We get about 2 miles away from the village before the first attack happens, nothing serious just a couple of silver haired tapir who we accidentally scared when we came too close and too fast by their den. A silver tapir being a sort of piglike anteater, which tend to blend in with rocky areas, but aren’t actually predators. The guards of the caravan easily fended off its few attacks before it was scared away. We barely slowed down enough for me to notice the attack before we got going again. Over the past few days with the rise in my cultivation, as well as some good old-fashioned practice, I had managed to get a fourth “screen” solidly in place for my [Split Focus] as well as a hazy fifth screen. Due to this, I was using four of my “screens” on blitzing through as many of the documents as I could, while my fifth was absentmindedly watching over the guards as they either forced the weak, non-predatorial spirit beasts we came across, or slowly fended off the occasional ambush predator.

Eventually we started losing noticeable time, since that only really my bodyguards and my carriage driver had high ranks in their path. While my guards never specifically mentioned their Path rank, my carriage driver being friendly, and understanding of wanting to know the rank disparity between different regions of the Clan, decided to tell me his rank. He was a [Dragon-Speed Carriage Driver] of the thirty-eighth rank. He went on how despite being a Zhou Clan specific path, his relatively middling rank for Capital level clan members, really only made him as an insurance policy for lower risk scenarios. Zhifang even acknowledged that my bodyguards are probably in their 40’s, only Duanlu likely being in the upper forties.

Going off this, I made the estimate that the guards for the caravan likely peaking at twenty, with most being around fifteen. I mention my worries about our progression to my Duanlu, wanting to know how much stronger and more dangerous the spirit beasts will be closer to Gungzhou. Duanlu mentions that as a whole, the beasts won’t become much stronger, but we will see more packs of spirit beasts, less spirit beasts who could be scared away, and ambush predators who couldn’t be shaked off easily. Taking the hint, I decided to ask about an assumption I had.

“This wasn’t meant to be a passive journey for me, was it? Or at the least I would need to have one of you go and help with the fighting?” I ask the three of them. Baolei answers, confirming that either would have been acceptable, with me either leading my forces or my guards dealing with the worst of the issues. I decide to go with option three, I would provide leadership from the back with the occasional assistance from my amateur understanding of formations. When they ask how is that different from option one, I mention my proximity to the battles.

“While I will still be leading from the back, my formations will require I be closer, since I don’t even truly have the Path, just have read up on a handful of formations that I can do without any complicated reagents. Even if I am not getting closer to provide the likely spotty formation assistance, when it gets tough, one of you will likely be needed just to break up problems that the normal guards will be too slow to handle.” I say, making this seem like the option where I showcase leadership, formations, and utilize all my people effectively. With this plan in motion, over the next couple encounters I perform a more leadership-oriented focus, using two of my “screens” to pay attention to the fights, one to catch up on my formations, and my last to continue the document troubles.

The next spirit beast encounter was with a big turtle with very dragonesque features. I thought for a second this might be something like an alligator snapping turtle until it breathed fire. Even with some of them using shields and protective Techniques, they were barely holding off the fire, while the other couldn’t penetrate the shell. I shout out a couple commands rapidly “Split up into three groups, one tanks the fire, one heads to the left and tries to flip it over, and the last will attack its stomach when its flipped over”. As the men rearrange and set up the plan, I begin chanting the words to the formation. A singular circle of light forms around me, taking several seconds to fill due to my low cultivation and chanting the formation slowly to keep the pronunciation right. After five seconds the formation activates, and the turtle buckles slightly, as I inflict a weakened debuff on it. As the turtle attempts to circle around to stop the guards circling it, it collapses to the ground, the movements being too much for the increased stress on its legs. While group one manages to keep the flames on them, I knew they would not be able to hold for long.

Just as I see the group beginning to reach their breaking point, I see group two manage to start flipped the turtle, which shocks the turtle, stopping the flames. Group three rushes forward, throwing some pins over the turtle, where group two catches them. The two groups quickly get their pins into the ground, temporarily pinning the turtle onto its back. Group three climbs up the turtle as fast as they can. They begin stabbing their spears, hacking their swords, or leaving massive gashes into the soft underbelly of the turtle. The turtle is buckling wildly, hoping to knock my men off, and the ropes strain against it. One of the pins flies out of the ground and I fear the worst, only for the struggling to stop as one last spear thrusts deep into the stomach, presumably piercing the heart. I go around congratulating the men, when I notice the sun has nearly fallen. I motion for everyone to begin making camp, since there is a large flat area. I even notice a stream nearby, looking back at the turtle, and smile.

I motion to my bodyguards, “do you reckon we could get some of that turtle meat cut out” after they say yes, I mention some turtle soup for dinner, and they grin. The next couple hours pass as most of the caravan is setting up camp for the night, while my guards and a few others cut out large chunks of turtle meat for the chefs to further prepare. The night has just fallen as we all begin enjoying turtle soup with some carrots and potatoes. Some cheering can be heard by where the caravan guards are eating, meanwhile I am enjoying my meal while also using [Split Focus] to also be going through some more of the documents. After I have gotten through reading half the documents, I notice I have finished my food, and with the flames having died down a bit, I can’t get enough light without getting too close to the fire. I get my stuff collected, put into piles of what I have done, and what I have not read, before tossing a few more sticks on the fire and heading back to my carriage to sleep.

Right as my head hits the pillow, I wonder what challenges may arise tomorrow, prepared to meet them head on.