Chapter 12: Ambush
The morning mist still clung to the rooftops of Yuxi Town as Wei Lin and Chen Rui made their way toward the appointed meeting place. The streets were quieter than the day before, the usual midday market chatter replaced with the steady preparations of travelers readying for departure.
At the entrance of the town’s northern gate, the Jade Leaf Sect’s escort group had already begun assembling. A line of sturdy carriages, their wooden frames reinforced with protective talismans, stood waiting. Several cultivators in matching green robes moved with quiet efficiency, securing supplies and checking their mounts.
Mei Yan stood near one of the carriages, meticulously checking the precious cargo of herbs, elixirs and pills, ensuring they were properly secured for the journey. Her usual calm demeanor remained intact, though Wei Lin noticed the subtle way her gaze flickered over their surroundings, as if constantly assessing potential threats.
The Celestial Talisman stirred within his mind, its dry voice laced with amusement. "She’s skilled, I’ll grant her that. Suppressing her qi aura takes a measure of talent. Unfortunately for her, it’s not quite enough to fool me."
Wei Lin exhaled softly. "You think she’s hiding something?"
"Considering her actions thus far, not necessarily something malicious," the Talisman mused. "But caution is warranted. She is not as simple as she appears. Then again, neither are you, though I have far greater complaints about your development thus far."
Wei Lin decided against responding to that and instead stepped forward as Mei Yan turned to greet them.
“You’re on time. That’s a good start.” Mei Yan’s lips quirked into a small smile. “This is Shen Mu, our escort leader.”
The man beside her inclined his head in greeting. He was built powerfully, with the air of someone used to command. His eyes were sharp, scanning both Wei Lin and Chen Rui in one measured sweep.
“We’ve strengthened the escort in anticipation of trouble,” Shen Mu said without preamble. “Trade caravans have been disappearing along the northern routes. We suspect bandits or something worse. If we’re attacked, you two are to stay close to the group and follow my instructions without hesitation.”
Chen Rui nodded. “Understood.”
Wei Lin hesitated only for a moment before mirroring the response.
The Talisman, however, had other thoughts. "Ah, another opportunity to hone your finest skill—running away. Something you should strive to perfect, given that you're unlikely to be stronger than anything truly dangerous for quite some time."
Wei Lin ignored the sarcasm.
Mei Yan glanced up from her inspection of a crate of elixirs and nodded toward the second carriage. “You’ll ride in there. It’s safer in the middle of the formation.”
As they moved to take their places, Wei Lin found himself gripping the jade pendant beneath his tunic. The pendant's cool weight against his palm did little to still the unease twisting in his gut. The road ahead felt heavier than the one behind him.
“Introspection already?” The Talisman’s voice held a faint trace of curiosity. “I suppose it’s only natural. You’ve clung to the past long enough, boy. Best prepare yourself for what’s ahead. It will only grow more difficult from here.”
Wei Lin sighed, tightening his grip. “I know. But knowing doesn't make it any easier.”
The escort leader gave the signal to move out, and with the creak of wagon wheels and the soft jingling of bridles, the caravan began its journey northward.
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The afternoon sun filtered through the dense canopy as the caravan continued its journey northward. The road had narrowed, hemmed in by towering trees on either side, their gnarled branches intertwining to form a tunnel of dappled light and shadow. The air was still—unnaturally so.
Wei Lin, seated near the cargo carriage, frowned. Something was wrong. He scanned the treetops, his grip tightening around the strap of his satchel. The usual forest sounds—bird calls, the distant chittering of insects—had faded into an unsettling silence.
He turned to Mei Yan, who was checking a crate of elixirs beside him. "Does it feel off to you?"
Mei Yan nodded slightly and raised a single finger to her lips, signaling Wei Lin to stay quiet. Her stance shifted slightly, her fingers subtly reaching toward a pouch of alchemical supplies at her belt.
From the front of the caravan, Shen Mu’s voice cut through the quiet. "Steady. Shields up. Eyes sharp."
The guards reacted instantly, forming a defensive perimeter as the lead riders slowed their mounts. The protective talismans affixed to the carriages hummed faintly, their glow intensifying.
