Chapter Thirty-One: Even the Wisest May Err

“Twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-four…” Zhang He silently counted in his heart. “Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty…”

Big Ox was not only patient but also a cunning, experienced fellow. Only when the horse set hoof on the thirty-first plank did he suddenly tug at the rope in his hand; those planks had long since been tampered with. With a loud crash of splintering wood, Water-Playing Dreamer was taken off guard—too late to react—man and horse plunged headlong into the depths below.

Big Ox also let go and fell, drawing his weapon midair. Zhang He peered closely and saw, to his surprise, that the weapon was a folding fan—a rare and difficult tool to master. Those who wielded such arms were never to be underestimated.

At first, the fan’s tip jabbed straight at Water-Playing Dreamer’s chest, pointing menacingly at several vital acupoints. But how could a level-5 Tang Sect elder fall so easily for such a trick? Water-Playing Dreamer thrust out a hand, seemingly to parry barehanded, but Zhang He’s sharp eyes caught the glint of an iron ring, like a bracer, tightly wrapped around Dreamer’s wrist, exuding an eerie, inky gleam. Clearly, it was poisoned.

The true masters of Tang Sect were venom incarnate; a mere brush, and death would follow.

But suddenly, Big Ox’s folding fan snapped open—every rib was cast from refined steel, the surface bristling with spikes. What had been a single point of attack instantly fanned out, expanding its range. Zhang He could not help but admire the skill—the man truly lived up to his reputation.

This time, Water-Playing Dreamer was startled; the attack was both sinister and perilous.

As the steel fan swept toward his face, Water-Playing Dreamer flicked his wrist, unleashing a spray of deadly sand from his sleeve.

Big Ox recoiled in alarm. He dared not press the attack and hastily withdrew, curling his body and channeling his inner strength to plummet downward. The toxic sand, as sharp as a blade, grazed the kerchief atop his head, and only when he splashed into the river did the green cloud of poison scatter in the air—a soft, flowing mist as inviting as a gentle stream, yet so lethal that none would dare risk their lives to test it.

Focused on fending off Big Ox, Water-Playing Dreamer neglected Second Sister.

Between the twin cliffs spanning the river, a thin hemp cord was strung, no thicker than a finger. As Water-Playing Dreamer cast his poisonous sand, the cord morphed, in the blink of an eye, into a fishing net that shimmered with blue specks—clearly, it was laced with deadly toxins as well.

Zhang He saw Water-Playing Dreamer fall into the net, but there were no damage numbers above his head. The poison must have been the kind that weakens strength and agility. In a flash, the net tightened, binding Dreamer’s pig-like body fast. Only then did Second Sister, clinging to the cliff, slide down the cord like a fish returning to water. She seemed to leap into the river, but in truth, with deft hands, she had already snatched the conspicuous blue bundle from Water-Playing Dreamer’s waist.

Zhang He watched in awe—her skill with mechanisms was unparalleled. The world was full of extraordinary talents; Big Ox and Second Sister might not be powerful yet, but as Big Ox himself had said, none of them were meant for small ponds. Such coordination and agility were the mark of true veterans.

After Second Sister plunged into the water, Sanpao’s arrow-boat emerged from behind the hidden rocks. Big Ox and Second Sister each grabbed hold of its rail.

But then, disaster struck. Though Water-Playing Dreamer was bound, his strength and agility sapped, his hands remained free.

Seeing his enemies about to make off with the treasure, Water-Playing Dreamer summoned all his might and hurled a streak of red light, trailing a long tail, straight at the arrow-boat thirty meters away—so swiftly, it was almost invisible.

Zhang He, anxious as he was, dared not speak. Second Sister had just climbed aboard when the red streak struck her back. First, a “-133” in purple damage floated above her head, then a rapid series of “-30” damage numbers burst forth.

Such a fearsome venomous weapon! The Tang Sect's reputation for poison and hidden weapons was well deserved. Even if Second Sister had reacted in time, no medicine could have saved her.

She did realize what was happening, but it was clear she could not withstand even a casual blow from Water-Playing Dreamer. Before collapsing, she flung the bundle forward, and Big Ox caught it at the rail. Her body, however, tumbled into the river with a splash and never surfaced again.

At that moment, the veins on Big Ox’s fist stood out, his gaze toward Water-Playing Dreamer suffused with hatred and regret.

He had underestimated the power of the Tang Sect elder—perhaps by the slightest margin—and that small oversight had cost Second Sister her life.

Yet, the prize was in hand; now, whether they could escape alive would depend on fate.

Just as Big Ox had predicted, as soon as the arrow-boat departed, Zhang He saw Water-Playing Dreamer break free and return to the bridge. Within a minute, all of Tang Clan Fortress seemed to quake as if struck by an earthquake. Zhang He, listening intently beneath the river, heard at least fifty or sixty people charging toward the river—most, from the sounds, were disciples and house guards who had returned unexpectedly, though it was possible that more powerful masters and guardians would soon join the chase.

