The pristine morning sunlight, like the gentle fingers of the Creator, softly pierced through the lush azure leaves, scattering sparkling golden coins upon the damp ochre dirt road after a night of mist. The Van Bao Merchant Caravan had been traveling for over ten days, officially leaving behind the barrenness of the Fallen Leaf stone mine to enter the fertile lands of Thanh Prefecture. The air no longer carried the stifling heat of iron ore; instead, it was filled with the fragrant scent of young rice and fresh mud, a familiar scent of life that eased Tran Kien's heart.
He sat upon a cargo carriage, his eyes ceaselessly observing the surroundings. Flanking the road were rice paddies stretching as far as the eye could see, verdant like a carpet of jade. Farmers clad in coarse brown robes, wearing conical hats, were diligently planting each tender rice shoot. In the distance, green bamboo groves rustled in the wind, embracing small, peaceful villages. Faintly visible behind the bamboo hedges were curved thatched roofs, with a few lazy plumes of afternoon smoke rising to blend into the azure sky. This was a vivid ink-wash painting, a tranquil scene that he had never witnessed in Fallen Leaf Town, a place of only rock and dust.
Following a battle against a Black Wind Wolf demonic beast on the road, Tran Kien's status within the caravan had completely transformed. The tale of the scrawny youth who dispatched the infamous demonic beast with his bare hands had spread like wildfire. He was personally invited by Van Tam Thong to sit opposite him in the most spacious horse-drawn carriage. Yet, Tran Kien did not grow arrogant because of this. He maintained his reticent and taciturn demeanor, using most of his time to observe and contemplate.
Van Tam Thong sat opposite him, holding an antique crackle-glazed Bat Trang ceramic teapot, occasionally taking a sip. Looking at Tran Kien's pensive expression, his internal admiration only grew.
"Tran Kien," Van Tam Thong suddenly spoke, his voice deep and warm. "Do you notice anything strange about the road ahead?"
Tran Kien narrowed his eyes and gazed forward. The dirt road still stretched on, but the forests on both sides had grown abnormally gloomy. A thin, ash-grey mist drifted lazily close to the ground despite the glaring sunlight. The sweltering heat seemed to be swallowed by a chilling aura exuding from the forest. The vegetation in that area was also strangely withered. In the air lingered a faint, sweet and coppery stench, mixed with something unpleasant.
He replied, his voice firm: "Mist in broad daylight, abnormally withered trees, and a strange odor in the air. This is no natural phenomenon. It is likely a miasma, or perhaps some simple formation."
Van Tam Thong nodded, his eyes revealing clear satisfaction. "Very good analysis. Indeed, this is the Blue Sand Miasma, a type of miasma produced by the Blue Sand Grass. If inhaled for too long, ordinary mortals will feel their entire bodies go limp, losing all their strength. The mountain bandits in this region often use this to deal with inexperienced merchant caravans."
The moment his words fell, a guard from the front ran back in a panic, his face deathly pale: "Elder Van, this is bad! The brothers scouting ahead suddenly felt their limbs go soft and their minds grow dizzy! We might have fallen into the mountain bandits' trap!"
The entire caravan instantly fell into an uproar. Van Tam Thong maintained his calm composure, turning to look at Tran Kien as if to test him: "In your opinion, what should we do in this situation?"
Tran Kien was not flustered in the slightest. He recalled the teachings of his parents regarding the mutual generation and restriction of the Five Elements. "Blue Sand Grass possesses a Yin-cold attribute and prefers dampness," he stated with certainty. "Since it is Yin-cold, it must naturally fear Yang energy, fierce fire, and stimulating scents. I ask Elder Van to have men take oil-soaked cloth and light them as torches. Simultaneously, search the cargo for dried medicinal herbs such as realgar, mugwort, or pomelo peel, and burn them together in the fire to create a pungent smoke. We only need to advance slowly, using the Yang-attribute smoke and fire to disperse the Yin-attribute miasma."
Van Tam Thong immediately issued the order: "Do as Little Brother Tran says! Hurry!"
The guards swiftly sprang into action. Over a dozen large torches were lit. Realgar powder and various dried herbs were thrown into the fire, spreading a pale yellow smoke carrying a pungent odor. Sure enough, as they entered the Blue Sand Miasma region, the ash-grey mist met the torch smoke like ice and snow melting before a flame, slowly dissipating. The guards who had been afflicted by the miasma earlier also felt their minds clear up once more.
"Hahaha, a miraculous stratagem! A truly miraculous stratagem! Using Yang to overcome Yin, simple yet effective!" Van Tam Thong could not conceal his joy and admiration.
But Tran Kien knew that breaking the Blue Sand Miasma was only the first step. The mountain bandits were still there. He leaned close to Van Tam Thong's ear and whispered a few sentences. Hearing this, Van Tam Thong's eyes widened in astonishment. Without a shred of hesitation, he nodded, then raised his voice, utilizing all his inner force. His shout echoed through the canyon like rolling thunder: "The Van Bao Merchant Caravan is under the orders of an Elder of the Azure Cloud Sect to escort a batch of precious medicinal ingredients! Bandits of Blue Sand Valley, hurry and surrender yourselves to receive the leniency of the Azure Cloud Sect!"
At the same time, according to Tran Kien's instructions, he signaled for the ten strongest guards to hold up large bronze shields and strike them forcefully with their sabers and swords, creating deafening Clang! Clang! Clang! sounds, simulating the clamor of a massive battle.
The awe-inspiring shout, combined with the clash of metal and the heavy weight of the words "Elder of the Azure Cloud Sect," instantly generated a terrifying psychological effect. Deep within the forest, the mountain bandits were frightened out of their wits upon hearing this.
"Boss, this is bad! It's the Azure Cloud Sect! And an Elder, no less! Run for it!"
A group of nearly a hundred mountain bandits immediately discarded their weapons, fleeing in a panic deep into the mountains.
Just like that, the Van Bao Merchant Caravan leisurely passed through the most dangerous area without losing a single soldier. After leaving the canyon, Van Tam Thong turned to look at Tran Kien, his gaze complex. "How did you know they would be frightened without suspecting anything? And how did you know there was a banner of the Azure Cloud Sect on my carriage—something even I had nearly forgotten?"
Tran Kien replied calmly, pointing to a hidden corner on one of the carriages. There, obscured by a tarp, hung a small azure cloud banner embroidered with a white crane spreading its wings.
"The fact that they used the Blue Sand Miasma proves they are the type of bandits accustomed to using low-level tricks, not desperados," Tran Kien explained. "Such people are usually cowardly and fear the strong. I noticed this banner the moment I got on the carriage. Even if it isn't an official banner, amidst their panic, just a slight connection to the Azure Cloud Sect is enough to scare them out of their wits. Moreover, adding the words 'Elder' and 'precious medicinal ingredients' makes the story more believable. It was merely a small trick to avoid unnecessary bloodshed."
Hearing this, Van Tam Thong slapped Tran Kien heavily on the shoulder and burst into hearty laughter. "Good! Very good! Not only do you possess a body like iron and steel, but you also have a mind of extraordinary strategy! Tran Kien, your future certainly does not lie within this small merchant caravan. Thanh Prefecture City—that is the grander stage for you to roam!"
Tran Kien looked into the distance, where the horizon met the earth. A fierce conviction surged within his heart. The road ahead was still very long, but he believed that through his own strength, wisdom, and will, he would definitely reclaim the lost glory of the ancient Lac Viet people.