It wasn't difficult for Wangliang and me to hide near the village.
Rumble
"There's no enemy presence."
I spread my qi sense widely to detect any hostile intent or powerful qi. Thanks to my immense inner strength, I could expand the range without any strain and even feel the movement of a small animal eighty feet away for a moment. Up to a distance of about ten feet from the village, I hadn't detected any ambushes.
At this position, the village entrance stone tablet was visible. Wangliang, fixing his gaze on the tablet, was tearing open a dried fruit.
"Are you sure there are no ambushes by the Imperial Guards or martial artists?"
He stayed about ten feet away from me, ready to follow slowly once I gave him a signal that everything was fine, and was now hiding in the bushes.
"Yes. If there were martial artists skilled enough to hide their presence from me, there wouldn't be much we could do even if we knew. They would be at the pinnacle of the martial world."
"Hmm... The fact that there are none even up to here means either the operation has already begun or there are none at all."
Wangliang, who had been thinking deeply for a moment, said.
"Just in case, would you like to explore the area a bit more? I'll prepare a bit here."
"You don't have any martial arts skills, are you sure you'll be fine?"
"Don't worry. If anything happens, I can slip away."
"Alright. I'll check a five-mile radius and come back."
Swish!
I quickly moved through the grass, inspecting various parts of the village with agile movements. Since I had explored this area with Xianqian Daoist before, the terrain wasn't unfamiliar. Although it had been several years, as I walked around, the memories of that time came flooding back. I was particularly delighted to find the secret passage well that we had once explored together.
After moving around for about an hour, I didn't detect anything unusual with my qi sense or senses. Thinking it was enough, I returned to Wangliang. He was dividing the poison into different vials and measuring the amount.
"Wait a moment while I concentrate."
After a while, Wangliang handed me a vial and asked.
"How is it? Are you sure there are no enemies?"
"I think there are none for now. The Imperial Guards usually move in tight-knit squads and set up secret bases. I didn't find any such places or signs of human activity in the vicinity."
"If you say so, Bai Xiong, it must be certain. Let's assume their 'plan' hasn't started yet."
"But what about this vial? Why do you need to split the poison water?"
Wangliang pointed at my vial with his index finger.
"Use this vial if we really need to subdue the village. I plan to use this one for something else."
"What plan?"
"Let's observe the village's situation first. We can talk about it later."
Wangliang and I headed towards the secret passage well behind the village. I thought it would be safer to use the secret passage to infiltrate rather than entering through the main gate. When Wangliang saw the secret passage, he said with curiosity.
"Wow. The scholar family that developed this must have accumulated considerable wealth. The owner of this secret passage is likely the largest landowner in the village."
"Is that guaranteed?"
"No. This village is quite far from the river, and building a secret passage here would require enormous funds. Just thinking about the cost of keeping it secret and procuring building materials would make one's back ache. It's probably correct, though."
"Hmm."
When I first infiltrated, I hadn't thought much about it, but it was a secret passage of a powerful family. As we walked a bit further, I saw the ladder leading out of the secret passage. I climbed it carefully and used my hearing technique to detect sounds and movements outside.
Rumble
I sensed human activity. The sounds of someone who hadn't practiced martial arts busily cooking and making something were heard. I could also feel the bustling footsteps. Considering this place used to be a kitchen, it was likely a servant hired by the mansion. I glanced at Wangliang and said.
"It's not a fanatic. It seems like a regular servant preparing dinner."
Wangliang sighed in relief.
"Is that so? The village hasn't been suppressed by the Imperial Guards yet."
"What do you plan to do? Should we paralyze the servant and infiltrate?"
Wangliang shook his head.
"No. It might just be a minor disturbance. Let's go back and visit the village directly."
I followed Wangliang's advice, returned through the secret passage, and put on the human skin mask he had prepared. It wasn't a perfect disguise, but it was enough to walk into the village without arousing suspicion. The villagers, dressed as farmers or merchants, didn't seem to doubt us. As we walked further in, we saw bustling buildings and pavilions.
"Just a regular village. Since copper and iron are produced nearby, it's probably prosperous due to the profits."
Wangliang evaluated as he looked around.
'When I first infiltrated with Xianqian Daoist, I ran through these streets, killing fanatics and infiltrating.'
