SWDnovel Chapter 84: Shifting the Blame East
Chapter 84: Shifting the Blame East
Deep in the vast mountains, the chill of late autumn already had a biting edge.
The entrance to Qixing'ao is actually a natural crevice, barely wide enough for three or four people to pass side by side, between two towering, dark blue cliffs. The cliffs, formed by a landslide at an unknown time, are sheer and barren, with only a few withered vines hanging from the very top, trembling in the harsh mountain winds. Above the crevice, the jagged cliff tops on either side block out the sun, allowing only a sliver of pale light to penetrate the valley floor around midday. Even that light is cold, falling on the damp, moss-covered gravel at the valley entrance, offering no warmth but instead making the surrounding shadows appear even darker and more intense.
At this moment, two camps have already been set up on the high slopes on both sides of the valley entrance.
The camp was hastily set up but practical, a simple fence made of sharpened wooden stakes, inside which stood a dozen or so drab cowhide tents. Stones were weighed down on top of the tents to prevent them from being blown over by the mountain winds at night. A campfire was lit, its orange flames leaping in the deepening twilight, illuminating the shadowy figures moving about. Most of these figures wore armor similar in style to the standard leather armor of the Demon Suppression Bureau, but clearly of superior quality and better maintained. Their weapons varied in design, ranging from long, narrow scimitars to heavy broadswords, and a few carried enormous bows almost as tall as themselves on their backs. They gathered in small groups, some leaning against the stakes polishing their weapons, others sitting around the fire chatting and laughing quietly. Occasionally, when their gazes swept towards the deep crevice below the valley entrance, an expression unconsciously surfaced on their faces—a mixture of contempt, cruelty, and a barely concealed excitement—the look of a hunter seeing its prey step into a trap.
Liu Xiong stood with his hands behind his back at the edge of the high-slope camp on the left, his dark green official robe fluttering slightly in the mountain breeze. He wore no crown, only a black ebony hairpin to bind his hair, and his face appeared even paler than usual in the twilight, even radiating a cold, jade-like light. A faint smile played on his lips as he calmly gazed at the winding mountain path beyond the valley, like a host patiently awaiting his guests.
On the mountain path, a dozen or so figures were slowly but steadily approaching.
Lin Yan led the way, clad in indigo-blue leather armor befitting the Demon Suppression Division, over which lay a worn cloak. Behind him followed ten identically dressed team members, their backs ramrod straight, their steps perfectly synchronized, each footstep making a heavy thud on the gravel path. Lu Ling, Zhou Fu, Wang Dashan, and Zhao Si were among them, their faces expressionless, their lips tightly pressed together, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords, ready to be drawn at any moment, their gazes sharp as eagles.
In the middle of the column, a slightly slender young soldier with delicate features followed closely behind Zhou Fu, his head bowed. His leather armor seemed a little too large, the collar tightly bound, revealing only a section of his fair neck. This was Su Qingyao, disguised as an ordinary soldier. She had smeared some dirt on her face to conceal her overly delicate skin, and thickened her eyebrows, making her appear at first glance like a taciturn new recruit. Only her eyes, occasionally raised and glancing over the high slopes and camps on either side, were clear and calm, containing a caution and calculation imperceptible to others.
The group stopped at the bottom of the valley.
Lin Yan looked up, his gaze piercing through the dozens of feet of distance and the howling mountain wind, meeting Liu Xiong's eyes on the high slope. He clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice low but clear: "This humble officer, Lin Yan, has led my troops to join you. May I ask what Commander Liu's plans are?"
Liu Xiong's smile deepened. He took two steps forward, walked to the edge of the slope, and looked down at the small team below. His gaze lingered on Lin Yan's face for a moment, then slowly swept over the other team members before he said gently, "Inspector Lin, your arrival is timely. The military situation is urgent and cannot be delayed. I have already investigated and found that the source of the monster's unusual activity is deep within this valley. To prevent the monster from taking advantage of the situation to break out and harm all sides, I have led my troops to guard this strategic point. The important task of investigating the valley and finding the source of the unusual activity will have to be undertaken by Inspector Lin."
