## [Chen Family House - 11:30 PM]
Chen Wei burst through the front door of his house, his heart pounding from both the sprint and the spiritual energy coursing through his newly awakened meridians.
"Father! Brother! Wake up!" he called out urgently but quietly.
Chen Daoling emerged from his room immediately, followed by Chen Hao. Both men had the alert look of people who had been sleeping lightly, ready for trouble.
"Wei'er? What's wrong?" his father asked.
"They're coming," Chen Wei panted. "I was... I couldn't sleep, so I went for a walk to clear my head. I saw lights moving in the northern hills. Multiple torches, moving toward the village."
It was a plausible lie that used his actual knowledge while giving him an excuse for being outside.
Chen Hao's expression hardened. "How many lights?"
"At least a dozen. Maybe more. They were trying to hide them, but I caught glimpses."
**[Deception Check: Successful]**
**[Family Belief Level: Complete - matches their existing concerns]**
**[Alert Status: Emergency activation]**
Chen Daoling grabbed his clothes and began dressing quickly. "Hao, wake your mother and sister. Tell them to pack emergency supplies and get ready to move to the safe houses. Wei'er, you're coming with me."
"Where are we going?"
"To alert the village. If bandits are really coming tonight, we have maybe an hour to prepare."
Chen Wei's Advanced Qi Sense told him they actually had about five hours, but he couldn't reveal that level of precision. An hour of prep time would create the right sense of urgency without causing panic.
"Should I wake the merchant scout?" Chen Wei asked.
"Yes. Li Dacheng has experience with bandit tactics. We'll need his help."
---
## [Village Square - Midnight]
Within thirty minutes, nearly half the village had gathered in the square. Chen Daoling and Li Dacheng had quickly spread the word to key families, who in turn alerted others.
Chen Wei watched with satisfaction as the hidden cultivators naturally took charge of the situation.
Wang Tie stood near a pile of farming tools that could serve as weapons - hoes, pitchforks, hammers, and scythes. But Chen Wei's Qi Sense detected something else: the blacksmith had retrieved military-grade weapons from his hidden cache and distributed them to villagers he trusted.
**[Wang Tie's Hidden Arsenal - Deployed]**
**[15 military spears, 8 crossbows, 20 steel-tipped arrows]**
**[5 sets of leather armor, 3 shields]**
**[Distributed to: Former soldiers and capable villagers]**
Old Man Feng was organizing the civilian evacuation with calm efficiency. Children and elderly villagers were being moved to three reinforced buildings: the grain storehouse, the village hall, and Wang Tie's blacksmith shop, which had thick stone walls.
**[Old Man Feng - Defensive Coordination]**
**[Using sect tactical knowledge without revealing source]**
**[Civilian Protection: 87% secured]**
Granny Liu had disappeared entirely, but Chen Wei's Qi Sense could detect her spiritual signature moving through the village outskirts. She was setting up something - probably traps or poisoned obstacles.
**[Granny Liu - Stealth Operations]**
**[Position: Village perimeter]**
**[Activity: Unknown but ominous]**
**[Threat to bandits: High]**
Zhang Min was organizing medical supplies and had convinced several women to help her prepare a treatment area in the village hall.
"How long do we have?" Li Dacheng asked Chen Daoling.
"Wei'er saw them about an hour ago. If they're moving carefully and planning their approach..." Chen Daoling looked at his youngest son. "What do you think? How far away were those lights?"
Chen Wei pretended to think carefully. "Maybe two or three kilometers? They were moving slowly, like they were scouting or being cautious."
"Then we have maybe two hours," Li Dacheng concluded. "Enough time to prepare, but not enough to get help from other villages."
Wang Tie stepped forward. "I've distributed what weapons we have. We have about thirty men who can fight, plus whatever the women can do with kitchen knives and farming tools."
"Against how many bandits?" Old Man Feng asked.
Li Dacheng shook his head. "Could be anywhere from a dozen to fifty. Bandit groups vary widely in size."
Chen Wei knew the exact number - fifteen - but he couldn't say that without explaining how he knew.
"The important thing is that we're not helpless," Wang Tie continued. "We know they're coming, we have weapons, and we have prepared positions. That's more than most villages can say."
**[Village Defense Status Update]**
**[Fighters: 30 regular villagers + 4 hidden cultivators]**
**[Weapons: Adequate for defense]**
**[Positions: Prepared with escape routes]**
**[Morale: Determined but nervous]**
Chen Daoling looked around at the assembled villagers. "Everyone knows their positions? Children and non-fighters to the safe houses, fighters to the perimeter positions Wang Tie showed us?"
Nods all around.
"Then let's move. And remember - if this goes badly, the priority is protecting lives, not property. Nothing we own is worth dying for."
As the villagers dispersed to their positions, Chen Wei caught Old Man Feng's eye. The elderly cultivator looked at him with a strange expression.
"Young Wei'er," Old Man Feng said quietly, "you have very sharp eyes for someone who just recovered from a head injury."
