Up the Mountain

Leaving the Zhou residence, Xiang Yang led the yellow horse slowly toward the outskirts of the county seat under the envious gazes of passersby, while giving Fu Da Chun instructions.

"Da Chun, keep my constable's badge safe, along with my Wild Goose Feather Saber. Take them both back to your house for now, then come pick me up at the east gate tonight."

Xiang Yang took the constable's badge from his robes. To someone about to head up the mountain, this thing was a ticking time bomb and absolutely could not be brought along. Even the Wild Goose Feather Saber in his hand could easily expose his identity, so he handed them all to Fu Da Chun.

What he carried now was a Thick-backed Saber the Zhou household had found for him. It looked large and heavy, but it was neither as sharp nor as weighty as the Wild Goose Feather Saber. Still, it was more than enough for Xiang Yang.

"Brother Xiang, don't worry. I'll keep them safe. You need to be careful too. But what pisses me off is Zhou Fugui going back on his word. He clearly said that whoever rescued his daughter would marry her and receive three tea estates too."

Fu Da Chun put away the badge. Holding the Wild Goose Feather Saber was somewhat strenuous for him, but his rosy face showed that he was in a fine mood. After all, he was still half a child and loved playing around. This Wild Goose Feather Saber was a weapon that killed men—being able to fiddle with it all afternoon, how could he not be happy?

Xiang Yang did not take it to heart. "Don't dwell on that. Besides, whether we can even rescue Miss Zhou is still uncertain, so don't imagine things too beautifully. All right, I'm leaving. Watch yourself, and don't go swaggering around with a weapon in your hand for no reason."

With that, Xiang Yang swung himself onto the horse, slapped its rump, and headed out of the city. Pedestrians scattered out of his way, leaving Fu Da Chun standing there with envy written all over his face. When would he be able to gallop on horseback too?

Yet after mounting up, Xiang Yang did not leave the city directly. Instead, he circled around to a shop selling the Four Treasures of the Study. After making sure no one was around, he dismounted and pulled out the letter Zhou Fugui had written, tearing it open to read.

As the saying went, one should not harbor the heart to harm others, but must guard against the hearts of others. Xiang Da Niu had killed two bandits from Black Wind Mountain Stronghold and wounded more than a dozen. If not for the shelter of the county seat, Xiang Yang had no doubt those mountain bandits would have seized him and dragged him up the mountain for a blood sacrifice.

Now that he was taking such a great risk to go up the mountain, his identity had to remain secret. If Zhou Fugui had intended to curry favor with the bandits of Black Wind Mountain Stronghold and sold him out to them, he truly might die without even knowing how.

Fortunately, after inspecting the letter from every angle, Xiang Yang found nothing amiss. Only then did he enter the shop to buy an envelope and disguise it as though it had never been opened.

It was fortunate that the Zhou family knew nothing of this, or they would surely have broken out in a cold sweat. They had indeed entertained such thoughts, but Xiang Yang was still a constable, and Fu Da Chun, that troublesome boy, knew the inside story. They had their misgivings; otherwise, they might truly have sold Xiang Yang to Black Wind Mountain Stronghold.

After leaving the city, Xiang Yang traveled straight down a rugged narrow path. Hooves struck the earth, raising clouds of dust. The weeds and shrubs lining both sides of the road stretched as far as the eye could see, making the place look desolate indeed. It was, after all, only a small county town.

When Xiang Yang saw the faint, hazy silhouette of Black Mountain in the distance, his heart stirred slightly. He took down the waterskin hanging at the yellow horse's side and drank a mouthful, dousing the restlessness in his heart. Then he squeezed the horse's flanks hard and rode straight toward Black Mountain.

Black Mountain was the largest mountain range in Anyuan and several nearby counties. It stretched for hundreds of li, ravines crisscrossing it and peaks clustering like a gathering crowd. The deeper one went, the more dangerous it became. Fierce beasts roamed in packs within, and every year dozens of unlucky souls ended up as food in wild beasts' bellies.

