Chapter 189: Shen Ting Sect
The explosion echoed from downriver, the water surging back, pushing the pleasure boat upstream.
More explosions followed, mingled with shouts and the clash of weapons.
Shi Hao and Sha Lingshan exchanged glances, then went outside and looked ahead.
The warship, listing precariously, was stuck in the middle of the river, flames and smoke erupting from its decks as projectiles rained down from the cliffs on either side.
In this era, fire weapons were primarily used for defense, things like flaming projectiles and poison smoke bombs, most effective when launched from above, offering little advantage in offensive operations.
But the narrow confines of Wu Gorge, with its steep cliffs, created a perfect opportunity for such a tactic.
A thick iron chain, stretched across the river, blocked the warship’s path. Caught by surprise, the ship, unable to stop in time, had crashed into it.
There were no known rebel forces in this area. The barbarian patrol clearly hadn’t expected an ambush, their response chaotic and disorganized.
Although there were skilled archers among them, hitting targets on the cliffs above was difficult, the projectiles raining down on them far more effective.
Only the officer, with his powerful iron and stone bow, managed to return fire, each arrow finding its mark, bodies falling from the cliffs.
But he alone couldn’t suppress the attack.
Flames and explosions rocked the warship, and thick smoke billowed from its decks.
Although the ship’s hull was partially protected by iron plates against fire, they were designed for naval battles, not attacks from above.
The poison smoke, however, dispersed quickly in the strong winds of the narrow gorge.
The flaming caltrops, however, were far more effective, exploding and scattering their sharp barbs across the deck, leaving little room to dodge.
Those who sought shelter below deck were met with explosions as the projectiles pierced the roof, setting the ship’s interior ablaze.
“Abandon ship!” the officer, seeing the situation was hopeless, shouted.
The soldiers jumped into the river, many cut down by arrows as they swam towards the shore.
Then, with a series of clangs, ropes with grappling hooks were fired into the cliff face, and martial artists in purple, their movements swift and agile, descended, attacking the soldiers in the water.
“Who are they?” Shi Hao asked, puzzled.
The martial artists wore identical purple tunics with a lightning bolt symbol embroidered on the back, similar to, yet also distinct from, Daoist robes.
Their hair was short, not styled in the traditional topknots of Daoist priests, yet their techniques seemed to be based on Daoist principles.
They were clearly from a martial arts sect, but Shi Hao had never seen such attire before.
Sha Lingshan, also puzzled, shook her head, “I don’t recognize them. They seem to be Daoist cultivators, but I’ve never heard of a sect that dresses like that.”
Little Emerald materialized on Shi Hao’s shoulder, “Young Master, they look like members of the Shen Ting Sect.”
“Shen Ting Sect?” Shi Hao asked.
Little Emerald said, “The Shen Ting Sect was once a powerful Daoist sect. But during the late Yang Dynasty, most Daoist sects, under the leadership of the Taisu Immortal Pavilion, sided with the Li family of the Sheng Dynasty. The Shen Ting Sect, however, supported the Xiao family of the Great Liang Dynasty. After the Liang Dynasty’s fall, they were almost completely eradicated by the Sheng, forced into hiding, their fate even worse than ours.”
Sha Lingshan, waving her fan, said, “Now that you mention it, I do recall such a sect. But they never regained their former glory, even with the Sheng Dynasty’s support of Daoism. And then, three hundred years ago, they vanished completely.”
Little Emerald said, “It was that woman who destroyed them.”
Shi Hao asked, “The Holy Jade Immortal? She destroyed the Shen Ting Sect? Why?”
Little Emerald snorted, “Not only the demonic sects engage in infighting. The Daoist sects are just as bad. Perhaps the Shen Ting Sect threatened the Taisu Immortal Pavilion’s dominance, or perhaps that woman simply disliked them.
“Young Master, the Daoists are all hypocrites. Don’t trust them, especially that woman…”
Shi Hao said, “I know, I know.” Little Emerald never missed an opportunity to criticize Ye Zi Yin.
But during his first visit to the Primordial Grotto Heaven, Su Mei had used him as bait, attacking him to force Ye Zi Yin to protect him, leading her into a trap.
If Ye Zi Yin were truly despicable, Su Mei wouldn’t have used that tactic.
And Ye Zi Yin had been injured while protecting him during their first encounter. No matter what Little Emerald said, he wouldn’t doubt her.
But for even Ye Zi Yin to destroy them, what had the Shen Ting Sect done? And why had they reappeared now?
These martial artists in purple, their numbers in the hundreds, their movements disciplined and coordinated, were clearly a formidable force.
