Chapter 23: Ambush

Chen Yuan sheathed his saber and looked up, quickly cupping his fists in salute

"Deacon Wei!"

The newcomer was none other than Wei Wuding. Still dressed in his black martial attire, he sized Chen Yuan up with a smile and said

"Not bad, your comprehension is quite good to have trained the Five Tigers Breaking Gate Saber to such a level."

Chen Yuan scratched his head and gave a simple, honest laugh

"I don't have much comprehension. I just know this one saber technique, so I practice it over and over, using it however feels most natural. I don't even know if it's good or bad."

Wei Wuding nodded

"Perseverance and following one's nature—that is the true essence of the martial path. Not bad, not bad... You've killed quite a few people, haven't you?"

"I was escorting a caravan previously and encountered several bandit ambushes. I killed a few of them. This time, while escaping from the Crimson Mang Mountains, I also killed two bandits from the Black Wind Stronghold."

Wei Wuding smiled

"No wonder your killing intent is so heavy; it turns out you've seen much blood. I heard that with your immense strength, you broke through to the Bone Refining Realm in only three years. Is that true?"

Chen Yuan's heart stirred, and he said

"Yes, I was fortunate enough to break through to the Bone Refining Realm a short while ago, but my strength is only slightly greater than that of an ordinary person."

The smile on Wei Wuding's face deepened. He looked Chen Yuan up and down once more and said

"Good talent. Train your saber well. This Five Tigers Breaking Gate Saber was personally created by Sect Leader Dong fifty years ago. Although the moves are simple, they point directly to the essence of the martial path. It can be used by those in the Bone Refining Realm, the Marrow Refining Realm, and even by those with Inner Qi or Astral Qi. It all depends on your own comprehension."

Chen Yuan's expression turned solemn. He said

"Thank you for the guidance, Deacon Wei!"

Wei Wuding nodded with a smile and turned to walk toward the front courtyard.

Chen Yuan watched his retreating figure, lost in thought. After a moment, he resumed his saber practice.

...

Over the next few days, in addition to practicing his saber, Chen Yuan spent one hour each day practicing the Tiger-Subduing Fist.

His cultivation of the Tiger-Subduing Strength was no longer useful, but there were no martial artists in this world who practiced saber techniques without also practicing internal arts. To avoid the suspicion of Yu Zhenchuan and Lai Zhong, he had to maintain appearances.

By practicing his saber technique daily with single-minded focus, Chen Yuan gradually calmed down and ceased to worry about the matter of Yu Jue.

He also made significant progress with the Five Tigers Breaking Gate Saber; his moves became increasingly concise and lethal.

While Chen Yuan was immersed in his saber work with a peaceful mind, Zhao Shan and the other two were growing restless.

Having stayed in this manor for seven or eight days without any brothels, theaters, or entertainment, they could only gamble for amusement. They felt like prisoners, stifled by boredom.

If it weren't for Wei Wuding's immense prestige and ability to keep people in line, these hundred-plus fierce martial artists would likely have descended into chaos long ago.

However, the nature of martial artists is unruly. As time passed, the atmosphere in the manor grew increasingly volatile, and even brawls broke out, though they were forcefully suppressed by Wei Wuding.

Finally, on the morning of the eighth day, after everyone had finished breakfast, Wei Wuding gathered everyone together and announced

"We enter the mountains today!"

Subsequently, the hundred-plus martial artists packed their belongings, each carrying a flask of water and enough dry rations to last five days.

A large carriage accompanied them, driven by several farmhands and covered with a white cloth. Wherever it passed, its wheel ruts were exceptionally deep.

Beside Wei Wuding stood a middle-aged man with a weathered face, wearing a leather coat common among mountain folk and carrying a ring-pommel saber at his waist. He rode an old horse and occasionally whispered something to Wei Wuding.

After leaving the manor, the group spurred their horses and traveled through the Yuanping Pass into the Crimson Mang Mountains that night, traveling by day and resting by night.

Two days later, under the guidance of the middle-aged man in the leather coat, the Tiger-Subduing Gang martial artists followed a narrow mountain path into the vast, rolling mountains. After another half-day of trekking, they arrived at a very secluded valley and came to a halt.

The farmhands pulled back the white cloth covering the large carriage, revealing a collection of heavy crossbows hidden beneath.

Wei Wuding gave the order to leave the horses and the carriage under the guard of the farmhands, and distributed the thirty heavy crossbows to thirty Skin Refining martial artists.

