Old Pact in the Woods

At the foot of Wolf Head Mountain, in a maple forest.

"Old Ni."

"What are your orders, Guild Leader?"

Lin Kun sat astride his horse, gazing at the mountain peak that resembled a howling wolf's head. It was strangely shaped, covered in ice and snow. The path was steep and straight, leading to the Martial Saint Temple halfway up the mountain. It was indeed a strategic choke point, easily defensible.

"Dig earth to build stoves, chop wood to make fire. Let the brothers have a good meal first."

"Alright!"

Peng Canghu spurred his horse over and asked, "Adoptive Father, should we attack immediately, taking them by surprise, so the Wild Wolf Gang doesn't have time to prepare?"

"Canghu, the Guild Leader's plan is quite in line with military strategy. As the saying goes, 'An army marches on its stomach.' Not all the brothers have horses to ride. They've traveled fifty li in the snow, and they must be cold and hungry. They need to eat their fill to have the strength to fight."

Ni Jinbiao, though involved in the martial arts world, often couldn't resist showing off his education. This annoyed many in the Dragon Scale Association, but due to his seniority, Lin Kun still relied on him, so no one dared to say anything.

Lin Kun glanced at Peng Canghu and chuckled, "Old Ni is right."

He then called out, "Zhang He."

"Your son is here."

Another rider spurred his horse over. He was tall and thin, with long legs and arms. He was Lin Kun's second adopted son.

"Your Qinggong is decent. Go scout the mountain. Remember not to alert them."

"Yes!"

Zhang He dismounted and headed into the mountain on foot. He wore a white cloak, and after a hundred meters, he blended into the snowy landscape.

Peng Canghu, feeling rebuffed, had no choice but to retreat. He glanced back at the four-wheeled carriage at the end of the procession, a trace of tenderness in his eyes. The pain in his chest seemed to ease considerably.

The Dragon Scale Association had mobilized its entire force, with over five hundred people setting up camp at the edge of the forest at the foot of the mountain.

They weren't in a hurry to attack the mountain. Instead, they dispatched men to chop trees, dig earth, and set up large pots in the woods.

Sikong Qingqing and Lin Youlan alighted from the carriage. After the bumpy journey, they wanted to get out and stretch their legs.

Lin Kun, accompanied by his concubine and daughter, seemed to be on a short excursion in the snow rather than a battle.

Sikong Qingqing wore a large mink coat, black-sleeved with a red front, and held a small brazier. Her delicate face and petite body were incredibly endearing.

"Auntie, you have a weak constitution. Why not stay in the carriage to avoid the cold?"

Lin Youlan wore only a single-layered jacket and a sword at her waist. Although it was decorative, she knew some basic moves, and she appeared much stronger than Sikong Qingqing.

Sikong Qingqing glanced in Lin Kun's direction and smiled faintly, "I'm afraid your father might need me."

Lin Youlan laughed, "Auntie and Father really are a match made in heaven."

Sikong Qingqing asked, "That Zhang Liyu participated in your martial arts competition for marriage. Do you know him?"

Lin Youlan frowned, "Why do you ask, Auntie?"

Sikong Qingqing sighed and explained with a smile, "Don't overthink it. It's just a daughter's thoughts. I saw you at the Dragon Scale Hall call out his name so readily. I thought if you didn't have him on your mind, you couldn't have said it so smoothly after only meeting him once."

Lin Youlan sneered, "I was in the embroidery tower then, and he was on the stage. He probably doesn't even know who I am!"

Sikong Qingqing asked, "If he's captured, will Youlan plead for him?"

Lin Youlan gripped her sword hilt, gritting her teeth, "Of course, I'll ask Father to hand him over to me. I'll stab him a thousand times!"

Sikong Qingqing smiled, "The outcome of a martial arts competition is hard to predict. Why does Youlan hate him so much?"

"He lost on purpose!" Lin Youlan's tone was filled with indignant shame.

Even if Zhang Liyu hadn't lost intentionally, he would never have been a match for the 'Nine-Bend Sword.' Yet, she still harbored a deep hatred for him, even blaming him for her unfortunate impending marriage to Zhong Zhen, who was more than twenty years her senior.

Perhaps every girl had fantasized about a man in golden armor, riding auspicious clouds, to rescue her from her predicament.

Lin Youlan looked at her aunt, who was four years younger than her, and suddenly felt a sense of shared misfortune. Wasn't she just the next Sikong Qingqing? The Mount Song Sect's threshold was merely a bit higher than the Dragon Scale Association's, and Zhong Zhen was only seven or eight years younger than her father.

