Going Up the Mountain

Chapter 9: Ascending the Mountain

Xu Huan should still be in Shiqiao Town.

Lu Zhaojin's strength had greatly increased, and it was time to settle scores with the Zhang and Zhao families.

He could also gain experience points to improve his Golden Body Technique and Flowing Water Art.

So, a meeting was inevitable.

Lu Zhaojin remembered the way he came, so he didn't need anyone to lead him. He walked to the entrance and encountered the maid, Xiao Liu.

Xiao Liu bowed respectfully, still a little timid in front of him, perhaps due to being frightened at the ruined temple that time. "Young Master Lu, my lady has important matters to discuss and will trouble you to stay a while longer."

Lu Zhaojin had more important things to do. "Find someone else."

Lu Zhaojin left directly.

Xiao Liu pouted, shook her fists at Lu Zhaojin's retreating back, and then went back to inform her lady.

He left the county office.

Lu Zhaojin found a blacksmith shop in town and asked the blacksmith to forge a Hundred Refined Sword.

After paying the deposit, the blacksmith said he could pick it up tomorrow.

Lu Zhaojin would have to stay in Qishan County for another day.

But in Shiqiao Town, the Zhang family was in an uproar.

Zhang Mang had not returned all night.

Zhang Heng felt uneasy, fearing something had happened to him, so he sent people to search. They discovered the corpses of Elder Gu and his group, and immediately felt that something was terribly wrong.

They expanded their search area.

Then they ran into people from the Moon Wolf Gang who were also searching the mountain.

They found a few gang members and, with them as guides, discovered Zhang Mang's corpse in the ruined temple, though it was unrecognizable and gruesome.

The gang members did not conceal anything, saying the killer was a young man.

However.

The gang members also said that their second-in-command had already received the news that the young man was in Qishan County and, at this time, should have died under the second-in-command's claws.

The Zhang family guards carried Zhang Mang's body back.

Zhang Heng's face was extremely grim, and his eyes seemed to burn with rage. He felt that the young man deserved to die and vowed that if he caught him, he would make him suffer extreme torture.

Zhang Jiao rushed back and, upon seeing the corpse in the hall, was also filled with rage. "Father, where is the murderer of Little Mang? I will capture him and make him wish he were dead, his body cut into ten thousand pieces."

Zhang Heng said coldly, "No need. That person has already been killed by the Moon Wolf Gang's second-in-command."

Zhang Jiao knew Mu Zhuo. He had accompanied Zhang Heng to Qishan County before and seen him. Mu Zhuo had the strength of the late Eighth Rank and formidable claw techniques, but Zhang Jiao was still not satisfied. "So he died too easily."

Zhang Jiao remembered something. "Are we still looking for Lu Jinlin?"

Zhang Heng nodded. "Of course, we must. Lord Xu ordered that we must see him alive or find his corpse before we can rest easy."

Zhang Jiao asked again, "What about Lu Zhaojin?"

He was slightly puzzled. "I searched both banks of the Qi River with my men last night and found nothing."

Zhang Heng pondered. "He probably sank to the bottom of the river."

Zhang Heng had Zhang Mang's body carried away and properly placed, waiting for a propitious day in a couple of days for a good burial.

Zhang Heng then looked at Zhang Jiao, his most valued and promising eldest son, and his mood lightened slightly. "Jiao'er, is there anything else?"

Zhang Jiao nodded. "Several senior brothers I'm friendly with at the Dingshan Sect just sent me a letter saying they will arrive in Shiqiao Town tomorrow and will be staying at our residence for a while."

Zhang Mang's death made Zhang Heng uneasy, so he did not want Zhang Jiao to be in danger. He was the one he had designated as his successor. "For what reason?"

Zhang Jiao did not hide anything. "A while ago, I received news from a medicinal farmer in Qishan County that there is a hundred-year-old Blood Ginseng on Mount Qi. It is extremely precious. If consumed, it can help one break through to the Eighth Rank without hindrance, and it will also be greatly beneficial for breaking through to the Seventh Rank in the future."

