Small Team's First Battle, Forging Their Coordination

Flame Valley truly lived up to its name.

They were still a li from the entrance, but waves of heat were already rolling over them. The air shimmered, and the view before them wavered like rippling water. The rocks in the valley were dark red, and orange flames occasionally leapt from their cracks with soft crackles.

"The temperature's even higher than we expected." Zhou Ming wiped the sweat from his forehead. The droplets evaporated as soon as they appeared. "At least sixty degrees."

Sun Wanting took out the Ice Condensation Pills. "Take them now. Their effects will last one shichen. We have to find the Crimson Flame Tiger and kill it, then retreat, all within that time."

She distributed five blue pills, one to each person.

Lin Fan pinched the pill between his fingers. It felt cool to the touch. He put it in his mouth, and it melted. A refreshing sensation spread from his throat throughout his body, and the oppressive heat immediately eased.

"Much better." Chen Dahu grinned sheepishly. "This stuff really works."

"Don't let your guard down," Sun Wanting said sternly. "The Ice Condensation Pill can only protect you from high temperatures, not fire. The Crimson Flame Tiger's fire attacks are scorching hot. If you get hit, you'll be seriously injured."

She unfolded a crude map—one Zhou Ming had bought on the black market. It showed the general terrain of Flame Valley and the areas where the Crimson Flame Tiger might appear.

"The valley is shaped like a gourd, narrow at the entrance and wide inside. The Crimson Flame Tiger is usually active near the 'Lava Lake' in the middle." Sun Wanting pointed to the center of the map. "We'll enter from this direction and avoid the hottest area head-on."

"Understood." Everyone nodded.

"Formation." Sun Wanting began assigning positions. "I'll stay in the center and direct the team while providing ranged support. Chen Dahu, you're the vanguard. Lin Fan, take the left flank. Zhou Ming, the right. Bai Susu, stay in the middle toward the rear. Keep a triangular formation, with no more than three zhang between you, so you can support each other at any moment."

"Yes!"

The five adjusted their positions and stepped into the valley.

The waves of heat grew even more violent. Even with the Ice Condensation Pills protecting them, their skin still felt scorched. The ground was blisteringly hot, and the soles of their boots smelled of char. The air reeked of pungent sulfur.

The valley was bleak and eerie.

The dark-red rocks looked like congealed blood. Magma flowed slowly through the cracks; bubbles occasionally swelled and burst, scattering sparks. Strange plants grew along the edges of the magma, their thick, leathery leaves a fiery red.

"Firemoss Grass," Bai Susu said softly. "It's an ingredient for refining fire-attributed pills. We could gather some."

"The mission comes first." Sun Wanting shook her head. "If we have time after the hunt, we can collect some."

The group continued deeper into the valley.

The farther they went, the hotter it became. The rocks changed from dark red to orange-red, and some areas were even half-molten. Zhou Ming had to use his movement technique repeatedly to avoid the scorching patches underfoot.

"Careful." Sun Wanting suddenly raised a hand, signaling them to stop.

Thirty zhang ahead, a colossal beast lay sprawled across a relatively flat stretch of rock.

The Crimson Flame Tiger.

It was over three meters long and nearly as tall as a person at the shoulder. Its fur was fiery red, with faint glimmers of light flowing through it. Its eyes were closed as it dozed, tiny sparks spitting from its nostrils with each breath. Most striking of all was the flame-shaped marking on its forehead, as if it were burning.

"Upper second rank, equivalent to the peak of a 3rd Grade Martial Master." Sun Wanting lowered her voice. "It's stronger than the intelligence report said."

Lin Fan activated the scouting function on the Martial Arts Panel—an auxiliary ability unlocked after the system upgrade that could roughly assess a target's strength.

[Target: Crimson Flame Tiger (Upper Second Rank)]

[Condition: Healthy, Alert (Mild)]

[Threat Level: Medium-High]

[Weak Points: Abdomen, Eyes, Junction of the Spine and Back of the Neck]

[Note: Fire-attributed Demonic Beast, excels at area attacks, extremely fast]

"It hasn't fully noticed us yet," Zhou Ming observed. "We could try to ambush it."

"How should we fight it?" Chen Dahu gripped the cleaver strapped across his back, eager for action.

