25: Chapter 25 The mantis stalks the cicada

"Steward Chen, rest assured." Gao Feng suddenly smiled, and in that smile, there was a hint of bone-chilling coldness. "If he wants to catch the Tiger King, let him catch it."

He immediately made a decision—abandon the original plan and use the enemy's own strategy against them!

He would let the County Magistrates Young Master's "Tiger Slaying Squad" catch the Tiger King, and let them fight the third-order Tiger King until both sides were heavily damaged!

As for himself, he would lead all the elites of Panshi Stockade and become that most lethal oriole lurking in the shadows!

He not only wanted the Tiger King, but he also wanted to see if there was an opportunity to "swallow" that so-called "Tiger Slaying Squad" as well!

He would turn their fine equipment, fast horses, and all their wealth into resources to strengthen Panshi Stockade!

The risk was huge, but the rewards were equally huge!

In chaotic times, seeking stability is equivalent to waiting for death; only by taking dangerous paths can one carve out a bloody path to survival!

"Steward Chen, take your caravan immediately and hide in the safe cave I designated. Do not come out without my orders." Gao Feng commanded decisively.

"Good, good! I will follow all of Stockade Master High's arrangements!" Chen Fu nodded repeatedly.

After settling Chen Fu, Gao Feng immediately summoned all core combat forces.

On the training ground, the swordsmen, shield-bearers, spearmen, and archers were lined up in neat rows, exuding intense Killing Intent.

Gao Feng, clad in iron armor and holding a long spear, stood on the high platform, his gaze like lightning, sweeping over every young or resolute face below.

He took a deep breath, and his voice, like rolling thunder, spread throughout the entire training ground.

"Brothers! Outsiders have come to snatch our prey!"

Below, there was an instant uproar, followed by intense indignation, and shouts of cursing arose everywhere.

"Damn it! Who dares to snatch something that our Stockade Master has set his eyes on!"

"Kill them!"

Gao Feng raised his hand and pressed down into the Void Realm, and the scene instantly quieted down. He looked at the burning anger in everyone's eyes, and the corners of his mouth curled into a cold arc.

"Therefore, we are changing our original plan!"

"This time, not only are we going to hunt the tiger..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone, each word cold and full of dominance, as if carrying the scent of blood.

"Perhaps, we will also hunt a Dragon!"

"Hunt the Dragon! Hunt the Dragon! Hunt the Dragon!"

One sentence instantly ignited the ferocity and Battle Intent in everyone's hearts!

Their shouts converged into a sky-piercing Killing Intent, as if they were about to tear the clouds in the sky to shreds!

...

The mountain wind, like a knife, scraped across the rugged rocks, emitting a whimpering sound like ghosts crying.

Gao Feng, like a sculpture fused with the rocks beneath him, lay motionless on the edge of the high ground, his cold gaze piercing through the gaps in the dense branches and leaves, overlooking the valley below that was filled with the scent of blood and death.

Behind him, fifty elite warriors of Panshi Stockade lay in ambush silently with a discipline that was almost harsh.

They followed Gao Feng's example, smearing mud and leaves on their faces and leather armor, perfectly blending the contours of their bodies with the surrounding environment.

Their breathing was suppressed to the lowest level, and everyone's heart was beating steadily and powerfully, like a pack of wolves waiting to hunt, patient and lethal.

This was the first time Gao Feng had taught his team, without reservation, the special forces infiltration techniques he had learned in his past life.

The effect was significant; looking out, the entire hillside seemed empty, with only the rustling sound of the wind blowing through the grass and trees.

He chose this high ground for its excellent position. It not only allowed him to have an unobstructed view of the situation at the entrance of the Tiger King's lair below but was also just within the effective range of bows and arrows, allowing for both attack and defense.

Ever since Chen Fu brought that shocking news, Gao Feng had immediately made this risky decision.

He knew deeply that this was a huge gamble.

If he won the bet, Panshi Stockade would ascend to the heavens in one step, obtaining the development resources he had dreamed of; if he lost, it would be eternal damnation.

"Stockade Master, they are here!"

The skinny monkey beside him lowered his voice, his tone filled with a hint of nervousness and excitement.

Gao Feng's pupils shrank slightly, and he looked in the direction the skinny monkey was pointing.

He saw a team of more than twenty people walking swaggeringly on the distant mountain road.

The person at the lead, riding on a tall white horse and wearing a gorgeous brocade robe, was none other than the legendary County Magistrates Young Master—Zhang Yang.

His face was pale, with dark circles under his eyes from excessive indulgence, and his expression was arrogant, as if this crisis-ridden mountain forest was his family's backyard.

"Hurry up! Everyone, hurry up for this Young Master!" Zhang Yang impatiently whipped the air with his riding crop, "Isn't it just a beast? Dawdling like this, once that beast is caught, this Young Master will reward you heavily!"

Surrounding him were more than twenty tough-looking Jianghu experts.

These people all carried sharp blades on their backs, with fierce eyes, clearly desperadoes who lived by the sword.

And the leader of this group of desperadoes was a burly man with only One Ear left.

There was a hideous scar on his face extending from the corner of his eye to the corner of his mouth. As he spoke, the scar twisted like a centipede, looking exceptionally terrifying.

He did not ride a horse, but walked, yet every step was as steady as a mountain.

In his hand, he carried a huge ghost-head blade, the blade reflecting a chilling cold light under the sun.

This person was the core combat force of this "Tiger Slaying Squad," the fierce bandit leader known as "One Ear," Zhou Tong.

"Young Master, this Gui Jian Chou Mountain Range is very strange, it is better to be careful."

One Ear's voice was hoarse and low, forming a sharp contrast with Zhang Yang's impetuousness.

"Careful of what? With you, Commander Zhou, a third-order expert, are you still afraid of a beast?"

Zhang Yang curled his lips and said indifferently, "Hurry up, lure that beast out, this Young Master is still waiting to go back and drink the celebration wine!"

A hint of imperceptible contempt flashed in One Ear's eyes, but he didn't say anything more, just waved his hand at his subordinates.

The conversation between them reached Gao Feng's ears on the high ground, word for word.

"A third-order leading the team, the rest are mostly second-order, well-equipped, but loosely coordinated, a typical makeshift Jianghu troupe."

Gao Feng calmly evaluated the strength of this team in his heart, "That Zhang Yang is a straw bag, not worth fearing. The real threat is only that 'One Ear'."

He could feel that the Killing Intent exuding from the man named Zhou Tong was real and genuine.

That kind of aura was not something ordinary Jianghu travelers could have, but the ruthlessness tempered only by truly crawling out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

"This mantis's claws are sharper than I imagined." Gao Feng thought to himself, but the expression on his face remained calm.

Soon, the Tiger Slaying Squad stopped at an open space in front of the lair entrance.

They were clearly prepared; several people skillfully dragged a live sheep with its four hooves tied from the horse's back, cut a slit in the sheep's leg, and the rich scent of blood immediately drifted toward the depths of the cave under the blowing of the mountain wind.

After doing all this, everyone immediately dispersed, set up a loose encirclement, and waited nervously.