Chapter Thirty-Three: Demonic Black Lotus Flame, Froststeel Silver Armor

“Brothers, attack with me!”

Yu Tianlong shouted, summoning all the bodyguards and men in black to join the assault against the three.

“Hmph! Do you think only you have the advantage of numbers?”

At that moment, cries of battle and killing suddenly erupted from all directions. It was Captain Wu and Captain Ning, leading Leng Yue and the other demon-slaying captains, along with constables from the Criminal Division, who charged out from the forest, surrounding the area completely.

Yu Tianlong and the scar-faced man were instantly alarmed—they had not expected these three youngsters to have reported them to the authorities!

Yet, as the scar-faced man hesitated for just a heartbeat, the black sword in his hand seemed to be yanked by an invisible force and vanished without a trace!

Across from him, the young man surnamed Han extended his left hand, and with a flash of white light, the black sword inexplicably appeared in his grasp.

The Summoning Technique!

Yu Tianlong, quick to seize the moment, led his followers in a rapid charge toward the cliffside cave, and for a time, no one could stop them!

However, the dozens of black-clad men and bodyguards in blue were not so lucky. They found escape impossible, and both sides were soon locked in fierce combat.

Meanwhile, Han Chong had already leapt from his horse and pursued the scar-faced man relentlessly.

Without the black sword, the man was a tiger with its fangs pulled. In the end, Han Chong bound him tightly on the ground, leaving no chance of escape.

As the battle came to an end, Han Chong approached the scar-faced man, sword in hand.

“Speak—who are you? What is your relationship with Yu Tianlong? Who killed Yun Tianxiao? Otherwise, you die.”

The scar-faced man’s face twisted in torment, caught between terror and despair. As the black sword’s edge slowly pressed against his throat, the pain grew too much to bear, and at last he could endure no longer.

Just as he was about to confess, his face contorted in agony. He clawed at his chest, tearing open his robes.

To their astonishment, not only was a black lotus embroidered on the front of his white robe, but another one was tattooed on his chest!

That lotus seemed almost alive, its surface crackling with black flames that burned his flesh, sending up curls of black smoke—an eerie and sinister sight.

The scar-faced man had clearly not expected this. His mouth opened and closed, but though he tried to speak, only a hoarse rasp escaped.

Dark flames even erupted from his throat as he thrashed and howled in agony.

Han Chong’s eyes widened. He hurriedly withdrew the golden demon-binding rope, only to see black scorch marks appear upon its surface!

The scar-faced man struggled to his feet, as if to lunge at those around him, but then slowly sank to his knees. Black flames blazed inside and out, consuming him—a truly horrifying spectacle.

“What happened? Who is this man?”

Captain Wu, having finished dealing with the henchmen, approached Han Chong, stunned.

“I don’t know either. He called himself the Black Lotus Right Envoy, surname Ding. He could very well be Ding Xingxiu, the bandit chief of Luoyan Gorge.”

Han Chong shook his head, frowning deeply.

“Hiss—Ding Xingxiu? I recall Magistrate Yin mentioning him. He’s a masterful fighter, cunning and alert. Even the Commandant of Zhechong was summoned to lead troops against him, yet all suffered defeat! I never expected him to hold the title of Black Lotus Right Envoy. But what is this organization?”

Captain Ning, ever knowledgeable, pondered aloud.

“But the black flames on his body—those aren’t ordinary fire, more like something demonic. Could it be that he was under the control of a demon?”

“I think so as well,” Han Chong replied, “Yet this flame doesn’t quite match the usual demonic fire. The demonic aura isn’t that strong.”

Ouyang Jingguan nodded thoughtfully.

“Everyone, let’s see if we can open that stone door. Only by capturing Yu Tianlong can we unravel the mystery.”

Han Chong led the way toward the stone wall at the cliff base.

But when they arrived, they found the stone door fit so tightly against the mountain wall that it seemed impossible to find any means of opening it. Tapping it lightly with a scabbard produced almost the same sound as the surrounding stone—clearly a massive, weighty gate!

Even Ouyang Jingguan, skilled in the arts of traps and mechanisms, could not immediately discern the trick.

“Wait outside. I’ll see if I can find a mechanism from within.”

Han Chong stored away the black sword and the golden demon-binding rope, concealed his presence, and slipped beneath the earth toward the stone wall.

As he ascended underground, he discovered rows of iron spikes buried below the stone wall, all linked by hidden mechanisms!

Han Chong’s scalp prickled. If dozens of spikes shot upward, they could slaughter scores of people at once!

He chose a spot near the edge and cautiously emerged, just enough to raise his head above ground.

He found himself in a narrow, winding downward tunnel, just over a yard high, with four black-clad guards at the entrance.

“Hey!” Han Chong suddenly appeared among the four.

They recoiled against the stone walls in shock, unable to fathom how Han Chong had entered.