The barbarian soldiers on the warship, caught by surprise, had been unable to mount an effective defense. Their ship ablaze, forced to abandon it, they were being slaughtered.
The barbarian officer, however, his courage unwavering, remained on board, firing arrows with his powerful bow, each shot finding its mark.
Although he killed several of the attackers, two of the purple-clad martial artists, their movements swift and powerful, leaped onto the ship, engaging him.
A flurry of blows, explosions of energy, sparks flying, staining the river red.
“Let’s go,” Shi Hao whispered.
Martial artists were sliding down the ropes from the cliffs, heading towards them.
It seemed they weren’t just targeting the barbarian soldiers, but anyone in the area.
Arrows, propelled by powerful bows and crossbows, whizzed towards them.
Shi Hao and Sha Lingshan were unconcerned, but the attackers’ indiscriminate violence, without even bothering to identify them, was reminiscent of the demonic sects’ ruthlessness.
Plum Blossom Lady, with a powerful stroke of her oar, turned the boat and headed towards the shore.
Sha Lingshan, with a flick of her wrist, her fan swirling, deflected the incoming arrows.
The boat reached the shore, and Shi Hao, Sha Lingshan, Plum Blossom Lady, and Peach Blossom Lady leaped onto the land, using their movement techniques to escape into the forest.
The terrain here was rugged, the mountains rising steeply. The chain that had trapped the warship had been stretched between two cliffs, leaving the soldiers with no escape.
Having stopped their boat further downstream, in a narrow canyon between two mountains, they were able to quickly reach the forest, avoiding being surrounded.
As they entered the trees, an explosion rocked the boat, flames erupting as it was engulfed in fire.
“How rude,” Sha Lingshan said, waving her fan, her voice soft.
Looking back, she saw their pursuers were still following them.
Shi Hao said thoughtfully, “It’s not rudeness, but caution. They’re eliminating any potential threats. With the strange weather in Wu Gorge, keeping people away, anyone entering the area now is seen as a potential enemy.”
Sha Lingshan, after a moment of thought, said, “You’re right, Young Master. But this makes me even more curious about their purpose here.”
She looked up at the dark, swirling clouds above.
Lightning flashed between the clouds but didn’t strike the ground, a strange and unsettling phenomenon.
On the river, it hadn’t been so bad, but now, in the forest, with the trees blocking even the faint moonlight, and the sky obscured by the clouds, it was difficult to even tell day from night. The air was dark and oppressive.
The sounds of fighting and screams echoed from the distance.
They exchanged glances and headed towards the commotion.
Crossing a hill, they saw a small group of people being surrounded by the purple-clad martial artists.
Numerous bodies lay scattered around them, and the remaining defenders, outnumbered, were clearly losing.
Plum Blossom Lady said, “There were hundreds of them attacking the warship. If they have so many men in this area…”
Shi Hao whispered, “Let’s rescue them first and find out who they are.”
Sha Lingshan said, “I’ll create a diversion.” She floated away.
Moments later, flames erupted on the hillside above, black smoke billowing down towards the battlefield.
Like Shi Hao, Sha Lingshan cultivated the Prismatic Illusion path and had also learned the Mysterious Charm Technique.
With her fourth-rank cultivation, projecting demonic fire, she easily set the forest ablaze.
Shi Hao seized the opportunity and, with Plum Blossom Lady and Peach Blossom Lady, charged towards the besieged group.
Although they had suffered heavy losses, the surviving defenders, seeing the sudden change in the situation, knew reinforcements had arrived.
Their spirits lifted, hearing the screams of their attackers, and they fought their way towards Shi Hao.
Shi Hao reached them, “Follow me!” he shouted, and led them away, turning and fleeing into the forest.
The smoke provided cover, and the defenders, unsure of his identity, followed him, Plum Blossom Lady, and Peach Blossom Lady, desperate to escape.
Shi Hao led them around the fire, towards higher ground. Their pursuers followed, but a wall of flames suddenly erupted before them, blocking their path.
Several of the more skilled martial artists tried to leap over the flames, but Sha Lingshan, appearing before them, unleashed a series of palm strikes, knocking them back into the fire.
Shi Hao turned, leaped into the air, and, combining the Three Origins Flowing Pearl Technique with the Profound Wind Technique, fueled the flames, creating a raging inferno that engulfed several of their pursuers.
But more of the purple-clad warriors were circling around them.
“Let’s go!” Shi Hao and Sha Lingshan, running side by side, led the rescued martial artists out of the encirclement.
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