63: Chapter 63 Using One Tiger to Devour Another (Part 1)

Lin Muchen licked his lips.

Enough information.

"System, simulate a plan," he said in his mind. "I'll anonymously inform Lius Trading Firm that Black Wind Stockade is planning to hijack their cold iron ore."

"Then, I'll anonymously report the evidence of Black Wind Stockade bribing someone in the City Lord's Manor to the City Lord's Manor."

"After that, I'll set traps at their trading location in advance."

[Simulating...]

[Plan feasibility: High.]

[Expected effect: Upon receiving the news, Lius Trading Firm will most likely strengthen their guards or change their route, and may even set an ambush.]

[The City Lord's Manor will face pressure if there is a protective umbrella for Black Wind Stockade within, and may be forced to take action to prove their innocence.]

[If the two forces clash near Black Wind Valley, Black Wind Stockade will fall into a passive position.]

[The Host can reap the benefits.]

[Suggestion: This plan can be named 'Driving the Tiger to Swallow the Wolf'.]

"Driving the Tiger to Swallow the Wolf..." Lin Muchen smiled. "Alright, let's do it."

He immediately got up and left the cave.

It was almost dawn.

Lin Muchen circulated his Cultivation Technique, covering his body with water and wood energy, concealing his aura as he quickly returned toward Black Rock City.

He covered the hundred-mile journey in just over an hour.

When he entered the city, the morning light had just hit the city tower.

He didn't return to the inn but went directly to the commercial district in the west of the city.

Lius Trading Firm's sign was very conspicuous—a large three-story storefront with several horse-drawn carriages for transporting goods parked at the entrance.

Lin Muchen sat down at the tea stall opposite and ordered a bowl of tea.

"System, scan the interior of the trading firm and find the person in charge."

[Scanning...]

[There is a middle-aged manager behind the counter on the first floor, with a cultivation of the Sixth Layer of the Qi Refinement Stage.]

[On the second floor, two people are talking. One has a cultivation of Foundation Establishment Early Stage and should be the head of the trading firm. The other is at the Ninth Layer of the Qi Refinement Stage.]

[The third floor is a warehouse, protected by a weak Formation.]

Lin Muchen finished his tea, stood up, and walked into a nearby alley.

He took out the Disguise Mask and put it on.

His face turned into that of an ordinary, slightly distressed middle-aged man.

He then rummaged through his Storage Pouch for some old clothes to change into.

"System, exchange for a 'sound transmission jade slip', an anonymous, one-time-use one."

[Exchange successful.]

[points consumed: 300.]

[Current points balance: 3504 - 300 = 3204.]

[Obtained 'Anonymous sound transmission jade slip (One-time use)' x1.]

[Function: Can record a segment of voice information and specify a recipient (requires knowing the other party's name or common title). The Jade Slip will automatically fly near the target, play the information, and then self-destruct.]

[The source cannot be traced.]

Lin Muchen held the Jade Slip and said in a low voice.

"Manager Liu, in three days, Black Wind Stockade will hijack your cold iron ore convoy heading to Qingshi Town."

"They already know the route and the number of guards."

"Prepare in advance."

After speaking, he willed it.

The Jade Slip turned into a glimmer of light and "whooshed" toward the second floor of Lius Trading Firm.

Lin Muchen turned and left, blending into the crowd.

A few minutes later, he arrived near the City Lord's Manor.

The City Lord's Manor occupied a vast area with high walls and large courtyards, and eight armored guards stood at the entrance.

"System, scan the layout of the City Lord's Manor and find something like a 'report box' or the office of an official in charge of criminal cases and security."

[Scanning...]

[There is a side courtyard on the east side of the City Lord's Manor with a sign for the 'Criminal Investigation Department'.]

[There is an official in the courtyard with a cultivation of the Third Layer of Foundation Establishment.]

[No public reporting channel found, but the Criminal Investigation Department is responsible for city security and catching thieves.]

Lin Muchen thought for a moment.

Since Black Wind Sha could remain at large for so long, there might be his people in the Criminal Investigation Department as well.

It couldn't be delivered directly.

He circled to the back wall of the City Lord's Manor and found a quiet corner.

"Exchange for another sound transmission jade slip."

[Exchange successful.]

[points consumed: 300.]

[Current points balance: 3204 - 300 = 2904.]

[Obtained 'Anonymous sound transmission jade slip (One-time use)' x1.]

Lin Muchen said to the Jade Slip: "The leader of Black Wind Stockade, Black Wind Sha, has been bribing someone in the City Lord's Manor for a long time to obtain information on bandit suppression, allowing him to escape every time."

