Chapter 177: The Next Victim

Chapter 177: The Next Victim

The underground tunnels dug by the Mole Tribe were vast and complicated, reminiscent of a large spider web connected with many smaller ones.

If there were a blueprint for it, it would have driven those with trypophobia into a manic state.

The larger tunnels were still fine, but some of the smaller tunnels were nearly impossible for a human to get into.

System 12345 realized that it would be difficult for its host to find Weryomahners in that labyrinth, not to mention many moles were dwelling in the tunnels. It would be dangerous for an outsider like its host to chase Weryomahners into the tunnel.

And if its host accidentally made a commotion, Weryomahners might realize something was amiss and attempt to escape immediately.

That won’t do!

System 12345 absolutely wouldn’t allow something like that to happen.

【Let me see... My host, I have highlighted a few crucial spots for you on the minimap. You can slip into the main tunnels if you shovel a few spades of dirt in those places.】

【Even though the entrances of the moles’ tunnels are narrow, the center area is wide enough for a horse to gallop through. Go and get Weryomahners!】

【Hmm, you should take these routes since the moles don’t patrol them as frequently. Find a way to slip past their sentries. Be sure not to cause a huge commotion lest you alert the moles. Otherwise, you might find yourself chased by a few hundred thousand moles.】

【Also...】

System 12345 pondered for a moment.

【My host, you can also order your female slaves to travel via the tunnel and block off Tianshan’s northern entrance. Let’s not give Weryomahners any chance of escaping!】

After it was done making arrangements, all that was left for System 12345 to do was pray.

【My host, you must succeed.】

“Hm? What’s wrong, grandson?”

“Come with me!”

Shu Yichao was delighted to see the fog of war lifting from the map. The mod developer could be considerate at times!

So, he led the army to a certain point on the mountain and unleashed Lightning Arrow on the crucial spot marked on the minimap.

Baboom!

The mountain shook. Rocks and mud clumps were blasted into the air as huge chunks of the mountain collapsed inward.

The crowd was initially confused about what Shu Yichao was up to and thought he was on one of his insanity streaks again. This was the man who could squat in a corner and spend hours pointing at the floor.

But when the dust settled, the crowd saw a wide underground path.

Yet, what came was not their soldiers but the enemies. The Tangs, with the aid of vengeful spirits, slaughtered their way into their underground base, a place where no enemy had ever reached.

“Those useless things!” Weryomahners quickly figured out what had happened.

Not only have the moles lost their main army, but the Tangs have even found a way to enter the tunnels. Didn’t they promise me that the tunnels were absolutely safe, and the Tangs will never be able to get here?

They spoke such big words, only to fail at every turn! I thought that you were just weak, but it turns out you are downright useless!

Weryomahners made her escape without any hesitation.

If I don’t flee now, should I be waiting for the Tangs to capture me, tie me up, and put my head under a guillotine before I try to escape?

“Lucky I have already planned my escape route.”

Not one to trust those incompetent moles, Weryomahners had prepared her escape route in advance, but she needed to crawl her way out. The moles had many such small passageways, so the odds were unlikely that there would be soldiers camping for her on the other side.

“A bunch of weaklings who can’t be helped! It looks like I can only turn to the Karluks to weaken the Tangs.”

As much as she didn’t want the Tibetan Empire’s ‘little brother’ to extend its hand into the Western Regions, there were no other powers she could mobilize.

Weryomahners managed to slip away, but the moles she had abandoned weren’t as lucky.

Everything in the main tunnels was being obliterated. The ghost horsemen charged to and fro the main tunnels. Terrifying lightning arrows would zap now and then.

The moles didn’t even have the chance to put up any defense.

Newly conjured specters blocked the side paths. These specters were weak, but the moles were no better. It didn’t help that multiple specters would emerge each time a mole was killed.

It was a hopeless battle. The dim tunnels turned into a living hell.

Countless ferocious ghosts howled as they vented their resentment with fresh blood.

Ironically, the mole king did fulfill his promise of resolving the moles’ food problem, just that the final solution diverged from what he had envisioned.

But Shu Yichao wasn’t done yet.

After having conjured so many specters, it would be ridiculous to call it quits when he had only fought one battle thus far. Not to mention...

“These moles are amazing to have dug their way through Tianshan!” Shu Yichao remarked in bewilderment.

He noticed that a few of the highlighted tunnel entrances on the minimap were located on the Tianshan’s north, meaning he could use these tunnels as a shortcut into the Ili Basin.

Anxi’s final city was located there—Suyab,