Chapter 61: Strike First to Gain the Advantage

As Li Ji had said, Li Guang had not returned all night and only appeared at the valley entrance the next morning, his eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep.

Mo Xiaobai happened to be welcoming the newly spawned Refugees. While it was not as big a windfall as the day before, a winemaker with A-rank talent still appeared.

Mo Xiaobai had wanted to joke with Li Guang, but seeing his exhausted face, he swallowed his words and said, “Flying General, you haven’t slept for a whole night. You can go rest first.”

“I am incompetent, My Lord, and failed to find any news of the Beast King to the north,” Li Guang said, stepping before Mo Xiaobai and bowing his head with clasped fists.

“Never mind. Go rest for half a day,” Mo Xiaobai shook his head to comfort him and sent him away.

They did not take the next step immediately. First, the Territory’s defenses were not yet perfect. Second, Mo Xiaobai needed to ensure the entire Territory was in top shape before he felt safe making his next move.

After watching Li Guang leave, Mo Xiaobai sent all the new Territory Citizens to work, including the A-rank winemaker. Although the Territory had plenty of extra grain, Mo Xiaobai had no time to build a Winery yet. The rest of the Territory construction would have to wait until after the upgrade.

From morning until noon, Mo Xiaobai patrolled the Territory once more. All possible tasks were completed, and now he could only hope that everyone in Daming Village would perform well when the actual fighting began.

Calling his generals close, Mo Xiaobai took a deep breath: “The defenses around the Territory are mostly done. Now it is time for the Flying General to make his move. After discussing with Maogong, I have decided to attack Tiger Mountain. Do you think you can do it?”

“This subordinate will give his all and kill the Tiger King to present to you, My Lord.”

“Good. Take two Rattan Armor Soldiers with you. If you succeed, have the Rattan Armor Soldiers return to report immediately. As soon as they come back, I will upgrade the Territory right away. Then, you take a detour to the south, avoid the Snake King, and follow behind it. Wait until the Snake King attacks Daming Village, then strike out at the perfect moment to take the Snake King’s life.”

The whole plan was supposedly thought up by Mo Xiaobai and Li Ji together, but in reality, Li Ji came up with the strategy while Mo Xiaobai just spoke it out.

After hearing Mo Xiaobai’s plan, Li Guang immediately clasped his fists: “This subordinate will set off at once!”

“Wait a moment, Flying General. This mission is dangerous. How can you rely on just the Precious Carved Bow? I will lend you the Baron’s Sword. Do not fail me and everyone in Daming Village.”

“Ah… This subordinate will not disgrace this mission!” Li Guang was surprised that Mo Xiaobai would lend him the Lord’s Sword, and after a moment of shock, he made a heavy promise.

Watching Li Guang leave, Mo Xiaobai smiled with a hidden meaning. Giving Li Guang a better weapon was one reason, but he also had his own little calculations.

In his past life, the secret of the Lord’s Sword was not discovered until six months later.

Even when held by someone else, if they successfully kill a monster, half of the experience points gained will go to the Lord who owns the Lord’s Sword. Mo Xiaobai could not kill the Beast King himself, but he could use this method to steal a huge amount of experience from killing the Beast King.

Watching Li Guang disappear from sight, and to ensure the Territory was perfectly safe, the only thing Mo Xiaobai could do was to keep checking the Territory’s Defense power.

After walking all around, Mo Xiaobai suddenly heard a familiar bell-like laughter at the Dong Family Courtyard.

“Oh right.”

“At such a critical moment, how could I forget her.”

Mo Xiaobai finally remembered that he held a trump card: “Dong Yiyi”.

Of course, the real trump card was not the Little Girl herself, but the two Divine Beasts by her side. If the Divine Beasts were willing to help Daming Village, guarding a small Village Territory would be no problem at all.

But based on Mo Xiaobai’s estimate, such a good thing was almost impossible. After all, neither the dog nor the mouse had appeared on his Territory panel until now.

Holding a trial mindset, Mo Xiaobai still walked into the Dong Family.

Seeing Mo Xiaobai appear, Dong Zhen looked a little surprised: “My Lord, you are not patrolling the Territory? How do you have time to visit our family?”

Mo Xiaobai had intended to tell the truth, but his words changed before they left his mouth: “I came to ask you to stay at my Baron’s Manor for a while. This area might soon be caught up in the war to the south.”

“Oh?”

After hearing this, Dong Zhen turned her eyes and glanced at her sister who was playing with the dog nearby. She nodded and smiled: “Thank you for your kindness, My Lord. My sister and I will pack up and go to your Manor to rest.”

Talking with smart people is so much less trouble. Even though Dong Zhen saw through his excuse immediately, Mo Xiaobai did not feel embarrassed.

The Lord’s Manor faced the Territory Square and was not far from the Territory Stele. With the two women and the two Divine Beasts watching there, Mo Xiaobai felt it was the safest and most secure place in the entire Territory.

…

West of Daming Village, one could see countless carcasses of wild beasts along the road.

The group of three sprinted through the mountains. Whenever they met an enemy, the burly man in the front would draw his sword and kill them instantly. Even hungry wolves in the jungle could not force the middle-aged burly man to use his second move.

“Further ahead is Tiger Mountain. You two hide here and wait,” Li Guang said.

After walking twenty li, the three stopped at the foot of a rugged mountain range. Li Guang took two more quivers of feathered arrows from his Rattan Armor Soldiers and waved his hand to signal them to scatter.

His destination was a place that mere Rattan Armor Soldiers were not allowed to enter.

The two Rattan Armor Soldiers did not waste words. Using their green Rattan Armor as cover, they quickly hid within the mountain jungle. Even if a passerby walked by, they might not even notice them.

After arranging his men, Li Guang moved quietly toward Tiger Mountain alone.

The Precious Carved Bow that was hanging on his shoulder was now in his hand. Three quivers were slung across his back, and he moved slowly and quietly around the trees toward the mountain top.

By now, whenever he saw Evil Beasts on the path, Li Guang did not kill them.

He avoided them whenever possible, trying not to make the slightest sound.

Fortunately, Li Guang had just come to scout the area a day ago, so he knew the terrain very well. About the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Li Guang arrived at the core area of the Tiger Mountain Chief.

Before his eyes, a Tiger King lazily swished its tail.

Two or three young tigers were playing nearby. Around them, two leopards and four fierce dogs stood like loyal guards, heads high, watching the whole mountain range.

“Swish!” The sound of a light draw was heard as Li Guang pulled out four arrows.

He bent the bow, drew the string, and slowly aimed the arrow tips at the Tiger King.

Just as the arrow tips pointed at the Tiger King, the lazy Tiger King suddenly opened its eyes. Its tiger eyes, like giant brass bells, seemed to sense something and scanned the direction where Li Guang stood.

At the same instant, Li Guang’s left hand holding the bow dropped, and his right hand’s five fingers suddenly released.

The sharp arrow flew like a shuttle, heading straight for the two leopards in front of the Tiger King.

“Thump, thump, thump, thump!”

Four arrows flew in the blink of an eye. In less than a second, they crossed a hundred meters and accurately hit the sides of the leopards’ bellies, splashing a mass of blood.

Before the two leopards could scream in pain, Li Guang had already pulled the bowstring to the full again.

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!”

Three sharp sounds cut through the air, and three sharp arrows pierced straight through, looking as if they were one.

Arrow Art: Rapid Fire!