Night Raid on Wolf Fang

The hour of the rat, dark and windy.

The five changed into night-raid attire, smearing charcoal dust on their faces, and slipped out of the north gate of Iron Wall City.

Three miles outside the city lay the battlefield.

Traces of the day's slaughter had yet to be cleared. Limbs and corpses were scattered across the scorched earth, broken swords stuck in the ground, and blood-soaked banners hung limply in the night wind.

The air was thick with an unshakeable stench of blood, mixed with the smell of burnt flesh and a cloying, rotten sweetness.

"Stay close," Chen Feng whispered, leading the way.

In his left hand, he held a short crossbow, its poisoned bolts gleaming with a faint blue light in the darkness. His right hand gripped a short sword, his steps as light as a cat's.

Li Xuan followed three paces behind him, his Black Scale Saber held loosely. Its blade was smeared with mud and ash, reflecting no light. The arrow wound on his shoulder still ached faintly, but it no longer hindered his movements.

Zhao Wuji was to his left, Sun Wu to his right, and Liu Qingqing brought up the rear.

The five moved in a wedge formation, silently traversing the battlefield's ruins.

The further north they went, the more signs of barbarian activity appeared. Extinguished campfire pits, carelessly discarded animal bones, and... human bones.

"The barbarians eat people?" Liu Qingqing's voice trembled.

"They don't eat them," Li Xuan squatted down, picking up a forearm bone. It bore the marks of sharp teeth. "It's the wolves. The snow wolves the barbarians raise are responsible for cleaning up the battlefield after a fight."

He dropped the bone, his gaze growing colder.

They didn't even spare the corpses.

These barbarians deserved to die!

After another half hour of walking, firelight appeared ahead.

Wolf Fang Pass.

The pass wall, originally thirty feet high, had collapsed for the most part.

The barbarians had erected a makeshift camp on the ruins, enclosed by a wooden palisade. Campfires blazed within, and figures could be dimly seen moving about.

Outside the camp, there were patrols.

The five lay prone behind a dirt slope a hundred paces away, observing.

"Three patrol teams, five men each, with twenty breaths between them," Chen Feng said in a low voice. "The gap in the palisade is on the east side; the defenses are weakest there."

"Too obvious," Zhao Wuji frowned. "It might be a trap."

"We still have to go in," Li Xuan said. "General Wang's mission is to harass them, not to attack head-on. We go in, set fires, kill people, cause chaos, and leave."

"How do we get in?" Sun Wu asked.

Li Xuan took out a small cloth bag from his embrace and poured out five black pills.

"Breath Concealing Pills. They can hide your aura for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. But they can only mask senses below the sixth level of Body Tempering. They're useless against experts."

The five divided and swallowed the pills.

The pills were bitter, and after they went down their throats, their auras quickly weakened.

"Let's go."

Chen Feng led the way, the five moving like shadows, hugging the ground as they crept toward the camp.

Twenty paces.

Ten paces.

Five paces...

A patrol passed in front of them, the torchlight sweeping across the shadows where the five were hiding.

No one noticed.

When the patrol had moved further away, the five quickly slipped through the gap in the palisade and infiltrated the camp.

The camp was larger than it appeared from the outside.

In the center stood the main tent, three times the size of the other tents. A blood-red wolf-head banner was planted in front of it.

Dozens of smaller tents were scattered around. Some emitted snores, while others were lit, with sounds of rough curses and wrestling coming from within.

The air was filled with the smoky aroma of roasted meat and the sour smell of cheap wine.

"Split up," Li Xuan said. "Senior Brother Chen, you go east to set fires. Senior Brother Zhao, west. Sun Wu and Liu Qingqing, south. I... will go check out the main tent."

"That's too dangerous," Chen Feng objected. "The main tent is definitely where Wanyan Lie lives; it'll be the most heavily guarded."

"That's why I have to go," Li Xuan said. "If Wanyan Lie is there, we can't kill him, but we can cause chaos. If he's not..."

"I'll go with you," Zhao Wuji suddenly said.

Li Xuan glanced at him.

Zhao Wuji's gaze was calm. "Two people can look out for each other."

