443: Chapter 443 Unexpected Changes

As a member of the caravan guards, it was Xu Mumu's turn tonight to serve as a hidden sentry alongside Li Meng.

This was a grave responsibility; they had to hide on a piece of high ground near the trenches, keeping a constant and vigilant watch on the surroundings. Once enemy activity was detected, they had to promptly and accurately relay a warning to the brothers in the trenches to safeguard the entire caravan.

At first, during the first half of the night, Li Meng could still manage to force himself to stay alert. However, as time passed, drowsiness gradually washed over him like a tide.

By the second watch, he was already finding it hard to endure. His eyelids felt as though they were weighed down by heavy lead, drooping incessantly; he could only shake his head vigorously from time to time in an attempt to drive away the nagging sleepiness.

By the third watch, drowsiness had completely conquered him. He lost consciousness entirely, his whole body slumping to the ground like a pile of mud.

At this moment, even if he were standing, he would have fallen into a dreamland instantly, making it impossible for him to fulfill his duties as a hidden sentry.

In stark contrast, Xu Mumu maintained a high degree of alertness throughout.

His eyes were wide like copper bells, staring fixedly at the surroundings without blinking.

After being in the dim environment for so long, he had gradually adapted to the darkness, and the shadowy figures around him became increasingly clear in his sight.

Moreover, as hidden sentries, they were equipped with specially-made binoculars. These binoculars could not only magnify distant objects but also cleverly gather and amplify light, allowing Xu Mumu to see even further distances with great clarity.

Just then, Xu Mumu's keen eyes caught sight of clusters of black dots appearing in the distance.

His heart tightened, and his brow furrowed slightly. His professional instinct made him realize that something might be happening.

Without a second thought, he quickly grabbed the binoculars hanging around his neck, steadied them before his eyes, and focused intently on the scene.

Even with the help of the binoculars, he couldn't see very clearly due to the distance. However, based on his rich experience and keen judgment of the situation, the outlines and movement patterns of those black dots suggested it was almost certainly a large group of cavalry approaching slowly and cautiously. Furthermore, these riders moved with extreme stealth, making almost no sound, clearly prepared to launch a surprise attack under the cover of night.

Xu Mumu knew the situation was urgent. Without the slightest hesitation, he quickly pulled out a flare gun.

He gripped the gun tightly, his finger steady on the trigger, his gaze firm and resolute.

"Bang!"

With a crisp crack of the gun, a fiery red light streaked into the sky like a meteor, blooming in the night sky like brilliant fireworks.

Immediately after, the light exploded with a roar. A flare burned intensely in the air, instantly releasing a dazzling radiance that lit up half the sky as bright as day.

"Move, now!"

Xu Mumu shouted loudly while vigorously shoving Li Meng, who was sleeping like a dead pig.

"Wh—what's happening?"

Li Meng, still groggy from sleep, was startled awake by the sudden noise and the shoving. His mind was still in a daze, and he hadn't yet processed what was going on.

"The enemy is sneaking up on us!"

Xu Mumu said anxiously, his tone carrying an unquestionable sense of urgency. "We need to go and notify the brothers immediately. We can't delay for a single moment!"

"W-what... what is that?"

At the moment Xu Mumu pulled the trigger and sent the flare into the sky, the quietly approaching Shule Tribe cavalry also noticed something was wrong.

They all looked up at the sky together, only to see the flare burst with a roar, releasing an extremely dazzling white light. The light was as if a sun had suddenly risen in the night sky, making it difficult for their eyes to adjust for a moment.

"Not good!"

The faces of the Shule Tribe's five Thousand-Rider Commanders turned pale instantly. They cursed inwardly, fearing that this carefully planned night raid might fall apart at the last moment due to this sudden turn of events.