10: Chapter 10 The Sound of Hooves

The fragments were scalding hot.

Lu Zhao pressed his hand against his chest; even through his cotton coat, his fingertips could feel the metal fragments rapidly heating up, nearly searing into his flesh. The sensation in his spiritual platform grew increasingly urgent, like a wild alarm bell ringing:

[Earth Vein Anomaly! The core of the remnant Formation is being forcibly drained of energy by an unknown power!]

[Warning: Energy imbalance will lead to the collapse of the Formation base, backlashing against the one presiding over it!]

His heart jolted violently, yet he dared not let any of it show on his Face. At this moment, with three parties facing off at the village entrance, any slight disturbance could shatter the delicate balance and lead to unpredictable consequences.

Liu Three-Knives and Boss Wu were still in a standoff.

Over twenty riders of the Liu Family Black Armor Guard fanned out in a semicircle. Though they hadn't drawn their blades, their hands were all resting on their hilts. Their horses stepped lightly on the snow, producing rhythmic "clack, clack" sounds that were thick with pressure. Liu Three-Knives sat tall on his horse, his triangular eyes coldly scanning the battlefield before finally landing on Boss Wu's single eye.

"Boss Wu," he repeated, his voice devoid of emotion. "The three hundred miles of Black Mountain are Liu Family territory. You've crossed the line."

Boss Wu's Face was ashen. His bandit followers had just been ambushed by the remnant Formation, suffering over a dozen casualties; their morale was already crushed. With the Liu Family suddenly intervening, if they truly came to blows, he would be attacked from both sides and have no chance of victory.

But having dominated Black Mountain for years with a fearsome reputation, how could he easily bow his head?

"Liu Three-Knives!" Boss Wu's single eye flashed with a murderous light. "Yangjiao Ravine owes my Funiu Gang a blood debt! Today, I will slaughter this village. Does your Liu Family intend to stop me?"

A cold sneer curled at the corner of Liu Three-Knives' mouth.

"Slaughter the village?" He pointed his horsewhip vaguely at the bandit corpses littering the ground. "It looks to me like you've kicked a steel plate."

Boss Wu's chest heaved, and the veins on the back of the hand gripping the reins bulged. The bandits behind him were silent, with only the sound of the whistling wind and snow.

Taking advantage of this gap, Lu Zhao suppressed the turmoil in his heart and focused a sliver of his mind into the fragments in his robe.

His perception spread out along the faint connection between the fragments and the remnant Formation—the Earth Vein energy at the nine Formation Base Stones beneath the locust tree was being frantically drained by a bizarre suction! It wasn't flowing upward into the Formation Plate, but downward, leaking deep into the ground as if an abyss were swallowing it from below!

He suddenly remembered the fork deep in the grotto, the eerie blue light behind the crack, the sound of dripping water, and the blood-stained cloth.

Could it be...

While he was pondering, Liu Three-Knives' voice rang out again, this time directed at Lu Zhao.

"Kid." His gaze fell upon Lu Zhao. "Last night, my Liu Family received an urgent report saying the Funiu Gang intended to wash Yangjiao Ravine in blood. Although I was handling business in the prefecture city, my heart was with my fellow villagers, so I specifically brought men back."

He paused, his tone full of hidden meaning.

"It seems I've arrived just in time."

Lu Zhao's thoughts raced. Liu Three-Knives' words were half-true and half-false; the part about his "heart being with his fellow villagers" was obviously nonsense, but "arriving just in time" held a hidden edge—he was here to reap the rewards. He would wait for both sides to be exhausted and then harvest everything in the name of "upholding justice."

Currently, the remnant Formation's energy was imbalanced and could collapse at any moment. His side was exhausted; if they fought to the death with the Funiu Gang now, it would be a total disaster.

He had to borrow strength.

Lu Zhao looked up and met Liu Three-Knives' gaze.

"Steward Liu's righteousness is great." He cupped his hands, his tone flat. "The Funiu Gang invaded without cause and slaughtered villagers. Fortunately, the Liu Family has come to uphold justice. However..."

His tone shifted.

"Boss Wu said just now that Yangjiao Ravine owes him a blood debt. I wonder, where did this 'debt' come from?"

Boss Wu's single eye widened. "Stop playing dumb! Last night, three of my scouts died in your village, their bodies gone! Today, my second-in-command, Scarface Li, was heavily wounded and forced to retreat—is that not a blood debt?!"

"Scouts?" Lu Zhao raised an eyebrow. "What scouts? Last night, some bandits indeed sneaked into the village with ill intent and were repelled by the villagers in self-defense. As for the bodies..."

