Pang Da and Pang Er were from Zhuangan Village at the foot of the mountain. A nest of Bandits had set up nearby. Early last year, the Bandit Chief had taken a liking to the Village Chief’s daughter and wanted to marry her and bring her to the Bandit Stronghold as his Lady. But the Village Chief wanted to wed his daughter to a rich merchant in town, so he called everyone together to devise a plan.
The villagers all stuck to one story, claiming the Chief’s daughter had died of illness. They tied up the only orphan girl in the village, who had no parents, and sent her up the mountain as a substitute bride.
But the girl had a strong and unyielding character. She didn’t even survive the night after arriving at the stronghold. She hanged herself that very day.
The Bandits thought it was bad luck and threw her corpse into the forest to be fed to the wolves.
The substitute bride plot not only failed to quell the Bandits’ anger but brought even greater trouble upon the village. This group of Bandits came to the village every few days to cause a ruckus. The people of Zhuangan Village couldn’t bear the harassment any longer and sent the brothers Pang Da and Pang Er up the mountain to negotiate peace.
They never expected that halfway up the mountain, just as they stopped to rest their legs, they would run into the vengeful ghost of the girl who died with a grievance.
Pang Da’s head-banging kowtows had swollen his forehead. He lay prostrate on the ground, trembling uncontrollably, terrified the female ghost would demand his life.
Yan Zhao thought this was quite amusing. Back in Fuyun Sect, she was the one always kneeling to others. This was the first time someone had knelt to her.
It seemed there was some misunderstanding, but Yan Zhao didn’t feel like explaining. She grabbed another skewer of grilled fish and asked while eating: “Then tell me, who am I, and who was it that harmed me?”
She split another half-fish for the little fox. The little fox had just finished its half-piece when it belatedly realized that its field of vision was entirely filled with fish bones discarded by Yan Zhao. Not a single fish remained for the others.
Feeling inwardly ashamed, it didn’t take any more.
“Full already?” Yan Zhao clicked her tongue. “You’re so easy to raise.”
She then put the remaining half-fish into her own mouth.
Little Fox: “…”
I’ve never seen such a thick face.
The sound of nibbling continued without pause. Pang Da obediently lay flat, too afraid to get up, yet sweating cold sweat all over.
That female ghost… she had also liked eating fish when she was alive.
Hearing Yan Zhao’s question, Pang Da thought: This girl became a vengeful spirit after death, but she forgot her own identity? Isn’t this my chance?
Luckily, Pang Er had been washed away by the river, saving him the trouble of coordinating their story.
He made a swift decision and answered decisively: “It was that Black Sky Tyrant! He did all sorts of evil, was determined to have his way, and caused your death!”
Yan Zhao tilted her head. “Black Sky Tyrant?”
“Yes! Black Sky Tyrant!” Pang Da insisted firmly, his words resolute. “He’s the leader of the Bandits on this mountain, guilty of countless crimes. Not only does he rob houses, bully men, and seize women, he even dares steal the government’s official silver. No one in this area can control him!”
“Hmm,” Yan Zhao propped her chin, her eyes lighting up. “He’s stolen a lot of things?”
Does that mean there’s lots of food in the stronghold too?
Pang Da froze for an instant, but quickly caught on. He hurriedly nodded: “Yes, yes! Last month, Black Sky Tyrant led his men down the mountain to loot and emptied all the grain from our village!”
To make Yan Zhao more convinced, he deliberately exaggerated the situation. “He even captured several women! Those women were just as pitiful as you! Their fate was miserable! You must take revenge on him! Make him pay blood for blood!”
The more the little fox listened, the more it sensed something was wrong. It scrutinized the man’s brows and eyes carefully.
The man’s eyelids drooped, seemingly fixed on the ground, but his gaze was unfocused, his eyeballs darting to the side occasionally.
He was lying.
This man has ill intentions.
“…”
Its little paw had already felt for something usable as payment for the meal, but seeing this, it quietly withdrew it.
Yan Zhao stood up and confirmed to the man once more: “Black Sky Tyrant is on this mountain?”
Pang Da rejoiced inwardly and nodded firmly. “Yes!”
Yan Zhao looked up at the mountain. It was quite tall; they couldn’t see the scenery at the summit from their current spot.
She patted the fox’s little head. “Alright, let’s go up and take a look then.”
That thin, frail figure gradually moved away. Pang Da felt he’d just survived a disaster, the clothes on his back soaked through with sweat.
Then, he suddenly noticed a patch of shadow following her as she walked.
He froze. Do ghosts have shadows?
Before he could ponder it deeply, he suddenly remembered something else important.
“Oh no! Pang Er!”
·
Leaving the riverside, Yan Zhao headed straight up the mountain.
Ren Qingyue hadn’t expected Yan Zhao to be a child with such a strong sense of justice, heading up to eliminate evil just after hearing a story.
She knew so little about Yan Zhao before. Today, she saw her in a completely new light.
She turned things over in her mind, feeling that the man’s story just now might not be true. He was likely just trying to use Yan Zhao to deal with Black Sky Tyrant. The path ahead was perilous; she had to stop Yan Zhao; she couldn’t let her be deceived.
