Chapter 364: The Third Gathering Point! (1/2)
Chapter 364: The Third Gathering Point!
”The next gathering point is just ahead. It serves as a logistical stop as well, and we'll be able to get replacements for the steeds we have lost and repair our gear there,” Lieutenant Zhang Lin said to Wang Chong, Xu Gan, and the others.They were treading along a main road surrounded by winding mountains.
The greatest concern they had at hand was regarding their steeds. When the group was surrounded by the Iron Cloak Highwaymen back then, most of their horses ended up being slaughtered.
For the time being, most of them were using substitutes from the highwaymen they had slaughtered in the battle after killing Zhou An.
However, there was still a huge difference between the war steeds from the military and the horses the highwaymen rode on. The former had undergone strict training, and they could comprehend the gestures and intentions of their riders. On top of that, through a unique circulation pathway through its meridians and veins, it could harness the power of a cavalryman's halo to augment its abilities.
Through this, the might of a cavalryman's charge could be maximized!
On the other hand, the horses of the highwaymen had never undergone such training, so that would be a huge handicap in itself.
It was fine to ride such horses for casual occasions, but in a battle against a formal Tibetan army, it simply would not do for them not to have war steeds.
As such, most of the cavalrymen who had lost their war steeds had been worrying over this issue.
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”We're here!”
After galloping along a meandering path, the group finally arrived at the third gathering point of the mission.
This was a resting point constructed by the officials, so it was heavily guarded. Soldiers could be seen standing guard with stern expressions on their faces. The Haloes of Thorns that rippled beneath their feet indicated that they were all True Martial realm experts.
There was quite a large crowd moving around the perimeter of the resting point, but nearly all of them had a glum expression on their faces. Morale seemed to be low among them.
Seeing the sight, Wang Chong remarked, ”Looks like the four of us aren't the only ones who were sent here.”
Xu Gan, Huang Yongtu, and Bai Siling looked at the sight before them with a bizarre expression on their faces. Scanning through the crowd before them, they could easily spot quite a few young men dressed in luxurious clothes. Chances were that they were also recruits from the training camps.
It seemed they weren't the only ones who received deployment instructions from the Bureau of Military Personnel. The recruits who had been conducting their missions in the region were summoned to this area too!
”Wait here for a moment!” Before anyone could react, Bai Siling abruptly squeezed her steed with her thighs and galloped forward.
”Hm?” Perplexed, Wang Chong frowned. But soon, he saw Bai Siling intercepting a red-robed lady who possessed an exceptional disposition comparable to hers.
”So she has found an acquaintance.” As realization dawned on him, Wang Chong's frown loosened.
Bai Siling and that lady conversed for a moment before leading her over to the group.
”Yatong, this is Xu Gan and Huang Yongtu. The Xu Clan and Huang Clan are powerful clans in the capital, so you should have at least heard of them. As for this fellow... he is that Wang Chong,” Bai Siling introduced him with a complex expression on her face.
Upon hearing the name ”Wang Chong”, astonishment flickered across the red-robed lady's eyes as she began looking him over from head to toe.
”As for you guys, be glad. This lady over here is Yatong from the Zhao Clan. Surely you should have heard of her?” Bai Siling turned to the guys and introduced her friend.
”I see. So it's Yatong-xiaojie!” Hearing the red-robed lady's name, Xu Gan and Huang Yongtu immediately bowed politely and greeted her. Only Wang Chong was left with a dazed expression.
Zhao Yatong... Alright, he knew the other party's name now, but was he supposed to know her?
He had never heard of the other party before!
”You don't know her? Then surely you should have heard of the Spear of Crimson Flames of the capital's Zhao Clan?” Noticing Wang Chong's confusion, Huang Yongtu leaned over slightly and whispered quietly.
”Spear of Crimson Flames?” Wang Chong repeated in confusion. That title did sound great, but he didn't recall hearing it before.
”Damn it, you really don't know her?” Upon realizing that Wang Chong was still clueless despite all he had said, Huang Yongtu stared at him in frustration.
The heck! Is she really that important that I have to know her?
”Even if you don't know the Spear of Crimson Flames, surely you should have heard of Yao Wenxiong from the Yao Clan?” Seeing how Wang Chong was completely baffled by the abrupt situation before him, Xu Gan couldn't help but intervene as well. Even though Wang Chong was indubitably one of the most esteemed scions in the capital at the moment, he seemed to be far lacking in connections and understanding of their social circle.
On the other hand, Wang Chong also felt slightly embarrassed by the situation before him.
He had spent the earlier days in his previous life hanging out with Wei Hao, Ma Zhou, and the other fellows in his previous life, while Xu Gan and the other scions were figures that were far beyond him. Since he didn't belong to that lofty world, how could he have known much about their circle?
”Yes, I have heard of him before,” Wang Chong nodded.