Wenlong was utterly speechless at the sight of his father getting so excited that he lost all composure. Fine, you're my father. You're the mighty one.
"Dad, calm down. I still have something to tell you." Seeing his father throwing his weight around in front of him, Wenlong could only remind him that there was still serious business to discuss.
"All right, all right. Go on." Wen Tiancheng reined in his emotions and urged his son to speak.
"I plan to bring out some secret formulas to develop the Wen clan and the sect. As for keeping them confidential, I'll leave that work to you," Wenlong continued.
"No problem. I'll handle it properly, so don't worry." Wen Tiancheng agreed.
"There'll be more and more secret formulas. It looks like we'll need to build a large room and have people guard it day and night. This concerns the Wen clan's lasting prosperity," Wenlong instructed solemnly.
Wen Tiancheng nodded in agreement, determination filling his eyes. "I'll make the arrangements right away. We'll build a confidential room as impregnable as a fortress and choose reliable people to guard it day and night."
Wenlong continued, "Besides guarding them, we also need to train a group of trustworthy alchemists. Have them learn these secret formulas and carry on the Wen clan's pillcraft."
Wen Tiancheng's eyes lit up. "An excellent plan. With these alchemists, both the quantity and quality of the Wen clan's pills will improve, and the sect's standing will become more secure."
Wenlong added, "Dad, we also need to keep this quiet so we don't stir up anyone's covetous desires. If anyone with ulterior motives asks about it, give them vague answers."
Wen Tiancheng thumped his chest in assurance. "Don't worry. Don't you trust me to get things done? I'll handle this properly without leaving the slightest opening."
Wenlong nodded in satisfaction. He believed his father could handle this well. With that settled, the Wen clan's future would surely be bright.
He found Linzi's mother and gave her written formulas for Wound Powder, Bruise Liniment, and the Life-Extending Pill, asking her to develop them.
He also instructed her not to let anyone outside the Wen clan come into contact with them. He explained how important these formulas were and told her to return the originals to the Confidential Room.
The priority was to produce the Wound Powder as quickly as possible, since they might need it soon. It was several times more effective than ordinary wound medicine.
He also asked his father to notify He Da as soon as possible and have him help find sulfur. He Da had now become the lord of Brightlight City and had pledged allegiance to the Huaxia Sect.
Naturally, he also hoped to receive the Huaxia Sect's protection. Otherwise, his position as city lord would be in jeopardy.
He should therefore spare no effort in working for the Huaxia Sect. Now they only needed to wait for news from He Da.
During the autumn harvest, construction in Huaxia City slowed. The slaves were transferred to the fields to bring in the grain first.
The Security Force organized by Shitou was also sent to the fields to help guard the slaves and prevent them from escaping.
It took only a few days to bring in the harvest. The slaves resumed building Huaxia City, and the Security Force returned to its regular training.
They focused solely on the Kai clan members, closely monitoring their every move. As soon as the time was right, they would act.
Just as everyone was methodically advancing their various tasks, a scout suddenly reported that the Kai clan seemed to have noticed the Wen clan's movements. They were secretly gathering their people and appeared to be plotting something sinister.
Wenlong's brows knitted tightly. Their opponents were already on their guard; they could no longer proceed step by step and wait for the right moment. He made a swift decision to act ahead of schedule.
Wenlong quickly assembled the elite forces of the Wen clan and the sect to draw up a battle plan.
He assigned some of them to continue guarding the formula room and watching the slaves. The rest would accompany him to deal with the Kai clan.
Each squad would have a physician accompanying it. If anything went wrong, treatment would be given immediately to keep casualties to a minimum.
Every fighter had to be fully armed and armored to reduce injuries, and the squad leaders had to look after every member.
Shitou led the Security Force as the vanguard. Relying on their thorough training and familiarity with the terrain, they had already concealed themselves and were waiting for the order to attack.
Wenlong sought out Shitou again to discuss a more suitable approach. The Kai clan members were currently scattered throughout Wan Family Town.
If they charged into Wan Family Town, they would inevitably suffer casualties. None of them wanted to see members of their force killed or injured.
The best approach was to send in the squad with the best lightness skills to attack the Kai clan members in Wan Family Town and make them flee on their own.
Then they could determine the escape routes and set ambushes. This was the best method: they could reduce their own casualties while effectively killing or capturing the Kai clan members.
Shitou and Wenlong's clan uncle both approved of his plan. It was also simple to carry out, since there were few roads out of Wan Family Town. With an ambush on every road, the Kai clan would be unable to escape even if they sprouted wings.
"I have one requirement, and everyone must obey it. Do not kill the old, the young, the weak, or women. Do not kill anyone who does not resist. The Kai clan may slaughter people indiscriminately, but our Wen clan is now an honorable, upright clan. Anyone who violates this order will be severely punished." Wenlong warned them sternly.
No one objected. Everyone readily agreed to this requirement.
"Good. Since no one objects, Shitou, divide the men into groups and set ambushes at every exit from Wan Family Town. If a large group of Kai clan members pours toward one road to escape, the nearby squads must reinforce it immediately," Wenlong instructed in a grave voice.
Wenlong selected the six people with the best lightness skills and divided them into three teams. Wenzhu led two people in one team, and Daniu led two in another.
He likewise warned them not to indiscriminately kill the old, the young, the weak, or women. They would approach from three directions, with Wenlong moving first. Once he caused a disturbance, the other two teams would act immediately.
In the darkness, Wenlong led the six into Wan Family Town like a ghost. The other two teams concealed themselves in their respective directions.
Using his mental power to scout, Wenlong slipped into rooms where burly men lay fast asleep. After throwing a dart, he paid them no further attention and turned to seek his next target.
With Wenlong's accuracy, anyone struck by a dart was certain to die.
Before long, cries rang out, followed closely by the clang of a bronze gong. The other two teams also began attacking the burly men rushing out of their rooms.
The Kai clan members in Wan Family Town immediately fell into chaos. Awakened by the commotion, the Kai clan chief glared with wide, furious eyes and shouted for his clansmen to gather and resist.
But the Wen clan's attack had come too suddenly. In their panic, the Kai clan members could not mount an effective counterattack. The burly men attacked by Wenlong and the others charged out of their houses wounded and scattered in every direction.
At that moment, the Kai clan chief realized the Wen clan's strategy. Gnashing his teeth, he roared, "You Wen clan brat! How underhanded!" But the situation was beyond saving. The Kai clan members rushed toward the various exits like headless flies.
At every exit from Wan Family Town, the Wen clan's ambush squads were already poised for battle. When the Kai clan members charged toward them, they struck swiftly, driving them back again and again.
The vanguard led by Shitou was especially fierce. Their dense volleys of crossbow bolts slaughtered the Kai clan members and left them trembling with terror.
Throughout the chaotic battle, Wenlong remained calm. Watching the Kai clan members scatter for their lives, he turned and sought out Shitou again.
"Shitou, send squads to use crossbow bolts to drive the Kai clan members in one direction. Have people slip among them and guide them to flee the same way. Concentrate our strength and surround them to finish them off." After speaking, Wenlong hurried away to help.
Whenever he encountered Kai clan members putting up resistance, Wenlong immediately circled behind them and launched a surprise attack with crossbow bolts.
After repeated attacks like this, the Kai clan members grew even more afraid to resist. They could only flee desperately for their lives.
Then someone shouted in the darkness, "The Wen clan is attacking in force! Hurry, take the eastern road!" Such cries rang out from various directions at intervals.
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