Sun Wanting thought quickly. "Lin Fan, you're the fastest. You'll strike first and aim for its eyes. Once you land the hit, retreat immediately. Don't get greedy. Chen Dahu, cover him and block the Crimson Flame Tiger's counterattack. Zhou Ming, look for a chance to attack its abdomen. Bai Susu, get ready to support us and control the battlefield. I'll provide ranged cover."

"Understood." Lin Fan nodded and drew his long sword.

Firelight reflected off the blade, its sheen cold and sharp.

"Move in three breaths." Sun Wanting nocked an arrow. "When I count to three, Lin Fan, you charge."

"One."

Lin Fan steadied his breathing as Profound Origin Qi surged through his meridians. The Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art at Minor Accomplishment Level gave him abundant Qi, bringing his body into peak condition.

"Two."

He crouched slightly, his leg muscles tensing.

"Three!"

An arrow pierced the air.

Sun Wanting loosed a shot straight at the Crimson Flame Tiger's left eye—an feint meant to make it shut its eye or dodge, giving Lin Fan his opening.

Almost at the same moment, Lin Fan moved.

"Gale Sword Technique: Thrust!"

He shot forward like lightning, covering the thirty-zhang distance in an instant.

His sword thrust straight at the Crimson Flame Tiger's right eye.

Sun Wanting's arrow arrived first.

The Crimson Flame Tiger's ears twitched, and its eyes snapped open. They were golden-red, with vertical pupils full of savagery. It turned its head aside, and the arrow scraped past its ear before embedding itself in the rock.

The shaft charred instantly.

By then, Lin Fan's sword had already arrived.

The tip was only three chi from the tiger's eye.

The Crimson Flame Tiger roared. Its enormous body shifted half a chi to the side at an unbelievable speed as its right paw struck out.

"Clang!"

Sword met claw, sending sparks flying.

Lin Fan felt an immense force slam into him. His palm went numb, and his sword nearly flew from his grip. He flipped backward with the force of the blow, then staggered back three steps before steadying himself.

What incredible strength!

That paw strike was no weaker than the boar king's charge.

"Roar!"

The Crimson Flame Tiger was completely enraged. It rose to its feet, its fur standing on end as flames surged from its body. The temperature around them shot up, and the air warped even more violently.

"Spread out!" Sun Wanting shouted.

But it was already too late.

The Crimson Flame Tiger opened its jaws and spat out a scarlet fireball, half a meter in diameter, straight at Chen Dahu at the front.

"Dahu, watch out!" Lin Fan shouted urgently.

Chen Dahu roared and held his cleaver horizontally in front of him, pouring Qi into it.

"Iron Wall Slash!"

The blade flashed like a wall.

"Boom!"

The fireball slammed into the wall of blade light and burst into a rain of sparks.

Chen Dahu grunted and staggered back five steps. His blade glowed red-hot, and the skin at the base of both his thumbs split, blood running freely.

"Dahu!" Bai Susu cried out, about to rush over and treat him.

"Don't come over!" Chen Dahu gritted his teeth. "I can handle it!"

By then, Zhou Ming had already moved.

Like a specter, he circled behind the Crimson Flame Tiger and stabbed both his blades toward its belly, where the fur was thinner and its weak point lay.

"I got it!" Delight flashed in Zhou Ming's eyes.

But the Crimson Flame Tiger seemed to have eyes in the back of its head. Its tail swept around like a steel whip.

"Whap!"

Caught off guard, Zhou Ming was struck in the chest and sent flying into the rocks.

"Cough!" He spat out a mouthful of blood. His chest throbbed with pain, and at least two ribs were broken.

A bad start.

Two of them had been injured in a single exchange.

"Damn it!" Sun Wanting's expression darkened. She fired three arrows in quick succession, forcing the Crimson Flame Tiger to pause its assault.

Lin Fan seized the opening and rushed forward again.

This time, he didn't attack directly. Instead, he used the circling sword form of the Gale Sword Technique, his blade flashing like the wind as he darted around the Crimson Flame Tiger to draw its attention.

"Chen Dahu, fall back and treat your wounds! Zhou Ming, can you still move?" Sun Wanting shouted while firing.

"I'm not dead yet!" Zhou Ming gritted his teeth and struggled to his feet, though his movements were noticeably sluggish.

Bai Susu had already rushed to Chen Dahu's side to treat his wounds. She sprinkled powder over the cuts at the base of his thumbs and inserted silver needles into acupoints in his arm to relieve the pain.

