Chapter 108: The Worst-Case Scenario

Chu Yun saw Ye Zelan gasping for breath, her words slurred, and couldn’t help but ask again, “Ye Zelan, did you see clearly? That army—are you sure they’re really heading for Chujia Town?”

Ye Zelan nodded repeatedly. “Count Chu Yun, I saw it clearly and am absolutely certain. That army is led by the Witch Doctor Sect.”

“Because among them are many medical officers from the Witch Doctor Sect, and one of them is Chen Hua, a high-ranking member I’ve seen before in the royal city.”

“Although the armies of the Great Qi Dynasty always bring Witch Doctor Sect medics to treat the wounded after battles, I believe this time they are specifically targeting Chujia Town, targeting us.”

Chu Yun nodded. “Zelan, if you’re that sure, then it must be so. But I still have many questions. First, if the Witch Doctor Sect wants to deal with me, would they really deploy an entire army?”

Ye Zelan shook her head. “No, Brother Chu Yun, it’s entirely possible. Because your herbal fitness exercises and obstacle training have spread throughout the Great Qi Dynasty and neighboring kingdoms. Both the herbal fitness exercises and obstacle training are regarded as highly efficient, scientific, and advanced methods.”

Hearing this, Chu Yun shook his head and smiled wryly. “So they think I’ve trained an army here in Chujia Town, and sent a force to deal with me?”

Ye Zelan nodded. “Exactly! If you hadn’t trained an army, why would you have created such training routines?”

Chu Yun was somewhat speechless. “My guard only has sixty men. I should have formed a few hundred from the start.”

Yang Liu’er, listening, said, “How could you sustain a few hundred guards?”

Chu Yun replied, “The Qi King wants Lin Yang and me to cooperate to keep a rear path open in the south, so food isn’t a problem. But manpower is the real issue. I don’t have enough people to build such a large guard.”

Yang Liu’er sighed, “Ah, yes! Too few people.”

Then she turned to Ye Zelan. “How many soldiers does the Witch Doctor Sect’s army have?”

Chu Yun also looked at Ye Zelan upon hearing this.

Ye Zelan said, “I didn’t dare get too close, but I roughly estimated this army’s numbers exceed three thousand.”

“Three thousand? Even if everyone in Chujia Town fought, there’s barely over a thousand. How could we win?” Yang Liu’er exclaimed, then turned to Chu Yun. “Husband, do you have a plan? Should we flee?”

Ye Zelan frowned and looked to Chu Yun, hoping he had a solution.

Chu Yun said, “Don’t worry, we won’t run! No matter how many soldiers the Witch Doctor Sect brings, I have a way to beat them back!”

Ye Zelan and Yang Liu’er both stared in disbelief, then asked, “With such a huge numerical disadvantage, and no cavalry, archers, or chariots—just sixty guards—how can we possibly win?”

Chu Yun smiled. “I am the heir of the immortals. Naturally, I have learned immortal arts! With these arts, I can easily defeat them.”

Changing the subject, he added, “But what still baffles me is why an army of thousands would be sent against me, yet I received no warning.”

“Lin Yang, the Viscount, shouldn’t have been uninformed either. I saved his life; he would have sent a message to me.”

Ye Zelan’s face was full of doubt. “Yes, although the army is north of Chujia Town, it also passed east of Nanhua Town. Lin Yang can’t not know.”

Just then, Chu Cuihua arrived at the Count’s mansion and reported, “My lord, our prominent clan’s ten-person herb-gathering team went out five days ago and hasn’t returned.”

Shortly after, Chu Lefu and Chu Wencai also came to report that their prominent clans had herb-gathering teams missing.

It turned out that Chu Yun had ordered everyone to gather two common medicinal herbs. After some time, areas near Chujia Town were fully picked, so the teams ventured farther afield—and then disappeared.

Upon hearing this, Ye Zelan hurried to find Ye Liang, only to discover he wasn’t home. Later, she learned Ye Liang and the gatherers had been out for five or six days and hadn’t returned.

She quickly rode to the Count’s mansion and tearfully told Chu Yun, “Brother Chu Yun, my father and the others seem to be missing too. Won’t something bad have happened?”

Chu Yun frowned deeply. With so many gatherers missing, he found it hard to believe nothing had happened.

He said, “The Cuihua team disappeared in the north, Wencai’s in the east, Lefu’s in the south, and Ye Liang and his group went west. It’s impossible all four directions have trouble. Let’s wait and see if they come back.”

Ye Zelan nodded, also thinking it unlikely that all sides were in danger.

At least the west was Nanhua Town. Chu Yun had saved Lin Yang there; nothing should be wrong on that side.

If all four sides were compromised, that would be terrifying.

It would mean that even though Chu Yun saved Lin Yang, Lin Yang no longer helps him—and might even be against him.

Chu Yun looked at the three clan leaders and said, “Notify everyone to stop gathering herbs or hunting outside. For now, stay inside Chujia Town.”

Chu Cuihua asked, “Count, aren’t we going to search for the missing people?”

Chu Yun glanced at Ye Zelan, recalling her warning that the Witch Doctor Sect had sent a three-thousand-strong army from the north, and firmly said, “I said everyone must stay in Chujia Town. That means no one goes searching for the missing.”

He patted Ye Zelan’s shoulder. “Uncle Liang is a good man, blessed by fate, and he went west. He definitely won’t be in danger. Don’t worry.”

Ye Zelan nodded. “Brother Chu Yun, don’t worry, I won’t go looking.”

She understood that Chu Yun needed her to set an example to calm everyone.

Their relationship was ambiguous; if she didn’t go searching, neither would Chu Wencai, Chu Lefu, or Chu Cuihua send others out to look.

Chu Yun looked at Ye Zelan with some gratitude, then turned to the three clan leaders. “I won’t hide it. Zelan discovered a military force in the north, led by the Witch Doctor Sect. It’s very likely they came against us. So you must inform the middle and small clan leaders to prepare everyone for battle.”

Hearing this, Chu Wencai said, “Count, telling everyone to prepare for battle might cause panic. Many might flee Chujia Town.”

Chu Lefu and Chu Cuihua agreed, sharing his concern.