"Evidence can be found in a hidden compartment on the second floor of the central wooden building in Black Wind Stockade."

"Reporter: An insider."

The Jade Slip flew over the wall toward the side courtyard of the Criminal Investigation Department.

"Done."

Lin Muchen took off the mask, changed back into his clothes, and felt a weight lift off his chest.

Next, he would see how these two sides moved.

"System, analyze which side, Lius Trading Firm or the City Lord's Manor, will react faster?"

[Analyzing...]

[Lius Trading Firm: Involves their own significant interests (high value of cold iron ore), and the news directly threatens the safety of the convoy.]

[Estimated reaction speed: Fast (action will be taken within today).]

[City Lord's Manor: Involves internal corruption, requires verification, and may involve power struggles.]

[Estimated reaction speed: Medium to slow (within one to two days).]

[Suggestion: The Host can go to Black Wind Valley to set up in advance and wait for the two sides to clash.]

"Let's go, to Black Wind Valley."

Lin Muchen left the city and headed toward Black Wind Stockade again.

This time he didn't go near the valley entrance but circled to the other side of Black Wind Valley.

The terrain here was higher, allowing him to overlook the entire valley exit and the Official Road outside.

"System, scan this area and find a suitable place to set traps."

[Scanning...]

[Five hundred meters ahead, at a bend in the Official Road, the mountain walls on both sides are steep, forming a natural pass.]

[This place is an ideal ambush point for Black Wind Stockade to plunder merchant convoys and is also a necessary path for Lius Trading Firm's convoy.]

[Suggestion: Set up simple trapping Formations and warning Talismans on both sides of the pass to delay or divide the enemy's team.]

Lin Muchen walked to the pass.

The Official Road made a sharp turn here, with stone walls over ten zhang high on both sides.

"This is the spot."

He took out the Formation Flags and Talismans he had prepared a few days ago from his Storage Pouch.

They were all basic items, but they would suffice.

"System, guide the Formation setup. It needs to be trigger-based, and don't trap our own people."

[Formation layout generated.]

[Left mountain wall: Set up 'Earth Prison Trapping Formation (Simple Version)'. Once triggered, it can condense earth and stone to temporarily trap Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators.]

[Duration is about thirty breaths.]

[Right mountain wall: Set up 'Vine Entanglement Formation (Simple Version)'. Once triggered, it can grow tough vines to bind the target.]

[Official Road ground: Bury three 'explosive flame talismans' for warning and creating chaos.]

[The Formation control core is placed on the high ground where the Host is, and can be triggered remotely and manually.]

[Estimated time consumption: One hour.]

"Let's get to work."

Lin Muchen jumped down the mountain wall and began working.

Inserting Formation Flags, burying Talismans, using Five Elements energy to guide the earth veins, and connecting the Formation nodes.

An hour later, he climbed back to the high ground, drenched in sweat.

"System, check the Formation connections."

[Checking...]

[Earth Prison Trapping Formation: Connection normal, trigger range covers the left side of the Official Road and part of the mountain wall.]

[Vine Entanglement Formation: Connection normal, trigger range covers the right side of the Official Road and part of the mountain wall.]

[explosive flame talisman: Burial positions are correct, can be detonated remotely via the core.]

[Overall Formation status: Ready.]

[Tip: The power of the Formations is limited; they mainly serve to interfere and divide, and cannot trap Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators for long.]

"That's enough," Lin Muchen wiped his sweat. "I wasn't relying on them to kill the enemy anyway."

He sat down behind a large rock on the high ground.

The view here was excellent, allowing him to see the Official Road and vaguely see the entrance to Black Wind Valley.

"Next, it's just waiting."

Lin Muchen took out dry rations and water from his Storage Pouch and ate slowly.

"System, how is it going on Origin Star?"

[Origin Star status report:]

[Five Elements Cycle is stable, Feedback Efficiency is 9.25%.]

[Ecosystem is complete, all species are breeding normally.]

[The Human Refugees' village has established preliminary order, no abnormalities for now.]

[Current points balance: 2904.]

"Mm."

Lin Muchen nodded and let his consciousness sink into his Dantian to take a look.

Origin Star was suspended quietly, with forests, grasslands, swamps, and oceans—all regions vibrant with life.

The hundred Human Refugees had already built simple wooden houses, cleared small plots of land, and were working.

"Soon," Lin Muchen thought. "Once I get these ten thousand points, I can exchange for more people and accelerate the development of civilization."

He withdrew his consciousness and focused on the Official Road below.

