Chapter 4: Ambush at the Exit, A Dead End Looms
The stench of blood inside the secret path grew thicker, mingling with the perpetual damp, musty smell of the rock walls. Breathing it in made their chests feel tight and suffocated.
Lin Yan braced himself against the stone wall and slowly stood upright. The spot where the assassin's elbow had struck his chest still throbbed with a dull ache, making every deep breath a painful ordeal. He looked down at his hands. They were coated in mud and blood from the scuffle, his fingertips still tingling with the lingering, cramping soreness of gripping the assassin's arm with desperate, spasming force.
That brief, brutal melee had drained nearly all his strength. In reality, he was just an ordinary office worker with a nine-to-five routine, completely unaccustomed to fighting for his life. Having survived purely on the instinct to stay alive, the moment his taut nerves relaxed even slightly, exhaustion washed over him like a tidal wave. His limbs turned to jelly, and he felt an overwhelming urge to just sit down right there in the mud.
But he didn't dare.
The silent, unyielding rule in his mind remained ever-present: this was a one-way trip to this dimension. Until the token reached its destination, the crisis would never fade. If he failed, he would be trapped and die in this Jianghu forever, never to return to his ordinary world.
Sitting on the ground, A-Shi carefully unwrapped the outer layer of dust-covered oilcloth to inspect the token. The oilcloth was wrapped in three tight layers. Despite the crushing pressure of the earlier struggle, the object inside remained completely undamaged. He let out a long sigh of relief, carefully rewrapped it, and held it tightly against his chest as if it were his own life.
"Thank god, it's intact." A-Shi raised his head, his face drenched in cold sweat. "Back in the tunnel, I truly thought I wouldn't last until you arrived."
Chen Yi leaned against the opposite stone wall, his broadsword jammed into a crevice beside him to support his weight. He pressed a hand against the torn wound on his waist, but blood continued to seep through his fingers. Most of his dark tunic was already soaked crimson. His face was deathly pale, his lips entirely bloodless. His breathing was heavy, and every exhale pulled at his wounds, sending spikes of agonizing pain through his body.
"Don't relax," Chen Yi warned in a hoarse voice, his gaze firmly locked onto the faint, flickering light at the end of the tunnel. "The open ground at the exit is the perfect place for an ambush. Their leader hasn't shown his face yet; he wouldn't send only a few men to block our path. The ones we dealt with were just perimeter scouts."
Lin Yan followed his gaze. That faint light was the tunnel's exit, no more than a few dozen yards away. Beyond this dark passage lay the open plains of the forest. The view would be clear, but so would they. There would be no stone walls to hide behind, no cover left.
"Who is this leader?" Lin Yan asked in a low voice. He needed to gather as much information as possible. Only by understanding their opponent could they assess the danger ahead.
"I don't know his real name or face. He always wears an ancient bronze mask," Chen Yi replied slowly, shaking his head with a grave expression. "In the Jianghu, he is known as 'Green Face.' He is ruthless, deeply calculating, and excels at setting up连环 (chain) ambushes. This interception was entirely his doing. During our last clash, I barely managed to block three of his strikes before I was severely wounded."
A-Shi added from the side, "These black-clad assassins are fanatical killers Green Face hired with a fortune. They don't fear death; they only care about seizing the token. If it falls into his hands, he will uproot and control dozens of Jianghu strongholds across several prefectures in Jiangnan. Countless lives will be lost. That is why we risked our lives to deliver this token to the branch of the Zhenyue Escort Agency."
Lin Yan silently committed the information to memory. So, this token wasn't just about a turf war between martial factions; the stakes were far more severe. He had originally only wanted to complete his mission to secure his own return to reality. But listening to their words, a heavy sense of responsibility began to take root in his heart.
He was no longer a passive bystander dragged into this chaos. He was now a piece on the chessboard of this brutal war.
"We rest for a moment, then we move out immediately. This place is too dangerous to linger. The tunnel is too narrow. If the enemy blocks the exit, we'll be trapped and suffocate right here," Chen Yi said firmly, turning to look at A-Shi. "Can you still walk?"
