The thick, viscous darkness of the Nightcry Swamp was finally forced to yield to the gray light of dawn. Tran Kien had journeyed alone through the long night, moving at a steady pace, every step light and precise. His breathing was as rhythmic as the tolling of a temple bell. The Thiet Dot Mnemonic had not only forged his explosive strength but also tempered his endurance and bodily control to the absolute pinnacle.
The path Tran Kien chose grew increasingly treacherous. He had advanced deep into a desolate, ancient forest, where colossal, ancient trees thrust themselves toward the high heavens, their luxuriant canopies intertwining to nearly completely obscure the sun. On the ground, vines and roots crisscrossed like a spider's web, and the carpet of rotting leaves was ankle-deep.
Tran Kien halted beside a small stream; its water was crystal clear and bitingly cold. He was in no rush to drink. Instead, he quietly observed, listening to every rustle and movement. This was the very "chessboard" he had personally selected for himself. Bending down, he scooped a handful of cool water, then took a ball of dry rations from his bundle, slowly chewing and swallowing.
"Xich Vu is an old fox," he thought to himself. "He won't fly into a blind rage. His fury will be transmuted into a meticulously calculated hunt. He will deduce that I've entered the dense forest, and he will undoubtedly cast a massive net."
Thinking to this point, Tran Kien decided not to proceed further. He waded upstream for a short distance, deliberately leaving a few faint footprints on the soft, sandy bank. Following that, he lightly leaped onto a moss-covered boulder, traversing across the thick branches of the massive trees, completely erasing his tracks before heading in an entirely different direction. "The fake footprints by the stream are the first Pawn I sacrifice on this new chessboard," he mused. "It won't have a grand effect, but it is enough to slow the enemy's advance."
Over ten li away, at the edge of the forest, Xich Vu stood as motionless as a statue. The killing intent radiating from his body seemed to freeze the surrounding space. Over thirty of the most elite Black Panther Guards knelt on one knee upon the earth, awaiting their orders. His raging fury from the previous night had been replaced by a terrifying, icy detachment.
"He has scuttled into the forest," Xich Vu spoke, his voice hoarse like the screeching of grinding metal. "A cunning little mouse... does he truly think hiding in a hole will allow him to escape?"
He spread a beast skin upon the ground, revealing an incredibly detailed topographical map. "From the Nightcry Swamp, there are three minor paths leading to neighboring towns," his silver-ringed finger traced across the map. "He is an intelligent one; he will not choose the easiest path. This western route, passing through the dense forest and Serpent Scale Ravine, offers the best concealment. He will definitely choose it."
"Commander, then should we divide our forces to pursue?" a vice-captain asked timidly.
"No," Xich Vu shook his head, a flash of disdain in his eyes. "Dividing our forces is the stratagem of a fool. He wants us to scatter our strength so he can break the chopsticks one by one. We shall cast a massive net." He pointed to three marked locations on the map, forming a triangle that enveloped the forest. "Black Crow, lead ten men around Serpent Scale Ravine and block the northern exit. Blood Hand, lead ten men along the eastern mountain ridge. I will lead the remaining squad straight through from the south. Even if he were an eagle, he could not fly out of this three-sided cage."
The command was issued. The Black Panther Guards immediately split into three squads, moving as silently and swiftly as ghosts, beginning to tighten the encirclement.
Xich Vu personally led the central squad into the forest. Suddenly, a scout at the vanguard halted, pointing toward the stream bank. "Commander, footprints!"
Xich Vu stepped forward, bending down to observe. "Hmph, truly a greenhorn brat," he sneered. "Did he think a petty trick could deceive me? He made a fatal error: leaving tracks near a water source."
Yet, the very next moment, the smile on Xich Vu's lips stiffened. Another scout reported, his voice tinged with doubt: "Reporting to the Commander, something isn't right. These footprints stop here abruptly. The depth of the impressions is incredibly even; it doesn't look like someone fleeing in panic, but rather like... someone deliberately walking slowly."
Xich Vu narrowed his eyes, anger beginning to surge once more. A feeling of being looked down upon crept into his heart. "Bravo to this cunning rat!" he gnashed his teeth. "He is probing us! He wants to see if the hunters are skilled enough to spot this rudimentary trap!"
"Transmit my orders to Black Crow and Blood Hand," Xich Vu commanded, the fury in his voice erupting. "Tighten the encirclement further! Use the demonic hounds to track him. I refuse to believe he can evaporate from this forest!"
The true hunt had officially begun. The net had been cast, and the most ferocious hounds had been unleashed.
Somewhere else in the forest, atop a towering branch, Tran Kien observed in silence. He knew the Pawn he had sacrificed had been "eaten" by the opponent, and now, more powerful chess pieces were being deployed. The corners of his mouth curled up into a defiant smile.
"Demonic hounds? That works too," he thought. "In this dense forest, there isn't just one hunter."
He gently slid down from the branch, his slender figure merging into the mottled shadows of the trees, vanishing without a single trace.