Sikong Qingqing smiled, "Children of the martial world are never truly free... Your father is calling me. I'll go over now."

The Shennong Gang was the third-largest martial arts force in Pingyang Prefecture, ranking second after the Wild Wolf Gang's demise. They controlled the medicinal herb business in the southern three counties. Their disciples were knowledgeable about herbs, and many of the gang's experts were skilled in using poisons.

The gang leader, Sikong Huan, wielded a pair of extremely vicious Red Sand Palms. Those struck by them would develop red, blistered sores all over their bodies within three days. If no antidote was found, they would succumb to festering and death.

Four large wooden chests were placed on the snow, with four people standing beside them. They were filled with scorpions, centipedes, sulfur, and poisonous herbs. These toxic substances were mixed with wolf dung in specific proportions.

"Reporting, son-in-law. We have prepared the concoction."

Lin Kun asked with interest, "Is this the Shennong Gang's Five Poisons Wolf Smoke?"

They were dressed identically, wearing thick cotton-padded jackets over gray linen clothes, silk gloves, and thick towels wrapped around their faces. These were the four poison-expert disciples accompanying the Shennong Gang's dowry.

One of them replied, "As long as the skin comes into contact with the poisonous smoke, it will cause unbearable pain and itching, like scorpion stings or snakebites. Inhaling a large amount will cause dizziness at best, and death at worst."

"Should we start releasing the smoke now?"

Lin Kun chuckled, "No rush. Let's wait for Zhang He to return."

Outside the maple forest, near the foot of the mountain, five earthen stoves had been built, iron pots set up, and a large pile of firewood stacked nearby.

Peng Canghu looked at the scene, feeling a bit disheartened. His adoptive father had not revealed the plan to use the Shennong Gang's Five Poisons Wolf Smoke to attack Wolf Head Mountain to him at all.

Not long after, a figure ran across the snow. He looked closely and saw it was the recently favored second young master, Zhang He.

"Reporting, Adoptive Father. I scouted the mountain path and stopped about two hundred meters from the Martial Saint Temple to avoid alerting them. I saw logs and stones piled outside the temple, but no people. They must be hiding inside to avoid the cold."

"Good, you are thorough and your reconnaissance is commendable. Zhang He, you will have to share more of my burdens in the future. After we eliminate the Wild Wolf Gang today, I plan to have you establish a branch in the three counties south of Pingyang Prefecture to recruit members and expand our influence."

Zhang He was overjoyed and knelt down, saying, "Thank you for your cultivation, Adoptive Father."

Peng Canghu silently lowered his head. Before the elimination of the Wild Wolf Gang, this was originally Lin Kun's promise to him. To be in charge of a region and develop his own power was an excellent opportunity for him. Only by becoming strong enough could he perhaps realize his long-held wish one day.

Lin Kun waved his hand and said, "Begin."

Four Shennong Gang disciples carried wooden boxes to the stove at the foot of the mountain. They poured the poisonous wolf dung from the boxes into iron pots, set them on fire, and began to stir-fry with shovels.

Half an hour later, four straight columns of smoke rose directly towards the Martial Saint Temple on the mountainside.

The location of the stove and the wind direction required precise calculations.

"Brothers, charge the Martial Saint Temple! Capture Zhao Xia alive and receive a reward of eight hundred taels of silver."

The Dragon Scale Association disciples also covered their faces with cloth. They encountered almost no resistance and charged all the way to the front of the Martial Saint Temple. The open space was piled with many logs and stones, but there was not a single person.

Lin Kun ascended the mountain last. He looked at the Martial Saint Temple shrouded in faint white smoke.

"Where are the people!"

Zhang He exclaimed joyfully, "Congratulations, Adoptive Father! They've all been poisoned to death inside the temple."

Lin Kun slapped him across the face and cursed lightly, "Idiot!"

He said to the four Shennong Gang members, "Go in and check."

A moment later, the four men came out.

"How was it?"

"There wasn't a soul inside, but we found this."

It was a strip of cloth.

"Do not forget the old covenant of Black Pine Forest. On the night of the full moon, kill Lin Kun."

Next to the writing, a wolf head and a tiger head were drawn, exuding a murderous aura.

Lin Kun chuckled and threw the cloth to Peng Canghu.

Peng Canghu glanced at it and was instantly chilled to the bone. He prostrated himself on the ground, saying, "Adoptive Father, this is a stratagem to sow discord!"

"Hahaha, why panic? Of course, this old man knows it's a stratagem to sow discord."

Lin Kun smiled and helped Peng Canghu up.