In Crisis

Upon reaching the other shore, under the surveillance of the stationed guards, the group disembarked once more.

The opposing commander, along with his subordinates, came to pay their respects to Shang Chaozong. They hadn't completely rebelled yet, and nominally, they were still subordinates of the Imperial Court. Shang Chaozong was also still a Prince of the Imperial Court, so it was only natural and proper for them to come and pay their respects. Overall, they treated Shang Chaozong with courtesy and politeness. They were well aware that Shang Chaozong wasn't truly aligned with the Imperial Court, so he couldn't be considered an enemy.

The local commander intended to host a banquet in their honor, but Shang Chaozong politely declined, only requesting some supplies. He harbored no good feelings towards these rebellious forces who had seized power for themselves, especially since he was royalty.

However, they remained courteous and specially dispatched a ten-person squad to escort Shang Chaozong and his group, stating they would escort them until they were out of Guangyi Commandery.

Shang Chaozong did not refuse, nor could he. He understood that while it was called an escort, it was in reality surveillance. After all, he held five hundred elite cavalry, and with their formation, they could charge into battle. Thousands of infantry in formation might not be able to stop them. They could fully cooperate with the Imperial Court's actions. Given the relationship between Guangyi Commandery and the Imperial Court, they had to be cautious.

The group set off again, with a small tail following behind. The young general leading them was named Qu Wu. He followed at a moderate distance, monitoring them, and would transmit reports on the situation along the way via post stations.

Entering the territory of Guangyi Commandery, they were actually not far from Little South Mountain. The next day, they finally arrived at the foot of Little South Mountain. The hilly area by the side of the official road was the so-called Little South Mountain.

Shang Shuqing tilted her head and called out, "Brother!"

Shang Chaozong raised his hand with a grave expression. The reason for his solemnity was that the group had already made a judgment: Niu Youdao would eventually part ways with them, and they couldn't keep him. The reason he hadn't left yet was likely related to the matter of delivering the letter. When they reached Little South Mountain, it would probably be time for Niu Youdao to bid farewell.

Seeing the signal, the group halted their movements, reining in their horses.

Sitting upright on his horse, Shang Shuqing, wearing a gauze hat, leaned forward slightly and turned her head to look at Niu Youdao on the other side. "Master, aren't you going to deliver a letter? We've arrived at Little South Mountain."

"Oh! Have we arrived?" Niu Youdao feigned ignorance.

Chu Ze, the centurion responsible for scouting the path ahead, pointed to the road leading into the mountain not far away. "Nanshan Temple is entered through this path!"

Niu Youdao turned back and pointed to the bundle hanging on Yuan Gang's horse. "Monkey, the letter is in the bag. Can you run this errand for me!"

Yuan Gang nodded silently, loosened the reins of his horse, and his mount moved out of the formation. He turned his horse around, flicked his whip towards a personal guard in the group, and said unceremoniously, "You, come with me!"

The personal guard, named Su Jieren, was taken aback when he was pointed at and looked towards his leader. Shang Chaozong turned his head and nodded in acknowledgment. Only then did Su Jieren spur his horse forward. Yuan Gang flicked his reins and galloped towards the mountain path, with Su Jieren following close behind.

"Be on guard!" Lan Ruoting shouted, simultaneously giving a signal to Guan Tie beside him.

Guan Tie understood, nodded slightly, and led a detachment of men in one direction to keep watch. Most of the five hundred cavalry were ordered to spread out and maintain vigilance.

Qu Wu, the young general from Guangyi Commandery responsible for surveillance, ran over with his men and asked, "Prince, what's wrong?"

Lan Ruoting replied with a smile, "Nothing. We've sent someone to Nanshan Temple with a letter. It won't take long for them to return."

Qu Wu said "Oh," and led his men away, constantly looking around...

"Follow me!"

Yuan Gang, galloping on the mountain path, suddenly turned back and shouted. His horse turned, veered off the mountain road, and charged into a dense forest with flat terrain.

