Infinity, The Arcade Age

A chaotic clamor erupted in Xiahou Dun's camp, accompanied by blazing flames shooting into the sky.

Inside his tent, Xiahou Dun had been studying maps, contemplating their next move after losing the forward camp. The sudden noise caused him to push aside the tent flaps and storm outside.

"What's going on now?! What happened? Have Zhao Ming and his cavalry returned already?"

Before his words even settled in the night air, hurried footsteps approached. A Tiger Leopard Cavalry soldier rushed toward him, his face pale with panic.

"General! It's terrible, General! The camp is on fire! The granaries have been set ablaze!"

"What?!"

Xiahou Dun snapped his head upward, finally noticing the towering inferno illuminating the sky. His face darkened instantly.

"How could this happen?! Who did it?!"

"General! It's—it's the remnants of General Li Dian's forces! They started the fire!"

"The deserters? How would they know where the supplies are stored?! Didn't I order that they not wander around the camp?!"

The soldier stammered, unable to offer a coherent explanation. Xiahou Dun shoved him aside in frustration and drew his massive blade.

Before he could charge forward, a furious roar echoed through the camp.

"The Five Tiger General Guan Yu is here! Xiahou Dun! Come and meet your end!"

The sound of hooves thundered across the camp as a towering figure astride the famed Red Hare galloped through the chaos. Clad in majestic green robes and wielding the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, Guan Yu cut down every soldier in his path, his blade carving arcs of crimson death.

His might was unmatched—his presence undeniable.

Chaos erupted throughout the camp. Elsewhere, other mighty generals—Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, and Huang Zhong—were wreaking havoc in their own corners, their weapons slicing through soldiers and tents alike.

The combination of the sudden fire, the infiltration of the Five Tiger Generals, and the confusion among the soldiers turned the camp into a swirling vortex of death and panic.

Most of Xiahou Dun's troops, caught unarmed and half-asleep, scattered like frightened sheep. The captains and centurions who tried to rally their troops quickly drew the attention of the Five Tiger Generals and were promptly cut down.

Though the camp housed over 20,000 soldiers, its strongest forces—the cavalry and elite Zhao clan brothers—had all been dispatched elsewhere.

With no strong leadership left, resistance collapsed almost instantly.

Panic spread like wildfire as soldiers threw down their weapons and fled in every direction.

Xiahou Dun stood amidst the chaos, surrounded by flames and bloodshed. His face was ashen, his grip on his blade trembling with fury.

He realized now—he had been tricked.

Li Dian had been bait. The real target had always been him.

"An ingenious ruse... such cunning... well played, Five Tiger Generals!" Xiahou Dun gritted his teeth so hard they nearly cracked.

His fury ignited, he roared and charged forward, his blade raised high.

But before he could join the fray, his Tiger Leopard Cavalry guards grabbed his arms and restrained him.

"Let me go!"

"General! It's over! The camp is lost—we must retreat!"

"Unhand me!"

"General! We must live to fight another day! If you die here, the army is finished!"

The guards' desperate pleas finally reached Xiahou Dun. After a moment of trembling rage, he shoved them away, mounted his warhorse, and roared:

"All units, follow me! Break out of the encirclement!"

Over a hundred Tiger Leopard Cavalry soldiers rallied around him, their warhorses charging forward in a desperate bid to escape.

The clamor of hooves and the crash of shattered wooden fences filled the air as Xiahou Dun and his guards smashed through the camp's perimeter.

The Five Tiger Generals noticed the fleeing cavalry. Shouting in unison, they turned their steeds and pursued.

Understanding their mission, the Tiger Leopard Cavalry split into smaller groups, some peeling off to slow the pursuers.

After a chaotic chase, only fifty cavalrymen remained by Xiahou Dun's side as they thundered away into the night.

Meanwhile, on a bridge at Bowang Slope, three figures waited under the moonlight—Qin Ming, Double-Gun Granny, and Talma.

Qin Ming squinted at the distant horizon, his brows furrowed.

"Hey, Granny, are you sure about this? Will Xiahou Dun really come this way?"

Perched casually on the bridge's railing, Double-Gun Granny nodded confidently.

"Relax. If he escapes, he'll definitely come this way. Your quick thinking is commendable, but your strategic foresight is lacking."

She glanced at the dark waters below and continued, "Losing the camp means Xiahou Dun has only one remaining option—to regroup with the cavalry he sent out earlier. If you were him, would you flee alone into the night or rally your remaining forces for a counterattack? The choice is obvious."

Qin Ming gave her a sidelong glance, mildly impressed.

"Not bad. You actually have a brain."

"Well, strategic insight alone isn't enough. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. You're quick-witted and adaptable, but lack an overarching view of the battlefield. Me? I'm great at analysis, but terrible at execution. Together, we make a perfect team! If we could form a team officially, we'd be unstoppable!"

Her grin faded slightly as she sighed.

"Too bad I'm about to rank up to Intermediate Adventurer. We can't team up again after this."

Qin Ming shrugged nonchalantly.

"That's fine by me. Sometimes, it's better to have one great mission and leave a good impression. Besides, you're not really my type—I prefer women with... better assets. Plus, you're way too noisy."

"…You know, you're a good guy, Qin Ming, but your mouth is awful."

Before their argument could escalate, Talma, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.

"Incoming! Someone's coming!"

Both Qin Ming and Double-Gun Granny froze. Their banter ceased immediately as they turned to face the distant horizon.

The sound of hooves echoed across the bridge, accompanied by a rising cloud of dust.

In the moonlight, a column of cavalry appeared, galloping toward them at breakneck speed.

(End of Chapter)