He had no cultivation, but the way of formations depended on understanding rules. Over these past days, he had gained some understanding of the common restrictions and formations on Buzhou Mountain. As he adjusted things now, it actually looked quite impressive.
The moment the formation's operation changed, the independent cultivators outside immediately sensed something was wrong—the formation that had been on the verge of collapse suddenly became solid, with signs of backlash!
"What's going on?" The lead cultivator frowned. "Didn't they say this formation couldn't hold much longer?"
"Boss, should we charge in?"
"Charge my ass! Our job is to stall them, until—"
Before he could finish, battle cries suddenly erupted from the distance! Margaret had finally moved with the main force!
"Kill!" At her command, the Dragon Guard elites descended like tigers from the mountain, attacking from the front!
The independent cultivators fell into chaos. Though numerous, most were just hastily recruited rabble—no match for the well-trained Dragon Guard. After a few charges, they scattered in complete disarray.
Just when Margaret thought victory was assured, a sudden change occurred!
From the darkness around the stone temple, dozens of figures suddenly emerged! These people wore uniform blue-purple fitted attire, lightning flickering faintly around them, their auras fierce—Yu family members!
Leading them was the sinister man who had been humiliated by Qin Xue at the mountainside marketplace. Now his face was twisted in a vicious smile, his eyes full of vengeful satisfaction.
"Margaret, didn't expect this, did you?" He laughed loudly. "You thought this was Mark Montgomary's setup? Hahaha! What is Mark Montgomary worth? This is the Yu family's trap!"
Margaret's heart sank.
The Yu family man continued: "We've been watching you for a long time. Those Bai family remnants mixed up with you and ruined our Yu family's plans. Today, we'll exterminate you first, then deal with the Bai family!"
He waved his hand, and dozens of Yu family experts shouted in unison, charging at Margaret's forces!
These people were nothing like those independent cultivators—every one of them was at Foundation Establishment or above, their lightning techniques fierce and powerful. Though the Dragon Guard were elite, they had already expended considerable energy. Facing these wolf-like Yu family experts, they immediately fell into disadvantage.
"Form up! Defend!" Margaret shouted, her sword flashing as she blocked two Yu family experts' pincer attack.
Scarlet also burst from the stone temple, her Liaoyuan spear like a crimson dragon emerging from the sea, each thrust taking a life. But there were too many Yu family members—kill one, and two more rushed up.
The battle situation deteriorated rapidly!
"Hahaha!" The Yu family man laughed triumphantly. "Margaret, today is your death day! After killing you, we'll kill that mortal surnamed Dustin! I hear you all value him highly? Don't worry, I'll make sure he dies horribly!"
At that moment, a cool voice rang out—
"Oh? Who are you going to kill?"
The voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears. The Yu family man's smile froze as he turned to look.
In the night, a white figure slowly approached. It was a youth in white robes, posture straight as a pine, an ice crystal longsword circling around him, emanating piercing cold.
Bai Wuhen!
Behind him, Bai Qingxue and Bai Wei led the Bai family members, also revealing themselves.
"The Bai family brats!" The Yu family man's expression changed. "How did you get here?"
Bai Wuhen said nothing, simply pointing with one finger. The ice crystal longsword instantly transformed into a brilliant blue streak, shooting forth like lightning!
Where the sword light passed, three Yu family experts hadn't even reacted before they were frozen into ice sculptures!
"You—" The Yu family man was horrified, hastily channeling lightning techniques to defend.
But Bai Wuhen's sword was too fast, too cold. His lightning technique had barely emerged before it was frozen by that terrifying cold, along with his arm, turning to ice crystal!
"Ahh—!" He screamed in agony, retreating frantically.
Bai Wuhen stood with sword drawn, looking at him coldly: "Last time in the Frost Ice Ravine we let you escape. Today, we won't."
The Yu family man was terror-stricken, all his earlier arrogance gone. He retreated madly, shouting: "Retreat! Fall back!"
The Yu family members scattered in complete rout, fleeing in disgrace. But Bai Wuhen didn't pursue, simply watching them disappear into the night.
