Black Wind Calamity

Five fine horses were tethered in front of the martial arts school, fully equipped with saddles and saddlebags. Beside the saddles hung bags of dry rations and water skins.

Besides Li Xuan, there were four others: Zhao Wuji, Chen Feng, and two inner courtyard disciples—a burly man who wielded a spear named Sun Wu, and a woman who used twin swords named Liu Qingqing.

The head of the martial arts school personally saw them off.

"It's three thousand li to the Northern Territory. Even on horseback, it will take half a month," the headmaster said, distributing five leather pouches to everyone. "Inside are 'Marching Pills.' Take one every three days to ward off hunger and thirst. When you reach Iron Wall City, report to General Wang Meng of the Northern Garrison Army."

Zhao Wuji took a leather pouch and cupped his fists. "Headmaster, rest assured, your disciples will not fail you."

Chen Feng merely nodded.

Li Xuan silently tied the leather pouch to his waist and mounted his horse.

"Depart."

Five horses galloped out of the martial arts school, their hooves clattering on the bluestone road as they sped north.

Initially, all was peaceful.

The five of them focused on the journey, speaking little beyond necessary communication.

Sun Wu and Liu Qingqing clearly deferred to Zhao Wuji, flanking him on his left and right, their eyes vigilant. Chen Feng rode alone at the rear, with Li Xuan in the middle.

At dusk, the five arrived at the "Northward Posthouse," a hundred li away.

This was the last posthouse on the official road; beyond it lay the wilderness.

The posthouse was small, with earthen walls and a wooden roof. Several post horses were tethered in the courtyard. The postmaster, an old man with one eye, hurried out upon seeing their attire.

"Are you esteemed members of the martial arts school looking for lodging?"

"Five rooms," Zhao Wuji said, tossing over a silver ingot.

"Certainly!"

The rooms were simple, each containing only a bed and a table. Li Xuan tethered his horse and checked his belongings before entering his room.

He didn't sleep.

He sat cross-legged on the bed, circulating his vital energy and blood.

He had already memorized the insights of the Iron Bone Skill. Combined with the Body Tempering Powder, the strength of his bones had noticeably improved these past few days. However, he was still far from mastering it.

In the dead of night, a faint sound came from outside the window.

Li Xuan's eyes snapped open, his hand resting on his saber hilt.

It was faint, but it couldn't escape his Spirit attribute of 1.6.

At least three people were creeping across the roof.

He silently slid off the bed and hid behind the door.

Creeeak—

The window was pried open a crack.

A bamboo tube was inserted, blowing a puff of white smoke.

Sleeping gas?

Li Xuan held his breath, concentrating his mind.

After ten breaths, the window was pushed open, and a dark figure climbed in.

Landing silently, this was clearly an expert.

The shadowy figure crept to the bedside and raised a saber to strike—

Only to hit empty air.

"Damn!" the figure hissed.

But it was too late.

Li Xuan darted out from behind the door, his Black Scale Saber slicing across the figure's throat.

Squelch.

Blood spurted out.

The figure clutched its neck and collapsed.

The other two, hearing the commotion, broke through the window.

Both were clad in black, masked, and wielding steel sabers.

"Kill!" one of them roared.

The two lunged simultaneously.

Sabers flashed like snow.

Li Xuan didn't retreat; he advanced, employing Shadow Step, moving like a phantom between the two attackers.

His Black Scale Saber swept upwards.

Slash! Slash!

Two men were stabbed in the back and fell forward.

Three breaths.

Three eliminated.

Li Xuan squatted down and pulled off the black-clothed men's face coverings.

They were all unfamiliar faces, but they had the same tattoo on their wrists—a black eagle with outstretched wings.

Just as he was about to get up, a knock came from the door.

"Junior Brother Li, are you alright?" It was Chen Feng's voice.

Li Xuan opened the door.

Chen Feng stood outside, a sword in his hand, its tip dripping blood. Behind him lay two black-clothed corpses.

"They came for you too?" Chen Feng asked.

"Three," Li Xuan replied.

"I had two." Chen Feng glanced into the room. "No movement from Zhao Wuji's side."

The two exchanged a look and headed toward Zhao Wuji's room.

The door was open.

