Supreme Emperor of Mist

"Move forward. Engage with the pack of Yao Beast with care!" Yi Feng and Qiang Shou were leading a group together. Moving further into the woods, a pack of Yao Beast soon appeared before them.

"Fire Spitting Hounds!" one of the servants under Qin Lan's Qin Faction shouted.

"Yi Feng, you'll take care of our perimeters. Fist Fighting Team, follow me and charge into the core of the Yao Beast!" Qiang Shou patted Yi Feng's shoulder and said something before he charged forward.

"Wind Kicker Team, secure the perimeter! Leave the Fire Spitting Hounds in the middle to the Fist Team!" Yi Feng's order followed after Qiang Shou's departure.

"YES, SIR!" the ten or so servants replied in tandem. In an instant, they split into two groups. Qiang Shou's group went straight into the core of the Fire Spitting Hounds. As for Yi Feng's men, they targetted those separated from the pack.

And they weren't the only team that engaged in a battle.

At least six battles started at the time as Qiang Shou and Yi Feng's team. Except for Qin Lan's core team, Qiang Shou, Yi Feng, Han Xue, You Qing, Lu Yi, Lu Qing Yun, and Huo Zunjie have entered a battle against the Yao Beast.

"Looks like the Flame Demon Mountain is quite a fun place to be." Qin Lan chuckled as he steered his horse closer to the supplies group that belonged to Sun Wu Jian's Punitive Force.

"Senior Yi." Qin Lan greets the Half-Step Bone Reconstruction Cultivator tasked with the responsibility to protect this group."

"Alchemist Qin. It seems the battle has started around us. Please let me know if you need some help." the expert named Yi greeted Qin Lan as usual. Although the way he greeted Qin Lan seems mediocre and lacks enthusiasm, it was considered proper in Qin Lan's opinion.

"Junior Qin Lan will remember Senior Yi's offer. Senior, please be careful on your way as well." Qin Lan cupped his hands together as he politely replied.

'A greeting without pretense. No wonder Brother Sun assigned him to protect the supplies group.' Qin Lan then steered his horse back to his team, where Hu Jia, Qin Chan, Qin Qin, and Qin Huang are.

"Third brother... Is there anything we can help?" Qin Qin and Qin Huang approached Qin Lan and asked if there's something for them to contribute. Amongst the youngsters of Qin Lan's generation, the two of them were the most talented followed after him.

Based on how the Cloud Plucking Sect usually behaves, an invitation letter to join the sect will be followed after this battle. But in Qin Lan's opinion, it is better to start grooming both of them now as they recently advanced into the fifth-level of Flesh Refining Layer.

"Don't rush." Qin Lan replied as his horse went to the gap between the two.

"Always remember your position. Although strength is essential, it has to always be compensated with your responsibility. Both of you might not be a team leader of the group, but there's still a difference between you and the vanguards." Qin Lan said.

"To be positioned inside of the leading convoy means your responsibility is more than just fighting. What you'll need to do is micromanage what the leader has assigned and missed out on."

"As for the chances to brandish your weapon, there will be many chances to do so later. Drawing your sword one or two times lesser than the others won't deduct your total contribution from the mission." Qin Lan added.

Before he left, he patted on both of their shoulders. It will be up to them to comprehend what he had just told them.

"How come I feel that my third brother is wiser than that unruly, harsh, rough, and brash Qin Fan?" Qin Chan jokes. After so many months of perseverance in her cultivation, she's finally a first-level Bone Reconstruction Layer cultivator.

But the success behind her advancement is still thanks to Qin Lan's contribution of a few Essence Transformation Pills and Kunlun Lesser Dragon Pills.

"How's our eldest brother is doing?" Qin Lan asked.

"That idiot... Still stalking Luo Yunxi, I guess. Do you know that he's already a fifth-level Bone Reconstruction expert? By right, he's already qualified for the examination to be promoted as one of the inner disciples." Qin Chan shook her head when she thinks about Qin Fan's matter.

"If the eldest brother is unwilling to go for the examination, then we'll let him wait. Be it inner sect or outer sect, the chances is about the same." Qin Lan chuckled.

"Report!!!" two soldiers on their horse returned with a yellow flag raised above their head. This was the most basic gesture and practice amongst Sun Wu Jian's soldiers for identification purposes.

