Chapter 85, Soldier Ambush

Translator: StarReader

 

Su Chen and Ah Nu, astride their horses, rode out of the small forest for three miles before leaving behind the foothills of the Vaulting Mountains. They arrived at the edge of the Vastest Lake, where they no longer had to worry about being suspected. Only then did the two fine steeds gradually slow down.

 

Su Chen felt somewhat out of sorts. His trip to the Vaulting Mountains was meant to be a leisurely outing to clear his mind, but instead, he stumbled upon Daoist Qinghe and Ding Shisan plotting something secretive, ruining his mood.

 

However, killing Daoist Qinghe meant tying up one of his longstanding loose ends. He no longer had to worry about the evidence of his crime.

 

“The Vaulting Mountains can be dangerous,” Su Chen mused aloud. “Let’s stick to the edge of the Vastest Lake. The water grass is lush here, the scenery pleasant, and it’s not crowded. It’s perfect for a leisurely ride. We’ll wait until nightfall, then hunt some ducks and head to Xikou Town to find Ah Chou for a campfire feast.”

 

“That sounds like a plan,” Young Miss Ah Nu agreed cheerfully.

 

The Vaulting Mountains were not far from the Vastest Lake. To the west, their feet touched the lake’s waters. To the south lay the bustling town of Xikou, renowned for its prosperous fishing industry.

 

They rode side by side along the Vastest Lake’s shore.

 

In the distance, the vast expanse of water rippled under the sun, dotted with clusters of reeds stretching as far as the eye could see. Occasionally, a vibrant-winged duck would take flight from within these green thickets.

 

As they ventured deeper, the surroundings grew tranquil and serene, exuding a sense of solitude. The two rode their steeds along the lakeside path at a leisurely pace.

 

Ah Nu followed behind, her eyes flickering with hesitation as she debated whether to bring up the Crowning Flower Gathering again with Su Chen. She had barely begun speaking about it earlier in the small forest when Daoist Qinghe and Ding Shisan interrupted them, leaving no time for further discussion.

 

Just as Ah Nu was about to speak, Su Chen’s expression shifted, his hand tightening on the reins, stopping his mount. He signaled Ah Nu to halt, his senses picking up an unusual stillness in the nearby reed beds, usually teeming with life.

 

The silence was eerie, broken only by the rustling wind and distant frog calls. Not a single bird stirred along the lake’s edge. Su Chen felt a powerful, oppressive aura emanating from within a dense thicket of reeds about a hundred yards ahead. This wasn’t the intense pressure of a martial Grandmaster; it was vast and sweeping, like a storm cloud brewing over miles of reeds.

 

Something terrifying lurked within the reeds. Su Chen’s face paled as he signaled Ah Nu to remain silent where she was. He urged his horse forward, approaching the reeds cautiously.

 

He used his perception, reaching out towards the depths of the towering reeds, some one hundred and fifty meters away. A sudden gasp escaped him, and he nearly bolted.

 

A vague sensation reached him—thousands upon thousands of elite warriors, clad in gleaming armor and armed with swords, bows, spears, and weapons unknown, sat silently among the reeds. They were fierce yet disciplined, cold-eyed and battle-ready, their aura murderous and silent as death itself. Not a single bird dared approach this reed bed.

 

“Elite warriors… court soldiers?!” Su Chen’s mind raced with shock.

 

Such silence, such discipline—it could only be court soldiers. Even the elite disciples of the Wu Region’s four major groups couldn’t compare. Nor were the lazy, lax Gusu County constables and city guards capable of this level of order.

 

A thousand well-equipped soldiers could lay waste to an unprepared mid-tier group in a single night. These three thousand elite warriors were equivalent to the power of the Wu Region’s four major groups combined.

 

Yet, Su Chen had heard nothing about their presence at the upcoming Laba Festival hunt and martial competition on Vaulting Mountain. He knew that the previous governor of the Wu Region had suffered heavy losses against the Whale Gang, leaving his forces depleted.

 

“These elite warriors must have been secretly dispatched from another region to execute a secret mission,” Su Chen concluded, unease settling in his gut.

 

Groups, both great and small, gathered in the Vaulting Mountains for the Laba Festival hunt. Yet, unbeknownst to them, thousands of soldiers lay hidden at the shores of the Vastest Lake. What could they be planning? Was a grand battle about to commence?

 

Su Chen’s mind raced with this possibility. He had always felt there was something off about this Wu Region martial competition. The region hadn’t seen such an event in over a century; its various groups were scattered and engaged in constant infighting.

 

Yet suddenly, Daoist Han Shan and Magistrate Wang of Gusu County joined forces to organize this inaugural competition, held none other than at Xikou Town, right by the Vaulting Mountains. This move allowed them to covertly assemble tens of thousands of elite disciples from across the Wu Region’s martial groups without raising suspicion.

