Ambush

One-Line-Sky Gorge.

At this moment, Li Changfeng and his group arrived at a mountain peak. The middle of the peak looked as though it had been cleaved open by a single slash, leaving a fissure only about five meters wide.

It could only accommodate two or three people walking abreast. Legend had it that this mountain had been split in two by a peerless expert with one stroke of his blade, forming the One-Line-Sky Gorge of today.

Upon seeing the magnificent One-Line-Sky Gorge, Li Changfeng suddenly recalled a poem: "Stones amid the clouds open brocade seams, never allowing the slanting sun to nest within. Who gazes up to see the path through the heavens? A foot of blue sky stretches ten thousand fathoms long."

"Master! What fine literary talent! I never expected you to possess such talent. I am truly impressed," said Young Swordsman Zhang.

"Hehe! You flatter me, benefactor! This humble monk merely happened to read a collection of poems and recalled one that suited this scene."

"Brother Zhang! I fear I must spoil your enjoyment. This One-Line-Sky Gorge is easy to defend and hard to attack. I have a bad feeling about crossing it rashly. I think it would be better to take a detour through the hidden path in Greenwood Forest. It would only cost us some extra time. What do you think, Brother Zhang?"

"Chief Escort! We already wasted a great deal of time encountering those ghosts. The goods I am transporting this time are urgently needed. Even if there is danger, I must force my way through!"

"You are the employer, so we will do as you say. I have made the danger clear. Since you still insist on going, we will accompany you and take the risk!"

"Brothers, pay attention! Form up and advance slowly into One-Line-Sky Gorge!"

"Heh! They really chose to enter One-Line-Sky Gorge!"

"Hahaha! They are as good as dead! You! Hurry to Greenwood Forest and summon the Second Chief and Third Chief!"

Li Changfeng and the others were completely unaware that they had fallen into an ambush. They maintained their formation and advanced cautiously, step by step.

Suddenly! A large number of boulders appeared atop the mountain and came rumbling down. The Chief Escort immediately spotted them and roared furiously, "Everyone, watch out for the boulders overhead! Form a shield formation and resist them!"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately raised their shields and clustered together, forming an impenetrable shield formation. The boulders rained down upon the shields.

"Clang!" "Clang!" "Crash!"

The sounds of boulders striking metal rang out one after another. The shields were smashed and warped, splitting apart. Many brothers were crushed into pulp and perished, while those who remained were either seriously injured or fortunate enough to escape disaster.

Li Changfeng, the Chief Escort, and the young swordsman all struck out, shattering the falling boulders.

Li Changfeng unleashed the Hong Fist's Iron Wire Fist - Twelve Interlocking Rings. He gathered strength in both hands, then flung them out with all his might. The twelve iron rings burst with explosive blasts of air. Each ring erupted with astonishing force, smashing twelve boulders to pieces before he drew them back and flung them out again!

"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"

The sound of shattering stones rang out continuously. The iron rings around Li Changfeng danced through the air like an iron barrel, leaving not a drop of water able to pass through. The boulders around him were pulverized one after another, their power terrifying beyond measure.

The Chief Escort roared in fury, "Master! Brother Zhang! We cannot keep defending forever. Let us charge up and kill them all!"

After speaking, the Chief Escort directly unleashed the Vajra Leg of Immense Power and soared into the air. His invincible leg force shattered a boulder with every kick, each impact lending him momentum to fly toward the mountaintop.

The young swordsman, meanwhile, used the Cloud-Soaring Steps, gracefully stepping on the rocks as he flew toward the summit. Along the way, he used several unknown sword techniques to slice the boulders into fragments. His movement was ethereal, his swordplay unrestrained, and he looked incredibly dashing.

Seeing the young swordsman, Li Changfeng thought enviously, Damn it! Why couldn't I have been reborn as a young, handsome rich son like that?

"Wait! I don't know any lightness skill! How am I supposed to fly up there?" Li Changfeng shouted.

At the summit of One-Line-Sky Gorge.

The Chief Escort charged ahead with the Vajra Leg of Immense Power. Those Little Minions were trampled to death like ants beneath the savage leg technique, slaughtered without the slightest ability to fight back.

The young swordsman, meanwhile, displayed an elegant movement technique. With his waist-length hair and carefree swordsmanship, he killed one Little Minion with every stroke. Like a fruit ninja, he chopped the Little Minions into chunks of flesh, sending blood and meat flying everywhere. They were dead beyond doubt.

The young swordsman flicked his flowing hair. Who knew what shampoo he used to make it so silky? Then he said coolly, "All these minions are dead. This crisis should be over now, right?"

"I don't think things are that simple! Why are there so many mountain bandits without a single leader among them? This is far too suspicious!"

"Clap!" "Clap!" "Clap!"

Suddenly, a series of claps sounded out. A middle-aged man dressed in golden brocade slowly said, "Worthy indeed of the Chief Escort, sir! Your experience in the martial world is truly seasoned!"

"It's you! Jin Yuan, the Golden Source Casino Boss!" the Chief Escort said darkly.

"Brother Jin! We are both from Golden Spring Town. We have kept out of each other's affairs and bear no grudge against one another. Why set a trap to kill us?"

"Hehe! I take people's money and handle their troubles. I was merely ordered to take your heads!"

"Hmph! Brother Jin, you think too little of me! You think you are my match? Not to mention that I have an expert by my side. You have only come here to die!"

"Hehe! Who said Brother Jin was alone? We, the Mountain Bandit Five Strongholds, are here too! Your heads are worth quite a lot of money!"

"The Mountain Bandit Five Strongholds! You actually came to muddy these waters as well! Why are there only three of you? Where are the Second Chieftain and Third Chieftain?"

Suddenly, the Chief Escort seemed to realize something. His face changed drastically as he shouted, "A feint to the east and attack in the west, luring the tiger from the mountain! We have fallen for it—their target is the goods!"

After saying this, the Chief Escort and the young swordsman immediately leaped down the mountain. Seeing this, the Great Chieftain roared, "Stop them! Do not let them go down!"

Meanwhile, Li Changfeng and the others bandaged their injured brothers and applied medicine. They could only wait for the Chief Escort and the young swordsman to finish killing their enemies and come back down before deciding what to do next.

"Master! Do you think Father and that young swordsman will be all right? It has been so long. Why have they not come down yet?" Du Jinxiu, the Chief Escort's Little Daughter, asked worriedly.

"Rest assured! Your father and that swordsman are no ordinary experts. Even if they encounter trouble, they can easily escape. They should be down soon."

"Oh! There is even a beauty here! Hahaha! Hurry up and kill these ants so the brothers can have some fun."

The sudden appearance of this group of uninvited guests made the heavily injured crowd's hearts sink. They secretly thought, These people suddenly appeared here, so they must mean no good. And the Chief Escort's group still hasn't come down. Could something have happened to them?

"Hehe! So they are a pack of creatures worse than beasts. I thought some wild dogs were barking over there."

"Where did this wild monk come from? How dare you insult our Mountain Bandit Five Strongholds? Are you tired of living?"

"Amitabha. How kind, how kind. As the saying goes, if I do not enter hell, who will? Benefactors, your sins of slaughter are too grave. This humble monk can only send you to Western Paradise early, lest you commit further slaughter."

"Die, you bald donkey!"