As we walked further, we reached a square-like area, and the tall pavilion where Xianqian Daoist and I had waited for an assassination opportunity appeared. I looked at the pavilion with a slightly nostalgic gaze, feeling a sense of dissonance that such heinous and cruel acts had been committed here.
I saw children laughing and running around.
"Hehehe!"
"Hey, stop there!!"
They seemed to be playing hide-and-seek. Next to them, a merchant was shouting, trying to attract customers with clothes.
"Hey, cheap and fresh! Cotton clothes! Cotton clothes for sale!"
"High-quality farming tools! Grab one while you can!"
Bustle
"......"
I stopped in my tracks, stunned by the noise in the village's main street. Wangliang, who had been walking ahead, turned to look at me, sensing something was wrong.
"Bai Xiong? What's wrong?"
"That person over there."
Wangliang followed my gaze to the first floor of a tavern where a middle-aged man was leisurely picking at a chicken leg, probably brought from the kitchen. Wangliang tilted his head.
"What about him?"
I recognized his face and said with a trembling voice.
"... No, nothing."
"Hmm, what's so special about him? He seems quite ordinary."
I couldn't bring myself to say it.
"......"
When I had infiltrated the village with Xianqian Daoist in the past, I had kicked a fanatic's stomach in a back alley, causing his insides to burst, and then used the Thunder Palm to smash his head to prevent him from screaming.
That middle-aged man was the one who had been picking at the chicken leg.
It had been several years, but the memory was so vivid that I remembered his face. At that time, I had thought the fanatics were not human and had been quite ruthless in smashing their heads. Now, I was face-to-face with one of them.
A sudden surge of emotion overwhelmed me. That man looked like any ordinary person, someone who was part of the village's daily life, but he had met a tragic end simply because he was a target of the Imperial Guards and the shaman.
Swish
A woman passed by me. I involuntarily let out a sigh.
"Oh."
She wasn't particularly beautiful or ugly, but I clearly recognized her. She was the woman who had been offered as a sacrifice on the altar during a human sacrifice. Her eyes had been glazed over as the shaman's knife nearly tore out her heart.
A damp smell filled my nose.
The smell of blood brushed past me like an illusion.
'Ugh...'
In the middle of the square, I felt the blood from that time. The smell, almost like an illusion, tormented my mind. The image of the blood-soaked altar and the bustling, peaceful square overlapped in my vision.
I had once seen the [result] where everyone in this village was driven mad by unbearable despair and misfortune, eventually all dying. No, if I didn't stop it, it would definitely happen.
Why?
Why must everyone here die?
A desperate question arose in my mind, something I hadn't considered before. Along with it, Liu Tianhao's face, who had laughed heartily about receiving 20 gold taels and a salary for the mission, also came to mind. The two scenes didn't seem to fit together at all.
Seeing the faces of those who would become victims in the future had a profound impact on me. I no longer had the strength to walk, so I stumbled and sat under a tree. Wangliang, looking worried, sat next to me.
"What's wrong? Did you overexert yourself during the reconnaissance?"
"No, it's not that. Just leave me alone for a moment."
"Hmm."
I sat with my arms crossed and my head bowed, lost in thought. I thought I had prepared myself and organized my thoughts before coming here, but it was different once I was on the scene.
'Damn...'
I realized only now that the events of that time had given me a greater psychological shock than I had thought. Up until then, the only grudges in my life had been the abuse from the village chief's family and the wicked peers, and the hardships of living as a bounty hunter. Suddenly facing such terrifying misfortune had been a significant psychological impact.
Just then, a passing girl spoke to me.
"Hey, why are you so gloomy?"
I lifted my head slightly. She was a girl in her early to mid-teens, dressed in ordinary clothes. She was quite pretty, and I thought she would grow up to be a beauty. I was surprised by her informal speech, but then I realized my appearance was similar to hers in age.
Wangliang, finding the situation amusing, grinned and said.
"This guy, his head suddenly hurts~ That's why he has a constipated look."
What is this guy saying?
I glared at Wangliang, who turned away. Knowing he was just being playful, I wasn't really angry. The girl, who had been carefully observing my face, smiled and handed me something.
"Hey! Eat this!"
"Huh?"
"Eat it, and you'll feel better, okay?"
She handed me a skewer of chicken she had probably bought from a street vendor and then walked away briskly. I stared at her retreating figure, and Wangliang chuckled.
