Up the Mountain

Up the Mountain

Xu Huan should still be in Shiqiao Town.

Lu Zhaojin's strength had now surged greatly. It was also time to return and settle accounts with the Zhang Family and Zhao Family.

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

So, sooner or later, they were bound to meet.

Lu Zhaojin remembered the way he had come, so he needed no one to guide him. As he walked to the entrance alone, he ran into the maid Xiao Liu.

Xiao Liu bowed in salute. She was still somewhat timid around him, perhaps because she had been frightened by what happened at the ruined temple. "Young Master Lu, my mistress has an important matter to discuss with you. We will have to trouble you to stay a while longer."

Lu Zhaojin had more important matters to attend to. "Please seek someone more capable."

Lu Zhaojin left directly.

Xiao Liu curled her lips and swung two fists at Lu Zhaojin's retreating back before returning to inform her mistress of the matter.

Leaving the County Yamen.

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

After he paid the deposit, the blacksmith told him to return tomorrow to collect it.

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

But over in Shiqiao Town, the Zhang Family had exploded into uproar.

Zhang Mang had not returned all night.

A sense of unease rose in Zhang Heng's heart. Fearing that something had happened, he sent people to look for him, only for them to discover the corpses of Elder Gu's group. At once, he knew something was terribly wrong.

They expanded the scope of their search.

Then they ran into members of the Moon Wolf Gang, who were also searching the mountains.

They found several gang members and had them lead the way. At the ruined temple, they found Zhang Mang's corpse, though it was already unrecognizable and too gruesome to behold.

The gang members did not conceal anything. They said the killer was a young man.

However.

The gang members also said that their Second Leader had received word that the youth was in Qishan County. At this hour, he should already have died beneath the Second Leader's claws.

The Zhang Family guards carried Zhang Mang's corpse back.

Zhang Heng's expression was exceedingly ugly. It seemed as though flames of fury burned in his eyes. He felt that the youth's death was no great loss; if that person had fallen into his hands, he would certainly have made him suffer the agony of cruel tortures.

Zhang Jiao hurried back. When he saw the corpse in the hall, rage also surged through him. "Father, where is the murderer who killed Xiao Mang? I will go capture him and bring him back. I will make sure he suffers a fate worse than death and is torn to pieces."

Zhang Heng said coldly, "No need. That man has already been slain by the Moon Wolf Gang's Second Leader."

Zhang Jiao knew Mu Zhuo. He had once followed Zhang Heng to Qishan County and met him there. Mu Zhuo possessed late eighth-rank strength, and his claw techniques were formidable. Yet Zhang Jiao was still not satisfied. "He got off too easily."

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

Zhang Heng nodded. "Naturally. Lord Xu gave the order: dead or alive, we must see him before we can rest easy."

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

He had some doubts. "Last night, I led men to search both banks of the Qi River, but found nothing."

Zhang Heng said after pondering, "He has probably sunk to the bottom of the river."

Zhang Heng had Zhang Mang's corpse carried away and properly laid out. In two days, they would choose an auspicious day and give him a proper burial.

Zhang Heng then looked at Zhang Jiao, his most valued eldest son and the one with the brightest future. His mood grew somewhat less heavy. "Does Jiao'er have anything else?"

Zhang Jiao nodded. "Several senior brothers I am on good terms with in the Dingshan Sect just sent me a letter. They said they will arrive in Shiqiao Town tomorrow and stay at our residence for some time."

Zhang Mang's death had made Zhang Heng uneasy, so he did not wish for Zhang Jiao to come to harm as well. This was the heir he had personally chosen. "For what matter?"

Zhang Jiao did not hide it. "Some time ago, I received word from herb gatherers in Qishan County that there is a hundred-year blood ginseng growing on Mount Qi. It is exceedingly precious. If consumed, it can allow one to break through to the eighth rank without obstruction, and it will also be of great benefit when breaking through to the seventh rank in the future."