But identified or not, it was still up to the group leader's approval. Close to a thousand weapons are brandished and pointed at the two soldiers as they approached the supplies group with care.

"Authentic." the Bone Reconstruction Expert said after he lowered his palm down.

"What's the report?" he asked.

"A horde of Raging Flame Bulls are spotted on the northwest of our path, near to the third milestone. Our team leader is still monitoring their path. He's afraid something might happen if we don't take action." one soldier reported.

"What about you?" Senior Yi asked the other soldier.

"We've found the trace of a few camping sites that was purposely covered to remove their track." the soldier lowered his head as he knew that everything will change with his report.

Senior Yi's expression changed the moment he listened to the second soldier's report. His finger is pointed at where Qin Lan is for a few seconds and followed with a gesture of calling them over.

Immediately, a soldier from his supplies group steered his horse towards where Qin Lan is.

If the two soldiers came at a different time, perhaps this report wouldn't be taken seriously. But when it was put together, a problematic issue is bound to happen.

"How far are we to the third milestone?" Senior Yi asked another officer following him.

"Twenty minutes or so..." the officer replied.

"Battle formation. Northwest facing. Blow the horn the moment I gave an order. Move all our supplies to the east side. Did any scouts we've sent to the northeast and north returned?" Senior Yi lays down a few military instructions as he asked.

"Not yet." the officer replied.

"Then get everyone in position. A few Raging Flame Bulls could hardly cause us any harm, but a horde will. Assign those above the sixth-level to the frontline and those fifth-level protecting the supplies." Senior Yi added.

...

"Alchemist Qin! Your presence is required. Please follow me to the main convoy." the soldier that came to Qin Lan immediately reported.

"Let's go. Jia-Jia, second sister, I'll leave this to you." Qin Lan followed the soldier and left in a hurry. A few minutes after his departure, Lu Qing Yun returned.

"Did young master went somewhere?" Lu Qing Yun asked.

"Yes. The main convoy called. Is there anything?" Qin Chan replied.

"I've caught a few rats sneaking around in the woods. They should be on their way back as we speak." Lu Qing Yun smiled as she pointed at the direction she came from.

Indeed, five servants wearing the Qin Faction's dressing code pops up from where Lu Qing Yun is pointed. Dragged behind them are three bandits, beaten to the point their parents would not even recognize them on the streets.

"Something is going to happen for sure... Did you notice anything else?" Qin Chan looked around them as she tries to deduce what is possibly going to happen.

"They seem to have something like a red flare in their hand. One of the bandits was killed when we fought them. Before he died, that guy was desperate to try and shoot the red flare, but one of our servants managed to grab that and shove it into his butt before allowing it to be fired into the sky." Lu Qing Yun chuckled as she remembered the scene.

'Flare... We're nearing the third milestone plains... Bandits...'

"Not good!" Qin Chan seems to found out about something.

"Qing Yun, you'll follow me to the main convoy. Jia-Jia, you'll be managing our group and stay alert." Qin Chan urged Lu Qing Yun to follow her.

...

"Senior Yi," Qin Lan greets the Half-Step Bone Reconstruction expect the moment he reached. Looking at the two soldiers standing before the expert, he can roughly guess why he was called.

"Alchemist Qin. It seems that the Hushan Bandits are trying to use the Raging Flame Bull's horde as a stampede to weaken our defense. Do you have any suggestion to reduce the number of our casualties?" senior Yi asked.

"Raging Flame Bull's horde? That's indeed a problem. How far are we from the horde?" Qin Lan rubbed his chin slightly after listening to what the expert and two soldiers said.

And before he came up with an idea, Qin Chan, Lu Qing Yun, and the five servants carrying three bandits with them came forward.

"Hold right there!" because they have no approval nor right to approach the main convoy, they were stopped about half a mile from where Qin Lan and the others were located.

"Lan-Er! We've found something important!" Qin Chan yelled for his attention. The strength of her first-level Bone Reconstruction Layer spread across as it alerted all the soldiers around her.

"There's an expert above my level in his small group?" Senior Yi turned around, looking at Qin Lan.

"I'm sorry, senior. That's my elder sister. Can you allow her to come forward?" Qin Lan cupped his hand and asked for his permission.