64: Chapter 64 Using One Tiger to Devour Another (Part 2)

Lin Muchen pressed his body against the rock, his eyes fixed on the rear flank.

The dust and smoke were drawing closer and closer.

"System, how far are they?"

[Distance: Two li.]

[Number of people: Fifteen.]

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

[Movement speed: Full speed for a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator.]

[Estimated time to contact: Thirty breaths.]

Thirty breaths.

Lin Muchen's mind raced at high speed.

Run?

The enemy was flanking from the rear; if he ran, he would likely be cut off.

Fight?

Fifteen of them, with at least ten at the Late Qi Refinement Stage and one at the Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage.

A direct confrontation would be suicide.

"I can only stick to the original plan: use the Formations to stall them, then lead them toward the official road."

Lin Muchen took a deep breath.

"System, activate all Formations, wait for my signal."

[Formations are ready.]

[Earthen Prison Trapping Formation covering the left side.]

[Vine Entanglement Formation covering the right side.]

[Three explosive flame talismans buried on the official road's surface.]

[Control core connected.]

Lin Muchen lay motionless.

The dust and smoke reached the base of the high ground.

Black Wind Sha's bald head glinted in the setting sun.

He raised his hand, and the group stopped.

"There's someone up there," Black Wind Sha squinted. "The aura is faint, but there was definitely someone just now."

A tall, thin bandit approached him.

"Boss, could it be a scout from Lius Trading Firm?"

"I don't care who it is," Black Wind Sha sneered. "Anyone who sneaks right under my nose must die."

He waved his hand.

"Five of you, go up and search."

Five Qi Refinement Stage Bandits drew their blades and began climbing the high ground.

Lin Muchen counted.

Five.

The highest cultivation was the eighth level of Qi Refinement, the lowest was the sixth.

"System, wait until they enter the Formation's range."

[Targets entering...]

[Ten zhang... five zhang... three zhang...]

Now!

Lin Muchen pressed his finger onto the control core.

Boom!

The rock wall on the left suddenly vibrated.

Earth and stone surged out like they were alive, instantly engulfing the three Bandits climbing in front.

"What is this thing?!"

"Help!"

The three were trapped by the earth and stone, with only their heads exposed, struggling desperately.

The other two Bandits were startled and dodged to the right.

On the right rock wall, vines shot out like snakes, swishing as they coiled around the two men's ankles.

"Damn it!"

"It's an ambush!"

The two swung their blades to hack at the vines, but the vines were tough and numerous, impossible to cut through in a short time.

Black Wind Sha could see clearly from below.

"A Formation?" His face darkened. "As I thought, something's fishy!"

He kicked off the ground, launching himself toward the high ground like a cannonball.

"System, detonate the explosive flame talismans, create chaos!"

[Detonating.]

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three spots on the official road exploded simultaneously.

Flames shot into the sky, and thick smoke billowed out.

Just as Black Wind Sha rushed up, he was momentarily staggered by the shockwave of the explosion.

Lin Muchen took the opportunity to dash out from behind the rock.

A cold light flashed from the star dagger in his hand.

Puchi!

Blood sprayed from the neck of a bandit entangled by vines as he collapsed to the ground.

The other bandit's face turned pale with fright.

"Boss! He's over here!"

Lin Muchen turned and ran, heading toward the official road.

"Trying to run?" Black Wind Sha roared. "Chase him!"

He led the remaining ten Bandits in pursuit.

He couldn't worry about the five trapped ones for now.

Lin Muchen went at full speed.

With his Foundation Establishment cultivation coupled with Five Elements energy enhancement, he ran like the wind.

But Black Wind Sha was not slow either.

The distance between the two was slowly closing.

"Little brat, it was you who scouted the village that night, wasn't it?" Black Wind Sha cursed from behind. "I'll skin you alive today!"

Lin Muchen ignored him.

While running, he had the System scan the direction of the official road.

"Where is Lius Trading Firm's caravan?"

[Scanning...]

[Caravan found!]

[The Lius Trading Firm caravan has not gone far; they are turning back two li ahead on the official road!]

[Simultaneously detecting another group rapidly approaching from the direction of Black Rock City!]

[Identification: Black Rock City Lord's Mansion Criminal Investigation Department team, twelve people, leader's cultivation at the third level of Foundation Establishment.]

Lin Muchen's eyes lit up.

They're here!

Both parties are here!

"System, calculate the optimal collision point."

