Chapter 134: Infiltrating the Bandit Camp

Everyone was chattering away, discussing the feasibility of this plan.

Just at that moment, Flying Mountain Tiger requested an audience.

Li Yi immediately ordered him to enter.

As soon as Flying Mountain Tiger walked in, he dropped to his knees and kowtowed, saying, "My lord, this subordinate has already arranged for trusted men to lead the auxiliary troops northward back to our ancestral home in Qingjian."

"You arranged for trusted men? Then what about you?" Li Yi asked.

Flying Mountain Tiger kowtowed and replied, "There are still battles ahead, and since the lord is taking personal risks, this subordinate wishes to stay behind. Even if I cannot be of much help to the lord, I can at least shield you from blades and spears, and I shall not regret it even if I die."

Seeing Flying Mountain Tiger's resolute expression, Li Yi knew his mind was made up. Moved in his heart, Li Yi stepped forward and helped him to his feet.

Liu Zongmin, who had previously held minor prejudices against Flying Mountain Tiger, was visibly moved and said, "Flying Mountain Tiger, I respect you as a righteous and heroic man."

Flying Mountain Tiger scratched his head and gave an honest, awkward smile.

Gao Jie, standing nearby with a blank expression, said, "Since that is the case, there is no need for further idle talk. Dayong, explain the plan to him and see if he dares to do it."

Flying Mountain Tiger was completely baffled, having no idea what plan they were talking about.

Liu Dayong then explained Li Yi's idea to Flying Mountain Tiger in detail.

It must be said that this plan was far too risky.

Flying Mountain Tiger widened his eyes, taking a long time to recover his senses.

After a moment of hesitation, Flying Mountain Tiger said somewhat troubledly, "Sneaking into the encampment and luring Wang Zuogua out—those things are indeed possible. However, the personal guards around Wang Zuogua are all seasoned veterans. With just our meager force, we simply cannot break through the protection of those veteran guards."

"Nonsense! I reckon you're just holding onto your old loyalties to Wang Zuogua and don't want to move against him," Gao Jie said angrily.

Liu Dayong and Li Goudan nearby hurriedly pulled him back.

"Gao Jie, shut your mouth," Li Yi said in a cold, sharp voice.

He then turned to Flying Mountain Tiger and said, "How to break through Wang Zuogua's veteran guards—leave that to me. I only ask you: is it feasible to lead men to sneak into the rebel camp and see Wang Zuogua?"

Flying Mountain Tiger nodded and said, "Feasible. This subordinate is a major chieftain under Wang Zuogua and holds some prestige among the rebels, so no one will dare to stop me. Besides, rebel military discipline is lax and disorderly, making it not all that difficult to sneak in."

As night deepened, the rising steam from the nearby Yellow River formed a light mist in the air.

A squad of more than forty men took advantage of the cover of the fog, scaled the western city wall, and quietly left Longmen Town.

Aside from Flying Mountain Tiger, the team also included Buyan and Liu Zongmin.

Everyone had stripped off their fine iron armor and replaced it with brigandine and cotton armor stripped from dead rebels. Furthermore, they were disheveled and covered in blood, making them look thoroughly wretched.

Especially Li Yi, who not only concealed his face with a tattered felt hat but also wrapped his head in blood-stained linen cloth. He looked heavily wounded, and no one would ever have recognized him as the God of Killing, Li Yi.

After leaving Longmen Town, Li Yi led the group westward. Utilizing the bright moonlight, treading unsteadily through the deep and shallow terrain, they made a wide detour and approached the rebel encampment from the west.

However, five miles away from the camp, they still spotted a squad of scout cavalry wandering in the vicinity, clearly on patrol.

"Commander, what should we do?" Liu Zongmin asked nervously.

"What do you mean, what should we do? We are rebels now, march straight toward them."

Li Yi calmly waved his hand, signaling the soldiers behind him to follow. Then, exposing themselves, he led the troop forward.

The rebel scout cavalry were chatting amongst themselves while patrolling.

Suddenly, someone let out an exclamation, spotting the figures of Li Yi and his party.

The leading scout cavalry officer stared at the figures in the distance and barked, "Fire a signal arrow to report!"

A rebel behind him immediately lit a rocket, drew his bow, and released it.