He paused and looked at Liu Three-Knives.

"Steward Liu should know that within these three hundred miles of Black Mountain, banditry is never-ending. Often, rogue bandits pose as various factions to commit robberies, then frame others to stir up conflict and reap the benefits."

These words were airtight. He not only denied killing the "Funiu Gang scouts" but also characterized last night's conflict as "self-defense against rogue bandits," while further hinting that someone might be framing them.

Boss Wu trembled with rage. "Bullshit! Those three had my Funiu Gang's tokens on them!"

"Tokens?" Lu Zhao countered. "What tokens? May we see them? Or perhaps someone killed your brothers, took their tokens, and then posed as them?"

Boss Wu choked on his words. The bodies of those three scouts had long been disposed of, so the tokens naturally couldn't be recovered. He opened his mouth to curse, but saw Liu Three-Knives' gaze growing cold.

How shrewd was Liu Three-Knives? He immediately caught the subtext. Lu Zhao had kicked the ball to him—if he admitted that Funiu Gang scouts died in Yangjiao Ravine, it would be equivalent to admitting that the security under Liu Family rule was poor and bandits were rampant. If he didn't admit it, he could use the opportunity to suppress the matter and maintain a facade of peace.

And what Liu Three-Knives wanted was the antidote and control over Yangjiao Ravine, not a full-blown battle with the Funiu Gang right now.

"Boss Wu," Liu Three-Knives spoke slowly. "I see there is indeed something suspicious about this matter. How about this: you withdraw your troops for now and allow me to investigate the truth. If Yangjiao Ravine truly killed your brothers without cause, my Liu Family will never be biased."

These words sounded grand, but they harbored malicious intent. Withdraw? Investigate? Once the Funiu Gang left, whether Yangjiao Ravine was crushed or molded would be entirely up to him.

Boss Wu's single eye was bloodshot. He stared fixedly at Liu Three-Knives, then glared at Lu Zhao, his chest heaving violently.

After a long while, he suddenly began to grin savagely.

"Good, quite the Liu Three-Knives, and quite the sharp-tongued kid."

He jerked his horse around.

"Today, I'll give the Liu Family Face."

"But we are leaving!"

The Funiu Gang bandits felt as if they had been granted a grand reprieve. They hurriedly gathered their companions' corpses, supported the wounded, and retreated in a panic. Hooves trampled the snow, kicking up dust as they quickly disappeared into the forest.

Only the Liu Family Black Armor Guard and the blood-soaked people of Yangjiao Ravine remained at the village entrance.

The snow grew heavier, quickly covering the traces of the recent fierce battle.

Liu Three-Knives did not dismount. He looked down at Lu Zhao from his horse, his triangular eyes narrowing into slits.

"Kid, I gave you three days to prepare the winter defense tax, not to cause trouble."

Lu Zhao responded calmly, "The bandit trouble came on its own; it was not my wish. If Steward Liu hadn't arrived in time today, Yangjiao Ravine might have suffered a catastrophe. I will remember this favor."

"A favor?" Liu Three-Knives laughed. "What I want isn't a favor. I want the antidote, the winter defense tax, and order."

He tapped his palm lightly with his horsewhip.

"There are two days left of the three-day limit. In two days, I will come in person to collect. If you can't produce them..."

His gaze swept across the dilapidated village, over the blood-stained Faces of Yan Meng, Zhong Tiegu, and the others, finally landing back on Lu Zhao.

"The Funiu Gang can come a first time, and they can come a second. And my Liu Family... might not be able to 'arrive in time' every single time."

These words were a naked threat.

With that, Liu Three-Knives waved his hand, and the Black Armor Guard turned their horses in unison, riding away through the snow.

Not until the last rider disappeared from sight did the tense atmosphere in front of the ancestral hall suddenly relax.

With several "thuds," a few heavily injured villagers collapsed to the ground. Granny Xue and Qin Wan rushed forward to treat them.

Yan Meng leaned on his broken spear, panting heavily. Zhong Tiegu sat down in the snow with a "clang" as his iron staff hit the ground. He Shan slid down from the roof, his quiver completely empty.

Lu Zhao, however, did not dare to relax. He walked quickly to the locust tree and pressed his hand against the ground.

The remnant Formation's energy had weakened to the extreme. The connection between the nine Formation Base Stones and the earth veins was almost severed, leaving only a faint, nearly imperceptible warmth, like a candle in the wind. And that bizarre suction that had been frantically draining energy had also stopped now, as if it had never existed.

But Lu Zhao knew it wasn't an illusion.

There was definitely something wrong deep in the grotto.