"Haha... It must be delicious. The only flaw is that it's a bit undercooked?"
"......"
"I mean the chicken, the chicken."
I ignored Wangliang's joke and stared blankly at the chicken skewer.
Then I said.
"Wangliang."
"Yeah? Feeling better now?"
I took a bite of the chicken and asked.
"Why did you follow me, knowing that this plan might fail and you could die?"
"It's a bit late to ask that now. You should have asked earlier."
Wangliang chuckled.
"I'm just doing what my heart tells me. If I die, I die. Why overthink it? I believe living a life that bends my will and spirit is meaningless, so I followed you here."
He wouldn't resent me even if he were brutally tortured and killed here, because he had made the decision to come based on his own will.
"I see."
I felt I understood why I had subconsciously followed Wangliang. His way of thinking and living had inspired admiration in me, someone who had been repeatedly reincarnated. I just wanted to live my life without hesitation or burden, moving forward boldly.
Living in the direction my heart tells me.
Could this be the reason the Heavenly Darkness Secretary gave me the ability to reverse time?
"But why ask this now? Even if you suddenly tense up, it won't change anything."
I chuckled.
I felt a bit lighter now.
"I must do my best too."
I will not fail. I will definitely prevent the tragedy from happening at the hands of those villains.
Until now, it had been just a way to ease my conscience, but now I had a clear resolve. It was a determination close to a belief that I would not back down, even if I had to fight the Imperial Guards for the rest of my life.
Wangliang and I headed straight for the largest mansion in the village. It was the same mansion where the secret passage was located. As Wangliang had guessed, it belonged to the most powerful family, and there were four guards at the main gate, one of whom seemed to be a first-rate expert.
Wangliang, looking at the mansion from a distance, said.
"Reconnaissance is enough for now. Let's find a place to stay."
"Alright."
The memory of the first time Wangliang explained his plan in his hut came to mind.
"I'll explain my plan properly now."
"I'm listening."
"You suggested infiltrating the village and either capturing or killing the shaman. But that's not a good idea. Even if you succeed, the Imperial Guards will track you down to the ends of the earth and attack you. Living on the run for the rest of your life isn't ideal."
"But if we're not caught, it won't be a problem, right?"
Wangliang smiled wryly.
"The Imperial Guards aren't that sloppy. If we're going to do this, we must ensure they are completely wiped out to avoid any future trouble. Remember, we're dealing with the continent's top martial artists, trained as killing machines and fully supported by the imperial court."
"Ugh. But wouldn't eliminating the shaman stop the imperial court's human sacrifice plan?"
"Don't be too optimistic. If they have interpreted the contents of the Secret Sacrifice Scroll, they will eventually try to perform the ritual without a shaman."
Wangliang looked up at the sky and continued.
"Since we're doing this, let's wipe out the Imperial Guards as well. If the shaman disappears and the Imperial Guards are either wiped out or kidnapped, it will create uncertainty about when the plan will be exposed, which could break the imperial court's will. It will also reduce future trouble."
Breaking the imperial court's will!
Wangliang continued calmly.
"If Xianqian Daoist had joined us, we could have followed your plan. But since he didn't, we have to go with Plan B."
"What's Plan B?"
"Swift and decisive action. And annihilation. We need to take control of the situation so quickly that even if they pursue us, there's nothing they can do. We must ensure that the Imperial Guards' squad that arrives at the scene is completely wiped out."
"... Is that even possible? How do you plan to do it?"
"Simple. We set the village on fire. As soon as the Imperial Guards or the shaman appear!"
Setting the village on fire!
Wangliang continued.
"I'll set the fire. I can encircle the village with flames at the right moment. The nearby forest will ensure it burns well. When they are panicked, Xianqian Daoist will capture the shaman, and you will wipe out the Imperial Guards' squad."
I didn't want to argue about the absurdity of wiping out an Imperial Guards squad. The idea of setting the village on fire was too absurd.
"But won't everyone burn to death? What are you talking about?"
"I have the ability to turn the burning battlefield into a completely advantageous terrain. Neither us nor the villagers will be harmed."
"Is that the art of concealment and ambush?"
"Among other things, I'll explain when we get there."
