CHAPTER 156: ZHAO MU GRAVELY WOUNDED

As they drew near the fortress, everyone froze.

Outside the walls, the once-level road was pocked with craters, scars of digging everywhere.

Logs over a zhang tall stood upright, buried deep in the earth—forming cheval de frise.

Beside the barricades, ragged refugees, skin clinging to bones, swung hoes into the hard-packed soil.

Guarding them stood over a dozen martial artists clutching weapons—pale yellow short robes, the bold white character “Feng” stitched on their chests, glaringly conspicuous.

“The sun’s about to set… move faster, you dogs! My whip doesn’t see straight if you slack!”

A Feng family guard cracked his long whip through the air with a snap:

“One cart of dirt for one white steamed bun… not a basket less!”

At this, the refugees surged with vigor, hoes flashing like wind.

Soon… several collapsed and never rose again.

—

Seeing this, Xiangzi’s heart sank—refugees inside Little Blue Garment Ridge with not a trace of blood energy fluctuation?

Fortunately, this place was close to the fortress. The fire ore in the walls offset the metal ore dust’s power.

Otherwise, how could these frail refugees endure here?

But then… how did they enter Little Blue Garment Ridge at all?

Noting Xiangzi’s confusion, Liu Futang’s face darkened. “The Feng family controls the fortress supplies. These refugees were recruited by them…”

“Last month, the three martial halls began clearing demon beasts north of the fortress… these barricades and such were prepared for the martial hall disciples.”

Xiangzi frowned—these barricades could at best stop ungraded demon beasts.

The martial hall disciples training here were all ninth-grade completed. Why fear ungraded beasts?

The Feng family expended such manpower and resources for little gain—a waste of effort.

Then, understanding dawned—

These refugees were lives cheaper than grass.

As Little Ma had said that night, a few coppers could make a refugee risk death.

Now, with the Feng family offering white steamed buns, how could they resist?

—

At the fortress gate, several listless soldiers stood watch. Their leader, seeing the Clear Gang group, started, then spoke: “Brother Liu… what brings you here?”

“Brother Yuan Hua, it’s been a while.” Liu Futang smiled, flicked his wrist—

A gleaming, round silver ingot landed in Yuan Hua’s hand.

With the ingot, Yuan Hua’s smile warmed. “Brother Liu wants to enter the fortress? To go in… you’ll need an order from the Marshal’s Mansion or the three martial halls… otherwise, it’s truly difficult to bend the rules.”

Liu Futang paused. “Brother Yuan, why so strict today? What’s happened?”

“It’s been like this since a few days ago.” Yuan Hua gave a wry smile. “Why? Even you, a Clear Gang hall master, don’t know—how could a gate guard like me?”

Lowering his voice, he added mysteriously: “These days, Little Blue Garment Ridge isn’t peaceful. In my view… something big is brewing.”

He pointed to the great horned horses outside: “The fortress ordered that before sunset, these horned horses must reach the front-line camp.”

“I hear… the three martial halls are determined to push north, to open the ancient path to Great Blue Garment Ridge!”

At this, Liu Futang’s expression sharpened. “Brother Yuan… is it true? Which martial hall’s forward camp?”

“Which one?” Yuan Hua scoffed. “The forward camps of Revival, Virtue, and Baolin Martial Halls are all pushing forward like madmen… You haven’t seen it—every night, the scene is bloody.”

Pointing outward: “See? If not urgent, would the fortress let in so many refugees?”

—

Little Blue Garment Ridge front-line camp?

Even Xiangzi was stunned.

In this world, the most precious resource was ore veins—whether multicolored ore stones or the demon beasts that appeared alongside, all were treasures.

Take the Li family in the south—didn’t they sustain centuries of prosperity on a multicolored gold mine?

But… the Li family’s mining district wasn’t particularly good, mostly inferior ore for gunpowder and special steel, with little crude ore.

Ore veins in this world were graded five ways: inferior, crude, vein, crystal, marrow.

Each grade higher, the value didn’t just double—it multiplied.

Little Blue Garment Ridge’s outskirts alone had plenty of crude ore… deeper in, there were even vein and crystal ores, or so it was said.

Such wealth naturally made Forty-Nine City covetous.

Before the Great Shun imperial banner fell, the court had developed Little Blue Garment Ridge—otherwise, they wouldn’t have spent such cost to build this fortress.

But the higher the grade of multicolored ore, the greater the suppression on blood energy, and the higher the grade of surrounding demon beasts.

Deep in the ridge, only graded martial artists could withstand the ore dust, so development progressed slowly.

