CHAPTER 491: CHAPTER 421 THE COMPLETE ANNIHILATION OF THE ARMY_3

"..."

"So, I want everyone to eat their fill here first before we move out, and be ready for battle at any time."

Yin Changyue nodded: "So that’s how it is."

Yu Wenye said: "Supervisor and steward, you both should also eat something and take a break."

The two didn’t say much more and went down to eat.

Only then did Shang Ruyi walk over to his side, using the surrounding firelight to look at his sweat-drenched head. The handkerchief in his hand was completely soaked, and the sweat hadn’t been wiped clean. She took the handkerchief from his hand and pulled out one of her own to give to him.

Yu Wenye glanced at her with a faint smile.

At this moment, Wo Xue also came over, took the sweat-drenched handkerchief from Shang Ruyi’s hand, and said softly: "I will take it to the river to wash."

Shang Ruyi nodded, and she turned to leave.

Yu Wenye watched her back, then turned to look at Shang Ruyi, his eyes flickering as if asking something but making no sound. Shang Ruyi understood his meaning and said softly: "I’ve been watching her all the way, don’t worry, she hasn’t shown any unusual behavior."

Only then did Yu Wenye nod.

The earlier handkerchief had wiped quite a bit of sweat from his face, so he only used Shang Ruyi’s handkerchief to wipe his forehead and then put it away.

Shang Ruyi said softly: "Drink some water. Where is your water pouch?"

Yu Wenye looked back, and the water pouch on the horse’s back was gone. He was about to ask when he saw Mu Xian hurriedly running over from the side, holding his water pouch, and said: "General, I just got some water from the river."

Yu Wenye took it and drank a mouthful.

Parched for half a day, that sip felt like a life-saving elixir, refreshing him significantly. Looking ahead into the night, his gaze became even more solemn.

Just earlier, Shang Ruyi had speculated that Fufeng had already engaged in battle, which was why no battle report had arrived. That was indeed his previous assumption.

But, that might be the best-case scenario.

What he truly worried about was—

At this moment, Nie Chong, who was standing nearby adjusting the reins, suddenly looked up, gazing into the night ahead: "Someone’s coming!"

The crowd immediately tensed up at these words.

Yu Wenye furrowed his brows, quickly tightening the cap on the water pouch he had just taken a sip from, handing it to Mu Xian, then lifted his head with a burning gaze towards the front. However, Mu Xian added: "It’s just a single rider coming, probably not the enemy."

Everyone looked at him in surprise.

Although the troops coming from Wanggang Village followed them, the rest of the army consisted of court personnel who didn’t know this man’s skills and thought he was speaking without basis. Some even murmured: "Where’s this single rider coming from?"

"Exactly, you can only hear the wind."

"Who is this person, why’s he making noise for nothing?"

Hearing these dismissive words, Shantong’er felt indignant and immediately said: "Brother Nie’s ears are very keen, if he says someone’s coming, someone is indeed coming!"

The crowd only had a contemptuous attitude towards Nie Chong, but upon seeing a child so closely following the Assistant General, they became even more dissatisfied.

They whispered among themselves: "What’s with our expedition this time? Bringing women is one thing, but they’re even bringing children?"

"If women and children can participate in the war, what need is there for us men?"

"I’d say, it’s strange if this battle can be won."

"Yes, especially against that Xue Xian..."

The chattering among these people grew increasingly oppressive in the night. Shang Ruyi frowned as she listened, but when she looked at Yu Wenye, he seemed neither angry nor appeared to even hear their words.

He just fixed his gaze firmly ahead.

As the commotion continued unabated, the sound of hooves indeed came from the front.

This sound instantly silenced everyone.

Although Nie Chong said there was only a single rider, caution was still necessary on the march. Mu Xian immediately led one rider forward, holding a torch high. Soon they indeed saw a single rider approaching. Upon seeing their group, the rider was startled, tightened the reins, and the horse underneath neighed loudly, disturbing the entire night.

Mu Xian immediately said: "Assistant General is here! Who goes there?"

Upon hearing this, the person almost fell off the horse in excitement, quickly reined in the horse, dismounted, and rushed forward: "Great General!"

By the firelight, the yellow-brown armor on this person was clearly visible, revealing him as a Fufeng soldier!

Yu Wenye calmly stepped forward, observing the soldier covered in dust and wounds on his face, and asked in a deep voice: "What happened?"

The soldier knelt on the ground, eyes reddened, and said in a low voice: "Great General, Fufeng Defender Ma Xu underestimated the enemy and was defeated, with eighty thousand troops—utterly annihilated!"