C23 An Enemy Appeared

After a brief episode, the three companions found their resolve united. Gripping their weapons firmly, the weariness they had felt moments before evaporated. Led by Nie Haiyuan, they turned and made their way toward the desolate mountain that lay before them, devoid of any path.

It was deep into the night, and the forest's predators had settled. As they navigated the bramble-filled wilderness, they encountered little beyond the occasional field mouse scurrying by.

Jing Chong, with a steel blade in hand, strode through the chaotic terrain, unwittingly becoming the trailblazer of the barren hills. Whenever they came across a thicket, his swift chopping would clear a path, but the relentless ascent was draining. By the time they reached halfway up the mountain, they were completely spent.

Exhausted, they sat on a massive stone in the woods, gasping for air. Their youth was on their side, however, and after a short rest, they were reinvigorated and ready to tackle the climb once more.

The difficult ascent resumed, pushing Jing Chong to the brink of frustration. His silent complaints grew more intense with each passing moment. Zou Cang, trailing behind, was far from silent, grumbling incessantly, "What's the point of this? In the dead of night, there's not a soul in sight. Where are we supposed to find our 'fat sheep' to prey upon?"

Zou Cang's murmurs reached Nie Haiyuan, deflating his spirits as if he were a punctured balloon. The mountain loomed large before them, and with their slow progress, it seemed unlikely they'd escape by daybreak.

Moreover, if they did not make it out by dawn, they would be too late. Returning to Blood Razor Keep after sunrise would surely alert their superiors, and the resulting punishment would be severe.

Finally, Jing Chong's patience wore thin. He scrutinized Nie Haiyuan with a skeptical gaze and asked, "Fatty, are you certain this route will take us around Wolf Ivory Mountain and out of Blood Razor Keep?"

Faced with the question, Nie Haiyuan scratched his head, a look of guilt quickly spreading across his face that he couldn't quite conceal. "Well, of course, there's a way around it. It's just, well, it might be a bit of a long way around!"

Before he could finish his sentence, a worn-out shoe smacked across his broad face. Zou Cang's voice, filled with fury, echoed through the air. "Damn it, didn't we agree that you'd tread carefully? All this nonsense is just you messing with me, Master Zou!"

After his outburst, Zou Cang rolled his eyes disdainfully for a moment before hefting his spear and retreating toward Blood Razor Keep.

"Damn his old habits!" Nie Haiyuan muttered, removing the shoe from his face with a resigned expression. He glanced helplessly at Zou Cang's retreating figure, shook his head, and whispered a curse. But what could he do? It was his own unfamiliarity with the path that had led to this, and he couldn't blame anyone else. With these thoughts, he too started trudging down the mountain, listlessly.

However, just as Nie Haiyuan had taken a few steps forward, Jing Chong's voice, deliberately hushed, reached him from behind. "Don't move, there's someone approaching!"

The warning struck like lightning on a clear day, instantly prompting Nie Haiyuan and Zou Cang into action. Perhaps it was a well-rehearsed drill, for both men dropped to the ground simultaneously, their eyes darting around guiltily, unable to mask their trembling forms.

"What are you two doing? The figure is crossing from the opposite side!"

Jing Chong almost choked on his own frustration, watching their perfectly coordinated panic. They could talk a good game, but when it came to action, they were hopelessly inept. This was just a minor scare, and yet it had them petrified. He couldn't begin to imagine how they would handle a real crisis.

Without realizing it, Jing Chong felt as though he had boarded the wrong ship.

Meanwhile, just as the two men behind him were on the verge of sparking an "internal conflict" and retreating, Jing Chong actually spotted a figure stumbling through the trees some distance away, before collapsing to the ground.

Although Jing Chong had no idea why anyone would be out walking in the dead of night, his unwavering focus sparked a flicker of joy within him. He didn't concern himself with the stranger's identity; anyone skulking through the forest at this hour was up to no good. With that in mind, he felt no guilt for the ruthlessness he might have to employ. After all, for the trio, the prize of a human head was of great significance.

It seemed that fortune was smiling on him, offering up an unexpected opportunity at his lowest point. Blessing or curse, it didn't matter; it was a chance that didn't squander his fiery determination.

With resolve, Jing Chong banished any hesitation. His grip on the steel blade was so tight that his palms began to chill from the force. Truth be told, he was riddled with anxiety—facing a real battle for life and death, he wasn't entirely confident.

