If Shui Yongquan were to launch a surprise attack from the cave, he would then lead his troops to reinforce it.
Just as Qiu Luoye was about to order a charge, within the valley, amidst the hazy mist, the vines trembled as if an army of thousands was approaching. Shui Yongquan’s forces were stronger than Qiu Luoye had predicted.
Qiu Luoye instructed, "All forces, await my command! Wait until they are out of the gorge before attacking."
At 5:01, the enemy still hadn’t erged. Within the valley, dry branches and leaves whirled in the air, suggesting the enemy was gathering forces at the mouth of the gorge.
Qiu Luoye shouted, "Prepare to strike!"
At 5:02, dust flew within the valley. Qiu Luoye, however, never gave the order to attack, as he couldn’t determine how many enemy troops were in the valley.
A Scorpion ca forward and whispered, "It seems they have more n than us. We should call for reinforcents."
A fox beside him shook its head. "Don’t act rashly. Let’s wait and see."
At 5:03, an abrupt silence fell over the valley. The fox said to Qiu Luoye, "Master, there’s a trick here. The enemy must be lying in ambush."
Why was there suddenly no sound? Qiu Luoye couldn’t understand it.
Actually, the reason was very simple: Li Banfeng’s Paper Maidens could only last for three minutes when doing physical labor. Shaking vines, throwing leaves, and tossing sand were all quite draining activities. This was a tactic his wife had taught him: don’t spread too much bait, but make a grand show of strength to make the enemy want to attack, yet not dare to!
Qiu Luoye could neither advance nor retreat. As he hesitated, a pheasant soared into the air. "I’ll go in and scout the situation first!"
According to the tactics taught by his wife, Li Banfeng had to imdiately shoot down anything that could fly, to blind the enemy. But Li Banfeng lacked the ability to do so. The pheasant had a Third Layer cultivation level and flew very high. Li Banfeng couldn’t reach it, so he could only squat among the vines and watch.
After hovering for a while, the pheasant flew back. "Master, I saw no enemy troops in the valley."
The fox asked, "Not a single enemy soldier?"
The pheasant answered cautiously, "I didn’t see any. The Hundred Vine Valley is full of vines, so I couldn’t see clearly. Perhaps they’re hidden."
Of course, she couldn’t see them. Li Banfeng’s Paper Maidens had already turned into scraps of paper, and Li Banfeng, with his Fourth Layer Ho Cultivation, was overlooked by her.
Qiu Luoye beca increasingly anxious, uncertain whether to attack the valley forcefully. The fox advised him to continue observing, while the pheasant reminded, "Master, if there are no enemy troops, we should charge straight through! The n are reluctant to wait!"
This group of Strange Monsters was not an army. Just as Shui Yongquan had said, Qiu Luoye’s followers were a disorganized mob. They followed the Local Deity into battle to earn cultivation levels, gathering together and eager to finish the fight quickly. No one wanted to be worn down. If they kept dragging on, morale would dissipate.
In his anxiety, Qiu Luoye called over a Horse-headed Person. "You lead your subordinates to scout the way."
The Horse-headed Person was reluctant to go; he was also clueless about the situation in the valley.
Qiu Luoye nodded. "I’ll give you pri credit for this!"
The Horse-headed Person agreed, as pri credit would grant double the cultivation level.
Twenty Horse-headed People charged into the valley.
Were these Horse-headed People’s cultivation levels high? No. They were all at the Second Layer. But they were incredibly fast runners, no less so than Second Layer Traveling Cultivators. In less than a minute, they had covered more than three miles. According to his wife’s tactics, such individuals needn’t be bothered with; one must never chase and attack them.
But Li Banfeng could not just ignore them. According to his agreent with Shui Yongquan, if even one person broke through the gorge, Li Banfeng would lose.
The group of Horse-headed People saw no enemy troops along the way. The leader of the Horse-headed People snorted, "It’s all just a bluff!" He stretched his neck, preparing to let out three long calls to signal Qiu Luoye.
Li Banfeng controlled the Clock Pendulum. On the cliff above, he cut the vines, causing massive Stones to crash down thunderously. This was the trap that wild boars, Youyan, and others had helped Li Banfeng set up.
Three Horse-headed People were pinned under a massive Stone. The leader of the Horse-headed People neighed three tis—two long and one short—signaling an ambush in the valley. The leader, with his subordinates in tow, continued to run forward frantically, covering another mile until they reached a bend in the valley where the falling Stones ceased. It wasn’t that Li Banfeng hadn’t prepared enough Stones; the Clock Pendulum simply couldn’t keep up with this group of Horse-headed People.
The leader scoffed, "Such petty tricks!" Just as he was about to neigh again, they suddenly slled a strong scent of alcohol.
Where did that sll of alcohol co from?
Realizing sothing was amiss, one of the Horse-headed People shouted, "Quick, let’s go—"
He had barely gotten the words out when a Tang Sword suddenly appeared, beheading the leader of the Horse-headed People. This was the first ambush point Li Banfeng had chosen, where the Tang Sword had been lying in wait.
With their leader dead, the remaining Horse-headed People didn’t know where to run. Should they continue scouting, or run back?
During their mont of hesitation, Li Banfeng struck a match, lit the alcohol mist, and quickly moved upwind. Flas burst forth violently, the alcohol mist clinging to the Horse-headed People as if alive. The Horse-headed People caught fire one after another. Without their leader, they descended into chaos. So ran back, only to be greeted by the Clock Pendulum with falling Stones. Others moved forward, becoming trapped in the fierce flas of the alcohol mist.
The pound of alcohol was very limited; in an instant, more than half was used up. The Wine Gourd’s mouth closed, saving the little that was left.
When the flas died down, three Horse-headed People were still alive. One dashed towards the end of the valley, while two avoided the falling Stones and turned back the way they ca.
Let the ones turning back go. The one charging forward must not be spared.
Li Banfeng sprinted wildly, catching up to the Horse-headed Person. With one Short Step, he was behind him. Swinging his Sickle, he pierced through the Horse-headed Person’s skull.
I survived the first wave!
Li Banfeng opened his Pocket Watch: 5:08! I’ve held out for eight minutes!
I’ll use the Bluffing Technique again in a mont to stall them for three more minutes. Even though there isn’t much alcohol left in the Wine Gourd, I’ve set up plenty of traps; I can hold out for another three minutes. Relying on the Waterfall Gate to last another three minutes. The enemy army also needs ti to travel. Seeing as Qiu Luoye is such a sizeable figure, if I can make him walk a little slower, I can delay them another three minutes. Wouldn’t that be enough ti?
A TRUMPET BLAST! It was an elephant’s call.
Li Banfeng was stunned. Qiu Luoye hadn’t given Li Banfeng another chance to use his Bluffing Technique; he charged in himself.
Is he really that rash? Isn’t he afraid of my ambush?
Qiu Luoye really wasn’t afraid. After hearing the Horse-headed People’s descriptions, he beca even less fearful.
"Throwing Stones! Setting fires! Shui Yongquan! Who do you think I am? Can’t you fight with so real skill?"
Li Banfeng heard footsteps but had yet to see Qiu Luoye’s figure. But he knew why this Local Deity was called Qiu Luoye. With each step this Big Elephant took, the dead leaves on the vines fell like raindrops.
PS: The battle begins.
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