Tie Dun lowered his voice, but his volu was still considerable: "By the way, if Sakura Country finds out we've raided their ho base from behind, do you think they'll jump in anger?"
Zhao Hu was silent for a mont, his tone as flat as if he were discussing the weather: "We took Chidori County back from the Orcs. If Sakura Country has an objection, let them take it up with the Orcs. As for finding us, let them talk to our Lord's Great Wall."
Tie Dun chuckled even more heartily: "Brother Hu, you're absolutely right! I toast you with a ladle of hot spring water!"
Zhao Hu didn't speak, but the sound of splashing water indicated he had indeed been hit by a ladle-full.
Lin Feng stood at the door and shook his head. Instead of heading toward them, he turned into a small side room.
There was no one else in the room, only a small bath. The water was crystal clear, and steam swirled above it.
He removed his armor, leaned his Wildfire Spear against the corner, walked barefoot into the pool, and slowly sat down.
The spring water rose past his chest, the temperature just right.
His pores opened in the hot water. The exhaustion from a whole night of long-distance raids seeped out from the gaps in his bones, squeezed out bit by bit by the heat.
He leaned against the wall of the pool and closed his eyes. The faint sounds of Tie Dun and Zhao Hu bickering next door still drifted to his ears.
"Brother Hu, do you think we'll still be fighting tomorrow?"
"Listen to the Lord."
"Then will we be able to fight like this every day from now on? Bathe right after fighting?"
"In your dreams."
"Hehe..."
The voices grew more distant and blurred.
A lingering curve remained at the corner of Lin Feng's mouth as his breathing gradually steadied.
...
The next morning, five miles outside the east gate of Osaka Castle, the Orc camp spread out in the dawn light.
Tents were densely packed, stretching for miles from the small hills in the east to the dry riverbed in the south.
The war banner of the Cangshi Clan fluttered in the wind above the great tent in the center of the camp.
The black-based war banner was embroidered with a pale wolf's head, its mouth wide open and fangs bared as if in a silent roar.
Patrolling Orc soldiers carried iron axes, their steps heavy and rhythmic as they marched over the gravel paths.
They wore crude leather armor, their tusks protruding and their eyes flashing with a dark green light.
Several Wolfmounts crouched beside the tents, squinting with tongues lolling out; their saliva dripped onto the ground, corroding shallow pits.
The great tent in the center of the camp was twice as tall as the others, its mammoth-hide walls gleaming with a dull luster in the morning light.
The war banner of the Cangshi Clan Chieftain stood atop the tent, twice the size of ordinary flags. The wolf's eyes were inlaid with dark red gems that glinted with a blood-colored light in the dawn.
Inside the great tent, charcoal burned in braziers, casting shadows on the walls that twisted like a group of writhing ghosts.
The Chieftain of the Cangshi Clan—Chief Bloodaxe Gorong—sat in the primary seat.
His body nearly filled the entire stone chair. Standing nearly three ters tall, his dark green skin was covered in a crisscross of battle scars, like a map that had been repeatedly torn and nded.
His ssy hair was braided into dozens of bone-braids, the ends adorned with small animal bones that clicked softly as he turned his head.
A mammoth-hide cloak draped from his broad shoulders, and a necklace hung across his chest, its dozen or so skulls belonging to different races.
In the first seat on the left sat another Level 40 War Lord—Warlord Bloody Tooth Red.
He was slightly smaller than Goron but more lean and powerful.
Blood-red war paint was sared across his face, extending from his left eye to his chin like a congealed bloodstain.
His weapons were two short-handled hand axes crossed behind his back, their blades engraved with wolf-head totems.
He leaned against the back of his chair, tearing at a piece of raw at in his right hand, blood trickling down the corners of his mouth.
In the first seat on the right sat the Orc Prophet. His body was hunched, wrapped in tattered grey robes, his face painted with white war markings and his eyes glowing with an eerie green light.
Behind him on both sides sat four Orc Sword Saints in sequence.
Red war paint was applied to their lean muscles. Their hair was tied in ponytails with cloth strips, and their greatswords lay ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) across their knees. Their eyes were downcast, like four silent statues.
Two Level 40 War Lords, one Prophet, and four Sword Saints—this was the core combat power of the Cangshi Clan.
Chief Bloodaxe Gorong held a piece of parchnt in his hand, its edges wrinkled by his thick fingers.
His voice was deep and slow.
"Last night, our rear was ambushed by the humans. We lost three county towns."
Warlord Bloody Tooth Red suddenly sat bolt upright in his chair. The piece of raw at fell from his hand to the ground, splashing a puddle of blood.
His voice was a roar squeezed from the depths of his throat: "What? Those damned stinking rats! They dared to ambush us from behind while our great Cangshi Clan Chieftain, Chief Bloodaxe Gorong, was attacking human territory? This pack of sewer worms doesn't even have the courage for a frontal duel!"
He unclenched his fist and pressed his fingers onto his axe handle, veins bulging.
The Orc Prophet opened his eyes, the eerie green light dancing deep in his sockets. His voice was raspy.
"Calm down, Bloodfang. The Underground Teleportation Array is at the critical point of the Blood Sacrifice; we cannot leave. Those few broken counties are lost, so be it. If we delay Lord Saruk's plan, you and I will both be torn to pieces and fed to the Wolfmounts. Stay steady for now; we'll flay those stinking rats later!"
Warlord Bloody Tooth Red's breathing remained heavy for a few seconds before he released the axe handle, leaned back into his chair, and snorted.
Chief Bloodaxe Gorong nodded, his voice remaining steady: "Indeed. The deploynt of the one-ti teleportation array must not fail. It concerns our clan's plan to completely destroy the humans later."
He placed the parchnt on the table and tapped it with a rough finger.
"Order Urga to take two Orc Overseers to Shenle County, Fengzao County, and Jingchuan County. Withdraw all remaining troops to Shenle County. Combine the forces of the three counties to reinforce the city defenses. Do not give the humans another opportunity."
The ssenger Orc soldier below the dais pressed his right fist to his chest, accepted the order, and departed.
Chief Bloodaxe Gorong turned to look at the Prophet: "How much is left for the Blood Sacrifice?"
The Prophet closed his eyes, his fingers tapping rapidly on his knee for a few monts, then opened them: "At the current scale, five days remain."
Chief Bloodaxe Gorong suddenly slamd the armrest of his stone chair, producing a dull, thunderous bang.
He stood up, his mammoth-hide cloak sliding from his shoulders to reveal the necklace of skulls still swaying slightly on his chest.
He grabbed the 'Bonebreaker' battle-axe leaning against his chair. The dried blood on the blade glinted dark red in the firelight.
"Good." His voice echoed in the tent, carrying an unquestionable pressure. "In half an hour, we continue the offensive."
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