Chapter 254: The Killing Dragon and the Cat

Bai Li Chang thought for a moment, then shook his head.

“Is it a bit too much to send troops directly?”

“Not at all, Brother. Think about it. If we don’t send troops, and someone else does, and they successfully suppress this chaos and capture the Zhi Sha Long, they’ll definitely gain significant prestige and influence.”

“But if we send troops and fail, we’ll lose a lot of face and resources.”

“Even if we fail, we can still withdraw. But if we don’t act, we’ll lose a great opportunity. We need to show that our Bai family is capable of resolving this crisis.”

Bai Li Chang pondered the pros and cons.

“Perhaps, but this situation is more complex than it appears. Zhi Sha Long is not just some ordinary bandit.”

“I understand that. But this is a chance to show our strength. We can’t let others seize this opportunity.”

“Let me think about it.”

Bai Li Chang remained hesitant.

Meanwhile, in the mountains near Yu County, Zhi Sha Long was having a less than stellar day. His recent raid on a local village hadn’t gone as planned. The villagers had put up a surprisingly strong resistance, and his men had suffered casualties.

“Damn it! Those villagers fought like cornered cats!” Zhi Sha Long cursed, wiping blood from his face.

His lieutenant, a hulking brute named Hei Hu, grunted.

“Boss, they had some kind of formation. It was hard to break through.”

“Formation? Since when do villagers have formations?” Zhi Sha Long was suspicious.

“I don’t know, Boss. But they were organized.”

Just then, a scout rushed in.

“Boss! We’re being followed!”

Zhi Sha Long’s eyes narrowed.

“Who is it?”

“I don’t know, Boss. But there are many of them.”

Zhi Sha Long felt a sense of unease. This situation was getting out of hand.

Back in the city, Bai Li Chang finally made a decision.

“Alright, let’s send a detachment of troops to Yu County. But be cautious. Do not engage directly with Zhi Sha Long unless absolutely necessary.”

“Yes, Brother!”

A small force was dispatched, their mission to investigate the situation in Yu County and gather intelligence on Zhi Sha Long.

As the troops approached Yu County, they noticed something unusual. The villages they passed through were unusually quiet. There were no signs of the recent chaos reported.

“Something’s not right,” said the commander of the detachment, a seasoned officer named Li Wei.

They continued their march, the silence amplifying their caution.

Meanwhile, Zhi Sha Long and his men were on the move, trying to evade their pursuers. They had expected to be chased by the local authorities, but the force pursuing them seemed more professional, more disciplined.

“Who are these people?” Zhi Sha Long wondered.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had stumbled into something bigger than he could handle.

As they moved through a dense forest, a sudden ambush erupted. Arrows rained down on them, and figures emerged from the trees, attacking with speed and precision.

Zhi Sha Long’s men were caught by surprise. The attackers were highly skilled, their movements fluid and deadly.

“Retreat!” Zhi Sha Long roared, fighting desperately.

He managed to cut down a couple of attackers, but the sheer number and skill of the enemy were overwhelming. His men were falling fast.

In the midst of the chaos, Zhi Sha Long saw a figure emerge from the shadows. It was a woman, small and agile, but radiating an aura of immense power. She moved with the grace of a cat, her attacks swift and precise.

Zhi Sha Long felt a chill run down his spine. He knew instantly that this was no ordinary opponent.

The woman’s eyes were cold and sharp, like a predator’s. She didn’t speak, but her every movement conveyed a deadly intent.

Zhi Sha Long knew he was beaten. His forces were decimated, and this woman was far beyond his abilities.

He made a split-second decision.

“Scatter!” he yelled to his remaining men. “Every man for himself!”

He turned and fled into the depths of the forest, leaving his men to face the onslaught.

The woman didn’t pursue him immediately. She seemed to be assessing the situation, her gaze sweeping over the battlefield.

As Zhi Sha Long ran, he could hear the sounds of combat fading behind him. He didn’t know who the woman was, or why she had attacked him, but he knew one thing: he had narrowly escaped death.

He continued to run, the image of the cat-like woman seared into his mind. This encounter had changed everything. He was no longer the feared Zhi Sha Long, but a hunted animal.

Back at the ambush site, the woman surveyed the carnage. Her attackers, who were revealed to be highly trained mercenaries, were cleaning up the scene.

“Any sign of Zhi Sha Long?” she asked, her voice calm and measured.

“He escaped, Boss,” one of the mercenaries replied. “He ran into the forest.”

The woman nodded slowly.

“Let him go for now. He’s no longer a threat. We have accomplished our objective.”

Her objective had been to disrupt Zhi Sha Long’s forces and send a clear message. She had done that effectively.

As the mercenaries finished their work, the woman looked up at the sky. The sun was setting, casting long shadows through the trees.

She was a mystery, a force that had emerged from the shadows to put an end to Zhi Sha Long’s reign of terror. And as the night descended, her legend, the legend of the cat, began to spread.