"Yes." A-Shi gritted his teeth and braced himself against the wall to stand. Though his movements were slightly unsteady, he kept the oilcloth bundle firmly protected against his chest. "Even if I have to crawl, I will deliver the token."
During this brief respite, Lin Yan quickly reviewed the battle in the tunnel. He had no martial arts foundation, no techniques, and no strength. His only assets were the observational skills of an ordinary person and his instincts under extreme duress. In a direct clash, he could never defeat a Jianghu assassin. His only option was to find his opponents' flaws and create brief moments of distraction, opening up opportunities for Chen Yi to strike.
He looked at the two unconscious assassins on the ground. Their short blades lay nearby. Lin Yan hesitated for a moment, but decided not to pick them up. He had no idea how to use weapons; holding one would only burden him and risk injuring himself. To him, stones, sticks, or any随手可及 (readily available) object was far more practical than a sword or dagger.
"I'm ready," Lin Yan said.
Chen Yi tightened his grip on the broadsword, raising the blade slightly, prepared to engage the enemy at a moment's notice. "A-Shi, walk in the middle. Guard the token. Lin Yan, stay beside A-Shi, and try to stay behind me. When the fight starts, prioritize protecting A-Shi. Don't try to fight the assassins head-on."
The three formed a single file line and slowly advanced toward the tunnel exit.
The closer they got to the exit, the brighter the light became, and the faint rustle of wind through the grass gradually reached their ears. The enclosed, oppressive space of the tunnel slowly opened up, and the air began to flow. Yet, the crushing sense of dread in their hearts only grew heavier.
The quieter it was, the more it meant the ambush was already set.
The moment they stepped out of the tunnel, blinding sunlight hit them. Lin Yan instinctively squinted, adjusting to the sudden brightness.
Outside the tunnel was a wide, open forest valley. Waist-high wild grass covered the ground, with a few towering ancient pines scattered in the distance. Undulating hills and thick bushes surrounded the valley, providing countless hiding spots.
The empty plain was completely devoid of assassins.
No shouts, no flashing blades. The silence was eerie.
A-Shi instinctively tightened his embrace, his footsteps halting as he nervously scanned left and right. "No one? Did they already leave?"
Chen Yi immediately raised a hand to stop A-Shi from moving forward. He held his broadsword horizontally in front of him, every muscle taut, his sharp gaze sweeping across every bush and hill in the vicinity.
"Something's wrong," Chen Yi warned in a hushed voice. "They're baiting us in. Everyone is hidden around us."
The moment the words left his mouth—
Swish, swish, swish!
Seven or eight figures in black instantly burst from the surrounding bushes like vipers that had been lying in wait. They surged out in a fan-shaped formation, directly sealing off all routes to retreat into the tunnel or break forward.
And at the very back of the encirclement, atop a hill, a figure slowly stood up.
The man wore a dark ink-colored robe, his face covered by an ancient bronze mask. The eye sockets were two pitch-black, hollow voids, hiding whatever eyes lay beneath. His hands were clasped behind his back as he silently looked down at the three people in the valley. He was in no rush to make a move, appearing as if he were merely watching trapped beasts in a cage.
Green Face.
He had finally revealed himself.
"You've had a tiring chase," Green Face's voice echoed through the mask, muffled and hoarse, making it impossible to guess his age. "Hand over the token, and I'll grant you a whole corpse. If you continue this futile resistance, your bones will be left to rot in these desolate mountains, unmourned and unburied."
Chen Yi stepped forward, shielding A-Shi and Lin Yan behind him, his broadsword pointing directly at Green Face on the hill. "Delusional. If you want the token, you'll have to step over my corpse."
"Oh?" Green Face let out a faint chuckle, his voice entirely devoid of emotion. "With your severely wounded body? And two ordinary mortals?" His gaze lightly swept over Lin Yan. He seemed to sense that something was off about the youth, though he couldn't quite see through it. After a brief glance, he casually waved his hand. "Take them. Leave one alive to get the token."
At his command, the surrounding assassins raised their blades and charged forward in unison. The gleaming steel flashed in the sunlight, reflecting a cold, deadly light.
