The charming widow of the Marquis's mansion: The stable boy carries the flag and raises the dra

Wang Long gave a brief reply without lingering. He noticed that everyone's expression carried a similar tension and caution, an instinct that constantly shifted between prey and hunter.

The Eastern Region only had twenty-four people, yet they had to face an attack from hundreds.

This pressure makes many people subconsciously adopt the most conservative stance.

"Sage King, I just heard fighting sounds from the west. It seems our people have run into people from the Western Regions. I wonder what the situation is."

A disciple of the Xuancang Sect said in a low voice.

Wang Long glanced in the direction the other person indicated.

"I'll go take a look."

He didn't ask any more questions and moved quickly in that direction.

As they rounded a steep cliff, the sounds of fighting ahead became clearer, mixed with the clanging of clashing magical weapons and short shouts.

Wang Long slowed his pace and stopped behind an ancient pine tree growing at an angle on the edge of the cliff. He used the pine branches to conceal himself and looked down.

Below was a wide, rocky slope where three figures were locked in combat.

One of them was dressed in Eastern Region robes and was a disciple of the Earthly Fiend Sect whom he had seen on the Sendai platform. His opponents were two Western Region cultivators dressed in silver-gray outfits.

The two Western Region cultivators cooperated quite well, flanking each other from the left and right, taking turns in attack and defense, clearly not the first time they had joined forces.

The disciple from the Eastern Region was fighting two opponents at once. Although he was still struggling to hold on, his steps were already somewhat unsteady, and he was clearly at a disadvantage.

Several tears had appeared in his robes, and blood seeped from his left shoulder, making his movements somewhat sluggish.

The two Western Region cultivators clearly noticed his fatigue and their attacks became even more ferocious. One of them even increased the frequency of his attacks, intending to completely corner him.

Without much hesitation, Wang Long leaped silently from behind the ancient pine tree, his feet landing on the gravel slope below, his boots making a soft sound as they rolled over the stones.

The two Western Region cultivators turned around alertly at the same time and saw a gray figure land to their side, causing them to pause in unison.

The disciples from the Eastern Region also saw Wang Long, and their eyes suddenly lit up. Their previously somewhat waned fighting spirit seemed to be injected with new strength.

He gritted his teeth and managed to block his opponent's attack. Taking advantage of the opponent's distraction, he took half a step back and created some distance.

The two Western Region cultivators exchanged a glance. One of them quickly took half a step back, held his sword horizontally in front of him, and warily sized up Wang Long.

The other person remained focused on the disciple from the Eastern Region, his tone tinged with probing and coldness.

"Another one? Are you his accomplice?"

Wang Long did not answer, but calmly took a step closer to them.

He didn't release any pressure, nor did he rush to make a move. He just walked over unhurriedly, his steps relaxed, as if he were taking a stroll in his own backyard.

However, the two Western Region cultivators simultaneously felt an inexplicable sense of oppression. This feeling did not come from the overwhelming aura, but from something more subtle.

It felt as if I was being scanned from the inside out by some sharp gaze, and I instinctively wanted to create distance.

One of them gritted his teeth and made the first decision. He shouted "Go!" and he and his companion stopped their attack and retreated.

The two retreated extremely quickly, clearly seasoned veterans of the battlefield who knew when to decisively stop.

Their figures quickly disappeared into the bushes at the end of the scree slope, without leaving a single extra word.

Wang Long watched the direction they retreated in but did not chase after them. He was unsure how many cultivators from the Western Regions or other major regions were still nearby, and it would be bad if they were lured away from their stronghold.

The disciple from the Eastern Region let out a long sigh of relief, staggered back a few steps, leaned against a rock, and gasped for breath.

"Thank you so much, Holy Son Wang! If you hadn't arrived in time, I probably wouldn't have made it to the next round..."

"What's your name?"

"Disciple Qingmu Sect, Zhou Mingxuan."

Wang Long nodded, his gaze lingering for a moment on the wound on his left shoulder.

"Is the injury serious?"

"It's just a superficial injury; I can manage."

Zhou Mingxuan gritted his teeth, took out a pill from his waist, put it in his mouth, swallowed it, and his complexion improved slightly.

Wang Long stood on the gravel slope, looking in the direction the two Western Region cultivators had retreated, his brows furrowing slightly.

He glanced around at the undulating ridges and dense forests, his mind racing.

This situation is definitely not a solution.

Passive defense and hiding everywhere will only lead to the flag being lost one after another.

No matter how fast he is, it's impossible for him to run across the entire battlefield in seven days to rescue every lost flag.

"Zhou Mingxuan."

Wang Long turned around and looked at Zhou Mingxuan, saying in a deep voice.

"What are your orders, Your Majesty?"

Do you think the Eastern Region can survive for seven days by hiding and running around like this?

Zhou Mingxuan paused for a moment, then gave a wry smile and shook his head.

"To be honest, I also think it's very risky. It's only the first day, and I've already been chased twice. If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have made it through the night. I guess the other fellow disciples aren't in much better shape either."

"Would you like to try a different playing style?"

Zhou Mingxuan raised his head and met Wang Long's calm yet meaningful eyes, and was slightly taken aback.

"Change your playing style? You mean...?"

"Instead of waiting for them to come and steal our flag, we should take the initiative and eliminate their men."

Zhou Mingxuan paused for a moment, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, which he then cautiously suppressed.

"But... we only have twenty-four people, while the four major domains on the other side have several hundred people combined. Wouldn't it be too risky to launch a preemptive attack?"

"Besides, my chances of winning against them are slim..."

That's why a strategy is needed.

Wang Long's gaze fell on him, and he said in a deep voice.

"I ask you, what do those who attacked the flag want most?"

"Steal our flag to get points."

"What are they most afraid of?"

Zhou Mingxuan thought for a moment and then hesitated.

"Afraid of being eliminated?"

"I'm afraid of wasting time, and I'm also afraid of being alone."

Wang Long replied casually.

"They have a large number of people, but their targets are scattered. When divided among different areas, they don't actually encounter many opponents."

"If someone were to deliberately expose themselves at this moment, waving a flag in a conspicuous place, how many people do you think would be attracted?"

Zhou Mingxuan suddenly understood what he meant, and his eyes lit up.

"You mean... I should be the bait? To lure those who want to grab the flag to your prepared location, and then you can wipe them all out?"

Wang Long nodded.

"That's the principle, but it depends on whether you're willing to take the risk."

Zhou Mingxuan straightened his back almost without hesitation.

"I'm willing! To be honest, rather than hiding like a rat for seven days, I'd much rather fight a fair and square battle! Wang Shengzi, please make the arrangements. I, Zhou Mingxuan, may not be good at much else, but I'm certainly willing to run errands and risk my life!"

Wang Long looked at the ignited fire in his eyes and did not hesitate any longer.

"Alright, let's go find someone first."