He paused, his tone growing increasingly earnest, as if genuinely concerned for Lin Yan: "Brother Lin, your courage and determination are extraordinary, and you have already made a name for yourself in the battle of Black Wind Ravine. This expedition, though perilous, is also an opportunity to establish your merits. I will be here to support you, and if anything goes wrong, I will provide full support. There is no time to lose; please lead your team into the ravine as soon as possible and return as soon as possible."
These words, spoken with grandiloquent sincerity, seemed to anyone who heard them to be a superior's reliance on and trust in a capable subordinate. However, the phrase "provide full support" carried a chilling irony against the backdrop of the howling mountain wind and the mocking gazes from the high slopes on either side.
Lin Yan remained calm and simply nodded slightly: "This subordinate obeys." After saying that, he said no more and turned to give a brief gesture to the team members behind him.
The ten team members immediately changed formation: three with shields in front, four with crossbows in the middle, and three with knives at the rear. Their formation was tight and their movements swift, clearly demonstrating their well-trained nature. Lin Yan took the lead, stepping into the deep, beast-like crevice.
The mountain wind suddenly intensified, pouring out from the depths of the crevice, carrying a damp, musty smell and a faint, fishy odor, making their clothes flutter loudly. The light quickly dimmed, and the shadows cast by the sheer cliffs on both sides, like two giant, clasped hands, slowly swallowed the small group.
On the high slope, Liu Xiong watched Lin Yan and the others disappear completely into the depths of the crevice, the warm smile on his face slowly fading like the tide. He turned around and whispered to a burly man beside him, dressed in dark red tight-fitting clothes and with a hideous scar on his face, "Scarface, take four clever men and follow them. Remember, wait until they've gone deep into the monster's territory and are far enough away from the valley entrance before you make your move."
The man known as "Scarface" grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, his eyes flashing with ferocity: "Don't worry, Captain, we'll make sure they don't even have a bone fragment left." He waved to the man behind him, and immediately four men with equally fierce expressions stepped forward. Each of them took out a small bag, about the size of a fist, carefully wrapped in oiled paper, and carefully stuffed it into the pocket close to their chest.
"The Blood-Boiling Powder is ready." Scarface lowered his voice, a cruel glint in his eyes. "Once it's scattered, those beasts will go mad from the smell. Then... hehehe."
Liu Xiong waved his hand dismissively, saying indifferently, "Go, but be careful not to leave any traces."
The five men with scars bowed and accepted the order. Like five venomous snakes disappearing into the shadows, they silently slid down the slope and quickly disappeared into the deep crevice.
Liu Xiong turned around again, looking at the valley entrance, and stood with his hands behind his back. The twilight deepened, and the last rays of sunset on the horizon were like blood, casting an uncertain shadow on half of his face.
……
Inside the fissure, the terrain is more complex than imagined.
At first, it was a narrow, sliver of sky, but after walking only a hundred paces, it suddenly opened up, revealing a huge, gourd-shaped valley. The valley was dimly lit, shrouded in a thick, perpetually shrouded grayish-white miasma, allowing only a few hazy rays of light to filter through. The ground was littered with jagged rocks, and strangely colored, twisted shrubs and vines grew from the crevices, their leaves mostly dark red or purplish-black, gleaming oily in the dim light. A strange, cloying stench, tinged with decay, permeated the air; inhaling it made one's throat itch and one's chest feel nauseous.
Lin Yan stopped and raised his hand to signal the group to halt. He closed his eyes, and a warm throbbing emanated from the ancient Spirit Devouring Mark on his chest and abdomen. His dark gray true essence flowed silently, pushing his spiritual senses to their limit, spreading outwards like an invisible spiderweb.
A few breaths later, he opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on a certain direction deep within the valley. There, he clearly sensed an intense, violent, yet cunning and agile aura, like a cluster of golden flames burning in the dark night, clearly discernible even across the vast distance and heavy miasma. The strength of that aura far exceeded what one would expect from a Transcendent Realm cultivator, even faintly carrying the pressure of a Core Formation Realm cultivator!
The Golden Flame Fox... is indeed not as simple as just a late-stage Profound Realm cultivator.
