Chapter 60

The road from Niu Tou Mountain to Hei Hu Mountain was far from easy. Along the way, there were poor mountains and foul waters, sudden mudslides caused by flash floods, swamps filled with poisonous miasma, and swarms of demonic mosquitoes flying overhead... Even Ertu and his group, who were extremely familiar with the wilderness paths, encountered several unpredictable natural hazards on the road. Fortunately, their rich experience allowed them to avoid these dangers with some scares but no real harm.

The journey was arduous, and they walked for several days and nights, crossing one dangerous mountain after another through steep and slippery paths. The mountains seemed endless. Even the leaders, who were quite capable, were covered in dust and exhausted.

One day, as the sun slowly rose from a perilous peak, Zhou Lu and his group finally saw a sinister black forest ahead, vast and dense, with misty fog enveloping it, making it impossible to see the edges.

Unidentifiable roars of demonic beasts echoed from within, adding to the terror.

On the mountain path, the leaders from Niu Tou Mountain all stopped, looking at the black forest with a hint of fear in their eyes.

"Beyond this black forest lies Hei Hu Mountain," Ertu dismounted, limping over to Zhou Lu with his cane and whispered, "What should we do next?"

The anxiety of these days had made Ertu's lips dry and cracked.

Zhou Lu squinted his eyes and cupped his hands to shield them as he looked into the distance.

Beyond the black forest, the Hei Hu Mountain range stretched like a fierce and undulating giant python, extending through the vast wilderness. The accumulated resentment from years of bloodshed and poison made this mountain range a place of endless malevolence. Zhou Lu knew that in those desolate and dangerous mountains, a group of ruthless bandits, like death itself, still survived.

During the journey, the leaders from Niu Tou Mountain had given Zhou Lu a more detailed account of Hei Hu Mountain.

Mentioning Hei Hu Mountain, people within a hundred miles were deeply afraid. This mountain was brutal and bloody to outsiders, leaving a trail of blood wherever it went. To the bandits within, Hei Hu Mountain was actually a living hell.

The bandits in the mountain often bullied and oppressed each other.

There were no limits to killing. Strong bandits could bully weaker ones, robbing them of their money, weapons, and food at will. This was considered mild; being beaten to a bloody pulp was common, and even being killed over a word was ignored, with bodies left outside the tents almost every day.

Hei Hu Mountain used this hellish method to maintain the fierce combat strength of the bandits.

Despite this, bandits from all directions still flocked to join, drawn by the rich rewards Hei Hu Mountain offered.

An ordinary bandit could earn enough money each month to indulge in the Happy Forest Wine Cave for ten days, or to have ten passionate nights with women.

Some cunning bandits saved their money, using it to buy water and fire-resistant black crocodile leather armor or a sharp and sturdy wild elephant tusk spear from the Wealth Accumulation Cave after a few months. This increased their chances of survival in battle...

The wealth of Hei Hu Mountain gave the bandits in the wilderness a rich imagination.

Especially after the news of the discovery of mineral deposits spread, everyone could imagine that Hei Hu Mountain would become even more powerful, leading to an even greater influx of bandits.

Hei Hu Mountain, like a grinning giant python, accepted all comers, swallowing them whole.

But how many could ultimately survive and stay in the mountain?

At this point, Zhou Lu's heart was beating faster, and a layer of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. Just for a breath of fresh air, he had placed himself in a life-or-death situation. Was it worth it?

Zhou Lu's expression changed several times, looking almost terrifying. Suddenly, he squatted down, using a stick to draw some terrain symbols on the ground, and then quietly called everyone to gather around him, carefully planning every step and detail with the leaders.

Whether it was worth it or not, many things were forced by circumstances.

Zhou Lu's plan was to divide the group into three.

The three strongest would disguise themselves as wandering bandits and enter Hei Hu Mountain in batches, so they could support each other in emergencies and not be bullied to death alone. When escaping, the four of them would be stronger together.

A few leaders skilled in archery would be stationed on both sides of a rocky slope in the black forest. When Zhou Lu and his group tried to escape from Hei Hu Mountain, if there were pursuers, these archers could help block them for a moment in the treacherous environment.

The third group, led by the chief, Ertu, with two others, would use the money they carried to buy horses and wait outside the rocky slope. Once Zhou Lu and his group escaped, they could ride the horses to flee for their lives.

This was the most detailed plan Zhou Lu could come up with at this stage. However, there were over two thousand ruthless bandits in Hei Hu Mountain, a deep and unfathomable dragon's lair. Could this plan really work? No one could say for sure.

The faces of the three groups all showed serious expressions as they separated and acted according to the plan.

Zhou Lu's group of four did not go together. They would disguise themselves as strangers and enter in batches. With a whistle, the dozen or so people dispersed into the forest, leaving Zhou Lu alone, looking around somewhat lost. Finally, the fat man gritted his teeth, stood up, and walked towards the vast black forest in the distance.

...

In the black forest, the gnarled black iron trees reached the sky, and leaves the size of palms broke off their stems in the cold wind, drifting down onto the mountain path. The deeper they went, the more rugged the path became. The forest floor was covered with a thick layer of leaves, and the air was filled with the damp, foul smell of decaying leaves and animal carcasses. Occasionally, the roars of unknown demonic beasts could be heard.

Zhou Lu walked for a long time, stepping on the leaves. The path was dangerous and slippery, and he almost fell when he stepped on a loose rock. He quickly straightened up and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Zhou Lu focused his gaze and looked ahead into the black forest.

He had been walking on this difficult path for over half an hour, and the higher he climbed, the colder it became. However, the forest became sparser, and through the trees, he could see a high stone wall in the distance. Clearly, the bandit den of Hei Hu Mountain was behind the wall.

Outside the black forest, a long wooden bridge spanned a mountain ravine. At the base of the stone wall on the other side of the bridge, two fierce and muscular bandits squatted on the ground. Seeing the fat man cautiously emerging from the black forest, they slowly stood up, staring fiercely in that direction.

"Finally here."

Zhou Lu let out a long sigh, subconsciously patting his chest. It was time to face life or death.

Gritting his teeth, Zhou Lu quickly walked out of the black forest and ran across the wooden bridge.

"Stop."

The two fierce bandits shouted from a distance, drawing their bone spears from their waists.

"Don't move, don't move, I'm here to join you..."

Zhou Lu waved his hands nervously, slowing his steps, moving forward like a frightened fat rabbit, timidly and cautiously.

"Raise your hands above your head and walk over slowly."

The two muscular bandits glared and shouted, one of them pulling a hood from his waist. As Zhou Lu approached, he was quickly hooded. They knew this fat man was there to join them; who else would dare to approach Hei Hu Mountain?

Zhou Lu immediately felt the world go dark, unable to see anything, and his breathing became labored. He heard one of the bandits whisper, "Follow us into the mountain, and be obedient on the way. If you dare to be disobedient, I can cut off your head at any time."

"Understood?"

With his head covered, Zhou Lu could only mumble in agreement.

One of the bandits threw a rope to Zhou Lu, and the two muscular bandits pulled him along quickly. The mountain path was uneven, and Zhou Lu stumbled and staggered, but the two in front paid no attention to his awkwardness, moving as fast as the wind.

Zhou Lu's heart was heavy. Hei Hu Mountain was indeed not a place for humans. He was there to join, not to be imprisoned. Was it necessary to treat him like this? He couldn't see where they were going along the way.