Snow Forest Beguiler

The Black Pine Forest didn't seem large, but with over fifty people scattered within, they disappeared like stones sinking into the river, their tracks quickly vanishing.

"Boss Zhan, we've searched from north to south and found nothing. Did they escape back to Wolf Head Mountain?"

"The sentries saw them enter the forest with their own eyes. They couldn't have slipped away from under our noses."

"Could they really fly and burrow into the ground?"

"Hmph, if the Wild Wolf Gang had such abilities, they wouldn't have fallen to this point."

The Dragon Scale Society had dispatched a hundred disciples to lie in wait within the forest. The sentries had spotted the Wild Wolf Gang's Sixth Master leading thirty men into the Black Pine Forest. Upon receiving the news, Peng Canghu immediately ordered a pincer attack, but they found nothing.

Seeing that they had alerted the enemy, they could only organize their men to search the snowy woods meticulously while also guarding the main routes back to Wolf Head Mountain. This further thinned their already insufficient manpower.

Someone grumbled, "What rotten luck! The Guild Leader is taking the Shennong Gang's Fourth Miss as a concubine these days. Everyone else is drinking and feasting in Pingyang City, while we're freezing out here in the snow."

Another asked, confused, "Can't we just wipe out those few people from the Wild Wolf Gang any other day? Why must it be today?"

Someone whispered, "Perhaps the Guild Leader wants to save some money on wedding feasts."

Zhan Laoshi scanned the group of low-ranking gang members, a sense of superiority washing over him from possessing insider information. He chuckled, "What do you know? The Guild Leader... is still vigorous in his old age. He wants to celebrate two happy occasions at once, a double success."

"Boss Zhan, I know about being vigorous in his old age, but what do you mean by a double success?"

"You don't get it? You greenhorns, go figure it out for yourselves."

Zhan Laoshi had a seemingly honest face. He wielded a plain saber and wore a semi-worn sheepskin coat, topped with a popular fur-lined hat from the frontier, which provided excellent warmth.

He was originally a traveling merchant from Datong Prefecture who had fought against horse bandits in the frontier and possessed some combat skill.

Three years ago, he joined the Dragon Scale Society through a martial arts competition for marriage. Since he was over forty, he wasn't suitable as a son-in-law, and Lin Kun, his adoptive son, also found him too old. He was only assigned a middle-ranking leader position.

The Dragon Scale Society members ventured deeper into the forest. The wild wolf tracks they had discovered earlier had vanished in this vicinity.

"... If you have any guts, come out and fight us honorably."

"Hiding like this, what kind of heroes are you? Didn't you want revenge? Zhao Laodao's head is in our hands, come and get it."

"If you don't come soon, don't blame me for using it as a urinal, hahaha."

"For every quarter of an hour that passes, we'll kill one of your captured brothers."

"We'll kill you all before nightfall!"

Their throats were hoarse from shouting, yet they still hadn't found any clues. It seemed those thirty-odd people had truly vanished into thin air.

As the sky gradually turned dusky, Zhan Laoshi grew increasingly anxious. He remembered the young master's words: if he delayed the Guild Leader's important event, and missed out on the world's finest treasures, his future would be bleak indeed.

He stopped and raised his hand, "Searching like this won't work?"

"Boss Zhan, what's your brilliant idea?"

"We need to split up."

Zhan Laoshi recalled seeing Wala cavalry hunting gazelles in the frontier; they would first disperse to track them, then converge to annihilate them.

Someone asked, "Split up? Won't the Wild Wolf Gang pick us off one by one?"

Zhan Laoshi sneered, "They're already like birds startled by a bow, like sheep fleeing for their lives. They don't have the capability for that."

"Five men per team. If you find any traces, fire a signal arrow. The young master will come to support, and other teams will immediately rush towards the signal arrow's direction. This way, the net of heaven is vast and catches all, leaving no one to escape."

Zhan Laoshi was quite pleased; this strategy was brilliant. He thought that after this meritorious deed, he would surely have a place in the Dragon Scale Hall.

Under his arrangement, ten small teams set off in all directions to search. They agreed to return to the camp around nightfall.

The sky grew darker, the snow reflecting a white light, and scattered footprints spread through the forest.

