Periphery

Three days later, Chen Jianghe stood in the center of the small courtyard, checking his gear one last time.

He had changed into a dark gray, coarse-cloth short jacket, with his cuffs and pant legs tied tight with hemp rope to make moving through the mountain forest easier.

His water skin and saber were securely fastened to his waist, his brass knuckles were hidden in his chest pocket, and two custom-made cloth pouches hung at his sides—one filled with lime powder, the other with dry rations.

"Are you really going?" Su Derong's voice came, carrying an unusual weight.

Chen Jianghe turned back to see him holding a palm-sized celadon bottle.

"Senior Brother."

"Take this." Su Derong handed him the bottle, lowering his voice. "Jianghe, this 'Bone-Corroding Powder' is no toy. It seals the throat upon contact with blood and rots skin on touch. I kept it for self-defense, but you... use it with caution."

"Senior Brother," Chen Jianghe interrupted, his voice calm. "You know better than I do what the situation is like at Black Wind Ridge. If I run into a siege by the Green Dragon Guard or encounter a ferocious beast, ordinary methods might not be enough."

Su Derong stared at him for a long moment before finally sighing. "Just this one bottle, use it sparingly. Remember, never let it touch yourself. Only use it when you have absolutely no other choice."

"I understand."

Su Derong frowned, still uneasy. "Even though you've mastered Dark Strength, two fists can't fight four hands. If you run into a patrol, avoid them if you can. Don't be a hero."

"I understand." Chen Jianghe nodded. "I'm just going to the outer perimeter to look for some common beasts and gather herbs, then I'll be back."

Su Derong stared at him for a long moment, then suddenly sighed. "Fine, you have a steady temperament, so I won't nag. The world is as it is... go early and return early."

As they spoke, the courtyard door creaked open.

Li Chengyue shuffled out in his slippers, holding a wine gourd. He was still wearing that oil-stained, gray cloth jacket, his hair disheveled.

He walked up to Chen Jianghe, glanced at the bulging pouches at his waist, then looked at Su Derong and snorted through his nose.

"What are you dawdling for? If you're going, go. Stop acting like old women."

Chen Jianghe bowed. "Master, I am setting off now."

"Wait." Li Chengyue called him back. "Did you memorize the map?"

"I did."

Li Chengyue took a swig of wine, his eyes bleary but his tone heavy. "Remember, avoid trouble if you can. If you truly can't avoid it... make your move clean. Leave no survivors."

"Disciple will keep that in mind."

Li Chengyue said no more, waved his hand, and turned to shuffle back into the martial arts hall.

Three days later, Chen Jianghe stood on a ridge on the outskirts of Black Wind Ridge.

He crouched low, hiding behind a dense thicket, his gaze slowly sweeping over the valley below.

The sight before him made his heart sink.

At the mouth of the valley, a dirt road that had barely been wide enough for carts and horses had been completely transformed.

A barricade made of thick logs spanned the road, with a large, pitch-black flag flying from the top, embroidered with a ferocious, clawing Green Dragon.

Standing beneath the flag were eight men in black, tight-fitting outfits. Each wore a long saber at their waist, their eyes sharp and their presence heavy; they were all at the level of Bright Strength.

And that was just what was visible.

Chen Jianghe's pupils constricted as he shifted his gaze to the forests on either side.

Amidst the swaying shadows of the trees, more figures in black were vaguely visible.

They moved in teams of three, standing guard every five paces, patrolling the various paths into the ridge repeatedly.

These men moved with agility, clearly trained fighters. While not as elite as the eight at the barricade, they were certainly no ordinary gang members.

Further out, reflections occasionally flashed from several high points—copper mirrors used for scouting and signaling.

Such tight defenses... Chen Jianghe felt a chill.

The Green Dragon Gang's control over Black Wind Ridge was even tighter than he had anticipated.

Never mind a large force; even a lone martial artist trying to sneak in silently would find it as difficult as ascending to heaven.