Zhao Wuji sat by the table, cleaning his sword. Five corpses lay on the ground, all in black.

"Seven waves came," Zhao Wuji looked up and sneered. "The Black Wind Bandits really think highly of us."

Sun Wu and Liu Qingqing also emerged from their respective rooms. They were bleeding, but only from superficial wounds.

"Twelve dead," Chen Feng counted. "All of them were good fighters around the Body Tempering third layer. The Black Wind Bandits are really spending big this time."

"It's only the first day," Li Xuan said.

"That's right," Zhao Wuji stood up. "Three hundred miles of wilderness north of the Northward Posthouse is the perfect place for an ambush. The next few days... will be even tougher."

He looked at Li Xuan. "Junior Brother Li, what do you think?"

"Fight our way through," Li Xuan uttered three words.

Zhao Wuji smiled. "Good, then let's fight our way through."

The next day, the five continued north.

As expected, less than ten miles out of the posthouse, they encountered the first ambush.

Ten black-clothed men rushed out from the roadside woods, holding crossbows.

Swish, swish, swish!

Arrows rained down like locusts.

"Scatter!" Zhao Wuji roared.

The five simultaneously rolled off their horses and took cover behind a dirt slope by the roadside.

The crossbow bolts embedded themselves in the slope with dull thuds.

"Damn it, they're even using crossbows!" Sun Wu cursed. "They're trying to wipe us out!"

Li Xuan peeked out.

Ten black-clothed men, three suppressing them with crossbows, seven closing in with sabers.

A standard encirclement formation.

"Leave the crossbows to me," Liu Qingqing took out a handful of throwing knives. "Sun Wu, you take the left, I'll take the right."

"Alright!"

The two charged out simultaneously.

Liu Qingqing flicked her wrist, and three throwing knives flew out.

Thwack, thwack, thwack!

Three crossbowmen were hit in the throat and fell.

Sun Wu's spear was like a dragon, thrusting directly at the black-clothed men on the left.

Li Xuan wasn't idle either.

He used Shadow Step, flanking the black-clothed men from the side.

The Black Scale Saber was unsheathed.

Wind Breaking Style!

The blade light formed a net, covering the three black-clothed men.

The three didn't even have time to react before their throats were slit.

Ten breaths.

All ten black-clothed men were eliminated.

"Let's go!" Zhao Wuji mounted his horse.

The five of them continued on their journey.

But the road ahead became increasingly difficult.

On the third day, they encountered three ambushes, and twenty black-clothed men died.

On the fourth day, five ambushes, and thirty black-clothed men.

On the fifth day...

"Something's not right," Chen Feng reined in his horse. "Even though the Black Wind Bandits have many men, they wouldn't be this desperate. Nearly a hundred dead, and they still won't stop?"

"They're buying time," Li Xuan said.

"Buying time?" Sun Wu was confused.

"The war in the Northern Territory is urgent. Arriving a day late could mean missing a crucial opportunity," Li Xuan explained. "The Black Wind Bandits were hired to delay us."

He looked at Zhao Wuji. "Senior Brother Zhao, what do you think?"

Zhao Wuji's expression turned grim. "Keep moving."

On the seventh day, the five entered Black Wind Ridge.

This was the necessary route north. Tall mountains and dense forests lined both sides, with a narrow path winding through the middle.

"Be careful," Chen Feng said. "This is the perfect place for an ambush."

As soon as he spoke, a figure appeared on the mountain path ahead.

He wore a black robe and a black mask, carrying a ghost-head saber.

"This road was opened by me, this tree was planted by me," the figure said in a hoarse voice. "If you wish to pass, leave your toll."

A cliché line.

But no one dared to laugh.

Because the aura emanating from the man... was Body Tempering level seven.

"Black Wind Fiend?" Zhao Wuji's pupils constricted.

"That's me," the Black Wind Fiend grinned. "Zhao Wuji, right? Your father paid five thousand taels to buy your lives. But... I've changed my mind."

His gaze swept over the five. "You five are elites from the martial arts school. It would be a waste to kill you. How about this: kneel, kowtow, and join the Black Wind Bandits, and I'll spare your lives."

"Dream on," Liu Qingqing snorted coldly.