"Lin Fan, hold it off for ten breaths!" Sun Wanting shouted. "I need time to prepare my finishing move!"

"Understood!"

Lin Fan circulated the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art at full force, channeling Qi into every limb. His Iron Body Skill at Complete Level gave his skin a faint golden sheen. The heat and stray sparks left only shallow white marks on him.

He stopped holding back.

"Gale Sword Technique: Wind Sweeps Clouds!"

His sword light surged, becoming three whirlwinds that swept toward the Crimson Flame Tiger from different directions.

Enraged, the Crimson Flame Tiger abandoned its pursuit of Chen Dahu and pounced on Lin Fan. Both its claws struck out, wrapped in flames, each blow powerful enough to shatter stone.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

The clashes between sword and claw rang out in a dense patter like rain.

Lin Fan fought while retreating, drawing the Crimson Flame Tiger away from his injured teammates.

His swordsmanship had reached Mastery Level, and combined with the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art at Minor Accomplishment Level, the finesse of his sword moves alone was already no worse than a 3rd Grade Martial Master's. But the Crimson Flame Tiger was too strong and too fast, and its fire attacks were impossible to guard against.

[Gale Sword Technique Proficiency +5]

[Combat Instinct Proficiency +3]

[Movement Technique Proficiency +2]

System notifications kept appearing, but Lin Fan had no time to look at them.

Ten breaths passed in the blink of an eye.

"Lin Fan, fall back!"

Sun Wanting's voice rang out.

Lin Fan immediately withdrew.

The Crimson Flame Tiger was about to pursue him when it saw Sun Wanting holding her longbow taut as a full moon. The arrow nocked on its string wasn't ordinary; it was ice-blue from end to end and covered in runes.

"Ice Seal Arrow... go!"

"Whoosh—"

The arrow left the bowstring, trailing an icy-blue streak.

Wherever it passed, the waves of heat retreated, and tiny ice crystals formed in the air.

Sensing the threat, the Crimson Flame Tiger opened its mouth and spat out an even larger fireball.

Ice and fire collided in midair.

"Hiss—"

There was no explosion. Instead, the two forces annihilated each other. The ice arrow pierced through the fireball, slowing slightly, but still struck the Crimson Flame Tiger in the chest.

"Pfft!"

The arrowhead sank three cun into its flesh.

Immediately afterward, the ice-blue runes lit up, and freezing cold erupted.

"Crack, crack..."

Ice rapidly formed across the Crimson Flame Tiger's chest and spread outward.

"Roar!" The Crimson Flame Tiger bellowed in agony, struggling wildly. The ice shattered, but the cold had already invaded its body. Its movements slowed noticeably, and the flames covering it dimmed considerably.

"Now!" Sun Wanting shouted. "Attack with everything you've got!"

The opportunity had come.

But the team didn't attack right away.

The chaos just now had exposed a serious problem: their coordination was rusty, and they'd fought as individuals.

Chen Dahu was badly injured, and Zhou Ming's fighting strength had been cut in half. Bai Susu was busy treating wounds and couldn't control the battlefield. Lin Fan could fight, but one man alone couldn't hold out.

"This won't work." Sun Wanting made a swift decision. "Change of tactics!"

She analyzed the situation quickly. "The Crimson Flame Tiger has been hit by the Ice Seal Arrow. The cold has entered its body, reducing its speed and the power of its fire attacks by thirty percent. But its vitality is tenacious; it won't lose its fighting ability anytime soon."

"Lin Fan, you'll lead the attack and draw its attention. Don't fight it head-on. Focus on keeping it occupied."

"Chen Dahu, how are your injuries?"

"I can still fight!" Chen Dahu finished bandaging his hands and gripped his cleaver again. "Just flesh wounds. I'll be fine!"

"Good. You'll support Lin Fan. When the Crimson Flame Tiger attacks him, harass it from the side. Remember, strike once and retreat. Don't get greedy."

"What about Zhou Ming?" Bai Susu asked worriedly.

Zhou Ming's face was pale, but his gaze was firm. "I've got two broken ribs, but I can still move. Give me half a quarter-hour, and I can recover half my fighting strength."

"Half a quarter-hour is too long." Sun Wanting shook her head. "Bai Susu, is there a way to relieve his pain temporarily without keeping him from moving?"