"Alright," Li Xuan nodded. "Everyone else, proceed as planned. Half an incense stick's time, whether we succeed or not, we meet outside the north palisade."

"Understood."

The five scattered.

Li Xuan and Zhao Wuji moved toward the main tent.

A circle of wooden palisades surrounded the main tent, with two barbarian guards standing at the entrance.

They weren't ordinary soldiers.

These two barbarians were nearly seven feet tall, broad-shouldered and stout, their bare torsos covered in scars, muscles bulging like iron blocks. They held door-sized great axes, their eyes fierce, their breathing long and steady.

Body Forging fifth layer.

Two Body Forging fifth layer guards.

"We can't force our way in," Zhao Wuji whispered.

Li Xuan took two blowguns from his bosom.

Inside the blowguns were fine needles coated with anesthetic.

He handed one to Zhao Wuji.

They raised their tubes simultaneously, aiming at the guards' necks.

Puff puff.

The needles shot out.

The two guards' bodies stiffened, then they slumped to the ground.

Li Xuan darted forward, catching one, and gently laid him down. Zhao Wuji did the same.

The two dragged the guards into the shadows, stripped them of their leather armor and wolfskin hats, and put them on themselves.

The barbarians' leather armor had a strong, fishy odor, but it was a passable disguise.

"Let's go."

The two swaggered toward the main tent.

The tent was lit from within.

As they got closer, they could hear people talking inside.

They were speaking the barbarian tongue, which Li Xuan couldn't understand.

But the tone of respect and fear was very clear.

It seemed the person inside had a high status.

Li Xuan lifted a corner of the tent flap and peeked inside.

The tent's interior was simply furnished. A tiger skin was spread on the floor, a few low tables, and bows and arrows and animal heads hung on the walls.

A man sat behind a low table.

Around thirty years old, his face was rugged, with a saber scar running from his brow bone to his mouth on the left side.

His upper body was bare, and a blood wolf howling at the sky was tattooed on his chest. His muscles were chiseled, and his skin had a faint bronze sheen.

Wanyan Lie.

Li Xuan recognized him; he looked exactly like the portrait Wang Meng had given them.

Body Forging eighth layer, the young chieftain of the Blood Wolf Tribe, a practitioner of the Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique.

He was drinking.

Kneeling below him were three barbarian generals, respectfully reporting something.

Wanyan Lie nodded occasionally, his gaze indifferent.

Li Xuan pulled his head back and gave Zhao Wuji a meaningful look.

Now was not the time to act.

The two retreated to the shadows behind the tent.

"What do we do?" Zhao Wuji asked.

"Wait," Li Xuan said. "Wait for the others to start the fire. When the fire starts, the people inside will definitely go out to check. At that time..."

He didn't finish.

But Zhao Wuji understood.

The two lay in wait.

Time passed slowly.

The conversation inside the main tent continued.

Li Xuan pricked up his ears, trying his best to discern words in the barbarian tongue.

"...Southerners... reinforcements... three days..."

"...Wolf Riders... prepare..."

"...blood sacrifice..."

Blood sacrifice?

Li Xuan's heart tightened.

The barbarians had a tradition of blood sacrifice, using captives or enemies' hearts to worship the Wolf God, said to grant power.

Just then—

An explosion came from the east.

Flames soared into the sky!

"Enemy attack!"

The camp erupted instantly.

Barbarian soldiers rushed out of their tents, some bare-chested, some still pulling up their pants, but reacting swiftly, quickly gathering towards the flames.

In the main tent, Wanyan Lie stood up abruptly.

"What's going on?"

A general rushed out to investigate and quickly returned: "Young Chieftain, the grain and fodder in the east are on fire!"

"Southerners sneak attack?" Wanyan Lie sneered, "Courting death. Take a squad of men, kill them all."

"Yes!"

Three generals rushed out of the main tent.

Wanyan Lie didn't move.

He sat back down and continued drinking.

Outside the tent, footsteps, shouts, and the clash of weapons mixed together.

The fire was spreading.

But Wanyan Lie remained as steady as a mountain.

