Chapter 5

As the sky began to brighten, Wei Shizhi went to the blacksmith's shop to collect the iron arrows and the curved sword, then waited under the Shangguan Bridge. The morning mist swirled, and the river flowed quietly. The town of Xinyang woke from its slumber, and for a moment, roosters crowed, dogs barked, vendors called out, and the sound of carts and horses added vitality to the small town.

A few steps away, the side gate of the Zhao family's residence opened, and a porter led out a mule, with a bulging saddlebag on its back, the contents unknown. Wei Shizhi quickly stepped forward, just as Deng Zhang was leading a young man dressed as a Taoist out, giving him detailed instructions. The young man smiled and nodded, speaking softly, seemingly reassuring his uncle.

Seeing Wei Shizhi, Deng Zhang's face showed a hint of a smile, and he said, "This is the young Wei I mentioned to you, a hunter from Lao Ya Ridge. He has seen the golden-backed bear in Hei Song Valley."

The young man turned his head, looking at him with a gentle expression, and made a bow, "This poor Taoist, Deng Shouyi, greets you. Thank you for your assistance. The journey to Hei Song Valley is perilous, and it will be a great burden on you."

His face was as smooth as jade, his Taoist robe spotless, giving him a somewhat ethereal and dignified appearance. He carried a long sword on his back, the hilt worn. Wei Shizhi returned the bow, exchanged a few polite words, and stood aside, waiting calmly. He understood that Deng Shouyi's gentle demeanor was not out of respect, but rather a condescending attitude, a pride in his own status, seeing him as nothing more than an ant.

With everyone gathered, Deng Zhang, despite the effort, personally escorted them out of Xinyang Town, entrusting them again before waving goodbye.

Leaving the bustling town behind, the surroundings were desolate, the sky vast and the clouds low. Wei Shizhi led the way, with Deng Shouyi a half-step behind, the others scattered on both sides, and the porter leading the mule at the rear. After about half an hour, Lao Ya Ridge loomed ahead, and they were about to enter the mountains.

The mule was handed back to the porter to return to Xinyang Town, and the saddlebag was transferred to the shoulders of the strong servant. Even the two hunters had to share some of the load. Besides water and dry rations, it also contained iron traps and * (a type of military weapon). These specially made iron traps were one thing, but * had always been military-controlled weapons, forbidden for civilian possession. It was clear that Mr. Zhao had extensive connections; his involvement in the horse trade with the northwestern border was not baseless.

If Wei Shizhi were to go to Hei Song Valley alone, starting from Xinyang Town and taking a direct route over the mountains, it would take only a day and a night. But with so many people and the saddlebag, they could only take a flatter mountain path, which would likely take three days.

By noon, everyone was thirsty. Wei Shizhi found a shady spot for a brief rest. The group took turns drinking from the leather bag, and they took out hard flatbreads, adding slices of braised beef from Dongxing Restaurant, eating with great satisfaction.

Deng Shouyi practiced fasting, so he did not need to eat. Wei Shizhi also did not eat the flatbread; he took out his own dried meat from his backpack and ate several large pieces voraciously, ignoring the others. The servant named Yue, who was quite observant, walked up to Deng Shouyi, offering him a clean water bag with both hands. Deng Shouyi waved it off, and the servant then handed it to Wei Shizhi.

Deng Shouyi had been under the tutelage of the Immortal Capital for many years, and his physical strength far exceeded that of ordinary people. This mountain path was nothing to him. He looked at each person one by one, noting that they all looked somewhat tired, except for the hunter surnamed Wei. He was tall and moved as lightly as a cat, and throughout the journey, his breathing remained steady and clear, which surprised Deng Shouyi. After Wei Shizhi had some water, Deng Shouyi took the initiative to start a conversation, asking about the old bear in Hei Song Valley.

Wei Shizhi had intended to do this. He hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice, "Can we speak privately?"

Deng Shouyi glanced at him, his thoughts flickering, and said, "Very well." With that, his sleeves fluttered as he walked deeper into the forest.

Wei Shizhi followed, and when he stopped, he spoke before being asked, "Taoist Master, that old bear is not an ordinary beast; it is a demon."

"There is nothing to fear with this poor Taoist present," Deng Shouyi said, smiling, "Mr. Wei, are you worried about something?"

Wei Shizhi recounted in detail how the old bear swallowed moonlight and struck trees with its back. Deng Shouyi's expression became serious, and he asked several detailed questions, a hint of excitement showing on his face. He reassured Wei Shizhi, "Rest assured, Mr. Wei. To absorb the essence of heaven and earth and the essence of the sun and moon is no easy feat. A mere demon bear cannot achieve much. However, I thank you for your warning. If we underestimate the demon bear and act rashly, we might lose our lives, which would be a violation of the benevolence of heaven, and my uncle would not be pleased."

Although Deng Shouyi's words were polite, his tone still carried a hint of arrogance. However, warning the other party to be careful was not Wei Shizhi's true intention. He casually asked, "Lao Ya Ridge spans hundreds of miles, and there are countless fierce beasts in the deep mountains. Why is it only the old bear in Hei Song Valley that has become a demon?"

Deng Shouyi pondered that the golden-backed bear had been cultivating for many years, and perhaps it had nurtured a demon pearl within its body, which could help him break through his bottleneck and advance in cultivation. His mind was unsettled, and he replied to Wei Shizhi's question offhandedly, "Only those with innate qualities can absorb the essence of heaven and earth and the essence of the sun and moon. Those with acquired qualities—"

He realized he had said too much and stopped speaking.

Although it was just a few words, it was enough to resolve Wei Shizhi's confusion. The key to cultivation lies in innate qualities. Whether human or beast, most are acquired qualities, struggling in the world, unable to escape the words "fate" and "destiny."

He sighed inwardly.

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