Chen Wei felt a chill. The former sect elder was suspicious.
"I... I've always been observant. My father says I notice things others miss."
Old Man Feng studied him for a moment longer. "Indeed. That's a valuable skill. Stay close to your father tonight, and keep watching. If you see anything unusual, tell me immediately."
**[Old Man Feng - Suspicion Level: Moderate]**
**[Status: Watching Chen Wei closely]**
**[Risk: May discover Chen Wei's true abilities]**
---
## [Northern Village Perimeter - 2:00 AM]
Chen Wei crouched behind a low stone wall with his father and six other villagers. They were positioned to watch the main northern approach to the village.
His Advanced Qi Sense told him the bandits were still three kilometers away, moving slowly and carefully. But they would be here within two hours.
"Father," Chen Wei whispered, "I'm scared."
It wasn't entirely a lie. Despite his cultivation breakthrough and meta-knowledge, he was about to face life-or-death combat for the first time. His hands were shaking slightly.
Chen Daoling put a comforting hand on his son's shoulder. "Fear is normal, Wei'er. The important thing is not to let it paralyze you. Stay alert, follow orders, and remember that everyone here is fighting to protect their families."
Chen Wei nodded, but his mind was racing through combat scenarios. His new abilities gave him options, but he had to use them carefully. Too much power displayed too openly would raise questions he couldn't answer.
**[Personal Combat Assessment]**
**[Qi Gathering 1st Level vs Multiple Foundation Building opponents]**
**[Direct combat: Suicide]**
**[Support role: Viable]**
**[Stealth tactics: Best option]**
"Contact," whispered Liu San, one of the farmers watching with them. "Movement in the treeline."
Chen Wei activated his Qi Sense and confirmed what he already knew. The bandits had arrived.
**[Bandit Positions Detected]**
**[15 enemies approaching in 3 groups]**
**[Group 1: 6 bandits, eastern approach]**
**[Group 2: 5 bandits, main northern path]**
**[Group 3: 4 bandits, western flank]**
**[Leaders: Both Foundation Building cultivators in Group 2]**
The bandits were using standard tactics - multiple approach routes to divide the defenders' attention, with the strongest group coming straight up the main path.
"I can see them," Chen Wei whispered to his father. "Three groups. Most coming from the north, but some flanking east and west."
Chen Daoling looked surprised. "You can make out details in this darkness?"
Chen Wei realized his mistake. His enhanced senses were much better than a normal person's, especially at night.
"I... I think the head injury changed something. Colors seem brighter, and I can see farther."
**[Cover Story: Injury-enhanced senses]**
**[Plausibility: Medium (unusual but not impossible)]**
**[Father's Concern: Increased but not suspicious]**
"That could be useful," Chen Daoling murmured. "Can you count them?"
"Maybe fifteen total? It's hard to be sure."
Chen Daoling made a hand signal to Liu San, who passed the information down the line. Soon, all the village defenders would know the enemy numbers and positions.
**[Information Advantage: Established]**
**[Village Preparation: Optimized for actual threat]**
**[Success Rate: 34% → 42%]**
Chen Wei watched as the bandits moved closer. Through his Qi Sense, he could identify the two leaders.
**[Iron Fang Zhang Kuang - Bandit Leader]**
**[Position: Center group, 500 meters out]**
**[Status: Confident but cautious]**
**[Weakness: Fear of supernatural phenomena]**
**[Blood Axe Li Shan - Second in Command]**
**[Position: Center group, beside leader]**
**[Status: Eager for violence]**
**[Weakness: Poor stamina, becomes reckless when angry]**
An idea formed in Chen Wei's mind. He had read the intelligence report about Zhang Kuang's supernatural fears. What if...?
"Father, I need to try something. Can you cover for me for a few minutes?"
"Wei'er, this isn't the time to—"
"Please. I think I can help, but I need to move to a different position."
Chen Daoling looked torn between protecting his son and trusting his judgment. "What are you planning?"
"I want to get closer and see if I can create a distraction. Maybe make some noise from an unexpected direction, confuse them about our numbers."
It was a reasonable tactical suggestion that hid his real plan.
"Too dangerous. Stay here."
"Father, I'm the only one who can see them clearly in this darkness. I can get close without being spotted and gather better intelligence."
Chen Daoling struggled with the decision. Finally, he nodded reluctantly. "Ten minutes. If you're not back by then, I'm coming after you."
"Thank you."
Chen Wei slipped away from the defensive position, moving carefully through the shadows. His cultivation-enhanced agility made him much quieter than a normal person.
As he moved closer to the approaching bandits, he prepared to implement Method 6 from Master Liu's teachings: Exploit Character Patterns.
Zhang Kuang was afraid of ghosts and supernatural phenomena. Chen Wei was about to give him exactly what he feared most.
---
## [Bandit Approach Route - 2:30 AM]
Chen Wei positioned himself in a grove of trees about 200 meters from the main bandit group. He could hear their low voices as they discussed their attack plan.
