Chương 9: Two Armguards as One

Fierce winds howled across the summit of Spirit Spring Mountain, whipping the stronghold's banners into a frantic dance. The Black Snake stronghold was built along the mountain's contours, facing south and north, constructed upon the flattened peak in a strict, square layout that exuded an imposing sense of order. The eastern, western, and northern sides were all fortified by four-meter-high stone walls. Thick blocks of stone were piled layer upon layer, solid and towering.

Years of mountain wind had weathered the surface, leaving it rough and mottled, radiating a cold, harsh aura that tightly enclosed the entire stronghold. The southern side was open, marked by a massive wooden gate studded with iron nails, heavy and ancient. It was the only entrance to the Black Snake stronghold. Beyond the gate, a wide, flat training ground stretched out before him. The bluestone floor had been worn smooth by years of use.

Racks of weapons lined the edges: sabers, spears, staves, and axes, their edges glinting faintly in the light. Past the training ground, dozens of tiled wooden houses stood in neat rows, their eaves overlapping in orderly fashion, forming the residential core of the stronghold. Yang Fan followed the guide closely as they wove between the rows of houses. Along the way, he quickly discerned the stronghold's defensive character: tight on the outside, lax on the inside.

The outer mountain path was layered with ten checkpoints, impenetrably strict. Inside, however, the atmosphere was one of easy indulgence. From the houses came the sounds of dice games, raucous laughter, and clinking cups. Most of the bandits were lounging about, some feasting on meat and wine, others napping or chatting against the walls. They paid no attention to Yang Fan, a complete stranger, showing not a trace of suspicion.

The guide finally stopped before a single, standalone house larger and more imposing than the others. Its door was shut, hiding whatever lay within. The bandit raised his hand and knocked softly, lowering his voice to report, "Boss, I have brought the man with the treasure." A moment of silence from within. Then a low, hoarse voice, carrying a hint of cold weariness, replied, "Come in." The wooden door swung open, releasing a faint scent of blood and killing intent.

The bandit stepped inside, and Yang Fan followed closely. The room was simply furnished. At its center sat a middle-aged man. He was well-built and tall, wearing a fitted green leather armor that gave him a lean, capable look. His left arm was wrapped tightly in layers of black cloth. His face was slightly pale, devoid of color, and his sharp brows and cold eyes radiated the heavy bloodlust of a seasoned killer. His presence was fierce and imposing, making it hard to meet his gaze.

This was the lord of the Black Snake stronghold. He glanced at Yang Fan, his eyes cutting like blades, then turned to his subordinate with a brief command.

"Leave us. Keep a close watch on the stronghold, especially on the second and third bosses. Report any unusual movements immediately." The bandit bowed and withdrew, closing the door behind him. The room fell silent, leaving only Yang Fan and the stronghold lord. The atmosphere grew tense and oppressive. At that moment, Yang Fan's mind was churning with shock. He stared at the spot above the stronghold lord's head where his level should have been displayed.

Instead, there was only a gray symbol of question marks, empty and unreadable. Since entering the game, every NPC he had encountered, villagers, magistrates, common bandits, had displayed their levels clearly. Only this stronghold lord's level was hidden. Yang Fan's heart sank. He realized instantly that this was a high-level boss. He was speechless. He was certain now that the magistrate had set him up completely. A level 6 newbie, sent to investigate a boss-level figure with a hidden level.

This was not a beginner's quest; this was a death sentence. As his thoughts churned, the stronghold lord's hoarse voice cut through the silence. His gaze fixed on Yang Fan, his tone flat. I hear you have a family treasure to offer me?" Yang Fan snapped back to the present, suppressing his panic and thinking quickly. With the enemy so strong, a direct confrontation would mean certain death. His best option was to latch onto this powerful figure.

If this lord had a deep enough background, he would have no qualms about abandoning the magistrate's mission and switching sides for real. His expression turned sincere. He bowed deeply and spoke with utmost respect.

"Yes, my lord! This is a treasure passed down through my family for generations. I offer it to you today, in the hope that you will accept me into your ranks!" With that, he reached into his backpack and pulled out the Abyssal Spring Armguard. A soft, radiant blue light bloomed in the dim room, its glow flowing like liquid glass, brimming with spiritual energy. He held it out with both hands, presenting it to the stronghold lord. The lord took the armguard, his fingers tracing its cool surface.

A flicker of excitement flashed in his eyes, breaking through his composed demeanor. He threw his head back and laughed heartily.

"Heaven favors me! I never expected to find the second armguard here! From now on, I, Qi, will no longer be confined to this tiny stronghold! Hahaha!" The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Yang Fan was stunned. Second armguard? He had only offered a single right-arm piece. Clearly, the stronghold lord was so overjoyed he had lost count. Yang Fan's heart leaped with secret delight. This powerful connection was as good as secured.