He carefully sensed his surroundings again but found no other powerful entity that could rival the aura of the golden flames. The Silverback Ape King should not be here. The territoriality among demonic beasts is extremely strong; it's impossible for two Core Formation Realm demonic beasts to peacefully coexist in the same valley.
"My lord?" Lu Ling leaned forward and asked in a low voice. He also sensed the strange atmosphere and his hand was already on the hilt of his sword.
Lin Yan didn't answer immediately, but tilted his ear slightly, as if listening to the wind. After a moment, he whispered, "Lu Ling, Zhao Si."
"Yes!" the two replied in unison.
"You two, return the way you came and hide behind the pile of rocks a hundred feet from the entrance." Lin Yan's voice was extremely low, only those around him could hear it. "If someone follows you in after an incense stick's time... capture them and take them alive."
Lu Ling and Zhao Si exchanged a glance, a sudden realization flashing in their eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, they bowed and accepted the order, then turned and disappeared silently into the shadows they had come from, like cats.
Lin Yan then turned to the remaining team members, his gaze sweeping over them, and said in a deep voice, "Rest where you are and remain vigilant. Zhou Fu, take two men and set up a simple tripwire and bell thirty feet ahead."
"Yes!" Zhou Fu accepted the order and immediately selected a shield-wielding team member and a crossbow-wielding team member, crouching down and reaching forward.
Wang Dashan spontaneously led another team member, holding a shield and standing in front of Lin Yan, watching the surrounding dark bushes and jagged rocks warily.
Su Qingyao leaned quietly against a slightly flat bluestone, took out a coarse flatbread from her bosom, and slowly broke it into pieces to eat. Her movements were natural, but beneath her lowered eyelids, her gaze swiftly swept across her surroundings, memorizing every potentially dangerous spot and every strangely shaped plant. Her hand rested seemingly casually on her waist, her fingertips only inches away from the specially made short dagger engraved with simple runes.
Time flowed slowly in the silence. The miasma in the valley seemed to thicken, and the light grew dimmer. In the distance, the faint, intermittent chirping of unknown insects added to the eeriness of the place.
About half an incense stick's time later, from the direction they came, came several very faint muffled sounds, almost drowned out by the wind, and short, forcibly suppressed exclamations.
Lin Yan's eyes flashed, and he raised his hand to make a "shush" gesture.
A moment later, two figures darted back from the shadows; it was Lu Ling and Zhao Si. Each of them carried two men, their hands bound behind their backs, their mouths stuffed with rags, their faces deathly pale. Zhao Si also had one more tucked under his arm—five men in total, Scarface's gang. All five were disarmed, tightly bound, their faces filled with horror and disbelief.
Lu Ling threw the two men on the ground and whispered to Lin Yan, "Sir, there really were tails. These five people were sneaking around behind us, about fifty feet apart. We took advantage of the terrain and caught them off guard, capturing them in one fell swoop. We found this on them." As he spoke, he took out several oil paper packets from his pocket and handed them to Lin Yan.
Lin Yan took the packet, opened it, and inside was a dark red, almost black, powder with a fine, dust-like texture. He brought it close to his nose and sniffed it very lightly—an extremely faint, strange scent mixed with blood, spiciness, and a certain desire-inducing aroma entered his nostrils, and the Soul-Devouring Mark on his chest immediately sent a clear sense of rejection and warning.
Lin Yan looked at the five pale-faced men on the ground, his gaze lingering on Scarface's face. "Who sent you? What do you plan to do with this?"
Scarface stiffened his neck, still trying to hold on, while a younger man next to him was trembling with fear, his face covered in snot and tears, struggling and whimpering, his eyes full of pleading.
Lin Yan gestured to Zhao Si. Zhao Si stepped forward and ripped the rag out of the young man's mouth.
"I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!" the man screamed hoarsely, his voice distorted with fear. "It was Captain Liu! Captain Liu told us to follow you, and when you got to an area with many monsters, to... to scatter this 'Boiling Blood Powder'! He said this medicine would drive the monsters mad and tear you... to shreds you all!"
