Chapter 99, Breaching the Devil Array

Translator: StarReader

 

“The White Lotus Society, hidden away in Lou County for decades, living in harmony with the world. Who’d have thought they’d stir now, getting entangled in this century’s grand Wu Region martial war!

 

“This battle won’t be easy. It’ll cost us dearly.” Sun Baihong and Li Shuo, both Grandmasters, exchanged glances, their hearts pounding silently.

 

The White Lotus Society, unlike the orthodox Han Mountain Daoist Temple, excelled in manipulating minds and spreading rumors to cause chaos, opposing the court. Both the court and local officials had always been wary of them. But with the Whale Gang wreaking havoc, local authorities’ focus and resources were dedicated to suppressing them, leaving the White Lotus Society alone due to their secluded nature in Lou County.

 

Unexpectedly, the White Lotus Society emerged en masse, leaving Firm Mountain Lake in Lou County to reinforce the Whale Gang at Cave Mountain on Vastest Lake, challenging the court’s officials and the Wu Region martial alliance. Moreover, this Devil Mist Array covered a vast area of over five square miles, indicating that they received intelligence about the impending invasion days ago.

 

The previous encounter with water devils could be explained by Whale Gang sensing something amiss and an accidental leak last night. But setting up this Devil Mist Array beforehand in Northern Swamp was clearly premeditated.

 

Governor Zhao Juzhen himself masterminded the assault on Whale Gang, a top-secret operation known only to select Grandmasters and leaders. Yet it seems they were betrayed by someone within their ranks.

 

Could it be one of those high-ranking conspirators? Or perhaps a disciple involved in battle preparations who leaked crucial intel?

 

Who could it be? The thought made many leaders pale with worry.

 

The White Lotus Society, despite being deemed a heretical cult by the court, still had ties to the Daoist and Buddhist faiths. It was one of their informal branches. No one knew more about the society than Han Shan, the abbot of Han Mountain Daoist Temple.

 

“This evil mist is rising!” someone exclaimed. “The White Lotus cultists will be upon us soon!”

 

“Han Shan,” they pleaded, looking to him, “please have your Daoists disperse this evil mist for our forces’ sake.”

 

Han Shan remained silent. He couldn’t summon winds or rains to dissipate the dense fog. He sighed coldly, “Why are you all panicking? It’s just cheap tricks! Even if Mao Ziyuan himself came, he’d only have two Grandmasters with him, not matching our five!

 

“This White Lotus Society’s mist barrier can’t be dispersed by manpower alone, nor do I have a solution to break it. Their first-rate experts are few, fewer than the Four Great Clans.

 

“White Lotus cultists’ greatest skill is creating illusions and chaos for surprise attacks. There’s nothing to fear. Orders were given: all disciples must stand firm and not flee in Northern Swamp. As long as we hold our ground until noon, the sun will burn off the mist.”

 

Despite Han Shan having no solution to break the barrier, leaders had no choice but to command their disciples to form defensive formations against surprise attacks.

 

…

 

Su Chen’s robes billowed as he walked on water towards West Cave Mountain Island in Vastest Lake. From afar, he saw a massive cloud of white smoke rising from the lake, suggesting something was amiss.

 

He started, astonished. It seemed war had already broken out.

 

It took but a moment for him to dash to where the white smoke billowed. The lake’s surface within a couple miles was shrouded in thick white mist and noxious fumes, bubbles gurgling up from the depths.

 

Thousands of pirates’ bodies floated aimlessly amidst the chaos, along with scattered remnants of soldiers and martial group disciples. Many bore arrows and blade wounds, but some also displayed large areas of burnt flesh, bubbling and grotesque.

 

Fish and shrimp floated belly-up in the lake, mixed with white foam, their eyes glazed over. Su Chen spotted a familiar pirate captain among them. The man’s face was twisted in terror, his body hacked by several blows. His Water-splitting Blade was still gripped in his hand, but recognition was difficult.

 

“Ding Shisan!” Su Chen exclaimed.

 

He shook his head, unsure of what had transpired here. The lake water seemed poisonous, boiling with foul gas and foam. It was a horrifying sight.

 

The Wu Region martial alliance and the Whale Gang’s battle on Vastest Lake had evidently begun, resulting in countless casualties. But the naval combat appeared over; no trace remained of the Allied fleet.

 

Su Chen’s expression grew heavier as he worried for Ah Chou. He hurried westward towards Cave Mountain.

 

After some time, he caught up with the main force at North Swamp, having reached West Cave Mountain Island.