She jumped out of Yan Zhao’s arms and bit at her pant leg, dragging at Yan Zhao so she wouldn’t walk further.
“What’s wrong?” Yan Zhao looked at it, puzzled. She thought it over. “You don’t dare go? Then wait for me here?”
Little Fox: “…”
Yan Zhao finished speaking and walked away, completely ignoring the fox’s attitude.
It was so angry it bared its teeth, wanting to bite her again.
With no common language and unable to persuade her, Ren Qingyue resigned herself to follow behind. If Yan Zhao encountered danger, she could find a way to save her in time.
Yan Zhao followed the mountain path upwards. She walked quickly, reaching the summit before sunset.
She could already make out the Bandit Stronghold in the distance; cooking smoke was rising from within.
Yan Zhao was about to continue forward when her ear twitched, catching a faint sound.
Following the sound, she saw someone seemingly sitting in the shadow of a rocky outcropping not far away.
The person was leaning against a rock, face bruised and swollen, a front tooth missing. He was sitting there groaning in pain.
He was wearing the clothes of a Fuyun Sect disciple.
Looking closely, it was actually Luo Qi.
Yan Zhao barely recognized him.
“Yan, Yan Zhao?!” Luo Qi, however, recognized her instantly, jumping up on the spot as if he’d seen a ghost. His injuries seemingly forgotten, his voice loud as a bell. “What are you doing here?!”
With so many Demon Beasts on the way down the mountain, this loser actually managed to survive?
Yan Zhao ignored him, treating him like air and walking right past.
Luo Qi chased after her, getting in her way. “You’re going up the mountain?! How do you know there’s…”
Yan Zhao didn’t understand. “What’s there?”
Seeing her expression, she clearly didn’t know.
Luo Qi choked, not revealing another word. He snorted coldly: “Nothing. You’d better get down the mountain fast! You’re still a Fuyun Sect disciple, and even though I usually can’t stand you, I don’t want to see you die at the hands of these Bandits!”
This Senior Brother Luo seemed to have a change of heart after coming down the mountain.
Yan Zhao wasn’t buying it. “Move.”
“I told you to go down! Don’t you understand human speech?” Luo Qi’s true nature resurfaced within two sentences. “Do I have to personally chase you down?”
Yan Zhao studied his black-and-blue panda eyes. “Are your injuries healed?”
The corner of Luo Qi’s mouth twitched. He stiffened his neck. “Even, even if I’m injured, I can still beat you up!”
He glanced at the mottled bloodstains covering Yan Zhao’s body, his eyes rolling. Then, he suddenly changed his tune: “Hmph, if you insist on going, go. But if you die, don’t blame me for not warning you.”
Not far away, the hidden little fox heard their conversation, its ears pricking up, its tail swaying left and right.
The Bandit Stronghold actually had something worth Luo Qi caring so much about.
Could it be…
Yan Zhao shot him a sidelong glance, said nothing, and continued walking up the mountain.
Watching Yan Zhao’s gradually receding back, Luo Qi’s eyes flickered.
He had a flying treasure given by his Master, so he was among the first to reach the Immortal Market below Fuyun Sect. There, he spent a high price for a crucial piece of information: there was a Treasure hidden in this Bandit Stronghold.
But he hadn’t expected the local Bandits to be so formidable. Many were skilled martial artists, and with their numbers, he and Lin Chao—who he’d partnered with—were discovered just on the stronghold’s outer edge and faced unprecedented suppression.
Two fists were no match for four hands. Lin Chao was captured by the Bandits; only he had escaped.
He didn’t want Yan Zhao to see him in such a pathetic state. There was no way he’d tell her about such a humiliating experience. But since Yan Zhao showed up uninvited, maybe she could draw the Bandits’ attention and create an opportunity for him.
Even if he couldn’t get the treasure, he still had to find a way to rescue Lin Chao.
Luo Qi made up his mind and secretly followed.
Yan Zhao took the small path up the mountain and soon found the Bandit Stronghold in a wide-open area at the top.
Just as Luo Qi said, the stronghold was heavily guarded. Two corner towers stood at the main gate, with Bandits armed with bows and arrows keeping watch day and night.
She found a tall, straight tree and climbed to the top, looking down from the high vantage point.
The area in front of the stronghold was open, while the rear backed onto a steep cliff face.
Yan Zhao strained her eyes and saw a small group of Bandits leading an ox cart up the mountain, transporting goods.
She memorized the general location of the ox cart, descended the tree, circled around the front sentries, and silently infiltrated the rear.
The area behind the stronghold had fewer people, but it was very close to the main camp. Yan Zhao hid and disguised herself.
When the little fox caught up with Yan Zhao, it saw her wrapped in a layer of tree bark, several branches tucked into her waistband, and a circle of leaves on her head. She’d stuck a Blinding Talisman on her forehead. She looked like a walking tree.
“???” What is she trying to do?
Once her disguise was complete, Yan Zhao continued approaching the stronghold, seeking out the ox cart.