Five Dragon Scale Society disciples, dressed in yellow long robes and armed with iron swords, walked through the snowy woods.

They proceeded cautiously with every step.

When over fifty people were gathered together, it wasn't so bad. Now that they were dispersed, with the enemy hidden and themselves exposed, it was inevitable that they would feel a bit timid.

Suddenly, a sharp-eyed disciple noticed a black pine tree ahead seem to sway.

"Who?"

A person emerged from behind the tree, clad in black robes and holding a long sword. They stood on the snow, almost blending into the dark, straight pine forest behind them.

Someone exclaimed, "We've found remnants of the Wild Wolf Gang! Quickly, fire the signal arrow!"

"Fire the signal arrow!"

They couldn't discern the intruder's identity, but their appearance in the Black Pine Forest at this time and place certainly linked them to the Wild Wolf Gang.

The person's feet were light as they sprinted across the snow, drawing a black longsword simultaneously.

Their speed was incredible; a distance of six or seven meters was covered in the blink of an eye.

With an upward slash of the blade, the Dragon Scale Society disciple at the forefront let out a scream as their abdomen split open, a crimson flower blooming on the snow.

At the same time, the disciples behind reacted, thrusting two iron swords. One strike, 'Azure Dragon's Claw,' aimed at the black-clothed person's chest, and another, 'Divine Dragon's Tail,' swept towards their legs. Their coordination was quite skillful.

The black-clothed person tapped the snow with their left foot, leaping into the air. Simultaneously, they raised their sword, deflecting the iron sword aimed at their chest. They then swept past the two Dragon Scale Society disciples and launched an attack on the squad leader behind them.

"Stop him quickly!"

The squad leader in the middle had already taken a signal arrow from his embrace and was about to release it when he suddenly saw a severed hand fall to the ground, quickly dyeing the white snow red. Tightly clutched in the five fingers of the severed arm was a signal arrow.

It looked so familiar.

"Ah! My hand, my hand..."

After just one encounter, two disciples from the Dragon Scale Society lost their fighting ability.

The person at the very back saw this, turned, and tried to escape. However, a Xuanhua Axe chopped down towards his skull. Half his head flew out five or six meters. Before he could even let out a scream, he became a mixture of red, yellow, white, and green.

"Kill!"

Zhao Xia brandished the Xuanhua Axe and charged forward, meeting the two Dragon Scale Society swordsmen who were cooperating. Under the overwhelming hatred, in just about ten rounds, the two were chopped into four pieces.

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

She didn't stop, her axe falling again and again...

Zhang Yu broke through the formation of five people. After eliminating the small leader holding the signal arrow, he sheathed his sword and stood silently by, watching Zhao Xia's fight with the two.

"Zhao Xia's axe techniques can attack and defend, suitable for chaotic battles, and would be especially effective in military formations on the battlefield. However, in the Jianghu, facing a master in a one-on-one duel, she might be at a disadvantage."

"The swordsmanship of the Dragon Scale Society is also common stuff, far inferior to the Sun Chasing Saber Technique from Blackwood Cliff."

"The Flying Cloud Divine Skill focuses on Internal Energy and light body techniques. It seems I need to find a superior sword technique to practice."

With the aid of 'Flowing Clouds and Water' and the Green Jade Thumb Ring, his speed, the sharpness of his senses, and his ability to react on the spot were no less than that of an ordinary warrior at the Mid-stage Armor Piercing realm. Therefore, he could react flexibly and wasn't too concerned about sword stances for the moment, able to handle himself with ease.

But this only applied to Jianghu warriors who had learned some unorthodox sword techniques or followed common paths. If he encountered a direct disciple from a major sect, it would be a different story.

"Have you finished venting your emotions?"

Zhao Xia, covered in blood, snapped back to reality: "Sir..."

"Emotions are fine, but don't let them control your mind."

After speaking, Zhang Yu turned and headed in another direction.

The two walked east for a few dozen steps. They hadn't found any Dragon Scale Society disciples yet when they suddenly heard a voice.

"Young Gang Leader, I'm here!"

Zhang Yu was startled and quickly drew his sword.

What the hell!

He looked around. There were only dark, sword-like pine trees, and he couldn't see anyone.