Chapter 307 - 203: Ambush

Chapter 307: Chapter 203: Ambush

"Boss! Is this the place?" The man glanced at the residence’s layout.

"Yes." The other man nodded.

The two of them, moving cautiously, were about to enter. Just then, a figure in black emerged from the residence. Judging by their build, it was a woman.

"What are you two doing here?" The woman seemed somewhat surprised to see them. "Weren’t you at the stronghold? Why have you come all the way out here?"

Her tone was ice-cold, hinting at a killer’s intent and revealing an absolute alertness and sharp perception.

"Well..." the two men hurriedly explained, "the stronghold has issued a mission."

Hearing this, the woman frowned. "A mission? What mission?"

"The Great Village Chief received word that the Imperial Court will be transporting a shipment of military supplies to Nanjiang Pier. He wants you to join the operation in three days to intercept it."

The woman’s brow furrowed slightly upon hearing this, a grave look appearing in her eyes. She said slowly, "What is the Great Village Chief planning? Does he really intend to rebel?"

Rebellion!

The two men jumped in fright at her words and said urgently, "Chief, you can’t say things like that! The Great Village Chief is doing this for our own good!"

"Hmph!"

A displeased look crossed the woman’s pretty face. "Relax. I was just talking."

"So, Chief... will you agree?"

The woman took a deep breath, a determined look in her eyes. "I agree! In three days, I’ll join you. But before we act, you two must guarantee that not a word of this gets out. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being merciless."

"Don’t worry, Chief! There won’t be any mistakes!" the two men replied in unison.

The woman nodded. "Good! You can go now."

"Goodbye, Chief!"

The two men left quickly, soon vanishing into the darkness.

Then, with a light leap, the woman returned to the courtyard.

As soon as she was back in the courtyard, she took out a flute, and a moment later, the sound of a graceful melody filled the air.

The music was exquisitely gentle, as refreshing and captivating as a flowing stream, enchanting anyone who heard it.

The woman’s expression gradually calmed as she slowly sat cross-legged on the roof, playing her flute.

Under the moonlight, her profile was delicate and beautiful, like a fairy from a painting.

’This woman is clearly no ordinary person. Their identities are likely more complicated than they seem!’

Hidden in the shadows, Fang Yue’s gaze fell upon the woman, a thoughtful expression on his face.

....

After a sleepless night, Fang Yue woke up at the first light of dawn. He pushed open the window and looked out to find the sky was still a hazy gray—it was clearly the darkest hour just before sunrise.

The river was called the Li Family River. Its waters were swift and the river itself was wide. Under the sun’s reflection, it shimmered with a pale blue light, presenting a rather poetic scene.

This river flowed into a larger one, and its water was so clear you could even see fish swimming in it.

Fang Yue stood by the riverbank, gazing into the distance, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.

A moment later, he turned and walked toward the edge of the village, his figure gradually swallowed by the darkness.

Outside the village, beneath a large locust tree, a burly man stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the eastern horizon.

The sky was still pitch-black, but his pupils glinted with a scarlet light.

Beside him, an elderly man was instructing him in Martial Arts.

"Hu Zi, your practice of the Basic Cultivation Method is coming along well. The next step is the Body Tempering stage. Once I help you channel the Primordial Qi in your body, you can begin to refine your physical form. When you’ve strengthened your body to its absolute limit, you’ll start breaking through to the Innate realm." The old man stroked his beard and smiled at the young man beside him. "It took your father a full six months just to successfully temper his body. You are much stronger than he was."

"Thank you for your guidance, Grandfather!"

The young man nodded, a proud look in his eyes. "Don’t worry, Grandfather. I will definitely forge a body of iron!"

With that, the young man stomped his foot hard. The veins all over his body bulged, and a series of CRACKLING POPS, like roasting soybeans, echoed from his joints. His muscles knotted, brimming with explosive power.

BOOM!

Following a muffled, thunder-like explosion, the young man kicked off the ground, his body soaring into the air. He traced an arc through the sky and threw a punch mid-flight.

BANG!

A dull thud rang out as the young man’s fist slammed viciously into a large, nearby tree.

CRACK!

The tree instantly snapped and came crashing down.

"Haha, I did it!" The young man was ecstatic as he somersaulted back to the ground.

Just then, the old man walked over to the young man and patted him on the shoulder, saying with gratification, "As expected of a descendant of my Zhang Family. Hu Zi, work hard. Strive to become a master of your generation as soon as possible and avenge your father!"

"Yes, Grandfather!"

The young man nodded solemnly.

"Go on, head back for now," the old man said.

The young man nodded and turned to leave.

Only after he had completely disappeared did the old man take a step and look toward the east. "Since you’re already here, friend, why not show yourself?"

SWISH!

The moment the old man’s voice fell, Fang Yue appeared.

"Greetings, Old Sir." Fang Yue clasped his hands in a salute and spoke.

He hadn’t intended to meet the old man. After all, they were complete strangers. He had merely been on a walk and happened to stumble upon the old man teaching his grandson Martial Arts.

Spying on someone else teaching Martial Arts was a major taboo. He had been about to turn and leave, but to his surprise, the old man had discovered him.

"Heh heh, young man, you’re not from our Li Family Village. What brings you here?"

The old man said with a small laugh. He didn’t blame Fang Yue for ’spying’ on his Martial Arts instruction. This was because he had discovered that this young man gave him a feeling of heart-pounding dread.

He had a feeling that if he were to fight this young man, he would be the one to die in the end.