"Mr. Lu." Wen Qian walked over with a pale Face. He had been presiding over the formation core just now; although he hadn't directly guided it, he was still affected when the Formation drained energy, and his blood and qi were currently in turmoil. "The Formation... seems to have failed."

"It didn't fail; the energy was drained dry," Lu Zhao said in a low voice. "Master Wen, take some men and guard the village entrance. I'm going to the back mountain."

"Now?" Wen Qian was startled. "The Funiu Gang has just retreated, and the Liu Family is watching like a tiger. It's too dangerous for you to go into the mountains alone."

"I must go." Lu Zhao looked toward the grotto, his gaze solemn. "That thing can drain Earth Vein energy from a distance. If we don't find out what it is, the next time it acts up, we might not even get a chance to set up a Formation."

He Shan walked over upon hearing this. "I'll go with you."

"You stay." Lu Zhao shook his head. "The village needs someone to preside over it. Your archery is the best; if the Funiu Gang returns or the Liu Family makes another move, only you can provide a deterrent."

He paused and looked at Yan Meng and Zhong Tiegu.

"Brother Yan, Brother Zhong, hurry and take time to rest, treat the wounded, and reinforce the defenses. I'll be back soon."

Although the two were uneasy, seeing Lu Zhao's determined expression, they could only nod.

Lu Zhao went back into the house to get a short blade and tucked those hot fragments close to his body. The temperature of the fragments had dropped, but holding them in his hand, he could still feel a faint pulsation, as if resonating with something in the distance.

He left the village and headed toward the back mountain. The snow was past his ankles, making walking difficult. But under the circulation of the Nine Yang Divine Skill's True Qi, warmth rose from the soles of his feet, allowing him to tread on the snow without leaving a trace; his speed was actually thirty percent faster than usual.

Vines hung over the grotto entrance, and snow covered it. Tian Dali was guarding the entrance with a wood-cutting knife. Seeing Lu Zhao arrive, he hurried to meet him.

"Mr. Lu, why are you here? The village..."

"It's temporarily stabilized," Lu Zhao interrupted him. "Is there anything unusual in the cave?"

Tian Dali's expression changed. "Yes! Just now, the ground suddenly shook for about a dozen breaths. The sound of dripping water in the cave became extremely rapid, like... like something was crashing down below."

Just as I thought!

Lu Zhao's heart tightened. "Where are Qin Wan and the wounded?"

"They're all inside; they didn't dare enter the fork."

"I'll go in and take a look. Guard the entrance well. No matter what sounds you hear, do not let anyone in without my signal."

Tian Dali nodded heavily.

Lu Zhao bent down and ducked into the grotto. The cave passage was narrow and damp, and the water marks on the walls were even more pronounced. Upon reaching the stone chamber, he saw Qin Wan and several women guarding the wounded; they all rose to their feet as he entered.

"Mr. Lu..."

"Stay here, don't move." Lu Zhao signaled them to be quiet, his gaze shifting toward the fork in the path deep within the stone chamber.

The stones at the entrance of the fork had been re-blocked, but a faint blue light seeped through the gaps, casting a strange glow on the surrounding stone walls. The sound of dripping water was as dense as a drumbeat, interspersed with a low, muffled rumble that sounded like giant rocks grinding together.

Lu Zhao walked to the fork and listened intently.

The rumble came from the very depths, its rhythm steady, each sound causing the rock walls to vibrate slightly. Meanwhile, the Formation Plate fragment in his robe grew hot in time with the rhythmic rumbling.

He took a deep breath and moved the stones blocking the entrance.

A cold blue light rushed toward him, carrying a bone-chilling frost. A thin layer of ice had formed on the inner walls of the passage, and the water on the ground had risen above his ankles, freezing cold to the touch.

Lu Zhao circulated his Nine Yang True Qi to protect his body and slowly ventured deeper. The further he went, the heavier the chill became and the faster the water dripped. After about thirty steps, the path ahead suddenly opened up.

It was a natural grotto, about five zhang across. Countless stalactites hung from the ceiling, their tips encrusted with ice crystals. The cold blue light emanated from within these crystals, illuminating the entire grotto like the underworld.

In the center of the grotto was a pool. The water was pitch black and appeared bottomless. Ripples constantly spread across the surface, and a whirlpool turned slowly in the center. That low, muffled rumble was coming from the bottom of the pool.

What startled Lu Zhao even more was that a circle of complex patterns was clearly carved into the ground around the pool!

The patterns shared the same origin as those on the Formation Plate fragment but were more complete and exquisite. They radiated outward from the pool, with each line deeply embedded in the rock. The surface was covered in thin ice, beneath which a dark red glow flowed faintly, like congealed blood.

