One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

As dawn breaks, the morning mist in the mountainous region of Guizhou rises slowly from the valleys like a milky white veil, enveloping the stilted houses with black tiles and wooden walls in Biyou Village. The crowing of roosters rises and falls, interspersed with a few barks of dogs, and wisps of smoke drift from the chimneys of a few early risers, leaving pale blue trails in the cool air.

The temporary workers had already assembled downstairs at the hotel. A subtle atmosphere, a mixture of tension, excitement, and a sense of destiny, filled the air, like the silence before a bowstring is fully drawn.

"One last check." Old Meng pushed up his glasses, holding a tablet computer in his hand. The screen displayed a satellite map and a heat map of the population distribution of Biyou Village. "Hei Guan, Xiao Zizai, and Wang Zhenqiu, the three of you enter from the main road at the village entrance. Mission objective: Create a large enough commotion to attract the attention of Ma Xianhong and his core forces, creating conditions for the infiltration team."

Blackie nodded. Today he was wearing a black tactical vest that allowed for more movement, revealing his strong, muscular arms. The special black bandages wrapped around them gleamed with a matte metallic sheen in the morning light. He didn't speak, but simply moved his neck, his knuckles making a soft "click" sound.

Xiao Zizai was still wearing his gray monk's robe, with a dark brown layman's jacket over it. He was holding a string of ebony prayer beads in his hand, and his expression was as peaceful as if he were going to attend morning prayers. Only when his eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses occasionally swept over the outline of the distant mountains did a sharp glint flash in them.

Wang Zhenqiu, sporting a head of dazzling blond hair that clashed terribly with the somber atmosphere, had a new lollipop dangling from his mouth. He was still wearing that flashy Hawaiian shirt, only now he wore a thin stab-proof vest over it. He was squatting by the roadside, poking a passing toad with his finger. After being sprayed in the face with venom by the toad, he hopped around cursing and swearing as he searched for water to wash it off.

Old Meng shook his head helplessly and continued, "I'll stay at this high point outside the village." He pointed to a hillside marked "Observation Point A" on the map, "responsible for overall monitoring, communication relay, and emergency response. Chu Lan, Bao Bao, and Xiao Nie..." He looked at Nie Lingfeng, "You guys sneak in through this hidden path on the back mountain."

He zoomed in on the map of the back mountain area, where a narrow path, almost entirely covered in vegetation, wound its way upwards: "According to drone reconnaissance, this road is relatively poorly defended, but the terrain is complex. Your primary target is the ancestral hall area located slightly behind the center of the village—that's the most likely location of the cultivation furnace, and Chen Duo is also highly probable there. Once you find the target, take control of it first, and if the situation allows, destroy the cultivation furnace on the spot. If you encounter a strong enemy, call for support immediately, and do not linger in battle."

"Understood." Zhang Chulan nodded solemnly. Today, he was wearing a dark outdoor windbreaker, zipped up to his chin, making him look more capable than usual. Feng Baobao stood next to him, still wearing her Na Du Tong work uniform, but with a camouflage jacket over it. Her signature shovel was slung across her back, and she held half a fried dough stick in her hand.

Nie Lingfeng stood a little distance away, his long, gray hair fluttering slightly in the morning breeze. He wore an inconspicuous dark gray outfit, with a seemingly ordinary travel bag on his back, and his Snow Drinking Knife, wrapped in cloth, slung across his side. Hearing Lao Meng's words, he nodded slightly to indicate that he understood.

"Keep communications open, channel two," Old Meng concluded, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "Remember, our opponents aren't ordinary villagers, but a diverse group of supernatural beings gathered by Ma Xianhong. Their numbers, abilities, and level of hostility are unknown. Safety first, mission second. Let's go."

"action!"

The seven people split into three groups and quickly disappeared into the early morning forest and mist.

Hei Guan, Xiao Zizai, and Wang Zhenqiu walked leisurely along the only paved village road leading to Biyou Village. On both sides of the road stretched endless paddy fields, the rice stalks drooping low, glistening with dew. The outline of the distant village gradually became clearer in the morning mist.

"Tsk, the scenery is quite nice." Wang Zhenqiu licked his lollipop, looking around. "Perfect for retirement. When I retire, I'll find a place like this with beautiful mountains and clear waters, build a house, raise a dog, and marry a pretty village girl..."

"That's assuming you live to retirement." The clarinet coldly interrupted his reverie, its gaze constantly scanning the woods and rice paddies on either side of the road with suspicion. "Besides, do you think Ma Xianhong would let us swagger into the village for tea?"