Chen Yi let out a low roar and stepped forward to meet them, intercepting the first three assassins head-on. The clash of steel erupted instantly as his broadsword continuously blocked and parried. Despite his severe injuries, his moves remained fierce. But his stamina was rapidly depleting; every time he forcefully met an enemy's blade, his wounds tore open, blood continuously soaking his tunic.
The remaining assassins bypassed Chen Yi's melee, their target locked squarely on A-Shi!
"Protect the token!" A-Shi frantically dodged to the side, but two assassins had already closed in, their short blades thrusting directly toward the oilcloth bundle in his arms.
Lin Yan’s heart hammered wildly. Without a second of hesitation, he dashed to the side, bent down, and grabbed a fist-sized stone from the ground. He hurled it viciously at the side of one assassin's face. The assassin dodged, and the stone grazed his cheek, missing its mark but briefly disrupting his attack.
Seeing this, another assassin broke off, turning his attention to Lin Yan. His short blade thrust straight for Lin Yan's chest!
Lin Yan quickly rolled to the side to dodge the blade. Wild grass was crushed beneath his body, the sharp blades slicing his exposed wrist and sending a sting of pain. He knew he couldn't outrun them. His only option was to constantly use the tall grass and dirt mounds to maneuver, drawing the assassin's attention and keeping him away from A-Shi.
He knew his role perfectly. He couldn't be a vanguard breaking enemy lines; he could only be a pawn of distraction. Every second he delayed the enemy gave A-Shi a chance to breathe, and gave Chen Yi a better chance to defeat his opponents.
Atop the hill, Green Face silently watched the chaotic melee below. He noticed the unarmed youth who kept using clumsy methods to disrupt his assassins. Behind the mask, his gaze shifted slightly. This person was strange. Fear was etched into his eyes, yet he refused to run, repeatedly stepping in front of the token to block attacks.
Green Face slowly raised his hand, his fingers wrapping around the hilt of the long sword hanging at his waist.
It seemed he wouldn't need his subordinates to wear them down for long. He was preparing to enter the fray himself and seize the token with his own hands.
The battle was about to reach its most perilous moment.
Lin Yan braced himself against the stone wall and slowly stood upright. The spot where the assassin's elbow had struck his chest still throbbed with a dull ache, making every deep breath a painful ordeal. He looked down at his hands. They were coated in mud and blood from the scuffle, his fingertips still tingling with the lingering, cramping soreness of gripping the assassin's arm with desperate, spasming force.
That brief, brutal melee had drained nearly all his strength. In reality, he was just an ordinary office worker with a nine-to-five routine, completely unaccustomed to fighting for his life. Having survived purely on the instinct to stay alive, the moment his taut nerves relaxed even slightly, exhaustion washed over him like a tidal wave. His limbs turned to jelly, and he felt an overwhelming urge to just sit down right there in the mud.
But he didn't dare.
The silent, unyielding rule in his mind remained ever-present: this was a one-way trip to this dimension. Until the token reached its destination, the crisis would never fade. If he failed, he would be trapped and die in this Jianghu forever, never to return to his ordinary world.
Sitting on the ground, A-Shi carefully unwrapped the outer layer of dust-covered oilcloth to inspect the token. The oilcloth was wrapped in three tight layers. Despite the crushing pressure of the earlier struggle, the object inside remained completely undamaged. He let out a long sigh of relief, carefully rewrapped it, and held it tightly against his chest as if it were his own life.
"Thank god, it's intact." A-Shi raised his head, his face drenched in cold sweat. "Back in the tunnel, I truly thought I wouldn't last until you arrived."
Chen Yi leaned against the opposite stone wall, his broadsword jammed into a crevice beside him to support his weight. He pressed a hand against the torn wound on his waist, but blood continued to seep through his fingers. Most of his dark tunic was already soaked crimson. His face was deathly pale, his lips entirely bloodless. His breathing was heavy, and every exhale pulled at his wounds, sending spikes of agonizing pain through his body.
