191: conflict

After obtaining the detailed information on Jiancheng County provided by the Luo Clan, Tang Qi quickly formulated a battle plan with high-level officials such as Yan Shi and Li Mu.

The entire brigade of over four thousand men was divided into eight combat battalions. Based on the terrain and zombie distribution of Jiancheng County, he decided to advance along three routes:

Two battalions each were deployed to clear Luo Town in the northeast and Du Town in the southwest.

Dongqiao Town in the northwest was a choke point connecting Xiu Town and the main urban area of Sword City. The terrain was critical, and they needed to guard against the large-scale Zombie Tide that might pour out of the city. Therefore, Tang Qi personally led the main force of four battalions, totaling over two thousand men, to attack this route.

The brigade's heavy equipment, such as tanks and armored vehicles, was also allocated to the troops in the three directions in a 1:1:2 ratio.

Tang Qi knew very well that before the main force of Deputy Commander-in-Chief Zhang Lei arrived, the strength in his hands was not yet enough to launch a general offensive on the core urban area of Sword City. He adopted a steady strategy, gradually clearing the peripheral towns and compressing the zombies' activity space. After all, the heavy firepower of his Mixed Brigade was far inferior to the Red Alert main regiment; rushing in blindly would only cause unnecessary casualties.

In the early stages of the operation, the plan was executed fairly smoothly. The three routes of troops advanced step-by-step, cooperating with the guides familiar with the terrain and the defense teams sent by the Luo Clan to clear many villages and small groups of zombies.

However, the honeymoon period of cooperation was extremely short. From the second day, conflicts began to emerge. On one side were the Red Alert Soldiers, mainly composed of Lingchuan University students, full of vigor, believing in collective discipline and official status; on the other side were the members of the Luo Clan family, who had strong clan concepts, local pride, and considered themselves meritorious. There were huge differences in the ways of thinking and behavioral habits of both sides, making friction inevitable.

In an abandoned factory area on the outskirts of Luo Town, a company of the Red Alert Mixed Brigade cooperated with a defense squad of the Luo Clan to besiege a thick-skinned Second-Tier Diamond Zombie. The battle was quite fierce, and it was only by relying on the continuous bombardment of recoilless rifles and rocket launchers carried by the Red Alert Soldiers that its defense was broken, and it was killed by the Evolvers of both sides working together.

As the zombie fell, a gleaming Second-Tier crystal core rolled out. Almost simultaneously, several figures rushed toward it.

The leader on the Red Alert Mixed Brigade's side was Cheng Zhi, a core member of the original Lingchuan University group and a Second-Tier Frost Spear Superpower user. He held a high status in the Mixed Brigade as one of the only six Second-Tier experts in the brigade (two were dispatched from the Red Alert Legion headquarters). The leader on the Luo Clan's side was named Luo Hu, also a Second-Tier, with the Superpower of Earth Shield. He was a core descendant of the Luo Clan with a fierce personality.

"Captain Luo, the crystal cores of the several First-Tier Zombies killed just now already belong to you. This Second-Tier one should belong to us, right?" Cheng Zhi spoke first, his tone restrained but carrying an unquestionable attitude.

The ammunition supplies provided by the headquarters to the Mixed Brigade were not free; there was only a small amount of basic support, and most had to be paid for by turning in spoils of war (especially high-tier crystal cores). A Second-Tier crystal core was worth a lot, and it was crucial whether used for one's own cultivation or for exchanging for resources.

Luo Hu curled his lip, his tone showing clear dissatisfaction: "Captain Cheng, what you're saying is wrong. If my Earth Shield hadn't blocked that beast's deathbed counterattack just now, your artillery team would have been smashed into meat paste! Did we contribute less? Why should the high-tier crystal core belong to you?"

Cheng Zhi frowned: "We were the main force in the kill! Without our artillery, you couldn't have broken its defense at all! Your rifle bullets can't break through its defense!"