In the past, this would absolutely have been good news.

But now, upon hearing it, Zhang Heng felt a palpitation in his heart, as though he would lose something important. Thus, he wanted Zhang Jiao not to take the risk.

Yet that blood ginseng truly was valuable. If Zhang Jiao could consume it, it would also guarantee the Zhang Family's rapid rise.

Seeing Zhang Heng's concern, Zhang Jiao said earnestly, "Father, rest assured. Several senior brothers and sisters will be assisting me on this journey, and we also have the prestige of the Dingshan Sect behind us. Victory is certain."

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

Zhang Jiao said seriously, "The moment my senior brothers and sisters arrive in Shiqiao Town, we will set off that very day."

Zhang Heng recalled Zhao Jinzhi. "Have you uncovered anything?"

Zhang Jiao shook his head regretfully. "The piece we planted in the Zhao residence has brought back no useful news. Zhao Jinzhi left with his mother two months ago to visit her family, and he has yet to return."

Zhang Heng said no more.

The next day.

The morning mist still lingered, and cooking smoke curled into the air.

Lu Zhaojin waited outside the blacksmith's shop early in the morning. After finishing two large meat buns, the shop finally opened.

The burly blacksmith took out the forged Hundred Refined Sword and handed it to Lu Zhaojin.

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

This blacksmith's craftsmanship was quite good. It was far more refined than that iron sword, its edge sharp enough to sever a hair blown against it. Used to kill enemies, if one was fast enough, it could slit a throat without drawing blood.

The weapon was ready.

Now all it lacked was the blood of his enemies.

He had not slacked off the previous night either. Though he had gained no experience, he could still cultivate on his own; only, as expected, the progress was dismal.

The proficiency of both cultivation arts had not budged an inch.

Lu Zhaojin was helpless. Was this body's aptitude truly so poor?

He did not dwell on it.

Lu Zhaojin ascended Mount Qi once more.

Only this time, he was no longer fleeing for his life.

At an inn, inside a guest room.

Zhao Jinzhi slowly exhaled a breath of foul air and opened his eyes. A sharp gleam flashed in their depths. "Late eighth rank. Breaking through to the seventh rank is merely a matter of time, but time is pressing and cannot be delayed. I must obtain that blood ginseng."

Zhao Jinzhi took out a bundle, slung it over his body, then left the inn and headed toward Mount Qi.

There were actually many martial artists traveling alongside him, though most were ninth rank, with only a few at the eighth rank. All of them had come for the blood ginseng on Mount Qi.

Shiqiao Town.

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

There were three of them in all.

The two young men wore the Dingshan Sect disciples' uniforms. High-spirited and proud, they seemed to regard being disciples of the Dingshan Sect as something immensely glorious, never deigning to look others in the eye.

They flanked a woman between them.

The woman wore a purple dress, and her features carried a faintly harsh look.

Zhang Jiao clasped his fist in salute. "Senior Brother Li Yue, Senior Brother Zhou Ran, Senior Sister Mu Zi."

Li Yue was the strongest among them, a mid eighth-rank martial artist and an inner disciple of the Dingshan Sect.

The other two were at the early eighth rank.

He had also been the one to initiate and lead this trip to Mount Qi. "There is no need to delay. We depart at once. Our coming here and finding that blood ginseng is an unexpected delight. Elder Hengshan has ordered us to find the murderer who killed Senior Brother Mo Yu."

Zhou Ran said, "Doesn't Junior Brother Zhang Jiao have some clues? Why not tell us whom you suspect? We can capture them and interrogate them. Even if it is not them, Elder Hengshan will not blame us so long as we do not delay the proper matter."

Mu Zi nodded, feeling that this was a good course of action.

Zhang Jiao smiled. "I will explain this matter slowly to my senior brothers and sister on the road..."

Zhang Jiao led them to the docks and took a boat across the river, telling them aboard the vessel of his father's suspicions regarding Zhao Jinzhi.