"Don't relax," Chen Yi warned in a hoarse voice, his gaze firmly locked onto the faint, flickering light at the end of the tunnel. "The open ground at the exit is the perfect place for an ambush. Their leader hasn't shown his face yet; he wouldn't send only a few men to block our path. The ones we dealt with were just perimeter scouts."
Lin Yan followed his gaze. That faint light was the tunnel's exit, no more than a few dozen yards away. Beyond this dark passage lay the open plains of the forest. The view would be clear, but so would they. There would be no stone walls to hide behind, no cover left.
"Who is this leader?" Lin Yan asked in a low voice. He needed to gather as much information as possible. Only by understanding their opponent could they assess the danger ahead.
"I don't know his real name or face. He always wears an ancient bronze mask," Chen Yi replied slowly, shaking his head with a grave expression. "In the Jianghu, he is known as 'Green Face.' He is ruthless, deeply calculating, and excels at setting up连环 (chain) ambushes. This interception was entirely his doing. During our last clash, I barely managed to block three of his strikes before I was severely wounded."
A-Shi added from the side, "These black-clad assassins are fanatical killers Green Face hired with a fortune. They don't fear death; they only care about seizing the token. If it falls into his hands, he will uproot and control dozens of Jianghu strongholds across several prefectures in Jiangnan. Countless lives will be lost. That is why we risked our lives to deliver this token to the branch of the Zhenyue Escort Agency."
Lin Yan silently committed the information to memory. So, this token wasn't just about a turf war between martial factions; the stakes were far more severe. He had originally only wanted to complete his mission to secure his own return to reality. But listening to their words, a heavy sense of responsibility began to take root in his heart.
He was no longer a passive bystander dragged into this chaos. He was now a piece on the chessboard of this brutal war.
"We rest for a moment, then we move out immediately. This place is too dangerous to linger. The tunnel is too narrow. If the enemy blocks the exit, we'll be trapped and suffocate right here," Chen Yi said firmly, turning to look at A-Shi. "Can you still walk?"
"Yes." A-Shi gritted his teeth and braced himself against the wall to stand. Though his movements were slightly unsteady, he kept the oilcloth bundle firmly protected against his chest. "Even if I have to crawl, I will deliver the token."
During this brief respite, Lin Yan quickly reviewed the battle in the tunnel. He had no martial arts foundation, no techniques, and no strength. His only assets were the observational skills of an ordinary person and his instincts under extreme duress. In a direct clash, he could never defeat a Jianghu assassin. His only option was to find his opponents' flaws and create brief moments of distraction, opening up opportunities for Chen Yi to strike.
He looked at the two unconscious assassins on the ground. Their short blades lay nearby. Lin Yan hesitated for a moment, but decided not to pick them up. He had no idea how to use weapons; holding one would only burden him and risk injuring himself. To him, stones, sticks, or any随手可及 (readily available) object was far more practical than a sword or dagger.
"I'm ready," Lin Yan said.
Chen Yi tightened his grip on the broadsword, raising the blade slightly, prepared to engage the enemy at a moment's notice. "A-Shi, walk in the middle. Guard the token. Lin Yan, stay beside A-Shi, and try to stay behind me. When the fight starts, prioritize protecting A-Shi. Don't try to fight the assassins head-on."
The three formed a single file line and slowly advanced toward the tunnel exit.
The closer they got to the exit, the brighter the light became, and the faint rustle of wind through the grass gradually reached their ears. The enclosed, oppressive space of the tunnel slowly opened up, and the air began to flow. Yet, the crushing sense of dread in their hearts only grew heavier.
The quieter it was, the more it meant the ambush was already set.
The moment they stepped out of the tunnel, blinding sunlight hit them. Lin Yan instinctively squinted, adjusting to the sudden brightness.
Outside the tunnel was a wide, open forest valley. Waist-high wild grass covered the ground, with a few towering ancient pines scattered in the distance. Undulating hills and thick bushes surrounded the valley, providing countless hiding spots.
The empty plain was completely devoid of assassins.
No shouts, no flashing blades. The silence was eerie.
A-Shi instinctively tightened his embrace, his footsteps halting as he nervously scanned left and right. "No one? Did they already leave?"
