Not far from the Laborer Camp, by the Bailang River.
Chen Mu didn’t know when the Startling Swan Gang would attack. He had not dared to stray far these past few days when he went out to catch fish and nurture Netherworld Thread.
Humming an unknown tune, he carried a Silver Thread Fish in his hand while the Sleeve Sword Technique flickered in and out of visibility.
Scaling, gutting, cleaning, pickling—the Silver Thread Fish were swiftly processed one by one.
Chen Mu skipped a stone across the water idly during his spare time.
Swish!
Plop plop plop plop plop… plop!
The small pebble skimmed across the water’s surface and raced towards the opposite bank over ten meters away. With a plop, it chopped off a section of reed.
“I’ve hit the other side! Ha!”
Then he grabbed a handful of pebbles and scattered them with a throw.
“A handful of stones in my hand, ten li of reeds all bow their heads!”
He was getting into the rhythm of throwing when suddenly a wave of insight passed through his mind.
It took a while for Chen Mu to come back to his senses.
On the grey wall, the Proficiency values for the throwing disappeared.
This technique, which originated from the ordinary Flying Locust Stone, had finally reached its historical limit. And with that came an additional effect—Lock-On.
Chen Mu picked up a pebble and looked across the river.
Under the moonlight, a reed stood tall, swaying in the wind.
The moment he locked onto the target, all the information his eyes saw, his nose smelled, his ears heard, and his skin felt, flooded into the depths of his mind.
The Lock-On ability worked in places beyond his perception.
In the blink of an eye, it completed the integration and calculation of the information, and swiftly fed back an impulse to Chen Mu.
He simply followed this faint impulse and instinctively threw the pebble.
The next moment, the stone appeared next to the standout reed.
The rapidly approaching stone only grazed the reed, causing it to tremble slightly before speeding away.
“I really can hit wherever I point.” Chen Mu exclaimed.
Thought activated, stone thrown—his intention was perfectly realized.
“Little Chen with the Flying Knife, never misses his mark?” Chen Mu sighed helplessly, “It’s a nice ability, but a pity it can’t penetrate armor.”
After all, it was merely an ordinary Throwing Ability, and initial velocity dictated the power, range, and direction of the throw.
It couldn’t penetrate armor, nor could it turn corners.
Chen Mu felt a bit of regret.
And so-called Lock-On was nothing more than the best possible calculation and prediction.
The farther the distance, the less accurate it became.
But he soon cheered up. After all, another Skill had reached its limit.
Grinding out Skills, gathering experience, it was only the instant of reaching the peak that brought him such a strong sense of satisfaction.
“If I could get my hands on a Magic Artifact that could penetrate armor in the future, this might really become a divine skill.” Chen Mu thought with a smile.
…
He had been in high spirits for a good while before he came back to himself to roast fish, eat fish, and tend to the chives.
The process was nearly complete when Bai Miaojin and Cui Cui finally appeared.
“I thought you two weren’t coming. I was about to leave.” Chen Mu shrugged, taking out ten live fish from the bucket and starting to process and pickle them.
“Eat first; I’ll make more.”
“Went to meet an acquaintance, made an introduction.” Bai Miaojin nodded slightly in greeting and explained in a neutral tone.
“Cheng Yi comes from the Qingfeng Observatory, Bai, you shouldn’t have helped him get an introduction to Shangguan Ji.” Cui Cui picked up a roasted fish, blew on it huffing and puffing, and continued to mutter and complain.
Cheng Yi? The scapegoat?
Chen Mu couldn’t help but pause in his movements.
“That guy is following the rebel Chao Fang, but now he’s secretly meeting with Shangguan Ji, there must be some conspiracy.” Cui Cui wrinkled her nose and muttered.
“Just stay out of it,” Bai Miaojin said indifferently.
Chen Mu’s eyes narrowed, noting the Daoist’s swift actions.
After losing Daoist Bone Cheng Ming, and in pursuit of the Thousand Mechanism Token, he immediately switched allegiance to Chao Tianwang.