Time passed bit by bit.

The sun rose to its zenith and then slowly slanted westward.

Occasionally, pedestrians or small convoys passed on the Official Road, none of which triggered the Formations.

Until evening.

The sound of rolling wheels and horse hooves came from the distance.

A convoy appeared at the end of the Official Road.

Five horse-drawn carriages for transporting goods, their boards covered with tarpaulins, looking bulging.

Around the carriages, more than twenty guards followed.

Each wore leather armor, carried a saber or sword at their waist, and had vigilant eyes.

In the middle of the guards, there was also a middle-aged man in a brocade robe, riding a horse, with a serious expression.

"System, scan the convoy."

[Scanning...]

[Convoy identification: Lius Trading Firm.]

[Cargo: cold iron ore (confirmed).]

[Number of guards: Twenty-four.]

[Guard cultivation: Fifth Layer to Eighth Layer of the Qi Refinement Stage.]

[Middle-aged man in brocade robe: Foundation Establishment Early Stage, suspected to be the head of the trading firm or a senior manager.]

[Convoy travel speed: Normal, but guard distribution is in a defensive Formation, with alerts in all directions.]

Lin Muchen's eyes lit up.

"The fish is here."

"And... the number of guards is more than double the usual."

"It seems my sound transmission jade slip was quite effective."

The convoy slowly approached the pass.

The middle-aged man in the brocade robe raised his hand, and the convoy stopped.

He narrowed his eyes and looked at the steep mountain walls on both sides.

"Head Instructor Wang," he called out.

A burly man with a face full of scars and a large saber on his back rode forward.

"Boss."

"This place is too suitable for an ambush," the middle-aged man in the brocade robe said. "Send two men up to take a look."

"Yes!"

Head Instructor Wang picked two agile guards and had them climb the mountain wall to check.

Lin Muchen held his breath and lay low.

The two guards climbed up and looked around not far from him for a while.

"Boss! No one's up here!"

"Be thorough!"

"There really is no one! Not even a footprint!"

Head Instructor Wang looked at the middle-aged man in the brocade robe.

The middle-aged man pondered for a moment.

"Perhaps we're being too paranoid."

"But it's better to be safe than sorry." He waved his hand. "Convoy, pass through quickly, do not stop."

"Yes!"

The convoy started again, accelerating toward the pass.

Lin Muchen's finger pressed on the Formation control core.

But he didn't move.

"Where are the people from Black Wind Stockade?" He frowned. "Logically, they should be ambushing here."

The convoy passed through the pass smoothly, without anything happening.

Lin Muchen watched the convoy disappear into the distance, feeling a bit puzzled.

"System, is there any movement from Black Wind Stockade?"

[Scanning toward Black Wind Valley...]

[Detected personnel gathering in the valley, about fifteen people, moving toward the valley entrance.]

[The leader, Black Wind Sha, is at the front of the team.]

[Movement speed: Relatively fast.]

[Estimated arrival time at the Official Road: In fifteen minutes.]

Lin Muchen was taken aback.

"Late?"

"No..."

He suddenly realized.

"Black Wind Stockade knows the news leaked!"

"Lius Trading Firm strengthened their guards and even sent scouts ahead."

"They might have changed their plan, or... are waiting for a better opportunity."

Lin Muchen's mind whirled.

"If Black Wind Sha knows the news leaked, what would he do?"

"Give up on this operation? No, the cold iron ore is too valuable; he wouldn't be willing to let it go."

"A direct assault? Lius Trading Firm has many guards and a Foundation Establishment expert; the loss from a direct assault would be too great."

"Then the only possibility is..."

Lin Muchen looked further down the Official Road.

"There's a more suitable place for an ambush further ahead."

"Or... do they plan a night raid?"

Just then.

The System's warning sounded suddenly.

[Warning: Detected Black Wind Stockade's team changing direction, maneuvering toward the side and rear of the Host's current high ground.]

[Distance: Three li.]

[Speed: Accelerating.]

[Intent analysis: May have discovered traces of the Host's Formation setup or sensed someone monitoring from above.]

Lin Muchen's heart tightened.

"Discovered?"

He immediately put away the Formation control core and pressed his body against the rock.

"System, are they coming for me?"

[Uncertain. But the route indeed points toward the high ground.]

[Suggestion: Evacuate immediately or prepare for battle.]

Lin Muchen looked at the empty Official Road below.

Then he looked at the dust cloud getting closer from the side and rear.

"Damn it..."

"Plans can't keep up with changes."

He grit his teeth.

"Then... I'll meet you first."