Chapter 17 — From Ruins to the Dharma Lord's Throne

Dawn broke on the Tinh Quang plateau as the group set out, not only with the six core members but also reinforced by a small commando team of eight experienced warriors from the White Wing Alliance, led by the veteran who had trained Dịch Phàm. The squad moved quickly and discreetly, avoiding major roads that could easily be detected, choosing paths along remote valleys to approach Borderline Tàn Dạ.

"We still have about a day's journey until we reach the boundary of Black Cai territory," Vũ Khanh announced when the group stopped to rest next to a small stream, spreading out a map that had been updated with new intelligence information. "After that, we will have to go through the mountainous area south of the Blood Moon Tower, where the terrain is complex and there is a high possibility of being ambushed."

"I have a bad feeling," Nhược Đông said, her eyes scanned the surrounding forest, a special alertness was evident on her always calm face. "The atmosphere here is too quiet, not natural at all."

The commander of the commando team, the veteran with a long scar on his cheek who had trained Dịch Phàm for the past three months, nodded in agreement with Nhược Đông's assessment. "My battlefield experience tells me the same thing. Hắc Toái is not the type of enemy to let us advance so easily. Perhaps they already knew we were coming." The group continued to move more cautiously, the formation was tightened, the commando soldiers spread out on both flanks to keep watch. But just like Nhược Đông's premonition, when the group entered a narrow canyon between two steep cliffs, noises rang out from all sides - shouts, the sound of weapons clashing, and from the cliffs, a series of black-armored warriors of the Dark Alliance appeared, surrounding the entire group.

"Ambush!" The commando commander shouted, immediately summoning a protective shield to surround the group, while the other warriors formed a defensive formation.

The battle broke out fiercely immediately. The Hắc Toái army, although not the most elite force of the Black Flame, are still well-trained warriors, with numbers many times greater than Dịch Phàm's group. Magical arrows and black fireballs carrying evil energy flew from above, forcing the whole group to constantly move and defend.

"Bạt Sơn, Nhược Đông, maintain the front line!" Vũ Khanh shouted amid the noise of battle, trying to stay calm to coordinate tactics. "Tịch Dao, focus your fire on the left wing, that's where the enemy is least, we need to open a way out!"

Dịch Phàm fought side by side with Tuyết Nhi, putting all his strength into purifying evil spirits from the enemy's weapons and moves, significantly weakening their attack power. But the number of enemy troops was too large, and although the Bạch Dực commandos fought bravely, losses began to appear - a few commando soldiers were seriously injured, forced to retreat back to be treated.

"We can't hold out like this forever!" The commando commander shouted, sweat and blood mixed on his face full of scratches. "Need a breakthrough to break the siege!"

Dịch Phàm looked around, assessing the situation in a split second. He noticed a weak point in the enemy formation — a small gap in the Northeast, where the encircling force seemed much thinner than in other directions, perhaps because the rugged terrain made it difficult for them to deploy large numbers.

"Tuyết Nhi, follow me!" He shouted, then poured all his remaining spiritual energy, combining all five elements to form a powerful energy wave, piercing straight into that weak point, creating a gap large enough for the whole group to flee.

Tuyết Nhi immediately seized the opportunity, summoning a dense ice storm to cover the newly opened area, temporarily freezing the remaining enemy warriors there, creating conditions for the whole group to rush through.

"Retreat to the Northeast! Hurry!" Vũ Khanh shouted, leading the group through the gap that had just opened.

While running, Tịch Dao continuously turned back to summon small walls of fire to block the enemy's progress, while Bạt Sơn used his Earth spirit to create cracks and obstacles on the pursuit path, causing the Hắc Toái army's formation to be divided and slow down significantly. The whole group escaped from the canyon, the enemy chased behind but were gradually left behind thanks to the speed and smooth coordination of the retreating squad. After running quite a distance, the group stopped in a thin forest to check for casualties and stabilize their spirits.

"Three people were injured, luckily none of their lives were in danger." The commando commander reported after checking the condition of the entire team. "But we lost a lot of time and spiritual energy in the last battle."

Tuyết Nhi quickly used her Water spiritual energy to help heal the injured, while Nhược Đông stood guard carefully, not daring to let her guard down for even a moment. "The ambush just now was only a small part of Hắc Toái's force." She commented, her voice filled with worry. "If this is just the advance army, I don't dare to imagine how terrifying the main force at Blood Moon Tower will be."

"We have no choice but to keep moving forward," Vũ Khanh said, his voice determined even though his face was still covered in dust and sweat. "Retreating now means giving up everything we've been trying for all these months."

At that moment, from the nearby bushes, a small movement made the whole group alert. Bạt Sơn quickly went to check and discovered a small gray bird injured, with a small rolled up piece of parchment tied to its leg.

"This is a messenger bird." The commando commander recognized it immediately and carefully removed the piece of paper. "But this is not the messenger bird of the White-Winged Alliance."

Dịch Phàm took the piece of paper and opened it with trembling hands. The handwriting was scrawny but still readable, hastily written in ink mixed with blood.

"Son, if you receive this letter, be careful. They already know you are coming, and have laid many layers of traps on the way to the Blood Moon Tower. Be especially careful with a giant monster raised right in front of the tower gate — it is fed with the blood of your parents. Don't let pity make you delay when confronting it. I love you, whether you remember my face or not. — Thanh Hà."

The little bird, although injured, was still breathing. Bạt Sơn carefully bandaged it with a small piece of cloth, his eyes could not hide his emotions. "Someone recklessly sent this bird across dangerous territory. It wasn't easy."

Dịch Phàm stood dumbfounded, his trembling hands clutching the piece of paper, tears rolling down uncontrollably. This was the first time, other than the recording from the jade piece, that he received a direct message from his mother — living proof that she was still there, still thinking about him, still trying to protect him even in the most desperate of circumstances.

"My mother..." he whispered, his voice choked. "She's still trying to protect me, even while she herself is imprisoned."

Tuyết Nhi placed her hand on his shoulder, her eyes also filled with tears at the emotion of this moment. "That proves that your mother is an extremely resilient woman who loves her child very much. We will not let her reckless sacrifice be in vain."

The commando commander, although not an emotional person, had to clear his throat to hide his emotions. "This information is extremely valuable. At least now we know in advance the monster that lies ahead. We need to readjust our battle plan."

The group spent the rest of the day resting, bandaging their wounds, and planning the final journey ahead — a path leading straight to the gates of the Blood Moon Tower, where a final test awaited them before they could truly confront the Black Flame.

"Tomorrow," Dịch Phàm said, his voice ringing with determination amid the flickering campfire, his mother's letter still clutched in his hand, "we will face that monster. And I will not let fear or pity delay the mission of rescuing my parents."

The group sat around the campfire, each lost in their own thoughts. Bạt Sơn quietly sharpened his weapon, Tịch Dao sat and reviewed her moves in her mind, Nhược Đông stood guard alone at the edge of the camp, and Vũ Khanh diligently reviewed every detail of tomorrow's battle plan under the dim firelight. No one said another word, but in their hearts everyone understood that tomorrow would be one of the most important days of their lives, a day that could determine both the life and fate of the entire continent.