Then, chaos erupted.
A hail of arrows rained down from the treetops. The first wave was intercepted by the barriers, talismanic energy flaring as the projectiles burned to ash mid-air. But before the defenders could counterattack, masked figures burst from the undergrowth, their blades flashing in the dappled light.
Shen Mu's command rang out: "Hold the line! Protect the cargo!"
Chen Rui had already leapt into action, his blade flashing as he met the attackers head-on. He moved with efficiency, his strikes precise but restrained—holding them off without overextending himself. Meanwhile, the caravan guards formed a defensive line, blocking the brunt of the assault.
As the battle raged, Wei Lin realized something was wrong. The attackers weren’t just trying to overwhelm them—they were retreating slightly, gradually drawing the guards away from the cargo. His heart pounded as he caught movement from the trees at their flank, near the carriage where the alchemical supplies were stored.
“They're after the herbs and elixirs!” Wei Lin shouted, already moving.
Mei Yan's gaze flicked toward the trees behind them, lips pressing into a thin line. She had already sensed something wrong—but before she could warn the others, the flankers emerged from the shadows, moving fast.
Wei Lin's mind raced as he climbed into the cargo carriage. He wasn't strong enough to fight them head-on, but he had knowledge. His eyes darted to the crates of alchemical supplies, recognizing more than a few that he was familiar with.
He quickly grabbed two vials of Moonstone Powder. A lesson from Auntie Hua surfaced in his mind. Moonstone Powder—when exposed to sudden flame—created a blinding flash.
As the flankers closed in, Wei Lin tossed the two vials of Moonstone Powder into the air in quick succession, causing them to shatter on impact as they struck each other. He quickly closed his eyes and struck flint against his dagger, igniting the cloud of Moonstone Powder in a bright, searing burst of light. The attackers recoiled, momentarily blinded.
A voice stirred in his mind, the Celestial Talisman’s presence like a cool weight against his soul. "Crude, but functional. Not the most elegant application of alchemy, yet an intelligent use of available resources. You're learning."
Wei Lin barely had time to process the words before Mei Yan moved beside him. She nodded in approval before throwing several vials at the ground before them, which upon impact produced a thick cloud of billowing smoke that obscured all vision in the area surrounding the cargo carriage.
"Not bad," she murmured.
Meanwhile, Shen Mu, having seen the shifting tides of the battle, issued his next command. "Reinforce the cargo! Push them back!"
The caravan guards turned back and tightened their formation, driving the remaining assailants into retreat. The masked figures melted into the forest, leaving behind only their fallen.
Wei Lin exhaled heavily, his body thrumming with adrenaline. This was the first time he had acted in a battle without relying on the Talisman’s intervention—and it had worked.
As the dust settled, Mei Yan crouched beside one of the fallen attackers, her fingers tracing the insignia etched into the metal of his blade. A symbol—one that Wei Lin didn’t recognize, but the way Mei Yan’s expression darkened told him she did.
"This symbol..." she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Wei Lin frowned. "What does it mean?"
Mei Yan’s gaze flicked toward Shen Mu, then back to Wei Lin. "It means we need to be even more careful from here on. This was not just a raid."
Shen Mu straightened, his expression grim. "Double the night watch. This may not be the last time we see them."
As the caravan resumed its course, Wei Lin felt the weight of the encounter settle on his shoulders. For the first time, he had altered the course of battle with his own decisions. It spoke to his progress, but also to the gravity of the road ahead.
The Talisman’s voice, softer this time, echoed in his mind. "A measured step forward. Do not mistake it for mastery, but neither shall I deny competence where it is due."
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Below is a translation of the chapter into Chinese (via ChatGPT).
