Chapter 83.
After Xue Shu left, Yin Chengyu called Zhao Lin in.
Zhao Lin strode in, clutching a tiger cub against his chest. The little beast was squirming, its fuzzy head pushing out through his collar as he tried to shove it back down. âYour Highness,â he greeted, voice steady.
âWolves will likely attack tonight,â Yin Chengyu stated without preamble, his tone sharp and commanding. âGo take stock of how much wine and fire oil we have left.â
He crouched, using a brittle branch to sketch a large circle in the dirt, then added smaller circles inside it, mapping out the soldiersâ tents from memory. âWolves fear fire. Once youâve tallied the supplies, lead your men to dig trenches. Keep the operation discreetâuse the tents as cover. Once everything is in place, report back to me.â
The moment Yin Chengyu mentioned the wolves, the playful smirk on Zhao Linâs face vanished, replaced by a tense, serious expression.
Though not particularly cunning, Zhao Lin wasnât dull. Yin Chengyuâs emphasis on secrecy immediately raised red flags. He suspected the wolf threat wasnât just a coincidenceâsomeone was orchestrating this attack, and spies were likely watching from the shadows.
âThere are only half our men on guard. Should I summon General He immediately?â Zhao Lin asked, though the answer struck him even as he spoke. Heâd seen Xue Shuâwho was supposed to be tracking the wolf kingâleaving camp earlier. It wasnât hard to guess the man had gone to deliver a message.
Yin Chengyuâs next words confirmed it. âIâve already sent Xue Shu to fetch reinforcements. Focus on the trenches. Once theyâre ready, fill them with dry branches and leaves, soak everything in strong wine and fire oil, and wait for my signal.â
Zhao Lin nodded and turned to leave but stopped, realizing the tiger cub in his arms would only get in the way. He set it down in Yin Chengyuâs tent. If wolves did attack, there was no safer place than his lordâs quarters.
It took Zhao Lin two hours to execute the orders. The trenches, three feet wide and one foot deep, were hidden beneath the tents, packed with branches and leaves collected earlier for kindling. At the right moment, all it would take was a spark, and the camp would be encircled in a fiery barrier.
When Zhao Lin reported back, Yin Chengyu issued his next command: âPick four or five of our best archers. Equip them with heavy bows and have them hide in the trees. Tell them to stay sharp and watch for any unusual activity. The wolves wonât be our only problem tonight.â
Zhao Lin understood the gravity of his words. Yin Chengyu knew his enemyâPrince Yin Chengjing would never rely solely on wolves to do his dirty work.
Bowing low, Zhao Lin left to make the arrangements. Thanks to Yin Chengyuâs warning, heâd already ordered several covert searches of the area, pinpointing the spiesâ positions. He played dumb, pretending everything was routine as guards rotated shifts and soldiers feigned rest. In reality, everyone was armed and ready.
The camp seemed peaceful, save for the dying embers of a few campfires and a handful of soldiers huddled on night watch. The snow-laden forest was eerily quiet, the only sounds the whisper of wind through the branches and the occasional call of distant wildlife. But amidst the stillness came faint, hushed voices.
âAre they in position?â
âAlmost. Theyâre two miles out now.â
Yin Chengjing smirked, satisfied. Turning to the scouts perched in the trees above, he gave the signal. âBegin.â
The two scouts climbed down silently and approached the campâs upwind side. Pulling white porcelain bottles from their cloaks, they lit small burners and sprinkled fine powder onto the flames. The powder burned quickly, releasing a thick white smoke that the wind carried straight into the camp.
This wasnât an ordinary attack. Yin Chengjing had prepared meticulously. Wolves alone werenât enough for his plan to succeed.
The powder, painstakingly sourced, was harmless but potent. Just a pinch would lull someone into deep sleep. Now, with such a large dose wafting into the camp, Yin Chengyuâs men would be rendered unconscious before the wolves even arrived.