All Zhang He could do was hope that Big Ox and his companions escaped as quickly and as far as possible—never to return.

Sanpao’s arrow-boat resembled a modern racing kayak, but equipped with wooden fan-blade paddles instead of the usual oars. Together, Big Ox and Sanpao turned the crank, spinning the paddles and sending the boat speeding downstream. Without superior lightness skills, pursuit was impossible.

But the river merely circled Tang Clan Fortress; they would have to disembark midway.

As planned, Big Ox and Sanpao switched boats to mislead their pursuers. Deep within the peach grove, Four-Stripe was waiting. He pressed the blue bundle to his chest, smeared chicken blood over his back, and lay on the ground playing dead.

Unexpectedly, the pursuers missed this spot entirely, charging down the side path with shouts.

Sensing the change, Four-Stripe quickly doubled back, cranked the arrow-boat upstream, and at the first switch point, Big Ox and Sanpao emerged from the grass like ghosts. The three worked furiously, and the arrow-boat sped back along its original route.

Mist still hung thick over the river. Sanpao and Four-Stripe trembled with excitement—the plan was so clever that even the mighty Tang Sect had fallen into their trap.

But Big Ox showed no hint of elation. On the contrary, he was uncommonly calm, his gaze fixed on the rushing current, deep in thought.

Second Sister’s death had been an accident—a flaw in the plan. Yet, as he reviewed their actions, Big Ox felt something was still amiss.

Noticing that the river, despite its swift current, showed not the slightest ripple, Big Ox had a sudden realization. Everything had gone too smoothly—especially how Four-Stripe had joined them without a hitch, as if by fate itself.

From experience, Big Ox knew that such smooth sailing inevitably hid disaster. By now, the arrow-boat had returned to the bridge beneath the green pines, and Sanpao gasped in a whisper, “Five-Tile is gone.”

Big Ox and Four-Stripe were shocked. The arrow-boat hidden beneath the rocks was still moored to the boulder, but it was empty—no sign of Five-Tile.

Big Ox suddenly understood. “Give me the bundle—quick!”

Four-Stripe hurriedly handed him the blue bundle. Big Ox stuffed it into his own pack—yet, incredibly, it went in.

Sanpao and Four-Stripe went cold all over. Task items couldn’t be stored in a player’s pack before reaching the target location—yet now, it had gone in. This…

Big Ox pulled the bundle out again, tore away the wrappings, and found a delicate brocade box inside. When he opened the lid, it was empty.

At that moment, a terror unlike any they had ever known shot from their feet to the tops of their heads.

Now Big Ox finally understood why he’d had that sense of unease—why everything had gone so smoothly. The prize they had fought so hard to seize was a fake.

No one could have predicted that their flawless plan would be seen through, or that it would end in utter failure. But where was Five-Tile? What had happened to him?

In the world of “Dynasty,” betrayals among companions were too common to count. Had Five-Tile sold them out?

Fury surged in Sanpao and Four-Stripe; they almost burst out cursing. At that moment, the river was suddenly flooded with light as two rows of torches blazed overhead. Dozens of Tang Sect players appeared, weapons and hidden arms in hand, forming an impenetrable net around both banks of the bridge. Big Ox and his companions were trapped like fish in a barrel.

All their excitement, tension, and suspicion drained away, replaced only by a cold, hopeless despair.

Water-Playing Dreamer appeared, laughing as he strode onto the bridge. “Surprised, aren’t you?”

Big Ox, paradoxically, grew calmer. “Indeed, I didn’t expect this.”

Water-Playing Dreamer clapped his hands. “I don’t know who you people are, but I must give you credit. Not only are you bold enough to covet the Blood Parrot Flower at the gates of Tang Clan Fortress, you also have some real skill. If I hadn’t noticed something odd about the rocks under the bridge when I returned, I’d never have guessed you’d dare come back.”

Big Ox’s heart plunged into ice. Clearly, Five-Tile had been discovered early on. When Water-Playing Dreamer returned to the bridge, he must have doubled back, and Five-Tile likely never knew what killed him.

With Five-Tile gone, their last hope vanished as well.

Big Ox had given up, but his eyes suddenly shone with a fierce, resolute light. “We were outmatched; I have no complaints about dying. I only have one final thing to say.”

Water-Playing Dreamer sneered. “Let’s hear your dying words.”

Hatred flashed in Big Ox’s eyes. “Today’s debt—I will reclaim it from Tang Sect a hundredfold in the future.”

Water-Playing Dreamer’s face darkened. “Finish them!”

In that instant, countless flashes of white, blue, and red blazed from both banks—dozens of Tang Sect players unleashing hidden weapons, weaving a seamless net of light that descended upon the river.

Blood splattered the arrow-boat, damage numbers floated into the air, and three bodies fell into the water, drifting away with the current…

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