Chapter 191 Book 5 Greed and Desire
The midday sun cast sharp shadows across the sandstone ramparts of General Xiong Gong's war camp near the border of Qinglan State. The scent of oil, steel, and sweat hung thick in the air, blending with the forest breeze. Inside a large, dark-green command tent, the general stood before a table cluttered with maps, symbols, and intelligence scrolls. His grizzled face was unreadable as the other generals stepped back after the final decision was made.
"This is a great problem… The vines..." General Xiong Gong's voice was low, firm. "They are no ordinary growth. They're alive. Defensively alive. Our scouts say they responded to motion, to breath. Our swords cannot break through them. But they would not do anything when passing on the main road. This is so mysterious… When did the Qinglan state become so powerful?"
The other generals nodded grimly.