Chapter 33: Dark Currents, Peril in the Delivery

The atmosphere inside the Li Family Village ancestral hall suddenly tightened due to that one strange sound from outside the window.

Village Chief Li Chong's face turned ashen, his eyes sharp as an eagle.

His gaze swept over every village guard in the hall, finally becoming a sigh stifling anger:

"Disaster stems from within the walls… disaster stems from within the walls!"

Chen Wen's heart also sank, but the eightfold intellect let him quickly calm down.

He stepped forward, his voice low and clear:

"Village Chief, investigating the spy now would scare the snake and only add variables."

"The urgent priority is to get the goods out of the village immediately—the faster, the better!"

Li Chong drew a deep breath, worthy of being the one who upheld the village in these troubled times; he immediately suppressed his emotions, a flash of resolve crossing his eyes:

"Excellent! Chen Wen, little friend, the plan must be moved up!"

He abruptly turned his head, looking at the sturdy-faced middle-aged village head with bulging temples beside him: "Li Kui!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

The village head named Li Kui immediately clasped his fists, his gaze steady, clearly Li Chong's absolute confidant.

"You personally take the two most trusted men, go at once to the west side abandoned compound cellar, take the agreed fifty jin of salt and two hundred jin of iron, wrap them in dry straw cloth, and load them onto that old firewood cart!"

"Act quickly and keep it absolutely secret!"

"Understood!"

Li Kui hesitated not, immediately picked two resolute village guards, and the three silently and swiftly departed.

Li Chong then looked at Chen Wen, speaking extremely fast:

"Chen Wen, little friend, I originally wanted your people to rest a moment and leave before dawn."

"Now it seems we cannot delay even a moment!"

"Once you have the goods, leave the village immediately through the west side corner gate."

"Outside the gate lies an abandoned woodcutter's path for many years, leading to the rear mountains."

"After passing through a forest of five li, there is a mountain hollow where you can hide temporarily; be sure to stay clear of the Li Family Village's area before daybreak!"

"Understood! Thank you, Village Chief!"

Chen Wen clasped his fists.

"Don't thank too early."

Li Chong's expression grew solemn.

"There are eyes and ears inside the village; the news will surely leak."

"Those two bandit groups outside the village, and even some people inside, will not let these much-needed supplies leave easily."

"The road ahead is perilous; it's up to your own abilities!"

Moments later, Li Kui returned.

He gave Li Chong a heavy nod.

No delay, Chen Wen immediately took Zhang Cheng and five others, following Li Kui.

Under the cover of night and building shadows, they silently reached an extremely remote corner gate on the west side, almost hidden by vines.

An old cart piled with dry branches and firewood stood there.

The drawbar was old, but the wheels still seemed fairly sturdy.

Beneath the firewood, a heavy outline loomed faintly.

【Emergency Materiel Transfer Planning, crisis response and coordination abilities greatly increased (x Bonus)! Diligence Points (WP) +85!】

【Current WP: 4041】

Chen Wen's eyes flashed like lightning; his eightfold perception instantly assessed the situation, and he gave a low order:

"Zhang Cheng, you steer the drawbar, controlling direction and speed."

"Wang Wu and Zhao Xiao Wu, you two, one on the left and one on the right, guard the cart's flanks while also pushing it."

"Li Er Gou, you go thirty steps ahead to scout; if there's any movement, mimic the cuckoo's call."

"Zhou Lao Nian, you bring up the rear, watch for clearing traces, and be alert for pursuers."

The orders were clear and decisive; everyone quietly acknowledged and quickly took their positions.

A tense atmosphere spread, each person gripping their makeshift weapon tightly.

"Take care!"

Li Chong, from inside the gate, finally spoke in a low voice.

Li Kui shoved open the creaky old wooden door with force.

After Chen Wen's group filed out, he quickly bolted the door from inside.

The pitch-black wilderness instantly swallowed their silhouettes, only faint starlight barely outlining the road and trees' contours.

The cart's wheels rattled over the uneven dirt road, a creaking sound that sounded especially sharp in the quiet night.

