With Qin Ming's proposal dividing the loot, the spoils were amicably distributed.
Qin Ming took twelve white keys and one silver key, while Ghost Lady claimed the green and blue keys. Both were satisfied with the arrangement.
Just as they finished storing their rewards, a commotion outside the house caught their attention.
The duo exchanged a glance and crept to the window, pressing their backs against the wall. Peering through the broken frame, they spotted a patrol squad from Wei.
The squad was a standard eight-man unit:
Leading them was a Lei Huo Soldier, a heavily armored, stout figure equipped with powerful incendiary bombs.
These soldiers, renowned for their durability and destructive potential, were specialists in siege warfare. Their heavy armor and explosive arsenal made them formidable foes.
The patrol squad, chatting among themselves, slowly advanced into the village. Qin Ming and Ghost Lady silently climbed up to the roof beams, careful not to make a sound.
The patrol entered the house moments later. The nine soldiers made themselves at home, slumping into chairs and removing their helmets to wipe their sweat.
It was clear they had marched a long way.
"Damn it! First, they order us to extend our patrols, and now we're told to fall back. Can't they make up their minds?"
"They get to deliver their orders on horseback while we slog it out on foot. A whole day of marching, and for what?"
"They don't care about us grunts. Changing their minds is easy for them—they're not the ones breaking their backs out here!"
Having been ordered to retreat from their far-flung patrols, the soldiers vented their frustration.
The Lei Huo Soldier, sweating profusely from his exertion, waved his hand dismissively.
"Enough whining. Rest while you can; we've got a long march ahead. The cavalry got wiped out, so we'd better keep our guard up. The last thing we need is to end up as the next ambush victims."
His attempt to calm the men only fueled their complaints.
"Ambush? What ambush? We've been patrolling for days and haven't seen a single enemy!"
"Exactly! The officers are just paranoid, scared that the Five Tiger Generals will raid the camp!"
"Pfft, those Five Tigers! They're just overhyped legends. Look what happened when they faced our army—they scattered like rats!"
"If I ever see one of them, I'll take their head to General Li Dian myself!"
The soldiers' laughter filled the room, oblivious to the danger above.
On the roof, Qin Ming, Ghost Lady, and Tarma were poised for action.
Ghost Lady silently pulled a grenade from her belt. With a quick motion, she yanked the pin and released it.
The grenade dropped straight down, landing in the center of the seated soldiers.
Before they could react, an explosion tore through the room.
The windows shattered, and the walls shook as the blast sent the soldiers flying. Two were killed instantly, their bodies torn apart.
As the survivors struggled to rise, Qin Ming leapt down from the rafters, unleashing a Sonic Hand Slash.
Simultaneously, Ghost Lady and Tarma opened fire from their positions above, spraying bullets into the chaos.
The room erupted in screams as the remaining soldiers fell one by one.
The Lei Huo Soldier, protected by his heavy armor, was among the few to survive.
Groaning, he pushed himself off the ground and grabbed his signature Golden Melon Hammers.
Locking eyes with Qin Ming, who was mowing down his subordinates, he roared and charged forward, swinging his massive weapons.
Lei Huo Bomb (C-grade)
Heavy Armor Charge (C-grade)
Description: Known as "Fat Armored Soldiers," they are compact but muscular siege specialists.
In the world of Dynasty Warriors 2, their stats rival those of small bosses in other settings. With their high strength, constitution, and heavy armor, they are unparalleled in breaching fortifications.
Unfortunately for him, his attributes mirrored Qin Ming's too closely.
The Lei Huo Soldier swung a hammer with all his might, aiming for Qin Ming's head.
Qin Ming caught the weapon mid-swing, his hand gripping the hammerhead effortlessly.
The soldier froze, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Before he could react further, Qin Ming's fist slammed into his gut, followed by both hands lifting the hefty soldier and hurling him across the room.
The Lei Huo Soldier crashed into a table, shattering it beneath his weight. Groaning, he struggled to rise, only to see a comrade's body flying toward him.
Qin Ming had kicked a spearman into the air, sending him careening into the Lei Huo Soldier.
The hapless comrade struck the wall and slid down, unconscious.
Furious, the Lei Huo Soldier pulled out two black iron spheres—Lei Huo Bombs. Igniting the fuses, he hurled them at Qin Ming.
Hearing the whistling of the bombs, Qin Ming drew his revolver and fired without hesitation.
Both bombs were struck mid-air, their trajectories altered. The explosives bounced back toward the Lei Huo Soldier, landing in his hands.
He instinctively caught them, only to realize the fuses were nearly burned out.
The Lei Huo Soldier was obliterated in a fiery explosion, his remains scattering across the room.
Calmly holstering his revolver, Qin Ming turned his attention to the remaining enemies.
"Trying to use homemade explosives against a combat specialist like me? That's just asking for death."
With renewed vigor, he charged back into the fray, a whirlwind of violence against the last of the Wei patrol.