Ambush (Please Follow)

The night air was bone-chillingly cold.

Liu Zongsheng waited for Chen Mo to answer.

Chen Mo's thoughts raced, dozens of ideas flashing through his mind; agree or refuse, there was no third option.

It was obvious that whatever the Black Tiger Hall was plotting was neither honorable nor upright, and very likely illegal.

He didn't actually care if the matter was good or bad, he was only afraid of inviting disaster upon himself.

If even someone with the strength and insight of Yin Tianqing dared not agree, what right did he, Chen Mo, have to do so?

The wine in the cup he held spilled a few drops without him realizing it.

A moment later.

Chen Mo finally replied, "Hall Master Liu, this junior only wishes to practice martial arts for now. I will discuss grand plans with you once my strength has improved further."

Liu Zongsheng paused slightly, then said the word "good" three times in a row, "Good, good, good... Since that is how you feel, then I shall not force you."

After speaking, Liu Zongsheng turned and walked toward the private room.

Taking advantage of the moment the other man turned, Chen Mo caught a glimpse of a fleeting, sinister chill on his face reflected in the wine cup.

He steadied his nerves and followed calmly.

Returning to the private room, the others had finished eating and drinking, and Xie Jinnian was actually dead drunk.

He was the only one in the room who had truly come to drink.

An expert in Dark Jin could naturally resist the effects of alcohol to remain sober after a thousand cups, but if one let their guard down and ignored the potency, they were no different from an ordinary person.

Xie Jinyou shook his head with a bitter smile and could only call for the Xie Family servants to carry him back.

The guests gradually dispersed.

Before parting ways with Xie Jinyou, Chen Mo hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not ask him about the Black Tiger Hall.

What if the Xie Family was already involved? Wouldn't asking like this be walking straight into a trap?

After bidding farewell to the County Lieutenant Lin Chong, he headed straight for the inn.

And after he left, Liu Zongsheng walked over to Zhao Huayuan, raised his hand to his neck, and made a "slashing" gesture...

For the next three days, Chen Mo stayed behind closed doors at the inn, focusing on his stance training and boxing, fully internalizing the insights he had accumulated from Mountain and Water Cultivation.

Through these three days of training, his realm had stabilized at the early stage of Dark Jin, and the injuries he sustained from the fight with Zhang Chong had mostly healed.

Seeing him like this, his fellow disciples shook their heads and mocked themselves, "Junior Brother Chen already has the strength of a Martial Scholar, yet he is still this diligent. What right do we seniors have to slack off!"

But at this moment, Chen Mo felt as if a sharp blade were hanging over his head, ready to fall at any time.

Should I go ask Master for clarity...

He made up his mind, pushed open his door, walked to his master's room, and knocked three times.

"Knock, knock, knock—"

After his master answered, Chen Mo entered the room.

"Master, there is something I have been wanting to ask you."

Yin Tianqing stopped his training movements, "What is it? Feel free to ask."

Chen Mo paused, then said, "Did Liu Zongsheng of the Black Tiger Hall ever ask you to cooperate on something?"

Yin Tianqing was immediately taken aback.

His expression dimmed slightly, mixed with a hint of fear. He did not answer directly, but instead asked, "Did he ask you today as well?"

Chen Mo nodded, "He only asked if I would agree, without saying what it was. I want to know what it is so I can prepare early."

Yin Tianqing pondered for a moment and nodded, "Yes, now that you have entered the realm of Dark Jin, you are qualified to know some things."

He straightened his expression and continued, "You should know that the Black Tiger Hall manages the Iron Furnace Room of Black River Town, and a portion of the weapons forged there are sold to the provincial and county governments."

"The forging of a nation's weapons should not be left to martial arts sects; this is an ironclad rule. But with the nation's power now in decline and the world in chaos, some ironclad rules are no longer so firm."

"It is just that the ambition of the Black Tiger Hall is growing heavier. Now, they actually intend to seize a batch of armaments that were supposed to be sent to the provincial government for their own use."

"That batch of armaments is mostly made by sacrificing living people. The Black Tiger Hall is performing some strange and unorthodox rituals on these living-sacrifice weapons, which are said to increase their power. They need manpower to assist, which is why they sought out other factions in Anyang County."

Yin Tianqing finished in one breath.

"Seizing armaments... living sacrifices..."

Chen Mo murmured, "So they really had ulterior motives for using living people as sacrifices... But I have another question, Master. Since you already know about their illicit activities, why not report them to the county officials?"

Yin Tianqing sighed slightly, "The water here is extremely deep. The Black Tiger Hall dares to be so unscrupulous because they must have a backer. I have the Tianqing Martial Hall behind me, and also..."

Speaking of this, he paused, "And Shanshan. I dare not risk everything with them."

Chen Mo understood.

He understood Yin Tianqing's approach, but now that they were at the mercy of others, he feared that the situation for both him and Yin Tianqing was not looking good.

He had a strong premonition that Black Tiger Hall and the Hansha Gang would make a move against them within these next few days.

Chen Mo also voiced the premonition in his heart.

Yin Tianqing lowered his head, lost in deep thought.

After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Yin Tianqing raised his head, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, "We are returning to the martial arts hall immediately; we cannot stay for even a moment..."

The group quietly paid their silver and set off into the night, without alerting a single soul.

The carriage drove out of the city gates, galloping rapidly toward Black River Town.

The night wind was biting, and the horse's hooves were swift.

About half an hour later, the carriage had left the county boundaries and entered the territory under the jurisdiction of Black River Town, and it was from here that the true danger began.

It was common knowledge that Black Tiger Hall was the authority in Black River Town; if they wanted to kill someone in Black River Town, it would be no trouble at all.

In the silent night sky, the neighing of a fierce horse suddenly tore through the air.

Whinny!

Following immediately after was the sound of the horse being tripped to the ground by a tripwire.

Bang!

The carriage jolted violently.

Chen Mo immediately circulated the Jin in his body, gripping the corner of the carriage shaft firmly, while the others relied on their own true skills to steady their bodies.

Just then, the sound of several arrows being fired erupted from the dense forest.

Swish, swish, swish!

Chen Mo deployed his Luo Smoke Steps, dodging two arrows, but Li Xuan, who was beside him, was not so lucky; he took an arrow to his left shoulder.

The group was practically thrown out of the carriage.

Yin Tianqing immediately steadied himself, the Jin energy within his body erupting like a mountain torrent, and he actually drew the shattered carriage shaft toward him through the air before smashing it into the remaining arrows.

Bang, bang, bang!

The arrows shattered the wooden planks of the carriage shaft, falling into the grass themselves.

Just then, two figures suddenly leaped out from the grass, each condensing their Jin; one attacked Yin Tianqing, while the other lunged toward Chen Mo.

Chen Mo understood instantly that this was aimed at him.

He immediately unleashed his Luo Smoke Steps and Dragon-Capturing Jin, his body becoming like a lingering shadow as he traded a punch with the person who had lunged at him.

Boom!

Chen Mo felt that the Jin contained in the opponent's palm was by no means ordinary Dark Jin; it was highly likely to be approaching the peak of Dark Jin, or perhaps it was already at the peak of Dark Jin.

"Two experts at the peak of Dark Jin—Black Tiger Hall really has gone to great lengths!"

Chen Mo spoke deliberately to distract them, and the opponent's movements did indeed falter, confirming his guess.

If he were to use his Luo Smoke Steps at full power, the opponent would certainly be unable to keep him here, but if he did that, Yin Shanshan and the others would suffer.

My debts should not be borne by my fellow disciples from the martial arts hall...

He thought this to himself, then stomped his foot hard against the ground and charged forward to meet them.