Ex-Wife is a Big Villainess
Chapter 750 - 369 Suspicion and Conspiracy_2

Chapter 750: Chapter 369 Suspicion and Conspiracy_2

Before long, the sound of galloping hooves thundered like a drumbeat.

The ground trembled faintly in response.

A cavalry force surged forward under the darkened sky.

Among them, a man with a scar on his forehead stood out strikingly.

His cold, piercing gaze fixed on the ancient town ahead, his lips curled into a bloodthirsty grin.

This man was none other than the infamous Scorpion.

As a fearsome bandit notorious in the Tongqiu Desert region, Scorpion had lived in this desolate land for a full twenty years.

He had once been the son of a landlord in Nanjin Country, but after abducting a village girl and enraging a powerful figure, he was thrown into prison, facing the prospect of execution.

Originally destined for the chopping block, his fate changed when he befriended a fellow prisoner.

When that prisoner’s associates broke into the jail to rescue him, they took Scorpion along.

Thus, he followed them to a bandit hideout in the desert, where he gradually rose to prominence, eventually becoming their leader and adopting the name Scorpion. As his forces grew, he established the Scorpion Camp.

Scorpion was known for his violent temper and cunning nature, as well as his extreme distrust of others.

Nonetheless, he was remarkably generous and magnanimous in his dealings, attracting many desperate men eager to join him in raiding and looting.

After all, following a leader who could guarantee feasts and spoils made life far more comfortable.

"Brothers, charge with me! The Fourth Prince has promised us that the women and riches of the Heshan Tribe are ours for the taking!" Scorpion bellowed, brandishing his curved blade. "Slaughter those dogs in Lei Tian’s army, and from now on, Tongqiu will belong solely to us, the Scorpion Camp!"

The men roared in response, their eyes fixated on the ancient town ahead as if it were an irresistible feast laid out before them, their impatience palpable.

Outside the town, the Heshan Tribe soldiers launched their charge as well.

After a few rounds of fighting, the Heshan soldiers began to crumble and flee.

Seeing this, Scorpion’s bandits were reinvigorated, pursuing their fleeing enemies with fervor.

Yet Scorpion alone sensed something amiss.

Though he had anticipated that the Heshan Tribe’s able-bodied men and Lei Tian’s forces would be limited, their feeble response seemed unusually weak, collapsing completely after just a few skirmishes. It was far from normal.

However, his comrades had already charged ahead at full speed, leaving Scorpion no time to ponder further. He had no choice but to follow along with his troops.

...

On a high ridge elsewhere, Xiao Lingqiu sat astride her steed, her icy gaze fixed coldly on the battlefield below.

Her tall, commanding figure seemed to draw attention no matter where she stood, her unique aura perfectly balanced.

A touch more and she would appear too rigid, losing her subtle grace and softness. A touch less and she would exude excessive charm, undermining her remarkable combination of heroic spirit and elegance.

Liao Feihu remarked, "From the looks of it, Scorpion has brought over four thousand bandits—this is the main force of the Scorpion Camp."

Pointing her whip toward a burly man among the enemy ranks, clad in a headscarf and wielding twin hammers, Xiao Lingqiu asked, "Who is that?"

This man had stood out on the battlefield, his combat prowess exceptional. Each swing of his hammers carried astonishing force, enough to make him a formidable fighter even among regular troops.

Liao Feihu gave him a glance and said, "That’s Wuyan Hu. Born with immense strength, he is the third-in-command of the Scorpion Camp. He’s been following Scorpion for six years and is relatively loyal."

Tapping her thigh lightly with her horsewhip, Xiao Lingqiu furrowed her brows in thought before speaking:

"I recall reading the intelligence reports you gave me regarding the three leaders of the Scorpion Camp.

One of the reports mentioned a rumor—apparently, Wuyan Hu once clashed with the second-in-command over a woman. In the end, it was Scorpion who killed the woman to quell the internal conflict."

Liao Feihu hadn’t expected her to remember such an obscure detail and nodded. "That’s true. It happened half a year ago."

Xiao Lingqiu turned to Yun Zhu and said:

"Pass a message to your father. When the two cavalry forces carry out the encirclement, have one unit create a conspicuous yet disguised escape route for Wuyan Hu.

Make it obvious enough to tempt him to flee, but obscure enough to look unintentional. Once Scorpion follows through, reinforce the area and seal the gap immediately!"

"Understood."

Yun Zhu rode off.

Having spent time in military ranks, Liao Feihu instantly grasped the intent behind Xiao Lingqiu’s orders. He frowned and asked, "You’re trying to sow distrust among them. Will it work?"

Xiao Lingqiu smirked. "The ambush and encirclement are real, so why not add a little performance to the mix? If Scorpion starts doubting his third-in-command, all the better—it works to our advantage. If not, we lose nothing."

Liao Feihu extended a thumb in admiration. "Impressive."

Jiang Shouzhong, who had remained an observer throughout, took a moment to analyze the situation and couldn’t help but remark, "Quite cunning."

Xiao Lingqiu knitted her elegant brows. "I don’t like that word."

"Which word?"

Jiang Shouzhong was startled.

Then, realizing his mistake, he quickly corrected himself, "Brilliant."

The corners of the woman’s lips curled upward ever so slightly.

...

The fighters under Scorpion’s command, seasoned desert warriors, swiftly closed in on the town gates.

But at that moment, Scorpion noticed that the previously fleeing Heshan soldiers had begun to slow down, and within the gates, he could make out the faintly shifting figures of armored troops.

The flicker of unease in Scorpion’s heart began to grow.

Just then, a deafening roar of battle cries erupted from both sides. Startled, Scorpion quickly scanned his surroundings and saw large numbers of cavalry charging down the hills on either side like a tidal wave.

The sound of hoofbeats shook the heavens, the dust billowing like a storm. By his estimate, each side fielded at least two to three thousand riders.

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