Before dawn had broken, the convoy had already left Old Yang Inn.
The road grew narrower, mountain shadows crouching closer on either side. Ancient trees towered overhead, their branches and leaves blotting out the sun.
It wasn't even noon, yet the light beneath the trees was already dim as dusk.
"Up ahead is Black Wind Ridge."
Su Derong's voice wasn't loud, but everyone heard him clearly.
He reined in his horse and surveyed the area, his gaze sweeping over the jagged rocks and shadowy gaps between the trees. "We'll follow the usual rules. Keep to the outskirts and don't enter the deep valleys. Before sunset, find a sheltered spot to camp. Keep the bonfire burning all night, and rotate the night watch in three shifts."
Everyone answered in unison.
Zhou Yong rode up beside Chen Jianghe and lowered his voice. "First time in Black Wind Ridge, Brother Chen?"
"Yes." Chen Jianghe nodded. "I'd appreciate your guidance, Brother Zhou."
"I can't say I'm qualified to guide you, but I can tell you a thing or two." Zhou Yong grinned. "Black Wind Ridge sounds frightening, but it's a 'treasure trove' in its own way."
"A treasure trove?" Chen Jianghe raised an eyebrow.
He paused, then pointed his riding crop toward the mountains ahead. "See those hills? There are plenty of wild beasts in there. Wild boars, deer, muntjacs, and if you're lucky, even exotic beasts like Iron-Backed Bears and Red-Striped Leopards. For those of us who practice martial arts, qi and blood are our foundation. The pork and mutton from ordinary domesticated livestock can only nourish us so much. But the beasts that roam the wilds year-round, feeding on the essence of plants, have several times the vital energy in their flesh and blood."
Chen Jianghe's interest stirred. "You mean martial artists often go into the mountains to hunt and replenish their qi and blood?"
"Exactly!" Zhou Yong nodded. "The better-known martial halls and gangs in Yilin County organize trips into the mountains every so often. It gives their disciples real combat experience, and lets them hunt game for food. Big martial halls like Zhenlei and Yufeng even have dedicated hunting teams. I've heard that the great families in the Inner City keep hunters on their payroll year-round, just to search for rare and exotic beasts."
He paused and lowered his voice. "But Black Wind Ridge has its outer and inner reaches. The official road we're taking runs along the foot of the mountains, so it counts as the outskirts. Go any deeper, and you're in real danger—poisonous mists, swamps, and, they say, even supernatural creatures that have grown powerful in the depths. Only experts with Dark Strength dare venture in."
From behind them, Wang Gui chimed in with a rumbling voice. "Last year, New City Escort Agency lost three escort guards in the depths of Black Wind Ridge. They went after an injured Iron-Backed Bear, but went too deep. Not one of them came back."
Chen Jianghe understood. "So the escort convoy sticks to the official road on the outskirts."
"Exactly." Zhou Yong nodded. "The road may be narrow, but it was carved out by those who came before us, with their blood. The trees on either side are cleared regularly, so there aren't many places for people to hide. As long as we don't get greedy and take shortcuts, don't cross the ridge at night, and stick to the rules, we'll make it through safely eight or nine times out of ten."
As they spoke, Zhao Tieshan reined in his horse and rode back to the front of the convoy. After conferring quietly with Su Derong, he called out, "There's a sheltered hollow three miles ahead. It's spacious, with a good view. We'll camp there today, as usual, and cross the ridge at dawn tomorrow."
Everyone perked up.
The hollow lay at a bend in the official road, backed by a sheer cliff with an open view ahead. Gentle slopes on both sides made it easy to defend and hard to attack. Better yet, a spring welled up at the foot of the cliff, its water clear and cold—perfect for watering the horses and filling our skins.
"The usual rules!" Su Derong dismounted, his voice steady and strong. "Form a ring with the escort wagons, and put the cargo crates in the middle! Zhou Yong, Wang Gui, take some men and clear the area. Remove every weed and loose stone within thirty paces! Divide the porters into three groups: the first chops firewood, the second fetches water, and the third keeps watch!"
"Understood!" everyone answered in unison.
