THE HUNTER OF DARKNESS

Infiltration

Eight scouts were hidden in trees and thick bushes, and all of them had been detected through the energy they emitted. Although their energies weren’t particularly strong, to warriors like Fang An and Zhao Wen, sensing their presence was effortless.

Fang An was assigned to eliminate three scouts hidden in the bushes, while the remaining five were perched on trees.

With above-average speed, Fang An darted toward one of the scouts, stopping directly behind him. Without a sound, he grasped the scout’s head with both hands and snapped his neck.

Crack!

The sound of the breaking neck was faint in Fang An’s ears. The scout died instantly without a cry. The young man executed the kill coldly and emotionlessly. Compassion had no place when confronting tyranny—a mindset instilled in him by both his parents, who held similar convictions.

Gently, Fang An laid the lifeless body on the ground, then launched himself toward another scout using his foot as a spring.

Meanwhile, Zhao Wen moved nimbly upward and landed softly on a large tree branch. His mastery of light body technique was so refined that the scout ahead didn’t sense his presence. With a single strike to the nape, he crushed the scout’s neck, killing him instantly. Zhao Wen caught the body before it hit the ground and leaned it against the tree trunk, then darted toward the next target.

Their silent assault was swift. They executed it as efficiently as possible to save time.

It didn’t take long for Fang An and Zhao Wen to silently dispatch all eight scouts without raising any alarm.

They moved forward cautiously, scanning the surroundings. Their footsteps were light and silent despite the many dry leaves scattered across the ground.

Roughly 200 meters away from the scouts’ former positions, they stopped. A large tree served as their cover, shielding them from the sight of several patrolling soldiers.

About 50 meters ahead, hundreds of tents—large and small—stood neatly lined up throughout the forest’s interior. Several campfires burned, surrounded by soldiers seeking warmth. Laughter occasionally burst forth from the soldiers' lips to stave off sleepiness. Not a single one of them suspected that two infiltrators were nearby, preparing to wreak havoc.

Zhao Wen's gaze swept the camp, searching for the largest tent. Based on his experience, a war general or king who personally led battles would usually stay in the largest tent among the others.

In the center of the soldier's encampment stood the largest tent, guarded tightly by a dozen fully armed soldiers.

"That’s their leader’s tent," Zhao Wen whispered, pointing his index finger toward it.

"Shall we attack now, Uncle?" Fang An asked.

"No! Too many soldiers are still on guard. Our assault won’t be effective if we force it now. Near dawn, when they're in deep sleep—we attack. Your Sky Sword will be very useful then," Zhao Wen replied.

Unintentionally, Zhao Wen had taught Fang An a strategy, and the young man stored it firmly in his mind.

The head of the Temple of Eternity pulled Fang An behind a tree as a soldier stumbled toward a nearby tree.

The trickling sound from the soldier relieving himself was audible to both of them.

An idea suddenly struck Fang An. “Uncle, wait here!” He dashed forward at high speed and knocked the soldier unconscious. He removed the uniform and quickly wore it.

"Perfect fit," he muttered to himself, then returned to Zhao Wen, who had been watching him.

"You’re planning to blend in with the soldiers, aren’t you?" Zhao Wen guessed.

"Exactly, Uncle. I’ll try to get close to their leader’s tent. If I get the chance—I’ll kill him!"

"Don’t be reckless, Fang An. There are too many soldiers. No matter how strong you are, you can’t take them all. Just gather intel about when they plan to attack," Zhao Wen cautioned.

"Understood, Uncle. I’ll head over now."

Fang An took a deep breath, then walked confidently away from Zhao Wen.

His heart pounded like a war drum. His hair color, stark white unlike the others, made him stand out. Still, he remained calm to avoid suspicion.

Fortunately, the sheer number of soldiers helped him blend in easily. Despite mingling with a group gathered around a fire, no one questioned him.

The dark night and reliance on firelight also helped conceal his unusual hair color.

Fang An crouched near the fire, rubbing his palms together as if to warm himself. Meanwhile, his ears listened intently.

"Why aren’t we attacking yet? How long are we supposed to stay hidden in this forest?" asked one soldier.

"I don’t know. But I heard the plan is to wait until their forces run out of food and descend from that barren hill," another replied.

Fang An furrowed his brow but didn’t look directly at the speakers. He needed to avoid suspicion at all costs.

After a while, he stood and sat beside another soldier.

"This is my first war. Honestly, I’m scared," Fang An admitted to the man.

The soldier studied Fang An. "You’re very young. Why become a soldier?"

"My mother’s at home with my younger siblings, Brother. I need to support them. When recruitment opened, I signed up and was accepted," Fang An lied.

The soldier frowned. "When did they open recruitment?"

Fang An paused briefly but didn’t show any hesitation. "It was local, not at the capital."

"Oh, right. A few months ago, there was a regional recruitment. If you passed, you must have some skill."

"I trained at a school for a few years. That helped me pass."

Fang An exhaled in relief. He wasn’t sure what he’d say if the soldier had continued questioning him.

"Impressive." The soldier patted Fang An’s shoulder. "But if you’ve got skill, why be afraid?"

"Easy to say. But if I die, who provides for my mother and siblings? If the palace promised to support them, maybe I wouldn’t be so afraid."