After 21 days of encountering the Lu clan members, a reconnaissance team of 40 people led by Liu Chong finally reached the place where six Bai clan members first spotted the Lu clan. They swept the whole area surrounding it, they searched the outskirts of the swamp too but they were not able to find any human activities. The next step they took was to expand the search in the Western region.
The two clans sent out 200 scouting teams in this mission. They were divided into five commands. Each command had 40 members in their group who were either led by or had at least one or two Alleviation Realm cultivation Rank members in their midst. The first three groups were sent in three cardinal directions; east, north, and west. And the remaining 80 people slowly spread out and searched outwards moving from the central region. It was a *spreading fan three arrowhead search formation*. The search was intense, evenly stretched and thorough. The Woodsman village and the other surrounding villages were situated in the south of the Linzhi forest so the entire search was conducted in the upper northern part.
A day went by without any indication of the presence of the Lu clan. Three people died on the first day. One disappeared mysteriously in the North, one was killed by a wild animal and another one had a clash with the people from another village. The next day two people spearheading the eastern party suffered injuries from an attack by a monster ape. Death followed slowly as the days went by. Altogether there were already 5 deaths and 7 people suffering minor casualties. It was more or less within the calculation since they were trying to sweep the forest filled with powerful wild animals and strong forest beasts.
But, on the sixth day, the reports of ambushes on all fronts soon followed like a wave. Seven strong men died from traps laid by the Lu clan, another twenty got injured from traps, as well as the attack from the forest beasts. The death toll rose each day even after treading the jungle carefully because there were a series of traps laid for them. Each group reported their findings and mishaps to the central base where Liu Longwei and Bai Dong were camping. It was their tenth day in the wilderness when reports reached them. It confused both the leaders and soon they ordered to halt all the activities they were conducting.
When each unit of the searching party finally regrouped themselves and started to recuperate while waiting for the next action to be commanded, in many places they ultimately noticed the actual movement of the Lu Clan members. Before that, they didn't see any of the Lu Clan members in person. They only saw apparitions of a person ambushing them at night or falling into the trap laid by their adversaries. On seeing their enemy they immediately acted and started to give a chase but were instead killed or injured by the traps.
Bai Dong angrily said, "Brother Wei, My men spearheading the eastern direction had a casualty of 16 people and 11 deaths, even my eldest son, Bai Xiang is poisoned. Our people fan-spreading on the northeastern side have also lost 23 men and have suffered many casualties. I have already lost a fourth of my clan. We cannot lose our younger generations anymore."
Lou Longwei was also fully mad at the events that were taking place, "Brother Dong, your son won't die, he is already at the Initiation Realm, the poison won't kill him. My son leading the Western flank had suffered 7 major accidents and 10 of his people have died too. I have just been reported that 8 people spearheading the northern area had died. My clansmen who were sweeping the western area in the central region had 19 fatalities too."
He then called his fellow clansman and ordered, " Tell all the younger generations, injured individuals and people below Initiation Rank cultivators to return to the base camp. Also, warn the people not to act individually from now on, tell them to work in a group of five and act cautiously. Inform them only to find the clues of the Lu clan's whereabouts and notify me before doing anything."
Out of 200 people who went hunting for the Lu clan, 71 people died and 35 were injured. It was a huge blow to both the clans. There were mostly the weaker ones who died, which didn't affect the power structure significantly but its future repercussions would undoubtedly be severely implicated because most of them belonged to the group of junior prodigies of both their clans.
Bai Dong said, "At first the bees, wasps and insects attacked then there were a series of traps. Some of my clan members even find precious herbs, beast cores, specious beast bones, placer gold and nuggets, which were all laden with traps. Most of the smaller water sources were poisoned, it was not fatal but weaker members had fallen sick. Those bastards lured our people with baits and hunted them. They are too viscous they cannot be forgiven at all." He was completely fuming with anger.
Lou Longwei was also angry but he was more calculative and unemotional, thus he understood the situation better. He said, "Lu Donghai is honest, straightforward and too soft, he cannot be behind this. Lu Yehan is thoughtful but headstrong, he also cannot think of such an ingenious plan. Jia Kong and his people are simply dumb to come up with this plan either."
"There might be some major clan from the town or the cities supporting them from behind. If they have support from a superior clan then getting on their wrong side would not be a good outcome. I think we should fall back and stop chasing them," suggested Bai Dong.
"No, they shouldn't have such powers behind them, if they have they won't need to leave the village like rats. Even if they have an expert supporting them he won't be that strong. They have someone with a very sharp mind, a strategy genius indeed or a prodigy which they kept p hidden from all of us. If we give them time to grow stronger disaster might befall us so we need to find them and kill that prodigy before he matures," emphasised Liu Longwei.
On the 42nd day of entering the forest, the ambushes on both the clans no longer appeared. It was as if the members of the Lu Clan harassing them had disappeared entirely. But, it was also given as they had already sent back all the weaker ones and the powerful ones had started to regroup, whilst acting more prudent in venturing into the forest. There were only around 80 senior members acting on the mission however it bore more fruitful results compared to the bigger numbers. The quality prevailed over quantity and soon they started to find no more tracks of the Lu Clan in other areas.
