Chapter 45

(Midday update, please shower me with recommendations like a storm, new readers, please add to your favorites, the new book chart has been bombed, it really hurts.)

The mountain path was cold and clear, the sun tore through the clouds, and the icicles on the treetops began to melt, with countless droplets falling like a continuous spring rain.

In front of the Sword Unbinding Stone, the two young Taoist priests finally came to their senses. The moment their gazes focused, their spines straightened, and their entire demeanor began to change, exuding a sharp and masculine aura.

"Looking back, it was all a grand dream!"

"Evil spirits clouded our minds, and we lost the integrity of scholars. Thanks to Brother Su, otherwise, we would have continued to sink, with no hope of laying the foundation."

The two Taoist priests' gazes were calm, their auras sharp but not oppressive.

"Brother Su is no ordinary person. We have received his kindness and must repay it. Gu Yuehe has set his sights on him, and we must do our best to delay him. As the ancient saying goes, 'A scholar will die for a true friend.' Although we are not brave warriors, we must have the heart of a gentleman. Besides, we are all Wudang disciples. No matter how extensive Gu Yuehe's network is, he cannot allow fratricide. At most, he will suppress and cut our provisions, which can temper our spirit in adversity, bringing unexpected benefits."

At this point, the two young Taoist priests seemed transformed. They walked up the mountain toward the rising sun, their shadows long but not dark, like the reflections of ancient pines and green bamboo.

...

Beyond the Wudang Sword Unbinding Stone, down the mountain, lay a dense old forest.

Here, they were out of the coverage of the Wudang Zhenwu Seven-Section Sword Array, and the air immediately became solemn and deadly.

In the past, Su Qinnian was escorted up the mountain by officials from the Ministry of Punishments. Along the way, they encountered several dangers. However, the officials were all skilled, many having reached the Heaven-Opening Realm, which was considered third-rate. There were even Ministry of Punishments bailiffs who were about to gather the Dragon and Tiger energies, entering the second-rate realm. Most importantly, there was an elderly man with a goatee, whose gaze was gentle and who seemed frail.

"The concubine of the imperial palace, the steward of the Demon Suppression Mansion!"

This was a widely circulated phrase in Chang'an at the time. "The concubine of the imperial palace" referred to a highly favored concubine of the current Han Emperor. A top martial artist once sneaked into the palace at night, intending to assassinate the Emperor. However, the Emperor remained undisturbed and slept peacefully. The next day, the corpse of the top martial artist was hung on the gates of Chang'an. The concubine who served the Emperor that night was the one who had killed him.

As for the "steward of the Demon Suppression Mansion," it referred to the elderly man who accompanied Su Qinnian. The Demon Suppression King intimidated the sea of demons, and wherever the Demon Suppression Army went, the demons fled. At least ten demon kings had died at the hands of the current Demon Suppression King. However, in his early years, a top demon king had sneaked into the mansion. The next day, the elderly man had dragged the demon king out with one hand and immersed him in a pig cage.

"Travel is difficult, with many paths, and demons lurk."

Su Qinnian sighed. In the wilderness, he almost never saw anyone. He detected some residual demonic aura, a very strange and eerie presence that could only be sensed but not easily forgotten by those who had experienced it.

However, the demonic aura was very faint, indicating that it had been there for a long time. This was not surprising, as Wudang disciples frequently entered the surrounding deep forests to clear out demons. Within a radius of several dozen to a hundred miles around Wudang Mountain, it was rare to see traces of beasts, except for a few stray ones.

Su Qinnian crossed the old forest and stepped onto an official road about seven to eight zhang wide. Indeed, he did not encounter any beasts.

On the official road, after traveling another twenty to thirty li, he gradually saw some human footprints.

However, there were almost no solitary travelers. Most were in groups, driving carriages, armed with swords, spears, and bows. There were merchants, bodyguards, and large household caravans with dozens or even hundreds of servants and guards, all looking strong and alert, with no one daring to relax.

Seeing Su Qinnian, these groups were somewhat surprised. A young man, looking delicate and tender, dared to travel alone on the official road, which made them suspicious and wary.