"Then don't blame me for being impolite." The Black Wind Fiend raised his hand.

From the forests on both sides, over a hundred black-clothed men surged forth.

Each held a saber or sword, their eyes fierce.

They were surrounded.

"Senior Brother Zhao," Sun Wu's voice trembled, "what do we do?"

Zhao Wuji didn't speak.

He looked at Li Xuan. "Junior Brother Li, what do you say?"

Li Xuan gripped the Black Scale Saber tightly. "We fight our way out."

"Good," Zhao Wuji nodded. "Chen Feng, you take the left, I'll take the right. Sun Wu and Liu Qingqing, cover our rear. Li Xuan... you take the vanguard."

Take the vanguard.

Facing the Body Tempering level seven Black Wind Fiend.

This was sending him to his death.

But Li Xuan didn't refuse.

He dismounted and walked towards the Black Wind Fiend.

"Kid, you've got guts," the Black Wind Fiend chuckled. "State your name. I don't kill the nameless."

"Li Xuan."

"Li Xuan?" The Black Wind Fiend thought for a moment. "Never heard of you. But it doesn't matter, you'll be dead soon anyway."

He moved.

The ghost-head saber slashed down, the blade wind whistling.

This strike carried at least a thousand jin of force!

Li Xuan didn't dare to meet it head-on, executing Shadow Step to retreat rapidly.

The saber's edge grazed his clothes, carving a deep gouge in the ground.

So strong!

Body Tempering level seven, with Strength at least 5.0 or higher.

He couldn't block it at all.

He could only stall.

Li Xuan pushed his Shadow Step to its limit, weaving through the blade light.

But the Black Wind Fiend was experienced and his swordsmanship was steady, giving him no chance to get close.

"Brat, is all you can do is dodge?" the Black Wind Fiend sneered.

Li Xuan didn't answer.

He was waiting.

Waiting for an opportunity.

But the opportunity didn't come.

What came was a cold arrow.

The arrow shot from the side, aiming straight for Li Xuan's back.

It was a cold arrow fired by a man in black!

By the time Li Xuan noticed, he couldn't dodge it.

He could only turn his body.

Swoosh!

The arrow pierced his left shoulder, passing straight through the bone.

Intense pain shot through him.

Li Xuan grunted, his movements slowing for a moment.

In that instant, the Black Wind Fiend's saber arrived.

The blade swept directly towards his face!

It's over.

Li Xuan closed his eyes.

But the expected searing pain didn't come.

Clang!

Li Xuan opened his eyes.

Chen Feng stood in front of him, his longsword blocking the鬼头大刀.

But Chen Feng's face was pale, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

He was only at Body Tempering Layer Five, and taking a blow from a Layer Seven cultivator had already caused internal injuries.

"Senior Brother Chen..." Li Xuan was stunned.

"Stop wasting time!" Chen Feng gritted his teeth. "Go!"

He swung his sword in a fierce attack, forcing the Black Wind Fiend back a step.

Li Xuan gritted his teeth, pulled the arrow from his shoulder, and flicked it backhand.

The arrow pierced the throat of a man in black.

"Break out!" Zhao Wuji also moved.

His longsword was like a rainbow, striking directly at the Black Wind Fiend.

Sun Wu and Liu Qingqing also charged forward, the four of them surrounding and attacking the Black Wind Fiend.

But the hundreds of men in black surrounding them had already closed in.

A chaotic battle erupted.

Li Xuan endured the pain in his shoulder, his Black Scale Saber a blur.

Wind Breaking Style! Stream Breaking Style!

Where his blade passed, the men in black fell like wheat being harvested.

But the wound on his shoulder was too severe, and the bleeding wouldn't stop.

His movements grew slower and slower.

"Li Xuan!" Chen Feng forced back two men in black with a sword strike and rushed to his side. "Get on the horse!"

"You guys..."

"Stop wasting time!" Chen Feng pushed him onto the horse's back and slapped its hindquarters. "Go!"

The horse whinnied and charged forward.

"Stop him!" the Black Wind Fiend roared.

Over a dozen men in black lunged forward.

Li Xuan gritted his teeth, pulled a Blood Burst Pill from his embrace, and swallowed it.