Wangliang had been watching me closely since I had hidden information about the Imperial Guards. Knowing this, I didn't press further. I trusted him, knowing he was a genius with more knowledge and wisdom than me.
And we had arrived at this point.
I looked at him subtly, eager to hear about his 'ability.' He seemed to notice and lifted his Seven-Bird Five-Fire Fan.
"The ability of this Seven-Bird Five-Fire Fan is to control the influence and direction of flames. I can even prevent them from spreading. If I use this fan in a fire zone, I can definitely support you."
"......!!"
It was an incredible ability. Controlling flames—this was beyond human capability. While martial arts that manipulated fire or yang energy were powerful, none could control flames on a village-wide scale like Wangliang's fan. To achieve such a level, one would need to be a transcendent being.
I didn't doubt Wangliang's ability with the Seven-Bird Five-Fire Fan. If he were lying, he wouldn't have risked his life to come here. Instead, I asked him.
"Tell me now. This fan must be a treasure called a Baopai, which gives it such power. How did you get it? And what is your relationship with Wangliang the Shaman?"
"Ah... I have no choice but to tell you."
Wangliang sighed and sat on a wooden bench. He then said.
"Wangliang the Shaman, the greatest shaman of the Left Dao Sect, is my master. He dismissed me because he couldn't teach me any further."
"......!!"
"He dismissed me because, despite my knowledge, I lacked the supernatural power to become a great shaman. He stopped teaching me, thinking I couldn't achieve greatness. I was already a misfit in the Celestial Astronomical Bureau, pushed aside by my blood relatives, so I thought it was for the best to leave."
His past was complicated.
He was born into the Celestial Astronomical Bureau family, studied astronomy and shamanism, and had Wangliang the Shaman as his master. However, he lacked the talent for shamanism. Thus, he left the Celestial Astronomical Bureau and lived in Zhenlang Valley, selling his master's name.
I was speechless.
"Isn't it strange that you, who could seek help from your master, were dismissed like this?"
"Wangliang and I don't hate each other. But to pass on great shamanic skills, a talented successor is needed, not an incompetent one. So, the personal and master-disciple relationships are separate."
He unfolded the Seven-Bird Five-Fire Fan and said.
"My master gave me this fan, feeling guilty. He has also regularly helped me since then. That's enough for me."
"Does that mean... Wangliang the Shaman has other disciples?"
"Yes. A shaman far more talented than me."
Wangliang, looking melancholic, continued.
"To use the Seven-Bird Five-Fire Fan effectively, I need to set up the art of concealment and ambush throughout the village. Let's use the remaining time for that."
I quickly said.
"Wait. There's something important I haven't told you."
"What is it?"
"Even with your help with the flames, it's difficult for me to handle an Imperial Guards squad alone. They can match Xianqian Daoist when just a few of them are together. How can I deal with ten of them..."
Wangliang patted my shoulder and said.
"You sometimes overestimate the enemy."
"Huh?"
"You will win. And you won't be alone. Trust me."
He didn't explain further and started setting up the art of concealment and ambush secretly around the village. The setups were just light markings, so they wouldn't arouse suspicion among the villagers.
"......"
What should I do?
The next day, I went to Xianqian Daoist at the Tai Zheng Hall to explain the entire plan and ask him to join us in infiltrating the village. Xianqian Daoist nodded readily and said.
"Don't worry! I often visit the village, so people won't suspect me. This is a very good plan. We can finish it before reinforcements arrive."
"Reinforcements?"
"I immediately requested support from the main mountain yesterday. The Wudang Sect's disciples should arrive within seven days and help us. Their skills are beyond doubt."
"I see. Thank you."
"Wangliang's words are trustworthy. I will do my best for justice."
Xianqian Daoist's joining was unexpectedly a significant boost. He had successfully used his position to secure support from the Wudang Sect's main mountain. With the arrival of Wudang Sect's experts, things would become much easier.
'Could Wangliang have considered this too?'
He had included the possibility of Xianqian Daoist joining and the Wudang Sect's support from the beginning.
I monitored the area near the village with Xianqian Daoist, trying to detect the appearance of the Imperial Guards or the shaman. They would likely start their reconnaissance and investigation soon.
In the meantime, I continued to cultivate my inner strength and integrate the martial arts I had learned. Xianqian Daoist occasionally watched my sword practice, and I felt my skills improving slightly.