"Very well, then let's sit back and enjoy the show."Yi Tianxing nodded slightly, his gaze drifting toward the Xiongnu camp, a meaningful glint flashing in his eyes.
"My Lord, it's deep into the night by now—everyone must be hungry. How about I head down and prepare some midnight snacks for you and the generals? Good food and good entertainment, what could be better?"Lai He stepped forward and made the suggestion respectfully.
"Excellent idea. No need to go all out, just some simple dishes will do. But every meal you cook, Mister Lai, always leaves me utterly satisfied. Each time is pure bliss."At those words, Yi Tianxing could feel a craving stirring in every fiber of his being. His resistance to good food had always been weak—especially now, when indulgence was almost encouraged.
Food had become his shortcut to strength.
These days, with Lai He's cooking, every meal brought tangible increases to Yi Tianxing's physical power. Even an ordinary dish could enhance his bodily strength by hundreds of jins. However, if a dish had already been consumed before and hadn't undergone any significant improvement in taste or technique, its effect would gradually decline. Still, the essence of worldly energy drawn from each dish by his "gourmet cells" was a consistent benefit.
But if the dish was brand new or had undergone a fundamental transformation in flavor, the boost could reach into the thousands of jins in one sitting.
Yi Tianxing was now on an unstoppable path of culinary cultivation.
His body's strength increased day by day, inching closer to the level of "Two Chimes of the Black Cauldron" (黑鼎二鸣).
Naturally, he was quite fond of Lai He's offer of a midnight snack.
"Please wait just a moment, my Lord. I'll get everything ready. With any luck, you'll be dining while watching this drama unfold."Lai He grinned, visibly thrilled. The more Yi Tianxing valued his food, the more his own worth rose—something he deeply cherished.
After all, every true chef dreams of finding a gourmet who would not only savor their food sincerely but also provide honest, heartfelt feedback.
Beneath the earth, Yang Yanping and his soldiers moved quickly. Flaming torches illuminated the darkness, ensuring clear visibility underground.
The Xiongnu camp wasn't far from Xuanhuang Village. Even with utmost caution and their speed reduced to the bare minimum, it wasn't long before they reached the subterranean area beneath the enemy camp.
Thud, thud, thud!
They could hear the heavy, muffled footsteps of soldiers patrolling above, transmitted faintly through the ground.
"First, locate the fire pits and torches within the Xiongnu camp—don't leave a single one unchecked."Yang Yanping issued his orders swiftly.
Soldiers crept carefully toward several concealed exits, each covered by wooden boards layered with soil and turf, making them indistinguishable from the normal ground. With the element of surprise on their side, these exits were nearly impossible to detect.
Once the boards were removed, soldiers poked their heads out, scanning the area and committing the locations of all fires and torches to memory before sealing the exits back as they were.
"Are all positions confirmed?"Yang Yanping asked in a low voice.
"Yes. The fire pits and torches are all clustered near the exits—very obvious. And there's only one patrol unit active right now. The rest of the camp is silent—everyone's asleep."
"Good. Proceed as planned."
With a bright glint in his eyes, Yang Yanping waved his hand, signaling his men to move out. They split into groups, each heading toward a separate underground exit.
Accompanying them were civilians who had awakened the Water Control Life Orifice (控水命窍)—each group brought at least one with them.
The night grew darker still. Even the moon had retreated behind a thick veil of clouds.
The Xiongnu camp was eerily quiet, save for the occasional snore or marching footstep. Deep into the night, fatigue had dulled every sense. Eyelids were heavy, minds foggy.
Only the campfires still burned steadily.
Swish—swish—swish!!
Without warning, streams of water materialized above the campfires and torches, then splashed down mercilessly. The water was abundant—more than enough to douse the flames completely. Not even a spark remained as hissing sounds filled the air.
In an instant, the Xiongnu camp was plunged into total darkness.
With the moonlight obscured, and the fires now out, true blackness swallowed the camp.
"Who goes there?!"
"The fire! The fire's out—what's happening?!"
"I can't see a thing! We're under attack—GET UP!"
"Enemy raid! Wake up!"
Panic erupted. Soldiers woke to complete darkness. The shock of sudden blindness, after being bathed in light moments before, was almost unbearable.
Thud—thud!
Whoosh—whoosh!
"Argh! I've been shot! It's an ambush!"
"Help—s-someone stabbed me!"
"Light! We need light—NOW!"
Xiongnu warriors scrambled from sleep, only to be struck by arrows and spears out of nowhere. Blood splattered as some were grievously wounded, others outright killed.
Screams and chaos swept through the camp.
"Kill! Kill the Xiongnu scum!"
"Surround them! Not a single one escapes! Avenge the people!"
"I've already killed three—keep going!"
"The Zuoxian King is dead! Liu Bao has been slain! The Xiongnu are finished!"
Suddenly, loud Han voices echoed through the camp, foreign and terrifying to Xiongnu ears.
In total darkness, faced with unknown enemies, confirmed deaths, and an overwhelming sense of blood and fear, panic escalated rapidly.
Terror bred madness.
In the blackness, every shadow became an enemy. Every noise a potential death blow. Deprived of sight and reason, they trusted no one—not even their own comrades.
Some lit torches, but the water element users doused them instantly.
No flame could stay lit.
What followed was utter devastation.
"Die, Han dogs! I'll kill you all!"
"You filthy two-legged sheep—YOU DESERVE TO BE SLAUGHTERED!"
"Kill—kill—KILL THEM ALL!"
Mad with fear and rage, Xiongnu soldiers slashed at everything around them, hacking wildly even at allies. The atmosphere was soaked in violence and betrayal.
Their eyes were bloodshot. Their minds consumed by fear.
Mass hysteria took hold.
Meanwhile, from outside the camp, more Han voices rang out—deliberately loud and piercing.
These cries only intensified the chaos, making it feel like a full-scale invasion.
In truth, aside from Yang Yanping's initial strike team, the rest of the attack was psychological.People underground shouted into the night, occasionally popping their heads up to yell and then vanishing.
But the impact on the Xiongnu was catastrophic.
Within the span of a few moments—
The entire camp imploded in chaos.
From atop the Xuanhuang Village wall, Yi Tianxing and the others watched as the flames in the enemy camp were snuffed out.
Smiles spread across their faces.
"It's begun—finally."
"The show's on. I wonder how many will die tonight..."
"Blackout and panic—Liu Bao won't be sleeping easy tonight."
Huang Chengyan, Yang Ye, and the rest chuckled, expressions bright with satisfaction and anticipation.