[Calculation complete.]

[Recommendation: Lead the Black Wind Stockade group to a spot three hundred meters outside the mountain pass; the terrain there is open and suitable for a three-way encounter.]

"Understood."

Lin Muchen changed direction and charged toward the outside of the mountain pass.

Black Wind Sha pursued relentlessly.

The ten Bandits behind him followed with howling cries.

Soon, the mountain pass appeared before his eyes.

Lin Muchen rushed out of the pass and saw the situation on both sides at a glance.

To the left, Lius Trading Firm's caravan had returned, with over twenty guards standing ready.

The middle-aged man in the brocade robe was on horseback, his expression grave.

To the right, a team wearing black official uniforms with standard-issue long sabers at their waists was rapidly approaching.

The leader was a stern-faced middle-aged official with a third-level Foundation Establishment cultivation.

Both sides saw Lin Muchen rushing out of the pass almost simultaneously, followed by Black Wind Sha and the ten Bandits.

The scene fell silent for an instant.

Then it exploded.

"Black Wind Stockade!" The middle-aged man in the brocade robe's face changed drastically. "As expected, there was an ambush!"

"Black Wind Sha!" The Criminal Investigation Department leader shouted sternly. "How dare you plunder a merchant caravan in broad daylight!"

Black Wind Sha was also dazed.

He looked at the caravan on the left, the officials on the right, and then at Lin Muchen standing in the middle.

"Fuck!"

He understood.

He had been tricked!

"Retreat!" Black Wind Sha made a split-second decision.

But it was too late.

The Criminal Investigation Department leader waved his hand.

"Take them down!"

Twelve officials charged forward, their sabers flashing.

On the Lius Trading Firm's side, the middle-aged man in the brocade robe also gave an order.

"Guards, assist the officials in suppressing the Bandits!"

Over twenty guards also charged forward.

The three parties were instantly embroiled in a chaotic melee.

Lin Muchen took advantage of the chaos to dodge to the side, shrinking behind a large boulder.

"System, scan the battle situation."

[Scanning...]

[The ten Bandits of Black Wind Stockade are being surrounded by the Criminal Investigation Department officials and the caravan guards; they have fallen into a disadvantage.]

[Black Wind Sha is fighting the Criminal Investigation Department leader; their cultivations are comparable, but Black Wind Sha's Physical Body is stronger, giving him a slight upper hand.]

[The caravan's middle-aged man in the brocade robe (Early Foundation Establishment) is providing support from the side, occasionally attacking to interfere with Black Wind Sha.]

Lin Muchen watched.

Black Wind Sha was indeed fierce.

He swung his demon head blade with formidable power; although the Criminal Investigation Department leader's cultivation was one level higher, he couldn't take him down immediately.

But the Bandits' side was failing.

Ten against more than thirty; soon, three were cut down.

"Need to add some fuel to the fire."

Lin Muchen took out the last two Fireball Talismans from his Storage Pouch.

He aimed at Black Wind Sha's back.

"Go!"

The two Fireball Talismans turned into red light and whizzed through the air.

Black Wind Sha was focusing all his efforts on the Criminal Investigation Department leader when he suddenly felt heat behind him.

He spun around abruptly and slashed with his demon head blade.

Boom!

The fireballs exploded.

Although they didn't injure him, they caused his movements to stall.

The Criminal Investigation Department leader seized the opportunity and stabbed toward his ribs.

Black Wind Sha barely managed to dodge, but his clothes were sliced open.

"Who is it?!" he roared.

Lin Muchen had already changed his position.

"System, is there a way to severely wound him?"

[Analyzing...]

[Black Wind Sha Cultivates a technique to strengthen his Physical Body; his weaknesses are his Dantian and his eyes.]

[Recommendation: The Host can remotely control the Origin Star's Five Elements energy, condensing the sharp power of the Metal Element into a needle to launch a sneak attack on his eyes.]

"Metal Element energy, come!"

Lin Muchen moved his mind.

A tiny wisp of energy separated from the silver-white light ball in his belly, following his Meridians to his fingertip.

He aimed at Black Wind Sha's eyes.

"Go!"

That wisp of energy flew out silently.

Black Wind Sha was swinging his blade to parry the Criminal Investigation Department leader's attack when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his eye.

"Ah!"

He let out a miserable scream as his left eye instantly went blurry.

The Criminal Investigation Department leader seized the chance and slashed his shoulder.

