Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 513: Seizing the Leader

Guo Jing and Huang Rong had long become a celebrated couple in the martial world, serving as models of the righteous sects. If Song Qingshu were to act against Huang Rong, it would likely ruin his reputation in the martial world within minutes, leaving his grand ambitions in tatters.

Song Qingshu immediately felt awkward. “Of course, I understand that.”

The group soon arrived near the main camp of the Tu Hai army. After meeting with Yang Miaozhen and reconfirming the details of their cooperation, the experts, using the cover of the moonlight, quietly infiltrated the Qing army’s camp.

“Everyone, proceed according to the previous arrangements and ignite the designated locations. Once you have successfully set the fires, leave the scene immediately. Do not linger and engage in battle.”

Although these individuals were renowned experts in the martial world, being surrounded and trapped would still be perilous. Song Qingshu felt the need to remind them once more.

Xiao Feng clasped his fists and spoke softly, “Brother Song, rest assured. Our task is to create chaos, which carries minimal risk. However, you must be extremely cautious in your assassination of Tu Hai. If things seem unmanageable, it is best to retreat.”

“Thank you for your concern, Brother Xiao. I will keep that in mind,” Song Qingshu said, his gaze briefly lingering on A’Jiu and Huang Rong. After a moment of hesitation, he chose not to say more. He clasped his hands in farewell and swiftly disappeared behind a tent.

Seeing Song Qingshu depart, the others hurried to their respective targets.

In Tu Hai’s command tent, Tu Hai was lying restlessly in bed, unable to sleep, which he found quite astonishing.

Having fought countless battles, growing up amid the corpses and blood of wars with the king of chaos Li Zicheng and the bloodthirsty Zhang Xianzhong, his achievements over the years—such as pacifying Chahar and subduing Wang Fuchen—had all been remarkable.

To him, war was now merely a game for glory. Why, then, was he feeling so uneasy about dealing with a mere struggling Golden Serpent Camp?

After much contemplation, Tu Hai attributed his unease to the problematic nature of this military campaign. Since deciding to eliminate the Golden Serpent Camp, the emperor had repeatedly changed the timing of the army’s deployment. 

The reason given by the emperor was acceptable—to wait until the Golden Serpent Camp appointed a new leader and then capture them all in one sweep.

However, Tu Hai thought the emperor’s decision was overly complicated. For dealing with a group of bandits, a direct, overwhelming force should suffice. There was no need for such trouble.

“Ultimately, it’s just a child’s theoretical approach,” Tu Hai muttered to himself, though such remarks were only made privately.

Suddenly, Tu Hai furrowed his brow. He seemed to hear a commotion from afar.

Clang! Clang! Clang…!

“Fire! Fire!”

“Put out the fire!”

Tu Hai finally understood the situation outside. As a seasoned general, he immediately realized that spies had infiltrated his camp. Confident in his camp’s defenses, he concluded that the intruders were likely a few skilled individuals, not a large force.

“Trying to take advantage of the chaos? Let me see how I can deal with these intruders.” Tu Hai snorted coldly and quickly summoned his personal guards.

“Fei Mo, take my standard and order all soldiers to stay in their tents. Anyone who disobeys will be executed.”

“Ma Jia, take the water brigade to extinguish the fire.”

“Mu Ha Da, bring my warhorse here.”

Watching his trusted guards depart with steady strides, Tu Hai nodded approvingly. Their calm demeanor in such a crisis showed they had learned to remain composed.

These guards had been with Tu Hai since his tribe and were his most trusted subordinates.

However, Tu Hai’s thoughts quickly returned to the disturbance itself. As a battle-hardened veteran, he quickly discerned the enemy’s strategy.

Hearing that the Golden Serpent Camp contained many martial experts, he suspected they had sent a few skilled individuals to create chaos by setting fire to supplies and then launching a coordinated attack from within, allowing their outside forces to strike.

“Humph, when I was fighting, you were still drinking milk.” Tu Hai spat contemptuously, having previously instructed Mu Ha Da to bring his horse to ensure he could be present wherever needed.

Rumbling sounds from afar caused Tu Hai’s expression to change. As a renowned Qing general, he was very familiar with the sound of elite cavalry charging.

“Wasn’t the Golden Serpent Camp just a bunch of bandits? How could they have such elite cavalry?”

A trace of doubt crossed Tu Hai’s mind, but he had no time to dwell on it. He was anxious, knowing that with enemies both within and outside the camp and the presence of cavalry, if the enemy breached the outer defenses, the consequences would be severe.

“Where is Mu Ha Da? Why isn’t my horse here yet?” Tu Hai couldn’t help but curse. He needed to be at the front to feel at ease.

“Coming, coming. Please forgive me, General,” Mu Ha Da’s voice soon came from nearby. The guards instinctively stopped him, but upon recognizing him, they let him through.

“Scoundrel, if you delay military matters, I’ll have your life.” By now, the enemy had reached the camp’s entrance, and the clamor grew louder. Tu Hai was anxious and could not help but lash out with his whip at Mu Ha Da.

A glint of light flashed in Mu Ha Da’s eyes, but he did nothing, allowing the whip to hit him as he slowly led the horse to Tu Hai.

In the urgent battle situation, Tu Hai had no time to pursue Mu Ha Da’s responsibility. He took the reins and nimbly mounted the horse. “I’ll deal with this later…”

Tu Hai could not finish his sentence as he looked down and saw the tip of a knife protruding from his chest. He looked at Mu Ha Da in disbelief. “You!”

Mu Ha Da grinned and soon revealed his true identity—a young and handsome man.

“No wonder Mu Ha Da arrived later than expected,” Tu Hai thought as his vision dimmed, and he saw a headless body moving farther away before everything went dark.

The ‘Mu Ha Da’ was, in fact, Song Qingshu. After leaving Xiao Feng and the others, he had hidden near the stable. When the real Mu Ha Da arrived, Song Qingshu took the opportunity to switch identities, deceiving the defenses and appearing in front of Tu Hai as Mu Ha Da.

“Tu Hai is dead. Anyone who lays down their weapons will not be harmed!” Song Qingshu, mounted on horseback, held up Tu Hai’s head and scanned the surrounding soldiers with an icy gaze.

All of this happened within a matter of seconds. The surrounding guards finally reacted.

Those who remained by Tu Hai’s side were naturally his most loyal followers. Seeing their leader’s body, their eyes turned red with rage, and they drew their swords, shouting as they charged at Song Qingshu: “Avenge the general!”

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