Bai Susu bit her lip. "I have Pain Relief Powder, but the side effect is that it slows reaction speed by twenty percent. Once it wears off, the pain will double."

"Use it." Zhou Ming didn't hesitate. "As long as I can fight."

Bai Susu took out a packet of powder, and Zhou Ming accepted it and swallowed it. A moment later, his expression eased, but his eyes grew a little unfocused—the side effect of the Pain Relief Powder.

"Zhou Ming, don't engage it in close combat," Sun Wanting said. "You'll harass it instead. Use hidden weapons, smoke, and poison powder to disrupt its senses and create openings for Lin Fan."

"Understood." Zhou Ming nodded.

"Bai Susu, coordinate the team from the center. Keep an eye on everyone's condition and treat them in time. Also, prepare the Paralysis Powder. If you get the chance, scatter it over the Crimson Flame Tiger's wounds."

"All right."

"I'll keep providing ranged support, but I only have one Ice Seal Arrow, and ordinary arrows pose little threat to it. So the rest will depend on you."

Sun Wanting looked at Lin Fan. "Lin Fan, you're the key. How long can you hold out?"

Lin Fan sensed the Qi inside his body. "At least a quarter-hour."

"That's enough." A fierce glint flashed in Sun Wanting's eyes. "We'll finish it within a quarter-hour!"

The battle plan was ready.

Everyone looked at the Crimson Flame Tiger again.

It had already broken free of most of the ice. Blood still seeped from the arrow wound in its chest, but its aura remained ferocious. Its golden-red slit pupils swept over them, brimming with killing intent.

"Now!"

Sun Wanting gave the order.

Lin Fan charged out first.

This time, he used no flashy sword moves, only the most basic thrusts, cuts, and slashes. Every strike precisely targeted the Crimson Flame Tiger's vulnerable spots: its eyes, nose, and ear canals.

The Crimson Flame Tiger raised its claws to block, but its movements were a fraction slower than before.

The chill was taking effect.

"Roar!" It opened its mouth, ready to spew a fireball.

But just then, Chen Dahu charged in from the side and swung his blade at the tiger's leg.

The Crimson Flame Tiger was forced to interrupt its attack and swiped at Chen Dahu.

Chen Dahu didn't take the blow head-on. He struck once, then immediately retreated, putting distance between them.

Zhou Ming's harassment came at the same time.

Several iron caltrops shot toward the Crimson Flame Tiger's face, forcing it to shut its eyes. A cloud of gray smoke burst open as well, obscuring its vision.

The Crimson Flame Tiger shook its head irritably.

Lin Fan seized the opportunity and thrust his sword at the arrow wound in its chest.

Squelch!

The sword tip plunged deep and twisted.

Racked with pain, the Crimson Flame Tiger spun wildly, sweeping its tail toward Lin Fan.

Lin Fan had seen it coming. He retreated in advance, barely dodging the strike.

"They're starting to work together." Sun Wanting felt a little more at ease. Nocking arrow after arrow, she aimed them straight at the tiger's eyes.

Bai Susu waited for her chance, then scattered a packet of Paralysis Powder over the Crimson Flame Tiger's wound.

The powder dissolved as soon as it touched blood and quickly seeped inside.

The Crimson Flame Tiger slowed by another fraction.

"It's working!" Bai Susu exclaimed.

But the Crimson Flame Tiger was, after all, a high-tier, second-order Demonic Beast. Its ferocity was fully roused. Ignoring its wounds, it flared with flames and became a whirlwind of fire, charging at the nearest target: Lin Fan.

It was too fast!

Lin Fan's pupils contracted. He used every ounce of his strength to dodge, but the flames still grazed him.

The sleeve on his left arm burned away in an instant, leaving his skin charred black.

[Fire damage received. Iron Body Skill proficiency +10]

[High Temperature Resistance proficiency +5]

Pain surged through him, but Lin Fan gritted his teeth and endured it.

"I can't retreat!"

He thrust his sword backhanded toward the center of the whirlwind of fire.

Profound Origin Qi infused the blade. The moment it pierced the flames, the Qi and fire clashed violently.

Hiss—

The flames subsided slightly, revealing the Crimson Flame Tiger's body.

Lin Fan saw that the flesh around the arrow wound on its chest was starting to turn black—the Paralysis Powder had taken effect!

"Now!"

He roared and poured all his Qi into the blade.