“Bai, you’re being foolish. By making that introduction, you’re already involved. If something goes wrong, Shangguan Ji will definitely trouble us.” Cui Cui looked at Bai Miaojin with a tone of disappointment.
“It’s no problem,” Bai Miaojin said calmly, eating the roasted fish off a wooden plate: “He wouldn’t dare.”
Chen Mu regained his composure. The number one expert in Nanyang Prefecture held no fear for her?
Martial Brother, you are truly domineering!
“Right, if he can’t even defeat you, he really doesn’t dare to trouble us.” Cui Cui realized belatedly with sudden clarity.
That’s right, the person before her was not some delicate young girl, but a wise and terrifying ghost!
However… Cheng Yi came looking for Shangguan Ji?
Chen Mu’s brow furrowed slightly, as he suddenly had a bad premonition.
“This Daoist Cheng Yi, is he planning to join forces with Shangguan Ji?” Chen Mu asked with feigned curiosity and caution.
“Don’t know.” Bai Miaojin shook her head unconcernedly.
“I know.” Cui Cui giggled, “He gave Shangguan Ji a defense map, wanting Shangguan Ji to raid Chao Fang’s camp.”
Chen Mu: “…”
This move… feels oddly familiar.
“He said that Chao Fang got the Startling Swan Gang’s defense map and plans to raid the Startling Swan Gang.”
“As long as Shangguan Ji seizes the opportunity, he could deal a heavy blow to Chao Fang.”
Chen Mu’s mind went blank, and he felt somewhat confused.
No, this needs sorting out!
First, Chao Tianwang plans to raid the Startling Swan Gang;
And the Startling Swan Gang is likely to raid the Tangshan Army;
Now Cheng Yi is inviting the Tangshan Army to raid Chao Tianwang…
What a perfect circle…
A perfect egg my foot!
Chen Mu felt completely numb. How did my simple distribution of a defense map turn into this situation?!
This world is truly goddamn magical! All three parties circling and picking fights, how chaotic will it be at that time?
Isn’t this just courting disaster!
…
The Startling Swan Gang’s base.
Jin Wuduan admired the defense map.
“I didn’t expect Sect Master Zhang to have such skill.”
Zhang Ye, his face alight with excitement, cupped his hands in salute: “It’s just a small trick, embarrassing, truly embarrassing.”
“This is no small trick,” Jin Wuduan examined the map from different angles.
“The strokes are delicate, the figures lifelike, and the key thing is that it’s realistic. “
“With such drawing skill, not even the number one painter in Nanyang Prefecture has your ability.”
“Sect Master Zhang must not be stingy with your brushwork. You must paint a portrait for me when you have the time!”
“Certainly, certainly,” Zhang Ye’s face was full of sheepish laughter.
You ask me to wield a large knife, and I can do that, but to paint portraits, isn’t that making it hard for me?
Yet he couldn’t say it.
If he did, he wouldn’t be able to explain the defense map.
“Sect Master Zhang’s contribution, I will remember it. Do you have any requests?” Jin Wuduan asked with a chuckle.
Zhang Ye immediately snapped back to his senses.
He had already thought about this, and his face was filled with fervor, “It’s my duty to exert effort for the gang. I’m not picky.”
Jin Wuduan nodded with a smile in his eyes.
“It’s just that I, as a Sect Master, have only just recovered my position. The brothers newly assigned to me have uneven martial skills and poor coordination. I’m afraid it might affect the operation tomorrow night.”
“I wonder if Gang Leader could be accommodating and allow me to take these brothers to the Laborer Camp to guard the prisoners and transport the supplies?”
The smile on Jin Wuduan’s face deepened: “That’s a good idea, go with Sheng Er. He’s just about to head to the Tangshan Army Laborer Camp.”
Zhang Ye was instantly overjoyed.
The Laborer Camp was just a bunch of laborers.
Even though they were numerous, they were not strong in martial power.
A mere intimidation would immediately prompt them to surrender.
They were going there, wasn’t it just to help with guarding prisoners and transporting supplies?
“Having regained the position of Sect Master with great difficulty, I cannot be wasteful again!”
“This round, I’ve finally steadied the ship.”