The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 690: Baffling Battle!

Baffling Battle! . . .

As the cavalry charged forward, some of the men fell into the pits meant to deter the mounted assailants, but the rest paid no heed to the unfortunate casualties. They pressed on, making a mad dash toward the heart of the encampment, as if they were attempting the impossible – to run through a million troops.

To Wenren Jianyin and a few of the seasoned generals around him, this audacious endeavor was nothing short of preposterous. They exchanged cynical glances, inwardly scoffing at the invaders' delusions.

[What a delightful reverie!]

[An idiot's daydream!]

[Summer insects dreaming of ice!]

Wenren Jianyin and his battle-hardened comrades were intimately acquainted with the nuances of warfare. They didn't require a visual headcount to gauge the numbers of the assailants. They could gauge the numerical strength by observing the billowing dust clouds and the thundering resonance of approaching hooves.

Their estimations were consistently on point.

Therefore, they had a fairly accurate count of the incoming threat.

"Surprise attack," Wenren Jianyin remarked, his tone measured. "He's done well to catch us off guard. However, they've sorely underestimated the task at hand."

"You're absolutely correct," one grizzled general affirmed, taking a step forward. "Commander, please grant me the honor of confronting them. I shall smite them with my lordly sword."

The other officers followed suit, their readiness evident.

"No need to rush," Wenren Jianyin said, fixated on the unfolding battle. "General Wang should be able to manage the situation competently. Those are no pushovers; they sent a capable group. However, they're still not strong enough. Observe their movements; their discipline is lacking. This won't escalate into a significant threat. Did I overestimate Cha Eun Xiao earlier?"

While discussing this, Wenren Chuchu, her countenance fraught with worry, suddenly appeared before Wenren Jianyin.

Her unanticipated arrival left Wenren Jianyin bewildered. "Why are you here, Chuchu? It's only a minor skirmish. Why are you so on edge? Is your health improving? You look better."

She tried to put on a reassuring smile, but she couldn't respond verbally. It was still too early to reveal her concerns.

She knew that if these invaders were indeed connected to the man she had been contemplating, then this was not a minor engagement. Anything linked to him had the potential to escalate into a dire and momentous situation. Her experiences had taught her that.

While they conversed, one of the invaders shouted, "Lan-Feng was better prepared than we thought! A protracted conflict is not what we desire! Fall back!"

The assailants suddenly reversed course and rode off, leaving behind hundreds of lifeless bodies. Their abrupt departure bewildered the defenders. They had charged in so fiercely and determinedly that no one expected them to flee so abruptly.

"What's happening? What's wrong with them?" Wenren Jianyin's troops were baffled. Given his orders to leave the gates open for the invaders, none of his men had rushed to confront them. The assailants easily surged through the gates and entered the camp.

Amid the chaos, a magnificent, shimmering blade of light lit up the dark night, resembling a long bolt of lightning. As the mounted foes attempted to fend off the advancing Kingdom of Lan-Feng soldiers, they were met with cries of shock and the splattering of blood. An unobstructed path materialized before them.

Approximately eight thousand horsemen thundered out of the camp, raising a thick cloud of dust behind them as they retreated. The sight of their rapid departure was marked by derisive laughter.

"Wenren Jianyin, we came and went as we pleased," one of them taunted. "I dare you to pursue us!"

The thunderous drumming of their galloping horses resounded, growing more distant with each passing moment.

Left behind was the disheveled and chaotic encampment of the Kingdom of Lan-Feng, where the wounded moaned in agony. The outcome had taken everyone by surprise.

The invaders had charged into the encampment with apparent determination to fight to the death, only to make a sudden and unexpected retreat. The assault had left hardly a significant dent, raising perplexing questions. Had they merely sought to create a cacophony and waste a few lives in the process?

Wenren Jianyin, standing amidst the aftermath of the brief but intense skirmish, couldn't help but scratch his head in frustration. He was known for his sharp strategic thinking, but the inexplicable nature of this confrontation left him bewildered. He was sure there was a scheme hidden beneath the surface, but the precise nature of it eluded him.

In his heart, he sensed that this was no ordinary battle. If Cha Eun Xiao had initiated it in such a casual and uncharacteristic manner, why would the Kingdom of Chen have dispatched him to face Wenren Jianyin?

The entire incident had unfolded with an air of spontaneity. The invaders had arrived and departed abruptly, taunting their adversaries as they left, akin to a street brawl among gangs. It was as if the assailants, like street thugs, had come to make trouble and then made a hasty exit when their efforts bore no fruit. Cha Eun Xiao's tactics resembled those of a street gangster.

The soldiers promptly evaluated the losses within their ranks, their experience ensuring swift and accurate calculations. Simultaneously, some of the troops began the task of restoring order within the camp.

"Report, Commander. Four thousand three hundred and sixteen valiant soldiers perished in the battle, with seven hundred and thirty-two sustaining injuries," a soldier reported to Wenren Jianyin. "The enemy left behind two thousand nine hundred and ninety-five bodies; none survived. All have perished."

Wenren Jianyin's expression turned severe. Despite the defenders' readiness and the preparation of numerous traps, the invaders had struck unexpectedly, and he had lost a significant number of his troops. In fact, they had lost nearly twice the number of Cha Eun Xiao's forces.

A nearby general sought to console Wenren Jianyin. "The enemy they sent was comprised of elite soldiers. It's no simple feat to defeat them with regular troops. While we did sustain greater losses in terms of numbers, it's reasonable. In essence, it could be considered a victory for us…"

He was attempting to explain the loss of their soldiers more comprehensively, aiming to alleviate the prevailing gloom. He wasn't entirely incorrect in his assessment. The Kingdom of Lan-Feng had indeed suffered greater losses in terms of the headcount, but the quality of their casualties differed significantly. Cha Eun Xiao's troops were all elite warriors, and the numerical advantage of the Kingdom of Lan-Feng could absorb these losses more readily.

The generals who had gathered around Wenren Jianyin, veterans of numerous battles, grasped the logic behind this explanation and nodded their heads in agreement.

However, Wenren Jianyin could not find solace in this reasoning. He erupted in frustration, "Nonsense! Are you suggesting their soldiers are all elite and mine are nothing but gluttonous imbeciles?"