Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 42 - Raid

The elders of the two clans gathered with the higher hierarchy of the Wolf Fang Mercenary to discuss a plan.

“How much do you guys know about the base?” Wolf Fang seldom interacted with the four big clans. So when the Tian and Wan Clans came to look for him, he hesitated for a long time before deciding to take the risk under the huge temptation.

A rumor had spread around Azure Billow City that the Xu Clan wasn’t far from being destroyed. This was why Wolf Fang was willing to take the risk. If Xu Yilin discovered his involvement, the Wolf Fang Mercenary would surely be wiped out.

“Two Xiantian Realm cultivators are stationed at the base. Xu Yishan, Xu Yilin’s younger brother, is the strongest. As long as he is eliminated, the others won’t pose a problem,” said the two elders as they presented a detailed document to Wolf Fang. The document recorded that the base had over a hundred guards, including Xu Yishan and Deacon Hu. The two clans had done their homework before approaching Wolf Fang.

“Are you sure there are no other experts at the base?” Wolf Fang suddenly frowned. He had developed a keen sense of danger from living on the edge of life and death and growing up among wolves. As he surveyed the base, his instincts warned him of hidden dangers lurking within.

Thanks to his sharp instincts, Wolf Fang managed to obtain a portion of the spoils from the four major clans from time to time. He was not only formidable but also prudent. In his perilous line of work, he would have met an untimely end if he hadn’t exercised caution.

“No. Yesterday, the patriarch sent me a pigeon post that Xu Yilin is still in Azure Billow City.” Tian Qihong patted his chest, an act of assurance that he had given the correct information. They had long scouted the layout of Xu Clan’s mine.

“Alright. We’ll make a move an hour from now when they’re fast asleep.” Wolf Fang nodded. He knew how many experts the Xu Clan had; perhaps he was too cautious.

In a small hall within the base, Xu Yishan sat alone, drowning his sorrows in wine. Liu Wuxie’s arrival had put him in a foul mood, and he had no way to release his pent-up emotions.

“Old Xu, it’s getting late. You should get some rest,” Deacon Hu advised as he sat down beside Xu Yishan. “Don’t drink too much, and don’t let trash like that upset you.”

“Old Hu, you go ahead and rest. Leave me be,” Xu Yishan waved him away before downing another cup of wine.

“Old Xu, I know what you’re thinking. You’re just unhappy with Young Master, but nothing can be done since it happened. We might as well let nature take its course. Or do you think we can force the patriarch to change his mind?”

Xu Yishan and Deacon Hu had worked together for over a decade and were as close as brothers. Deacon Hu didn’t have to mince his words around Xu Yishan, and he understood how he felt.

“I’m not objecting to what my brother did. I believe in keeping our promises, but there are always exceptions. I can’t stand by and watch that trash holding back the entire Xu Clan, can I?” Xu Yishan sighed, taking another swig of wine. Ultimately, it was all because Liu Wuxie was a good-for-nothing.

“Old Xu, what do you make of the information the young master brought this afternoon about the Tian and Wan Clans attacking our mine? Do you think it’s credible?” Deacon Hu inquired. He didn’t believe Liu Wuxie had fabricated the story, and Liu Wuxie had seemed sincere when he spoke of it.

“You’re going to take that trash’s word for it? I’ll make sure he never returns!” Xu Yishan sneered in response to Deacon Hu’s question, scoffing at Liu Wuxie’s words from earlier that day.

The Xu Clan’s base was well-stocked with bows and arrows. The bows were made of special wood. Though their arrows weren’t comparable to Terrabreak Army’s crossbows, they were highly lethal and could easily pierce through the body of someone in the pinnacle of the Houtian Realm.

“We can’t simply dismiss it. Even if the information turns out to be false, we must increase our patrols,” Deacon Hu insisted. He felt they should take Liu Wuxie’s words more seriously. Azure Billow City had been in turmoil lately, and the Xu Clan had to exercise extreme caution or risk being annihilated.

Xu Yishan set down his cup and furrowed his brow. Though he didn’t believe Liu Wuxie’s words, he couldn’t help but reconsider now that Deacon Hu had brought it up. “I’ll take your suggestion into consideration and ask my brother to send some elites,” he replied.

As the night deepened, the oil lamps flickered. A sudden gust of wind swept through the hall, momentarily snuffing out the flames before they sprang back to life as if nothing had happened.

“It’s a windy night. Let’s turn in early,” Xu Yishan suggested as he rose unsteadily to his feet, having had too much to drink.

But just then, a volley of arrows rained down upon the base, triggering an echoing scream. A patrolling guard was impaled on a wooden stake, an arrow piercing his left shoulder and causing him to cry out in agony.

Shortly after, many shadows shot out from various directions, splitting the fence with a single strike. Screams could be heard when over a hundred people charged into the base, and the Xu Clan’s guards suffered over ten-odd casualties in just a brief exchange.

“A night raid! It’s a raid!” The shout jolted countless people from their slumber, and they hastily donned their clothes before rushing out of their homes. The entire base was bathed in light, as bright as day, as the miners lit torches upon exiting their houses.

Xu Yishan and Deacon Hu were about to retire for the night when the commotion roused them from their stupor. They sprang into action, darting out of the hall to find the base embroiled in combat. Everything had happened so fast that the guards barely had time to react before the enemy breached the base.

