I am the Holy Poisoner, the Empress advised me to calm down

A touch of emotion flashed in the girl's eyes. "Your words always bring courage and hope to others. I believe that under your leadership, we will create more miracles."

Lin Fan nodded and returned his gaze to the flames. "Tomorrow, we will face a new battle. No matter the outcome, we must bravely move forward."

"Well," the girl clenched her fists, her eyes determined, "let's face the challenges of the future together! No matter how difficult the future may be, as long as you are with us, we will be fearless."

At that moment, faint footsteps were heard in the distance, attracting their attention again. Lin Fan stood up and stared into the darkness beyond. "I wonder what new changes this will bring..."

The girl also stood up and stood beside him, quietly waiting for the approaching figure, her heart filled with anticipation and unknown challenges. And this story under the night sky continued...

The night breeze rustled gently, and the bonfire flickered, as if heralding the beginning of a new chapter. As Lin Fan and the girl waited quietly, hurried footsteps approached from a distance. A moment later, a young soldier, breathless and panic-stricken, ran up to them.

"General! Something's happening!" he said hurriedly.

Lin Fan frowned slightly and asked, "What's the rush?"

The young soldier tried to calm his breathing and quickly reported, "Our scouts ahead have spotted a large number of enemy troops advancing rapidly. We estimate there are at least several thousand of them. They're heading this way!"

Upon hearing this news, the crowd around them suddenly became agitated. Several veterans immediately gathered around, and one of them asked loudly, "This is really bad news. What should we do now?"

"Yes, the other side has so many troops, how can we fight against them?" another voice echoed.

Lin Fan looked at everyone with a determined gaze and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, calm down! Although the enemy is strong, we also have our advantages. We must fully utilize the terrain and set traps and ambushes. We must begin preparations tonight and absolutely must not let the enemy gain an advantage!"

The young girl's eyes were filled with determination and support. She encouraged them, "Yes, everyone should have confidence. As long as we unite, there will be no difficulties that we cannot overcome."

At this time, Shen Shiyan walked over to Lin Fan and whispered, "General, why don't we go to the front line for a final reconnaissance? Perhaps we can find more information that will be beneficial to us."

Lin Fan nodded and turned to the crowd, saying, "Shen Shiyan is right. We need more intelligence to better formulate a plan. Yun Yi, you will be responsible for the overall defense deployment here; the rest of you will follow your previous training. I will lead the team to scout the front lines."

Yun Yi responded, "Don't worry, Lin Fan. Leave the rear to me, I will definitely not let anything go wrong."

Another young soldier stepped forward from the crowd and said excitedly, "I also want to participate in this reconnaissance mission and hope to do my part."

Seeing this, the other soldiers also expressed their willingness to join this mission. Lin Fan smiled and nodded in agreement, "Okay, such courage and determination are rare. You will set off with me. But remember, you must proceed with caution and not act rashly."

As the order was issued, the camp quickly became bustling with activity. Some were moving supplies, others were setting traps, and still others were practicing tactical maneuvers. The entire scene seemed orderly and filled with a combat atmosphere.

By the time night fell, Lin Fan's team had already been advancing through the dense forest for some time. The stillness of the night made even the slightest sound exceptionally clear, and everyone was intently observing their surroundings. Before long, they indeed discovered clear signs of trampling, suggesting a significant number of people and horses had passed through.

A careful girl whispered, "Looking at the direction of these footprints, they should be heading towards our camp... It seems that the other party is really determined to win."

Lin Fan nodded. "But this is actually better. We can use this to set up an ambush. Once they reach the designated location, we can launch a surprise attack."

As everyone continued to search for the best spot, a sudden gust of wind rustled through the treetops, followed by a few vague, eerie howls in the distance. "Wait! Everyone, stop!" Lin Fan keenly noticed something was amiss.

A newly joined soldier couldn't help but become nervous. "General, that sound sounds a bit strange... Could it be that those black-robed mages and their beasts have arrived?"

Lin Fan narrowed his eyes and looked in the direction of the sound. After a moment, he came to a decisive conclusion: "It's very likely. We must act more cautiously and hurry back to the camp to make further arrangements."

Just as the team regrouped and prepared to evacuate, a shadowy figure quietly appeared in the woods. It seemed to blend in with the surroundings, making it difficult to detect. "Who is it?" Lin Fan immediately shouted, alert.

A figure shimmered in the darkness, then slowly emerged from the woods. "It's me," a familiar voice said—it was the traveler who had brought the news.

"What are you still doing here? Why don't you rest with the others?" the girl asked in surprise.

The traveler said seriously, "I've discovered some new clues... Clues about the source of that mysterious power may be crucial to us."

Hearing this, Lin Fan's eyes lit up. "What clue? Take us there! Time is running out and we can't waste any more time."

Everyone quickly followed the mysterious traveler in an unknown direction. Meanwhile, a large group of enemy troops were approaching in the distance, and the air was filled with the thick smell of gunpowder...

"I hope we can find the key to resolving this crisis." Lin Fan prayed silently in his heart, his gaze steadfast and hopeful. And in this deepest darkness before dawn, everything awaits revelation... Lin Fan and his team followed the mysterious traveler through the gloomy forest. All around was so quiet that only the sound of their footsteps and the occasional breeze through the leaves could be heard. As the night deepened, the light of the stars and moon illuminated a barely navigable path. Finally, before a seemingly ordinary cave, the travelers paused.

"This is the place I mentioned," the traveler said in a low voice. "According to ancient legends, within this cave lies a secret that can change the course of battle."

A newly joined young warrior showed an excited expression, "Is it really that magical? We must seize the opportunity!"

"Yes, this could be a turning point, but it could also be a trap," Lin Fan analyzed calmly. "Send two men in to investigate first. We'll stay here." He turned to the two more nimble-looking soldiers and said, "You two, move quickly but be careful!"