Xich Vu's conceited voice still echoed amidst the luxuriant foliage. He clearly believed victory was firmly in his grasp, having forced the Van Bao Merchant Caravan into a dead end. The guards of Van Bao all gripped their weapons tightly, their faces turning a ghastly pale.
Yet, contrary to everyone's tension, Tran Kien merely smiled faintly—a tranquil and profoundly mysterious smile. That smile, though unaccompanied by a single word, possessed a bizarre power, causing the anxious Van Tam Thong to feel his heart steady.
"Elder Van," Tran Kien turned to him, his voice calm and steady. "This Xich Vu is indeed a tough opponent. He is intelligent, but precisely because he is overly intelligent and overly confident, it has bred conceit. He believes we are already fish on the chopping block. This is our chance."
He picked up a small stone and traced a simple diagram onto the muddy ground, resembling a crane spreading its wings. "This place is densely wooded, and the 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 to scout or harass. We will use it for deception, to turn this swamp into an inescapable labyrinth for them!"
Van Tam Thong and the guards were all dumbfounded. The Vastly Flying Crane Formation was a foundational formation, primarily utilizing spiritual energy. But in the entire group, only Van Tam Thong had barely reached the Qi Condensation stage; the rest were mere mortals. How could they possibly lay down a formation?
As if reading everyone's thoughts, Tran Kien explained: "The essence of a formation does not lie in spiritual energy, but in 'momentum' and 'form'. Spiritual energy is merely a tool to amplify its power. In ancient times, before spiritual energy was harnessed, our ancestors used their very bodies, the terrain, and sound to create formations. We don't need to create flashy illusions; we will turn ourselves into living illusions."
He pointed at the diagram on the ground: "This formation has thirteen key nodes, simulating the joints of a crane's wings. We have twenty guards; we will divide into four small groups. Each group of five will be responsible for three to four nodes. We will not attack; we will merely move continuously between these nodes along a predetermined trajectory. At times, making noise in the east; at other times, revealing silhouettes in the west. The swamp's terrain will conceal our movements and amplify the sounds, making it impossible for the enemy to pinpoint our exact location."
"The purpose of this is to create chaos in their intelligence," Tran Kien added. "That Xich Vu is an extremely suspicious individual. He will definitely send out his best scouts. They will see shadows flickering everywhere and hear noises from all directions. The reports they send back to Xich Vu will be incredibly contradictory. Upon receiving such chaotic information, what will a paranoid man like him do?"
"He will hesitate!" Van Tam Thong slapped his thigh and cried out, his eyes shining brightly. "He won't dare act rashly out of fear of falling into a trap!"
"Exactly!" Tran Kien nodded. "And that hesitation, even if it is just for half an incense stick of time, will be enough for the rest of us, along with the cargo carriages, to quietly slip through the safest route. We will use fifteen people to project the grand momentum of a hundred and fifty."
The plan was laid out flawlessly. All the guards looked at Tran Kien with eyes full of reverence. They immediately split into groups. Van Tam Thong stayed behind with five guards and the drivers to protect the cargo carriages. As for Tran Kien, he would personally lead the remaining fifteen guards, becoming the core of the formation.
In the damp mist of the swamp, Xich Vu sat upon a large tree branch, hidden behind the dense foliage, revealing only his cold, snake-like eyes. He was waiting patiently. Suddenly, from within the mist, bizarre sounds began to ring out.
"Report!" A thin, scrawny Black Panther Guard appeared beside Xich Vu, whispering. "Commander, to the east there are sounds of people chopping trees and shouting; it seems they are trying to carve out a bloody path!"
Before Xich Vu could even issue an order, another scout emerged from the west: "Report! Commander, I just saw the silhouettes of about four or five people running rapidly towards the west; it looks like they are trying to flee!"
Yet another appeared from the south, his face full of bewilderment: "Commander! To the south, battle cries from at least several dozen people suddenly rang out, but not a single shadow could be seen!"
Contradictory reports were continuously sent back. What in the world was going on? How could a small merchant caravan scatter in so many directions in such an incomprehensible manner? Could there be a supreme expert in their group utilizing a Doppelganger technique? Or was this an even larger trap?
Xich Vu's initial conceit vanished, replaced by extreme caution. It was precisely this "not understanding" that made him feel fear, because it meant he was losing control of the situation.
"Everyone, hold your positions!" Xich Vu commanded, his voice as cold as ice. "Continue scouting! I want to see what kind of ghost tricks they are playing!"
And that was exactly the hesitation Tran Kien had been waiting for.
While the fifteen guards, under the guidance of Tran Kien, were creating a chaotic charade, on another entirely secret path, Tran Kien had silently slipped back. He personally led Van Tam Thong's caravan, bypassing the deep mud pits, creeping along a small creek hidden behind the reed bushes. The entire group held their breath, walking as softly as possible. In the distance, the shouts and noises created by the decoy group continued to ring out rhythmically, attracting the entirety of the enemy's attention.
By the time the sun fully dipped behind the treeline, Van Tam Thong's caravan had safely traversed the most dangerous area. Tran Kien sent a signal for the final decoy guards to retreat via a secret path, vanishing into the night.
It wasn't until the night had completely fallen that Xich Vu realized something was wrong. All sounds had abruptly ceased.
"Report! Commander, we can no longer see any trace of them! The entire caravan... has vanished as if it never existed! We've been tricked!" The final scout ran back to report, his voice full of terror.
Xich Vu stood up abruptly, a chilling murderous intent radiating from his body, causing a thin layer of frost to form on the surrounding leaves. He gnashed his teeth, squeezing out every word: "Bravo to the 'Golden cicada shedding its shell' stratagem! I have underestimated you! Underestimated a wet-behind-the-ears brat!"
Anger and humiliation twisted his face beneath the mask.
"Pass down my orders!" His voice was as cold as the ice of hell. "Forget the goods. The target has changed. Find and kill every last one of them for me! Especially that brat who knows how to lay formations. I want his head!"
On the chessboard of the Nightcry Swamp, the first move belonged to Tran Kien, and he had won. However, he had also transformed himself from ordinary prey into the number one hunting target of a vicious beast. The true confrontation had only just begun.