"That's hard to say," Wang Zhenqiu shrugged. "What if this Master Ma is a reasonable and cultured person? Look at Brother Xiao, he's also a cultured person, maybe we can get along well."

Xiao Zizai smiled slightly and flicked his prayer beads: "This humble monk only understands some basic Buddhist principles. Master Ma's studies are probably based on the Jie Sect's doctrines, which are not the same. However, if we can persuade people with reason and avoid violence, that would be the best outcome."

"Persuade them with reason?" Black pipe snorted through his nose, pointing to the figures and reflections vaguely visible at the village entrance ahead. "I think they're planning to persuade them with 'courtesy'—bows and arrows, crossbows, and those guys are holding what look like modified hunting rifles."

Sure enough, as they drew closer, the scene at the village entrance became clearer. A simple bamboo fence stood across the road, behind which stood about twenty people, men, women, and children, dressed in ordinary villager clothing, but carrying a motley collection of weapons—crossbows, bows and arrows, sharpened bamboo spears, machetes, and even two old-fashioned firearms and a makeshift cannon with an alarmingly thick barrel, seemingly modified from farm machinery parts. Although these people were not standing in neat rows, and their eyes held a variety of expressions—some tense, some curious, some hostile—without exception, they all emanated varying degrees of "qi" energy.

"Wow, quite the welcome." Wang Zhenqiu whistled, twirling a lollipop in his mouth. "But with all this... isn't it a bit disrespectful to us temporary workers?"

Black Pipe ignored his teasing and stopped about thirty meters from the fence. He raised his hand, signaling the two men behind him to stop as well, then raised his voice, deep and powerful, piercing through the morning mist: "Black Pipe, a temporary worker from North China. I've been sent by the company to investigate Biyou Village. Please open the fence and cooperate with the work."

A commotion arose behind the fence. An old man, who looked to be in his fifties, with dark skin and holding a sickle, stepped forward and shouted in a heavy accent, "What company? We don't know it! The village chief said there are some things going on in the village these days, and we're not receiving any outsiders! You can go back!"

"Village Chief?" Xiao Zizai stepped forward, his voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable penetrating force. "Are you Village Chief Ma Xianhong? We have business to discuss with you. Please grant us this favor."

"No!" the old man said resolutely, brandishing his sickle. "The village chief said no one is allowed in! If you don't leave, we won't be polite!"

The villagers behind him also raised their weapons. Although their movements were a bit clumsy, their numerical advantage was undeniable, and an invisible pressure spread out.

Wang Zhenqiu sighed, took the lollipop out of his mouth, and said with a regretful look, "Look at you, can't you just talk to me properly? You have to force me..."

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly slammed the lollipop to the ground!

"Snapped!"

The soft sound of sugar cubes breaking.

Almost simultaneously, Wang Zhenqiu rapidly formed several strange hand seals in front of his chest, chanting incantations at an extremely fast pace with bizarre syllables. As he moved, the air around the shattered lollipop suddenly distorted slightly, and a faint, sweet-smelling pink mist rose up!

The smoke spread rapidly, reaching the vicinity of the fence in the blink of an eye.

"What is that?!"

"Cough cough! It smells so good..."

"Dizziness……"

The villagers behind the fence inhaled the smoke, and chaos ensued. Some coughed, some stared blankly, some chuckled foolishly, and the weapons they were holding dropped.

"A little trick from the Southwest witchcraft tradition—'Sugar-Coated Bewitching Smoke'." Wang Zhen clapped his hands, raised his eyebrows triumphantly at Hei Guan and Xiao Zizai, "The effect won't last too long, but it'll be enough for us..." Before he could finish speaking, his expression suddenly changed.

From behind the fence, deep within the village road, a deep voice rang out:

"Disperse."

The sound wasn't loud, but it had a peculiar penetrating power, as if it resonated directly in everyone's heart.

With the word "disperse," the pink smoke seemed to be stirred by an invisible hand, rapidly spinning and diluting, disappearing without a trace in just a few breaths! The villagers gradually regained consciousness, looking at the weapons in their hands with surprise and uncertainty, and then at Wang Zhenqiu.

"Huh?" Wang Zhenqiu stroked his chin. "Interesting. There really are some experts in this village."

In the morning mist, at the end of the village road, a figure slowly walked towards them.

The man walked slowly, but each step was steady and powerful. He appeared to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, tall and slender, wearing a well-made, finely tailored white Taoist robe with a dark silk sash tied around his waist. His black hair was neatly tied up on top of his head with a simple wooden hairpin, with a few stray strands falling across his forehead. He had a handsome face, fair skin, and a gentle smile that naturally graced his lips, giving him an air of refined elegance and approachability.

