Su paid a local elder to draw a separate map. Rushed, he’d handed it unread to his deputy. Now, that map would prove vital.
“As expected… this spot isn’t marked.” On the elder’s map, a subtle area revealed an extremely hidden location.
Yang Su dismounted and showed it to Lieutenant Liu.
“This is…”
“If I were those bandits, I’d set my hideout here,” Yang Su said. “This is the only flat ground in the mountains—good for crops. At the edge, a narrow path allows entry and retreat. A rare, perfect spot.”
Shao Bu on the mountain couldn’t hear them, but saw Yang Su’s expression and gestures.
Before remounting, Yang Su pointed toward where the bandits fled.
Lieutenant Liu nodded.
Shao Bu knew Suryehok’s scheme had worked. Yang Su had fallen for it.