"Not good," Zhao Wuji said in a low voice, "He's not falling for it."

Li Xuan's eyes flickered.

He was wondering if he should make a move now.

Two cultivators at Body Tempering Layer 5, ambushing one at Body Tempering Layer 8, the odds of winning... less than ten percent.

But the opportunity was rare.

While he hesitated, explosions came from the west and south as well.

Chen Feng and the others had made their move.

The camp descended into complete chaos.

Wanyan Lie finally stood up.

He walked outside the tent, looking at the three plumes of fire, a cold smile curving his lips.

"Petty tricks."

He waved his hand: "Pass down the order, everyone hold their positions, do not move rashly. Send out the Wolf Cavalry to search and capture, the Southerners won't get far."

"Yes!"

Wanyan Lie turned and went back into the tent.

Opportunity!

Li Xuan and Zhao Wuji exchanged a glance and moved simultaneously.

They shot out like arrows loosed from a bow, charging into the main tent!

The Black Scale Saber struck directly at Wanyan Lie's back!

Zhao Wuji swept his longsword horizontally, blocking his retreat!

Their coordination was perfect, their timing precise!

But Wanyan Lie seemed to have eyes in the back of his head.

Without turning, he threw a punch backward!

The fist wind was like a cannon!

The Black Scale Saber was knocked away by the punch!

Li Xuan's tiger's mouth split, and the saber nearly flew from his grasp.

Zhao Wuji's longsword was also deflected, grazing Wanyan Lie's shoulder and only breaking the skin slightly.

"Hm?" Wanyan Lie turned, looking at the two with surprise in his eyes, "Southern martial artists? Interesting."

He twisted his neck, his joints cracking.

"Body Tempering Layer 5, daring to assassinate me? Courageous."

Li Xuan wasted no words.

Again!

This time, he used the Stream Breaking style!

The blade light poured down like a waterfall!

Wanyan Lie didn't dodge, crossing his arms to block it head-on!

Clang clang clang clang!

The blade edge struck his arms, emitting a sound like metal clashing, leaving only a few white marks!

What hard bones!

Li Xuan's pupils constricted.

Is this the Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique?

"My turn." Wanyan Lie grinned and threw a punch.

This punch was unremarkable.

But its speed was too fast!

Li Xuan had no time to dodge and could only block with his saber.

He was sent flying backward, crashing through the tent wall and landing on the open ground outside.

He spat out a mouthful of blood.

At least two ribs were broken.

"Li Xuan!" Zhao Wuji rushed out.

Wanyan Lie walked out of the tent unhurriedly, looking at the two of them like they were struggling insects.

"State your names. I don't kill the nameless."

"Li Xuan." Li Xuan propped himself up with his saber.

"Zhao Wuji."

"Good." Wanyan Lie nodded. "I'll remember your names. In return... I'll make your skulls into wine bowls."

He stepped forward.

Unleashing his full aura!

The pressure of Body Forging Layer 8 descended like mountains!

Li Xuan felt his breathing become difficult.

But he didn't retreat.

His hand reached into his chest.

There was a Blood Burning Pill.

But Zhao Wuji moved first.

"Go!"

He suddenly turned and thrust his sword at Li Xuan!

Not at a vital spot, but at his shoulder.

Li Xuan was stunned that Zhao Wuji would attack him.

In that moment of shock, the sword tip had already pierced his left shoulder.

Sharp pain shot through him.

"You..." Li Xuan's eyes widened.

"Sorry." Zhao Wuji whispered, "My father has a deal with Wanyan Lie. Your life... is worth five hundred taels of gold."

With that, he withdrew his sword and retreated.

Wanyan Lie laughed. "Elder Zhao's son? Your father is indeed trustworthy."

"Young Chieftain, I've delivered the person. The gold..."

"Don't worry, not a cent will be missing." Wanyan Lie waved his hand. "You can go."

Zhao Wuji glanced at Li Xuan, his eyes complex, but he eventually turned and disappeared into the darkness.

Traitor.

Li Xuan gritted his teeth.

He should have realized it sooner.

If Elder Zhao could collude with the Black Wind Bandits, he could naturally collude with the barbarians.