As the white fog settled over the camp, a sharp owlâs cry pierced the nightâa signal. Yin Chengjing, satisfied, withdrew to a vantage point on higher ground, ready to watch his plan unfold.
The wolves were coming.
Yin Chengyu sat confidently in the tent, his presence commanding. He pressed a damp cloth against his mouth and nose, his fingers gently lifting the tent flap to peek outside.
In the pitch-black snow forest, dozens of eerie, green-gleaming eyes hovered in the air, rapidly closing in on the camp.
If you listened closely, you could even hear the crunch of paws on snow.
The wolf pack was fast, moving like a blur, and in mere moments, they were almost upon her.
Yin Chengyu remained calm, waiting with precision. As the wolves neared the camp, only a hundred feet away, he released a signal arrow.
The arrow whistled through the air, and the soldiers inside the tents quickly sprang into action, grabbing bottles of strong liquor or oil from their waists and tossing them on the tents before setting them ablaze.
Within seconds, dozens of tents erupted in flames. As the fire spread to the ground, it quickly ignited the dry twigs and leaves in the trenches. The inferno raced along the trench like a chain reaction, surrounding the entire camp in a fierce ring of fire.
By the time the wolves arrived, the fire was already at full force.
These wolves had been deliberately lured here, following the scent of the bait that had been laid out for them. They were fast, relentless. As the fire circle ignited, a few wolves, unable to stop in time, charged straight into the flames, their fur searing.
The flames scorched their pelts, and even the savage prairie wolves howled in agony. The remaining pack hesitated, eyeing the fiery barrier with wary, glowing eyes.
A few dozen prairie wolves stood scattered outside the fire circle, snarling and growling at the people inside.
To ensure no mistakes, Princess Uju had made sure the wolves had tasted human flesh before. After feasting on it, they were even more ferocious, their eyes gleaming with a deadly green glow as they stared hungrily at the living flesh just out of reach. They could barely hold back from leaping into the fire.
Yin Chengyu stepped out of the tent, cradling a drowsy tiger cub, its white mist still lingering in the air. His voice, sharp and steady, cut through the chaos: "Do it. Not a single one gets away."
Zhao Lin, already prepared, signaled the archers, and their arrows flew in a deadly wave.
Though only about twenty soldiers remained behind in the camp, the wolf pack numbered three or four times that.
Arrows struck down, killing several wolves instantly, while others were wounded and howled in anger, charging at the fire ring, desperate to break through.
Thatâs when the archers, hidden in the trees outside the camp, took their shot. The firelight illuminated the scene, making the wolves' movements clear. With powerful bows, the archers picked off any wolf attempting to leap the flames, their arrows finding their mark with deadly accuracy.
In a matter of moments, the wolves had lost dozens of their pack.
The lead wolf, seeing the tide turn, let out a high-pitched howl, signaling for retreat.
But Yin Chengyu had planned this to the very last detailâthere was no way he would let them escape so easily.
He Shan and others, positioned outside the camp in the snow forest, immediately blocked the wolves' escape route.
The hunt was on, and the forest was lit up by the roaring flames. The wolves' howls and screams echoed through the night.
But this wasnât the scene Yin Chengjing had expected.
From his high vantage point, Yin Chengyuâs brother, Yin Chengjing, gritted his teeth, watching for what seemed like an eternity before snarling, âLetâs go!â
Princess Uju, clearly displeased, shot him a glare. âAfter all this effort, youâre just going to leave?â
She watched Yin Chengyu in the firelight and couldnât help but feel a mix of admiration and envy. The Crown Prince of Great Yan, not only handsome but sharp-minded, was someone to be reckoned with. If only he werenât her enemy.
But an enemy could only be one thingâdead.
âIâll have Hu'erhe take advantage of the chaos to kill him.â
That was the mission the Grand Tutor had given her. There were no second chances.
