Tracking in the Dark Night

In Wei Dayong's home, the oil lamp flickered like a bean, casting distorted shadows on the walls. Lingling lay on the heated brick bed, her breathing rapid, her small face flushed red with fever. Her lips were cracked, and she occasionally uttered fragmented, nonsensical whispers of "dark shadow," "don't come closer," and "cold," her voice filled with fear.

Sister Xu sat by the bed, constantly wiping her daughter's forehead with a wet towel, tears silently streaming down her face. Wei Dayong paced the small room like a restless trapped beast, his fists clenched, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the dark night outside the window before returning to his daughter's pained little face. The Soul Guiding Incense in his arms felt like a branding iron against his chest.

Time crawled by in agonizing slowness. Finally, as midnight approached, a profound silence fell, as if even the wind had ceased. At that moment, Lingling on the bed began to convulse violently. Her limbs stiffened, a guttural sound came from her throat, and her eyes rolled back. The situation was more perilous than ever before!

"Now!" Wei Dayong roared, suddenly pulling out the Soul Guiding Incense, inscribed with cinnabar runes, and lighting it with the oil lamp's flame.

The tip of the incense glowed with a faint red light, and a strange scent, a mix of herbs and fishiness, spread through the air. The smoke did not rise like ordinary incense; instead, it hovered an inch from the tip for a moment before, as if pulled by an invisible hand, it transformed into an extremely thin, almost transparent gray thread. Trembling, yet with remarkable steadiness, it pointed toward a specific direction outside the window!

Wei Dayong's pupils constricted. He quickly instructed Sister Xu, "Lock the door and wait for me!" Without hesitation, he pushed open the door and melted into the thick night, following the nearly indistinguishable smoke thread in the darkness.

The smoke thread drifted erratically, passing through silent, deserted alleys and over piles of debris, always pointing west of the city.

In the study of the General of the Middle Army's mansion, the candlelight burned brightly. Li Chongshan was not asleep. He stood with his hands behind his back by the window, gazing toward the pitch-black western direction of the city, his face expressionless. A lean man in black knelt behind him on one knee.

"My lord, three Shadow Guards are in position. We've dispatched those in the Mortal Transformation Perfected Realm; this is the limit of what we can send."

Li Chongshan gave a soft "Mm," his fingers unconsciously stroking a smooth jade pendant. "The test subject has exceeded expectations. This time, we want it alive. As intact as possible." His tone was indifferent, as if he were assigning a routine task.

"Yes! Your subordinate understands!" The man in black received the order, his figure disappearing like a ghost into the shadows.

A faint smile touched Li Chongshan's lips. He whispered, "Blood Qi Beacon, showing its first signs of abnormality. Truly an excellent vessel. I hope you can hold on a little longer."

Wei Dayong followed the smoke of the Soul Guiding Incense, navigating through the maze-like alleys. The smoke grew fainter, and the direction it pointed became clearer. Finally, it stopped outside a rear alley of a large, high-walled compound, circled for a moment, and then slowly dissipated. The incense had burned out. At this moment, a faint, sinister aura, similar to Lingling's but more potent, seemed to drift from under the door.

Wei Dayong hid in the shadows of a dilapidated eave, staring intently at the inconspicuous yet heavily guarded side door not far away. There were no markings on the lintel, but two men with sharp eyes and bulging temples stood at the entrance, exuding an aura that warned strangers away simply by their presence.

Wei Dayong's chest heaved. His daughter's whispers, the direction of the Soul Guiding Incense, choked him. Reason told him that a frontal assault was suicide, but looking at the door, thinking of his daughter's pained little face, an uncontrollable rage surged through him!

"Damn it! I'll risk it!" Wei Dayong's eyes were bloodshot, the last shred of hesitation crushed. He suddenly burst from the shadows like a maddened bull, charging straight for the side door!

"Stop! Who goes there? How dare you trespass!" The two guards reacted with lightning speed, shouting sternly. They stepped forward in unison, their sabers half-drawn with a clang, blocking the path. Their movements were synchronized, exuding the killing aura of trained soldiers.

"Trespass?" Wei Dayong stopped a few paces from the door, his eyes bloodshot, his voice hoarse with anger. "When you used dark arts to harm my daughter, did you ever think I also serve the government? Does being an official make me insignificant? Hah! In Anping County, the General of the Middle Army is the law! Is your fist harder than the General's?" He sized up Wei Dayong's ordinary Garrison uniform with contempt. "Get lost! Otherwise, you'll be killed without mercy!"

"I have no intention of making an enemy of the General of the Middle Army!" Wei Dayong growled, his right hand already on the hilt of his saber, his knuckles white with exertion. "I just want to save my daughter! Hand over the method to undo the dark arts!"

"We told you there are no dark arts, you lunatic!" The other guard spat impatiently. "Take him down!"

Before the words were out, both men attacked simultaneously. Their saber lights flashed like silk ribbons, slashing viciously at Wei Dayong's shoulders from left and right, intending to incapacitate him. Their coordination was flawless, their attacks fierce, clearly indicating they were skilled soldiers.

Seeing the saber lights approaching, Wei Dayong didn't dodge. Instead, he let out a beast-like roar and drew his saber! He didn't use any fancy techniques, but instead unleashed the desperate fighting style honed through years of bloodshed to its fullest. His saber strokes were broad and powerful, carrying a spirit of mutual destruction as he charged forward!

"Squelch!"

Wei Dayong dodged, and at the same time, his saber, like a viper striking from its hole, plunged into the right guard's chest from an extremely tricky angle!

The man's eyes widened in disbelief as he slumped to the ground.

"Old Zhang!" The remaining guard was shocked and enraged, not expecting this man to actually kill someone. He drew his saber, intending to retreat, but Wei Dayong was like a persistent shadow. He lunged forward, completely disregarding his own exposed flanks, and swung his saber down again! The guard hurriedly raised his saber to block.

"Clang!"

Metal clashed! Wei Dayong's hand was split, but with sheer brute force and weight, he forced the opponent, saber and all, to his knees! He seized the opportunity and slammed his knee into the man's face!

"Crack!" The sound of a shattered nose was clearly audible. The guard let out a scream of agony and fell backward.

Wei Dayong panted heavily, blood dripping from his left shoulder. Holding his chipped saber, he staggered toward the side door.

"Boom!"

The door shook violently but didn't budge; it was clearly barred from the inside. Hurried footsteps and shouts could already be heard from within the courtyard, and more guards were being alerted and rushing over.