"Where is Liu Xiong now?" Lin Yan's voice was calm, revealing no emotion.
"At the valley entrance! Take the rest of the men and guard the high slopes on both sides! Say that once things get chaotic inside, seal off the valley entrance so that not even a fly can get out!" Another man, also in despair, blurted out.
Scarface glared angrily, wanting to shout, but Lu Ling kicked him in the ribs, causing him to curl up in pain and unable to make a sound.
Lin Yan stopped looking at them and turned his gaze back to the direction of the golden flame aura deep in the valley. He then looked at the packets of "Boiling Blood Powder" in his hand, his mind racing, and he quickly came up with a solution.
Shifting the blame eastward and defeating them one by one... This plan, though risky, is the only way to break the deadlock at present.
He turned to Lu Ling and said, "Take a packet of 'Boiling Blood Powder' and sprinkle it on the five of them, especially on their hair, collars, and cuffs—places where the odor easily dissipates."
Although Lu Ling didn't understand why, he didn't hesitate and immediately did as instructed. The dark red powder was carefully sprinkled on the five prisoners, and the strange, sweet, and fishy smell in the air immediately became stronger.
"Then," Lin Yan looked at the five pale-faced men, his voice as cold as ice, "untie their ropes and tell them they can run. Run as fast as they can, run as far as they can."
The five men, as if granted a pardon, scrambled to their feet. Ignoring the deadly powder still clinging to their bodies, they staggered and fled toward the valley entrance, quickly disappearing behind the dim rocks and bushes.
"My lord, this is..." Zhou Fu couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
"An eye for an eye," Lin Yan explained briefly, then gathered all the team members around, including Su Qingyao. His gaze swept over each young and resolute face, his voice steady and clear:
"Liu Xiong wanted to use the demon beasts to get rid of me, so I turned the 'Boiling Blood' calamity back to him."
He pointed towards the valley entrance: "Those five people have been covered in medicinal powder. As they escape, the scent will spread and attract monsters along the way. But it will take them some time to get back to Liu Xiong's camp. I need you to get ahead of them and sneak back to the vicinity of the valley entrance as quickly as possible."
He then pointed deeper into the valley: "And I will go and meet that Golden Flame Demon Fox, and use the remaining 'Boiling Blood Powder' to spice it up. Then I will lead it, along with the herd of beasts attracted by the powder, towards Liu Xiong's camp."
Finally, his gaze fell on the shields in the hands of his team members: "Your mission is to launch a surprise attack and slip behind Liu Xiong's group—to the exit of the rift we came in through—when the beast horde charges at Liu Xiong's camp and the camp is thrown into chaos. Use your shields to quickly set up the 'Earth Formation' to block their retreat! Remember, your duty is not to fight Liu Xiong head-on, but to act like a gate, firmly sealing the valley entrance, not letting a single fly out! I will lead the beast horde towards the camp. At that time, with the mad beasts in front and your retreat cut off, Liu Xiong and his group will be trapped like turtles in a jar."
He paused, then looked at Su Qingyao: "Miss Su, you will travel with the team and be responsible for observing the operation of the formation. If there are any sluggishnesses, point them out immediately. Your safety will be the responsibility of Zhou Fu and Wang Dashan."
Su Qingyao raised her eyes, her clear gaze meeting Lin Yan's. She nodded firmly and whispered, "I will not fail you."
Lu Ling, Zhou Fu, Wang Dashan, Zhao Si, and the others also looked solemn and shouted in unison, "We guarantee to complete the mission!"
"Alright." Lin Yan said no more, carefully putting the remaining packets of "Boiling Blood Powder" into his pocket and hiding them close to his body, leaving only one packet in his hand. He took one last look at his teammates, his gaze deep: "If this plan succeeds, Liu Xiong will be executed, and we will survive. If anything happens... brothers, I, Lin, will accompany you on your journey to the Yellow Springs."
"We are willing to follow you, my lord, and share life and death!" The ten responded in low voices. Though their voices were soft, they were like the resonance of metal and stone, stirring up a resolute spirit of "I will go even if there are thousands of people against me" in this dark and eerie valley.