At this moment, the circle of patterns was glowing faintly. With the rhythm of the rumbling from the bottom of the pool, the patterns' light alternated between bright and dim. Each time they lit up, the fragment in Lu Zhao's robe grew a bit hotter.

He crouched down and lightly touched one of the patterns with his finger.

A bone-chilling cold shot up his fingertip, nearly freezing his Meridians. Simultaneously, a violent, hateful, and malevolent aura surged into his mind through the point of contact!

Fragmented images suddenly flashed before his eyes:

Mountains of corpses and seas of blood, severed limbs and broken arms. Countless figures were locked in slaughter, Sword Qi crisscrossed, and Magic Treasures roared. A tall figure stood in a pool of blood, holding a Formation Plate and roaring at the heavens. Then, the heavens collapsed and the earth split, the Formation Plate shattered, and the figure fell into the abyss...

The vision came to an abrupt halt.

Lu Zhao jerked his hand back, his Face pale and cold sweat beading on his forehead.

What was sealed within these patterns was the residual killing intent and resentment from an Ancient Battlefield! And the thing at the bottom of the pool was absorbing this malevolent aura while remotely drawing energy from the Locust Tree Remnant Formation through the earth veins!

What did it want to do?

While he was lost in shock and suspicion, the whirlpool in the pool suddenly accelerated!

"Gurgle, gurgle—"

Bubbles surged from the bottom and burst, releasing a pungent scent of mixed rust and rotted earth. The cold blue light flashed violently, the patterns on the ground glowed brilliantly, and the entire grotto began to shake!

The fragment in Lu Zhao's robe grew so hot he could barely hold it. His spiritual platform sent out a frantic warning:

[Evil Aura Awakening! Retreat immediately!]

Without hesitation, he turned and retreated rapidly!

Just as he rushed out of the fork, a loud "boom" echoed behind him! The entire cave shook violently, and rubble rustled down. Everyone in the stone chamber cried out in alarm, and Qin Wan pulled the child beside her into a tight embrace.

The tremors lasted for seven or eight breaths before gradually subsiding.

Lu Zhao looked back into the depths of the fork. The cold blue light had dimmed, and the churning of the pool water had stopped, leaving only the sound of dripping water as before.

But that malevolent aura had not vanished.

It was lurking, waiting.

"Mr. Lu, just now..." Qin Wan's voice trembled.

"It's fine," Lu Zhao said in a heavy voice. "But this fork must be completely sealed off. Use giant stones and mud; the thicker the seal, the better."

He walked out of the cave as dusk approached.

The snow had stopped temporarily, but the clouds were thicker, pressing down on the dim light of day. The distant mountains were like ink, and the nearby forest was deathly silent.

Tian Dali breathed a sigh of relief when he saw him come out. "Inside..."

"There's some trouble," Lu Zhao didn't go into detail. "Get some men to block the fork completely. Also, we can't stay in the cave for long; we need to find another hiding place."

Tian Dali's Face turned pale, but he didn't dare ask more and hurried off to call the men.

Lu Zhao stood at the cave entrance, looking toward Yangjiao Ravine.

The remnant Formation was destroyed, the cave had changed, the Funiu Gang was watching like a tiger, and the Liu Family was pressing closer with every step.

Troubles were mounting both inside and out.

He gripped the fragment in his hand, its cool touch helping his mind steady slightly.

He had to improve his strength as quickly as possible and ensure the villagers had the power to protect themselves.

It was already dark when he returned to the village.

A bonfire was lit in the ancestral hall, and the wounded were huddled around it for warmth. Granny Xue was brewing medicine, and Qin Wan was distributing the few remaining dry rations. He Shan, Yan Meng, Zhong Tiegu, and others were gathered in a corner, discussing in low voices.

Seeing Lu Zhao return, everyone flocked to him.

"How is it?" He Shan asked urgently.

Lu Zhao shook his head. "There is an ancient evil entity deep in the cave that can remotely draw energy through the earth veins. The Locust Tree Remnant Formation was drained dry by it. I've already had the fork sealed, but we can no longer hide people there."

Everyone's hearts sank. The cave was their last retreat, and now even that was gone.

"Then next..." Yan Meng's voice was dry.

Lu Zhao walked to the bonfire, the firelight reflecting off his calm Face.

"Next, we will do three things."

He held up one finger.

"First, starting tonight, I will teach everyone the 'Basic Blood and Qi Circulation Method'. We aren't cultivating immortality, only practicing martial arts. We'll train until our blood and qi are vigorous and our bones and muscles are strong, so that when you have a blade in your hand, you'll dare to strike."