Chen Yi immediately raised a hand to stop A-Shi from moving forward. He held his broadsword horizontally in front of him, every muscle taut, his sharp gaze sweeping across every bush and hill in the vicinity.
"Something's wrong," Chen Yi warned in a hushed voice. "They're baiting us in. Everyone is hidden around us."
The moment the words left his mouth—
Swish, swish, swish!
Seven or eight figures in black instantly burst from the surrounding bushes like vipers that had been lying in wait. They surged out in a fan-shaped formation, directly sealing off all routes to retreat into the tunnel or break forward.
And at the very back of the encirclement, atop a hill, a figure slowly stood up.
The man wore a dark ink-colored robe, his face covered by an ancient bronze mask. The eye sockets were two pitch-black, hollow voids, hiding whatever eyes lay beneath. His hands were clasped behind his back as he silently looked down at the three people in the valley. He was in no rush to make a move, appearing as if he were merely watching trapped beasts in a cage.
Green Face.
He had finally revealed himself.
"You've had a tiring chase," Green Face's voice echoed through the mask, muffled and hoarse, making it impossible to guess his age. "Hand over the token, and I'll grant you a whole corpse. If you continue this futile resistance, your bones will be left to rot in these desolate mountains, unmourned and unburied."
Chen Yi stepped forward, shielding A-Shi and Lin Yan behind him, his broadsword pointing directly at Green Face on the hill. "Delusional. If you want the token, you'll have to step over my corpse."
"Oh?" Green Face let out a faint chuckle, his voice entirely devoid of emotion. "With your severely wounded body? And two ordinary mortals?" His gaze lightly swept over Lin Yan. He seemed to sense that something was off about the youth, though he couldn't quite see through it. After a brief glance, he casually waved his hand. "Take them. Leave one alive to get the token."
At his command, the surrounding assassins raised their blades and charged forward in unison. The gleaming steel flashed in the sunlight, reflecting a cold, deadly light.
Chen Yi let out a low roar and stepped forward to meet them, intercepting the first three assassins head-on. The clash of steel erupted instantly as his broadsword continuously blocked and parried. Despite his severe injuries, his moves remained fierce. But his stamina was rapidly depleting; every time he forcefully met an enemy's blade, his wounds tore open, blood continuously soaking his tunic.
The remaining assassins bypassed Chen Yi's melee, their target locked squarely on A-Shi!
"Protect the token!" A-Shi frantically dodged to the side, but two assassins had already closed in, their short blades thrusting directly toward the oilcloth bundle in his arms.
Lin Yan’s heart hammered wildly. Without a second of hesitation, he dashed to the side, bent down, and grabbed a fist-sized stone from the ground. He hurled it viciously at the side of one assassin's face. The assassin dodged, and the stone grazed his cheek, missing its mark but briefly disrupting his attack.
Seeing this, another assassin broke off, turning his attention to Lin Yan. His short blade thrust straight for Lin Yan's chest!
Lin Yan quickly rolled to the side to dodge the blade. Wild grass was crushed beneath his body, the sharp blades slicing his exposed wrist and sending a sting of pain. He knew he couldn't outrun them. His only option was to constantly use the tall grass and dirt mounds to maneuver, drawing the assassin's attention and keeping him away from A-Shi.
He knew his role perfectly. He couldn't be a vanguard breaking enemy lines; he could only be a pawn of distraction. Every second he delayed the enemy gave A-Shi a chance to breathe, and gave Chen Yi a better chance to defeat his opponents.
Atop the hill, Green Face silently watched the chaotic melee below. He noticed the unarmed youth who kept using clumsy methods to disrupt his assassins. Behind the mask, his gaze shifted slightly. This person was strange. Fear was etched into his eyes, yet he refused to run, repeatedly stepping in front of the token to block attacks.
Green Face slowly raised his hand, his fingers wrapping around the hilt of the long sword hanging at his waist.
It seemed he wouldn't need his subordinates to wear them down for long. He was preparing to enter the fray himself and seize the token with his own hands.
The battle was about to reach its most perilous moment.