Over a hundred black-clothed men swarmed into the base. Instead of immediately launching an assault, they took up positions at the entrance. The base had only one entrance, so all they had to do was secure it.

“Second Master, we’re under attack!” A guard burst in, shouting, before Xu Yishan could even step outside. The entrance had been seized, and several people were injured. They were all trapped within the base.

“Let’s go out and see what’s happening!” The group hurried outside, where they found themselves facing off against the enemy in the plaza. The Xu Clan’s guards were gradually being pushed back as the black-clothed assailants proved too formidable. One of them even unleashed an aura at the Spirit Cleansing Realm that enveloped the entire base.

The miners huddled in the shadows, trembling with fear. They had never experienced anything like this before and were at a loss as to what to do.

“Listen up, everyone! We’re only after the Xu Clan, not the miners. You have nothing to fear,” Tian Qihong declared, stepping forward. After seizing control of the Iris Gold Mine, they would need these miners to continue working. If they killed them all, where would they find the manpower to operate the mine?

“Who are you, and why have you invaded our mine?!” Xu Yishan demanded, unleashing his aura at the peak of the Xiantian Realm. The bricks and tiles of the surrounding houses shook in response. When he caught sight of Tian Qihong, his eyes blazed with murderous intent. The two clans had indeed launched a raid on the mine, just as Liu Wuxie had warned.

“Xu Yishan, surrender. If you all cripple your own cultivations, I might consider granting you a swift death,” Tian Qihong sneered. He, too, was at the pinnacle of the Xiantian Realm and belonged to the same generation as Xu Yishan. They were no strangers to each other.

Xu Yishan’s face turned ashen. He didn’t focus solely on Tian Qihong, but scanned the crowd. When his gaze fell upon Wolf Fang, his expression darkened. “Wolf Fang, do you have a death wish, attacking my Xu Clan?!” he demanded.

Wolf Fang was tonight's greatest enemy because he was in the fifth level of the Spirit Cleansing Realm. No one here could put up a fight with Wolf Fang.

“Second Master, I’m sorry, but Xu Clan will cease to exist after tonight.” Wolf Fang was polite with his tone and even addressed Xu Yishan as ‘Second Master’ despite having higher cultivation.

The situation was unfavorable for the Xu Clan. When the guards heard what Wolf Fang said, they began to tremble. After all, Wolf Fang had a notorious reputation, with blood on his hands. No one had expected him to lead the raid that night.

“Even if you kill us all, my brother will never let you get away with this. Wolf Fang, leave now while you still can. If you leave now, I’ll pretend this never happened,” Xu Yishan said through gritted teeth, struggling to contain his rage. The Wolf Fang Mercenary had always shown him respect in the past, but now they had trampled all over the Xu Clan’s dignity by launching a raid on their base.

Wolf Fang frowned at Xu Yishan’s words. The only person in the entire Xu Clan he feared was Xu Yilin, who was at the pinnacle of the Spirit Cleansing Realm and could easily kill him with one hand.

“Hahaha! To think that the Second Master of the Xu Clan would be reduced to this. Do you really believe you can intimidate Wolf Fang with your words? I neglected to mention that the Tian and Wan Clans have sent their experts to attack your Xu Clan. Your brother must be preoccupied by now,” Tian Qihong laughed. The two clans had divided their forces into two groups: one to attack the Xu Clan’s mine and the other to seize their assets.

It seemed they were still unaware that the Terrabreak Army had failed and that Liu Wuxie had foiled their plan to use the army against Xu Yilin. They had entered the Sunset Mountain Range two days prior, and news of what had transpired in Phoenix Roost Gorge had only recently reached Azure Billow City.

The Tian and Wan Clans remained ignorant of the Terrabreak Army’s failure. They assumed that some other matter had delayed them.

Xu Yishan’s expression darkened as he recalled Liu Wuxie’s warning from earlier that day. He had mocked Liu Wuxie then, but now he realized that he had been the foolish one. If only he had heeded Liu Wuxie’s warning and made preparations, they might have been able to hold out long enough for Xu Yilin to come to their rescue. But now they were trapped within the base, with no hope of escape.

“Second Master, what should we do?” The guards began to panic as they had no confidence in their ability to face the notorious Wolf Fang Mercenary.

“Defend the mine at all cost! We can’t let it fall into their hands!” Xu Yishan quickly made up his mind to stand their ground and wait for reinforcement. When he gave the order, the Xu Clan’s guards raised their bows and aimed at the other party.

Liu Wuxie naturally heard the commotion outside and slowly got dressed before making his way out of the house. As the light fell upon his face, it revealed a youthful countenance devoid of emotion, with a hint of murderous intent flickering in his eyes.

A battle could break out any moment now that Xu Yishan had given the other. He would rather die here than retreat.

“Attack! Show no mercy!” Wolf Fang commanded, knowing that there was no turning back now.

“For the Wolf Fang Mercenary to meddle in this affair... Should I ridicule or chastise you for your ignorance?” A cold voice rang out from a distance just as the Wolf Fang Mercenary was about to make its move. An azure-clothed youth emerged, a blade in his left hand, and slowly made his way towards the plaza.

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