Encirclement Operation

Three days passed.

Every day, Fang Han traveled back and forth between Grade A No. 10 Martial Dao Room and home, occasionally visiting his eldest uncle.

His eldest uncle's injuries had completely stabilized. Though he would still need to remain bedridden for a long time, his life had been saved, and there would be no lasting effects.

That evening, he had just finished a round of Sword Art training and was preparing to return home.

"Knock, knock—"

Someone knocked on the Martial Dao Room's door.

Fang Han pulled open the door. Standing outside was one of Elder Fang Yuan's attendant servants.

"Young Master Fang Han, Elder Fang Yuan requests your presence."

The servant spoke respectfully.

"The elder is summoning me?"

Fang Han's heart stirred. Suppressing his thoughts, he replied, "All right, I'll go at once."

Following the servant, he passed through the deep corridors of the Inner Hall and arrived at Elder Fang Yuan's courtyard, entering a solemn hall.

The moment he stepped inside, Fang Han swept his gaze around and could not help but pause slightly.

Eight people were already waiting in the hall. They were none other than Fang Hong, Fang Xue, Fang Hao, and the other disciples ranked in the top ten on the Inner Hall Martial Dao Stele!

Some stood with their arms folded, while others conversed in low voices. When they saw Fang Han enter, their gazes intentionally or unintentionally rested on him for a moment.

Fang Hong's expression was calm and undisturbed. Fang Xue's eyes were cold and clear. Fang Hao wore a hint of scrutiny, while the others displayed varying expressions, though all of them were sizing him up.

They were all intensely curious about Fang Han, a disciple who had entered the top ten only a few months after joining the Inner Hall.

The top ten gathered together?

Fang Han's thoughts raced, and he vaguely guessed what was happening. The waves in his heart, which had only just settled, surged again.

He remained silent, walked to the side, and stood waiting for what would come next.

A short while later, Fang Mei, ranked ninth, hurried in as well.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Elder Fang Yuan, seated at the head of the hall, slowly opened his eyes. His gaze flashed like lightning as it swept over the ten young faces below, faces that already revealed their budding sharpness.

The entire hall instantly fell silent enough to hear a pin drop.

"I summoned you here because there is a clan mission."

Elder Fang Yuan's voice was low, carrying an authority that brooked no doubt.

"Some of you have likely already heard. Three days ago, one of our Fang Clan's merchant caravans was attacked at Black Cloud Ridge. The losses were severe, and quite a few clan members were killed or injured."

He paused, and the temperature in the hall seemed to drop several degrees. Fang Han could clearly feel a chill radiating from the other top ten disciples.

In this martial world, one could only survive better by banding together, so the concept of clan was exceptionally strong.

"Our investigation revealed that it was the work of a band of ruthless bandits known as the Black Snake Bandits. They have occupied Black Cloud Ridge for many years. Their stronghold lies in treacherous terrain, easy to defend and hard to attack. The authorities have attempted to encircle and suppress them several times without success, and they have only grown more rampant!"

Elder Fang Yuan's voice turned cold.

"Now they dare openly plunder a Fang Clan caravan and harm our people. Blood debts must be repaid in blood. By order of the Clan Head, that stronghold must be razed to the ground as a warning to others!"

His gaze swept over the crowd.

"And you, as the finest of the Inner Hall and the foundation of the clan's future, must also be tempered through blood and fire. Thus, all ten of you are to go together and take part in the extermination operation!"

The atmosphere in the hall abruptly changed the moment those words were spoken!

Including Fang Han, blazing light instantly burst forth in the eyes of most of them. Their eagerness to fight was plain for all to see.

Fang Han clenched his fists, his heart surging with excitement. He truly had a chance to participate!

Even Fang Xue, who was always cool and aloof, had a sharp sword gleam flash through her eyes.

A battle-hungry curve rose at the corner of Fang Hao's mouth.

Only Fang Hong remained calm, as though he had expected this all along.

"We obey the Clan Head's order!"

