"Inviting the wolf in?"

Xu Meng tossed aside the clean-gnawed bone and casually wiped the grease from his hands on his lapel:

"You really think I’m some kind of money-grubbing idiot? Let me tell you, I know exactly what’s going on in Changshan County. Those three old foxes, Gao Yuanfeng, Yang Yi, and Huang Dongchun, took a huge loss at the hands of the new County Captain Wu. Even their lapdogs, the Seven Stars Gang, got wiped out. They don’t dare make a move against a court-appointed official openly, so they have to borrow our blade to chop off Wu Kuang’s fangs and claws, forcing him to back down and admit defeat."

He stood up and rolled his thick neck, which let out a loud CRACK:

"But this is a good deal for us, too. ’Repelled the Official Army’s siege’—that’s a pretty impressive title, isn’t it? We also get to weaken the Official Army’s strength. Killing two birds with one stone. And even if something does go wrong..."

He gave a savage grin and patted the saber at his waist. "With my skills on the water, who could possibly stop me?"

"But what if the Government Office gets pushed too far and comes to crush us with all their might..."

"Let them get pushed!"

Xu Meng waved his hand dismissively. "If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. If it really comes to that, we’ll just abandon this stronghold and take our brothers to join the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance. We have men, boats, and silver. Where can’t we live freely?

Besides, was all that real gold and Silver we paid them in tribute over the years for nothing? You think the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance would just stand by and watch us get wiped out, ruining their income stream and reputation?"

His words were filled with confidence, even a hint of contempt for the Government Office. Plenty of soldiers from the Official Army had died at his hands over the years, and what had the Government Office ever really been able to do to him?

"The Village Chief is brilliant. This subordinate was overthinking things," the man hurriedly flattered.

"Cut the ass-kissing."

Xu Meng cursed with a laugh. "Now get the hell back and hide. If you screw this up, I’ll skin you alive!"

"Yes, yes, this subordinate will go at once."

...

「On the surface of Cyan Lake, deep within the reeds.」

Over a dozen light boats, like phantoms in the dead of night, slid silently toward the rear of the Black Snake Water Stronghold.

A quarter of an hour ago, Wang Yue had led the main force in a high-profile attack on the front of the stronghold, intending to create a diversion. Meanwhile, Chen Sheng and Chuyue Shan personally led over a hundred elite soldiers, lying in ambush here and waiting for the right moment.

Chen Sheng’s hand tightened around the hilt of the Cold-Intimidating Blade at his waist, his sharp gaze scrutinizing the Water Stockade ahead.

This Black Snake Stronghold wasn’t built entirely on the water. It was constructed on a small, raised hill in the middle of the lake, surrounded by water on three sides. Its walls were hidden among dense reeds, making it a truly defensible and secretive lair.

"Chen, stick close to me in a moment. Don’t act on your own, lest something go wrong." Chuyue Shan lowered his voice, cautioning him again. There was a faint, unusual note in his tone.

Chen Sheng stared at the man’s back, somewhat blurry in the moonlight, and the corner of his mouth curled into an imperceptible, cold smile:

"Rest assured, Grand Commander. Nothing will go wrong."

A moment later, the earth-shattering sounds of battle cries and clashing weapons erupted from the direction of the front of the stronghold.

"Now."

A sharp glint flashed in Chuyue Shan’s eyes as he waved his hand fiercely.

The dozen or so small boats shot forward like arrows loosed from a bow, breaking through the reeds and making a beeline for the Water Stockade’s rear gate. Over a hundred agile figures quickly abandoned their boats and went ashore, using the cover of night to sneak silently to the base of the stronghold wall.

Chuyue Shan covered his mouth with his hand and let out a few uncannily realistic "COO COO" bird calls.

Before long, the same call came in response from within the walls. Then, the heavy wooden gate actually began to slowly open, creating a gap just wide enough for a few people to pass through!

"Brothers, follow me and charge! Glory and achievement await us tonight."

Chuyue Shan drew the large saber from his waist, his face flush with excitement, and was the first to charge toward the gate.

"Kill!"

"Charge!"