Before they could recover, Han Chong felled them with a few swift blows.

“Who are you people? Speak the truth, or you’ll all die.”

“Spare us, great hero! We’re just mountain bandits from Luoyan Gorge, following Boss Ding. We don’t know anything else!”

“Is that so? That’s all you know?” Han Chong threatened with the black sword.

“Please, have mercy, we’re really just following Boss Ding, robbing merchants who pass by. But the loot—Boss Ding always hands it over to the Black Lotus Sect. That’s all we know, truly!”

The three grew even more terrified, kowtowing and swearing they knew nothing more.

“The Black Lotus Sect? Where is it?”

“This cave is just a branch stronghold. Their followers are scattered everywhere. We really don’t know where the main headquarters is.”

They truly sounded genuine, for such low-level bandits could hardly know more.

“Stand up and open the stone door.”

The three nodded repeatedly, lifted a small stone hatch on the wall, and pulled an iron lever inside.

A grinding sound issued from within the wall, and the stone door finally slid open.

Awaiting them were constables of the Criminal Division. The three men turned ashen, doomed to face justice—most likely execution.

“Captain Han, you’re something else. Let’s go in and catch them!” Captain Wu laughed and prepared to lead his men inside.

“Wait, Captain Wu. There are many traps in this cave, far too dangerous. Let the main force hold here. The rest of us will go in.”

“Oh? Very well.”

Thus, only Captain Wu, Captain Ning, Ouyang Jingguan, Mingzhen, Leng Yue, and Han Chong—six in all—ventured into the cave.

But after only a dozen steps, the grinding of mechanisms sounded again.

Iron spikes suddenly thrust upward from the floor, and arrows shot randomly from holes in the stone walls!

“Hiss!” The group hastily retreated, hearts pounding and chills racing down their spines.

This was truly a deathtrap! Had Yu Tianlong and his men already realized the door had been opened?

[Ding! System has detected the host is about to face a deadly mechanism cave far beyond your current strength. Secret mission initiated.

Survive the traps and enter the mountain’s heart to receive a set of Frost-Tempered Silver Thread Soft Armor, instantly wearable and greatly enhancing your defense!]

What!

Han Chong froze. The cave’s traps were so powerful that the system had triggered a secret reward mission!

After seeing the horrors within, Han Chong was keenly aware that he had no means of defense.

But the reward—Frost-Tempered Silver Thread Soft Armor—would only be granted after surviving the traps, a truly nerve-wracking ordeal.

Still, this treasure sounded priceless, and he was determined to obtain it!

“Captain Han, what is it? This cave is too perilous—we should find another way.” Captain Wu patted him on the shoulder, sighing.

“No! We must get through. Yu Tianlong and his lot are surely laughing at us from below right now!” Han Chong’s face was grim, his tone resolute, his thoughts racing.

The others burned with indignation, but racked their brains for a solution in vain.

“Friends, these traps must be controlled by hidden mechanisms, most likely in the walls or underground. Bring some stones and toss them inside the cave to continually trigger the traps. I’ll sneak in underground and destroy the mechanisms. Once disabled, the deathtrap will be no more!”

Han Chong pondered a moment and offered his plan.

“Ha! That’s a clever idea! Men, fetch stones at once!” Captain Ning nodded and ordered the constables behind him.

Han Chong descended to the same spot as before, weaving his way among the erupting iron spikes. Whenever he spotted a wooden mechanism, he drew the sharp black sword and hacked it to pieces.

Row after row of iron spikes ceased their movement. With the stones probing ahead, Han Chong discovered more and more hidden mechanisms, each one destroyed in turn.

Thankfully, they were all buried underground. Had they been embedded in the mountain walls, they’d have been much harder to break.

Inside the cave, the others kept tossing stones, watching with growing excitement as the traps jammed and fell silent, pushing ever deeper.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have completed the secret mission of the mechanism cave and received the Frost-Tempered Silver Thread Soft Armor! Its quality will rise as your cultivation advances!]

After advancing a hundred yards, Han Chong had destroyed every trap beneath the ground!

Suddenly, he felt a cool sensation against his skin. The silver-threaded armor had already fitted itself beneath his clothes, as comfortable as a linen shirt, yet invisible from the outside!

He lifted his left sleeve and slashed the surface with the black sword. Silver barbs instantly bristled across the armor, densely packed! The black sword struck as if against a slick iron ball—a miraculous protective treasure indeed!

...

Surfacing, Han Chong rejoined Ouyang Jingguan and the others, and together they advanced to the cave’s inner mouth.

Beyond it lay a vast, circular cavern a hundred yards wide, with two levels, and eight tunnels opening from the upper stone gallery.

The constables held torches aloft, probing the shadows. The group advanced to the center of the chamber, but not a trace of the black-clad men could be seen.