Zhou Yong grinned and patted the scabbard at his waist. "Don't worry, Young Gang Leader. I've been through this ridge seven or eight times. I know it like the back of my hand. Even if a wild boar comes charging in at night, I'll turn it into tomorrow's breakfast."
Wang Gui nodded earnestly. "My ears are sharp. I'll hear the slightest sound."
The camp was soon set up. Su Derong then called out three names: "Chen Jianghe, Zhou Yong, Wang Gui. You three are on watch tonight."
He stepped up to them, his gaze passing over each in turn. "The night watch has three shifts, one shichen each. Chen Jianghe takes the watch from xu to hai, Zhou Yong from hai to zi, and Wang Gui from zi to chou. I'll take over after chou."
He paused, lowering his voice, but every word rang clear. "Memorize the rules for the night watch. First, keep your armor on and your weapons close. Second, the bonfire must burn all night. Add firewood every quarter of an hour. Third, don't just stare at the fire. Keep your ears open, especially for anything in the shadows beyond the wagons or up on the cliff."
Zhou Yong cupped his fist. "Don't worry, Young Gang Leader. We all know the rules."
Su Derong nodded, then took a bamboo whistle from inside his robe and hung it around his neck. "You all remember the signals?"
"I do," Wang Gui answered. "One short whistle is a partridge's call, meaning danger. Two sharp whistles are an owl's cry, meaning we're under attack. Three long and one short is a cuckoo's call, asking for help."
"Good." Su Derong put away the whistle. "The rest of you, get some sleep."
The night deepened.
Wind moaned through the trees, mingling with the cries of unknown nocturnal birds, now near, now far, rising and falling.
The dancing firelight stretched and twisted the trees' shadows, casting them onto the cliff like ranks of ghostly figures.
Chen Jianghe stood beside a wagon when he heard faint footsteps behind him. His left hand quietly settled on the pouch of lime at his waist.
"It's me." Su Derong's voice rang out, carrying a trace of weariness.
Chen Jianghe relaxed slightly and turned. Su Derong was approaching with a small leather flask. He sat down on a cargo crate beside him.
"Senior Brother, you're still awake?" Chen Jianghe asked.
"I can't sleep." Su Derong uncorked the flask and took a swig. It was water, not wine.
He wiped his mouth and passed the flask to Chen Jianghe. "Want some?"
Chen Jianghe took it and sipped. The water went down cool and clear.
For a while, neither spoke. Only the fire crackled.
After a long silence, Su Derong suddenly spoke, his voice so low that the wind nearly swallowed it. "Jianghe, do you think this escort job... will reach its destination safely?"
Chen Jianghe turned to look at him. In the firelight, Su Derong's usual carefree smile had vanished, replaced by a deep-seated worry.
"What's on your mind, Senior Brother?"
Su Derong didn't answer at once. He picked up a dead branch from the ground and prodded the coals at the edge of the fire, scattering sparks.
"The Green Dragon Gang has only just swallowed up Lin Family Fort. They'll need time to consolidate and digest their gains, so they can't reach Wolf Tooth Gorge for now. Over there, we only need to send a letter and pay them off to avoid trouble." He spoke slowly. "But Black Wind Ridge... I can't shake the feeling that something's wrong."
"Xiao Qing of the Green Dragon Gang is wildly ambitious," Su Derong continued, his voice growing lower. "If he dared to slaughter the Lin Family and seize power, he won't be content with just being a fort master. Setting up checkpoints to collect tolls on the roads outside the city is only the first step. I'm worried... he'll use 'bandit suppression' as a pretext to reach into Black Wind Ridge."
"Bandit suppression?" Chen Jianghe furrowed his brow.
"Exactly." Su Derong gave a bitter smile. "Black Wind Ridge is notorious for bandits. If the Green Dragon Gang sets an ambush here under the banner of upholding justice and wiping out the remnants of the bandits, then robs our convoy, all they have to do afterward is blame it on 'infighting among the bandits' or 'accidental casualties.' Who would hold them accountable? The authorities would be glad to let someone else deal with the bandits. They'd just turn a blind eye."
Chen Jianghe felt a chill in his heart.
It wasn't baseless paranoia. Such methods were common in times of chaos. Under the banner of righteousness, they'd carry out robbery and murder.