Chapter 163: Retaliation!

Hearing the commander say so, the people of the Zhao State could not help but sigh, yet they were utterly helpless.

War was always like this. At any given moment, you faced the peril of life and death. But your own death was a minor matter; behind you stood your country and your people. You had to shoulder the responsibility for the war, and you had to answer for your soldiers.

Many people envied military officers, for an officer alone held the power to strategize and command from a command tent.

Yet there were also those who wondered why commanders were invariably individuals of great intellect rather than those with formidable combat prowess.

Why not select cultivators with exceptionally high realms to serve as commanders?

That was because warfare was not merely a contest of brute force, but a clash of wits. To put it bluntly, if one lacked brains and knew only how to charge blindly into battle, no matter how many men you had, they would never suffice for the slaughter.

History was replete with such cautionary tales.

Therefore, everyone yearned to become a commander, which drove them to cultivate with utmost diligence.

Yet in the end, most could only become ordinary generals rather than capable commanders, possessing no real authority and reduced to blindly obeying others—mere brawny fighters.

"No, we absolutely cannot let those brutes tail us like this!"

"Listen up! Gather several generals at the third level of the Shackles Realm and send them back to annihilate those scoundrels. Furthermore, dispatch a disciple at the fourth level of the Shackles Realm. They must return and cut that brat down!"

"Damn it, the mere thought of this infuriates me to the core. We've been utterly played by that little bastard! If it weren't for him, our campaign would have succeeded without a hitch, and this war would truly have gone down in history!"

Clearly enraged, the commander issued a flurry of orders to his subordinates.

Shortly after, a group of generals at the third level of the Shackles Realm stepped forward, joining a young warrior who had reached the fourth level of the Shackles Realm.

Without delay, this detachment began to race back in the direction of Bai Feiyu and his companions, evidently intent on wiping out these proud prodigies of the Zhao State in one fell swoop.

After all, the Zhou State had suffered the loss of so many talented youths and was burning with suppressed fury.

Their adversaries had only lost two men, yet they had the audacity to pursue them relentlessly. Such insolence was truly infuriating.

"Come on! Let us slaughter these prodigies of the Zhao State. Once we return, nobility and titles will surely be ours!"

Roaring with battle intent, one of the generals led the charge, hurtling swiftly toward Bai Feiyu and the others.

Observing the sudden appearance of so many adversaries surging toward them from ahead, Bai Feiyu and his group could not help but feel a wave of unease. None of them could gauge the true strength of these oncoming foes, nor could they tell if hidden experts lurked within their ranks.

If there truly were concealed powerhouses among them, every single one of them might very well perish here.

Yet the dilemma was that if they were to retreat now, without even figuring out the exact numbers and strength of the enemy, it would be far too humiliating—an outcome none of them could reconcile themselves with.

A surge of frustration welled up in many hearts, and they turned their gazes toward Gu Tianxun and Bai Feiyu, seeking their verdict. After all, the two of them were currently the leaders of the expedition and possessed the highest cultivation levels.

"Perhaps we should fall back. We have already done our utmost," Gu Tianxun said with a hint of hesitation. He, too, remained uncertain of the enemy's true intentions in suddenly dispatching a force to hunt them down.

If these pursuers managed to corner them and peerless experts were indeed hidden within their ranks, wouldn't all of them be doomed?

None of them wished to see so many gifted youths perish in this wasteland.

"No, we must not retreat under any circumstances! Think about it: at a time like this, top-tier experts are precious commodities on both sides. No one is willing to squander such powerhouses here."

"Dispatching a few ordinary generals is likely fine, but sacrificing a true powerhouse is something their side cannot bear."

"These people are probably just trying to buy time and stall our advance. My decision is that we must pursue them and test their strength."

Bai Feiyu spoke with unshakeable resolve.

It was not out of a reckless craving for military glory that he made this choice; rather, Bai Feiyu had deliberated thoroughly.

He understood very well that the enemy had turned back solely to intercept them. However, it was highly improbable that the Zhou State would deploy true powerhouses to deal with them. A massive war was imminent, and everyone knew that having even one more expert on the battlefield could tip the scales and eliminate more of the enemy.

Even if both sides were evenly matched, no commander would commit such a blunder—especially since the Zhou State forces clearly lacked manpower at the moment.

Without further ado, Bai Feiyu shouted to all his companions:

"Charge! Keep pushing forward! I refuse to believe they actually possess the strength to pull this off."

"Trust me, at most, these people have a single expert at the fourth level of修的Shackles Realm, but there will never be anyone overwhelmingly powerful."

"Even if something goes wrong, Gu Tianxun and I will hold them off, and the rest of you can escape!"

Deep down, Bai Feiyu harbored a specific tactical aim: by testing whether the enemy would dispatch a formidable force to hunt them down, he could gauge the true state of the opposing army's strength.

If the enemy truly sent nothing more than expendable cannon fodder to eliminate them or fight them to a standstill, it was highly likely that the opposing side had indeed evacuated their main army elsewhere.

Conversely, if the enemy deployed genuine powerhouses to wipe them out, it would indicate that the adversary was supremely confident, and the forces of Zhao would have to fall back posthaste.

In any case, the Zhou State had already lost an immense number of talents. If their own group perished here, it would at worst be a mutual loss.

And by boosting their military morale in the process, it would still be a worthwhile trade.

Since they had chosen to go to war, they must be prepared to die in battle. Naturally, Bai Feiyu intended to make the most of this encounter.

Therefore, he insisted that everyone continue the pursuit.

"Very well. Since Bai Feiyu has spoken thus, we shall give chase."

Seeing Bai Feiyu's unwavering determination, Gu Tianxun felt a flutter of uncertainty in his chest, his mind torn between options.

Since Bai Feiyu had made up his mind, he would accompany him on this mad gamble for once. If worst came to worst, he would simply lay down his life.

A man must have his moment of absolute madness in his lifetime; otherwise, how could he be worthy of the name? And since a man was a man, he must brave the wind and rain without fear.

Instantly, Bai Feiyu and Gu Tianxun accelerated, surging ahead to engage the enemy forces in close combat.

"I say, these people clearly possess mediocre combat capabilities and are all on par with one another. It seems very likely that the enemy truly has no troops left to spare!"

"Attack, everyone! Slaughter them all, and we will return to report our victory!"

A wave of excitement washed over Bai Feiyu as he shouted encouragingly to his comrades.

Hearing his words, all the young cultivators surged with adrenaline and rushed forward eagerly.

.......