Uncle Sword's command within the secret base of the Duke of Dinh Quoc's Estate carried more weight than even an Imperial Edict. Instantly, the previously silent manor began to operate with the rapid efficiency of a well-oiled war machine.
Ly Tin, the silver-armored general, departed without a single word of doubt. Within half an hour, the straightest and lightest logs of Iron Fir were transported to a secret workshop located directly beneath the docks. At the same time, an old man with snowy hair and beard, wearing a robe embroidered with the Bagua symbol and holding a brush crafted from the tail hair of a demonic beast, was personally and respectfully invited by Ly Tin. This old man was Senior Kong, the sole Formation Master of the Duke of Dinh Quoc's Estate in Kinh Chau.
Over the next three days, Tran Kien did not rest for a moment. He was not the type of person to sit idly by and wait for others to arrange his fate. He proactively sought Uncle Sword's permission to participate in the construction of the raft.
Initially, the carpenters and even Senior Kong looked at him with traces of skepticism. What could a youth possibly know about shipbuilding, let alone a specialized raft designed to traverse the death zone known as the Dragon Gate Gorge?
However, Tran Kien quickly forced everyone to change their perspective. He did not issue commands, nor did he put on airs. He simply observed in silence, then offered suggestions based on the most practical knowledge he had gained from his days in the blacksmith shop.
"Respected Masters," he said to the carpenters, "Iron Fir is light, but it lacks sufficient resilience. If we only use ordinary ropes to bind them, the sheer tearing force of the powerful whirlpools will cause the raft to disintegrate. We should utilize a 'Dream within a Dream' mortise and tenon technique, carving joints so the logs can interlock tightly. This way, it will be sturdy yet flexible enough to sway with the current."
He then turned to Senior Kong, who was frowning while drawing a formation diagram on a scroll of goatskin. "Senior Kong, the 'Four Directions Tailwind Formation' can increase speed, but it is far too rigid. The currents in the Dragon Gate Gorge are chaotic and do not follow a fixed direction. If we only push in one direction, the raft will capsize easily. Perhaps... we could refine it slightly?"
"Refine it?" Senior Kong raised an eyebrow, slightly displeased at being corrected by a mere brat. "What do you know of the Dao of Formations?"
Tran Kien did not flinch. He picked up a branch and drew on the ground. "Senior, look here. This is the basic diagram. If we add four auxiliary formation eyes at the four corners and use Primordial Chaos Qi as the central control, we can change the direction of the wind at will. When encountering a whirlpool on the left, we push the wind on the right to balance it out. In this way, the raft will be like a nimble fish, gliding along with the water rather than a rigid log fighting against it."
Senior Kong froze. He stared at the refined diagram Tran Kien had drawn, then looked back at the youth before him, his eyes filled with utter disbelief. This refinement sounded simple in theory, but it solved the most fatal flaw of the formation. It required the proposer to have an incredibly profound understanding of both theoretical formations and practical application.
"You... where did you learn such things?" he stammered.
"I have merely perused a few old books," Tran Kien replied modestly.
From that moment on, no one dared to look down on the youth again. He didn't just offer advice; he rolled up his sleeves and joined the carpenters in carving the wood, working alongside Senior Kong to etch every line of the formation. His hands, calloused from wielding a blacksmith's hammer, held the chisel and brush with an extraordinary steadiness and skill.
During those three days, Lam Vy and Trinh Cong were not idle either. Trinh Cong focused intently on healing his wounds. As for Lam Vy, she seemed to have matured significantly after the recent tribulations. She was no longer mischievous, spending most of her time sitting beside Tran Kien, quietly watching him work. Occasionally, she would bring him a clean cloth to wipe his sweat or a bowl of cool tea.
"Big Brother Tran," one evening, when only the two of them remained in the workshop, Lam Vy suddenly asked in a low voice. "You said... your blade arts were forged in the furnace. Does that mean... you have experienced much suffering?"
Tran Kien, who was checking a joint, paused slightly. He looked at the flickering flames in the forge, and images of Fallen Leaf Town, his parents, and the old beggar flickered in his mind.
"It was nothing," he replied, his voice calm. "Compared to what you have endured, my experiences are of little consequence. Every person must walk through the furnace of fate on their own. Only those who are resilient enough can be tempered into fine steel."
Lam Vy fell silent. She gazed at Tran Kien's steadfast silhouette, then looked down at the Lac bird-shaped pottery shard in her hand. She gripped it tightly, a newfound determination shining in her large, round eyes. I must also become as resilient as him.
By the dawn of the fourth day, everything was complete.
A unique raft had been born. It was not large, only enough to accommodate about ten people. Its body was crafted from dark brown Iron Fir, the logs connected by exquisite mortise joints that looked incredibly solid. On the surface of the raft, a complex Bagua formation diagram was deeply etched, radiating a faint spiritual light. At the four corners and in the center were five small pedestals used to hold Spirit Stones and serve as formation eyes.
Just then, Ly Tin rushed in, his expression solemn. "Reporting to Uncle Sword and Young Hero Tran! Word has just arrived—Marquis Vinh An's men are losing their patience. They have dispatched a squad of elite experts to scout the outskirts of the Hundred Beasts Mountain. I fear they will soon realize we are not taking the overland route."
"The time has come," Uncle Sword stood up, his gaze as sharp as a sword. "Time is of the essence."
He looked toward the five individuals chosen for this life-and-death journey: himself, Tran Kien, Lam Vy, Trinh Cong, and Ly Tin.
"Is everyone ready?"
"Ready!"
Under the flickering light of the torches, the five figures stood before the specialized raft, their expressions grave and solemn. They knew that when the sun set, they would begin the maddest and most perilous journey of their lives. A battle not only against their enemies but against the violent fury of nature itself.
The path to Lam Kinh would have to be carved out with their very lives.