Chapter 28

Beneath the bed, along the wall, there was a narrow crack—hardly noticeable unless revealed by the flow of water.

The three exchanged glances; Wei Hongqing pulled out several iron darts, Zuo Gaofeng gripped his twin axes, and Liu Xiaolou drew his Sanxuan Sword, flipping his right wrist slightly to expose the Mili Incense Sinew.

After preparing for combat, Wei Hongqing lay half-reclined, shifted to the corner, and gently inserted a dart into the crack, hoping to pry up the tile—but dared not apply force, failing after several attempts.

While pondering, he reached out and felt around nearby for a moment, and indeed found a slightly protruding spot, which he pressed downward.

Two square tiles, each about a foot across, suddenly sank, revealing a hidden pit.

Below the pit was utter darkness, indiscernible; Wei Hongqing gestured toward the unconscious woman, and Zuo Gaofeng grabbed her, handing her to Wei Hongqing.

Wei Hongqing gripped the woman’s arm, lowered her feet first, then her body, then her head, until he touched the bottom of the pit.

Using the woman as a shield, Wei Hongqing followed her down. The pit’s opening was small; entering took considerable effort and produced some noise, requiring several attempts—but not a single sound stirred below.

Soon, light flared beneath the pit—Wei Hongqing had lit a firestarter, and moments later, Zuo Gaofeng descended as well.

After a while, Zuo Gaofeng returned to Liu Xiaolou and said: “The tunnel is long; Lu Zian doesn’t seem to be inside. I’ll go in with him to scout—you stay here to cover us.”

Liu Xiaolou waited silently at the pit’s mouth, waiting nearly two more cun of time, nearly losing patience, when Zuo Gaofeng reappeared: “Quick! Found him! Have the Western Mountain Recluse and Tan Ba come down—get ready to strike!”

Liu Xiaolou’s heart leapt; he dashed out of the mansion, summoned the Western Mountain Recluse and Tan Ba, and led them inside. Both were excited yet tense, each drawing their magic artifacts and descending one by one into the tunnel.

How could one not be tense, about to face a Qi Refining tenth-layer expert?

The tunnel was narrow; Zuo Gaofeng held a burning pine branch, moving forward in small strides, the others following behind. They turned countless bends, ran for an unknown length, then emerged aboveground—cool, faint wind extinguished the flames rising in their chests.

Zuo Gaofeng had extinguished the torch, pointing to a dark mass ahead—barely discernible as a cliff edge. They crept closer, rounded the cliff, and suddenly, light burst before them.

Below the cliff lay a stone cave, its interior flickering with firelight.

Wei Hongqing crouched seven or eight zhang from the cave’s mouth, hidden behind a thick thicket; beside him was the woman, now awake, her meridians sealed, mute, her eyes filled with despair.

Liu Xiaolou whispered: “Is he in there?”

Wei Hongqing nodded.

Liu Xiaolou asked again: “Is it him?”

Wei Hongqing nodded again.

The firelight in the cave continued to flicker, everything seeming normal. Seeing all had arrived, Wei Hongqing pointed upward toward the cliff’s edge, nodded toward Tan Ba, who nodded back and circled around to take position.

Zuo Gaofeng hid to the left of the cave’s mouth; the Western Mountain Recluse climbed a tree diagonally opposite the entrance; Liu Xiaolou saw him withdraw a mechanism—resembling a crossbow magazine.

Wei Hongqing motioned Liu Xiaolou to join him at the cave’s right side; they inched forward with utmost care, Wei Hongqing still holding the woman.

Tan Ba had reached the cliff’s edge above the cave and signaled downward to Wei Hongqing; Wei Hongqing tapped Liu Xiaolou, signaling him to begin.

Liu Xiaolou slowly crouched, extended his palm, and slid it along the ground, hidden by the grass at the cave’s mouth—undetectable from within. The Mili Incense Sinew emerged from his sleeve, activated by true qi, releasing a faint, colorless smoke invisible to the naked eye, drifting into the cave.

The cave was far larger than a room, its entrance open, with a bonfire burning—Mili Incense’s effect would be significantly weakened. Yet there was an advantage: the fire’s heat made the scent harder to detect.

His movements were silent; the incense was muffled by his sleeve. Aside from Wei Hongqing, the other three had no idea the ambush had begun—they still fixed their eyes on Wei Hongqing, awaiting his signal.

The Mili Incense continued to activate; Liu Xiaolou sensed the sinew had shortened by a third. Though it pained him, he knew this was no time to be stingy—the target was an expert, far beyond the woman at his feet.

A year ago, accompanying Wei Hongqing on a job, they faced another Qi Refining tenth-layer expert. Back then, the Mili Incense was nearly spent; even after full activation, its effect was poor, leading to a fierce battle. Only because their group was large did they prevent the target’s escape.

He knew his current cultivation level meant his Mili Incense was still inferior, his activation power far weaker—even if he burned the entire sinew, he doubted it could knock out Lu Zian inside. But if it produced even a fraction of effect, the surprise attack would be far more certain.

He maintained this strange posture. Zuo Gaofeng, Tan Ba, and the Western Mountain Recluse had realized: Liu Xiongdi was casting a spell, administering poison. When they’d previously poisoned the woman in the room, they hadn’t witnessed it firsthand and hadn’t found it remarkable. Now, seeing it with their own eyes, they found it utterly unbelievable.

Where was the blowpipe? Where was the poison smoke?

Did it just begin—without a sound?

All four felt a chill of dread.

Lu Zian was indeed inside the cave—his feet hooked into a crack in the ceiling, his body pressed flat like a gecko, eyes locked on the entrance, utterly focused.

To the left of the entrance, a breath—nearly imperceptible—indicated an ambush at least Qi Refining sixth-layer, but certainly not ninth-layer. To the right, three people: two steady, one weak—likely a common band of itinerant cultivators, skilled in coordinated combat. Farther out, atop a tree, another lurked—he’d heard the faint creak of a bent branch, too subtle for most, but not for him.

Beneath Lu Zian’s tongue lay a short sword, no more than an inch long—his lifelong perfected technique. If any enemy dared show himself, he was certain he could kill one by surprise. The remaining four—he feared none.

His concern was how to ensure none escaped. If word leaked, he’d face endless pursuit from Tianmu Mountain. Even if he slaughtered every coward hiding outside, he couldn’t stay here. Frustratingly, his half-month meditation had failed—he hadn’t broken through to perfection. Everything must begin anew, and the chance to take a Foundation Establishment Pill was now impossibly distant.

He’d have to take Pinggu with him when he left—was she in danger?

Thinking of Pinggu, an elegant figure suddenly flashed before Lu Zian’s eyes, writhing in his mind, making his throat dry and his mouth parched.

Damn it, so damn hot…