Infinity, The Arcade Age

On the other side of the bridge, near Bowang Slope, a massive encampment sprawled across the landscape.

The Wei army's main force of over 20,000 soldiers was stationed here, their equipment gleaming with deadly efficiency. Among them was a fearsome cavalry unit of 3,000, the same force that Xiahou Dun had used to smash through Shu's lines and rout their forces in the earlier battle.

At the camp's gates, two patrols crossed paths.

As the soldiers exchanged brief nods and continued their rounds, two new figures emerged from the shadows of a nearby thicket—none other than Qin Ming and Ghost Lady.

Clad in stolen Wei armor, the two slipped quietly into the camp.

Sneaking in wasn't the difficult part.

With an army of this size, gaps in the perimeter were inevitable, and the duo's agility made bypassing the patrols a trivial task.

However, getting close to Xiahou Dun or his trusted lieutenants without raising suspicion was another matter entirely.

After infiltrating the camp, Qin Ming and Ghost Lady joined the other soldiers in queue for food rations.

Balancing bowls of porridge and steamed buns, they settled on a patch of grass and began scanning their surroundings.

The quiet was soon broken by the sound of boots on the packed dirt.

A group of soldiers approached, led by a hulking figure who towered over everyone around him.

Bare-chested save for a few leather straps across his torso, the man exuded raw power. His muscles rippled with every step, and he moved with an air of authority that kept his subordinates on edge.

Stopping at the food distribution area, the giant carefully inspected the rations, ensuring that every soldier received their due.

Once satisfied, he gave a curt nod and moved on, his presence a palpable weight that lingered even after he was gone.

"Good grief, that guy's a monster," muttered Ghost Lady as she nudged Qin Ming, who was already adjusting his Dino Shades.

Name: Zhao Shen (Dynasty Warriors 2, Act II)

Strength: 35

Endurance: 35

Agility: 10

Spirit: 10

Skills:

Zhao Clan Body Refinement (B-Level)

Savage Charge (C-Level)

Zhao Clan Grappling Techniques (C-Level)

Description: One of the Zhao Brothers, Xiahou Dun's most trusted aides. Responsible for overseeing logistics and supplies.

Qin Ming's target was finally in sight. He exchanged a glance with Ghost Lady, and the two stood to follow.

However, they hadn't taken more than a couple of steps before a nearby Thunderfire Soldier barked at them.

"You two! Why aren't you eating? What do you think you're doing?"

Caught off guard, Qin Ming stammered a hasty excuse.

"Uh… I was just going to the latrine."

"And him?" the soldier asked, gesturing to Ghost Lady.

"Uh… he's coming with me," Qin Ming added.

The soldier narrowed his eyes.

"What, you two can't piss without company?"

His tone was mocking, but his grip on the hammer at his waist suggested he wasn't entirely joking.

Reluctantly, the duo backed down and returned to their seats.

Meanwhile, Zhao Shen had stopped in his tracks, his sharp eyes zeroing in on the pair.

"Hey, you two," he called out, his voice like a low rumble of thunder. "What unit are you with?"

Qin Ming froze, his mind racing for an answer. Before he could speak, Ghost Lady stepped forward with a disarming smile.

"Frontline auxiliary, sir," she said smoothly.

"Auxiliary? Do you have a commanding officer?" Zhao Shen pressed.

"Not anymore," Ghost Lady replied, her tone turning somber. "Our squad leader, Li Yi, was killed during a skirmish. We're waiting to be reassigned."

Zhao Shen studied her for a long moment, his stern expression unreadable. Then, to their surprise, he nodded approvingly.

"Sharp and quick-witted. You're wasted as grunts. Work hard and you might earn a promotion."

"Yes, sir!" Ghost Lady replied crisply, while Qin Ming could only muster a weak salute.

Zhao Shen turned and continued on his way, his retinue following close behind.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Qin Ming let out a heavy sigh, biting into his steamed bun with renewed vigor.

"Damn, that guy's sharp. It's not going to be easy to catch him off guard."

Ghost Lady nodded, her brow furrowed.

"He's definitely cautious, but there are five Zhao Brothers. They can't all be this careful. We just need to find the weakest link."

Qin Ming nodded in agreement, though his attention seemed to drift.

"You know," he mused, "when we get to Act IV, do you think those three female assassins count as bosses? Are they as pretty as they say?"

Ghost Lady stopped mid-bite, staring at Qin Ming in disbelief.

"You're seriously thinking about that now?"

"Why not? It doesn't hurt to think ahead," Qin Ming said defensively.

"Unbelievable," Ghost Lady muttered, rolling her eyes.

"They're beautiful. Gorgeous, even. So how about we live long enough to see them? You can stab them in bed, and they'll stab you right back. Everybody wins."

Snatching the steamed bun from Qin Ming's hand, Ghost Lady stormed off with a huff, leaving him gaping after her.

"I just asked a question," he grumbled, tossing the last piece of his bun into his mouth.

Raising his empty bowl, he waved it at a nearby cook.

"Hey, can I get some more porridge?"

"Get lost!"

"Fine, fine," Qin Ming muttered under his breath. "But you better hope I don't come back for seconds tonight… with a knife."

(End of Chapter)