From now on, he could play both sides, feeding the magistrate just enough information to complete the mission while currying favor with the stronghold lord and reaping the benefits. After the laughter subsided, the stronghold lord's chest heaved slightly as he coughed a few times, steadying himself. He looked at Yang Fan again, his gaze deep and searching. Slowly, he spoke.

"Who sent you? What is your true purpose?" Yang Fan's heart seized, and a chill ran down his spine. Had his identity as a spy been discovered? His mind raced, debating whether to confess and throw himself on the lord's mercy. But before he could decide, the lord continued, muttering to himself.

"This treasure is no ordinary heirloom. Could you be from the Mianzhu tribe? No, those people were eliminated long ago."

"The Ji clan? Impossible. They could not possibly possess such an item."

"Then could there be some hidden power operating in the Western Province?" Yang Fan listened, his heart pounding. In just a few sentences, the lord had touched upon tribal massacres, ancient bloodlines, and imperial intrigue. The implications were staggering. This stronghold lord was no simple bandit chief. He was connected to something far larger, a power far greater than Yang Fan had imagined. Yang Fan made his decision without hesitation. He would throw in his lot with this man.

With a sincere expression, he quickly explained, "My lord, I found this armguard by chance in the spider caves of Spirit Spring Mountain. I am just an ordinary villager from Peach Blossom Village. The magistrate of Baishi County sent me here to investigate the stronghold. But after seeing your might and presence, I have decided to abandon that mission and serve you with all my heart!" The lord nodded slowly, a hint of approval in his gaze.

"The spider caves. That explains how it ended up here. As for that petty magistrate, he is beneath my notice." He looked Yang Fan over and continued, "Your strength is lacking, but you have a sharp mind and know when to adapt. Stay by my side from now on. Follow me well, and the Black Snake stronghold will not be your end. There will be far greater horizons ahead, where you can rise to prominence." Yang Fan silently congratulated himself for choosing to switch sides. This gamble had paid off perfectly.

As they spoke, the lord slowly raised his left arm and began unwinding the black cloth wrapped around it. Layer after layer fell away, and a brilliant blue light burst forth, identical in hue to Yang Fan's armguard. A complete bronze left-arm armguard was revealed, strapped firmly to the lord's arm. Yang Fan's eyes widened in realization. The Abyssal Spring Armguards were a pair! He had found the right-arm piece from the Spider King, and the stronghold lord possessed the left.

The lord traced the left armguard with his fingers, a cold glint in his eyes.

"I took this left armguard from the Mianzhu tribe. Those outsiders dared to cross the Western Mountain Range and trespass into our empire. They have no fear of death." He sighed, "This pair of bronze armguards is a complete set, exquisite in quality and extraordinary in power. I am reluctant to hand them over to the prefectural commander." Yang Fan's mind raced as all the pieces fell into place. The stronghold was not colluding with the Mianzhu tribe.

On the contrary, the lord had intercepted and killed those who had infiltrated the empire and taken their treasure. The supposed conspiracy was a lie; the reality was a defense of the realm. A new question surfaced. Who was the commander? From the lord's tone, this mysterious figure seemed to hold an official imperial position. As Yang Fan's thoughts swirled, the lord slowly fitted the right-arm armguard onto his own right arm. The two halves became one, a complete set.

But in that instant, something went horribly wrong. The lord's face, which had been full of energy moments before, turned an ashen gray, then a deep, sickly black. His aura fluctuated wildly, and his body stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but only a hoarse rasp came out. Then, a spray of bright red blood erupted from his mouth, splattering onto the floor. Thud! His powerful frame collapsed backward, crashing heavily to the ground. His limbs twitched twice before falling still.

The room fell into absolute silence. Yang Fan stood frozen in place, utterly stunned. The powerful ally he had just secured, the man who had promised him a bright future, was dead, struck down in an instant. The reversal was so sudden it was almost comical. He opened his character panel and checked his experience. It had not changed. There was no kill notification. Clearly, the lord's death had nothing to do with him. His gaze fell on the pair of bronze armguards, and realization struck.

The complete set had triggered some hidden backlash, killing the wearer instantly. What a waste, Yang Fan thought. The connection had crumbled as soon as it was made. Despite his disappointment, his hands moved with practiced efficiency. With no one else in the room, he hurried forward, crouched over the body, and searched it quickly. He retrieved both bronze armguards, the complete set, but found nothing else. Since he had not landed the killing blow, the system did not award any additional loot.

He stowed the two treasures in his backpack, resolving to study their hidden properties and restrictions once he returned to the county. For now, his top priority was escape. Fortunately, the room had been empty except for the two of them. No one had witnessed anything. If the bandits discovered their lord dead, he, the only outsider present, would be torn apart without a second thought. Yang Fan wasted no time.

He cleaned the blood from the floor, carefully moved the lord's body onto the bed, pulled the covers over him, and arranged it all to look as though the lord was simply resting. With everything in order, the room showed no signs of anything unusual. Yang Fan held his breath, crept to the door, and peered through the crack to check the situation outside, ready to slip away from this perilous stronghold.