He waited patiently, observing carefully.

Half an hour later, he finally grasped their pattern.

The patrols crossed paths every thirty minutes, following fixed routes.

The inspections at the barricade were extremely strict. Every person entering the ridge—whether they were groups of martial arts students, escort guards from a firm, or lone herb gatherers—had to present a "Hunting Token" and pay the so-called "Mountain Entry Tax."

Chen Jianghe watched as a group of about ten martial artists was stopped.

The burly man in the lead had a face full of jowls and was accompanied by nine disciples at the Bright Strength level; he appeared to be an instructor from some martial arts hall.

"The rules have changed!" The leader of the Green Dragon Guard at the gate was a man with a scar on his face. "Seven taels per person, by the head. That's seventy taels for the ten of you."

"Seventy taels?!" The burly man's eyes widened. "Last month it was only three taels per person!"

"Last month was last month." Scarface sneered. "Black Wind Ridge is Green Dragon Gang territory now. Think it's too expensive? Fine, turn around and go home."

The burly man's face turned livid, and the disciples behind him began to stir restlessly.

But looking at the eight Green Dragon Guards eyeing them like tigers behind the barricade, and the patrols looming in the forests on either side, the burly man finally gritted his teeth. He pulled a pouch of silver from his chest, counted it for a long time, and scraped together enough loose silver and copper coins to barely meet the demand.

Scarface weighed the money pouch in his hand, then waved them through with a satisfied smirk.

The group of martial artists entered the mountain pass with slumped shoulders, their backs radiating frustration.

Chen Jianghe watched in silence, calculating the situation.

Seven taels per person—it was nothing short of daylight robbery.

Yet, even so, there were still martial artists gritting their teeth and paying the toll to enter the mountains.

Because resources in the outer city were nearly exhausted; if they didn't venture into the mountains to gamble for a chance, their martial arts schools would run out of food and their disciples would scatter.

In these chaotic times, the weak didn't even have the right to choose how they were exploited.

He stopped watching and, using the cover of shrubs and jagged rocks, quietly moved toward the northeast.

On the map Li Chengyue had given him, a thin green line was marked in the northeast corner—a secret path.

An incense stick's time later, Chen Jianghe stopped before a sheer cliff.

The wall stood over ten zhang high, nearly vertical, with sparse shrubs and moss growing in the rock crevices. Below, a turbulent mountain stream roared.

From the front, this cliff appeared impassable.

But following the map's instructions, Chen Jianghe circled to the side and discovered a narrow fissure hidden behind a cluster of dense vines.

It was only wide enough for one person to squeeze through sideways; the interior was dark and damp, with a cold breeze whistling through.

Chen Jianghe took a deep breath and squeezed inside.

The passage was dim, and he moved with extreme caution, listening to every sound and watching every direction.

After about a hundred paces, a faint light appeared ahead.

Chen Jianghe slowed his pace, crouching in the shadows of the exit to peer outside.

He had succeeded.

Chen Jianghe continued for another seven or eight li before stopping beneath a sheltered rock face.

The terrain here was hidden, surrounded by stone on three sides with only a narrow gap for entry, yet it opened into a hidden world inside—a natural stone cave about two zhang square.

A crack in the ceiling allowed daylight to filter in, making it just bright enough to distinguish objects.

The ground was dry and covered with withered grass, suggesting a wild beast had once nested here.

"This will do."

Chen Jianghe carefully inspected the inside and outside of the cave, confirming it was safe before setting down his pack.

After organizing his belongings, he set up a few simple warning traps at the cave entrance.

Thin vine tripwires were connected to a bundle of dry branches; the slightest touch would cause a faint rustling sound.

Only after finishing these tasks did he sit cross-legged and chew on half a flatbread, washing it down with water.

After resting for a moment, he stood up again and exited the cave.

His goal was not exotic beasts; as a newcomer, he needed to familiarize himself with the environment first and hone his skills for survival in the mountains and forests.