âIdiot,â Yin Chengjing spat, frustration creeping into his voice. âIf heâs prepared for wolves, you really think he hasnât set other traps for us waiting to take the bait?â
Princess Ujuâs eyes scanned the camp swiftly, and as soon as she didnât see Xue Shu, a chill shot down her spine. The cold, murderous intent in her eyes froze, and hesitation clouded her expression.
Yin Chengjing caught the shift in her demeanor and smirked coldly. âIf Princess Ujuâs looking to throw her life away, go ahead. I value mine, so Iâll be leaving first.â
If they didnât move now, by the time Yin Chengyu wiped out the wolves and cleared the way, theyâd be dead in the water.
The wolves were expertly arranged, and though Yin Chengyu had gained the upper hand, there was no clear evidence against him. But if they got trapped now, it would be a total loss.
Seeing that Princess Uju was still hesitating, Yin Chengjing didnât waste another moment. With a sharp command, he led his troops to make their exit.
Princess Uju clenched her teeth, weighing her options for a moment before abandoning the idea of taking advantage of the chaos to strike. She followed in pursuit.
The sounds of battle in the camp didnât fully drown out the sounds of horsesâ hooves hitting the ground.
Xue Shu, who had been lying in wait, finally picked up on the movement. Silently, he followed the sound, keeping his distance.
Yin Chengjing, ever cautious, circled around, careful not to reveal his trail. Only when he was sure there were no followers did he return to the camp.
Their camp was located near the cave where the wolf king was hidden, with both Yin Chengjingâs and Princess Ujuâs forces stationed on opposite sides.
Once back at camp, with no more worries, Princess Uju snapped, âUseless! Didnât you say youâd lure them away without a hitch?!â
Tomorrow was the last day of the hunt, and thereâd be no opportunity for another strike. Failing this mission meant punishment upon her return, and she couldnât afford that.
Yin Chengjing sneered darkly. âThe plan was mine, true. But donât forget, your men were the ones carrying it out. Looks like they were too incompetent, leaving a flaw that was noticed.â
He said this, but his mind was already working through the flaw that allowed Yin Chengyu to catch on.
Princess Uju glared at him, eyes burning with fury, but suppressed her rage for the moment. âFine, at least thereâs still the wolf king.â
Yin Chengjingâs eyes darkened. âThe wolf king is my information.â
Just then, Xue Shu, hidden in the shadows, overheard the mention of the âwolf king.â His ears perked, and he patiently waited.
After a tense standoff, both Yin Chengjing and Princess Uju grew too exhausted to continue arguing and retired to their tents. They left a few men behind to keep watch.
When the fifth watch arrived, with the guards nodding off, Xue Shu moved swiftly. He grabbed the stove he had stolen from Yin Chengjingâs scout, who had been cooking with it, and lit a fire.
Yin Chengjing had been so rushed in his retreat after the planâs failure that heâd probably forgotten about the two scouts who hadnât returned yet.
A puff of white mist blew into the camp, slowly enveloping everything.
Xue Shu waited a few more moments before covering his mouth and nose and slipping into the cave.
He had heard the argument and knew the wolf king was inside.
Sure enough, once inside the cave, he found the wolf king, shackled with iron rings on its paws, its body riddled with arrow wounds. Its chest still rose faintly, indicating it was still alive.
This was convenient for Xue Shu. He tied the wolf kingâs mouth shut with rope and hoisted it over his shoulder, exiting the cave.
The guards were deep asleep from the mist, and no one noticed him swaggering out with the wolf king.
He took a quick look around, grabbed a nearby horse, and tied the wolf king to it. Just as he was about to ride off and report his success to Yin Chengyu, a thought struck him. He turned his gaze toward Yin Chengjingâs and Princess Ujuâs main tents.
Since he was here, he couldnât leave without leaving a little gift for them.
âââAuthorâs Note:
âStop arguing, youâre all useless. Since Iâm here, letâs leave you with a little something to remember me by.â
âââTN:
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