Gale Sword Technique: Wind and Thunder Stab!

It was the most powerful move in the Gale Sword Technique. It required time to charge and was rarely used under normal circumstances. But now, with the Crimson Flame Tiger slowed, this was the perfect moment.

A dazzling light glimmered at the sword tip, accompanied by a faint rumble of wind and thunder.

"Go!"

He thrust, aiming straight for the Crimson Flame Tiger's brow.

The Crimson Flame Tiger sensed the threat of death and desperately jerked its head to the side.

Thud!

The sword tip missed, skimming past its brow before plunging deep into its neck.

"Roooar—!!!"

A piercing tiger's howl rang through the valley.

The Crimson Flame Tiger thrashed wildly, spraying flames in every direction.

Chen Dahu charged forward despite the danger and hacked at its leg. His blade sank into the bone.

Zhou Ming unleashed every hidden weapon he had.

Sun Wanting emptied her quiver.

Bai Susu scattered another packet of Paralysis Powder.

As for Lin Fan, the veins stood out on the hand gripping his sword as he pressed down with all his strength.

The blade sliced through muscle and struck the cervical vertebrae.

Crack!

The sound of a neck bone snapping.

The Crimson Flame Tiger's struggle stopped abruptly. Its flames went out, and its massive body crashed to the ground.

Its golden-red slit pupils slowly dimmed.

It was dead.

Flame Valley fell quiet once more. Only the bubbling sound of flowing magma remained.

The five of them slumped to the ground, panting hard.

Every one of them was injured.

Lin Fan's left arm was burned, and his Qi was spent. Chen Dahu's palms were split open, and he had scrapes all over his body. Zhou Ming's face was deathly pale as the Pain Relief Powder wore off and pain from his ribs washed over him. Sun Wanting's arms were sore and weak from overusing her bow. Bai Susu hadn't fought directly, but the intense strain had left her exhausted all the same.

But no one complained.

Because they had won.

With the strength of 2nd and 3rd Grade Martial Artists, they had successfully hunted a high-tier, second-order Demonic Beast.

That was an achievement they could be proud of.

"We... did it." Chen Dahu grinned, then winced as the movement tugged at his wound.

"Our teamwork still needs work," Sun Wanting said, shaking her head. "Two people were injured right at the start. If Lin Fan hadn't been strong enough, if the Ice Seal Arrow hadn't worked, who knows how this would've ended?"

Her words were stern, but her eyes held a smile.

It was their first team battle, after all. Winning was more than enough.

Lin Fan meditated for a moment and recovered some of his Qi before getting up and walking over to the Crimson Flame Tiger's corpse.

The tiger's body was still warm. He pulled out his longsword and began harvesting the materials.

The Demonic Core was the most valuable. The Crimson Flame Tiger's core was bright red and about the size of an egg. Held in his palm, it radiated surging fire-element energy. It was worth at least 8,000 Huaxia Coins.

Much of the tiger hide had been burned, but even so, a complete pelt could sell for around 3,000. Its bones, fangs, and claws were all high-grade materials. The most valuable was its tiger whip—a prized aphrodisiac that could fetch an astronomical price on the black market.

He packed everything into his Storage Space, nearly filling it.

[Team mission 'Hunt the Crimson Flame Tiger' completed]

[Mission requirement met: All team members survived]

[Mission rewards issued: Team skill 'Cooperative Combat (Beginner)', Skill Points x2 (per person)]

[Cooperative Combat (Beginner): When team members fight side by side, their coordination improves slightly and the rate of coordination errors decreases by 10%]

[Skill Points have been issued to each individual Status Panel]

A system notification appeared.

Lin Fan was delighted.

Two Skill Points were equivalent to 200 proficiency. And although the team skill wasn't very effective yet, it would surely grow stronger as they worked together more.

"The mission's complete." Sun Wanting had also received a notification from the Martial Artist Association. "When we turn it in, we'll each get 100 Academic Credits and 10,000 Huaxia Coins. The materials are extra."

"We're rich!" Chen Dahu exclaimed.

But Zhou Ming frowned. "Don't celebrate too soon. We're in rough shape. If we run into another Demonic Beast on the way back, we'll be in danger."

"Let's treat our injuries first." Bai Susu took out their medical supplies. "Lin Fan's burn needs treatment, Chen Dahu's wounds need to be rebandaged, and Zhou Ming's ribs have to be immobilized."