Three days later another piece of news exploded in the base camp. The village was attacked by some unknown miscreant at night. It was more appropriately an arson than an actual attack but the news spread like wildfire. Hence, the heads of Liu Clan and Bai Clan had to send all their younger generations, injured clansmen and even had to recall some senior members to return to the village. They were later informed that 6 major stores were burned to the ground, three belonging to the Liu Clan and another three to the Bai clan. It was a huge loss for them. By now, other than 50 strong seniors who were venturing into the forest, only a few people along with the clan heads remained at their temporary base camp.
On the other side, Lu Yehan also arrived at the swamp on the 45th day. His mission was successful and everything was going according to the plan what worries him the most was shifting the whole clan from the west side of the forest to the easternmost part. It was a huge stretch which should take around a month depending on their luck.
As soon as he reached the reeds a boat received him. Arthur who was in his mother's arms, on the boat asked, "Grandpa Ye, did you get the desolate rain flower and its seeds?"
Lu Yehan, finally seeing Arthur, replied with full happiness, "Sansan, my good grandson, Grandpa Ye have brought the flower and also brought sufficient numbers of seeds." He was happy because Arthur didn't go with Old Hai. He was not only worried about Arthur going to crooked stone fields to face the dangers while scheming but was also relieved to find Arthur staying in the swamp because he can help him solve his problems. These villagers were not at all a schemer, they were mostly simple-minded, straight forward and dealt with their problems using fists. Arthur was a modern man who had read lots of books, watch many movies, duped others and in return has been played by others too, even falling for one leading to his death while trying to hoodwink others. He has lived in a world where mind games were more actively encouraged than using bare fists.
"Sansan, it's good that you stayed behind at the swamp, you are not strong enough to venture out with your grandfather and his men," asserted Lu Yehan.
Arthur sighed deeply and said, "Ah! Grandpa Ye, it would take 30 to 35 days to move from the swamp to the groove. We have to cross the entire central region where the Liu and Bai clan has set their base camp. The central area is also nearer to the village and swamp compared to the groove. I wanted to go and make the Liu clan and Bai clan occupied with us for a long time so that our clan can pass through safely but Grandpa Hai left with the men on his own. I'm not worried for them, if they follow my plans then they can be safe but we won't have much time to traverse the entire region."
Lu Yehan worriedly questioned, "Sansan, if they occupy the central area the whole time how are we going to cross without letting them know about it?"
"Don't worry about it, I have made some changes to our plan. Since Grandpa Hai left without me, the Liu clan and Bai clans are more fortunate. I was thinking of harming them a little but now they are lucky. The western group has returned already, the other groups will also join us on the way except for Grandpa Hai and his men. Things will get easier when we regroup. We cannot take many of our things to the groove so we should leave most of our belongings in our base here and retrieve it later," told Arthur.
Lu Yehan asked, "Didn't you say they should hide for months before coming back to join us? You said that there is a chance to be followed by Liu and Bai clans, hence exposing our..."
Before he could finish his question Arthur replied, "I told you there was a change of plan. I could have bought us more time for travelling but since I'm not there playing with those clans. We don't have much time for the journey, we need strong men to protect us and also to help us travel faster. I have already made our clansmen poison all the water sources in hunting areas. Hence, no one can stay in the forest for a longer period. Except for the bigger rivers, all the waters in the forest has tampered with poison. I have also burnt down 6 major shops in the village so most of our pursuers have returned home. Once Grandpa Hai lures those experts away we will make our move. My only fear is that once they discover the loopholes in our plan, grandpa won't be able to do much and we shall all be in great trouble."
They soon reached their base camp. And while resting and waiting for the arrival of their scouts. Another boat docked near their platform and the scout reported, "Most of our pursuers have left for the village and only Liu and Bai head along with a few other members have remained in their base camp. I have also been informed that there have been various movements in their reconnaissance team too, likely shifting towards the northwestern region."
Lu Yehan looked at Arthur for suggestions. Arthur said, "Grandpa Ye, tell him to keep a watch on them. Also, tell him to inform others to remain in their position and keep an eye on the southern side to inform me immediately if there are any unusual activities in the village area."
Meanwhile, Liu Longwei ordered, "There are trails of a mass movement on the northeastern side. They are probably moving towards the crooked-stone fields. Once they reach there we shall launch an attack. Inform everyone to prepare to move towards the stone fields on my order."
Bai Dong laughed and said, "Those rats have been trying to confuse us and buy time by placing their men everywhere to entrap us and delay our movement. We have been in light while they worked in shadows, now it is our time to work in shadows while they walk in the light to suffer our wrath. Brother Wei lets go and kill them."
Lou Longwei berated, "Brother Dong, don't be happy too soon. Let's watch the things play out for more. They are too cunning, If they are moving towards the stone fields they have nowhere to hide and we'll catch them up soon. Forty or fifty people belonging to Initiation Realm Rank and above can hide from us if they scatter and blend into the forest but 100 to 150 people with children cannot hide from us forever. Moving large numbers of people with children among them will take a month or two to move out from the forest. Let them settle in the stone fields, and tell our men to follow the trail slowly and carefully. Don't let them get discovered or ambushed."