High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

Zhao Rui frowned in thought for a few seconds, his eyes gradually brightening.

"They’ll... probe. They’ll send small units first to test the waters. Once they confirm you’ve really left, they might regroup and try to retake some of their strongholds."

"Exactly." Xu Wuyi nodded. "And if I show up again right when they’re regrouping..."

"It would be another massacre," Zhao Rui chimed in, a hint of excitement in his voice. "A brilliant strategy! A mix of feints and real attacks. It’ll maximize your deterrent effect!"

But he quickly calmed down. "The risk is huge, though. The Feathered People aren’t fools. They might turn the tables on us, using their main forces as bait while hiding their own experts in an ambush, waiting for you to bite."

"That’s why we need support," Xu Wuyi said. "I’ll request that the military send a few top operatives to protect me in secret. If the Feathered People really send experts for a decapitation strike, we can turn the tables on them."

Zhao Rui looked at Xu Wuyi with a complicated expression.

This young man’s combat prowess was astonishing, but his tactical thinking was just as sharp.

’Bluffing, luring the enemy in deep, and using himself as bait... faced with this combination, the Feathered People would have to walk into the trap, even if they knew what it was.’

They couldn’t afford the cost of letting Xu Wuyi continue to operate freely in the Drifting Sand Star Realm.

"I need to report this to my superiors," Zhao Rui finally said. "But given your current authority and combat record, getting approval for support shouldn’t be difficult."

"Then I’ll leave it to you, Colonel Zhao," Xu Wuyi nodded.

...

The request was approved by the next morning.

The military’s efficiency was astonishing.

Xu Wuyi’s tactical proposal received the command center’s approval. They saw it as an opportunity to press their advantage and possibly even lure out the Feathered People’s top experts.

The support personnel were confirmed that same afternoon.

Two top-tier Innates below Energy Level 45 would secretly infiltrate the Drifting Sand Star Realm. Their mission was to protect Xu Wuyi and, if necessary, help him eliminate any expert assassins the Feathered People sent.

Xu Wuyi waited on the tarmac at Sandstone Base.

The wind of the Drifting Sand Star Realm was as dry and scorching as ever, kicking up dust that danced in the air.

In the distance, a small transport shuttle was descending slowly, its rear thrusters spitting pale blue Flame.

The hatch opened, and two figures descended the ramp one after the other.

The man in the lead was a burly, bald giant, well over two meters tall. He wore a dark gray combat vest, revealing arms corded with muscle and covered in scars.

He carried a heavy War Axe on his back that was nearly as tall as he was. The blade glinted under the sun with a dark red sheen.

Xu Wuyi’s perception swept over him, and he inwardly tensed.

’Energy Level 45. And a battle-hardened one at that, with a palpable Killing Intent. This bald giant’s true combat strength is likely a cut above what his Energy Level suggests.’

But the person behind the bald giant was what truly stunned Xu Wuyi.

Dressed in a simple, gray researcher’s uniform, he had a slender build and handsome features. His eyes, as deep as the Starry Sky, gazed over calmly, as if they could see through any facade.

Ye Guanlan.

Xu Wuyi had never imagined that he would be among the reinforcements sent by the military.

"Martial Artist Xu, I’ve heard great things about you." The bald giant walked up to Xu Wuyi and extended a massive hand, his voice booming like a bell. "I’m Lei Hong, Vice-Captain of the Iron Wall Battle Group, under direct military command. I’ve been ordered to act as your bodyguard. I’ll be in your care."

Xu Wuyi shook his hand. "You’re too kind, Vice-Captain Lei. I’m the one who should be thanking you for the support."

"Haha, don’t mention it!" Lei Hong grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth. "That fight at Wind-Erosion Valley was brilliant! I love that kind of straightforward, no-holds-barred fighting! If the Feathered People really dare to send their experts this time, we’ll chop them all down together!"

His straightforward and boisterous personality instantly closed the distance between them.

Xu Wuyi nodded, then turned his gaze to Ye Guanlan, who stood behind Lei Hong.

"Senior Brother Ye, what are you doing..."

"The research institute needs live combat data," Ye Guanlan replied, his tone as calm as ever. "The performance of your Golden Crow Burning Heart in actual combat, especially its adaptability against high-level opponents, is a critical evaluation point for the project. So, I requested this assignment."

He spoke as if it were a matter of course, as though this truly were just a research expedition.

But Xu Wuyi knew it wasn’t that simple.

Ye Guanlan was a core researcher at the institute and one of the Federation’s youngest Innates. His value was far greater than that of an ordinary Innate.

The military would never let him be put in harm’s way so easily, unless... this mission was exceptionally important, or Ye Guanlan himself had insisted on coming.

Of course, Ye Guanlan’s combat abilities must have also met the mission’s requirements.

Just because he was in the research institute, which only proved his outstanding aptitude for research, didn’t mean he couldn’t fight.

Not long after joining Red Star, Xu Wuyi had challenged an Illusion of his senior. Back then, Ye Guanlan’s combat strength had been even greater than Hong Nianyi’s.

"Besides," Ye Guanlan added, "I’ve done some research on the Priest system of the Feathered People Civilization. Their cursing and weakening abilities might be able to suppress your Heart Image’s flame. With me here, I can analyze them on the spot and provide countermeasures."

This reason was, at least, perfectly logical.

Xu Wuyi didn’t press further, simply nodding. "Then I’ll be counting on you, Senior Brother Ye, and you, Vice-Captain Lei."

"No problem!" Lei Hong slapped his chest. "Command has already made arrangements. Let’s head back to the base and plan out the details of this little show."

The three boarded a shuttle and headed toward Sandstone Base.

On the shuttle, Lei Hong excitedly asked for details about the battle at Wind-Erosion Valley. Xu Wuyi gave a brief description, which earned repeated exclamations of approval from Lei Hong.

Ye Guanlan, on the other hand, remained silent. He only occasionally glanced out the window at the passing desert landscape, his gaze profound, his thoughts a mystery.

Xu Wuyi glanced at him, a faint feeling stirring in his gut.

’Ye Guanlan probably didn’t come here just for research data.’

But he didn’t ask. Everyone had their secrets. As long as their goals were aligned, that was enough.

The shuttle entered Sandstone Base and stopped in front of the command center.

Zhao Rui was already waiting. He went to greet them as the three disembarked.

"Vice-Captain Lei, Researcher Ye, welcome." He shook hands with both of them before turning to Xu Wuyi. "The plan is set. Tomorrow morning, a shuttle will make a very public departure from the Drifting Sand Star Realm and return to the Federation. The intelligence department will ensure the Feathered People get wind of this."

"For the three days following that, we will deliberately relax our defenses at several minor strongholds to give the Feathered People an opportunity to counterattack."

"And the three of you," Zhao Rui’s gaze swept over Xu Wuyi, Lei Hong, and Ye Guanlan, "will lie in wait here at Sandstone Base for the fish to take the bait."

Lei Hong grinned. "Don’t you worry, you can count on me. If the Feathered People dare to show up, I’ll give them a taste of my Earth-Splitting Axe."

Ye Guanlan simply gave a slight nod, saying nothing.

Xu Wuyi gazed into the distance, toward the Feathered People’s main encampment. An Illusion of Flame flickered for an instant within his dark golden pupils, then vanished.

The bait had been cast.

Now, all that was left was for the prey to bite.

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