She quickly got to work.

Lin Fan let Bai Susu tend to the burn on his left arm, but his gaze remained fixed on the Crimson Flame Tiger's corpse.

Something wasn't right.

He crouched down and examined the tiger's eyes closely.

Its golden-red slit pupils had gone dull, but deep in its eyes, he thought he saw a faint trace of... gray.

Like mist, or some kind of mark.

It was blurry, and gone in a flash.

"What's wrong?" Sun Wanting noticed his reaction.

"Nothing." Lin Fan shook his head. "Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me."

But he still had his doubts.

The Crimson Flame Tiger's final frenzy hadn't seemed to come entirely from pain and anger. It had felt more like... it had lost control somehow.

"All done." Bai Susu stood up. "Zhou Ming's ribs are immobilized, but he needs to rest and can't fight again. Chen Dahu can't put any strain on his hands for three days. Lin Fan's burn isn't too bad. I applied Cooling Paste, and it should scab over in two days."

"Then let's leave immediately," Sun Wanting said. "We shouldn't stay here any longer."

They got up and prepared to leave.

But just as they turned around, Lin Fan caught a glint from the rock wall in the distance out of the corner of his eye.

It was very faint, gone in an instant.

Like... a lens?

He whipped around and stared in that direction.

The upper part of the rock wall was empty.

"Lin Fan?" Sun Wanting asked.

"I thought..." Lin Fan hesitated. "It's nothing. Let's go."

He pushed his doubts aside.

The team was in too bad a state to investigate, even if someone really was watching them.

They could deal with it after they got back to the city.

The five of them retraced their steps, moving much more slowly than before.

Flame Valley fell silent again.

Only after their figures had disappeared did three people cautiously emerge from behind a massive boulder near the distant rock wall.

They all wore gray combat suits and masks.

"Record: Thunder Team successfully hunted the Crimson Flame Tiger. Battle duration: one quarter hour and two breaths. All members sustained minor injuries; no casualties. Tactical adaptability: average. Individual combat strength: exceptional, especially the target, Lin Fan." The person in the middle spoke softly, holding an instrument resembling a compass.

"Target Lin Fan. Revised combat assessment: suspected 3rd Grade Martial Master level. Actual threat level elevated," the person on the left added.

"Continue observing?" the person on the right asked.

"First-stage observation is complete." The person in the middle put away the instrument. "Let's report back. The president is very interested in the 'Seed.'"

The three slipped away in silence, as though they had never appeared.

Only a few faint footprints remained on the rock wall, soon dried away by the heat.

On the way back, the team's mood was much lighter.

Their haul was substantial, and although their first team battle had hit a few snags, they had ultimately won.

"Once we get back, we'll split the money and take three days to recover," Sun Wanting planned. "Then we'll take a new mission. Zhou Ming, rest and heal properly. Lin Fan, you'll need time to recover from your burn too."

"Got it." Lin Fan nodded, but his mind remained on that glint and the gray trace in the Crimson Flame Tiger's eyes.

Had he imagined it?

Or was something really watching them from the shadows?

He remembered the feeling of being watched in Gray Rock Valley.

That made twice.

"Lin Fan." Chen Dahu came over with a guileless grin. "That last sword strike of yours was awesome! What was it called again? Wind and Thunder Stab? Can you teach it to me?"

"That's a killing move from the Gale Sword Technique. You need a deep reserve of Qi to use it," Lin Fan said, coming back to himself. "Once you break through to 3rd Grade, I can teach you the basics."

"Heh heh, it's a deal!"

Zhou Ming was still in pain, but he smiled too. "This haul's enough for me to buy that book, Shadow Evasion Art. Next time, I won't get smacked by a tail."

Bai Susu smiled warmly. "As long as everyone's safe."

Sun Wanting looked at her teammates, a hint of warmth softening her cool, striking face.

The Thunder Team's first mission was complete.

It hadn't gone perfectly, but they had taken their first step.

She looked ahead.

The outline of Jiangnan City had appeared on the horizon.

The sun was setting, dyeing the city walls gold.

But a shadow had fallen over Lin Fan's heart.

That faint, elusive feeling of being watched, the strange look in the Crimson Flame Tiger's eyes... It all seemed to point toward some hidden whirlpool.

And, without even realizing it, they were being drawn into it.