 

But why? Why gather so many troops here? Were they targeting the participating clans?

 

Su Chen’s thoughts whirled. But upon closer consideration, it seemed unlikely. Three thousand soldiers wouldn’t stand a chance against the ten thousand martial disciples in Xikou Town. Moreover, the terrain favored small-scale skirmishes among warriors rather than large-scale battles. And what reason could the court have to attack the Wu Region’s clans?

 

Still, something didn’t add up…

 

Today, the empire was in turmoil. Refugees roamed freely, and the court’s control over local governance waned. Local authorities were desperate for aid from martial groups to maintain order. Even the Heaven Falcon Group, one of the Wu Region’s four major groups and a pawn of the court, assisted officials in balancing martial powers within the region.

 

The court had long maintained good relations with the Wu Region’s martial groups. For decades, peace reigned, and there was no cause for war. So, why were they mobilizing now?

 

The answer was clear: The Whale Gang, Wu Region’s most notorious pirates, plagued the Vastest Lake for too long. They resisted official control and even stole official grain. Conflicts between black path and white path groups over county territories weren’t helping either.

 

Both the court and white path groups had ample reason to wage war against the Whale Gang. This martial competition was the perfect chance to annihilate them.

 

Su Chen realized this, his heart pounding. He reined in his horse, slowly backing away to avoid alerting the soldiers hidden in the nearby reeds. The Whale Gang’s strength lay in their water warfare, with thousands of pirates ready for battle. This war would be brutal; rivers of blood may flow for thirty miles.

 

Ah Nu notices Su Chen’s alarm. His face pales, his shock evident even more than when he encountered Daoist Qinghe, the first-rate senior expert. “Young Master Su?” “Ah Nu?” he asks in a low voice, concern etched on his face.

 

“Thousands of elite soldiers are concealed in the reeds. Let’s go; we can’t stay here!” whispered Su Chen, turning his horse around and departing swiftly.

 

Ah Nu’s face paled instantly, startled by the sudden revelation. She followed closely behind him on her horse, ensuring they didn’t ride too fast lest they alert the hidden troops.

 

She was bewildered. Just moments ago, they had encountered Daoist Qinghe and pirates in Vaulting Mountains, and now they found thousands of soldiers hidden near Vastest Lake. What was happening?

 

“Brother Su Chen,” she asked worriedly, “are these soldiers preparing to besiege the martial disciples gathered at Xikou Town?”

 

“Not quite,” Su Chen replied gravely. “The court’s power is waning; they wouldn’t risk provoking Wu Region’s white path groups. The Heaven Falcon Group is their pawn, with many of its disciples on the mountain. They won’t stir up trouble.”

 

Three thousand soldiers were hidden near Vastest Lake while thousands of martial disciples from various groups gathered in Xikou Town tonight. Xikou Town was a crucial port to reach Vastest Lake. The court and the martial groups were likely joining forces to tackle the Whale Gang that plagued the Wu Region for decades.

 

“A few days ago, Ah Chou mentioned the Whale Gang had intercepted an official shipment of grain headed north,” Su Chen continued, piecing together recent events. “That must have infuriated the court, prompting them to rally troops and unite with the Wu Region’s groups to eliminate this troublesome pirate gang once and for all.”

 

Ah Nu’s face drained of color. “A major battle is brewing?”

 

“Yes,” Su Chen confirmed grimly. “These soldiers won’t stay hidden in the reeds forever due to the damp environment. They’ll engage in a surprise attack on the Whale Gang either tonight or by dawn at the latest. It’s unsafe here. I’m escorting you back to Gusu County City immediately. It’s farther from Vastest Lake and has constables guarding the city, making it safer for you. Stay there until the conflict is resolved!”

 

The two riders distanced themselves from the shores of the Vastest Lake before galloping swiftly along the official road towards Gusu County City.

 

Su Chen escorted Ah Nu part of the way, riding twenty-odd miles until they reached a main thoroughfare. From there, they could see Gusu County City looming in the distance.

 

“Ah Chou’s still up on the mountain; we should fetch him back!” Young Miss Ah Nu urged promptly.

 

“No need,” Su Chen reassured her. “I’ll go back and bring him myself. You head into the city.” He turned his horse around and sped off towards Vaulting Mountains.

 

Ah Chou was with Han Shu and the Heaven Falcon Group disciples for a hunt, though their exact whereabouts were unknown.

 

Dark storm clouds gathered ominously, ready to burst over Vaulting Mountains and Xikou Town, threatening to engulf the Vastest Lake. Su Chen’s expression was grave; he couldn’t predict who would emerge victorious or defeated in the impending martial storm.

 

But Ah Chou was his closest brother; no way would he let anything happen to him.