Chapter 192: The Shadow of War

In Zhenbei City, Su Lun had just used Earthspring Surge in a Market District, guiding a fountain to spring up from underground. The clear water shot five or six meters into the sky before turning into countless droplets that fell down. Under the sunlight, the droplets reflected colorful hues, very beautiful.

“The maintenance of this fountain is in your hands now. Do not be careless, it’s for putting out fires in your nearby Market District.” Su Lun washed the mud off his hands with clean water, then said to a Market District head nearby.

“Lord, rest assured, we will definitely protect this fountain.” Hearing the fountain’s purpose, several district heads became serious, paying even more attention to this fountain. In this era, fire was a very serious matter, related to their own lives and property, so naturally they would be extra careful.

“Lord, Aydin has returned.” A guard hurried over to report.

Aydin was back? Had something happened? A bad feeling rose in Su Lun’s heart. Aydin had been monitoring the movements of the large tribes around the territory. It had only been three days since the last report. Was there some emergency?

Ever since the Orc Tribe sent a small force to attack Zhenbei City, Su Lun had increased intelligence gathering on the surrounding tribes. But after the Orc Tribe’s defeat and retreat, those tribes had all started to rest and recover, with no major actions detected. Now Aydin suddenly returned, clearly the situation had changed.

“Let’s go back.” Su Lun turned, mounted his warhorse, and headed for the Lord’s Castle.

Su Lun quickly rode back to the Lord’s Castle and went straight to the study. After waiting a short while, hurried footsteps sounded, and Aydin’s travel-worn figure appeared before Su Lun. He bowed slightly and said gravely, “Lord, the Centaur Tribes have been badly defeated. The Orc Tribe achieved a decisive victory!”

“What did you say!?”

A crisp cracking sound. Hearing this news, Su Lun’s mind was shaken. For a moment, he lost control of the strength in his hand, pressing a hole directly into the desk. The fine furniture made of teak was instantly ruined.

“How is this possible? Weren’t you saying everything was normal three days ago? How could the Centaur Tribes be defeated in just three days?” Su Lun said with an expression of disbelief.

“Even if it was a sneak attack, with the Centaurs’ strength, how could they not even last three days!”

Su Lun knew very well how strong the Centaur Tribes were. Although their total numbers were less than the Orc Tribe’s, they still had about eight thousand people. Moreover, the Centaur Tribes could be said to be all potential soldiers; an eight-thousand-strong tribe could field six thousand Soldiers.

Add to that the Centaurs’ skill in running and sharp archery, even if the Orc Tribe had twice their numbers, they wouldn’t gain any advantage. Besides, just two months ago, the Centaur Tribes had just defeated the Orc Tribe, inflicting heavy casualties. How could the Centaurs be so badly defeated in the blink of an eye?

Although he had considered the possibility of the Centaur Tribes failing, this defeat was too sudden. On the battlefield, as cavalry, even if they lost, given the Centaurs’ speed, those Orcs shouldn’t have been able to catch them. How could this situation have occurred?

Three days? No, it should be only two days. The Orc Tribe badly defeated the Centaur Tribes. With this momentum, the Orc Army’s next target was likely Zhenbei City. As the only place in this Wasteland that could threaten them, Su Lun didn’t think the Orcs would live peacefully with him.

“Do we know the reason?” Su Lun quickly regained his Calmness. The Centaurs were defeated; it was too late for regrets now. The most important thing was to figure out how those Orcs won, and then make corresponding preparations.

“Sorry, Lord, the battle happened at night. We didn’t see it. By the next day, the Centaurs were already routed.” Aydin said somewhat awkwardly.

“Continue monitoring the Orc Tribe’s movements. Then send people to contact those Centaurs and find out exactly what happened that night.” Su Lun closed his eyes and said.

“Yes!” Aydin didn’t even have time to eat a meal before hurriedly riding out of Zhenbei City to continue monitoring the Orc Tribe.

Two days later, more news of the Centaur defeat arrived. Su Lun gained a clear understanding of their losses.

Many males in the Centaur Tribes died in battle. The Centaur clans, having lost a large portion of their population, had to gather the scattered smaller groups to form a new defensive force. Forced by the Orcs’ relentless pursuit, the surviving clans consolidated and the Centaur Tribes began migrating south as a whole!

Moonlight Calendar Year 1687, early April.

Just as Zhenbei City was rushing to prepare for war, the first wave of south-migrating Centaurs arrived on the opposite bank of the White Water River. Separated by the White Water River, about a hundred kilometers from Zhenbei City, was an area that originally served as the outer grazing lands of the Centaur people. The migrated Centaurs began driving out nearby Goblins and other tribal creatures.

After the Centaurs were driven from the Prancing Steppe by the Orcs, the Centaur Tribes had to move to the southwestern region. Zhenbei City, living on the opposite bank of the White Water River, also felt an external pressure.