Su Jieren followed, turning and rushing in. Not long after entering the forest, Yuan Gang, who was ahead, suddenly reined in his horse and silently observed his surroundings.

Su Jieren rode closer and stopped, asking suspiciously, "Brother Yuan, aren't we going to Nanshan Temple to deliver a letter?"

"Dismount!" Yuan Gang said, then swung his leg off the horse, took down the bundle from his horse's back, and took out a set of clothes from inside. It was Niu Youdao's attire.

As Su Jieren dismounted, he caught the clothes Yuan Gang threw at him, holding them with a bewildered expression.

Yuan Gang gestured with his chin towards him, indicating, "Change your clothes!"

"Why?" Su Jieren asked, confused.

Yuan Gang: "Just change them when I tell you to. Why so many questions!"

Su Jieren was somewhat helpless and complied. His movements were a bit slow, and Yuan Gang urged, "Hurry up!"

After quickly changing his outer garment, Yuan Gang stepped forward and pulled at his hair, intending to change his hairstyle.

This time, Su Jieren refused, covering his topknot and stepping back defensively. "What exactly are you trying to do?"

Yuan Gang didn't force him. "If you're unwilling, go back. Go back and tell the Prince that you're unwilling to run errands for me and ask him to find someone else."

"..." Su Jieren was speechless and helpless, eventually complying.

A moment later, Yuan Gang styled his hair into Niu Youdao's casual ponytail tied at the back of his head. He placed a letter on Su Jieren's chest. "What you need to do is simple: impersonate the Master and go to Nanshan Temple to deliver the letter. Say you are Niu Youdao, a disciple of the Shangqing Sect, sent by the Sect Master with a letter, and request an audience with the Abbot! Delivering the letter is secondary; the main task is to observe the situation inside the temple. Do you understand?" The last sentence was purely to reassure Su Jieren and mask the subtle danger.

After a series of instructions, the two mounted their horses again, left the forest, and continued along the mountain path. When they reached the location of Nanshan Temple, visible at the mountain peak, Yuan Gang once again rode off alone into the forest, while Su Jieren rode his horse towards the summit alone.

Hiding in a secluded spot in the woods, Yuan Gang secured his horse and quickly crept towards the mountaintop on foot. He finally hid in the canopy of a large tree to observe. He personally witnessed Su Jieren enter the temple gates.

"Abbot, there's someone outside claiming to be Niu Youdao, a disciple of the Shangqing Sect. He says he was sent by the Sect Master to deliver a letter to you," a disciple reported.

In the main hall of the backyard, the Abbot Yuan Fang was having tea and talking with Song Yanqing and others when a disciple came in to report.

Before Yuan Fang could reply, Song Yanqing abruptly stood up, his eyes gleaming. He chuckled, "They've finally arrived!" Turning back to Yuan Fang, he said, "Let him in!" He then beckoned Xu Yitian and Chen Guishuo, leading them to a small side room to temporarily withdraw. Song Yanqing poked several holes in the paper of the partition window.

Yuan Fang was quite helpless. He didn't want to get involved in the disputes between cultivation sects; he, as a mere minor demon, couldn't afford to provoke them. But there was no choice. He waved to the reporting disciple, "Please let him in!"

Soon, Su Jieren, who had been observing his surroundings all along, arrived. After meeting Yuan Fang, he paid his respects and took out the letter from his embrace, presenting it with both hands.

In the small side room, Song Yanqing frowned. How could he not recognize Niu Youdao? The person who arrived had merely adopted Niu Youdao's appearance; it wasn't Niu Youdao at all. He turned to Xu Yitian and Chen Guishuo and said, "Go out and see what's going on!"

The two accepted the order and walked directly out of the side room, not bothering to avoid the fake Niu Youdao, and quickly departed.

Yuan Fang opened the letter, unfolded the paper inside, and examined it from top to bottom, left to right, and front to back. He repeatedly looked at it but couldn't understand its meaning. He couldn't find any writing on it; it was clearly just a blank sheet of paper!