"...village is small, shouldn't be much resistance..."
"...grab what we can and get out before dawn..."
"...if anyone fights back, make examples..."
Chen Wei activated his Flowing River Palm technique, gathering spiritual energy in his hands. Then he began implementing his psychological warfare plan.
**[Technique: Qi-Enhanced Sound Projection]**
**[Effect: Create eerie sounds from multiple directions]**
**[Target: Zhang Kuang's supernatural fears]**
Chen Wei threw small stones enhanced with spiritual energy, making them whistle through the air in unnatural patterns. To normal hearing, it would sound like ghostly wailing.
The bandit group immediately stopped moving.
"What was that?" one of them whispered.
"Wind," another replied, but his voice was uncertain.
Chen Wei created more sounds - branches breaking in impossible patterns, stones falling uphill, whispers that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere.
"Boss," one of the bandits said nervously, "this place feels wrong."
Zhang Kuang's spiritual signature showed increasing agitation. His fear was building exactly as Chen Wei hoped.
"It's nothing," the bandit leader said, but his voice lacked conviction. "Just... just village sounds."
Chen Wei decided to escalate. He used his Qi Enhancement to make a dead branch suddenly burst into cold blue light for three seconds before going dark again.
That was enough.
"Ghosts!" Zhang Kuang shouted. "This village is cursed! The spirits are angry!"
"Boss, it was probably just—"
"I know ghosts when I sense them!" Zhang Kuang's voice was shaking. "My grandmother was a spirit medium! This place reeks of supernatural energy!"
Chen Wei had to suppress a laugh. The "supernatural energy" was just his own cultivation aura, but Zhang Kuang was interpreting it through the lens of his fears.
**[Psychological Warfare: Highly Effective]**
**[Zhang Kuang Fear Level: Critical]**
**[Bandit Group Morale: Severely Shaken]**
"What do we do, boss?" Li Shan asked. The second-in-command sounded frustrated but was clearly deferring to his leader's supernatural expertise.
"We... we proceed, but carefully. Ghosts can't hurt us if we don't disturb their resting places. Avoid the cemetery, don't touch anything old or sacred, and whatever happens, don't split up."
This was perfect. By trying to avoid "supernatural" threats, Zhang Kuang was eliminating several tactical advantages and keeping his forces concentrated in predictable positions.
Chen Wei created one more ghostly sound - a low moan that seemed to come from the direction of the village cemetery - then began moving back toward the defensive positions.
**[Bandit Leadership: Compromised by fear]**
**[Attack Coordination: Degraded]**
**[Village Advantage: Significantly increased]**
**[Success Rate: 42% → 56%]**
As he slipped back through the shadows, Chen Wei felt a surge of confidence. His psychological attack had worked better than expected.
But when he returned to his father's position, he found Chen Daoling looking worried.
"Wei'er, thank the heavens you're back. Something strange is happening."
"What do you mean?"
"Listen."
Chen Wei pretended to concentrate, though his Qi Sense had already told him what was happening. The bandits were arguing loudly enough to be heard from the village perimeter.
"...can't attack a cursed village..."
"...just scared of shadows..."
"...saw the blue light with my own eyes..."
"They're fighting among themselves," Chen Daoling whispered. "And they keep talking about ghosts and curses. What did you do out there?"
Chen Wei tried to look innocent. "I just... I made some strange noises. Threw stones to make them nervous. I didn't think it would work this well."
Chen Daoling stared at his son with a new expression - pride mixed with wariness. "Wei'er, that was either very clever or very dangerous. You've rattled them badly."
**[Father's Assessment: Impressed but concerned]**
**[Chen Wei's Cover: Holding but under strain]**
**[Need to balance competence with plausible inexperience]**
The bandit argument was getting louder and more heated. Through his Qi Sense, Chen Wei could feel Zhang Kuang's spiritual signature fluctuating wildly as fear warred with greed and leadership responsibility.
Finally, the bandit leader made his decision.
"We proceed with the attack, but we modify the plan. Stay together, avoid anything that looks spiritual or old, get in and out fast. And if we see any more supernatural signs, we retreat immediately."
Chen Wei smiled in the darkness. The psychological warfare had worked perfectly.
But now came the real test. Fifteen bandits, including two Foundation Building cultivators, were about to attack his village.
All his preparation, all his planning, all his manipulation - it all came down to the next hour.
Chen Wei gripped his father's arm. "They're coming."
The Battle for Chen Village was about to begin.
**[Final Approach: Bandits 100 meters from village perimeter]**
**[Village Defenders: Ready but nervous]**
**[Hidden Cultivators: Prepared to reveal abilities if necessary]**
**[Chen Wei's Status: Breakthrough achieved, psychological advantage established]**
**[Success Rate: 56%]**
**[Time to Combat: 5 minutes]**
**[Chapter 6 Complete]**
**[Next: The Battle Begins]**