The Great Song Dynasty's Soul-Forging in Progress

"Secondly," Wang Zhonghua continued, his tone resolute, "I'll handle the search of the mountains. Lü Maoyi is a hunter by trade, the best tracker. The 'Dark Arrow' members are skilled in stealth and hunting in the mountains. I'll lead them; it'll be more effective than you just charging through the forest. You guarding the home is protecting Tiehua's escape route, and that's the greatest support you can give me! Trust me!"

Qin Tiedan's chest heaved violently. Looking into Wang Zhonghua's calm and resolute eyes, the panic and rage that threatened to consume him finally subsided somewhat. He nodded emphatically, his voice hoarse: "I...I'll listen to you! Zhonghua, you must bring Tiehua back! If even a single hair on her head is missing, I...I..."

"I will." Wang Zhonghua patted his strong arm, the force quite heavy. "Before I return, the estate is in your hands. Remember, you are Qin Tiedan, my brother, and Tiehua's elder brother. Guard the house and wait for my news."

After speaking, Wang Zhonghua didn't linger. He turned and strode quickly toward Lü Maoyi and the five "Dark Arrow" team members who had already assembled. His silhouette stretched long in the setting sun, tall and resolute.

Qin Tiedan stared in the direction he had left, then abruptly raised his hand and violently wiped his face, forcing back the heat that was about to surge forth. He turned and roared like thunder at the somewhat flustered guards and Brotherhood members who had rushed to the courtyard after hearing the commotion:

"Listen up, you bastards! Grab your weapons! Defend the estate! Keep your eyes peeled! Don't even think about letting a stray fly in! Wait until Zhonghua rescues my sister!"

His roar dispelled the panic, and the village sprang into action. Qin Tiedan, like a tiger that becomes even more focused after being provoked, began to meticulously carry out Wang Zhonghua's orders: patrolling, setting up defenses, conducting searches... leaving no detail overlooked. He transformed all his worry and fear for his sister into a ferocious force to defend his home.

"Duan Gong, double the vigilance at the watchtower, nock crossbows, cover all surrounding mountain paths, and kill any suspicious individuals without exception!"

"Lü Maoyi!" His voice was resolute, each word like a steel nail driven from between his teeth. "Take your best trackers, select five 'Hidden Arrows,' equip them with bows, daggers, and ropes, and bring five days' worth of rations. In fifteen minutes, you will depart with me!"

Commands were issued one after another without the slightest hesitation. The entire estate, like a sophisticated war machine, instantly sprang into operation with high efficiency. A chilling atmosphere permeated the air, even the fires in the stoves seemed to be suppressed by this force.

At the foot of Laoya Mountain, Qin Tiehua's maternal grandmother's house provided a crucial clue—she had never been there at all. Lü Maoyi crouched on the muddy ground of the path outside the village, his body low like a leopard poised to pounce. His fingers lightly brushed against a trampled blade of grass, the sap fresh at the broken stem; he then picked up a barely noticeable piece of light blue cloth hanging on the thorns, brought it to his nose, and sniffed it.

"Captain, it's Miss Qin's fabric." Lü Maoyi's voice was calm and even, like a cold blade cutting through the air. "She went into the mountains, heading towards Black Wind Ravine. There are at least four or five men following behind, their footsteps are chaotic, and there's the sound of heavy armor scraping against each other. They're not hunters, but swordsmen who are used to fighting in the mountains."

Wang Zhonghua's eyes instantly froze, and his voice seemed to come from the depths of hell: "Chase!"

The "Dark Arrow" squad infiltrated the forest like ghosts. Lü Maoyi led the way, his gaze scanning the ground, tree trunks, and rocks like a scanner. He would pause occasionally, pointing to a nearly vanished, blurry footprint—"She lingered here for a moment, breathing heavily, with blood dripping from it."; then he would pluck a stray strand of hair from a bush branch—"She set up an obstacle; this was bait left intentionally."; and then he would pick up a trace of dried blood from the moss, taste it lightly on his tongue—"It's not human blood; it has a fishy smell. She injured a wild beast, most likely a leopard."

