Undercurrents Stirred

Autumn had arrived, and winter was not far off. The caravans from beyond the pass were gradually returning.

Even the deeply rooted caravans of the northern frontier were no exception!

At dusk, dust billowed along the northern highway. The ground trembled as a vast company raced in from beyond the pass.

At its head rode over a hundred black-armored cavalrymen. Both riders and horses were clad in heavy armor, their killing intent surging, their armor spattered with blood that had yet to dry.

Behind them came dozens of rhinoceros-like pack beasts, each nearly a zhang tall and laden with heavy crates. More than a hundred wagons brought up the rear, their curtains drawn low.

The entire company numbered at least five hundred. Every one of them brimmed with vitality, and even the weakest had a more formidable presence than the deceased Sun Qing. When more than a dozen pairs of eyes swept over the woods, invisible edges seemed to slice through the air.

The company moved at great speed and soon reached an open campsite three li outside Linshan Town.

The advance party had already erected fences and tents. The two groups quickly joined up.

"Commander Xu is back!"

"The goods are all here. We dealt with three groups of foreigners along the way."

After a brief exchange, the bulk of the company poured into the camp.

The well-trained caravan hands began unloading cargo, settling the pack beasts, and putting up more tents.

Squads were dispatched one after another to set up hidden and visible sentry posts around the camp.

They would wait here for the Border Army to inspect them. It had been the rule for decades: all large caravans entering the pass had to be screened by the Border Army first, to prevent them from smuggling prohibited goods or spies from beyond the pass.

The camp quickly grew lively.

A caravan hand struck a copper gong and shouted as he walked along the highway, "The northern frontier's Tongda Trading Firm is back! We open for business in three days! Furs, medicinal herbs, ore, rare treasures from beyond the pass—we've got it all!"

His voice carried across the wilderness, and the news spread like the wind.

In nearby villages and border forts, bold hunters and farmers were already poking their heads out to look.

Meanwhile,

in the north of Linshan Town, in the rear courtyard of an inconspicuous general store, the cellar entrance was concealed, revealing a flight of stone steps descending underground.

At the bottom of the stairs was a secret chamber.

Candlelight flickered inside, illuminating five figures wrapped in loose black robes.

They stood around a stone table, on which lay a map of Yang Province and its surrounding regions.

Their shadows stretched across the stone walls in the candlelight.

Strangely, each person's shadow had two overlapping outlines: one human-shaped, the other a twisted, wavering silhouette...

At the northern end of Fushun Street, in the rear courtyard of the Wild Wolf Gang's headquarters,

the gang leader, Zhou Hang, sat in a grand chair, his expression dark.

He was around forty, a martial artist in the Body Forging and Bone Tempering realms. He had once been a disciple of a martial hall in the provincial city. Ten years ago, he had come to the northern frontier to hunt beasts and met with disaster. After narrowly surviving, he had settled here.

With ruthless methods, he had swallowed up smaller gangs and grown into the leader of the Wild Wolf Gang. By day, he helped maintain order; in secret, he controlled the underworld. He was now a man of standing in town.

He had seen the northern frontier caravans return many times and thought nothing of it. In fact, he was looking forward to their arrival; perhaps he could profit from it.

The one thing that displeased him was that someone in his gang had defied his orders and acted on their own.

That was a show of disrespect to him, the gang leader. How could he possibly be in a good mood?

"Why did Hall Master Sun take men with him?" Zhou Hang asked coldly.

The gang members below answered nervously, "Hall Master Sun took ten men out to do some 'business.' They should have been back by now."

"What business?"

"Before noon, we got word that some hunters from Luming Fort had killed several wolves and bought a lot of restorative medicine. They were heading back, so Hall Master Sun took his men after them..."

Zhou Hang slammed a fist down on the armrest. "Fools! Hunters who can buy that much restorative medicine aren't ordinary. Where did the information come from?"

The steward replied quietly, "We checked. It came from Yuelai Teahouse. The one spreading the news was You Biaozi, a guard of Lei Jun from Leiming Martial Hall."

"Lei Jun..." Anger flashed in Zhou Hang's eyes. "That brat thinks he can use my Wild Wolf Gang as his knife? And Sun Qing, that brainless fool, went and took the bait."

"Gang leader, could something have happened to Hall Master Sun and the others..."

"They're probably as good as dead." Zhou Hang rose decisively and paced across the hall. "The town has been turbulent lately, and medicine is in short supply. Those hunters were able to buy restorative medicine from Duobao Pavilion.

"Either they're strong in their own right, or someone powerful is backing them. They might even have a VIP token. Sun Qing took so few men with him—he's kicked an iron plate."

He stopped abruptly and swept his gaze across the people in the hall. "Pass down my orders: Sun Qing embezzled gang funds and colluded with outsiders, betraying the gang.

"He was expelled from the Wild Wolf Gang several days ago. His actions have nothing to do with us. Spread the word immediately. Everyone in town needs to know."