The deafening war cries instantly shattered the quiet of the rear stronghold as the Official Army flooded in like a tide.

In the chaos, no one noticed that Li Huai Sheng, the unremarkable attendant who had been following behind Chen Sheng, had silently vanished into the darkness like a ghost.

The first few soldiers of the Official Army charged in, their blades rising and falling, and instantly cut down several of the defending water bandits who appeared to be in a panic.

However, just as the majority of the soldiers poured into the stronghold and prepared to charge deeper, the situation changed abruptly.

The gate that had been wide open was suddenly slammed shut from the outside with a heavy, dull THUD.

At the same time, dozens of figures rose like specters from the surrounding darkness, the cold tips of their arrows glinting with deadly light in the moon!

"SWISH SWISH SWISH—"

More than ten sharp arrows tore through the air, accurately embedding themselves in the faces of the foremost soldiers.

The screams were cut short as several of them died on the spot.

"Trying to ambush old Xu?! I’ve been waiting for you for a long time!"

An arrogant laugh rang out. The Ink Water Flood Dragon, Xu Meng, strode out from the shadows holding a Nine-Ring Saber, his fierce gaze sweeping over the chaotic soldiers of the Official Army.

"Damn it, we’ve fallen into a trap!"

Chuyue Shan let out a timely roar of ’shock and anger,’ then, as if grasping at his last straw, pointed at Xu Meng. "Chen! To catch the bandits, you must first catch their king! He’s the Village Chief, Xu Meng,

Kill him, and we can turn this defeat into victory!"

Shouting, he "bravely" swung his saber and charged at Xu Meng, attempting to drag Chen Sheng into the fray as well.

"Brothers, cut down these soldiers! There’s a hefty reward!"

Xu Meng ordered with a savage grin, swinging his saber.

In an instant, the water bandits lying in ambush swarmed forward, howling.

These hardened bandits, whom Chuyue Shan had dismissed as a "disorderly mob," were in reality all desperate men who lived on the edge of a blade. They were experienced and vicious. Caught in the sudden attack, the Official Army’s formation fell into disarray and they were temporarily suppressed.

Chuyue Shan and Xu Meng were instantly locked in combat. Blades flashed and steel rang against steel. It looked to be an intense and evenly matched fight.

However, just as Chuyue Shan was about to follow the plan—to fight while retreating and draw Chen Sheng into their duel—his expression suddenly changed.

An indescribable feeling of weakness swept over his entire body without warning.

His surging Inner Breath receded like a tide, making it impossible to muster even a shred of it. The blood and qi throughout his body stagnated as if bound by an invisible force.

’What’s happening?!’ he wondered in horror, his movements faltering.

’This is bad... It’s poison!’

In a flash, Chuyue Shan realized what was happening.

He quickly understood that something was wrong, that he had been betrayed. The first thing that flashed through his mind was Chen Sheng’s seemingly subservient face.

But in the instant he realized his peril and tried to summon his remaining Inner Breath to react—

PFFT!

Chen Sheng, who had been watching with cold detachment, had acted without hesitation the moment he saw Chuyue Shan’s expression change. His Cold-Intimidating Blade transformed into a streak of icy light, piercing Chuyue Shan precisely from behind and instantly running through his heart.

"A safe journey, Grand Commander."

Chen Sheng’s low voice sounded in Chuyue Shan’s ear. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"You..."

Chuyue Shan’s eyes went wide with shock and disbelief. At that moment, his Inner Breath had scattered and his blood felt as if it had frozen. He couldn’t muster an ounce of Force to resist and could only try to turn his body by instinct.

But how could Chen Sheng give him the chance?

He twisted the blade violently, unleashing a surge of savage Force. The incomparably sharp edge easily sliced through Chuyue Shan’s flesh and organs. Immediately after, Chen Sheng’s left palm, brimming with powerful, overflowing Force, struck the back of Chuyue Shan’s unprotected head.

BANG—!

With a muffled sound like a ripe watermelon bursting, red and white matter splattered everywhere, staining Chen Sheng’s robes and splashing onto the nearby Xu Meng.