At this moment, a bolt of lightning slashed through the night sky outside the cave, followed immediately by a thunderous explosion, as if responding to his oath.

He thought to himself, "My arrows are my weapons, and also the force that guards the Jianghu. I must not betray everyone's trust, and I must deliver a fatal strike to the enemy at the crucial moment."

"Plum Blossom Darts" Shan Zhi pulled out a stack of plum blossom darts from his bosom, playing with them in his hand. The dart bodies reflected the torchlight, glinting with a cold chill. He sneered and said, "Liu Tingting, just wait to pay for your actions!"

His eyes showed a fierce determination, as if he could already see Liu Tingting's downfall.

He secretly vowed in his heart, "These plum blossom darts will make you pay dearly for your misdeeds. I must make you repay your blood debts with blood."

Outside the cave, bean-sized raindrops began to fall, pitter-pattering against the ground, splashing layers of water, adding a tense atmosphere to the imminent confrontation. Shi Feiyang stood amidst the crowd, his expression grave and resolute.

He slightly furrowed his brows, his gaze sweeping over everyone's faces, filled with gratitude and responsibility.

He knew well that the success or failure of this operation concerned the fate of the Jianghu and the safety of these brothers and sisters before him. Hence, he said, "Everyone, this operation is of great importance, not only to vindicate ourselves but for the peace of the entire Jianghu. The Shadow Alliance harbors wicked ambitions, and if they succeed, the Jianghu will descend into chaos. We must give it our all without any slack."

The wind and rain outside grew more intense, yet the resolve of the people within the cave only strengthened, unshaken by the harsh external environment.

The crowd nodded, their eyes revealing a steadfast determination.

Then Shi Feiyang spread out a map on the ground, and everyone gathered around.

Shi Feiyang pointed to the marks on the map and detailed the plan: "Liu Tingting is most likely to bring away White Tiger and Vermilion Bird from this place, so we will set an ambush here. Brother Wu, you and Sister Xiao are responsible for intercepting her head-on and must hold her back. Brother Xie, you're skilled at tracking and scouting, so stealthily position yourself nearby. As soon as you detect Liu Tingting's movements, inform us immediately. Brother Xiang, Brother Lu, Brother Jiang, you will flank her and cut off her retreat. Brother Miao and Brother Shan, you position yourselves in advantageous spots and provide long-range support with bows and darts. Yili and I will reveal her plot at a critical moment, leaving her no room for denial."

Everyone listened intently, occasionally raising their questions and suggestions, as discussions echoed in the cave, and a meticulously planned counterattack was gradually taking shape. Meanwhile, outside, the wind and rain intertwined, as if playing the overture to the imminent Jianghu battle.

The night was deeply shrouded, as if by an endless black silk, soft yet oppressively covering the land.

All was silent save for the wind roaming freely in the vast world, howling like ghosts and wolves, the "woo—woo—" sound incessantly ringing as if heralding the coming storm.

Gong Simeng, riding the Vermilion Bird, soared freely in the vast night sky.

The Vermilion Bird emitted a blazing light all over, like a burning star, cutting through the darkness.

Moonlight flowed like water, clear and cool, bathing Gong Simeng's shoulders, sketching a misty and sacred outline on her, as if she were an immortal descending from the night sky.

Suddenly, her eyes, sharp as a hawk's, precisely captured Liu Tingting secretly meeting a group of mysterious people dressed in deep blue attire in the vicinity of Celestial Dragon Mountain. Those people exuded a chilling aura, as if from an ice cellar, talking to Liu Tingting in low tones, their expressions solemn, and their every move filled with mystery and eeriness.

Gong Simeng's heart jolted, thumping wildly like a startled fawn, daring not to delay, she immediately urged the Vermilion Bird, which let out a long cry towards the sky, "L---!" The sound echoed in all directions, like a crimson lightning, rushing towards Hengshan Valley.

Its speed was so swift it whipped up a strong air current, causing the surrounding air to tremble, "whoosh—whoosh—" resounding.

Meanwhile, "Flying Eagle Detective" Xie Wen performed the Feixu Qingyan Technique, his entire being like a wisp of ethereal blue smoke, swiftly traversing through the mountains and forests.

His posture was light and agile, akin to a nimble monkey; his toes lightly tapped on branches, creating subtle rustling sounds, as if leaves were falling and in an instant, he was back at the Heroic Sakura Association's camp.

At that moment, Shi Feiyang was sitting around with Wu Zhong, Lin Wanqing, and other heroes, discussing strategies in the tent. The atmosphere inside was solemn and oppressive, the flickering candlelight casting yellowish light on their serious faces.

Gong Simeng and Xie Wen arrived one after another, revealing to everyone the shocking news of Liu Tingting's collusion with the Shadow Alliance.

Xie Wen furrowed his brows tightly, his expression solemn, like a volcano about to erupt, he slowly said: "Liu Tingting and the Shadow Alliance are in cahoots, attempting to jointly steal the Vermilion Bird and White Tiger, and then slaughter and devour them. If they succeed, Liu Tingting and her Cultivation Race's power will increase a hundredfold, possibly even allowing them to metamorphose into immortals."

His voice was deep and powerful, like a heavy hammer pounding on everyone's hearts, making them realize the gravity of the situation.

The crowd was shocked upon hearing this, their faces changing drastically, and the tent immediately filled with discussions.

Shi Feiyang's eyes suddenly became as sharp as an eagle's, as if they could pierce through the darkness and strike at the enemy's vital point.

After pondering for a moment, he spoke slowly, his voice deep and authoritative, like a sonorous bell, "Don't panic, everyone. Now that we know their plot, we have a direction to counter it. The most crucial thing now is to protect Vermilion Bird and White Tiger."

The heroes nodded, then dispersed, secretly and closely monitoring Liu Tingting's every move.

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