Chapter 22 – The Marsh and the Trap
The Mistwood Marsh lived up to its name.
A gray veil of fog hung low over the black waters, clinging to the twisted roots of mangrove-like trees and hiding the sluggish movements of unseen beasts beneath the surface. Occasional ripples disturbed the reflection of the canopy, the only sign that something lurked below. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and moss, and the occasional call of some unseen bird-beast echoed through the swamp.
Lin Xuan followed behind Zhao Rui, his steps light despite the mud and uneven ground. He had already activated Veil of the Hidden Moon, letting his aura sink into a faint, unremarkable presence — no more than an early Foundation Establishment cultivator. It was a delicate balance: enough strength to avoid seeming helpless, but low enough that Zhao Rui would underestimate him.
"Keep up," Zhao Rui said without looking back. His tone was clipped, dismissive.
Lin Xuan only smiled faintly. "Of course."
---
The Hunt Begins
The mission was straightforward: collect ten clusters of Coldew Moss, a rare spiritual moss that grew only in cold, shaded areas near still water. Its silvery sheen was easily visible if one knew what to look for — and Lin Xuan had already spotted several small patches within minutes.
Still, he made a show of following Zhao Rui's lead, crouching here and there, carefully brushing aside leaves or testing the water's depth with the butt of his spear. In truth, he was watching for something else entirely — the telltale ripple pattern and faint, milky glow of a Spirit Lotus growing at the bottom of the marsh.
Zhao Rui kept glancing back, making sure Lin was trailing behind. When he spotted a promising patch of moss, he motioned to it.
"You take that one," Zhao said, pointing toward a slick, half-submerged log.
Lin Xuan's gaze lingered on the log. The water beside it was too still, the surface tension unbroken despite the faint hum of qi in the air. A predator's nest.
---
The First "Accident"
The instant Lin stepped closer, the log exploded into motion. A Marshfang Crocodile, its scales black as tar, lunged forward with jaws wide enough to crush stone.
Lin Xuan feigned surprise, stumbling back a step — just enough to sell the act. Then, with a twist of his wrist, his spear flashed forward. One precise thrust slipped between the beast's armored scales at the hinge of its jaw, piercing deep into its brain.
The crocodile thrashed once, twice, then stilled, sinking back into the water with a hiss of escaping air.
"Not bad," Zhao Rui said, his smirk thin. "Lucky strike."
"Mm." Lin Xuan cleaned his spear on a reed and said nothing.
---
The Deeper Marsh
The fog thickened as they moved further in. The ground turned treacherous, each step sinking into knee-deep mud before the water suddenly rose to their waists. Zhao Rui's voice was calm, casual.
"This is where the rarest moss grows. You'll have to be careful."
Lin Xuan didn't miss the slight curl of satisfaction in the man's tone. He was being led somewhere — and it wasn't for his benefit.
The faint glow of spiritual energy teased at his senses from beneath the murky water. His eyes narrowed. That wasn't moss. That was a Spirit Lotus, and by the strength of the qi, it had matured for decades.
---
The Trap Springs
The water shivered. A shadow uncoiled beneath the surface, long and sinuous.
The Third-Rank Marsh Serpent broke the water with a roar, its scaled body whipping around in a spray of muck and mist. Its eyes glowed with a faint blue light, and its maw opened wide, fangs dripping venom into the water below.
Zhao Rui stepped back, hands already moving into a defensive stance — but far enough away that the serpent's attention stayed fixed on Lin Xuan.
Exactly as planned.
---
Dropping the Mask
Lin Xuan's breath deepened. The restrained qi he'd kept hidden flared in an instant, rippling through the water in a shockwave that made Zhao Rui stiffen in surprise.
The serpent struck, its body coiling for constriction even as its fangs darted forward.
Lin's spear blurred. He met the strike head-on, twisting his weapon in a tight spiral that deflected the fangs aside before driving the blade into the serpent's neck. The beast hissed, its tail lashing through the water to smash into Lin's side — but he anchored his stance, absorbing the impact before surging upward.
Lightning-aspected qi flared along his spear's shaft, snapping through the serpent's body in a crackle of white-blue arcs. The smell of scorched scales filled the marsh.
The serpent spasmed violently, then stilled, half its body still coiled in the water as it floated lifelessly.
---
Aftermath
Lin Xuan exhaled slowly, letting his aura fade once more. He crouched and with practiced motions carved out the serpent's core, tucking it into his spatial storage before wading over to pluck the glowing lotus from the lakebed.
Behind him, Zhao Rui's eyes were sharp, calculating — but there was a hint of something else now. Wariness.
"You hid your strength well," Zhao said carefully.
Lin Xuan only smiled faintly, tucking the Colddew Moss into his pouch. "We should head back before the fog thickens."
Zhao Rui didn't reply, but as they started toward the edge of the marsh, his hand flicked to his transmission talisman.
Elder… I think we've underestimated him.