Infinity, The Arcade Age

"Set up the machine gun! Prepare for the second wave of enemies!"

Seeing the rising smoke and realizing the approaching danger, Qin Ming quickly waved his hand to issue commands.

Double-Gun Granny wasted no time. She grabbed her machine gun and sprinted toward the hilltop to reclaim a favorable position.

Meanwhile, Qin Ming retrieved his flamethrower and took cover behind a scorched tree. Leaning against the trunk, he prepared for another ambush.

The cavalry force led by Zhao Chui, the commander who had pursued them earlier, had already been slain by Qin Ming. But this didn't mean the danger was over.

Far from it! The real battle had only just begun.

While it was true that this cavalry unit might not match Zhao Chui in individual strength—perhaps even ten of them couldn't take him down—the battlefield was no place for lone warriors.

If one man could face ten, could he withstand a hundred?

And if he could take on a hundred, could he fight a thousand?

The squad Zhao Chui led earlier was merely a small detachment. There were several other such units, numbering four or five hundred in total.

No matter how confident Qin Ming might be, he wouldn't dare claim he could fend off so many on his own.

Steel-like muscles might endure for a while, but they wouldn't make him invincible.

Injuries would accumulate over time, and even he could be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

As Qin Ming and his group prepared for battle, the enemy cavalry—drawn to the smoke and fire—rallied and launched their assault without hesitation.

The thunderous roar of hoofbeats filled the air as hundreds of cavalry charged forward, a sight both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

But before they could reach the foot of the hill, rustling sounds erupted from the nearby thickets.

In the next moment, figures emerged from the woods—archers, armed with longbows, sprinting into position. They loosed their arrows as they ran, each shot swift and deadly accurate.

Screams rang out as a wave of arrows struck home, catching the cavalry completely off guard. Numerous riders were unhorsed on the spot.

Amid the chaos, a mounted figure emerged from the archer ranks—a general astride a warhorse, bow in hand.

Spurring his steed forward, the general drew his bow to its fullest and fired three arrows in rapid succession.

Each arrow found its mark, piercing the throats of three enemy cavalrymen. His precision was unmatched.

After releasing his arrows, the general slung his bow and drew a long blade from his back. As he passed two riders, his blade flashed, decapitating both in a single sweep.

With a flick of his wrist, he sent his chain-bound blade whirling in a wide arc, cutting down several more enemies.

"General Huang Hansheng of the Five Tiger Generals is here! Who dares to face me in battle?"

The roar of the tiger echoed through the forest as Huang Hansheng carved a path of destruction with his bow and blade, his onslaught sending the cavalry into disarray.

When news spread that one of the legendary Five Tiger Generals—Huang Zhong—had arrived, the once-fearless cavalry descended into chaos.

Cries of panic erupted as the riders saw Huang Zhong tearing through their ranks and the relentless hail of arrows raining down from the trees, obscuring the size of the archer force.

Caught off guard and leaderless, the cavalry pulled their reins and fled in the direction they had come.

They were routed!

"Hold!"

Huang Zhong reined in his steed, halting his charge. He chose not to pursue the retreating enemy.

Sheathing his weapon, he turned his gaze toward the hillside and shouted, "You up there! Which unit are you from?"

Atop the hill, Qin Ming, who had been observing the situation, immediately replied, "We're under General Guan Yu!"

"Oh? Soldiers of General Guan? No wonder you fight so valiantly, daring to face such odds! This is no place to talk—follow me!"

Without another word, Huang Zhong turned his horse and rode off, the archer unit swiftly following.

Seeing this, Qin Ming and Double-Gun Granny exchanged a quick nod. Qin Ming moved to follow, while Double-Gun Granny stayed behind to manage the battlefield cleanup with Tarma, their local ally.

Twenty Minutes Later

The burning forest, still engulfed in flames, welcomed a new group of uninvited guests.

The remaining three members of the Zhao Family Five arrived on the scene. Staring at the scattered cavalry corpses and the headless body of their fallen fifth brother, their veins bulged with rage.

Zhao Chu, the fourth brother, clenched his fists tightly and turned to the eldest, Zhao Ming.

"Big Brother, what do we do now?"

Zhao Ming's face darkened as he reined in his emotions.

"We withdraw. For now."

"But—"

"No buts! The enemy is no ordinary force. This reeks of a trap! We must return and reassess!"

"Yes!"

Amid the sound of retreating hooves, the cavalry carried away Zhao Chui's headless corpse and withdrew toward their camp, disappearing from sight.

Meanwhile, another group was making its way through the forest.

This was Qin Ming's group, accompanied by Huang Zhong and his men.

Leading his horse on foot, the seasoned Huang Zhong listened intently as Qin Ming and Double-Gun Granny recounted the events leading to their confrontation with the Zhao family forces.

Upon learning that they had orchestrated a trap to kill two of the Zhao brothers, Huang Zhong stroked his beard in approval, his gaze filled with admiration.

"To think that in such dire times, we have capable warriors like you stepping forward to lend a hand. And with such a grand opening gift—what a remarkable display of skill."

"You flatter us, General Huang. Compared to your feat of scattering three armies with your presence alone, we are far less impressive," Double-Gun Granny replied humbly.

Huang Zhong laughed heartily. "Hah! Old as I am, it's all reputation and no substance. Guan Yu did speak of you two, mentioning the seemingly impossible tasks you undertook. Now it seems even he underestimated your abilities!"

His expression turned serious as he glanced at Qin Ming and Double-Gun Granny.

"My friends, now that we've crossed paths, you should join us and meet the rest of the Five Tiger Generals. Together, our combined strength will aid your plans. Whatever assistance I can offer, consider it yours."

Hearing this, and noting how Huang Zhong's goodwill toward them had skyrocketed to an astonishing 300 points, Qin Ming and Double-Gun Granny couldn't hide their delight. They cupped their fists in gratitude.

"That would be most welcome!"

"Good! Let's move together then. However, young man—" Huang Zhong's gaze shifted to Qin Ming, his expression suddenly peculiar.

"It might be wise to adjust your attire before meeting the others. Your current look is... well, a bit undignified."

Following Huang Zhong's gaze, Qin Ming glanced down at himself. He was bare-chested save for a small red vest that looked more like a child's bib from a distance. His expression froze in awkward embarrassment.

(End of Chapter)