"Hmph! Ungrateful! Without our people holding the front and drawing fire, would you have had the chance to fire your cannons?" Luo Hu refused to back down.

"We've already made concessions; we can give you a few more First-Tier crystal cores. We must take the Second-Tier crystal core!" Cheng Zhi's patience was wearing thin, and his voice turned cold.

"So what you're saying is, our Luo family can only pick up the scraps you leave behind?" Luo Hu's anger flared up instantly. The Luo Clan was used to being kings in Sword City; when had they ever received such 'charity'? It was a total humiliation!

Before Cheng Zhi could respond, a young First-Tier Evolver soldier beside him couldn't help but curse under his breath: "Damn it, a bunch of local bandits! Not satisfied even after being given benefits, do you really think you're some big shots?"

The voice wasn't loud, but it was particularly piercing in the tense atmosphere!

"Son of a bitch! Who are you calling names?!" Several Luo Clan descendants around Luo Hu instantly exploded, their eyes turning red! Insulting the clan was more serious than insulting them personally; this was crossing the line!

"Fuck! What the hell did you say? Say it again!" The soldiers of the Mixed Brigade also instantly had their anger ignited! Insulting someone's parents was a provocation no young man could tolerate!

"What's a ragtag army acting so arrogant for?! A whole brigade with only a dozen or so broken tanks and not even a single helicopter, and you have the nerve to call yourselves a regular army? I see you're just a bunch of conscripted irregulars, pretending to be big shots!" The Luo Clan people were also merciless, picking at the Mixed Brigade's sore spots.

"Damn it, you dead bandits! Look at your behavior! No matter how poor our equipment is, we are a national regular army! We are a heroic unit that fought our way out of Lingchuan! We've received commendations from the Legion. You local hicks with just a few broken guns, what are you pretending for?!" The Mixed Brigade soldiers refused to be outdone and continued their verbal onslaught.

The scene was suddenly tense, with soldiers from both sides pushing, shoving, and cursing at each other. The smell of gunpowder was strong, and it looked like the verbal spat was about to escalate into a physical fight!

Seeing this, Cheng Zhi and Luo Hu could no longer remain calm.

"Captain Luo! Are these the soldiers you've trained? Foul-mouthed and insulting parents?!" Cheng Zhi stared at Luo Hu, gritting his teeth, his hand already pressed against the ice spear he had condensed.

Luo Hu's face was also ashen as he retorted: "Captain Cheng! Back at you! Your subordinates' quality isn't any better! Calling us bandits? The food you've eaten and the camps you've stayed in these past two days were all provided by us 'bandits'! Burning bridges and being ungrateful is exactly what people like you do!"

"Say that again, you bastard?!" Several soldiers around Cheng Zhi were furious and were about to rush forward, but were forcibly stopped by Cheng Zhi.

Looking at the other's exasperated appearance, a disdainful sneer appeared on Luo Hu's face: "Captain Cheng, it seems your men are quite defiant? If you're not convinced, let's settle it by the rules of the underworld! You and I will have a fight! If I lose, I, Luo Hu, will take everyone and apologize to you!"

Cheng Zhi was also completely enraged. Soldiers had a soldier's way of solving things: "Then let's fight! As if I'm afraid of you! I also want to see what the Luo family is capable of!"

The two of them wasted no more words and activated their Superpowers almost simultaneously!

Cold air condensed in Cheng Zhi's hand, and a crystal-clear ice spear nearly two meters long, emitting a bone-chilling aura, instantly took shape! The surrounding temperature dropped by several degrees.

Luo Hu let out a roar, crossing his arms in front of him. A thick and solid giant rock shield with an earthy yellow light flowing on its surface appeared out of thin air, protecting his whole body and emitting an aura as steady as a mountain.

"Everyone, back off!" the two shouted at the same time. The soldiers confronting each other quickly retreated, clearing an open space.

"Watch my spear!" Cheng Zhi launched the attack first. The ice spear was like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, carrying a bone-chilling cold as it lunged toward Luo Hu's chest!