Song Yanqing, who had walked out, snatched the letter from his hand. He glanced at Su Jieren and then looked at the content of the letter in his hand. His eyes widened in surprise. What was going on? He then began to examine it repeatedly as well...

At the main entrance of Nanshan Temple, Xu Yitian rushed out quickly, running down the steps towards the foot of the mountain, his gaze scanning both sides.

Yuan Gang, hiding in the tree canopy, was quietly observing. His gaze suddenly flickered. He saw another figure flash out from within the temple's walls. The person paused on the wall, then sprang into the air, landing on a treetop outside the temple. Using the treetop for leverage, they lightly sprang up again, as nimble as a flying swallow, moving from treetop to treetop. Their gaze was also searching left and right.

The person was Chen Guishuo, cooperating with Xu Yitian, one above and one below, to survey the area.

Yuan Gang, however, was inwardly lamenting. It was too much of a coincidence; Chen Guishuo was drifting in the exact direction he was hiding. Now, he didn't even dare to change his hiding spot, knowing that any movement could expose him. He remained perfectly still, hoping Chen Guishuo wouldn't notice him.

But luck was not on his side. Before Chen Guishuo, who sprang from the treetops ahead, even landed on the canopy nearby, his eyes flashed, and he had already locked onto Yuan Gang. His pupils contracted sharply, and with a clang, he drew his sword, flicked it to create a sword flower, and lunged directly at Yuan Gang, who was hiding.

Yuan Gang ducked and slid, stepping onto a fork in the tree trunk. Using the momentum, he charged and leaped, also pouncing out from one tree to another.

With a few swish sounds, branches and leaves shattered and flew. Amidst the flashing sword light, Chen Guishuo's sword shadows pulverized the obstructing treetops and branches. He pushed off a tree, not pausing, and like a swallow piercing through rain, he shot through the canopy. He and his sword continued to pursue Yuan Gang.

Yuan Gang, who had leaped to another tree, grabbed a branch, bending it down, and landed. He darted through the forest, running at full speed. Seeing that his opponent was as light as a swallow and could fly by stepping on treetops, he knew he was in trouble. This was no ordinary warrior.

Chen Guishuo, who was in pursuit, kept his feet off the ground, his swift feet pounding on the tree trunks in the forest. His speed was far beyond Yuan Gang's escape speed. In an instant, he caught up, swung his palm in mid-air, and unleashed a Profound Clear Palm. The palm strike whistled, sending its force through the air towards Yuan Gang.

Sensing danger, Yuan Gang had no time to dodge. His back tensed rigidly and arched, and with a clang, he took the palm strike head-on. The impact sent him accelerating forward, suddenly widening the distance between himself and his pursuer, and he continued to flee.

Chen Guishuo exclaimed in surprise, "Huh?" He hadn't expected the opponent to be fine after taking his palm strike. He continued to pursue Yuan Gang, who was weaving through the trees to evade him. Closing in again, he learned from his mistake and thrust his sword in mid-air.

Yuan Gang dodged with a sidestep, his arm brushing against a tree trunk in front of him. Using the momentum, he circled behind the tree, effectively making a full loop around it. He then unleashed a punch, which whistled as it powerfully struck towards Chen Guishuo, who was behind the tree.

Chen Guishuo, whose sword was trailing along the tree trunk, was caught off guard by Yuan Gang's attack from the other side. He was even more surprised that Yuan Gang dared to counterattack. Judging by the sound of the punch, the force seemed quite formidable. In his haste, he struck out with his palm to block the punch.

Clang! With a resounding impact, Yuan Gang's body lost control, and he tumbled down the mountain backward.

Chen Guishuo also staggered, landing and retreating several steps. He braced himself against the slope to stabilize, feeling a bit alarmed. This fellow possessed immense brute strength!

Yuan Gang's punch had thoroughly ignited Chen Guishuo's killing intent. He leaped up again, quickly catching up. Sword light descended from the sky, enveloping Yuan Gang below. This time, he had no intention of capturing him alive for questioning; he was determined to deliver a fatal blow!

PS: Don't waste your recommendation votes, cast them for me!