In the dead of night, only a few flickering lanterns remained lit.
Yet, amidst the darkness, pairs of crimson-green eyes began to open around the village!
These glowing eyes flickered as they approached the village, stopping just a thousand paces away.
The green in their eyes grew even more intense.
However, their owners were not wolves or wild beasts from the mountains, but rather, men clad in dark green robes, their faces cold and stern.
These robed figures gazed at the village, exchanging silent glances.
In their fingers, talismans burned without fire, and a few who appeared to be leaders murmured, likely communicating through sound-transmitting talismans.
"Elder Kumu, are we truly going to launch a night attack on the Blackwater Town's outpost? This is still Blackwater Town's territory, and it's only sixty or seventy miles from the town itself. If we attract the attention of the town's disciples..."
A middle-aged man, hearing the words from his companion, scowled and snorted coldly:
"Are you thinking of backing out now? If the disciples of Blackwater Town are fearsome, do you think the disciples of Greenwood Town are any less so?"
The man who had spoken hurriedly used another sound-transmitting talisman, replying anxiously, "No, no, no! It's just that I'm a coward. I didn't mean to disrespect the disciples of our town!"
The middle-aged man, Kumu, curled his lips into a cold smile:
"This ambush on Blackwater Town isn't something I, Kumu, am doing alone. The others from our town are also lying in wait elsewhere. If we don't act tonight, we'll truly be offending the disciples of our town!"
His words stunned the others around him.
Only now did the other Greenwood Town disciples realize that this ambush on Blackwater Town had been directly ordered by the disciples of their own town!
Kumu's eyes then flashed with envy as he continued:
"That Ye Zhuosan and that wench Miaomu are just waiting for this golden opportunity to show off and gain the favor of the town lord, hoping to be taken as disciples. I, Kumu, have been in Greenwood Town for eleven years. How can I let these two youngsters surpass me and miss this chance?"
He chuckled coldly and then explained, "Don't worry. The upper-level disciple in that village will be dealt with by me. Your task is to work together to handle the remaining mid-level disciples. Besides, tonight is their first night in the wild. They'll be lax in their vigilance. Many of them probably haven't even killed a few demon beasts. They're just a bunch of greenhorns, while we are well-prepared. The advantage is ours!"
Kumu added:
"Actually, besides our Greenwood Town, the neighboring Yellowsand Town has also sent many disciples to sneak in and take advantage of the chaos. However, they are only led by a few powerful disciples from Yellowsand Town. It's a private operation, not like our Greenwood Town, which has mobilized everyone. But no matter what, Blackwater Town is in for a world of trouble tonight. Even if disciples come out from the town to hunt us down, with so many of us, it's unlikely that we'll be the unlucky ones chosen."
Kumu's confident words reassured the green-robed disciples surrounding the village, their eyes gleaming with determination.
The mid-level disciples leading the squads used their sound-transmitting talismans to respond from afar: "Understood!"
"Elder Kumu is right. We will follow your orders!"
Seeing that his subordinates had all responded, Kumu's expression turned fierce as he gazed at the dark village.
He waved his hand and transmitted his command:
"Kill! Take out as many of their mid-level disciples as possible. Better to kill by mistake than to let any escape! Fulfill the orders of the disciples, and there will be great rewards!"
As soon as his voice fell, the surrounding forest rustled with movement.
One by one, green-robed disciples emerged.
They did not form any formation but instead moved like felines, coldly entering the village.
As for Kumu himself, he strolled leisurely, his eyes filled with mockery.
Although he had just claimed that he would deal with the upper-level disciple in the village, he hadn't specified when he would make his move.
With so many subordinates at his disposal, Kumu naturally intended to let them charge into the village first, testing the waters and drawing out the upper-level disciple.
Only when the enemy's upper-level disciple was exhausted and had used up most of their tricks would Kumu step in to claim the victory.
Kumu chuckled inwardly: "I won't be like that fool Ye Zhuosan or that wench Miaomu, rushing in headfirst and asking for trouble!"
At the same time.
Inside the village where the Blackwater Town's Alchemy Hall was stationed, Yu Lie sat cross-legged on a bamboo bed, meditating and resting, though he had not yet fallen asleep.
Suddenly, Yu Lie jolted awake, his eyes darting to the window in confusion: "Why is it so quiet?"
Being in the wilderness and with winter still some time away, the surroundings of the village should not be so silent.
There should have been the sounds of insects chirping, birds calling, and the rustling of animals.
Yu Lie's instincts kicked in, and he immediately grabbed the longbow beside him, kicking the dozing mynah bird next to him.
The mynah bird, startled awake, was about to squawk when Yu Lie swiftly clamped its beak shut.
Yu Lie instructed the bird: "Go out and see if there are any demon beasts approaching."
The mynah bird, still groggy and struggling to open its eyes, was given a small pellet of Blood-Strengthening Pill by Yu Lie.
With a shiver, the bird perked up, flapped its wings a few times, and stealthily hopped out of the bamboo hut to investigate.
Yu Lie himself crept out of the hut and climbed onto the roof of the bamboo house.
Standing at a higher vantage point, Yu Lie scanned the surroundings.
Soon, his pupils contracted as he caught sight of shadowy figures and pairs of crimson-green eyes sneaking into the village, moving between the bamboo huts.
Yu Lie was both shocked and puzzled: "Are there really demon beasts attacking?"
Confirming the enemy's presence, Yu Lie felt both alarmed and bewildered: "This place is still within a hundred miles of the town. Why are there so many demon beasts tonight?"
Nevertheless, he immediately tightened his grip on the longbow and pulled out a single-shot Divine Machine Arrow, ready to alert the disciples in the village.
But the next moment, the mynah bird he had sent out came flapping back in a panic, as if its tail were on fire.
The bird landed on Yu Lie's shoulder and whispered:
"People... people!"
The mynah's report made Yu Lie's eyelids twitch: "Not demon beasts, but people!"
His mind raced, and he immediately thought of the neighboring towns.
Around Blackwater Town, there were two other towns: Greenwood Town and Yellowsand Town.
The former was located upstream of Blackwater Town, occupying a basin and excelling in growing spirit rice and spirit plants.
The latter was downstream, deep in the wilderness, situated in the desert and wastelands, known for hunting and slaughtering demon beasts.
The disciples of Yellowsand Town were all skilled hunters and butchers, the most ruthless and brutal among the three towns.
Realizing that it was likely an attack from one of these neighboring towns, Yu Lie's finger, which had been poised to release the Divine Machine Arrow, froze.
If the enemy wasn't demon beasts but fellow cultivators, then sounding the alarm would almost certainly draw their attention and lead to his immediate demise!
Cold sweat broke out on Yu Lie's back as he glanced at the mynah on his shoulder, feeling a sense of relief.
Slowly, Yu Lie released the Divine Machine Arrow, his eyes flickering with thought.
But in the next moment, he quickly nocked two arrows—one Divine Machine Arrow and one Rainstorm Pear Blossom Arrow.
Yu Lie abruptly turned, not aiming at the enemy, but instead shooting toward the tallest building in the village!
The person residing in that building was none other than the head of the Alchemy Hall—She Shuangbai.
Thunk!
The two flaming arrows flew out, striking the building and exploding.
Boom! Flames erupted, and tiny iron pellets scattered, engulfing most of the bamboo structure.
The sound of the explosion echoed through the quiet village like thunder, startling many.
Many of the attacking Greenwood Town disciples were shocked, their heads snapping up.
Kumu, who had been sneering, was now frozen in place.
Just as Kumu was about to curse, a furious voice rang out from the distant bamboo building:
"A night attack? You're seeking death!"
(End of Chapter)