The north wind carried grit that lashed against the tents like arrows, causing the oxhide covers to snap and flap with a dull, thudding sound. Shen Mingyue’s hand, gripping the cinnabar brush, hung in mid-air. Her knuckles were white from the effort, and veins stood out beneath her skin. She stared at the winding canyon topography on the oxhide map, her mind constantly simulating the enemy's formation and possible counter-strategies. After a long moment, the brush tip dropped heavily, carving a rough red mark across the map. The ink bled along the grain of the parchment, resembling fresh blood about to be spilled. "The enemy thinks we will launch a frontal assault on the canyon, unaware that the true lethal blow is hidden on their flank." Her voice carried a bone-chilling coldness. As she looked toward Gu Jinghong opposite her, he was using a dagger to hold up a captured secret letter, slowly roasting it over the flickering flames. His focused expression was as if he were unraveling a puzzle of life and death.
The edges of the yellowed sheepskin curled under the heat of the flames, and dark patterns began to emerge like snakes. Gu Jinghong’s pupils contracted violently as the writing appeared, and the candlelight danced in his eyes with a crimson glow, like two flickering flames. "Yan Yunlie plans to have A'man release the Gu Poison at the mouth of the canyon. Once our troops are poisoned and exhausted, he will lead his main force to encircle us." His voice was low and icy. …
Chapter 137