The medicinal power exploded.

Strength surged!

[Strength: 3.0→6.0]

Although it was only temporary, it was enough.

The Black Scale Saber swept out.

Puff puff puff!

Three black-clothed men were cut in half.

Li Xuan spurred his horse forward, his saber light like a wheel. Wherever it passed, severed limbs flew.

He carved a bloody path.

But when he looked back, he saw Chen Feng and the other three were already swamped by the black-clothed men.

Zhao Wuji was fighting desperately, Sun Wu had taken a saber strike, and Liu Qingqing had run out of flying daggers.

Chen Feng... was covered in blood, but still fighting with all his might.

Li Xuan reined in his horse.

Should he go back?

If he left, they might live.

If he went back... they might all die.

But he didn't hesitate.

He turned his horse around and charged back.

"Li Xuan, are you crazy!" Zhao Wuji roared when he saw him return.

Li Xuan ignored him.

He raised the Black Scale Saber high.

It wasn't the Wind Breaking Style.

Nor was it the Stream Breaking Style.

It was... the Mountain Slaying Style!

This time, he didn't burn his vital energy and blood.

Instead, he poured all the medicinal power of the Blood Burst Pill into this single strike.

"Slash--!"

The saber light, like a blood moon, descended!

BOOM!!!

The ground exploded.

Dust flew.

Over a dozen black-clothed men were killed with one saber strike.

Black Wind Fiend's expression changed drastically, and he retreated rapidly.

But the saber light still grazed his left arm.

Squelch!

His left arm was severed at the shoulder!

"Aargh--!" Black Wind Fiend screamed.

Li Xuan landed and staggered back.

The backlash from the Mountain Slaying Style had arrived.

His meridians ached fiercely, and his vision darkened.

But he didn't fall.

"Retreat!" Black Wind Fiend roared, clutching his severed arm.

The black-clothed men retreated like a tide.

In the blink of an eye, they vanished into the forest.

On the spot, only five people remained.

And a ground full of corpses.

"Cough... cough..." Chen Feng coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground.

Sun Wu had a saber wound across his chest, deep enough to see bone.

Liu Qingqing's left arm was fractured.

Zhao Wuji... he was the least injured, but his expression was the most grim.

Because just now, he almost ran away.

"Li Xuan," Zhao Wuji walked over, his eyes complex, "you..."

"Heal your wounds first," Li Xuan interrupted him, taking out Golden Wound Powder from his embrace and distributing it to everyone.

The arrow wound on his own shoulder was still bleeding.

But he didn't treat himself first. Instead, he helped Sun Wu stop the bleeding and set Liu Qingqing's bones.

Chen Feng watched him and suddenly smiled.

"What are you laughing at?" Li Xuan asked.

"I'm laughing because I didn't misjudge you," Chen Feng said.

Li Xuan didn't speak.

After treating their wounds, the five people rested on the spot.

"The Black Wind Fiend escaped, but he won't give up," Zhao Wuji said. "There are still three hundred miles ahead, and he will definitely set up another ambush."

"Then we'll fight our way through," Li Xuan said.

"Do you still have the strength?" Zhao Wuji looked at him.

Li Xuan took out the last two Blood Burst Pills from his embrace.

"Yes."

Zhao Wuji fell silent.

Blood Burst Pills were life-risking medicine.

Li Xuan had actually prepared three of them.

"You..." Zhao Wuji finally sighed, "Forget it. From now on, I'll listen to you."

Li Xuan nodded.

He looked to the north.

Three hundred miles left.

Three hundred miles later, was Iron Wall City.

Was the Northern Territory.

Was the battlefield.

And also... the place where he would become stronger.

"Rest for an hour," Li Xuan said, "then, we'll continue on our way."

He sat down cross-legged, circulated his vital energy and blood, and began to heal his injuries.

The arrow wound on his shoulder was deep, but the recovery power of Physique 5.0 was not to be trifled with.

An hour later, the wound had scabbed over.

Although it hadn't fully healed, it at least didn't hinder his movements.

"Let's go."

The five people mounted their horses and continued north.

Behind them lay the ground covered in black-clothed corpses.

Ahead of them lay unknown dangers.