Every moment of pursuit felt like a slow, agonizing torture for Wang Zhonghua. Images of Qin Tiehua's various misfortunes flashed uncontrollably through his mind: her being ripped open by sharp claws, pierced by arrows, violated by those beasts… Each thought tore at his heart, a metallic taste rising in his throat. But he couldn't lose his composure; he was the backbone of this team, Qin Tiehua's only hope. He bit his tongue, using the excruciating pain to maintain his sanity, each step treading on a knife's edge.

On the third day at dusk, the blood-red sunset turned the mountains and forests into a living hell.

Lu Maoyi stopped at the edge of a cliff, his face more solemn than ever before. He picked up a blood-stained arrowhead, its arrowhead triangularly grooved, a type of armor-piercing arrow used in the military; and... a pair of embroidered shoes by Qin Tiehua, the upper torn by gravel, the mud on the sole still wet.

Wang Zhonghua took the shoe, his fingers digging deep into the fabric, his body swaying almost imperceptibly. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, they were filled with a raging sea of ​​murderous intent, beneath which lay a volcano about to erupt.

"They forced her off the cliff." Lü Maoyi's voice was low and deep, like a death sentence.

Just then, a faint commotion came from the valley below. Wang Zhonghua suddenly raised his hand, and the team froze instantly, everyone crouching low to the shadows.

Through the gaps in the trees, they saw—

Qiu Laohu, cursing and swearing, led his men down the steep slope. He was eight feet tall, broad-shouldered and burly, with three centipede-like scars across his face. His left eye was covered with a filthy black cloth, and his only remaining eye gleamed with cruelty. A pouch made of human scalp hung from his waist, swaying with each step; it seemed to contain trophies such as ears.

—The long-absent Qiu Laohu? Has Qiu Laohu become one-eyed?

"So it was you!"

A flash of insight struck Wang Zhonghua, as if he understood something. Yet, there seemed to be something else he didn't fully grasp.

"Damn it, this bitch is really lucky, she didn't die from the fall!" Qiu Laohu's sinister laughter could be faintly heard. "Hurry up, all of you! The master ordered that she be alive! If you can't catch her, I'll skin you alive! Take her back, I'll have a taste of her first, and then slowly process her!" He licked his lips lewdly, revealing his yellowed and rotten teeth.

Not far ahead of him, by the pool at the bottom of the valley, lay a pale blue figure in a coma, like a lotus flower ravaged by wind and rain.

Wang Zhonghua's gaze locked onto Qiu Laohu. All his composure, all his planning, and all his forbearance transformed into the most primal and pure rage at this moment! His pupils shrank to pinpoints, blood vessels instantly filled the whites of his eyes, and a beast-like growl escaped his throat.

"Lu Maoyi, eliminate the outer sentries and archers. Leave no survivors."

"The rest of you, follow my lead—"

"kill--!"

The last word exploded in the valley like a thunderclap, and Wang Zhonghua burst out from behind the rock where he was hiding! His figure was so fast that he turned into a twisted gray shadow. Before the withered branches and fallen leaves under his feet could even rise, he had already pounced in mid-air. His long iron staff tore through the rain curtain and emitted a shrill shriek like the wailing of ten thousand ghosts!

This pounce was as swift as a cheetah pouncing on its prey, and as furious as a mountain waterfall cascading down! Before the stick even arrived, the tangible killing intent was like ice pouring down on Qiu Laohu, chilling him to the bone.

Qiu Laohu hastily parried with his sword, a sliver of hope still lingering in his heart. Until the sword and staff clashed—

"boom!!!"

That wasn't the clang of metal against metal; it was clearly the sound of a thousand-pound bronze bell being struck by a giant log! An irresistible, overwhelming force surged along the Ghost Head Blade, through the arm, and straight into the internal organs!

Qiu Laohu's vision went black, his ears rang incessantly, his arm bones groaned from the unbearable strain, and his tiger's mouth burst open, spurting blood.

He flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing into two trees as thick as bowls before landing with a thud. His chest was churning with blood, and a mouthful of blood rushed to his throat.