Night fell, thick as ink, swallowing everything within the Nightcry Swamp. The chirping of insects and the distant, mournful wailing seemed to grow even more distinct, sowing a formless terror into the hearts of men.
The Van Bao Merchant Caravan finally escaped the marshland, finding a dry mound of earth for temporary shelter. Everyone was utterly exhausted, their clothes caked in mud, their faces gaunt from the tension. Yet, in their eyes, as they looked towards Tran Kien, there was no longer any wariness; instead, there was reverence and near-absolute trust. The fifteen guards who participated in the decoy operation had returned safely, without a single scratch. They gathered around the campfire, endlessly recounting their nerve-wracking ordeal with the infamous Black Panther Guards.
"At that time, my heart felt like it was going to leap out of my chest," a scar-faced guard recounted excitedly, his voice still trembling. "I merely threw a stone to create a noise, yet I could feel their chilling murderous intent shooting towards us. If not for Little Brother Tran's stratagem, I fear we would have already become starved ghosts in this swamp!"
"Exactly! So what if they are cunning? In the end, weren't they still led by the nose by Little Brother Tran like a bunch of fools!"
Boisterous laughter and chatter rang out, but Tran Kien did not join in. He sat alone on a rocky outcropping, silently wiping down his long-saber. The firelight cast flickering shadows across his youthful face, making his expression seem even more tranquil and profound. He did not rejoice in their victory. In his mind, the chessboard had not yet concluded. Just now, he had merely sacrificed a Pawn, but the opponent was a ferocious Chariot. Now, that Chariot was truly infuriated.
Van Tam Thong walked over and sat down beside him. The old man now looked at the youth with a gaze that held both admiration and a trace of anxiety.
"Today, without you, I fear the entire Van Bao Merchant Caravan would have been buried here," Van Tam Thong said sincerely. "For this debt of gratitude, this Van truly does not know how to repay."
"Elder Van exaggerates," Tran Kien shook his head. "I am also a member of this caravan; protecting everyone is also protecting myself. It is just that..." He raised his head, his eyes shining like two stars in the dark night. "I fear the true danger is only just beginning. We have provoked a vicious beast. An intelligent, ruthless, and conceited man like Xich Vu... after being humiliated like this, he will absolutely not let this go."
Van Tam Thong nodded, his expression solemn. "I understand. The Black Dragon Stronghold has always sought revenge for the smallest of grievances. Now, they are no longer aiming for the goods, but for our lives—especially yours."
"Not just mine," Tran Kien corrected, "but all of ours. He will believe the entire caravan is mocking him. To reclaim his face, he will slaughter everyone. Therefore, we can no longer proceed to Thanh Prefecture City via the usual route."
"You mean we must alter our course?"
"Exactly," Tran Kien stated decisively. He brought out the old map and spread it across the stone slab. "Upon leaving the Nightcry Swamp, we will not head north. Instead, we will change direction towards the southwest, to a place called the 'Nameless Stone Barrens'."
Van Tam Thong was astonished: "The Nameless Stone Barrens? That place is a barren, desolate wasteland of gravel and stone, completely devoid of water sources. Taking that route will add at least another half a month to our journey!"
"It is precisely that hardship that makes it safe," Tran Kien explained. "Xich Vu will undoubtedly assume we are fleeing in panic straight toward Thanh Prefecture City. He will have men lay in ambush on all the major roads, but he would never expect us to choose to enter a dead zone. This is called 'making a sound in the east, striking in the west'—using an unforeseen path to escape their encirclement." He paused, his gaze growing profound. "But that is merely a secondary plan. I have a much bolder primary plan."
"Speak!" Van Tam Thong focused intently.
"We need a bait," Tran Kien said, his voice turning several degrees colder. "I will separate from the caravan alone and head towards Thanh Prefecture City along a different minor path, intentionally leaving behind enough tracks to draw their attention. With Xich Vu's arrogance and burning hatred, once he discovers the tracks, he will definitely commit his full strength to hunt me down. At that time, the entirety of the Black Dragon Stronghold's attention will be focused on me. Elder Van and the caravan will have ample time to safely reach the Nameless Stone Barrens."
"Absolutely not!" Van Tam Thong immediately objected, his voice filled with horror. "How is that any different from throwing your life away? How can you alone withstand an entire squad of elite Black Panther Guards?"
"I will not confront them directly," Tran Kien replied, a light of strategic calculation flashing in his eyes. "I will lead them into a hunt. I am the prey, and they are the hunters. But in this hunt, it is yet unknown who the true puppet master is. The path I choose will pass through a dense forest and numerous narrow ravines. There, the advantage of numbers will be severely restricted. That is my chessboard."
Amidst the silent night, Tran Kien stood there; though his figure was gaunt, it exuded a bizarre, unyielding resolve. "This is the only way to guarantee absolute safety for everyone," his voice was warm yet decisive.
Van Tam Thong fell silent, looking deeply into the youth's eyes. He did not see impulsive recklessness, but rather a cold, calculating mind and a terrifyingly profound sense of loyalty and righteousness. Such character made Van Tam Thong, a merchant who had spent his entire life rolling through the world, feel a deep sense of veneration.
After a moment of internal struggle, Van Tam Thong gritted his teeth. "Fine," he softly uttered, his voice hoarse. "I agree. But you must promise me, you absolutely must return alive. The entire Van Bao Merchant Caravan will be waiting for you at the Dragon Gate Inn in Thanh Prefecture City!" He took out a brocade pouch from his robes; inside were several vials of alchemical pills and a silver command medallion. "Here are some Qi Recovery Pills and Healing Powder. This medallion is a token of the Van Bao Merchant Guild; if you encounter difficulties, present it."
Tran Kien did not decline. He accepted the brocade pouch and nodded heavily, like an ironclad oath. "Absolutely!"
That night, as the mist grew thick, a gaunt figure bearing a long-saber on his back silently departed from the encampment. Tran Kien moved as swiftly and silently as a panther, merging into the darkness of the forest, heading in a completely different direction from the caravan. He knew that a true battle, a battle entirely his own, had just officially begun. This was no longer a chessboard of stratagems, but a hunt of life and death.