The effects of the Centaurs’ westward migration were chain-reaction-like! The previously balanced forces were instantly broken.

First, the humans living in Zhenbei City felt nervous. Secondly, other tribes living nearby also became alert. The large-scale expulsion of Goblins, Kobolds, and Gnolls caused the Wasteland to become increasingly chaotic. Even the number of various monsters near Zhenbei City had greatly increased.

Su Lun only sent people to monitor these Centaur Tribes, showing no hostility. Perhaps when the Orc Army arrived, they would need to rely on the Centaurs’ strength.

In truth, dealing with the Centaur Tribes wasn’t easy. Su Lun only managed to trade successfully with the Centaurs thanks to the introduction by Owen’s Caravan. More often than not, Centaurs preferred to rob. These Centaurs, skilled in archery and fast runners, were famous bandits in the Northern Wasteland.

They would attack anyone or any tribe. Centaurs were naturally powerful, which fostered a habit of using force rather than thinking. Their forging skills were very limited; the weapons and armor they made were even worse than the Orcs’. Only after suffering losses in the war with the Orc Tribe did these Centaurs start to think.

In the Wasteland, besides humans, the ones who could compete with Orcs in equipment were the Half-elves. But the weapons and armor made by Half-elves weren’t suitable for Centaurs; they were too light. The Centaurs intercepted a human Caravan and forced a trade. The human Caravan had already despaired, but the situation turned around unexpectedly: the Centaurs actually didn’t rob them. This made the humans, who wanted to obtain Centaur Longbows and warhorses, extremely pleased. This Caravan belonged to Owen’s group. It was also because of the supplies provided by humans that the Centaurs could stalemate with the Orc Tribe, even gaining a slight upper hand.

It lasted for a few years, until the Orc Tribe, having merged with another tribe, saw a large population increase, finally suppressing the Centaur Tribes.

After the defeat at Prancing Steppe, the Centaur people not only suffered a large population decrease but also faced scarce supplies. Lately, they even started to lack food. After settling the tribe, the Centaurs once again sent an envoy to Zhenbei City.

The envoy sent by the Samal Centaur Tribe was again the young mare Mishen. Meanwhile, on the other side, Aydin discovered that the victorious Orc Army, after a brief rest, was becoming restless.

They started large-scale military training, plundering more supplies and slaves, and also began stockpiling food. Clearly, they were already preparing for the upcoming war.

When the Centaur envoy group arrived at Zhenbei City, surprisingly many of them were injured. This struck Su Lun as strange. Even in decline, ordinary tribes wouldn’t dare attack them. Clearly, these people had fought their way here.

As for who would intercept the Centaur envoy group, it undoubtedly had to be those Orcs. The Orcs’ vanguard, the Worg Riders, had already reached the vicinity of Zhenbei City’s Territory. These Orc Tribes from the northeast directly threatened the safety of Zhenbei City’s Territory.

…

When Su Lun saw Mishen again, she looked somewhat haggard. It seemed the great defeat had greatly affected them. However, she also carried an air of capability; clearly, she had matured a lot during this time.

“Good day, respected Lord Su Lun.” After meeting, the pretty young mare Mishen gave Su Lun an enthusiastic hug.

“Good day, Mishen. I deeply sympathize with your plight.” Feeling the surprising springiness, Su Lun said with a smile.

“Lord Su Lun, it’s only been a few months, yet your Territory has changed so much.” Mishen looked at the high city walls of Zhenbei City and said.

“When we first came here, this was just a remote town with less than two thousand people. Now it’s a city of nearly ten thousand. Humans are truly a remarkable race.”

“You flatter me. We humans don’t have the strong physiques of you Centaurs or Orcs. To survive, we can only rely on various tools and building defensive structures.” Su Lun spread his hands and said.

“I heard you fought a great battle with the Orc Army some time ago. And you won?”

“Just luck.”

“You are too modest. In war, there is no luck.”

Su Lun had guesses about the purpose of the Centaur Tribe’s visit this time. It was nothing more than wanting to obtain support supplies or form an alliance with Zhenbei City, or perhaps both.

Mishen wore a pure white fine linen robe and a green jeweled headpiece. She looked somewhat tired.

When Su Lun’s gaze fell on the pretty young mare’s chest, he couldn’t help but pause for a moment. This girl’s peaks were so high and full, her assets truly generous. With a sigh of admiration, Su Lun welcomed the Centaur envoy group into the Lord’s Castle.

Most residents of Northguard Keep had never seen Centaurs before. Seeing such mythical creatures for the first time naturally caused astonishment.

This time, the Centaur envoy group was much larger than the first. Besides dealing with the Orc Worg Riders, they also maintained vigilance towards Zhenbei City. Clearly, the defeat that night had made them like birds startled by the mere twang of a bowstring.