Three days passed.

Fang Han spent his days going back and forth between the Class A-10 Martial Arts Room and his home, occasionally visiting his uncle.

His uncle’s injuries had completely stabilized. Although he would be bedridden for a long time, his life was saved, and there were no lingering effects.

This evening, just as he finished a round of swordsmanship practice and was preparing to return home...

KNOCK KNOCK—

A knock came from the door of the Martial Arts Room.

Fang Han pulled the door open. Standing outside was a personal attendant of Elder Fang Yuan.

"Young Master Han, Elder Fang Yuan requests your presence."

The attendant said respectfully.

’The Elder is summoning me?’

Fang Han’s heart stirred. He suppressed his thoughts and replied, "Alright, I’ll go right now."

He followed the attendant through the long, deep corridors of the Inner Hall, arrived at Elder Fang Yuan’s courtyard, and entered a hall with a solemn atmosphere.

As he stepped into the hall, Fang Han’s gaze swept across the room, and he couldn’t help but feel slightly startled.

Eight people were already waiting inside. They were none other than Fang Hong, Fang Xue, Fang Hao, and the other disciples ranked in the top ten of the Inner Hall’s Martial Arts Stele!

Some stood with their arms crossed, while others spoke in low voices. When they saw Fang Han enter, all their gazes, whether intentionally or not, landed on him for a moment.

Fang Hong’s expression was calm and unreadable. Fang Xue’s gaze was cold. Fang Hao’s held a hint of scrutiny, and the others, though their expressions varied, were all sizing him up.

They were all intensely curious about Fang Han, the disciple who had entered the top ten only a few months after joining the Inner Hall.

’The top ten have all gathered?’

Fang Han’s thoughts raced. He had a vague inkling of what was happening, and the excitement he had just suppressed began to surge once more.

He remained silent, walked to the side, and stood still, quietly waiting for what would happen next.

A few moments later, Fang Mei, who was ranked ninth, also arrived in a hurry.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Elder Fang Yuan, who was seated at the head of the hall, slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was like lightning as it swept across the ten young faces below, all of whom were already beginning to show their prowess.

The entire hall instantly fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"I have summoned you here for a family mission."

Elder Fang Yuan’s voice was deep, carrying an authority that permitted no questions.

"Some of you have likely already heard that three days ago, a Fang Family merchant caravan was attacked at Black Cloud Ridge. Our losses were heavy, and many of our clansmen were killed or injured."

He paused, and the temperature in the hall seemed to drop. Fang Han could clearly feel a cold killing intent emanating from the other top-ten disciples.

In this Martial Arts World, one could only survive by sticking together, so the concept of the clan was extremely strong.

"Our investigation has revealed that the culprits are a gang of ruthless bandits called the Black Snake Thieves. They have been entrenched in Black Cloud Ridge for many years. Because their mountain fortress is built on treacherous terrain, it’s easy to defend and difficult to attack. The Government Office has attempted to encircle and annihilate them several times without success, and they have only grown more brazen!"

Elder Fang Yuan’s voice turned cold.

"Now, they have dared to openly plunder a Fang Family caravan and harm our clansmen. A blood debt must be paid in blood! The Patriarch has given the order: we must raze their fortress to the ground and make an example of them!"

His gaze swept over the group.

"And you, as the elites of the Inner Hall and the cornerstones of the family’s future, must also be tempered by blood and fire. Therefore, for this battle, the ten of you will go together and participate in the annihilation mission!"

As soon as he said this, the atmosphere in the hall changed abruptly!

A fiery glint instantly appeared in the eyes of most of them, including Fang Han. Their eagerness was written all over their faces.

Fang Han clenched his fists, his heart pounding with excitement. ’I really get to participate!’

Even the usually cold and aloof Fang Xue had a sharp, sword-like glint flash in her eyes.

A belligerent smirk touched the corner of Fang Hao’s mouth.

Only Fang Hong’s expression remained serene, as if he had expected this all along.

"We obey the Patriarch’s command!"