 

“Thousands of allied warships, merchant ships, and fishing boats were all beached in the shallows.

 

Military officers and disciples from various martial groups had already disembarked, with the main force having ventured five miles into the Northern Swamp. Only a few stragglers remained, dragging the last of the ships onto shore to prevent them from being sunk by pirates.

 

Repairing ships on land was easy, but once they were submerged, it was a nightmare to retrieve them.

 

Su Chen stepped onto the island’s shore, relieved that the battle hadn’t begun yet. He could still catch up with the main disciple force.

 

However, Ah Chou was nowhere to be found among the scattered disciples. Many had already entered the swamp, making his search difficult.

 

“Junior Brother Su Chen! When did you get here? Over here!”

 

A familiar voice called out to him, and Su Chen turned to see Li Jiao, his senior sister, waving at him along with Zhang Tieniu, Yang Caizhi, Qin Huihui, and several disciples from the Iron Sword Group and Caravan Guards.

 

Su Chen joined them, surprised but pleased to encounter fellow disciples. Li Jiao was astonished, questioning, “Junior Brother Su, when did you arrive? Errand Hall disciples aren’t supposed to participate in martial disputes.”

 

Yet here he was, volunteering for battle, a rare display of courage that earned her respect.

 

Yang Caizhi and the others were equally surprised, having not noticed Su Chen’s arrival earlier.

 

“Have you seen Ah Chou from the Heaven Falcon Group?” Su Chen asked.

 

“No,” Li Jiao shook her head.

 

She’d heard of the Heaven Falcon Group’s prodigy, Ah Chou, who had attended the Wu Region’s Youth First Feast and recently gained some martial notoriety. Plus, Su Chen and Ah Chou were rumored to be childhood friends. So when Su Chen asked about Ah Chou in the Northern Swamp, Li Jiao knew he was looking for him.

 

“This swamp is swarming with thousands,” she warned. “It’s chaotic out here, and you could easily run into Whale Gang pirates. It’s not safe to wander around. You haven’t cultivated any martial arts, your skills are low, and it’d be best to return to the Medicine King Estate… Never mind. Traveling alone across the Vastest Lake could get you killed by pirates in an instant. Stay with us, Junior Brother Su; we’ll keep you safe.”

 

Su Chen sighed at her words. As an errand hall disciple, his martial prowess was indeed the weakest among the Medicine King Group’s halls. He had no choice but to venture into the swamp to search for Heaven Falcon Group’s contingent.

 

Li Jiao, Zhang Tieniu, Yang Caizhi, Qin Huihui, and several other disciples from various groups entered the Northern Swamp, cautiously navigating the reeds while following the allied forces. Meanwhile, Su Chen scanned the crowd for any Heaven Falcon Group disciples.

 

Suddenly, a thick fog rolled in, disorienting everyone in the Northern Swamp. They froze, unsure of which way to go. Other groups’ disciples around them also vanished into the mist.

 

“Where did this fog come from? What if we’re ambushed by Whale Gang pirates?” Li Jiao’s face paled with worry.

 

Su Chen frowned, sensing something amiss about this sudden dense fog. This swamp, already hard to navigate due to its vastness and dense reeds, was now almost impenetrable in the thick mist. Visibility was reduced to mere tens of yards.

 

Su Chen, upon seeing the strange mist, recalled rumors about the White Lotus Society. “I’ve heard tales from martial folks in Lou County that they possess an array called the Devil Mist Array. This mist seems unnatural; perhaps it’s the White Lotus Society at work in the Northern Swamp.”

 

“White Lotus Society?” Yang Caizhi panicked. “Their old Daoists are here? How can we defeat them?”

 

“Zhang Tieniu, don’t be ridiculous!” Li Jiao snapped. “The White Lotus Society might have some tricks, but they’re no match for our true godly Daoist Han Shan. We must hold our ground; if Senior Brother finds out we retreated, he’ll punish us!”

 

Suddenly, distant screams echoed through the reeds. The group of eight froze in terror.

 

Chaos erupted ahead. Shrieks filled the air as smaller groups crumbled. Yet, they could see nothing due to the fog, leaving them unsure what powerful White Lotus Society cultivator was wreaking havoc.

 

“White Lotus cultivators are attacking our main force!” Yang Caizhi trembled, face pale. “Senior Sister Li, we must retreat! If Senior Brother’s squad arrives and finds us dead… we’ll be nothing but corpses!”

 

The group hesitated before Li Jiao, resolute, led them deeper into the swamp.