Free Web NovelChapter 166: Chapter 166: The Shadow Ravine Guardian
The Shadow Ravine Road Guardian did not charge blindly.
It stood in the center of the black basin, its armor absorbing the dim light. Five broken banners rose from its back, each one representing one of the roads they had not taken—or perhaps the doubts those roads left behind.
Shield.
River.
Forest.
Ridge.
Ravine.
When the guardian moved, all five banners fluttered without wind.
The mission panel updated.
[Road Guardian Battle]
[Objective]
Defeat Shadow Ravine Road Guardian and preserve central banner.
[Additional Condition]
Temporary force trust affects guardian strength.
[Current Trust: 54%]
[Current Discipline: 61%]
[Casualties: 0 dead, 5 injured]
Qin Yuheng glanced at the numbers.
Discipline had risen.
Good.
Trust was still fragile.
The guardian’s first attack targeted that fragility.
It struck the ground with its sword, and five shadow paths spread from the impact point. Each path showed an illusion of a different road.
On Shield Road, the force stood safely behind walls.
On Golden Ridge, they reached the gate quickly with no injuries.
On River Road, boats carried them peacefully.
On Banner Forest, banners bowed to Qin Yuheng.
On Shadow Ravine, people were swallowed by darkness.
Several temporary allies staggered.
"We chose wrong," one whispered.
Trust dropped.
[Trust: 54% → 47%]
The guardian grew larger.
Qin Mo cursed.
"It weaponizes regret!" frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
Qin Yuheng spoke sharply.
"Those are not outcomes. They are advertisements."
The armored captain shouted, "Hold formation! Regret after survival!"
That rough command worked.
Trust stabilized.
Qin Yuheng looked at the captain.
The man did not smile, but he nodded once.
Temporary obedience had become battlefield cooperation.
The guardian advanced.
Its sword swept horizontally, releasing shadow blades. Qin Yuchen’s rear squad shifted into shield formation. The armored captain’s defenders took the front. Qin Yuheng layered a controlled Gate Thunder Command Field over those willing to accept it.
He did not extend to everyone.
Some still resisted.
Forcing the field would waste energy and create backlash.
Instead, he commanded through structure.
"Shield line, low brace."
"Ranged, banner joints."
"Formation group, path lights behind feet."
"Healers, stay under center wagon shield."
A young climber shouted, "We have no wagon!"
Qin Mo yelled, "It means the shield cluster, idiot!"
The absurd correction broke some fear.
Morale rose slightly.
The guardian’s sword struck.
The shield line held, barely.
Qin Yuheng moved through the gap and struck the guardian’s knee joint. Thunder flashed, but the shadow armor absorbed most of it.
Qin Lian appeared behind the guardian and attacked one of the broken banners. Her dagger cut through the edge of the River banner, and the guardian’s illusion field flickered.
"Banners are support cores," she said through jade.
Qin Mo confirmed.
"Five banners. Each one feeds a regret path. Cut them."
The guardian sensed this and released Doubt Wraiths from the banners.
They flew toward the less trusting members.
Qin Yuheng immediately changed tactics.
"Captain, take shield group and protect low-trust members."
The armored captain frowned for half a breath, then understood.
If the wraiths possessed doubters, the guardian strengthened.
"Shield group, with me!"
He moved.
Trust rose again.
[Trust: 47% → 55%]
Not because everyone trusted Qin Yuheng.
Because they saw the plan protecting even those who doubted.
The fight became a battle of banners.
Qin Lian targeted the River banner.
Qin Yuchen led a strike against the Shield banner.
Qin Mo used formation light to expose wraiths.
Qin Yuheng alternated between pressuring the guardian and stabilizing the force.
The Golden Ridge banner proved dangerous. It released falling light spears, punishing anyone who moved too slowly. Several injured members nearly died, but healers dragged them behind shield cover.
The Banner Forest banner distorted commands.
For a moment, Qin Yuheng’s order "fall back three steps" became "charge forward" for two squads.
The Team Trust Anchor and Pure Vow Intention Crystal helped Qin Mo identify the distortion.
He shouted, "Ignore verbal! Follow hand signal!"
Qin Yuheng switched instantly.
Hand raised: stop.
Two fingers: left.
Closed fist: brace.
Sword point: strike.
The force adapted.
Discipline rose.
[Discipline: 61% → 70%]
The guardian weakened.
Three banners fell.
Then four.
Only the Shadow Ravine banner remained.
The guardian roared silently and plunged the entire basin into darkness.
All path lights went out.
Gate Thunder Command Field flickered.
The temporary force began to lose formation.
Trust dropped rapidly.
[Trust: 55% → 43%]
Qin Yuheng activated the True Soul Guiding Lantern.
Blue-white light appeared.
Small.
Steady.
Not enough to illuminate the whole basin, but enough for people to see one another.
"Do not look for the exit," Qin Yuheng said. "Look for the person beside you."
The armored captain repeated louder, "Hold the person beside you!"
Hands reached.
Shields touched.
Ropes tightened.
The team path anchor flared.
Trust stopped falling.
Qin Yuheng sent one command through the willing field.
Together.
Not a forced order.
An invitation.
The force answered.
The Shadow Ravine banner became visible, floating above the guardian’s back like a wound in darkness.
Qin Lian could not reach it alone.
Qin Yuheng looked at Qin Yuchen.
"Lift path."
Qin Yuchen understood.
He and the shield group created a rising formation of shields and stone slabs. Qin Mo hardened each step temporarily. The armored captain braced the base.
Qin Lian ran up the improvised path.
The guardian swung its sword toward her.
Qin Yuheng intercepted with War Thunder Advance.
The impact nearly drove him into the ground.
His arms shook.
But he held.
Qin Lian reached the top and cut the Shadow Ravine banner at its root.
The banner fell.
Light returned.
The guardian collapsed to one knee.
Now its core was exposed.
Qin Yuheng did not take the final strike alone.
"Force strike formation."
The armored captain looked surprised.
"You want all?"
"Yes."
Qin Mo activated a temporary resonance formation.
Ranged attackers, shield bearers, Qin Yuchen, Qin Lian, and Qin Yuheng aligned attacks into one timing window.
The strike landed.
The guardian shattered.
[Shadow Ravine Road Guardian defeated.]
[Road cleared.]
[Temporary force trust stabilized.]
[Casualties: 0 dead, 9 injured.]
[Central banner preserved.]
The black basin opened into a path of pale stone leading toward the Fourth Gate.
The armored captain removed his helmet.
"My name is Ren Qingshan," he said.
Qin Yuheng nodded.
"Qin Yuheng."
"I still do not trust easily."
"You should not."
Ren Qingshan looked at the shattered guardian.
"But I will follow until the gate."
The panel updated.
[Trust in Qin Yuheng: 54% → 68%]
[Temporary Force Status improved.]
Qin Mo looked at the number.
"Boss fights are persuasive."
Qin Yuheng looked toward the distant Fourth Gate.
The first road was cleared.
But the war storm still approached.
[War Storm Arrival: 5 hours 12 minutes]
They had won trust.
Now they had to spend it wisely.