The ox cart was parked in front of a warehouse. The Bandits were carrying goods from the cart into the storehouse, and the empty cart was led into a nearby ox shed.
The man leading the ox cart noticed an extra short tree next to the shed.
This tree wasn’t even the height of a person, growing thin and scrawny. It looked a bit different from the surrounding trees. He took an extra look, noticed nothing amiss, and left the shed after tying up the ox.
After this man left, Yan Zhao, moving in a sideways shuffle like a crab, quietly crossed the ox shed. She had only taken a few steps when she heard more footsteps.
The fellow from before returned to grab a whip he had left in the ox cart.
Just as he was leaving, he caught a glimpse of the tree near the shed from the corner of his eye.
“?” The worker blinked in confusion. “How did this tree get over here?”
The wind blew, and the branches swayed gently.
The worker rubbed his eyes. “Three days straight of running around, I’m starting to hallucinate from exhaustion.”
The footsteps faded away, and Yan Zhao resumed her sideways crab-walk, approaching the warehouse.
Such a large warehouse, yet no one was guarding the perimeter.
Yan Zhao was just about to go over when something tripped her.
The little fox darted out from a corner, biting her pant leg and pulling her around a different way for a couple of steps.
“Didn’t I tell you to wait for me at the foot of the mountain?” Seeing the little fox, Yan Zhao was surprised but also delighted. “Don’t go messing around and cause me trouble!”
The little fox rolled its eyes at her: I don’t know who’s messing around.
It glanced at the spot Yan Zhao had been about to walk over. Can’t she see such an obvious trap?!
This is really worrying.
It was fortunate that Yan Zhao was cautious and knew how to use a talisman, otherwise, she would have been discovered just now.
At the same time, a question crossed Ren Qingyue’s mind: Just where was Yan Zhao getting all these Talismans from?
She didn’t have time to think deeply. More people were approaching the warehouse.
It was one or two patrolling Bandits.
The little fox whooshed into Yan Zhao’s arms, and Yan Zhao immediately froze in place.
The Bandits walked right past Yan Zhao. One of them looked back and asked, puzzled, “Was this tree here before?”
The other one laughed at him: “Who cares? Can a tree just move on its own?”
“Yeah, true.”
The two gradually moved away. Yan Zhao finally made it to the vicinity of the warehouse.
Outside the warehouse was a palisade fence, twice the height of a person, made of thick logs assembled together. The top of the fence was tangled with dense spikes.
Yan Zhao slowly circled the warehouse. She found no accessible entrance except for a Dog Hole.
Not far away, several bandits were gathered, drinking together.
The little fox poked its head out from Yan Zhao’s embrace, also observing the layout of the stronghold.
The main tent should be right opposite the warehouse. She wondered what Black Sky Tyrant looked like. Directly attacking was out of the question; it would alert everyone else in the stronghold.
She didn’t know what plan Yan Zhao had in mind, sneaking around like this. Could it be she was planning to use poison?
Poison was an unorthodox path; Immortal Cultivators using poison was considered contemptible. If others found out, she’d face a storm of condemnation.
But considering Yan Zhao was venturing up the mountain with such meager cultivation to eliminate evil for the common people… an exception could be made.
Ren Qingyue decided to turn a blind eye.
Suddenly,
Boom—
An unusual noise erupted from the direction they came from. Yan Zhao turned her head to look and saw a vast cloud of dust spreading.
The drinking bandits were startled by the commotion. At the same time, someone shouted: “Someone triggered the trap!” Several of them quickly grabbed their weapons and charged furiously towards the dust cloud.
·
Luo Qi had secretly followed Yan Zhao up the mountain, watching her disguise herself as a tree to infiltrate the stronghold. Why didn’t I think of that?
When they came before, relying on their cultivation, they had fought the Bandits head-on. That had consumed a lot of their Dharma Power. But while they couldn’t use other spells, casting a simple Blinding Decree was more than enough.
Luo Qi imitated her, also disguising himself as a tree.
He didn’t know where Lin Chao was hidden, but dressed like this, as long as he was careful and didn’t approach the main tent, he shouldn’t be discovered.
He passed through areas Yan Zhao had confirmed were safe. Just as he was about to reach the warehouse, he suddenly stepped onto empty air.
By the time he came to his senses, he was lying at the bottom of a large pit, covered in dirt and grime, with over a dozen gleaming broadswords pointed at his head.
The Bandits were all as strong as oxen. Luo Qi forced a strained, awkward smile onto his lips, raising his hands in surrender: “Good fellows, this is a misunderstanding, a misun— Mmph!”
The back of a sword smacked him hard on the back of the head. His head buzzed, his vision instantly went dark, and he collapsed straight down.
·
Everyone had been drawn away by the commotion. The area outside the main tent was unguarded.
This was a great opportunity to circle around to the front!
This thought had just flashed through its mind when its view suddenly dropped.
The little fox was secretly surprised. Why had Yan Zhao removed her disguise and dropped to the ground?
Then, its vision went dark.
Yan Zhao had crawled into the Dog Hole.
“…”
