The sun sank in the west, its lingering rays like blood, casting a layer of dark gold upon the dense forest on both sides of the official road. As the wind passed, branches and leaves clashed, rustling as if thousands of troops lay hidden within, holding their breath, awaiting orders.
The caravan maintained a steady, unhurried pace, the Yun Family Black Riders flanking their front and rear. Their iron armor was dark and subdued, even their horse manes meticulously tied.Though seemingly relaxed, a hidden murderous intent permeated the formation—every three riders formed a "product" shape, and every five formed a "plum blossom" pattern, capable of both attack and defense. This was the "Flowing Cloud Formation," most commonly used by the Yun family's border troops.
Yun Chen sat inside the carriage, his tea cool on the small table, its aroma rendered even more clear and crisp. He remained with his eyes closed, his breathing long and steady, as if he had become one with the carriage. Only the Mysterious Soul Pendant at his neck pulsed with a faint glow, like a cold star on the verge of awakening.
Suddenly!
"Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!"
Sharp whistles tore through the twilight, and more than ten points of faint blue cold light shot out from the forest, heading straight for the carriage! The arrows pierced the air, carrying a strange rotation, their tail feathers vibrating, emitting a bee-like hum. It was clear these were modified military crossbows, designed to break through protective true qi.
"Enemy attack! Protect the Young Master!"
Yún Lì's roar exploded at the same moment his long saber was drawn. The blade was like a pool of autumn water, tracing an arc of silver light in the setting sun as it precisely deflected the first volley of crossbow bolts. Almost instantly, four other Black Riders drew their sabers in reverse, their five arcs of light converging, forming a visible silver screen, impenetrable.
"Clang, clang, clang—"
The sound of metal striking metal was dense as rain. Most of the crossbow bolts were sliced and sent flying back, embedding themselves in the tree trunks by the roadside, their fletching still trembling. However, two larger crossbow bolts took tricky trajectories, one aimed at the carriage roof, the other at the side window, their speed so fast they almost left afterimages.
"Thwack! Thwack!"
Just as the faint blue arrowheads were about to pierce the wall, a layer of pale golden light suddenly appeared on the dark purple carriage surface. It was as fine as a thread, yet unbreakable. The moment the bolts struck, their tips twisted like they had been hit by a giant hammer, deforming into spirals before falling powerlessly to the ground with a crisp "clang, clang."
Inside the carriage, Yun Chen remained seated, not even a lash of his eye flickering. Only the teacup on the small table trembled slightly, the water surface rippling into three circles before returning to calm.
Uncle Fu's half-closed eyes snapped open, a sharp glint surging forth. He did not act, merely tilted his head slightly towards Yún Lì. This glance was more incisive than any command.
Yún Lì understood. He pointed his long saber, his voice like clashing metal: "First squad, left flank! Second squad, right flank! Kill without mercy!"
"Yes!"
Eight Black Riders responded in unison, their voices short and sharp, like a saber strike, devoid of any hesitation. The next second, hoofbeats sounded like thunder as the eight riders split into two groups, instantly disappearing into the dense forest. The sunlight, cut into fragments by the branches and leaves, dappled their retreating figures, like eight bolts of lightning plunging into the darkness.
Within the forest, leaves rustled violently, saber light and crossbow bolts clashed, and screams and muffled groans rose and fell. Occasionally, startled birds took flight, the sound of their flapping wings strikingly harsh.
Not long after, the sounds of battle abruptly ceased.
About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the eight riders returned, their armor stained with blood, yet their steps orderly, as if they had just come from the training grounds. They roughly threw two black-clad figures, still gasping for breath, into the center of the road, then casually tossed down several corpses, each with a long, thin knife mark on their neck, the bloodstains not yet dry.
"Reporting to Uncle Fu, Young Master." Yún Lì stepped forward, cupping his fists. "There were twelve attackers in total, all death warriors. They had poison hidden in their teeth; eight died from poison, and the remaining two had their jaws dislocated and meridians severed, their martial arts crippled."
He kicked one of the captives, sending him sprawling onto his back, revealing a small tattoo on his neck—a black short sword with its hilt wrapped in spider silk, the mark of "Shadow Pavilion."
"Shadow Pavilion..." Uncle Fu's brow furrowed, his voice so low it was barely audible. "A dark den that takes lives for money. It seems someone doesn't want the Young Master to step foot into Tannan City."
Yun Chen finally opened his eyes, his gaze falling upon the two captives with faces ashen with despair. He did not rush to question them, merely raised his hand and flicked his fingertips. Two wisps of silvery-green energy silently entered the captives' brows. This was the "Soul Locking Thread" from the Spirit Nourishing Formula, capable of inflicting pain to the bone without causing unconsciousness.In just a moment, one of them convulsed, sweat pouring from him like pulp, and rasped, "It was… it was someone wearing a cloak… We only accept the mission, we don't ask the origin… But the deposit… the deposit was silver notes from the Situ Family… the dark red seal, no mistake!
"
The other man's face turned ashen, his teeth chattering, and he lost control of his bowels on the spot.
Situ Family!
Uncle Fu and Yún Lì exchanged glances, seeing the surging tide of anger in each other's eyes. The Situ Noble Family, to be so brazen! The Young Master had not yet entered Tannan, and they were already eager to draw their blades, intending to sever the Yun family's last bloodline halfway there!
Yun Chen's face, however, showed a hint of coldness. The smile was faint, yet as if carved from millennia-old ice, chilling one to the bone.
"Situ Family… very good." He repeated softly, his fingertips tapping slowly on his knee, each tap like a hammer blow to everyone's heart. "Seal all the confessions, silver notes, and bodies of these two. One item per person, no more, no less."
"Yes!" Yún Lì accepted the order, the sheath of his saber falling with a crisp movement.
Yun Chen closed his eyes again, as if the assassination moments ago was merely a trivial incident during their journey. Yet, the air within the carriage seemed to be swept by an invisible cold current, solidifying into an unyielding ice.
The wheels rolled forward again, crushing bloodstains and arrow marks, heading south, all the way south.
Uncle Fu lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, looking back at the receding dense forest. There, the wind had stopped and the forest was silent, the birds quiet, as if nothing had happened. But he knew that the real storm had just begun.
Tannan City, the Yun family ancestral land, the conservative faction, the reformist faction, the First Elder, the Third Elder, the Situ Family, Shadow Pavilion… all the names, all the undercurrents, would churn into monstrous waves due to the young man's return.
And Yun Chen, sitting at the center of the storm, with closed eyes, rested himself like a sharp sword hidden within its sheath, its cold light already dazzling before it was drawn.