The ten replied in unison, their voices echoing through the hall, filled with the sharp edge and determination of youth.

"Very good."

Elder Fang Yuan nodded in satisfaction.

"As for the specific arrangements, Elder Fang Tu will lead the team. He will have the final say on all matters along the way."

"You are all to obey his orders and must not act on your own. Assemble outside the family estate before dawn tomorrow to depart!"

"Yes!"

...

The next day, before the sky had brightened, the night was still thick with darkness. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

While Liangshui City still slept, dozens of figures gathered without a sound. Like sharp arrows melting into the night, they quietly left the city and headed straight for Black Cloud Ridge.

All of them were Martial Artists of at least the Muscle Refining Realm, possessing extraordinary speed. They traveled in silence, focusing only on covering ground.

Several hours later, as the sky began to turn a fish-belly white, they were already deep within the territory of Black Cloud Ridge.

At a signal from Elder Fang Tu, who was leading them, the group slowed their pace and began moving stealthily through the mountain forest, creeping silently toward the fortress location provided by their intelligence.

After trekking further along a rugged mountain path and pushing aside one last thicket of bushes, the view suddenly opened up before them.

A mountain fortress was built into the precipitous terrain, with high wooden walls and numerous watchtowers. Only a single narrow, steep, and extremely long mountain path led to its gate—a truly treacherous place, easy to defend and difficult to assault!

On the fortress walls, the faint shapes of figures holding weapons could be seen moving about.

...

Meanwhile, inside the fortress’s Assembly Hall, the scene was entirely different.

Crackling torches illuminated three faces flushed with drunkenness and excitement.

In the center of the hall were piles of expensive goods, the very spoils from plundering the Fang Family caravan three days prior.

"Hahaha! Big Brother, this haul is enough for the boys in the fortress to live it up for a good half-year!"

A burly man with a booming voice and a long scar on his face raised a large bowl and laughed heartily as he drank.

He was the second-in-command of the Black Snake Thieves, known as She Er, a Ninth Grade Inner Qi Realm Martial Artist.

At the head of the hall sat an even more powerfully built middle-aged man with a sharp glint in his eyes. He was toying with a silver ingot, his face also flushed with excitement.

"The Fang Family caravans are as rich as they say! It was our destiny to strike it rich!"

He was the leader of the Black Snake Thieves, known as She Da, a Late Ninth Grade Inner Qi Realm Martial Artist.

Only the man in a lower seat—one with a somewhat gaunt face and darting eyes—had an unshakable look of worry on his brow.

He was the third-in-command of the Black Snake Thieves, known as She San, a Ninth Grade Inner Qi Realm Martial Artist.

He put down his wine bowl and spoke hesitantly.

"Big Brother, Second Brother, the Fang Family is one of the five great families of Liangshui City, after all. Their power is considerable. We’ve stolen their goods and injured their people... I’m afraid... I’m afraid they’ll come for revenge."

"Revenge?"

Upon hearing this, She Er let out a scornful laugh and slammed his bowl down on the table.

"Third Brother, you’re just too timid! How many times has the Government Office sent troops? Didn’t they scurry back with their tails between their legs every single time? This natural fortress at Black Cloud Ridge isn’t so easily breached."

The leader, also brimming with confidence, waved his hand dismissively.

"Third Brother, you worry too much. No matter how strong the Fang Family is, they’re still a city-based family. Are they really going to mobilize their entire clan to come fight us to the death deep in these old mountains?"

"Even if they do come, with this terrain on our side, we can just defend the fortress. I guarantee that however many of them come, that’s how many will die! Now relax and drink!"

Seeing his two brothers acting like this, the third-in-command opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed his words of caution. The look of worry on his face, however, only deepened.

He subconsciously glanced at the silent mountain forest outside the fortress gate, and an inexplicable tremor of unease passed through his heart.

And out there, in the shadows of that silent mountain forest, dozens of pairs of cold eyes, like tigers hunting their prey, were firmly locked onto the boisterous mountain fortress.