"Why not kill them?" Scarlet asked, puzzled.
Bai Wuhen looked at Dustin. Dustin nodded slightly, and only then did he say flatly: "Let them go report back. The Yu family's true experts haven't appeared yet. Killing these minions now would only alert the enemy."
Bai Qingxue approached Dustin and bowed slightly: "Young Master Dustin, we arrived late."
Dustin shook his head with a smile: "Not late—perfect timing. Thank you, Miss Bai, for your righteous assistance."
A faint blush appeared on Bai Qingxue's face as she said softly: "It was only right. Young Master Dustin has shown kindness to my Bai family. We should repay it."
Margaret sheathed her sword and walked over: "Miss Bai arrived at just the right moment. But how did you know we were in danger here?"
Bai Qingxue said: "We noticed Yu family members secretly gathering in the marketplace and guessed they might be plotting against you, so we followed in secret. We didn't expect they had actually set an ambush."
Adam sighed: "Thanks to you. Otherwise, tonight would have been truly dangerous."
Everyone cleared the battlefield and tended to the wounded. Though the Bai family's timely rescue had saved them, the Dragon Guard had still lost seven or eight people, with everyone wounded. The Yu family's lightning techniques were incredibly powerful, making the injuries particularly troublesome.
Dustin busied himself treating the wounded while Scarlet assisted. Watching his focused profile, complex emotions rose in her heart—this man, with his cultivation sealed, somehow always played the most crucial role at critical moments.
"Brother Dustin," she suddenly asked quietly, "why do you think the Yu family targeted us? We don't really have any deep grudge with them."
Dustin kept working, speaking calmly: "Because of the Bai family. The Bai family and Yu family are mortal enemies, and we helped the Bai family. In the Yu family's eyes, we're the Bai family's allies. Plus, Margaret is a royal princess with legitimate bloodline. Those who want to support Duke Montgomary's ascension naturally see us as a thorn in their side."
He paused, then added: "On Buzhou Mountain, there are no real grudges. Only interests. Today's enemy might be tomorrow's ally; today's ally might stab you tomorrow. Scarlet, remember that."
Scarlet nodded thoughtfully.
Night deepened as the battlefield was cleared. Everyone withdrew to the marketplace to rest. At Margaret's invitation, the Bai siblings also temporarily merged their forces with the group.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the marketplace, in the Qin family's tent, Qin Hao was listening to a subordinate's report.
"...The Yu family's ambush failed. The Bai family intervened to help, and Margaret's people escaped intact."
Qin Hao nodded slightly, dismissing the subordinate. Qin Xue said from nearby: "Brother, with Margaret and the Bai family joining forces, will it affect our plans?"
Qin Hao smiled faintly: "Affect? No—it's perfect. Let them fight. The Yu family, the Bai family, Margaret—they're all chess pieces. The more chaotic the pieces, the easier it is for the player to see the board."
He gazed at the night sky outside the tent, an unfathomable gleam in his eyes.
"Buzhou Mountain's true trial hasn't even begun."
News of the Yu family's failed ambush spread quickly through the marketplace.
Some gloated, others whispered in secret, but most began to reassess Margaret's group—able to ally with the Bai family, able to escape the Yu family's ambush intact. This force was no longer a soft target to be easily pushed around.
Over the following days, the atmosphere in the marketplace grew subtle. The Qin family, who had previously ignored Margaret's group entirely, began paying attention. Mark Montgomary visited even more frequently, his manner even more attentive, but Margaret remained neither cold nor warm, keeping her distance.
"That Mark Montgomary is definitely up to no good." Scarlet told Dustin privately. "Every time he comes, his eyes are darting everywhere, like he's probing for something."
Dustin smiled slightly: "Of course he's probing. He wants to know our strength, wants to know how deep our relationship with the Bai family really is, and wants to know... whether we might be recruited."
"In his dreams!" Scarlet snorted. "I'd never trust someone like him."
"Not trusting is right." Dustin said. "But he's not without value. Through him, we can learn about the Qin family's movements."
– Marinien
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