119: Chapter 119 The Legend of the Strange Fruit

The Spirit Medicine that the Liu Family needed to escort this time was vast in variety, immense in quantity, and of great value.

To disperse the risk and avoid being wiped out in one fell swoop, the Elder of the Liu Family, after discussing with several core managers, decided to divide all the goods into five batches, to be escorted separately by five squads.

They would return to Yunzhou City via different routes along the outer perimeter of the Taixuan Mountain Range that would eventually converge.

Each squad was equipped with at least one Fourth-Stage Dark Energy Martial Artist to oversee it, ensuring there was sufficient high-end combat power to respond in case of emergencies.

Lin Tian was assigned to the Third Squad.

In the same squad as him, besides the four Third-Stage Peak guards from the Liu Family itself, there were two other recruited outside Martial Artists, all of whom were at the Third-Stage Peak cultivation level.

The Third Squad's cargo was packed in three specially made large wooden crates covered with rainproof tarpaulin, loaded onto two mule carts with reinforced chassis.

Young Master Zhao Qingyun was assigned to the First Squad, alongside another Fourth-Stage Early Stage Elder of the Liu Family. Clearly, the Liu Family also held this young master of the Qingyun Martial Arts Hall in high regard, providing him with a relatively stronger configuration.

In the side hall, the Elder of the Liu Family looked solemn and said to the gathered Martial Artists in a deep voice, "Everyone, this route requires passing through the 'Black Wind Gorge' on the outer perimeter of the Taixuan Mountain Range."

Near that gorge, a fierce bandit force named the 'Black Tiger Gang' is entrenched. This gang is brutal and cunning, specializing in looting passing merchant caravans, and they are especially 'attentive' to our teams transporting Spirit Medicine.

To prevent any mishaps, we have divided our forces into five routes; even if one or two paths meet with misfortune, we will not lose everything."

He paused, scanned the crowd, and emphasized his tone, "If you truly encounter people from the Black Tiger Gang, fight if you can, and you must protect the cargo!"

If the opponent's force is too great and difficult to resist... then prioritize preserving your own lives and you may abandon the cargo to break through!"

As long as the green hills remain, there is no need to worry about firewood. Everything is entrusted to you all!"

Hearing this, the crowd had varying expressions; some were eager to try, while others showed signs of worry.

Most Martial Artists who traded near Yunzhou City had heard of the Black Tiger Gang's fierce reputation; they were definitely not people to be trifled with.

Liu Yiyi also walked to Lin Tian's side, her pretty face filled with concern and worry, and she whispered, "Brother Lin, the people of the Black Tiger Gang are ruthless, especially their gang leader, 'Black-Hearted Tiger',"

"It is said that he is a Fourth-Stage Middle Stage expert with ruthless saber techniques; you must be very careful."

"If the situation becomes impossible, you must prioritize your own safety first." Her eyes held genuine affection, clearly deeply concerned for Lin Tian's safety.

Lin Tian could feel her concern, nodded, and said calmly, "Rest assured, I know what I am doing."

After the distribution was completed and they had rested briefly, the five teams left the Liu Family ancestral residence one after another, exited the south gate of Yunzhou City, and headed towards the Taixuan Mountain Range.

At first, the five teams were still able to travel together and echo each other.

But the closer they got to the Black Wind Gorge, the more rugged the mountain roads became and the more forks appeared, so the five teams quietly separated according to the established plan, following different mountain paths like five streams converging towards that steep gorge shrouded in dark clouds.

Black Wind Gorge was a valley with treacherous terrain, steep cliffs on both sides, and a narrow, winding passage in the middle.

Mountain winds blew through the valley all year round, making strange, wailing sounds, hence the name.

At this moment, in a wind-sheltered natural stone cave deep in the gorge, a bonfire flickered, illuminating dozens of tough, burly figures sitting or standing.

The leader was a one-eyed man who stood eight feet tall, with knotted muscles and several hideous scars on his face.

He wore only a black animal skin vest and carried a hideous giant saber as wide as a door panel on his back, with dark red bloodstains faintly visible on the blade; he was the leader of the Black Tiger Gang, "Black-Hearted Tiger" Li Tianxiong!

Fierce light flickered in his single eye; just sitting there, a heart-palpitating, violent aura permeated the air, revealing him to be at the Fourth-Stage Middle Stage cultivation level!

"Report!" A scout in black darted into the stone cave like a wild cat, knelt on one knee, and said urgently, "Reporting to the Leader! The Liu Family's teams have arrived!"

"But... they have divided into five squads, approaching the gorge from different directions; it looks like they want to pass through separately!"

"They divided their forces?" A wave of noisy discussion immediately erupted in the stone cave.

"Those old foxes from the Liu Family are quite cunning!"

"Divided into five routes? Should we also split up to pursue them?"

"Leader, give the order! We have enough manpower to eat them all up!"

Li Tianxiong narrowed his single eye slightly and did not immediately give the order; instead, his mouth curled into a cruel arc.

He slowly raised his hand, and the stone cave instantly fell silent.

"No need," he said in a hoarse voice, like grinding gravel, "Our target has never been that miscellaneous, ordinary Spirit Medicine of the Liu Family."

He scanned his subordinates and said, word by word, "What we want is that 'qingluo fruit'!"

"The 'qingluo fruit'?!" Hearing this, many of the bandits gasped, greed appearing in their eyes. The 'qingluo fruit' was a true treasure medicine!

It could cleanse the marrow and refine the bones, significantly enhance a Martial Artist's Qi and blood potential, and even had miraculous effects on breaking through small Bottlenecks in Dark Energy!

Its value indeed far exceeded the sum of all other Spirit Medicine the Liu Family was transporting this time!

"But Leader," a subordinate asked in confusion, "The Liu Family has split into five routes, how do we know which route they hid the 'qingluo fruit' in?"

"Hmph, I have my own ways," Li Tianxiong sneered, putting his right thumb and index finger into his mouth and blowing a sharp, long whistle.

The whistling echoed through the gorge. Before long, a clear eagle cry came from high in the sky!

A magnificent hawk with a wingspan of over ten feet, pitch-black feathers, and sharp, golden eyes swooped down like black lightning, landing steadily on Li Tianxiong's outstretched left arm, which was covered by a heavy leather bracer.

This eagle had an arrogant demeanor, and with every glance, it possessed the might of a bird of prey; it was clearly not an ordinary species.

"Go, take a look," Li Tianxiong gently stroked the feathers on the black eagle's neck and whispered the command.

The black eagle seemed to understand human intent, chirped lightly, flapped its wings, and flew high, instantly turning into a small black dot as it rushed into the clouds.

It circled in the high sky, its sharp eagle eyes like the most precise detector, scanning the five Liu Family caravans carefully moving through the mountain forest below.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the black eagle flew back, landed on Li Tianxiong's arm, and chirped at him in low tones, the sounds varying in length and pitch, seemingly containing some kind of information.

Li Tianxiong listened intently, a sharp light erupting in his single eye. He suddenly looked up, waved his large hand, and his voice boomed like a bell: "Target confirmed! The 'qingluo fruit' is with the Third caravan!"

"Pass on my order: Squads One, Two, Four, and Five, each send a team to harass and restrain them. Do not seek to annihilate them; just hold them back and don't let them reinforce the Third caravan!"

"Everyone else, follow me straight to the Third caravan! We must seize the 'qingluo fruit'!"

"Yes!" The bandits roared in agreement, reeking of Killing Intent. Figures flickered as they quickly split into several groups, like wolves released from a cage, disappearing into the dense forest paths on both sides of the gorge, rushing towards their respective targets.