The cloaked figure walked straight to the old locust tree, stopped, and slightly raised his head, as if gazing up at the withered branches, or perhaps sensing something.

He stood silently for a moment, then spoke in an unusually low, hoarse voice, as if sandpaper were being rubbed, in some strange-sounding Di Rong language: "The moon sets in Wolf Valley, shadows gather beneath the locust tree."

The sound wasn't loud, but it reached the ears of the lurking inferno clearly in the silent valley.

This is the first half of the code.

Lin Feng held his breath. He didn't understand the Di Rong language, but one of the scouts who was fluent in it had already told him the coded phrases.

Now, someone needs to provide the second half of the sentence, and then... either the target will appear, or a thunderous strike will be launched.

He glanced at Old Knife and nodded slightly.

According to the plan, Lao Dao will disguise himself as the "Guardian" and go to make contact to try to extract information or confirm the other party's identity.

Old Dao understood, took a deep breath, and like a lynx stalking in the night, silently slipped out from his hiding place. With a few leaps, he had quietly approached the old locust tree.

He was also wearing a black outer robe similar to the one worn by the captured "Swan Guard," and his face was disguised. He imitated the "Swan Guard's" walking posture and habitual small movements, and stopped about ten steps behind the cloaked man. He replied in the same hoarse Di Rong language: "The wind rises over the desert, the swan strikes the sky."

The code was matched.

The cloaked figure slowly turned around, and from the shadows beneath the brim of the hood, two cold gazes seemed to fall upon Old Knife.

He silently observed Old Dao, or rather, observed Old Dao disguised as "Swan Guard".

Now! A cold glint flashed in Lin Feng's eyes, and his right hand swung down fiercely!

"Move! Capture them alive!"

At his command, the eleven scouts of the North Wind, who had been lying in wait all around, suddenly launched their attack like ghosts emerging from the ground!

They made no shouts, only the soft whistling of weapons being drawn and the sound of clothes rustling in the wind. From three directions, like a pack of wolves hunting, they pounced on the two people under the old locust tree with lightning speed!

Four of them, with oil-soaked tendon ropes and specially made fishing nets already prepared, threw them out first, aiming directly at the cloaked man, intending to trap him immediately so that he could not resist or commit suicide!

This sudden attack, with its perfect timing, angle, and coordination, was a well-practiced combined strike technique that the scouts had practiced many times, determined to succeed!

However, just as the rope and fishing net were about to reach him, the cloaked man suddenly moved!

He neither dodged nor blocked, but simply flung his cloak up!

"Hiss hiss hiss hiss—!"

Several barely perceptible silver streaks, like the spitting of venomous snakes, shot out from under his cloak at astonishing speed. Their target was not the incoming ropes and fishing nets, nor the scouts rushing towards them, but rather—the ground and the surrounding rocks!

"Pfft pfft pfft pfft..."

A series of soft, rapid sounds, like raindrops pattering on banana leaves, followed by countless fine silver needles that had pierced deep into the ground and rock. Then—

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Deafening explosions rang out one after another! Centered on the old locust tree, within a radius of more than ten steps, plumes of pungent yellow smoke suddenly burst forth, instantly engulfing the scouts at the forefront! The smoke was not only pungent but also clearly contained a deadly poison. Those who inhaled it immediately felt dizzy, had difficulty breathing, and their movements slowed down instantly!

It's a trap! And a meticulously planned, deadly trap disguised as an explosion and toxic smoke!

"Watch out for the poisonous smoke! Hold your breath!" Lin Feng shouted sharply, his figure shooting out like an arrow, his sword drawn from its sheath, bringing a bright flash of light as he slashed straight at the cloaked figure who was faintly visible in the poisonous smoke! He had already held his breath, circulating his inner energy to resist the invasion of the poisonous smoke.

"Protect the master!" The burly guard reacted quickly, roaring as he drew his curved sword, its blade flashing like a bolt of lightning, and charged headlong at Lin Feng!

This person's martial arts skills were also extremely high, and his swordsmanship was fierce and unpredictable, with a strong Di-Rong style, which temporarily stopped Lin Feng.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the cloaked figure twisted his body strangely, like a boneless snake, and slipped out through the gap in the fishing net that was not yet fully closed. At the same time, he waved his hand, and several more silver glints shot towards the scouts chasing behind him.