Chen Wen heightened his eightfold senses to the extreme, his ears filtering wind, insect chirps, and distant faint wolf howls.

His eyes strained to discern details in the darkness.

The first half-li of the road went unusually smoothly, so smoothly it made people anxious.

Suddenly!

"Goo-goo—goo-goo—goo—!"

From ahead came three short, slightly sharp cuckoo calls!

It was Li Er Gou's alarm!

Two calls indicate discovery, three indicate danger!

「Stop! 」

Chen Wen immediately raised his hand and gave a low shout; the troop instantly halted.

Everyone held their breath, nervously gazing into the dark ahead.

Chen Wen focused his hearing; his 8× hearing picked up something behind the slope at the road's bend ahead.

Came the suppressed breathing of at least five or six people, plus the faint sound of metal lightly clacking against dirt!

An ambush!

【Are they Liu Du Tou's men? Or the Mountain Leopard's men?】

Or are they bandits colluding with an internal traitor from the manor? Thoughts raced, but there was no time to tell.

Force a breakthrough?

The terrain is unfavorable, the cart is clumsy, and it's easy to be intercepted.

Take a detour?

The surroundings are dense forest and steep slopes; at night the cart simply cannot pass.

【Encountered sudden ambush, tactical decision-making and on-the-spot adaptability greatly increased (x Bonus)！

【Diligence Points (WP)+60！】

【Current WP：4101】

In the flash of lightning and stone, Chen Wen already had a decision.

He lowered his voice and spoke urgently:

「Zhang Cheng, drive the cart slowly backward, make some noise, pretend we discovered the ambush and panickedly retreat! 」

「Wang Wu, Zhao Xiao Wu, follow the cart and shout twice 'Run fast'! Li Er Gou, keep watch! 」

「Zhou Lao Nian, follow me! 」

The order given, Zhang Cheng immediately complied, deliberately making the wheels louder, beginning to "panic"ly turn and retreat.

Wang Wu and Zhao Xiao Wu also let out a few suppressed panicked cries.

Meanwhile, Chen Wen brought Zhou Lao Nian, like two agile cats, silently sneaking into the bushes beside the road.

Using the terrain for cover, they swiftly flanked to the rear side of the ambush point.

The ambushers were indeed drawn by the noise of the retreat; from behind the slope came a few low curses and commotion.

It seemed someone could no longer hold back and wanted to charge out to pursue.

At the moment their attention was drawn, Chen Wen and Zhou Lao Nian had already silently approached from the rear flank!

The 8× strength and speed granted Chen Wen astonishing explosive power!

He didn't even use a blade, lunging out of the darkness like a ghost.

A precise, vicious knife-hand strike landed on the neck of the outermost ambusher, who grunted and collapsed limp to the ground.

Zhou Lao Nian also struck at the same time, slamming the hilt of his knife hard into the back of another's head.

Chen Wen's motion did not cease; his body moved like the wind, using fists and feet together.

Each strike landed precisely on joints, neck, and other weak points, aiming to instantly destroy combat ability.

In the span of a breath, the five ambushers didn't even get a clear look at their attacker.

They were all knocked unconscious or struck down, losing consciousness.

「Tie them up, gag them, and drag them deep into the woods! 」

Chen Wen gave the order quickly, his voice calm without a ripple.

He quickly felt around the waists of two of them; his fingertips touched a cold, hard object.

In the faint light, he saw roughly a wooden plaque carved with the character 'Liu'!

【Sure enough, they're Liu Du Tou's men! The news spread so fast!】

Chen Wen's heart grew colder; the traitor from Li Family Manor was no small fry, and quite possibly colluding with Liu Du Tou.

After swiftly handling the scene and erasing obvious traces, the troop regrouped with the cart.

After this battle, everyone's backs were soaked in cold sweat, their vigilance heightened, and their movements became ever more cautious and silent.

Chen Wen dared not delay, urging the troop to speed up.

Along the footpath almost swallowed by weeds, they strove forward into the darkness.

The cart jolted incessantly; everyone's hearts were in their throats, not knowing how many dangers lay ahead.

This life‑saving shipment of salt and iron— the return journey has only just begun.