CHAPTER 702: CHAPTER 582

As soon as Lu Yuan finished speaking, before Ji Li and Si Snake could see clearly the path behind Shuilian Cave, they were thrown into a burlap sack.

Quick and nimble hands and feet.

None of the three resisted.

The burlap sack contained a sedative, and when the three opened their eyes, they found themselves in a damp, dark woodshed.

Si Snake was the first to wake up.

He observed the surroundings for a while.

Not long after, Ji Li also woke up.

Lu Yuan was shaken awake by Ji Li.

"Hey, you think this is your home, falling asleep for real!"

Not resisting because they silently agreed to take advantage and infiltrate the Black Armor Army’s camp.

Not resisting the sedative was to avoid revealing their intentions.

But with their power, they could control the effects of the sedative.

"Aren’t you afraid of sleeping too deeply and getting killed?"

Lu Yuan spoke lazily and freely, "You all are here, aren’t you?"

Ji Li: "..."

Lu Yuan looked at the closed door and said casually, "We’re awake, aren’t you going to notify your master? The dignified Black Armor Army, doing things so sluggishly?"

Creak——

The door opened.

A piercing beam of light streamed in.

Lu Yuan squinted slightly.

A soldier dressed in black armor stood silhouetted against the light at the door.

"Follow me."

He spoke in a deep voice.

Lu Yuan glanced at him.

The Black Armor Army truly was exceptional.

Even a small soldier possessed such a presence.

His martial arts should not be weak either.

The three rose and followed him out of the woodshed. After crossing a clearing, they entered a tent.

Lu Yuan’s eyes swept over the freshly dug earth at the side of the tent, thinking the Black Armor Army was indeed cautious.

Inside the tent was only one person, not wearing armor but dressed in simple blue-gray cloth, with sleeves rolled up to reveal his muscular forearms.

He had his back to them, and only slowly turned around upon hearing their footsteps.

"It’s you?"

Ji Li recognized him instantly upon seeing his face.

Among the three, only Lu Yuan had never seen the Black Armor Army.

"Who is he?"

Lu Yuan asked Si Snake.

Si Snake looked calmly at the other party: "Captain of Cavalry of Black Armor Army, Huo Ting."

Lu Yuan smirked, "A small force of ten thousand yet they still appoint a Captain of Cavalry."

Huo Ting’s cold, deep gaze fell on Lu Yuan’s face, "Even the Grand Commander of Great Zhou has come."

Lu Yuan smiled, "You actually recognize me."

Huo Ting did not explain how he recognized Lu Yuan. He shifted his gaze to Si Snake, "Speak, why have you infiltrated the Black Armor Army camp?"

Ji Li corrected him, "Not infiltrated, but arrived openly!"

Huo Ting snorted coldly, "Openly? Openly and yet avoid the main gate, fail to inform the guards, and instead venture through the mechanical formation behind the waterfall?"

Ji Li gritted his teeth, "Damn Lu lad! Actually aligned with that shady Commander Guard!"

Huo Ting said coolly, "Rest assured, your other two companions will soon be captured too."

Though the words seemed simple, they revealed much.

Firstly, Chen Long and Lu Qi were not caught.

This fit Chen Long’s personality—kill if he can, never choose a second option, especially detesting being bagged because he finds it demeaning.

As for Lu Qi, him being alone meant it would be hard to escape if captured.

Secondly, Lu Qi had no ties with the Black Armor Army.

This raises some intriguing questions.

How did he know the camp location of the Black Armor Army, and even understand the mechanical formation clearly?

It can’t be that he got tricked, thinking that was the main entrance.

Even in that case, his source of information remains curious.

Lu Yuan analyzed in his mind and asked with an ambiguous smile, "You have a main gate? I thought you Black Armor Army secluded yourselves here and never interacted with the outside world."

Huo Ting spoke with a stern voice, "Enough of your manipulation, here we don’t recognize any Grand Commander."

Ji Li complained, "Huo, I’ve been talking for half a day and my mouth is dry. We used to fight side by side on the battlefield, can’t you at least offer a cup of tea?"

Huo Ting looked at the three and said, "If you came for tea, drink and leave immediately. If you have another purpose, I advise you to give up!"

Lu Yuan pointed to Si Snake and Ji Li, "They are from the Twelve Guards, the elite warriors under Chu Grand Marshal. You won’t even show them respect?"

Huo Ting straightened, "The Twelve Guards are the Twelve Guards, the Black Armor Army is the Black Armor Army. They have no authority to command anyone here!"

The always fiery Ji Li was uncharacteristically quiet at this moment.

It was evident Huo Ting spoke the truth.

And not a single guard protested.

"Enduring it?"

Lu Yuan asked Ji Li.

Ji Li replied sullenly, "It’s the rule set by the Grand Marshal... I can’t very well dig up the Marshal’s grave, have him rise and overturn this rule."

Lu Yuan thought about that eerie imagery and decided against the idea.

Si Snake spoke calmly, "It’s late, may we leave tomorrow?"

Huo Ting replied bluntly, "I don’t seem to have any acquaintance for lodging with the Twelve Guards."

Lu Yuan stroked his chin.

The Twelve Guards were already troublesome enough to manage, yet the Black Armor Army was even more difficult.

That Grand Marshal was truly impressive to have subdued so many rebels.

Si Snake took an item from his wide sleeve, "This is tonight’s room fee."

Huo Ting glanced at the bone flute in Si Snake’s hand, a flicker of astonishment and nostalgia in his cold eyes.

Half an hour later, the three sat in the tent.

The small table before them held their dinner— a basket of plain white buns, a plate of cornbread, and a bowl of pickled vegetables.

Ji Li blew his top, "Just this to eat? Too outrageous!"

Si Snake picked up a cornbread.

Lu Yuan asked him, "That bone flute was bartered back from the workshop with the Hundred Li Kill Order by Xiao Jiu, what’s the story?"

Si Snake replied, "It’s the Grand Marshal’s flute."

Lu Yuan said, "This Huo Ting is truly loyal to your Grand Marshal."

Si Snake paused, "The Black Armor Army consists entirely of Death Warriors loyal to the Grand Marshal."

The Twelve Guards were serving the Grand Marshal reluctantly after losing a bet.

Each member of the Black Armor Army voluntarily submitted to the Grand Marshal.

This is why the entire Black Armor Army disappeared without a trace from the border the night the Marshal passed.

With arms crossed, Lu Yuan said, "So according to you, we can’t invite this Black Armor Army?"

As he spoke, he discreetly glanced at Si Snake.

Si Snake didn’t respond, he ate the cornbread in his hand.

"Annoying! Annoying! Why feed us this? Huo! Did I ever offend you in the past? Are you broke?"

"Bring your General over here! I want to fight him!"

"How does he train his subordinates?"

"Is this his way of treating guests?"

"Back in the day, I treated him to a bowl of noodle soup with shredded meat!"

"I only had five copper coins! He ate them all!"

"Return me the noodle soup!"

Ji Li cursed the whole night, only quieting at midnight.

In another tent, Huo Ting looked at the bone flute in his hand without saying a word.

"Grand Marshal, urgent news..."

Huo Ting burst into Chu Nan’s tent covered in blood.

However, what met his eyes was a girl’s delicate face.

She sat in a bathtub steaming with thick heat, her hair black as ink, skin white as snow.