The Monster Blocking the Way

At the foot of Cloud Mist Mountain, two large streams flowed by. Locals called the eastern one Flood Dragon Stream and the western one Magpie Stream. When the weather was hot, the water vapor would rise and form a vast white mist in the mountains, which never dispersed.

Although it was deep winter now, the temperature in the mountains was relatively high. The fast-flowing Flood Dragon Stream had not completely frozen over.

Two men in straw raincoats were working in the tea garden by the stream, hoeing the soil and turning out pests that had burrowed underground to hibernate, letting them freeze to death naturally.

In the spring of the following year, when all things revived and insect pests decreased, the quality of the tea would be even better.

As the old man straightened up to rest, he suddenly saw a young man walking towards them on the snowy ground, seemingly heading for Cloud Mist Mountain.

The man was wearing a black robe, with delicate features. He looked around, appearing to be a newcomer to the area.

Seeing him approach, the old man called out, "Young man, don't go any further."

The man heard him and walked over to pay his respects, saying, "Old sir, why can't I go forward?"

The old man asked, "Are you from out of town?"

The black-robed man cupped his hands and said, "This junior is from Shuntian Prefecture. My family is in business. I heard that Bailuo County has a famous Cloud Mist Tea with excellent sales, so I came to visit."

At this point, the young man also stopped his work and sighed, "Alas, like you tea merchants who come to Cloud Mist Mountain without understanding the situation, we see a few cases every year where deals fall through and people lose their lives. My father is kind-hearted, which is why he's warning you not to go into the mountains."

The black-robed man exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be that there's a band of monsters living in Cloud Mist Mountain who block the way?"

A wry smile appeared on the old man's face, and he said in a low voice, "It's not monsters, but it's not far from it."

"Then what is it?"

The young man sneered, "A murderous demon king, a Yama who claims lives!"

The old man waved his hand and whispered, "It's fine to tell you. There's a Black Wind Stockade in the mountains. Its leader is called 'Earth-Drilling Centipede' Cao Long. He wields a steel fork weighing over five hundred catties. When he swings it, no one can match him."

"He leads hundreds of bandits and occupies Cloud Mist Mountain, robbing and plundering, committing all sorts of evil. Even the government dares not oppose him. The area for ten miles around has become his territory. If you walk into the mountains, aren't you like a fat sheep falling into a wolf's mouth?"

The black-robed man asked doubtfully, "A steel fork weighing over five hundred catties? Is this Cao Long really that powerful?"

The old man said, "Would I lie to you? He lifted a large stone pedestal with one hand, walked down from the mountain, all the way to Flood Dragon Stream, and threw the pedestal into the stream. I wasn't the only one who saw this. He must be at least... four or five hundred catties."

The young man deeply hated the bandits of Black Wind Stockade, but remembering that terrifying scene, he could only feel indignant but dare not speak.

The black-robed man asked, "If Black Wind Stockade is so powerful, why are you still able to plant tea here with peace of mind?"

"That's a long story."

The old man sighed, "Cloud Mist Mountain was originally a blessed land, with tea gardens and medicinal herb gardens everywhere. It even produced famous products like Cloud Mist Immortal Tea and Cloud Mist Silver Down."

"Since the bandits appeared, these tea gardens and medicinal herb gardens have all been abandoned."

"Until two years ago, Master Huang approached Black Wind Stockade and leased all the abandoned tea gardens and medicinal herb gardens at the foot of Cloud Mist Mountain for an annual rent of several thousand taels, and re-hired people to plant them."

"We, the long-term laborers of Master Huang's family, are generally not bothered by the bandits."

Zhang Yu nodded slightly. It seemed Cloud Mist Mountain was indeed a treasure land, provided this band of black wind was eliminated. With this place as a base, he could advance to attack Pingyang City or retreat to build a stronghold for self-preservation, slowly accumulating strength.

As for "Earth-Drilling Centipede" Cao Long?

If he were truly a master of the Qi Sea Realm, he would indeed be troublesome.

Zhang Yu always felt that the various rumors were too deliberate. He had to see for himself the weight of this master who loved to show off his strength in public.

Zhang Yu thanked the father and son and continued towards Cloud Mist Mountain. Naturally, he did not take the mountain path patrolled by the lackeys. Instead, he used the Flowing Clouds and Water skill to weave through the mountain forests on either side. When he encountered cliffs or steep slopes, he would throw out his prepared grappling hook and climb up lightly.

"The terrain here is indeed treacherous. If the people in the stockade were determined, they could set up traps, snares, and poisoned thorns in the jungle, and even a martial arts master would have to shed a layer of skin."

Half an hour later, Zhang Yu poked his head out from a steep cliff and observed quietly.

The wooden stockade before him was located on a flat area at the mountain top.

A wooden plaque hung above the stockade gate, with the words 'Black Wind Stockade' written in bold, rough strokes.

Beside it were two wooden watchtowers, six or seven meters high, each with a bronze gong hanging from it. Two lackeys stood on the towers, monitoring the mountain path directly facing the stockade gate.

The other three sides of the stockade wall were more rudimentary, made of logs about two meters high, only slightly sturdier than a fence.

However, a large army attacking the mountain could only come up the mountain path in front of the stockade gate. The other sides were sheer cliffs, so they were not the focus of defense.

"Open the gate, we're back!"

"Leader Wang, we've robbed so many warm foot things, can you give me one first?"

"Are you tired of living? All the warm foot things that were robbed must be inspected by the Great Leader first. This is the rule. If you want to die, go die yourself, don't drag me down!"

"I was just joking, Leader Wang. Why take it seriously?"

"Old Second Wu, you already have seven little wives, and you're still coveting them? Aren't you afraid of exhausting your energy and dying early?"

A group of bandits who had gone down the mountain to scavenge returned, their voices loud and boisterous as they entered the stockade gate.

Zhang Yu returned to the base of the cliff along the grappling hook rope, ate two white flour cakes, and then put on the Green Jade Thumb Ring, beginning to circulate his internal energy.

He had been cultivating internal energy for a short time and his foundation was shallow. Although he had some fortunate encounters, to gain profound internal energy, he still had to rely on his own efforts, so he never gave up using any available time.

After digesting the residual effects of the golden monkey wine in his meridians, Zhang Yu smoothly broke through to the second level of the Flying Cloud Divine Skill.

In this world, swords were order, and strength was the rule. Every bit of power gained meant an increased chance of survival.

It wasn't until nightfall that a full moon rose in the snowy sky.

A dark shadow lightly leaped over the two-meter-high stockade wall and landed on the snow, making only a faint sound.

From the outside, it looked somewhat presentable, but inside Black Wind Stockade was extremely lax. The hastily built wooden houses were as crude as shacks. Feces were discarded everywhere, and Zhang Yu stepped in it several times while treading on clouds. There wasn't a single person on guard or patrol, so it was unclear whether they hadn't arranged any at all or if they were hiding in their rooms to avoid the cold.

The few rooms with lights on were either gambling dens or places for drunken revelry. Occasionally, the screams and wails of women could be heard, but they were quickly drowned out by the bandits' unrestrained laughter.

"After all, they're just a bunch of bandits. Those two watchtowers are probably the extent of their intelligence."

Zhang Yu scoffed inwardly. Occupying territory on Cloud Mist Mountain, they had become insignificant figures who lived by 'raiding villages' and 'collecting rent.' It was no wonder they were so unsuccessful. Judging by the chaos before him, the great chieftain was likely nothing special either.

In the center of Black Wind Stockade stood a three-story wooden building with lights on, completely unlike the low wooden huts surrounding it.

"That must be the residence of the chieftain, Earth-Drilling Centipede."