Too many female prisoners, a special forces soldier transmigrates and marries wildly.

Batel's camp was hidden in a sheltered spot behind a dry riverbed, consisting of only seven or eight tattered cowhide tents, with a makeshift barrier made of dead wood and stones.

The firelight shone through the gaps in the tent, barely noticeable in the wilderness.

"This way." Batel lifted the curtain of the largest tent.

Bai Xiaohe half-supported, half-carried Su Xuanji into the tent. In the center of the tent, by the fire pit, sat a thin, hunched old man with a face full of wrinkles.

"Old Te, save him," Battelle said succinctly.

The old man raised his cloudy eyes, glanced at Su Xuanji's injured arm, then looked at Bai Xiaohe, and said hoarsely, "Untie it, I'll reapply the medicine to her."

Batel stepped outside the tent and sat down by the fire, beginning to polish his oddly shaped repeating crossbow. He did not remove his wolf-skin cloak, listening warily to any sounds coming from inside the tent.

After the medicine was applied, Su Xuanji, still unconscious, unconsciously curled her fingers, as if trying to grab something. Bai Xiaohe hesitated for a moment, then took out an oilcloth bag and gently placed it into Su Xuanji's right hand.

Su Xuanji's fingers touched the cold oilcloth, curled up slightly, and actually quieted down a bit.

Bai Xiaohe sat by the fire pit, watching over Su Xuanji. The firelight illuminated her cool profile, revealing the weariness and determination in her eyes. She couldn't sleep; she had to stay by her side.

Lin Feng's condition was unknown. Ling Aoyun and Wuying Pavilion hung like knives over their heads. And they, in this dilapidated tent in the wilderness, waited for a dawn that might never come.

Batel suddenly whispered, "Someone's coming."

Bai Xiaohe gripped the sword hilt tightly in an instant.

The tent flap was lifted, and a gust of cold wind rushed in. It was Lin Feng; he had also found this place.

Bai Xiaohe was both surprised and delighted.

After exchanging pleasantries.

"Have Ling Aoyun's men arrived yet?" Lin Feng asked in a low voice, while touching Su Xuanji's forehead.

"We haven't arrived here yet," Batel said, "but we won't be here long. This wretched place can't hide many people."

Lin Feng looked at Bai Xiaohe: "How was your journey?"

"She's fine." Bai Xiaohe's voice was cold. "It's just that she lost too much blood and can't withstand the bumpy ride."

Before he could finish speaking, the Di Rong scout on guard outside the tent suddenly lifted the curtain and rushed in, saying a few words in Di Rong language.

Batel's expression changed, and he grabbed the crossbow beside him: "Torchlight has been spotted to the east. Ling Aoyun's men have crept over. There are quite a few of them."

Lin Feng's gaze swept over the tent—it was rudimentary, offering nowhere to hide. He made a quick decision, grabbing Su Xuanji, animal skin and all, and hoisting her onto his shoulder.

"Go to the west, there's a dry riverbed," Batel said in a low voice, lifting a corner of the tent flap first. "I'll take you there."

The group slipped out of the tent silently. The camp was deathly quiet, with only the sound of the wind.

Batel gestured to a few of his men, signaling them to make a feint to the east to attract attention.

Batel led the way with two of his men, followed closely by Lin Feng carrying Su Xuanji, with Bai Xiaohe bringing up the rear. They moved swiftly along the shadowy riverbank.

"This ditch leads to an abandoned mine shaft five miles away," Batel said. "The shaft is complicated, and Ling Aoyun's men won't be able to find it for a while."

Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves came from outside the ditch, growing louder as they approached, accompanied by Ling Aoyun's furious roar: "Search! Search thoroughly! I want to find them alive or dead!"

The sound echoed above the empty riverbed, growing ever closer.

Batel abruptly stopped, pointing to a hollow in the ditch wall half-hidden by bushes: "There! Hide in there!"

It was a shallow hole carved out by the flowing water, barely big enough for two or three people to hide in. Without hesitation, Lin Feng squeezed into the hole.

Bai Xiaohe stood close to him, her short sword held horizontally across her chest, its tip trembling slightly. Batel and his men lay prone behind the rocks near the cave entrance, their crossbows resting in the crevices.

The sound of horses' hooves stopped overhead. The light from the torches flickered across the cave entrance, illuminating the bushes.

"Go down and take a look!" Ling Aoyun ordered.

Two dark figures slid down the ditch wall, searching with torches in hand. Footsteps approached Batel's hiding place.

Batel held his breath and tightened his knuckles on the crossbow.

At the critical moment, a mournful wolf howl suddenly came from the direction of the abandoned mine in the distance, followed by several screams and the sound of weapons clashing!

"Report! There's movement in the direction of the mine!" Another subordinate rushed over from the ditch. "It looks like scum from the Shadowless Pavilion!"

Ling Aoyun roared from the ditch: "Send a few people to check, don't let the Shadowless Pavilion get there first! The rest of you continue searching separately!"

Several dark figures chased after the mine. Ling Aoyun led his men to search in another direction.

Once the footsteps faded into the distance, Batel emerged from behind the rubble, cursing in a foul language. "Damn it, those rats from the Shadowless Pavilion, coming to cause trouble now!"

Lin Feng emerged from the shallow cave, and Su Xuanji, who was on his shoulder, let out a soft groan. He looked down at her; her brows were furrowed, and she was still unconscious, but her breathing seemed to have become more steady.

"Let's go." Lin Feng uttered only one word and hurried along the ditch towards the abandoned mine.

The ditch road seemed especially long in the darkness.

By the time Lin Feng saw the menacing entrance to the abandoned mine, his clothes were soaked with cold sweat. Several corpses of Ling family assassins lay scattered at the entrance, the stench of blood overwhelming.

Batel crouched down to examine it, then sneered, "It's the Shadowless Pavilion's doing. They also want to seize this cave first."

Lin Feng carefully laid Su Xuanji down against the cave wall. Su Xuanji's injuries couldn't withstand any more exertion.

He needs to make a choice. Should he continue to hide, or risk breaking out?

Bai Xiaohe walked to his side. "Guard, she can't move anymore. If Ling Aoyun comes again, I'll hold her off."

"Bater, take her away and send her to Ironwall City as soon as possible." Lin Feng's voice sounded dry in the wind.

Bartel grinned and said, "Don't worry, as long as I, Bartel, have a breath left, this girl won't die."

"I'll stay," Bai Xiaohe said calmly. "To hold them off."

Lin Feng gave her a deep look, then said nothing more. He bent down, gently picked up Su Xuanji, and placed her in the simple stretcher that Batel had prepared.

"He's convinced the fragment is in my hands, and he'll never let me return to Ironwall alive. I'll make him believe the fragment is in this mine."

Lin Feng took out an empty sandalwood box from his pocket, placed it on a conspicuous bluestone at the entrance of the cave, and then tore out a few pieces of silver from his bag and threw them haphazardly to the side.

"Bater, after you leave, I will make a commotion and lure Ling Aoyun to the eastern fork in the road. You take her and head towards the abandoned alley to the west."