Especially after the warlords’ chaos, with the court in name only, development was forgotten.

As for those “front-line camps,” they were set up by Forty-Nine City’s three martial halls to facilitate disciple demon hunting—after all, medicinal soups required demon beast flesh and ore veins.

The three martial halls were usually sharply divided, each holding their territory in Little Blue Garment Ridge, never cooperating.

Yet why… were they all pushing forward together now?

This would cost disciples’ lives to fill!

—

At this, Yuan Hua’s face showed suspicion: “Brother Liu, you don’t know? Yesterday, I saw your demon beast meat convoy detained by Baolin Martial Hall… said to be pulled to the forward camp.”

Hearing this, Liu Futang paused, then joy flickered within.

No wonder no trace along the way—our convoy was requisitioned by Baolin Martial Hall.

Who’d have thought this grand mobilization was a false alarm?

But Baolin Martial Hall was too discourteous—not even sending word for such a major matter… making me anxious the whole way.

Liu Futang gave a dry laugh: “Uh… naturally we knew. Just haven’t seen them return… a bit worried, so we came to check…”

Before he finished, a Clear Gang disciple shouted excitedly: “Hall Master Liu… isn’t that our convoy? Looks like they’re back!”

In the twilight, a massive convoy approached amid rolling dust.

At the front fluttered a banner—the gold-threaded great flag of Baolin Martial Hall.

The flag snapped in the wind, exuding majesty.

But as the convoy drew near, everyone stared in shock.

—

Outside the fortress,

In the convoy,

A fair face lost its usual calm composure.

Third Miss Li gazed at the yellow-robed fellow disciple lying on a large cart, anxiety etched on her features: “Junior Brother Zhao… hold on. Once inside the fortress, it’ll be fine…”

On the cart lay a pale black-shirted disciple.

Across his chest, a wound gaped to the bone.

Crimson blood soaked his black robes—

Ordinary wounds would be nothing to him, who had greatly completed skin-grinding and bone-quenching.

But the wound gleamed with eerie pale gold dust—left by a high-grade metal demon beast.

If not treated promptly, it could damage his foundation.

Around the convoy, Baolin Martial Hall black-shirted disciples wore expressions of dread.

Leading were two burly yellow-robed disciples.

With Third Miss Li, this convoy held three inner sect eighth-grade martial artists!

The entire Baolin Martial Hall had only thirty-some inner disciples, plus over a dozen ninth-grade martial artists behind—this was no small force.

The leading yellow-robed inner disciple’s face was dark as storm clouds. Hearing Third Miss Li, he forced spirit to say: “Don’t panic. Once inside, we’ll find the Hundred Herbs Courtyard brothers to treat him.”

Hearing this, the others settled slightly, chorusing: “We obey Senior Brother Liu’s orders!”

Clearly, this “Senior Brother Liu” held great prestige among them.

Named Liu Yi, an executive of Four Seas Courtyard, his skill was exceptional. Like Wan Yuxuan, he was eighth-grade.

In the hall, it was said that with two more years of tempering, Liu Yi might reach eighth-grade perfection and assault the Membrane Condensation Barrier.

But now, this young martial artist famed in Baolin for “steady dignity” hid unconcealable worry in his eyes.

The most gravely wounded was named Zhao Mu, a standout among outer disciples.

From Martial Transmission Courtyard, young yet ninth-grade completion, personally named apprentice instructor by the old hall master in this selection—

Who couldn’t see that Zhao Mu, favored by the old master, had a bright future in the hall?

Yet… this kid had only been at the forward camp two days before suffering such heavy injury.

More critically… half the outer disciples sent to the forward camp were wounded.

Had he not brought a junior brother to patrol the camp by chance, these juniors might have perished under those eerie demon wolf claws.

If not for Third Junior Sister Li in the fortress noticing something amiss and urgently requisitioning a convoy overnight, the wounded juniors couldn’t have withdrawn.

Thinking of this, even Liu Yi felt secret alarm.

Those usually unremarkable wolf demons… acting as if intelligent, using feints, encirclement, and relief tactics?

“Third Junior Sister Li… don’t speak of last night to anyone. Wait to report to the courtyard masters, then decide,” Liu Yi turned, saying gravely to Third Miss Li.

He had to be cautious—this forward camp was utterly ruined, with so many Baolin disciples injured. If word spread, it would greatly damage the hall’s reputation.

Especially… while the old hall master was far away in Shen City.

Third Miss Li nodded heavily, but recalling those eerie golden round pupils last night, she couldn’t help shivering—though unclear in the dark, she knew they weren’t demon beast slit pupils,

But human eyes.

