“Are you worried it’s a trap? Our plan to attack this covert outpost was decided on the spur of the moment. There’s no way the news could have leaked. How could he have set up a trap in advance?” Chu Dingjiang said.
“I’m not concerned about a leak,” Gu Jinghong replied gravely. “Wei Yuzhi is highly intelligent, with a vast memory, and excels at setting up formations.”
Formations originated from Daoism, involving the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, and were profoundly mystical. An Jiu roughly understood them as something akin to mazes. Their effects were indeed similar, but fundamentally, they were quite different.
Ordinary formations had little lethal power, but legend had it that an exquisitely crafted grand formation could trap and kill thousands.
In a short time, Wei Yuzhi might not be able to create a grand formation, but dealing with such an extraordinary scholar was still a tricky matter.
Fortunately, Gu Jinghong had long prepared for such contingencies. For this mission, he had brought along an exceptional scholar named Lin Qihan—a frail middle-aged man who had spent most of his life studying formations, neglecting his martial training to the point where he still only possessed second-tier Inner Force.
“We’re here!” Lin Qihan announced.
The group halted and surveyed their surroundings.
Ahead lay the same forest, with nothing unusual except for a thin mist.
Lin Qihan crouched beside a tree, parted the grass, and dug out an earthen jar tied with a red string from the roots. He tapped open the seal, retrieved a Paper Talisman covered in strange symbols written in cinnabar, and burned it.
The scenery before them appeared unchanged.
Lin Qihan explained to Gu Jinghong and Chu Dingjiang, “This is an illusion technique. By burying talismans at different trigram positions, those trapped in the formation will experience hallucinations, while we outside remain unaffected.”
Gu Jinghong nodded.
Chu Dingjiang remained silent, appearing deep and solemn. In truth, with An Jiu’s slender waist in his embrace and her warmth beside him, half his body was melting with delight, his heart brimming with joy.
An Jiu, standing so close, couldn’t discern any difference in him. She only felt his growing heat, scorching and uncomfortable, so she shifted, trying to break free from his grasp.
Chu Dingjiang didn’t force her. Sensing her struggle, he released her hand.
“We can enter to rescue them now, but for safety’s sake, it’s best if both of you don’t go in at the same time,” Lin Qihan advised. He had only torn a small opening in the net-like formation and couldn’t guarantee whether they’d find the exit once inside.
“I’ll go,” Chu Dingjiang said, then turned and pointed to a few men. “You, follow me in.”
Military protocol dictated that unless absolutely necessary, the commander should remain at the center and not lead every charge. Though the Crane Control Army differed slightly from regular troops, they still followed general rules. By volunteering, Chu Dingjiang avoided being assigned later.
“Much obliged,” Gu Jinghong naturally didn’t object. Beyond protocol, he believed Chu Dingjiang’s profound Inner Force and strong Mental strength made him the safer leader.
“I’m going too.” An Jiu grabbed Chu Dingjiang’s hand.
The warmth of his palm seeped through the thin glove like spring sunlight. In her daze, he swept her up by the waist.
That fleeting sense of familiarity vanished, replaced by the scorching heat of his body.
“Chu Dingjiang,” An Jiu glanced back, noting the others were several yards away. She lowered her voice. “Why do you feel so familiar? Holding your hand reminds me of someone else.”"Another man?" Chu Dingjiang asked.
"Sort of." An Jiu considered that only males above twenty-five could be called men—before that, they were just boys. "His name is Hua Rongjian."
An Jiu observed his reaction carefully, but there didn't seem to be anything unusual. Yet, the familiar sensation of holding Hua Rongjian's hand was identical to holding Chu Dingjiang's.
Chu Dingjiang's tone carried obvious displeasure. "He touched your hand? When?"
"Not long ago." An Jiu steered the conversation back. "Don't change the subject. Who exactly are you?"
"You think I'm him?" Chu Dingjiang grew even more displeased. "What makes you think that? A feeling?"
"The temperature of your palms is different from others." Just this alone couldn't prove any connection between Chu Dingjiang and Hua Rongjian, but An Jiu found it strange because she had never experienced such a sensation before.
"Temperature." Chu Dingjiang said coolly, "You're referring to the fire-attribute Meridians, aren't you? Your Meridians were originally fire-attribute as well, but you never developed Inner Force or True Energy on your own. Back then, I forcibly expanded your Meridians with my Inner Force, so your body mistook it for your own True Energy. That's why it feels familiar when you come into contact with it."
As he spoke, he found some comfort—he had already left his mark on her long ago.
"That man's Meridians must also be fire-attribute." After explaining the basics, Chu Dingjiang earnestly warned her, "If a man touches you without reason, he definitely has ill intentions! Don't let men have physical contact with you."
An Jiu was still pondering his earlier explanation when she looked up and asked, "The person who touches me the most is you."
Chu Dingjiang fell silent, but inwardly he thought: Young lady, I indeed have ill intentions too!
"Chu Dingjiang." An Jiu half-believed his explanation but still had doubts. His build and aura were completely different from Hua Rongjian's, yet somewhat similar to Hua Rongjian's elder brother, Hua Rongtian. "How old are you?"
"..."
"Forty?" An Jiu guessed. Chu Dingjiang often cloaked himself entirely in a black Mantle, and when he occasionally revealed his face, his features were sharp and angular. Combined with his deep voice, he seemed like a man who had weathered many storms.
"Young lady, why must you always say such unpleasant things?" Chu Dingjiang had barely adjusted his mood when her words sent him plummeting again. He had to clear his name. "I am no more and no less than twenty-five this year."
An Jiu, used to bantering with Mei Jiu, sometimes blurted out whatever was on her mind. "I heard Hua Rongjian is also around twenty-four or twenty-five. How come he looks twenty, but you look forty?"
Comparing him to someone else was bad enough, but to end up with this conclusion? Truly unbearable!
Chu Dingjiang took a deep breath and patiently explained, "It's probably the difference between wild and well-bred."
"Or you're just pretending to be young." An Jiu remarked dryly.
"Be good and shut up." Chu Dingjiang patted her head amiably. "I might not be able to stop myself from throwing you out later."
"Sorry." An Jiu felt he had always been good to her and shouldn't provoke him. "Let me say one last thing."
"Granted." Chu Dingjiang resigned himself to it.
An Jiu comforted him, "Actually, being forty isn't so bad. Don't feel insecure—I didn't mean it as an insult."
Chu Dingjiang sighed and flicked her forehead lightly.
At this moment, he could only think of something positive to console himself.The formation spanned no more than two li in radius. Even before entering, he had already located Lou Mingyue and the others using his mental strength. Once inside, he swiftly made his way to them with An Jiu in tow, while the rest of the shadow unit followed at a distance of ten zhang. This venture into the formation also held benefits for him—personally rescuing these trial participants was akin to bestowing a favor, making it easier to win their loyalty in the future. (To be continued...)
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