The ten answered in unison. Their voices echoed through the hall, carrying the sharp spirit and determination of youth.

"Very good."

Elder Fang Yuan nodded in satisfaction.

"The specific arrangements will be handled by Elder Fang Tu, who will lead the party. All matters along the way will be decided by him."

"You must obey orders and not act on your own. Assemble outside the residence at the Hour of the Tiger tomorrow and depart!"

"Yes!"

The next day, before dawn had broken, the night was still thick and heavy.

Liangshui City remained asleep as several dozen figures silently gathered. Like arrows melting into the night, they quietly left the city and sped toward Black Cloud Ridge.

All of them were martial artists at least in the Tendon Refining Realm, with extraordinary stamina. They spoke not a word along the way, traveling with their heads down.

Several hours later, the horizon paled with the first light of dawn, and they had already entered the territory of Black Cloud Ridge.

At the signal of Fang Tu, the elder leading the group, everyone slowed their pace and moved soundlessly through the forest, stealthily approaching the stronghold's location according to the intelligence reports.

After trekking over another stretch of rugged mountain road and pushing aside the last dense thicket, the view suddenly opened before them.

A mountain stronghold stood built against steep, perilous terrain. Its wooden walls rose high, watchtowers stood in rows, and only one narrow, steep mountain path stretched endlessly ahead toward the stronghold gate. It was a dangerous place, easy to defend and hard to attack!

Figures holding weapons could vaguely be seen moving atop the walls.

At the same time, a very different scene unfolded within the stronghold's Justice Gathering Hall.

Torches crackled as they burned, illuminating three faces flushed with drunken excitement.

A large amount of expensive merchandise was piled in the center of the hall—the very goods seized from the Fang Clan caravan three days earlier.

"Hahaha! Big Brother, this haul is enough for the brothers in the stronghold to live it up for half a year!"

A burly man with a booming voice and a scar across his face raised a large bowl, drinking deeply as he laughed.

He was the Black Snake Bandits' second leader, known as Snake Two, a Ninth Grade Inner Qi Realm martial artist.

At the head of the hall sat an even more powerfully built middle-aged man, his eyes gleaming sharply. He played with a silver ingot, his face equally red with excitement.

"That Fang Clan caravan was truly rich enough to ooze oil! We were meant to make this fortune!"

He was the Black Snake Bandits' chief leader, known as Snake One, a Ninth Grade Late-Stage Inner Qi Realm martial artist.

Only the man seated below, whose face was somewhat delicate and whose eyes flickered uneasily, wore an unshakable trace of worry between his brows.

He was the Black Snake Bandits' third leader, known as Snake Three, a Ninth Grade Inner Qi Realm martial artist.

He set down his wine bowl and spoke hesitantly.

"Big Brother, Second Brother, the Fang Clan is, after all, one of Liangshui City's Five Great Families. Their influence is not small. We robbed their goods this time and injured their people. I fear... I fear they will come seeking revenge."

"Revenge?"

Snake Two gave a disdainful snort, smashing his bowl heavily onto the table.

"Third Brother, you're just too timid! How many times have the authorities sent troops here? Didn't they crawl back in disgrace every single time? Is Black Cloud Ridge's natural barrier really so easy to breach?"

The chief leader was equally full of confidence. He waved a hand and said, "Third Brother, you worry too much. No matter how strong the Fang Clan is, they are still a family in the city. Could they possibly mobilize their entire clan and come into these deep mountains to fight us to the death?"

"Even if they come, with this terrain, we can hold the stronghold and defend it. No matter how many come, we'll make sure they all die! Drink in peace!"

Seeing his two brothers like this, the third leader opened his mouth, but in the end swallowed the words of warning he had meant to say. Yet the worry on his face only deepened.

He unconsciously glanced toward the silent forest beyond the stronghold gate, and an inexplicable tremor of unease flashed through his heart.

And within the shadows of that silent forest, dozens of cold eyes were fixed firmly upon the clamorous stronghold, like hunting tigers stalking their prey.