Chapter 84: Three Warriors Stand Guard
The desert winds came and went swiftly. In the blink of an eye, the chaotic, sand-filled skies returned to calm, and the howling echoes within the canyon walls faded into silence. It was as if nothing had happened at all.
Jinghang untied his headscarf, shook off the sand that had clung to it, and patted the dust off his cloak. He unscrewed his water pouch and took a couple of gulps before turning his gaze toward the mouth of the valley, his mind already formulating the tactics he was about to employ.
"They're coming!"
Kamizuru Heiji suddenly opened his eyes. Sure enough, a red bee flew up to him, darting in patterns—sometimes forming the shape of an "8," other times a "0."
"Enemy... fifty-eight in total... two bound... one hour away," Heiji muttered under his breath as he carefully tracked the bee's movements.
"So, this is how your Kamizuru clan communicates with bees? Impressive! I like it," Jinghang remarked, observing Heiji's actions and deducing their meaning.
At that moment, the red bee stopped its flight and rested in Heiji's palm, clearly exhausted from its journey. Heiji gently placed the bee back into its hive and turned to Jinghang.
"Yes, this is the unique bee-dance communication technique of the Kamizuru clan. The message just now indicated that there are fifty-eight enemies, two of whom are bound—likely captives—and they are about half an hour away."
"They're moving quickly. Go ahead and set up your ambush. Remember, don't go beyond the boundaries I've set, or you might get caught in the crossfire."
"Understood."
Heiji swiftly concealed himself among the chaotic pile of rocks to the left rear.