The moment Chen Yuan saw the crossbows, he understood Wei Wuding's intention.

He was going to ambush the Black Wind Stronghold!

But how had he learned of their movements?

Chen Yuan tightened his grip on his long saber, moved closer to Zhao Shan, and whispered

"Senior Brother, it seems Deacon Wei has received intelligence on the Black Wind Stronghold. A slaughter is coming soon. Remember to act with caution."

Zhao Shan nodded slightly without saying anything, but his expression became much more serious.

Once the thirty Skin Refining martial artists had each taken a crossbow, Wei Wuding gave the command, and the group set off again. Following the middle-aged man in the leather coat, they ventured deep into the mountains along a nearly indiscernible beast path.

It was now midnight; the night was pitch black, without stars or moon.

The group carried torches, winding through the mountains like a fiery dragon.

Five hours later, the fiery dragon came to a stop in a valley.

This valley was similar to the one where the Black Wind Stronghold had previously ambushed the caravan, except it had two entrances. A mountain path ran through the middle, which must have been frequently traveled as it was free of weeds and the surface was flat.

Under Wei Wuding's command, the Tiger-Subduing Gang martial artists split into two groups and entered the dense forests on either side of the mountain path. They extinguished their torches and waited silently in the pitch-black night.

Chen Yuan and Zhao Shan crouched in one spot, not daring to make a sound, staring intently at the mountain path.

One hour, two hours, three hours...

The sky began to pale, and a thin mist rose to shroud the mountains and forests, yet there was still no movement on the path.

It wasn't until the morning sun began to rise and the mountain mist slowly dissipated that a group of people suddenly burst into the valley.

With his keen senses, Chen Yuan recognized at a glance that the leader was none other than the Great Chief of the Black Wind Stronghold, Xie Quan, the "Soul-Severing Spear."

And the man beside him, carrying a heavy bow on his back, was the Third Chief of the Black Wind Stronghold, Jiang Feng, the "Fire-Eyed Golden Eagle."

A moment later, the martial artists beside Chen Yuan also spotted the Black Wind bandits.

Amidst a low clatter of metal, everyone slowly drew their weapons.

The fifteen crossbowmen ambushed in the dense forest quickly cocked their heavy crossbows, holding them in front of them and aiming at the mountain path ahead.

The Black Wind bandits were moving quickly; after half a quarter-hour, they had reached the center of the valley.

Chen Yuan could see clearly that there were over seventy bandits arranged in a long line. Only Xie Quan and Jiang Feng were mounted; the others were on foot, driving four large carriages.

They talked and laughed loudly as they walked, their language coarse and vulgar.

"That woman we snatched last time was truly a beauty. That figure, those screams... tsk tsk... a pity we only played with her for three days before she was sold to a brothel."

"Nonsense! She was a maid to a wealthy lady's daughter; of course she was a beauty!"

"Sigh, if only we could play with a wealthy lady, it would be worth dying for!"

"Keep dreaming. That's a luxury only the First and Third Brothers can enjoy. Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Haha, I'm just joking..."

As the long line reached the middle of the valley, the bandits were in high spirits.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed through the heavens

"Attack!"

*Swish! Swish! Swish!*

Before the words had even faded, thirty crossbow bolts shot out from the dense forests on both sides of the valley, striking over a dozen bandits in their bodies.

The bandit formation fell into chaos, and screams erupted one after another.

On horseback, Xie Quan performed a "Iron Plate Bridge" maneuver to narrowly avoid two incoming bolts. He flipped off his horse, snatched a long spear from a bandit behind him, and roared

"Don't panic! Follow me and fight our way out to survive!"

As he spoke, he circulated his lightness technique, rushing to Jiang Feng's side and wielding his spear to block the incoming bolts for him.

Jiang Feng was in much worse shape than Xie Quan. Despite his desperate dodging, a feathered arrow grazed his left arm, leaving a bloody streak and nearly piercing through. Only under Xie Quan's cover was he able to dismount.

"Kill!"

At that moment, the crossbow fire ceased, and the Tiger-Subduing Gang martial artists surged out from the forests on both sides, charging with shouts.

Wei Wuding took the lead, wielding a three-foot longsword, heading straight for Xie Quan while shouting

"Xie Quan! I am Wei Wuding, Deacon of the Hundred Weapons Hall of the Tiger-Subduing Gang. I have come today specifically to take your dog's life!"