"Hmph!" Luo Hu stood firm in a horse stance and slammed the giant shield forward! *Clang!* With a dull, heavy thud, the ice spear struck the rock shield, splashing countless ice chips and stone dust! A shallow mark appeared on the surface of the rock shield, but it remained unmoved!

Luo Hu took the opportunity to sweep the shield horizontally, smashing it toward Cheng Zhi with immense force! Cheng Zhi's figure nimbly retreated, while his ice spear struck repeatedly, trails of frost attempting to slow Luo Hu's movements.

For a moment, spear shadows were everywhere, and the wind from the shield whistled! Both were skilled Second-Tier users, one swift and sharp, the other steady and heavy. They fought inseparably, exchanging dozens of moves in the blink of an eye, and neither could do anything to the other.

"Everyone, stop! This is disgraceful!"

Just as the battle was at a stalemate, a roar like thunder exploded! Immediately following, a scorching wave of air rushed toward them! A lion made entirely of crimson flames galloped from a distance, letting out an ear-splitting roar. The powerful heatwave and impact forced the fiercely fighting Cheng Zhi and Luo Hu apart!

The newcomer was the Brigade Chief of Staff in charge of the Luo Town direction—Yan Shi! His face was ashen as he strode over, followed by several guards.

"What's going on?! Why are you fighting with allied forces?!" Yan Shi's eyes were like torches as they swept over Cheng Zhi and Luo Hu.

Cheng Zhi withdrew his ice spear and quickly reported the sequence of events, especially regarding the distribution of the crystal core and the verbal spat between the two sides.

Hearing that they had come to blows just for a single Second-Tier crystal core, Yan Shi's brow furrowed into a knot, and he scolded: "Nonsense! The Brigade Commander has repeatedly ordered us to maintain good relations and cooperate sincerely with the Luo Clan allies! Is this how you execute those orders?!"

"Boss Yan, we..." a Mixed Brigade soldier tried to explain.

"Shut up! There is no 'boss' here! Use my title!" Yan Shi glared, his aura as a battle-hardened veteran instantly suppressing everyone.

"Yes! Chief of Staff!" The soldier shrunk his neck in fear and didn't dare speak again.

Yan Shi turned to Cheng Zhi and ordered: "Give that crystal core to Captain Luo!"

A trace of reluctance appeared on Cheng Zhi's face, but he didn't dare disobey his superior. He could only pull the green Second-Tier crystal core from his pocket and sullenly throw it to Luo Hu.

Luo Hu caught the crystal core, but his expression did not improve. He stared at Yan Shi and said firmly: "Chief of Staff Yan, the crystal core is a small matter. But your people publicly insulted my Luo Clan as 'bandits.' This matter must be accounted for! The reputation of my Luo Clan is more important than anything!"

Yan Shi gave Luo Hu a cold look and said flatly: "It's just young people bickering; they spoke without thinking, which is inevitable. What account do you want? Do you want me to court-martial my soldiers and have them kowtow to your Luo family to apologize?"

He spoke nonchalantly, but the meaning was clear: I can give you the crystal core to give you face. But wanting me to punish my own soldiers to maintain your Luo family's face? Impossible!

In his heart, he already looked down on these local forces, especially after they called them a "ragtag army." If not for the sake of the overall cooperation, he wouldn't have even given up the crystal core.

"Clean up the battlefield immediately! Count the casualties and spoils! Move fast!" Yan Shi ignored Luo Hu and turned to give orders to his officers, as if the conflict just now was merely a trivial interlude.

"You...!" Luo Hu's face flushed with anger, his fists clenched so hard they creaked, and his nails almost dug into his flesh! Insulting the clan was a huge matter to the Luo Clan descendants and could not be let go like this! He stared fixedly at Yan Shi's back, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes.

"Let's go!" Luo Hu squeezed out three words through his teeth and left the scene without looking back, filled with rage and followed by a group of equally indignant Luo Clan descendants. He would remember this debt.