Along a river running between cliffs, soldiers were hard at work on both banks, several bare-chested men taking turns swinging large wooden mallets.
"Heave-ho." "Heave-ho."
"Put your backs into it! Heave-ho."
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Yi Shuyuan, however, did not join the soldiers in driving the stakes. The Daoist watched the current below instead. Compared with a while ago, the water was clearly growing deeper.
The cliffs no longer seemed very high. At present, they rose only a dozen or so zhang above the water.
A captain studied the Daoist's grave, intent expression, then looked at the soldiers beside him and those hauling iron chains on the opposite cliff. Finally, he turned to the water below, his heart a tangle of emotions.
"Daoist Priest, I hope that method of yours works!"
"We can only do our utmost!"
To the captain, Yi Shuyuan's words sounded more like consolation. Still, what harm was there in taking a gamble?
Once the stakes were driven in, Yi Shuyuan suspended an iron sword from an iron chain, hanging it between the two cliffs. With that done, he would leave for the next site.
Apart from Yi Shuyuan and eight soldiers, the other men atop the cliffs remained busy. They were not merely hanging a Flood Dragon-Subduing Sword here; they also had to set up boulder traps and mounted crossbows. Perhaps the sword was merely an added precaution.
Yi Shuyuan would not stop the Flood Dragon-Slaying Camp from making other efforts, either. It was impossible for the entire force to pin all its hopes on his Flood Dragon-Subduing Swords. Even if the captain agreed, his superiors would not.
After so much time together, however, at least this detachment of the Flood Dragon-Slaying Camp had considerable faith in Yi Shuyuan. Almost everyone acknowledged that this Daoist Priest was