Puchi!

Blood splattered.

Black Wind Sha staggered back.

"Boss!" Several Bandits tried to rush over to save him.

But they were firmly blocked by the officials and guards.

Black Wind Sha clutched his shoulder, his single eye bloodshot.

He knew he was finished today.

"Retreat! Everyone retreat!"

He turned and tried to run.

The Criminal Investigation Department leader was not about to let him go.

"Chase him!"

Several officials surrounded him.

Black Wind Sha fought desperately, his demon head blade dancing wildly, and he actually managed to break through a gap.

He bolted toward the mountain forest.

Lin Muchen watched.

"Can't let him escape."

He dashed out from behind the rock, going at full speed to give chase.

Black Wind Sha was seriously injured, and his speed had slowed significantly.

Lin Muchen caught up quickly.

"Little brat, it's you!" Black Wind Sha glared at Lin Muchen with his one eye. "I won't let you off even as a ghost!"

He turned and slashed with his blade.

Lin Muchen sidestepped to dodge and stabbed his star dagger toward the man's ribs with a backhand strike.

Black Wind Sha swung his blade to parry.

But due to his injuries and his single eye, his movement was half a beat slow.

Puchi!

The star dagger sank three inches into his ribs.

Black Wind Sha groaned and kicked at Lin Muchen.

Lin Muchen was struck in the chest and knocked back several steps, his blood and Qi churning.

But Black Wind Sha was in even worse shape.

Blood poured from the wound in his side like a fountain.

At that moment, the Criminal Investigation Department leader caught up.

"Black Wind Sha, surrender!"

Black Wind Sha looked at Lin Muchen, then at the approaching officials, and knew he couldn't escape.

He gave a miserable laugh.

"I'm done for... I admit defeat."

He threw down his demon head blade and raised his hands.

The Criminal Investigation Department leader stepped forward and bound him with a specialized chain.

The battle was over.

Six Bandits were dead, and four were captured.

Three caravan guards were dead, and five were injured.

Two officials were injured.

Lin Muchen stood to the side, watching Black Wind Sha being led away.

The middle-aged man in the brocade robe walked over and cupped his hands to the Criminal Investigation Department leader.

"Thank you, Sir, for arriving in time."

"It was my duty." The Criminal Investigation Department leader glanced at Lin Muchen. "And this is?"

Lin Muchen had long since put on his Disguise Mask; his face was that of an ordinary young man.

"A passing Cultivator; seeing Black Wind Stockade's plundering, I lent a hand."

"Oh?" The Criminal Investigation Department leader sized him up. "Foundation Establishment Stage? To be so young, not bad."

He didn't ask further and turned to handle the aftermath.

The middle-aged man in the brocade robe looked at Lin Muchen.

"Little brother, thank you. If you hadn't lured them out, we might have truly suffered today."

"It was nothing," Lin Muchen waved his hand.

He didn't want to linger.

"Since the matter is settled, I shall take my leave."

With that, he turned and left, quickly disappearing into the night.

The middle-aged man in the brocade robe wanted to call him back, but the person was already gone.

"What an air of an expert," he sighed with emotion.

...

Lin Muchen ran for ten li before finally stopping.

He took off the mask and caught his breath.

"System, settlement."

[Settling the mission to eradicate Black Wind Stockade...]

[Killed six Qi Refinement Stage Bandits: points +600.]

[Assisted in capturing Black Wind Sha (Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage): points +2000.]

[Disrupted Black Wind Stockade's plundering plan: points +1000.]

[Total: 3600 points.]

[Current points balance: 6504 points.]

Lin Muchen smiled.

Six thousand five hundred.

He would soon have ten thousand.

"System, are there any remnants left at Black Wind Stockade?"

[Scanning Black Wind Valley...]

[Approximately twenty Bandits remain in the valley; their cultivations are generally low. They have fallen into chaos after their leader's capture, and some are packing their belongings to flee.]

[Recommendation: The Host can return to Black Rock City to submit the bounty mission and claim the full rewards.]

"Let's go."

Lin Muchen turned and headed toward Black Rock City.

The night grew deeper.

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became.

Ten thousand points would be enough to exchange for Human Refugees.

The Origin Star civilization was finally about to take a critical step forward.

But before that, he had to completely settle matters here in Black Rock City.

He glanced back toward Black Wind Valley.

The corners of his mouth curled up.

Driving the tiger to devour the wolf.

This plan was a success.