Of course, such a vast Black Mountain was not without its benefits. As the saying went, those who lived by the mountains ate from the mountains, and those who lived by the sea ate from the sea. Li Guo Village, for instance, had organized a hunting party that made its living hunting along one section of the mountain range. The price fetched by some fierce beasts was far greater than what one could earn tending crops all year round.

Beyond that, Black Mountain was most famous for Black Wind Mountain Stronghold, a dark and vicious force that gave even the authorities headaches while leaving them powerless. Aside from Li Guo Village, there was not a single village in Anyuan that had not suffered at the hands of these mountain bandits.

Once he entered the mountain path, Xiang Yang found a concealed thicket and tied the yellow horse there. Carrying his bundle on his back and gripping the Thick-backed Saber in hand, he remained constantly alert to the surroundings. Strictly speaking, once he had entered the mountain—especially the outer reaches of Black Wind Mountain—he might encounter Black Wind bandits at any moment.

The mountain path was rugged, but Xiang Yang was young and full of vigor. Having cultivated the Iron Crotch Technique, his strength and endurance had greatly increased, so he did not feel particularly tired. He soon climbed over two hills and approached Black Wind Mountain Stronghold.

But just as Xiang Yang rested against a tree as thick as a man's thigh, a sharp whoosh made him roll aside on instinct. His heart hammered wildly, and cold sweat covered his back. Luckily, the bandits' archery was poor; coupled with his quick reactions and focused mind, he had narrowly avoided that arrow.

With a clang, his long saber left its sheath and lay across his chest. His body was in its strongest defensive stance. Using a large tree to conceal himself, Xiang Yang listened carefully to the movements in the forest.

"Are you heroes of Black Wind Stronghold? Please don't attack. I have important business at the stronghold and seek an audience. I ask several brothers to make things convenient and take me to see your chiefs."

Xiang Yang's voice was full and powerful, carrying far through the woods. Before long, the rustling of leaves sounded, accompanied by several heavy footsteps drawing closer and closer.

"You want to see the chiefs? Who are you? Come out and speak first, or don't blame us for being impolite."

Judging by the voice, it belonged to a rough man in his thirties or forties. His voice was coarse and vicious, making Xiang Yang hesitate. The people outside had bows and arrows. His saber skills were only better than those of ordinary men; he could not withstand a relentless volley of arrows.

"My name is Yang Xiang. Entrusted by Lord Zhou Fugui of Anyuan County, I have come to your stronghold to meet several chiefs and discuss in detail the ransom for Miss Zhou. Please do not attack. I will come out now."

Xiang Yang did not hesitate for long before speaking. As he spoke, he stepped out from behind the tree, his right hand gripping the long saber tightly. If the men opposite him made a move, he would not simply let them butcher him at will.

Fortunately, perhaps Xiang Yang's words had worked. Four figures emerged more than ten meters away from him, but none attacked.

The four wore coarse hemp clothes and seemed to live rather poorly, yet each was broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, with fierce eyes and weapons in hand. At a glance, they were clearly not people to be trifled with.

"Well, well, you're just a brat whose hair hasn't even fully grown in, yet you dared come alone to our stronghold. You've got some guts. We men admire your kind most. Sheathe your blade and don't make any sudden moves."

The lead bandit spoke with his bow drawn and aimed at Xiang Yang. Seeing that Xiang Yang sensibly put away his saber, he lowered his bow as well, nodded, then gave the three bandits beside him a look. The three understood and spread out to search the area. Only after quite a while did they return.

"No one else—just him. He doesn't look like one of the authorities, and he's far too young."

One bandit who looked somewhat amiable spoke to the leader. Yet there was a trace of greed in his eyes as he looked at Xiang Yang. It was not as though people had never come to pay ransom before. Every time, they could make a tidy profit and spend a while living as carefree as immortals.

And the name of Zhou Fugui, the great tea merchant, had long been known to people like them who robbed homes and plundered houses. For such a wealthy patron, how much would he pay to ransom his own daughter?

Xiang Yang let out a breath of relief and raised both hands, showing that he posed no threat. "Heroes, I have Lord Zhou's personal letter, seal, and banknotes on me. There is absolutely no forgery. Please take me up the mountain so I can discuss the matter in detail with the chiefs."