But what's most striking are his eyes. They are incredibly deep-set eyes, a lighter shade than most, almost amber, with what appear to be tiny, shimmering runes flowing within their depths. When he looks at you, you get the illusion that you've been completely seen through—not out of malice, but out of a serene, all-knowing calm.

He was followed by seven or eight people, men and women, whose clothing was more elaborate than that of ordinary villagers, and whose aura was noticeably stronger. These seven or eight people seemed to regard him as their leader, and their expressions were respectful.

"Master!"

"The village chief is here!"

The villagers behind the fence made way and bowed respectfully.

Ma Xianhong walked to the fence and gently waved his hand. The seemingly sturdy bamboo and wooden fence, as if pushed by an invisible hand, silently slid open to both sides, revealing a passage.

He glanced at the three men with the black tube, his gaze sweeping calmly over them before finally settling on Wang Zhenqiu. He smiled slightly and said, "The witchcraft of the Southwest uses sugar as a medium and incense to bewitch the spirits, which is quite ancient. However, next time you perform it, perhaps you could try adding a little mint or borneol. This would enhance the hallucinogenic effect and also mask the cloying sweetness, making it more subtle."

Wang Zhenqiu was taken aback, then chuckled: "An expert! Master Ma knows about this?"

"I know a little," Ma Xianhong said modestly, then turned to Hei Guan and Xiao Zizai and gave a standard Taoist bow. "The three of you have come from afar. I apologize for not welcoming you properly. I am Ma Xianhong, the village chief of Biyou Village, and also the current leader of the New Intercepting Sect."

His attitude was gentle and polite, and his manners were proper. He didn't seem like someone the company defined as a "dangerous element" or "heretic leader." Instead, he seemed like a scholar or Taoist priest living in seclusion in the mountains.

Black Pipe frowned slightly, clasped his hands in return, and said in a low voice, "Black Pipe is a temporary worker from North China. These two are Xiao Zizai from East China and Wang Zhenqiu from the Southwest. Master Ma, there's no need for formalities. We're here on official business."

"Official business?" Ma Xianhong's smile remained unchanged. "Is it for Miss Chen Duo?"

His frank admission surprised the three members of the Black Pipes. Xiao Zizai twirled his prayer beads and continued, "Exactly. Chen Duo is suspected of murdering the company's regional head and has fled. We were ordered to investigate and bring her back to the company for questioning. According to intelligence, Chen Duo is currently in Biyou Village. We would appreciate it if Leader Ma would do us the favor of allowing us to see her."

Ma Xianhong's smile faded slightly, but his tone remained calm: "Miss Chen Duo is indeed temporarily residing in our village. She has experienced many hardships and is still unsettled, so she is recuperating here. As for the matter of Manager Liao Zhong..." He paused, then gently shook his head, "The reasons are quite complex and probably not as simple as they appear. Since Miss Chen Duo has already left the company, she is now a guest of Biyou Village. If the three of you were to forcibly take her away, it would be neither reasonable nor ethical... quite inappropriate."

"Whether it's suitable or not, the company will make its own judgment." Black pipe stepped forward, his "Qi" energy subtly rising, bringing a heavy sense of oppression. "Master Ma, we are acting under orders. We hope you won't make things difficult for us."

The atmosphere suddenly became tense. The seven or eight men behind Ma Xianhong immediately stepped forward, forming a standoff. The villagers behind the fence also gripped their weapons tightly again.

Just as a conflict seemed imminent, Ma Xianhong suddenly smiled.

He waved his hand, signaling the people behind him to calm down, then said to the three men with black pipes, "Gentlemen, you've come from afar, why be so tense? How about this, I'll show you around the village first, so you can see the local customs and culture of Biyou Village. As for Miss Chen Duo's matter, we can sit down and discuss it slowly. What do you say?"

He spoke sincerely, adopted a very humble attitude, and was even... excessively hospitable.

Hei Guan, Xiao Zizai, and Wang Zhenqiu quickly exchanged a glance.

Is he stalling for time, or does he have another plan?

—In any case, we should go to the advanced village to find out the truth.

—Agreed. Since he dared to let us in, we dare to go in.

"Then... we'll have to trouble Master Ma." Xiao Zizai nodded in agreement on behalf of the three.

"Please." Ma Xianhong stepped aside and made a "please" gesture, his smile as gentle as ever.

Thus, under the curious, wary, and complex gazes of the ordinary villagers of Biyou Village, the two sides, who should have been the arresters and the protected, entered the village in an almost absurd "visitor tour" mode.