Shook Them Off

Old Bear Ridge wasn't exactly Luo Laowai's territory. With the nearby warlords to worry about, the faster they moved, the better.

Chen Yulou first ordered everyone to tie red sashes soaked in cinnabar around their left arms so the two groups could recognize one another. Then, nearly a thousand people formed a winding line and began heading into the mountains under their guide's lead.

The mountain paths up Bottle Mountain were steep and winding. The horses couldn't make it past halfway up, so the porters had to shoulder the supplies. The long line snaked along the ancient stone path into the mountains. Looking back from the front, it resembled a yellow dragon inching up Bottle Mountain.

Just as they reached the halfway point, a thick fog suddenly rose over Bottle Mountain. Everyone picked their way through it, one step deep and the next shallow, their hearts in their throats.

But the soldiers Luo Laowai had brought and the Xieling tomb raiders knew they were there to rob a tomb and make a fortune. Not one of them complained; instead, they were all eager and raring to go.

In these troubled times, a person's life was cheap. Though they served under Luo Laowai and Chen Yulou, their monthly pay amounted to only a few silver dollars. Without a few extra ways to make money, life wasn't easy for any of them.

After hurrying along, the group reached a deep ravine near the mountaintop. Chen Yulou saw the colorful mist coiling through it and raised a hand to signal a halt.

"The poisonous miasma is rising. Let's rest for a bit."

Chen Yulou and the others had all been given Lu Yan's Lightness Technique, so they weren't tired. But the engineering battalion Luo Laowai had brought was already staggering about. Furious, Luo Laowai charged over and started kicking and punching them.

Gradually, the poisonous miasma in the ravine faded, leaving only a vast, empty expanse of white fog.

Chen Yulou gazed into the mist-shrouded ravine, pondered for a moment, then called out, "Sai Pohou, Dili Beng, go down and scout."

He gestured for Hua Maguai to give them two of Lu Yan's Antidote Pills each.

The two men bowed and accepted their orders. They took the pills, brought along pigeons to test for poison, and slung Mauser pistols and short knives at their waists. With black gauze soaked in medicinal solution covering their mouths and noses, they dragged two Centipede Mountain-Hanging Ladders to the cliff face and began switching the bamboo ladders as they descended. In moments, they vanished into the fog.

Lu Yan and Chen Yulou stood at the front with the others, watching the swirling mist as they waited for a message from below and chatted.

"Brother Lu, what do you plan to do after we're done at Bottle Mountain?"

Chen Yulou kept his eyes on the mist as he asked, making it sound like idle conversation.

Lu Yan gave him a bright smile. He too watched the rolling fog as he replied, "That depends on what happens next. But I have some urgent matters to take care of overseas, so I'm afraid I won't be staying long."

Chen Yulou nodded, his gaze still fixed on the mist. "I got a lot out of our last conversation, Brother Lu. Why don't you tell us more about the customs and systems overseas?"

"Sure. It'll help pass the time."

Lu Yan nodded and began telling the men who had gathered around him about the world beyond their shores.

About an hour later, a whistling arrow shot out of the mist with a loud bang.

Lu Yan stopped talking. Chen Yulou and the others snapped out of their engrossed stupor, exchanging excited looks.

Chen Yulou stepped forward and addressed the crowd in a ringing voice. "Brothers, the world is in chaos, and refugees are starving everywhere. An ancient tomb lies within Bottle Mountain, filled with riches beyond count, all wrung from the people's blood and sweat. We Xieling men should take them, seize the tomb's treasures, build our cause, and use them to help the people!"

"Let's do it!"

The Xieling brothers were fired up. One after another, they took the Centipede Mountain-Hanging Ladders off their backs and shouted, "Let's do it!"

They fitted the ladder sections together until they formed two long chains. One end was firmly anchored to the ground, while the other was flung straight down into the ravine. Their movements were practiced and swift.

Before long, two Centipede Mountain-Hanging Ladders were secured along the cliff face. From a distance, they really did look like two enormous, thousand-legged centipedes clinging to the rock.

Chen Yulou now showed the mettle of the Xieling leader. He led from the front, immediately picking two or three dozen nimble men and giving each one Lu Yan's Antidote Pills. Then they began carefully climbing down the Centipede Mountain-Hanging Ladders.

Seeing Chen Yulou had already gone down, Lu Yan's lips curled into a mischievous smile. He nodded to Red Maiden, then leaped straight into the ravine.

Luo Laowai, Red Maiden, and the others behind him hurried forward to look, but he had already disappeared. Luo Laowai pointed at the fog with his trembling gun hand and stammered, "Good Lord! If Brother Lu can survive that, he must be on his way to becoming an immortal!"

Hua Maguai shook his head. "Mr. Lu doesn't seem like the sort to throw his life away. He should be fine."

Meanwhile, Chen Yulou had been carefully climbing down the Centipede Mountain-Hanging Ladder when he suddenly felt a hand land on his shoulder. It yanked him down hard, and he tumbled off the ladder, plummeting straight toward the bottom.

The wind roared past his ears, and a crushing sense of weightlessness seized him. Chen Yulou was braver than most and considered himself afraid of nothing, but even he let out a scream.

Just as Chen Yulou thought he was doomed and shut his eyes to await death, an unseen gust of wind caught him in midair. He jolted in shock and hurriedly opened his eyes.

"Brother Chen, surprised? Was it fun?"

Lu Yan looked at him with a broad smile, a hint of delight at the corners of his mouth.

Chen Yulou stared at Lu Yan's grinning face, furious but afraid to show it. They were still suspended in midair; if Lu Yan let go, he would be nothing but a splattered mess. All he could do was force a smile. "Surprised. Fun."

Seeing Chen Yulou's miserable face and the tears the wind had blown from his eyes, Lu Yan laughed heartily. Then he stopped teasing him and used the Wind Travel Technique to take them quickly to the bottom.

"I never knew you had such abilities, Brother Lu. I'm impressed, truly impressed."

Chen Yulou had first been shocked and angry, but then he realized Lu Yan had only played a rather nasty joke on him. He suspected it was payback for his evasive answer about taking Lu Yan as a disciple. Though he could only grumble inwardly about Lu Yan's pettiness, he still wore a smile.

"Just a little trick. Some people look down on it, though. No wonder they go blind later."

Lu Yan waved a hand and surveyed the ravine without looking back.

"I went blind?"

Chen Yulou was completely baffled, but Dili Beng was walking toward them, so he couldn't ask for an explanation just yet.

"Chief, it's dangerous in there. Sai Pohou is dead. If not for Mr. Lu's Antidote Pills, I'd probably have dissolved into yellow water too."

Dili Beng was short, just as his name suggested. He had to tilt his head up to report to Chen Yulou.

Chen Yulou looked at the massive roof of the hall and the dazzling gold and splendor visible through the hole. He frowned. "Tell me exactly what happened."

"After we went down, we couldn't resist taking a look into the hole. There were treasures everywhere inside. But then, an enormous swarm of centipedes came rushing out. Sai Pohou accidentally dropped his Antidote Pills on the way down. After the centipedes bit him, he dissolved into yellow water."

"I had my Antidote Pills, so the centipedes wouldn't come near me. That's how I made it out alive."