But Li Xuan gripped the hilt of his saber, his eyes resolute.

Black Wind Bandits?

Black Wind Fiend?

Bring it on.

Let's see who dies first.

Three days later, the five arrived at Iron Wall City.

The city walls were thirty feet high, and the dark green bricks were covered in knife marks and arrow scars. Banners fluttered on the battlements, soldiers patrolled back and forth, and a faint smell of blood permeated the air.

This was the Northern Territory.

This was the battlefield.

"Who goes there!" the city guard shouted from the wall.

"From the Iron Fist martial arts school in Black Stone City, here to report as ordered by the hall master!" Zhao Wuji took out his token.

The city gate slowly opened.

The five rode into the city.

The scene inside the city silenced everyone.

On both sides of the street, dense tents were set up. Wounded soldiers lay everywhere, some missing limbs, some covered in bandages. Medics were busy beyond compare, yet some wounded soldiers were still dying in agony.

The air was thick with the smell of decay, in addition to the stench of blood.

"Is this... the Northern Territory?" Liu Qingqing's voice trembled.

"This is the real battlefield," a voice came from the side.

The five turned their heads.

It was a middle-aged general, clad in iron armor, his face weathered by the elements, but his eyes sharp as knives.

"General Zhenbei, Wang Meng," the general said, cupping his fists.

"Greetings, General!" the five quickly dismounted and bowed.

"No need for such formalities," Wang Meng sized up the five. "Did the martial arts school only send the five of you?"

"Yes," Zhao Wuji replied.

"Three at Body Tempering level five, two at level four," Wang Meng nodded. "Barely enough. However..."

He paused. "Wolf Fang Pass fell yesterday."

The five's faces changed drastically.

Wolf Fang Pass was where they were supposed to be stationed.

"The barbarian tribe 'Blood Wolf Tribe', led by Wanyan Lie himself, with thirty thousand barbarian soldiers and five hundred barbarian martial artists," Wang Meng said. "Of the three thousand soldiers defending the pass, only eight hundred escaped."

He looked at the five. "Do you still want to go?"

Silence.

After a long while, Li Xuan spoke, "Yes."

"Good, you have spirit." He turned. "Follow me."

The five followed.

Inside the general's mansion, Wang Meng spread out a map.

"Although Wolf Fang Pass has fallen, the barbarians haven't established a firm foothold. What I want you to do is not to retake the pass, but to harass them," Wang Meng said, pointing at the map. "Attack their supply lines, assassinate officers, create chaos. Stall Wanyan Lie and buy me time to mobilize troops."

He looked at the five. "This mission has a ninety percent chance of death. Whether you go or not, you decide for yourselves."

"I'll go," Li Xuan was the first to speak.

"I'll go too," Chen Feng said.

Zhao Wuji hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "I'll go."

Sun Wu and Liu Qingqing exchanged glances, then gritted their teeth, "We'll go."

"Good." Wang Meng took out five leather pouches from under the table. "Inside are 'Marching Pills', 'Stanching Powder', and... a 'Blood Burning Pill'."

Blood Burning Pill.

A forbidden drug even more potent than the Blood Burst Pill.

After taking it, Strength would surge threefold, lasting for half an incense stick's worth of time.

But after the effects wore off, death was certain.

"This is a last resort," Wang Meng said. "Don't use it unless you're in a desperate situation."

The five took the pouches.

"When do we leave?" Li Xuan asked.

"Tonight," Wang Meng said. "Take advantage of the darkness to infiltrate behind Wolf Fang Pass."

He paused. "One last reminder – on the battlefield, the most terrifying thing is not the enemy, but betrayal. Be wary of the people around you."

With that, he turned and left.

The five stood before the map in silence.

"Li Xuan," Zhao Wuji suddenly said, "We might not come back from this."

"I know," Li Xuan replied.

"Aren't you afraid?"

"I am," Li Xuan said. "But fear is useless."

Zhao Wuji stared at him, then suddenly smiled.

"I used to think you were crazy," he said. "Now I think... you're a friend worth having."

Li Xuan didn't speak.

Friend?

On the battlefield, there were no friends.

Only the living and the dead.

"Let's get ready," Chen Feng said. "We leave at dusk."