"Gang leader, this..." one of his men said in astonishment.

"Do it!" Zhou Hang barked. "Duobao Pavilion has military connections. Anyone who can get a VIP token is no ordinary person. Don't bring trouble down on the gang.

"Also, send men to quietly search secluded areas around Luming Fort, places like Old Pine. If they find any bodies, dispose of them cleanly. Leave no traces."

"Yes!"

Everyone took their orders and withdrew.

Zhou Hang stood alone in the hall, gazing out the window as he tapped his fingers on the armrest.

"The Lin Family was just wiped out, and Leiming Martial Hall has already taken a fall. Now they still dare to stir up trouble." He muttered under his breath, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes.

"The northern frontier caravans are right outside town. There are too many people who live by the blade. These waters are bound to grow murkier and murkier... I need to make plans early."

At the western end of town stood Tongfu Inn.

In a quiet guest room on the second floor, the windows were shut tight.

"Big brother, the northern frontier's Tongda Trading Firm has returned with its main force. They've camped just outside town. From the looks of it, there are at least five hundred people, and plenty of them are tough fighters."

"Damn it!"

The bearded Zhao Tianhu listened to his subordinate's report. At the news, his expression darkened further, and he slammed a fist onto the table.

"They couldn't have come earlier or later—they had to show up now!"

On orders from the chief of his stronghold, he had brought a squad of elite brothers into Linshan Town in small groups. Their mission was to find out how strong Leiming Martial Hall was and avenge the brothers who had been ambushed in the woods some time ago.

Those men had shared life-and-death bonds with him. A blood debt had to be repaid in blood.

But this sudden influx of merchants and travelers, with experts gathered among them, would make the situation in town several times more complicated. It could easily cause unexpected trouble and wreck his plans.

"Listen up," Zhao Tianhu said, his eyes sweeping over the five or six trusted leaders in the room, his voice low. "Things aren't looking good. The caravan is full of all kinds of shady characters, so we need to keep our heads down.

"Starting tomorrow, everyone will pose as ordinary hunters or farmers. Buy supplies in small groups and gather information.

"Keep your eyes fixed on Leiming Martial Hall. Find out who comes and goes each day, their routes, and the strengths and weaknesses of their defenses.

"Remember: look, but don't act! If anyone can't keep his hands or his pants under control and ruins everything, don't blame me, Zhao Tianhu, for showing no mercy!"

"Yes, big brother!" Everyone answered solemnly.

"Once we've figured them out, we'll strike like thunder." A fierce glint flashed in Zhao Tianhu's eyes. "Leiming Martial Hall will pay its blood debt in blood!"

As night fell, Qin Meng returned to his little courtyard.

Smoke curled up from the kitchen, carrying the savory scent of meat and the warm aroma of millet rice. As the household had grown more prosperous, they now ate meat at every meal, much to the neighbors' envy.

Hearing the courtyard gate, Shen Qiuyue came out to greet him, an apron tied around her waist and warmth in her eyes. "Mengzi, you're just in time. The food's ready."

The table was laden with food: fresh green wild vegetables, wild chicken stewed with mushrooms in a milky broth, a plate of fragrant, pearly-white steamed Demon Salamander meat at the center, with stir-fried snake meat and smoked venison on the side. Golden millet rice steamed invitingly.

Qin Meng washed his hands and sat down. He accepted the full bowl Shen Qiuyue handed him and tucked into the tender, silky Demon Salamander meat with gusto. The meat turned into a warm current in his belly, spreading through his limbs and nourishing his body.

Shen Qiuyue also sat down to eat.

Lately, she had been practicing basic fists and footwork with Qin Meng. Her stamina had improved, and so had her appetite. But she was still shy; she lowered her head and ate in small bites, occasionally glancing at Qin Meng before quickly looking away, her cheeks faintly red.

After dinner, Qin Meng helped clear the dishes. The two of them washed up beside the well in the courtyard.

Moonlight poured over their figures as they stood side by side, tranquil and at ease.

Once they had washed up, they returned to the bedroom.

Qin Meng blew out the oil lamp, and darkness fell. He reached out and drew the warm, soft body beside him into his arms. Shen Qiuyue shivered slightly, then nestled obediently against him.

In the darkness, their breathing grew hurried. Clothes rustled as they slipped away, and soon the muted sounds of their bodies meeting and stifled gasps mingled into the most private melody of the night.

Afterward, Qin Meng took a round, emerald-green bead from beside his pillow.

In the moonlight, its surface gleamed with a gentle luster, green radiance swirling within. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

Shen Qiuyue let out a soft gasp and touched it with her fingertips. It felt cool and smooth, and a soothing vitality slowly spread from it.

Something stirred in the corner. At some point, the little snow fox had raised its head. Its emerald eyes stared fixedly at the green bead, full of curiosity, while its furry tail swayed gently.