The narrow dirt path quickly vanished, giving way to a soggy, damp marshland, pitch-black like Chinese ink. Footsteps sank deep into the mushy mud, creating eerie squelch... squelch... sounds. The stifling, sweltering air assaulted their faces. The stench of rotting leaves, the foul odor of fresh mud, and an indescribable fetid smell mingled together. This was the Nightcry Swamp.
Surrounding them were ancient cajeput and mangrove trees towering from beneath the pitch-black water, like colossal monsters. Their roots bristled and twisted like giant pythons. The dense canopy of leaves intertwined, obscuring nearly all the light, making the daytime scenery as gloomy as twilight. Occasionally, from deep within the swamp, mournful and sorrowful cries echoed out, sounding like the weeping of wronged souls.
"Everyone, be careful!" Van Tam Thong drew his saber, his voice heavy with solemnity. "Absolutely do not separate from the group!"
The guards tightened their grip on their weapons, standing back-to-back to form a defensive circle. Tran Kien walked at the very rear; he knew that the wolf pack of the Black Dragon Stronghold was still tailing them like ghosts. They maintained just enough distance to create an invisible psychological pressure.
"They are waiting," Tran Kien whispered to Van Tam Thong. "They are waiting for us to exhaust ourselves, waiting for us to encounter demonic beasts, waiting for us to expose a flaw on our own."
"Then what should we do?" Van Tam Thong asked, his voice now holding an absolute trust in the youth's judgment.
Tran Kien did not answer immediately. His eyes darted rapidly around, observing and analyzing the terrain. He wanted to turn this very deathly swamp into his own weapon. "Elder Van, lend me some sturdy rope and a few small bronze bells."
Though he didn't understand, Van Tam Thong immediately ordered his men to bring them over. Tran Kien accepted the items, then quietly broke away from the group, moving as nimbly as a cat into a dense thicket. He worked incredibly fast. He selected some tough vines, tying them at ankle height across a few tree trunks. Then, he tied the small bronze bells onto the fragile branches above, using mud and leaves to camouflage them.
This was not a lethal trap, but a probe to test the enemy. He wanted to try a small chess move to see how the commander of the Black Dragon Stronghold would react. Finishing his task, he swiftly returned.
"Move a bit faster," Tran Kien said. "We need to lure them deeper."
The caravan pushed forward with all their might. About half an incense stick of time later, from behind, a string of bronze bell chimes—Ring! Ring!—suddenly rang out. All the Van Bao guards were startled, spinning around abruptly.
Tran Kien raised his hand, signaling everyone to remain silent and take cover behind the large trees. He focused his hearing. The bells only rang for a moment before dying out. What followed was a prolonged silence, even more terrifying.
"Because they have discovered it," Tran Kien spoke, his voice low, but a light of profound wisdom gleamed in his eyes. "If it were a group of ordinary mountain bandits, they would panic and create chaos. But they fell absolutely silent. This proves their commander is an extremely calm, suspicious, and calculating individual. He instantly realized this bell was merely a simple warning trap."
Tran Kien continued his analysis: "This trap cannot kill anyone, but it has told me three things. First, our opponent is extremely cautious. Second, his troops are exceptionally well-trained. And third, most importantly, he now knows there is someone in our caravan who knows how to employ stratagems. From now on, he will be even more careful."
Right at this moment, a cold voice, amplified by inner force, echoed from the distance: "Friends of the Van Bao Merchant Caravan, I am Xich Vu, Commander of the Black Panther Guards. That little theatrical display just now was quite interesting. But this Nightcry Swamp is no place for you to play childish games. I advise you to return to the main road, hand over half of your goods, and our Black Dragon Stronghold will guarantee your safe passage."
That voice carried no anger; on the contrary, it held a hint of amusement, like a cat toying with a clever mouse. But Tran Kien merely offered a faint smile.
"Elder Van," he turned his head, "This Xich Vu is indeed a tough opponent. He is intelligent, but precisely because he is overly intelligent and conceited, it breeds underestimation of the enemy. He believes he has completely figured us out. This place is densely wooded, our line of sight is obstructed—it is the absolute perfect place to lay down the 'Vastly Flying Crane Formation'. Only, we will not use it for scouting, but for deception, to create an illusion that will make him commit a fatal mistake."
Van Tam Thong looked into Tran Kien's heroic gaze, a surge of grand valor suddenly rising in his heart. On this chessboard, perhaps they truly could turn the tide.