Chen Wuya's palm still hung in midair. That wisp of black vapor drifted out between his fingers like smoke scattered by the wind. He did not lower his hand, merely watched it slowly fade, as though waiting for confirmation.
Bai Zhi stood three paces away, her gaze fixed on the old scar in his palm. She did not ask what it was, but her feet had already shifted to the doorway, blocking the path into the inner room.
Mo Feng crouched down, brushed a little dirt onto his fingertips, and drew a short line across the stone slab. "This is the narrowest point of Sunset Gorge. The mountain walls on both sides pinch it into a single path; carts and horses can only pass one at a time." He looked up. "If they really bring a blood corpse force, this is the fastest route."
Chen Wuya finally lowered his hand, flicking his sleeve over the scar. He walked into the courtyard, went straight to the weathered wooden table, and slapped it twice. "Everyone inside. Shut the door."
Chen Xuan and Chen Yao were already awake inside. At the sound, they nearly ran out at the same time. Their soles caught on the threshold, but neither stopped. Chen Yao still clutched a half-whittled bamboo stake, while a bulging cloth bundle hung from Chen Xuan's shoulder.
"Dad, I revised the trap map last night." Chen Yao planted the bamboo stake into the table. "If the enemy comes down the slope, rolling logs might not hit their legs. But tripwires combined with pit traps can bunch them into a heap."
Chen Wuya glanced at her, then turned to Chen Xuan. "And you?"
"I broke Reverse Wave Thirteen Strikes into five sections." Chen Xuan untied the cloth bundle, revealing several wooden rods of varying