He just didn't expect Zhao Wuji to betray him at this moment.

"Now," Wanyan Lie looked at Li Xuan, "only you are left."

Li Xuan gripped the hilt of his saber.

Old and new injuries on his left shoulder compounded, blood pouring out like a river.

But he smiled.

"What are you laughing at?" Wanyan Lie frowned.

"I'm laughing at how stupid you are," Li Xuan said. "Do you really think Zhao Wuji will let you go?"

Wanyan Lie froze.

Just then—

A crossbow bolt shot out from the darkness, aiming straight for the back of Wanyan Lie's neck!

Wanyan Lie reacted with lightning speed, dodging to the side.

But a second, a third bolt followed closely behind!

It was Chen Feng!

He stood atop a tent not far away, holding a short crossbow, firing continuously!

"You're asking for death!" Wanyan Lie roared, unleashing a punch towards Chen Feng.

The punch wind was like a dragon, kicking up dust!

Chen Feng rolled off the tent, evading the blow, and shouted, "Li Xuan, go!"

He couldn't go.

Around them, barbarian soldiers had already surrounded them.

At least fifty of them.

Each one holding a saber or axe, their eyes fierce.

Li Xuan glanced at Chen Feng, then at the surrounding barbarians.

He took out a Blood Burning Pill from his pocket.

And swallowed it.

The pill went down his throat, turning into scorching lava that instantly burned through his entire body!

His Strength surged!

[Strength: 3.0→9.0]

His Stamina also increased!

[Stamina: 5.0→8.0]

Body Forging Layer Eight!

Though it was only temporary, it was enough!

"Senior Brother Chen," Li Xuan's voice was hoarse, "help me hold off the others. Wanyan Lie... is mine."

Chen Feng was stunned for a moment, but seeing the resolve in Li Xuan's eyes, he nodded, "Alright!"

He turned and charged towards the surrounding barbarian soldiers.

His short crossbow fired repeatedly, his short sword like a rainbow.

One man, holding off fifty!

Li Xuan looked at Wanyan Lie.

"Now," he raised the Black Scale Saber, "it's fair."

Wanyan Lie's eyes were grave.

He could feel that Li Xuan's aura had changed.

From Body Forging Layer Five, it had instantly surged to Layer Eight.

A forbidden drug?

"Blood Burning Pill?" he sneered. "Southerners always resort to these crooked methods. But... do you think this will be enough to defeat me?"

"Let's try."

Li Xuan moved.

This time, he didn't use Shadow Step.

It was a frontal charge!

Saber and man became one, turning into a streak of blood-red light, slashing towards Wanyan Lie!

Wanyan Lie didn't dare to be careless either, unleashing both fists, the punch wind like a tiger's roar!

Saber and fist collided!

A wave of energy exploded, overturning the tents around them!

Both retreated simultaneously.

Li Xuan retreated seven steps, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

Wanyan Lie retreated five steps, a deep, bone-gaping gash now on his arm.

"Good saber!" Wanyan Lie stared at the Black Scale Saber. "I'm taking this saber."

"Come and get it if you have the guts."

Li Xuan attacked again.

This time, he used the Mountain Slaying Style.

But he didn't force it; instead, he poured all the medicinal power of the Blood Burning Pill into this single strike.

Blood-red light surged from the saber!

It wasn't saber light; it was burning vital energy and blood!

"Slay--!"

He slashed down!

Wanyan Lie's expression changed drastically.

He felt the threat of death.

"Blood Wolf Bodyguard!"

He roared, his skin instantly turning blood-red, muscles bulging, veins throbbing.

He met the blow head-on!

BOOM!!!

The ground exploded, creating a three-zhang deep pit!

Dust billowed.

When the dust settled.

Wanyan Lie was standing.

But a saber cut ran across his chest, from shoulder to abdomen, deep enough to see bone.

Blood gushed like a fountain.

"You..." He looked down at the wound, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Li Xuan was also standing.

But the Black Scale Saber was broken.

The blade couldn't withstand the power of the Mountain Slaying Style and snapped in two.

He gripped the broken half of the saber, gasping for air.

