Chapter 28: Python-Head Set
The army pressed down on the stronghold. Although the mountain bandits could barely gather into formation, they were already at the end of their strength. How could they possibly be a match for the fierce soldiers behind Xiao Wen and Ma Chao?
Their desperate resistance merely caused Xiao Wen's army a few casualties.
The army stormed up the mountain and swept through it from top to bottom, occupying the entire stronghold.
Xiao Wen stretched lazily and stood in the center of the stronghold, looking at the two pieces of loot in his backpack: [Python-Head Profound Gold Helm] and [Python-Head Horned Dragon Armor].
These were equipment pieces dropped by the First Chief and Second Chief, perfectly completing the Python-Head Three-Piece Set.
[Python-Head Profound Gold Helm]
Type: Helmet · Protective Gear
Rank: Silver
Attribute: Head Defense +15
Set: One of the Python-Head Three-Piece Set (1/3)
Set Attribute: ???
Overview: One part of an equipment set forged by an anonymous master blacksmith. Gathering the Python-Head Three-Piece Set can trigger an unexpected effect.
[Python-Head Horned Dragon Armor]
Type: Armor · Protective Gear
Rank: Silver
Attribute: Defense +20
Set: One of the Python-Head Three-Piece Set (1/3)
Set Attribute: ???
Overview: One part of an equipment set forged by an anonymous master blacksmith. Gathering the Python-Head Three-Piece Set can trigger an unexpected effect.
Seeing these two pieces of equipment, Xiao Wen did not hesitate and immediately equipped them.
The moment he put on the two pieces of equipment, a crisp notification sounded by his ear.
Ding! Congratulations to player Half-Journey Through the Mortal World for successfully gathering the Python-Head Three-Piece Set and triggering the set attribute: Dragon Python Body Protection.
[Dragon Python Body Protection]
Type: Persistent Buff
Effect: All attributes increase by 2%. During battle, a dragon-python phantom protects the user and can block one armor-breaking attack. (Note: After the phantom is scattered, it requires some time to condense again.)
Cooldown: 2 hours.
This buff attribute was quite good.
Xiao Wen looked at the attribute values and nodded inwardly, finding them especially decent.
This set attribute could barely be used in the early stages.
As for Ma Chao?
He had two Heavenly Tribulation pieces of equipment on him, enough to support him all the way until Level 70 or 80.
There was no need to rush for now.
“My lord, the general asks you to make a trip to the rear mountain.”
A voice rang out, interrupting Xiao Wen's thoughts.
Xiao Wen raised his head and saw a soldier standing beside him, cupping his hands in report.
“The rear mountain? Good. I’ll go now.”
As he spoke, Xiao Wen followed the soldier toward the rear mountain.
When he arrived at the rear mountain, he saw quite a few cultivated fields along the way, as well as fruit trees forming patches of shade.
It should have been a scene of abundant harvest.
But that was only if there had not been piles of bones scattered through the fields and beneath the fruit trees.
Those were all thin, emaciated refugees. For unknown reasons, they had died and been thrown here as fertilizer.
The farther inward they walked, the more dead people there were. They could even see pale white bones. At a glance, there were nearly a thousand dead people. It was a shocking sight.
Xiao Wen took a deep breath, doing his best to calm the surging emotions in his chest and return himself to composure.
When Xiao Wen continued forward, he suddenly discovered that there was actually a second stronghold here.
A stronghold within a stronghold?
No!
Rather than calling it a stronghold, it would be more accurate to call it a refugee den.
At the entrance, several large wooden beams had been set up as barricades. Behind them stood several hundred elderly or young men.
Some were missing arms or legs. Some were so old they could no longer grip a weapon. Some carried injuries on their bodies. Some were no older than ten.
And yet, these were the people holding wooden sticks and hoe handles, standing at the entrance of the stronghold. They were skin and bones, but their eyes were fixed on Ma Chao with abnormal focus. A fierce aura showed between their brows. Clearly, they had taken Ma Chao and the others as enemies.
At the very front of this group stood a refined man wearing a clean patched robe.
This man was precisely the one who had gathered the mountain bandits to resist Xiao Wen's army earlier.
“General, what happened?” Xiao Wen glanced at the man, then walked over to Ma Chao's side and asked.
Ma Chao looked at Xiao Wen and lowered his head as he replied, “My lord, that man claims to be the military advisor of Black Fiend Stronghold. Those behind him are refugees abducted from various places by Black Fiend Stronghold.”
“Black Fiend Stronghold has committed every evil and deserves to be killed. But the common people behind him are innocent. He is willing to lead the eight hundred refugees behind him to submit to us. He only asks that they be spared and given a mouthful of rice to eat.”
“Oh? They’ve come to surrender?” Xiao Wen raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
Perhaps because of that great upheaval, these NPCs had become somewhat different. They had already learned to seek benefits and avoid harm. They had even learned to surrender.
“Tell them that surrender requires sincerity. Just now, when we were climbing the mountain, someone gathered the bandits to put up a stubborn resistance and wounded quite a few of our brothers. That debt must be repaid first. Have them hand over that person, then we can discuss what comes after,” Xiao Wen said to Ma Chao with a raised brow.
Hearing this, Ma Chao nodded. A sharp light flashed in his eyes as he stepped forward and shouted coldly, demanding that these people show their sincerity.
After hearing Ma Chao’s words, the man at the front stepped forward and stated that everything had been his doing. Whether they wanted to kill or flay him, he would accept it. He only hoped Ma Chao would take in these refugees and treat them kindly.
As he spoke, the man threw down the weapon in his hand. After spending some time soothing the refugees behind him, he came before Ma Chao unarmed.
Ma Chao brought him before Xiao Wen.
Xiao Wen looked at the man and could sense the aura of someone ready to face death without regret.
He used an information inspection function to check the man's attributes.
Strategist: Lu Cheng
Gender: Male
Rank: Elite Strategist (Tier 2)
Level: 15
Inclination: Military Formations
Talent Attributes: 76/10
Faction Affiliation: Military Advisor of Black Fiend Stronghold.
Personality: Kind, decisive, rigorous
Seeing Lu Cheng's information, Xiao Wen was somewhat surprised.
A strategist?
He really was a rare talent.
Although his rank was a little low, having someone specifically skilled in troop movement and formations was still not bad at all.
Thinking this, Xiao Wen looked at Lu Cheng and said, “If I were to kill you, what would you do about the refugees under you?”
“With this one life of mine, if I can save the lives of several hundred hostages, then I, Lu, will gladly go to my death!” Lu Cheng answered without the slightest hesitation.
“I see that your troop formations are rather good. Have you studied them before?”
“My father was once a military commandant, so I learned a little,” Lu Cheng replied, cupping his hands.
“In that case, killing you would be a pity. Didn’t you want to protect them? I’ll give you a chance. Enter my service and serve under General Ma Chao as his deputy general. Are you willing?”
“Lu Cheng kowtows in thanks to my lord!” Lu Cheng did not hesitate at all. He immediately prostrated himself on the ground and bowed to Xiao Wen.
Ding! Congratulations to player Half-Journey Through the Mortal World for subduing the Tier 2 Strategist Lu Cheng. Current Loyalty: 30/100.
“Good. Rise.” Xiao Wen reached out and helped Lu Cheng up.
Then he saw Lu Cheng shake something out from his sleeve, hold it with both hands, and present it to Xiao Wen.
“This subordinate has a treasure and is willing to offer it to my lord. I ask that my lord accept it.”
Xiao Wen raised an eyebrow slightly and lowered his gaze to the item in Lu Cheng's hands.
It was a token.
City Establishment Token!
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