以下是通过ChatGPT将本章翻译成中文。
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封天遗志
第十一章：突袭
晨雾尚未散去，氤氲轻绕在玉溪镇的屋檐之上，街道间弥漫着湿润而清冷的气息。魏林与辰锐踏步前行，沿着青石小巷，向着约定的会合之地而去。较之昨日的喧嚣，今日的街市显得格外宁静，唯有零星的脚步声与车轮碾过石板的微响，交织成旅人启程前的沉稳韵律。
镇北城门前，玉叶宗的护送队伍已然集结完毕。一列坚固沉稳的马车静静停驻，木制车厢上隐隐可见符箓加持的痕迹，淡淡灵光萦绕，透着精妙的防御之力。数名身着碧色道袍的修士穿梭其中，动作有条不紊，或检查货物，或调试灵禽驭兽，显然皆为久经行旅之人。
梅妍立于一辆马车旁，正逐一清点着装载的珍贵灵药、丹瓶与草本药材，神情一如往常般沉稳。然而，魏林却敏锐地察觉到，她的目光偶尔流转，仿佛在无声地审视四周，警惕着潜伏的危险。
天命符于识海之中微微震动，声音带着几分讽意缓缓响起：“此女倒也算有几分手段，至少懂得敛去自身气息，免招窥探。可惜，她的手法尚且稚嫩，尚不足以瞒过本尊。”
魏林轻吐一口气，低声道：“你是说，她在隐藏什么？”
“从她行事来看，未必是恶意。但谨慎些总是好的。” 天命符悠悠答道，“不过话说回来，你自己也远比表面复杂，只是相比之下，我对你的进展更为不满。”
魏林选择无视这句嘲讽，迈步向前。此时，梅妍已收起账册，抬首望向他们。
“守时，这算是个不错的习惯。” 她微微一笑，随即侧身引荐道，“这位是沈牧，我们此次的护送队长。”
魏林目光落在那名男子身上，只见他身形魁梧，面容沉稳，眼神犀利如刀，仅仅一扫，便透出历经沙场的果断与权衡之意。
“为了应对突发状况，此次护送队伍已作加强。” 沈牧开门见山，语气低沉而有力，“近日北方商队接连失踪，极可能是劫匪所为，亦或是……更难缠的存在。若途中遇袭，你们二人务必留在队伍中央，遵从指令，绝不可擅自行事。”
辰锐微微颔首：“明白。”
魏林略一迟疑，随即亦点头应下。
然而，天命符却在脑海中冷哼一声，“呵，又是一个锻炼你‘逃跑’天赋的好机会。既然实力尚浅，便该勤加磨练，争取能跑得比任何人都快。”
魏林假装没听见。
梅妍目光微抬，示意两人随她向队伍中央靠近，指向一辆位于护卫阵型核心的马车，道：“你们就坐这辆，处于队伍中心，较为安全。”
魏林随辰锐走向马车时，不自觉地握紧了藏在衣襟下的玉佩。那抹冰凉的触感透过掌心传来，未曾带来安慰，反倒愈发令他心绪沉重。
“罕见，你竟在思索。” 天命符的语气带着几分调侃，随后微微一顿，转而平静道，“也罢，你心中已有明悟——自此一别，前路难测。过去的执念终究要放下，你应当做好准备，往后之路，唯有愈发艰难。”
魏林长叹一声，手指收紧：“我明白……可明白了，并不代表能轻松面对。”
城门缓缓开启，沈牧低声下令，车轮辘辘转动，驭兽嘶鸣回应，护送队伍缓缓驶离玉溪镇，沿着通往北方的官道踏上征途。
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午后的阳光透过密林枝桠，斑驳洒落，映照在北行的车队之上。沿途道路愈发狭窄，两侧古木参天，盘根错节，交织成一条幽深的光影长廊。空气沉寂，静得近乎不祥。
魏林坐于货车旁，眉头微蹙，心中隐隐生出不安之感。他环顾四周，手下意识地握紧了肩上的行囊。林间原本该有的鸟鸣虫吟，如今却悄然隐匿，唯余沉闷的车轮辗压声，仿佛天地都屏息以待。