The effects of the Blood Burning Pill were rapidly fading.

Weakness washed over him like a tide.

But he held on.

"Young Chieftain!"

The barbarian soldiers, seeing Wanyan Lie heavily wounded, swarmed forward madly.

Chen Feng's eyes were bloodshot, and he had sustained seven or eight wounds, but he was still desperately holding them back.

"Go!" Li Xuan roared.

He charged at Wanyan Lie, thrusting the broken saber straight for his heart!

Wanyan Lie, heavily wounded, reacted a half-beat too slow.

Squelch!

The broken saber pierced his chest, but it was off by a fraction, missing the vital spot.

"Ah--!" Wanyan Lie screamed, and punched Li Xuan in the abdomen.

Li Xuan flew backward, crashing ten zhang away.

His vision went black.

But he saw it.

Wanyan Lie, with the broken saber embedded in his chest, staggered backward, protected by his guards.

He wasn't dead.

A pity.

But he had no strength left to pursue.

The effects of the Blood Burning Pill had worn off.

The backlash had arrived.

His meridians felt like they were splitting, his bones like they were falling apart.

He didn't even have the strength to stand up.

"Li Xuan!" Chen Feng carved a bloody path, charging over, hoisting him up, and running.

Behind them, barbarian soldiers pursued relentlessly.

But Chen Feng was incredibly fast. Carrying Li Xuan, he dashed out of the encampment in just a few leaps, disappearing into the night.

At dawn, ten miles north of Iron Wall City, in an abandoned earth kiln.

Chen Feng gently set Li Xuan down and checked his injuries.

"Four broken ribs, the wound on his left shoulder burst open, and his meridians are severely damaged," he said, his face grim. "The backlash from the Blood Burning Pill, plus the old injuries... you'll be bedridden for at least three months."

Li Xuan lay on the ground, too weak to even speak.

But he smiled.

"Wanyan Lie... is heavily injured."

"Yes, you almost killed him," Chen Feng said with a wry smile. "But you're about to die too."

"I won't die," Li Xuan closed his eyes and looked inward at his status panel.

[Potential: 0.00 → 2.5]

Being heavily injured at Body Tempering level eight had given him 2.5 potential.

Adding it to his previous amount, he had 3.7 in total.

He put it all into Stamina!

[Stamina: 5.0 → 8.7]

A warm current flowed through him.

His broken ribs began to reset, the ruptured wound started to heal, and his damaged meridians were nourished.

He wasn't fully recovered yet, but at least... he wouldn't die.

Li Xuan opened his eyes and sat up.

"You..." Chen Feng's eyes widened. "Your injuries..."

"Much better," Li Xuan said. "What about Sun Wu and Liu Qingqing?"

"I don't know," Chen Feng shook his head. "We haven't seen them since we split up. I hope they... are still alive."

The two fell silent.

After a long pause, Li Xuan asked, "What about Zhao Wuji?"

"He ran," Chen Feng said. "His father had a deal with Wanyan Lie, five thousand taels of gold to buy your life. But Wanyan Lie was heavily injured, so the deal is probably off. Now... he's either dead at the hands of the barbarians or he's fled back to the martial arts school."

"Back to the martial arts school?" Li Xuan sneered. "The sect leader won't let him off."

"Not necessarily," Chen Feng said. "Elder Zhao has a lot of influence in the martial arts school; the sect leader has to show him some respect. Besides... if Zhao Wuji insists he was forced, or even twists it around and accuses you of colluding with the barbarians, things could get complicated."

Li Xuan's eyes turned cold.

"Then he won't make it back."

"You want to kill him?" Chen Feng asked.

"He must die," Li Xuan said. "But not now."

He stood up and stretched his Sinews and Bones.

His injuries weren't fully healed, but he could move now.

"What do we do next?" Chen Feng asked.

"Return to Iron Wall City," Li Xuan said. "Report back to General Wang. Then... recover and get stronger."

"Let's go."

The two left the earth kiln and walked towards Iron Wall City.

Behind them, the morning sun rose.

It illuminated the ravaged land.

It also illuminated the cold killing intent in Li Xuan's eyes.