Who could imagine a pack of ninth-grade wolf demons driven by one person?

—

From afar, seeing unfamiliar faces approach, Liu Yi frowned.

Spotting the leading Clear Gang’s Liu Futang, he slowly halted: “Hall Master Liu, yesterday was urgent—we requisitioned a Clear Gang convoy. Please forgive us.”

Perhaps mindful that the Clear Gang had rendered service today, Liu Yi’s tone softened considerably.

Though young, in this world, only fists mattered, not age.

As a Baolin inner sect executive, saying “forgive us” to an ordinary Clear Gang hall master was already giving great face.

Liu Futang saw the group dusty and wounded, knowing something major had occurred, but kept his face neutral, cupping hands respectfully:

“Executive Liu is too polite. The Clear Gang and Baolin Martial Hall have always been as one. If needed, we naturally spare no effort.”

Liu Yi had no mind for pleasantries, waving grandly to open the fortress gate.

“Third Junior Sister, take the wounded juniors in first—hurry to the Hundred Herbs Courtyard brothers…”

As carts rolled in slowly, Liu Futang and Xiangzi saw the ghastly wounds on many outer disciples—both hearts jolted.

By Baolin rules, only ninth-grade completed could train in Little Blue Garment Ridge!

What had they encountered… to wound so many elite outer disciples!

Spotting the tall figure in the crowd, Third Miss Li frowned: “Junior Brother Li, why are you here?”

Xiangzi cupped hands: “Senior Sister Li, my posting is with the Clear Gang’s Nanyuan.”

Third Miss Li understood, but said gravely: “Since you haven’t reached ninth-grade completion, you cannot enter Little Blue Garment Ridge. Please return quickly, Junior Brother Li—don’t miss the hour.”

By rules, after sunset, the fortress and entrance iron gates would close.

The mining district’s night… always belonged to demon beasts.

Xiangzi glanced at Zhao Mu on a cart, heart sinking, but cupped hands:

“Senior brothers and sisters, when I was an apprentice, Senior Brother Zhao was my instructor. Thanks to his generous guidance, I broke the ninth-grade barrier. Now that Senior Brother Zhao is so gravely wounded, I wish to stay in the fortress—see if I can help.”

At this, not only Third Miss Li but the other yellow-robed disciple showed impatience.

What bold words—a junior brother newly entered ninth-grade, in Little Blue Garment Ridge crawling with graded demon beasts, what help could he offer?

But hearing the name “Li Xiang,” Liu Yi’s brow arched slightly.

As Four Seas Courtyard executive, he knew more than these juniors—this little junior brother was noted by the courtyard masters.

Living long in Little Blue Garment Ridge, he naturally paid extra attention to this junior—the disputes with Feng Village these days had reached his ears.

“A few days ago… did you single-handedly slay a ninth-grade wolf demon?”

“Replying to Senior Brother, it was indeed this junior,” Xiangzi answered calmly, face unchanged.

At this, everyone stared: a newly entered ninth-grade junior slaying a graded demon wolf? Boasting, surely.

Perhaps seeing their doubt, a Clear Gang disciple piped up: “Lord Xiang didn’t just kill one ninth-grade wolf demon—he hunted two ungraded ones too.”

The Baolin disciples were stunned; even Third Miss Li fixed her gaze on the giant.

Compared to tiger or leopard demons, one ninth-grade wolf demon was nothing.

But three… that was a pack!

Facing a wolf pack alone—even a ninth-grade completed martial artist would struggle.

After a moment’s thought, Liu Yi waved grandly: “We’ll make an exception today. Junior Brother Li stays in the fortress for now—leave tomorrow when the gates open.”

Xiangzi cupped hands in thanks: “Many thanks, Senior Brother!”

Now, the sun was about to set.

The Clear Gang naturally dared not linger. Gathering together, they hurried toward the city gate under Liu Futang’s lead.

Of course, Liu Yi personally cautioned Liu Futang again—don’t let subordinates leak last night’s events.

Long experienced outside, he knew this couldn’t be hidden.

But for the hall’s reputation… delay a day if possible.

At least rebuild Baolin’s forward camp before the other two halls coveted it.

Otherwise, in half a year, for that major event, Baolin Martial Hall would truly be in dire straits.

Now, the sunset hung blood-red on the horizon.

Night thinned, and demon beast roars faintly echoed.

For some reason, thinking of last night’s eerie wolf demons, Liu Yi’s heart trembled.

He had been in Little Blue Garment Ridge half a year—never heard of such sinister happenings.