A fiery arrow soared into the sky, its red glare blazing brightly in the night sky.

"Commander, the scouts are sending a report," Buyan said in a deep voice.

Flying Mountain Tiger explained, "It's just one signal arrow, and it flew low and slow. That means it's a small squad of under a hundred men, nothing critical."

Before long, two scout cavalrymen galloped over on horseback, shouting from a hundred paces away, "Who goes there?"

Flying Mountain Tiger looked at Li Yi, who nodded back at him.

"Damn it, you don't even recognize your own grandfather?" Flying Mountain Tiger stepped forward and shouted loudly in a booming voice.

As the two rebels drew closer, they finally made out his appearance in the firelight.

"Lord Tiger! Lord Tiger, you're still alive!" the scout cavalry officer exclaimed in astonishment.

"What horse-shit are you talking about? Of course I'm alive! If you dare curse me again, I'll break your dog legs."

Flying Mountain Tiger was, after all, a major rebel chieftain. He strode up, unseated the scout cavalry officer with a shove, and cursed him out.

The nearby rebels shrank their necks, quickly dismounting to help their officer up.

Having lost face, the scout cavalry officer dared not say anything more.

Everyone knew that Flying Mountain Tiger was extraordinarily brave, deeply favored by the Grand Marshal, and accustomed to acting with unbridled arrogance without measuring his blows.

"I've been on the run for days and suffered through hardships. Is the Grand Marshal in the camp?" Flying Mountain Tiger demanded aggressively.

The scout cavalry officer hurriedly said, "The Grand Marshal is resting in the camp. When he hears that Lord Tiger is safe, he will surely be overjoyed. I will send someone to report this right away."

Flying Mountain Tiger gave a cold snort and ungraciously said, "Then lead the way, what are you waiting for?"

The scout cavalry officer nodded helplessly. He first sent a man ahead to deliver the message, told his remaining subordinates to continue the patrol, and then personally acted as the guide.

With the scout cavalry officer leading the way, the journey proceeded smoothly without obstruction.

Passing through a defensive camp on the west side and entering the central headquarters army camp, they had just reached the wooden gates of Wang Zuogua's personal guard encampment when lines of torchlight flared up, and rebels swarmed out one after another.

Two hundred blade-and-spear-wielding rebels marched out swiftly. Banners were erected, fluttering in the night breeze like a welcoming formation, yet split on both sides in a pincer posture.

Liu Zongmin and the other government soldiers felt a chill in their hearts and looked toward Li Yi.

Li Yi remained calm, shook his head at them, and motioned for them to wait and see how things developed.

A burly veteran personal guard clad in iron armor strode up, smiled at Flying Mountain Tiger, and said, "Lord Tiger, the Grand Marshal invites you in."

Flying Mountain Tiger recognized this man as well and smiled, saying, "I'm just a reckless scoundrel, getting a bit impatient and disturbing the Grand Marshal's rest in the middle of the night."

"Ever since Longmen Town was breached by the government troops, the Grand Marshal has been constantly worrying about Lord Tiger. Now that Lord Tiger has returned, the Grand Marshal couldn't be happier. Please, come right in."

The veteran guard stepped aside to invite Flying Mountain Tiger through.

Flying Mountain Tiger nodded, but just as he took a few steps, he saw the veteran guard block Li Yi and the others.

"Wang Pi, what is the meaning of this?"

The veteran guard Wang Pi smiled and said, "The government troops are using dirty tricks and have posted a bounty for the Grand Marshal's head. I'm just taking precautions, so I hope Lord Tiger understands."

Flying Mountain Tiger frowned and glanced covertly at Li Yi.

Li Yi gazed at the battle-ready rebels on both sides, then looked at Wang Zuogua's military tent a hundred paces away, and gently nodded.

"Fair enough, being cautious is only right."

With a fluttering heart, Flying Mountain Tiger smoothed over the situation and entered the main headquarters encampment.

However, before he could even step into the tent, a middle-aged man wearing mountain-pattern armor walked out, surrounded by several men.

Catching sight of Flying Mountain Tiger, his tiger eyes widened. He rushed forward anxiously and cried out, "Brother, you are truly still alive! The Bodhisattva has blessed us."