Is he a Wudang disciple?

Some guessed, but quickly shook their heads. Wudang was famous for its fist, palm, and sword techniques. In recent years, they had not seen any disciples using swords, let alone such a young one. Typically, the Wudang disciples they saw descending the mountain were at least seventeen or eighteen years old and were often accompanied by senior disciples, lacking the cultivation and experience to travel alone.

In some carriages, the curtains were slightly lifted, and women peeked out with curious eyes, thinking this young man must be fearless.

Every year, poor scholars from villages and towns sought out famous masters, hoping for opportunities. Some young, inexperienced, and rebellious youths, who had not excelled in their studies, dreamed of wandering the world, seeking adventures, and making a name for themselves.

This was laughable, especially in impoverished and remote areas where the military was weak and there were few martial arts sects or noble families. Beasts roamed freely, and many demons lurked. Ordinary people could easily disappear once they stepped outside their homes.

The worst thing is to lack self-awareness!

However, Su Qinnian walked calmly and confidently. His blue robe was clean and tidy, his black hair danced in the cold wind, and his face was clear and refined. His eyes, in particular, were pure and clear, and many who saw them were slightly startled. His gaze was gentle, like the sun in early spring nurturing all things, with no darkness or impurity, only infinite light.

Gradually, the caravans and carriages on the road relaxed, as demons could not have such a gaze. No matter how well a beast could transform, it could not hide its demonic aura, and they all feared sunlight.

"Little brother, are you a Wudang disciple? Where are you heading alone?"

It seemed to be a large household caravan. An elderly man, who looked like a steward, approached and asked. His face was lined like tree bark, and his tone was gentle.

"Not yet, I am going to Yunyang County's Green Mountain Town."

Su Qinnian smiled. His mental senses were sharp, and he knew that a woman in the carriage had taken pity on him. However, he was on a mission to investigate, and he did not easily reveal his identity. Before laying the foundation, his status as a Qingyang Peak disciple was not legitimate, and he could not be considered a true Wudang disciple.

Hearing this, the old steward sighed, assuming Su Qinnian had failed to become a disciple. After all, Wudang was a major sect, and poor scholars were often at a disadvantage. Only a few were chosen after rigorous selection. Looking at Su Qinnian's attire, he did not seem to be from a noble family. As for his claim of not being a disciple yet, the old steward took it as youthful stubbornness, as young people were often unwilling to admit defeat easily.

"Little brother, you are fortunate. My lady is kind and will allow you to travel with our Yuan family caravan. However, our residence is on Yuanling Mountain in Green Mountain Town. Since you are not from around here, you will have to find your way once we reach the town."

"Thank you, sir. Su Qinnian is grateful to the lady."

Su Qinnian could see through the old man's thoughts but did not explain or refuse. He only knew the general direction to Green Mountain Town, and traveling with locals would save him a lot of trouble.

Given his unknown background, even though Su Qinnian's aura was bright, the old steward only arranged for him to ride in the last cargo cart. Su Qinnian sat on the cart's shaft, and the two horses pulling the cart let out a light whinny, seeming to struggle more.

This made the driver glance at Su Qinnian suspiciously. The young man did not seem heavy, and he was not yet an adult, so why were the horses suddenly struggling?

However, he soon shook his head, thinking it was probably due to his age and the long journey. He got off the cart, fed the horses some grass and water, and snapped the reins. The two old horses exerted themselves again and slowly caught up with the caravan.

The journey was smooth, and Su Qinnian sat on the cart's shaft, closing his eyes to meditate and organize his thoughts, not asking any questions. This put the old steward at ease, and at noon, he sent someone to bring Su Qinnian a large bowl of hot meat soup and a fragrant baked flatbread.

As the sun set, the carriages and people on the road gradually thinned out, and they approached the Green Mountain Town area.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, a scream came from the front of the caravan, startling a flock of crows. Soon, a heavy scent of blood filled the air. (Midday update, please shower me with recommendations like a storm, new readers, please add to your favorites, the new book chart has been bombed, it really hurts.)