The expedition departed beneath a sky of pale blue.
Twenty elite disciples rode in disciplined formation behind four figures who naturally commanded the attention of the entire procession.
At the front was Shinzi, guiding his black stallion with practiced ease.
Beside him rode Qiao Tian, dressed in flowing jade robes that swayed gently with every stride of the horse.
Behind them, Princess Shin struggled to keep pace on a chestnut mare.
"I think..."
"...she likes grass more than walking."
Her horse stopped for the third time to nibble on the roadside.
Shin puffed out her cheeks.
"You've betrayed me."
The horse ignored her completely.
Even Qiao Tian couldn't suppress the faint curve of a smile.
Xuan Dao laughed heartily.
"The horse has already chosen cultivation over listening."
Everyone laughed.
The tense atmosphere dissolved.
By midday...
The group reached the entrance of Black Marsh.
Ancient trees towered overhead, their twisted branches blocking most of the sunlight.
Mist clung to the muddy ground.
The air smelled of wet earth.
Not a single bird could be heard.
Shinzi slowly dismounted.
"This forest..."
"...is too quiet."
One disciple nodded nervously.
"There should be animals."
"There should be insects."
"But..."
"Nothing."
Qiao Tian crouched beside the muddy trail.
Fresh footprints.
Not beasts.
Humans.
Many.
He brushed his fingers across the damp soil.
"They passed less than two hours ago."
Shinzi knelt beside him.
"Bandits?"
Qiao Tian slowly shook his head.
"No."
"The spacing is uniform."
"They marched in formation."
"Cultivators."
Xuan Dao's relaxed smile disappeared.
"They're waiting."
Far away...
Hidden high within the trees...
A masked man watched through narrowed eyes.
He raised two fingers.
A silent signal.
Immediately—
More than thirty assassins melted into position among the branches.
Their robes blended perfectly with the forest.
None carried banners.
None wore sect insignias.
Only one symbol rested upon their wrists.
A black serpent.
The personal assassins of Yu Yan.
The leader whispered,
"Wait until they enter the marsh."
"No one moves early."
Several miles away...
Inside a temporary pavilion erected deep within the forest...
Yu Yan leisurely poured himself tea.
Unlike Wei Jian's impulsive arrogance, Yu Yan possessed frightening patience.
He was handsome in a cold, unsettling way.
His long black robes were embroidered with silver serpents.
His eyes held no warmth.
Only calculation.
A spy knelt before him.
"My Lord."
"They've entered Black Marsh."
Yu Yan smiled faintly.
"And Princess Shin?"
"She is with them."
He closed his eyes.
"I've waited years."
"The daughter of her..."
"...finally walks into my hands."
The spy lowered his head even further.
"My Lord..."
"What if Young Master Qiao interferes?"
Yu Yan's fingers paused around the teacup.
"So..."
"The famous heir of Qingyuan."
"I've heard he defeated Wei Jian without killing a single guard."
His smile slowly widened.
"Merciful people..."
"...are always the easiest to manipulate."
He set the cup down.
"Activate the first formation."
"I want to see how capable our honored guests truly are."
Back in Black Marsh...
Princess Shin suddenly stopped walking.
"Hm?"
She frowned.
Shinzi looked back.
"What is it?"
She tilted her head.
"I..."
"...feel strange."
Qiao Tian immediately became alert.
"What do you mean?"
She looked toward the dense forest.
"It feels..."
"...like something is watching us."
Several disciples instinctively gripped their weapons.
One laughed nervously.
"The Princess is imagining things."
Xuan Dao, however...
Didn't laugh.
His gaze slowly swept across the towering trees.
He could feel it too.
Dozens of faint killing intents.
Perfectly concealed.
Professional.
He silently transmitted his voice to Qiao Tian.
"Don't reveal that we've noticed them."
"Let them make the first move."
Without moving her lips, Qiao Tian gave the slightest nod.
The expedition continued deeper into the marsh.
Every step sank slightly into the damp earth.
The mist grew thicker.
Visibility dropped to barely twenty paces.
Suddenly—
Princess Shin froze.
"Brother..."
Before Shinzi could answer—
TWANG!
The whistle of an arrow split the silence.
Qiao Tian's eyes flashed.
"Sword!"
Silver steel left its scabbard in a blur.
CLANG!
The arrow shattered into splinters before it could reach Shin.
The sound echoed through the forest.
Then...
Hundreds of arrows descended from every direction.
"AMBUSH!"
Shinzi roared.
"Defensive formation!"
The elite disciples instantly formed a protective circle.
Steel clashed against arrows.
Wood splintered.
Horses neighed in panic.
From the trees...
Dark figures leapt one after another.
Masked assassins.
More than thirty of them.
Each moved with terrifying coordination.
Their blades gleamed with poison.
One assassin laughed coldly.
"Kill everyone."
"But leave the princess alive."
Shinzi's expression instantly turned murderous.
"You dare?"
His sword erupted from its sheath like crimson lightning.
Qiao Tian stepped beside him.
Without exchanging a single word...
The two young masters stood shoulder to shoulder.
One wielded crimson flames.
The other, silver moonlight.
Xuan Dao slowly exhaled.
Finally...
Something interesting.
He casually cracked his knuckles.
"I was beginning to think this journey would be boring."
The marsh trembled.
The real battle...
Had begun.