"Ahhh!" The two scouts were unable to dodge in time and were shot in the shoulder by the silver needles. They screamed in agony as the wounds turned a strange bluish-black color. They staggered and fell to the ground. It was a deadly poison that would kill on contact with blood!

"Use Dark Azure to deal with him! Don't let him get away!"

Old Dao's eyes widened in fury. He roared and raised his hand, firing three drugged sleeve darts in a triangular formation towards the cloaked man's back.

Meanwhile, other scouts who were not completely affected by the poisonous smoke also threw throwing knives, caltrops and other concealed weapons to block their path.

However, the cloaked man's movements were truly bizarre. In the nick of time, he twisted his body at an incredible angle, dodging most of the hidden weapons. Only one flying knife grazed his ribs, leaving a trail of blood, but it did not seem to have hit any vital organs.

Without looking back, he sped off towards the valley entrance at an astonishing speed.

"Chase!" Lin Feng forced the burly guard back with a single strike and gave the order in a stern voice.

He knew he absolutely could not let this person escape! Even if this person wasn't the "Head," he must be a core member of the "Shadow Strike"!

Leaving four scouts to care for the wounded and deal with the burly guards, Lin Feng personally led Lao Dao and the remaining men, using their agility to relentlessly pursue the cloaked figure like leeches clinging to a bone.

Wolf Valley has a complex terrain, with jagged rocks and crisscrossing ravines.

The cloaked figure seemed extremely familiar with the terrain, weaving left and right, deliberately choosing difficult spots in an attempt to shake off the pursuers.

Lin Feng and his companions were also skilled individuals who had spent many years dealing with mountains, forests, and deserts. They possessed excellent lightness skills and kept a close distance, maintaining a distance of about twenty zhang at all times.

Just as they were about to escape the valley, a relatively open gravel beach appeared ahead.

Once in open ground, no matter how unpredictable the opponent's movements are, it will be difficult to shake off their pursuit.

The cloaked figure seemed to know this as well, abruptly stopping and turning around, the wide cloak fluttering in the night wind. Beneath the brim, those cold eyes, like venomous snakes, locked onto Lin Feng, who was chasing in the lead.

He didn't run away again, nor did he speak. He simply raised his hands abruptly, and a cold light flashed from his sleeves. In an instant, dozens of fine, silvery rays of light, like a storm, rushed towards Lin Feng and the others! The coverage, speed, and force far exceeded what they had seen before!

"Get out of the way!" Lin Feng shouted sharply, his body stopping abruptly. He wielded his horizontal sword like a wheel, protecting his entire body. A series of crisp, crackling sounds, like popping beans, rang out as most of the silver needles were deflected by the sword light. However, a few still pierced through the net of blades and shot towards his back and sides.

"Uh!" "Ah!"

A muffled groan and a scream came from behind, and two more scouts fell to the ground after being hit by needles.

Old Dao roared and fired his crossbow in quick succession, sending three bolts flying in a triangular pattern towards the cloaked man's upper, middle, and lower body.

The cloaked figure moved again, as elusive as a ghost, narrowly avoiding two crossbow bolts. The third grazed his calf, kicking up a cloud of blood. He paused slightly, but used the momentum to leap backward, plunging directly into a fast-flowing underground river outside the valley entrance!

With a "plop," water splashed everywhere, and the figure was instantly swallowed by the murky river and disappeared.

Lin Feng rushed to the riverbank, only to find the river flowing swiftly and the night deep, with not a single person in sight.

His face turned ashen, and he slammed his fist into the rock beside him.

All our efforts were in vain! He still got away!

"Captain! He's been hit by my crossbow bolt, it's poisoned, he can't have gone far!" Old Dao said through gritted teeth, clutching a wound on his shoulder from a silver needle.

"Search upstream and downstream! He's seriously injured and poisoned; we definitely need to find a place to treat his wounds!"

Lin Feng forced himself to calm down and quickly gave the order.

"Send the signal to our brothers outside the valley to seal off all nearby roads and ferry crossings, and thoroughly search for anyone injured! Especially those fluent in the Di Rong language and with unpredictable movements! His cloak was washed away by the river; it must have left a trace!"

"Yes!" The scouts who were still able to move immediately split up and set off.

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