他转头看向梅妍，后者正低头检视一箱丹药，指尖缓缓划过箱盖。听闻魏林低声询问，她仅是微微点头，随后竖起一根手指，示意他噤声。与此同时，她的另一只手已悄然探向腰间的炼药囊，动作谨慎而敏锐。
前方，沈牧的声音沉稳而有力，划破这诡异的寂静。
“稳住，护阵开启，仔细戒备。”
护送队众人瞬间反应，护卫们迅速围成防御阵型，前方骑者缓缓勒马，眼神警惕地扫视四周。车厢外，符箓微光闪动，护阵之力开始激发，淡淡灵光浮现于马车周围，形成一道隐隐浮动的屏障。
下一瞬间，杀机骤临！
密集的箭矢自林间疾射而出，铺天盖地，直袭车队！
第一波攻击被护阵符文所挡，灵光腾起，利箭尽数化作灰烬。但护卫尚未来得及反击，阴影自林中骤然掠出，数十道蒙面身影借助地势疾速冲入阵中，刀光寒芒，在光影交错间撕裂空气。
“守住阵型！护住货物！” 沈牧沉声喝道。
辰锐已然拔剑，身影如电，迎战袭来的敌人。他身法凌厉，剑气纵横，每一招皆恰到好处，既不冒进，又能稳稳牵制敌势。而周围护卫亦迅速调整阵型，阻截住大部分攻势。
然而，魏林心头却愈发不安。敌人并未选择强攻，而是逐步拉扯战线，逐渐将护卫的注意力引向外围。就在这时，他的目光一凝，透过战场的混乱，他察觉到了一丝异样——几道黑影自林间悄然逼近，目标直指存放丹药与灵药的车厢！
“他们的目标是药材！” 魏林猛然惊觉，厉声喊道，同时身形疾动，冲向货车！
梅妍的目光瞬间凌厉，亦察觉到了端倪。她本欲提醒众人，却已来不及——那些潜伏的黑影已然逼近！
魏林心念急转，深知自己修为尚浅，绝非正面对敌之人，唯有借助所学制敌。他目光一扫，迅速认出几种熟悉的炼药材料，随即伸手抓起两瓶月磷粉。
月磷粉，遇火即爆，能瞬间释放耀目强光！
脑海中，花姨的教诲浮现。魏林不及多想，迅速抛出两瓶月磷粉，瓶身在空中碰撞碎裂，粉末四散之际，他猛然闭眼，手中短匕一划，火星跃起，瞬间点燃弥漫的粉尘！
轰！
刺目的白光犹如雷霆破晓，瞬间笼罩整片区域！黑衣人被骤然爆发的强光震慑，身形踉跄，双目剧痛难耐，短暂失去了视野！
天命符在魏林识海中嗡然一震，语气略带几分欣赏：“拙劣，却尚可一用。虽非炼药正道，倒也算是懂得随机应变。”
魏林无暇回应，梅妍已然配合行动，她袖中几道玉瓶翻飞，落地炸裂，化作弥漫的浓雾，瞬间遮蔽周遭视线。
“不错。” 她低声道。
与此同时，沈牧已看清战况，果断下令：“护住货车！反击！”
护卫队迅速调整阵型，反守为攻，趁敌人混乱之际，迅猛逼退残余的袭击者！黑衣人见势不妙，纷纷撤退，遁入密林之中，只留下一地尸影。
魏林深吸一口气，胸膛剧烈起伏。这是他第一次，在战斗中凭借自身判断做出决策，而非依赖天命符的直接指引——而且，他成功了！
当尘埃落定，梅妍蹲身检视倒下的敌人，指尖轻抚过其中一柄利刃，目光微沉。在刀柄之上，刻着一枚隐晦的纹章。
魏林皱眉，隐隐察觉不妙：“这是什么？”
梅妍的目光扫向沈牧，又看向魏林，缓缓开口，声音低沉：“意味着……我们接下来的路，远比想象中更加危险。”
沈牧沉吟片刻，语气愈发凝重：“夜间巡守加倍警戒。这些人，恐怕不会就此罢手。”
车队重新启程，然而魏林的心境，已然不同。此次突袭，他虽有所得，却也深知前路艰险。他低头看着自己的双手，意识到今日之战虽称不上辉煌胜利，却是他踏入修行之途后的重要一步。
天命符沉吟片刻，随后缓缓道：“勉强可称进步。勿得自满，然亦不必妄自菲薄。”
魏林嘴角微扬，握紧拳头。
他终究，迈出了自己的步伐。