In the past, this would have been excellent news.

Now, hearing it, Zhang Heng felt a pang of unease, as if he were about to lose something important, and wanted Zhang Jiao not to take the risk.

However, that Blood Ginseng was indeed valuable. If Zhang Jiao could truly consume it, it would be the guarantee for his Zhang family to rise rapidly.

Zhang Jiao saw Zhang Heng's concern and said earnestly, "Father, rest assured. On this trip, several senior brothers and sisters will be assisting, and with the prestige of the Dingshan Sect, it is a sure thing."

Zhang Heng finally nodded. "When will you depart?"

Zhang Jiao said seriously, "We will depart immediately on the day my senior brothers and sisters arrive in Shiqiao Town."

Zhang Heng remembered Zhao Jinzhi. "Have you found anything?"

Zhang Jiao shook his head regretfully. "The pawns I placed in the Zhao residence have not brought back any good news. Zhao Jinzhi went with his mother to her family home two months ago and has not yet returned."

Zhang Heng said nothing more.

The next day.

The morning mist was still present, with wisps of cooking smoke curling upwards.

Lu Zhaojin had been waiting by the blacksmith shop since early morning. After finishing two large steamed buns, the shop finally opened.

The blacksmith handed the forged Hundred Refined Sword to Lu Zhaojin.

Lu Zhaojin paid the remaining balance and examined the sword in his hand.

The blacksmith's craftsmanship was indeed good. It was much more refined than his old iron sword, with a sharp edge that could slice through a strand of hair. If he was fast enough in combat, he could slit an enemy's throat without drawing blood.

The weapon was ready.

Now, all that was left was to drink the blood of his enemy.

He hadn't slacked off last night. Although he had no experience, he could still cultivate on his own, but the progress was indeed dismal.

The proficiency of both cultivation techniques remained unchanged.

Lu Zhaojin sighed helplessly. Was the talent of this body truly this poor?

Without overthinking it, Lu Zhaojin headed towards Mount Qi again.

This time, however, he was not fleeing.

An inn, private room.

Zhao Jinzhi exhaled a deep breath and opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them. "Late Eighth Rank. Breaking through to Seventh Rank is only a matter of time, but time is of the essence. That Blood Ginseng must be obtained."

Zhao Jinzhi took out a bundle, slung it over his shoulder, and then left the inn, heading towards Mount Qi.

There were many martial artists traveling with him, but most of them were Ninth Rank, with only a few at Eighth Rank. They were all after the Blood Ginseng on Mount Qi.

Shiqiao Town.

Zhang Jiao finally waited for his senior brothers and sisters from the Dingshan Sect.

There were three of them in total.

The two young men wore Dingshan Sect disciple uniforms, exuding confidence and a touch of arrogance, as if being a Dingshan Sect disciple was something to be extremely proud of, and they never looked down on others.

They escorted a woman in the middle.

The woman wore a purple dress and had a slightly stern expression.

Zhang Jiao cupped his fists in greeting. "Senior Brother Li Yue, Senior Brother Zhou Ran, Senior Sister Mu Zi."

Li Yue was the strongest among them, an inner disciple of the Dingshan Sect with a cultivation of Eighth Rank mid-stage.

The other two were at Eighth Rank early-stage.

This trip to Mount Qi was initiated by him. "No need to delay, let's set off immediately. We came for the Blood Ginseng, which is an unexpected bonus. We are under orders from Elder Hengshan to find the murderer of our Senior Brother Mo Yu."

Zhou Ran said, "Junior Brother Zhang Jiao, don't you have some clues? Why don't you tell us who you suspect, and we can bring them in for questioning. Even if it's not them, Elder Hengshan won't blame us for not attending to official business."

Mu Zi nodded, thinking it was a good idea.

Zhang Jiao smiled. "I'll tell you senior brothers and sister slowly on the way..."

Zhang Jiao led them to the port, and they took a boat across the river. On the boat, he spoke of his father's suspicions about Zhao Jinzhi.