The cave behind the waterfall became a peaceful oasis, temporarily isolating the five of them from the peril-filled world outside. The ceaseless roar of the falling water was like a nature's grand epic, washing away the stench of blood and the exhaustion within their souls.
Another ten days passed quietly.
These ten days, for Tran Kien, were a true process of metamorphosis. Under the care of Uncle Sword and Lam Vy, combined with the miraculous effects of the Azure Wood Spring Return Pill, the horrifying wound on his chest had completely closed, leaving behind only a faint cross-shaped scar—a permanent mark of maturity paid for in blood.
However, the greatest change came from within.
Every day, he spent the majority of his time in meditation. He did not attempt a forceful breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm. He knew his cultivation had advanced too rapidly, and his foundation was not yet truly solid. He was focused on a more important task: consolidation.
Using his Primordial Qi, he slowly and meticulously nourished the golden Dao Seed suspended at his center. With each session of nourishment, that seed became a bit more solid and radiant. He could sense that once it truly sprouted, his strength would undergo a qualitative transformation.
At the same time, he began to systematically reorganize everything he had learned. The Iron Penetration mantra for body tempering. The Heavenly Cycle Qi Guiding for qi refinement. Saber Intent - Thousand Hammers, Hundred Refinements for tempering his "intent". And the treasury of Lac Viet Formations to master "momentum". These four elements, like four heaven-supporting pillars, were slowly being fused together by him, creating a unique martial foundation of his own.
While Tran Kien was focused on his cultivation, the others did not waste any time. Uncle Sword, after consuming a great deal of mental energy, also sat in meditation to recover. Ly Tin and Trinh Cong, under Uncle Sword's guidance, began practicing a simple military combined-attack technique to enhance their combat prowess when fighting together.
Lam Vy was the one who changed the most. She no longer leaned on others. Every day, besides caring for Tran Kien, she would take her long whip to a clearing and persistently practice the techniques her mother had taught her. Beads of sweat rolled down her beautiful face, but her gaze was exceptionally resolute. She knew she could not remain a burden to everyone forever.
One afternoon, as Tran Kien concluded a session of meditation, he opened his eyes to find the other four already sitting there, waiting for him.
"How do you feel?" Uncle Sword asked, an undisguised joy in his eyes. He could sense that the aura around Tran Kien had completely stabilized, becoming as heavy and restrained as a boulder, no longer possessing the volatile sharpness of before.
"I have fully recovered, Senior," Tran Kien nodded. "I have even made some progress."
"Good," Uncle Sword said. "Then, it is time we discuss our path forward."
He spread out the map.
"We have been in the Misty Forest for nearly half a month. News of the chaos at the Myriad Snake Grotto has surely spread. Although the Marquis of Vinh An and the Black Dragon Stronghold have temporarily lost our trail, they will surely become even more vigilant, casting an even larger net across the road leading to the Azure Capital."
"Then what should we do?" Ly Tin asked. "Surely we cannot stay here forever?"
"Staying here is merely waiting for death," Tran Kien shook his head. He had pondered this issue deeply over the past few days. "Hiding is not the solution. The longer we hide, the more time the enemy has to make arrangements, and the encirclement will only tighten. It is time for us to change the way we play the game."
"What do you mean?"
"We will not hide anymore," Tran Kien said, a strategic light flashing in his eyes. "We will march toward the Azure Capital openly and honorably."
"What? Is that not simply walking into a trap?" Trinh Cong was shocked.
"On the surface, it would seem so," Tran Kien smiled. "But what if the person walking into the net isn't us, but someone else?"
He looked toward Ly Tin. "General Ly, I must trouble you to take a horse and travel alone toward the Azure Capital via the main official road. Deliberately reveal your identity from the Duke Dingguo's Manor. You do not need to fight; you only need to draw their attention."
"Is this the strategy of 'Repairing the highway in the open while advancing through the hidden pass'?" Uncle Sword realized. Using Ly Tin as an overt piece to attract all enemy attention, while the truly important individuals took another route.
"Not entirely," Tran Kien shook his head. "My plan is a bit more complex. General Ly will not go alone. He will travel with... 'the Young Lady'."
He turned to Lam Vy. "Lam Vy, I need your help. Disguise yourself as a maidservant following a fake 'Young Lady'. And Elder Trinh, please play the role of an old butler."
"Then what about the real Young Lady?" Ly Tin asked.
"The real Young Lady," Tran Kien looked at Uncle Sword, "will travel with Uncle Sword and me through another path—a path no one would ever suspect."
He pointed to the map, not at any land route, but at a treacherous mountain region where an underground river was marked as a "Forbidden Land".
"We will not travel by land. We will take the underground river," Tran Kien said, his voice brimming with confidence. "According to records, this river leads directly to a large lake on the outskirts of the Azure Capital. It is dangerous, but it is the only path that lies outside all of the enemy's calculations."
It was a bold plan. Use a decoy party to draw all fire, while the real party took an unthinkable route.
"But... who will play the part of the Young Lady?" Trinh Cong asked.
Tran Kien said nothing. He merely raised his hand and circulated his Primordial Qi. Under everyone's astonished gazes, the features of his youthful face began to change miraculously. His cheekbones rose slightly, the bridge of his nose thinned, and his eyes became softer. In just a few breaths, he transformed from a handsome youth into a girl with delicate features—not a peerless beauty, but possessing a refined, ethereal aura.
This was a basic bone-shifting and appearance-altering technique he had learned from a book on disguises in the Library of Ten Thousand Tomes.
"I," he spoke, his voice adjusted to be much clearer and feminine, "will be 'Lam Vy'."
The entire cave fell into absolute silence.
Lam Vy was stunned, then burst into giggles. Trinh Cong and Ly Tin could only stare with their mouths agape.
Only Uncle Sword stroked his beard, nodding repeatedly. "Excellent! Marvelous! Using yourself as the bait, enough to deceive even the Heavens. Tran Kien, I wish to see just how far you will take this game of chess."
The plan was set. A life-and-death game was laid out once more. But this time, the one holding the pieces was no longer those great powers.
It was the youth from Fallen Leaf Town, carrying the legacy of an entire nation on his shoulders. The Azure Capital was calling from ahead.