Xie Quan's expression changed drastically as he leveled his spear to meet the attack.

Jiang Feng quickly unslung his heavy bow, pulled three feathered arrows from the quiver by his saddle, and fired them in rapid succession.

Wei Wuding's wrist flicked, and a sword shadow swept past, parrying all three arrows. He said

"So you are Jiang Feng? You'll be leaving your life here today as well!"

With that, he stepped forward, lunging down to engage Xie Quan in combat. His longsword actually managed to suppress Xie Quan's iron spear, gaining the upper hand.

Xie Quan was both shocked and enraged

"Peak Inner Qi!"

Wei Wuding gave a cold laugh, his offensive becoming even more ferocious. Xie Quan struggled to defend himself, looking quite disheveled.

Luo Hai, in the Marrow Refining Realm, charged straight for Jiang Feng, but was blocked by the rapid-fire arrows and found it difficult to close the distance.

Simultaneously, the Tiger-Subduing Gang martial artists, holding the high ground, quickly dove down to engage the Black Wind bandits.

*Clang!*

Xie Quan swung his spear to block one of Wei Wuding's strikes and shouted

"Form formation! Meet the enemy!"

After the initial chaos, the Black Wind bandits had stabilized. Upon hearing this, they quickly formed simple five-man formations to engage the Tiger-Subduing Gang martial artists.

Wei Wuding glanced over, his expression shifting slightly

"The Mandarin Duck Formation? You really did escape from the military!"

Xie Quan grinned savagely

"Come on then! You think you can kill me without losing dozens of men?"

He thrust his spear forward violently, forcing Wei Wuding back. Four Bone Refining bandits quickly closed in, forming a Mandarin Duck Formation with Xie Quan to face the enemy together.

Taking this opportunity, Jiang Feng utilized his lightness technique to retreat, firing arrows from a distance to provide cover for the Black Wind bandits.

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Wei Wuding's eyes as he bellowed

"Luo Hai, Yu Zhenchuan, Lai Zhong, Jiang Wei, Peng Xing! Follow me to slay the thieves! Everyone else, clear out the bandits immediately!"

The five men whose names he called immediately converged. Under Wei Wuding's leadership, they clashed with the Mandarin Duck Formation led by Xie Quan, while the others launched fierce attacks on the bandits before them.

However, the Mandarin Duck Formation was indeed a military tactic, quite profound. With five men working in coordination, they could hold off seven or eight enemies, though they were slightly at a disadvantage.

Although the Tiger-Subduing Gang had more people and stronger individual strength, they were all from the martial arts world. They lacked coordination and did not know how to break formations, resulting in them fighting as individuals, making it difficult to quickly overcome their opponents.

However, once the Black Wind bandits formed the Mandarin Duck Formation, they could no longer flee; they were forced to stay and fight.

Furthermore, they were not soldiers after all. They were naturally undisciplined, and even though they had learned the Mandarin Duck Formation under Xie Quan's instruction, their coordination was clumsy and full of openings.

In less than half a quarter-hour, several Mandarin Duck Formations were broken, and over a dozen bandits died miserably under the blades.

The Tiger-Subduing Gang also suffered over a dozen casualties, though most were wounded and few were killed.

Seeing this, the attackers grew even more ferocious, and the Black Wind formation began to totter.

Suddenly, a bandit let out a cry, broke away from the Mandarin Duck Formation, and fled toward the exit of the valley.

It was like the first sound of an avalanche, followed by a total collapse.

This single bandit's action triggered a massive rout within the Black Wind Stronghold. Everyone scrambled to escape, disregarding the blades behind them as they fled in all directions.

The Tiger-Subduing Gang martial artists seized the opportunity to pursue, and instantly, eight or nine bandits were cut down on the spot.

Without the Mandarin Duck Formation, the strength of the Black Wind bandits was far inferior to the elites of the Tiger-Subduing Gang.

Xie Quan, who was fully occupied with resisting Wei Wuding, roared in fury at the sight

"You fools! Deserting the battlefield will only make you die faster! Only by fighting to the death can you find a chance at survival! Follow my command..."

Xie Quan tried his utmost to stop the rout, but bandits were bandits; greed and fear of death were in their bones. The avalanche had already formed and could no longer be reversed.

Jiang Feng, who had been providing cover from a distance, fired two more arrows toward the fray before suddenly turning to flee, leaving only one sentence behind

"Big Brother, I will avenge you!"

(End of Chapter)