He held up a second finger.

"Second, rebuild our defenses. Although the remnant Formation is destroyed, I've understood its principles. Master Mo still has some Materials; we will make simple traps and mechanisms ourselves to turn the village into a hedgehog. Anyone who comes will have to lose a layer of skin."

He held up a third finger.

"Third, we strike first."

Everyone was stunned.

"Strike? Strike whom?" Zhong Tiegu asked.

"The Funiu Gang." Lu Zhao's gaze swept over everyone. "They retreated today because the Liu Family intervened, not because they feared us. Once they recover, they will surely return. Rather than waiting, it's better to catch them off guard and take out their scouts and supplies first."

He Shan's eyes lit up. "You mean... ambush their scout lines and cut off their supply routes?"

"Correct." Lu Zhao nodded. "The Funiu Gang's lair is at Black Wind Ridge, and they must pass through Xigou and Wild Wolf Slope to get to Black Mountain City. We have few people, so we can't confront their lair head-on, but we can use guerrilla harassment to ensure they have no peace."

Yan Meng pondered. "This method is feasible. The Funiu Gang bandits are undisciplined; except for a few leaders, most are just a rabble. We can specifically target stragglers and small supply teams, hitting them and then running before they can catch up."

"But the risk is also great," Wen Qian said worriedly. "If we are surrounded..."

"That's why we must be fast, ruthless, and secretive," Lu Zhao said. "Brother He is familiar with the mountains and forests, Brother Yan knows military Formations, and Brother Zhong has great strength; you are perfectly suited for this kind of harassment warfare. The rest will defend the village and focus on martial arts training."

He paused.

"This is our only chance at survival. Staying on the defensive is a dead end; only by fighting back and showing our might can we make the Funiu Gang feel that the cost of attacking us is too high and make the Liu Family hesitate to easily turn against us. Only then can we survive."

The ancestral hall was silent, save for the crackling of the bonfire.

After a long while, He Shan was the first to speak.

"I'll do it."

Yan Meng nodded. "Count me in."

Zhong Tiegu grinned. "We should have done this long ago!"

The others also voiced their agreement one after another. In their desperate situation, a sense of desperate ruthlessness had been ignited.

Looking at these Faces, Lu Zhao suddenly felt the qi in his chest grow a bit stronger.

He sat down cross-legged.

"Good. Then we begin teaching the technique now."

The bonfire flickered, casting their shadows on the wall like a pack of lurking beasts.

Meanwhile, at the Funiu Gang's lair on Black Wind Ridge.

Boss Wu's single eye was bloodshot as he smashed the wine bowl in his hand onto the ground.

"Liu Three-Knives! And that little brat named Lu Zhao! If I don't tear you both into ten thousand pieces, I am not a man!"

The leaders sitting below him were all as silent as cicadas in winter.

"Big Brother." A thin, tall man spoke cautiously. "The Liu Family is powerful; we'll lose out in a head-on clash. Why don't we... wait a few days? Wait until Liu Three-Knives has collected the winter defense tax from Yangjiao Ravine and let down his guard. Then we'll launch a night raid and take out the Liu Family's men as well!"

Boss Wu's single eye flickered.

"You mean... framing them?"

"Exactly!" The thin, tall man chuckled darkly. "We'll do it cleanly and leave some of the Liu Family's belongings at the scene. When the time comes, Liu Zhenxiong will be furious and will surely settle the score with Yangjiao Ravine. We'll watch the tigers fight from the mountaintop and wait for them both to be wounded before we step in to pick up the pieces."

Boss Wu slowly sat down, the murderous light in his single eye fading into a dark gloom.

"That makes sense."

He grabbed a wine jar and took a large gulp.

"Then we wait."

"Wait for Liu Three-Knives to go to Yangjiao Ravine again."

"When that time comes..."

He grinned, revealing stark white teeth.

"Leave no one alive."

The night was deep.

In the Yangjiao Ravine ancestral hall, Lu Zhao was using a piece of charcoal to draw a blood and qi circulation diagram on the floor, explaining the key points.

In the distant mountains and forests, the wind and snow rose again.

And deep within the cave, behind the fork sealed by giant stones, the cold blue light flickered intermittently.

The pool water rippled slightly.

Deep beneath the water, something seemed to have opened its eyes.

The three-day period passed in the blink of an eye.

On the morning of the fourth day.

As expected, Liu Three-Knives personally led thirty Black Armor Guards to the village entrance. At the same time, an urgent report came from the lookout post on the back mountain—a large force from the Funiu Gang was quietly closing in from the west and north! In an instant, Yangjiao Ravine was plunged into a desperate death trap!