There was no telling if the person who had just collapsed had spotted them. And Jing Chong was even less certain about capturing or killing the individual with the dubious aid of his two incompetent companions.

But one thing was crystal clear: they had to seize this moment. Becoming a bona fide member of Blood Razor Keep was paramount, and the sooner, the better.

The more he pondered, the more resolute Jing Chong's heart grew. Driven by this surge of emotion, his pace quickened. He didn't glance back at his companions, but the shaky sound of their footsteps assured him they were in tow.

Regardless of their ineptitude, having them at his back gave Jing Chong an inexplicable surge of bravery.

The distance of several dozen yards was covered in no time. Within half a quarter of an hour, the three had closed in on their target.

Using his peripheral vision to survey the dense woods around them, Jing Chong quickly devised a sound strategy. The area, thick with towering trees and riddled with oddly shaped rocks and uneven ground, provided ample cover. The mysterious figure had tumbled near a large tree, beside which lay a massive stone—perfect for their ambush.

Concealed by the large tree and stone, they had yet to catch sight of the person's whereabouts, but one thing was certain—the individual hadn't left the area.

Jing Chong, ever meticulous, opted for caution. Given their lack of familiarity with each other, advancing together posed a significant risk. Should their adversary launch a surprise attack, they could be decimated in an instant.

Thus, Jing Chong swiftly devised a strategy to encircle and eliminate the threat.

This seasoned approach was not surprising for Jing Chong. As a child, he had often employed such tactics while hunting in the mountains with his father. His father used to say that a smaller target was more likely to draw in the enemy. Though it carried greater risk for an individual, timely support from allies could lead to unexpected victories.

Having settled on this plan, Jing Chong whispered it to his two companions. After a brief discussion, they agreed that Jing Chong would lead the frontal assault while the others would flank from the left and right.

As they conversed, the trio silently dispersed. The other two, armed with long spears, appeared well-prepared. Jing Chong, gripping his steel knife, stealthily navigated around the boulder to launch a frontal attack.

Rounding the boulder, Jing Chong spotted someone crawling beneath the large tree. Shrouded in darkness, the figure's size suggested he was a middle-aged man. Yet, with the individual still prone, it was unclear whether he was dead or alive.

"Could he be dead?" Jing Chong thought, holding back from any hasty action.

The possibility that the man might also be a victim of pursuit, just as Jing Chong had been, struck him with a sudden jolt of alarm and a surge of empathy. He had been in a similar plight just the day before, collapsing in the woods, fortunate to have been found and rescued by Nie Haiyuan.

Faced with these considerations, Jing Chong felt compelled to reassess his approach. If the man was innocent, to kill him without discernment would be no better than the actions of a brute.

Unable to ignore the pangs of his conscience, Jing Chong felt a surge of compassion. Regardless of the other person's state—alive or dead, friend or foe—he knew he had to check.

With this thought, he steeled his resolve and cautiously advanced two steps.

However, at that very moment, the unexpected happened.

As Jing Chong carefully lifted his foot for the third step, the motionless black figure in the grass suddenly sprang into action. Clutching a massive stone, the figure charged at Jing Chong, all the while muttering, "You beast, I'll make you follow me. See if I don't smash you to death!"

Caught completely off guard by the abrupt turn of events, Jing Chong's upbringing in a mountain village paid off. Having honed his reflexes through countless encounters with wild animals, he instantly reacted as the stone came hurtling down, narrowly evading a potentially lethal strike with a swift sidestep.

The assailant, having exerted too much force, stumbled and fell, his clothes tearing on the surrounding thorns as he hit the ground.

Jing Chong's gaze sharpened as he took in the scene, his face ashen. He raised his steel blade, his breaths coming in short, rapid gasps.

A quick glance around intensified Jing Chong's anger. Nie Haiyuan and Zou Cang, who had pledged to join the attack, had vanished without a trace. Jing Chong couldn't contain his fury, cursing under his breath, "Damn it, what a lack of loyalty!"

Internally fuming, the thought of retreat crept into his mind. He was a full head shorter than the middle-aged man before him. If the man stood to confront him, Jing Chong feared he would soon be overpowered and taken captive.

As fear gripped him, Jing Chong was on the verge of fleeing when his eyes inadvertently met those of the middle-aged man who had just risen. In that moment, he sensed an odd familiarity emanating from the stranger.