Enter the Mountain Immediately

Seeing the bird-shaped mask and the strange right hand gripping his wrist, Cheng Zhi recognized the green-robed figure as his benefactor, Chixinzi.

Outside the cave, thunder rumbled and lightning flashed. Another bolt of searing lightning struck, illuminating the visitor's appearance: Chixinzi was exceptionally burly, with broad shoulders and a wide waist, his entire frame wrapped in wide, flowing robes, revealing nothing but a wooden bird-shaped mask.

...Strangely enough, although Chixinzi had clearly arrived by darting through the curtain of rain, his green robes remained completely dry upon landing, as if he had employed some unknown method.

"Senior, why have you come here?"

The five fingers, carved from a material that felt like neither iron nor wood, slowly released Cheng Zhi, and Chixinzi began to look him up and down.

"So that is how it is..."

Chixinzi did not answer him. The eyes beneath the bird mask, with its sharp beak and feathered patterns, narrowed slightly as if observing him.

The pupils on the wooden mask emitted a ghostly, phosphorescent green light. Being stared at in such a way immediately startled Cheng Zhi, and he hurriedly looked away.

"Senior, what is this?"

"Let me ask you," Chixinzi suddenly inquired, "have you been plagued by nightmares at night these past few days, and occasionally suffered hallucinations, seeing things you shouldn't?"

"This..."

Cheng Zhi was stunned; Chixinzi had clearly described exactly what he had been experiencing lately.

"How did you know about this, Senior?"

"Tell me first, when did this start happening?"

Chixinzi did not answer, but instead pressed for an answer.

Cheng Zhi had no choice but to briefly explain what had occurred at the Ghost Stockade.

"That is roughly how it happened..."

"I understand."

Chixinzi nodded as if he had realized something.

"It seems this is the work of my junior brother. You must have been subjected to his Seed Demon Technique. The reason you suffer from these hallucinations and are haunted by Sinful Ghosts and Resentful Souls is because he secretly placed this restriction upon you."

"Jun, junior brother... could you be referring to that senior..."

Cheng Zhi immediately thought of the man wearing the ghost-face mask.

"It is indeed him. This man is my junior brother; we both studied under Wu Yousheng of the Immortal Puppet Sect. He is a disciple of the Immortal Puppet Sect."

Chixinzi gave a cold laugh.

"Do not be deceived by him. He is extremely calculating. His willingness to help you kill Sheng Qinghong was merely to win you over and trick you out of the Life-Stealing Bowl. Once he finds you have no further use, he will find an opportunity to dispose of you."

Cheng Zhi's heart jolted; he had not expected Chixinzi to know these inner details.

"Senior, how do you know all this?"

He asked urgently.

"The death of Prefect Sheng's son has long been the talk of the town; it would be strange if I were unaware of it."

Chixinzi glanced at him and said coldly, "Furthermore, your sister, Cheng Yujiao, is missing, and that likely has something to do with him as well. You must never believe a word he says, or you will fall into his schemes."

Cheng Zhi's expression was complex and unreadable.

"Senior, is this man not from the same sect as you? How can he be so vicious?"

"As the saying goes, it is easy to draw a tiger's skin but hard to draw its bones; one may know a person's face but not their heart. Although our Immortal Puppet Sect is one of the sects of Longevity, it is inevitable that a few scoundrels will emerge."

Chixinzi's words were pure nonsense, meant only to bully a mortal like Cheng Zhi who knew nothing of the cultivation world.

The Immortal Puppet Sect was not a Taoist sect, but belonged to the Dharma Teachings or heterodox paths. Its reputation was on par with evil sects like the Mud Sect. The cultivation world grouped it with several other heterodox factions and collectively referred to them as the "Nine Evils of Longevity."

"If that is the case, what is his intention in luring me to this Four Peaks Mountain?"

Cheng Zhi felt confused.

"I know his intentions. Listen to me: if my junior brother seeks you out again, you will act according to my instructions..."

Chixinzi began to instruct him with calm composure.

After a day of turmoil, the next day, He Ping arrived at Pingding Valley at the foot of Four Peaks Mountain, riding in a sedan chair and leading the He Family entourage.

His party was not large, numbering just over a hundred people, all of whom were servants from the He Mansion. Among them, fifty or sixty were sturdy guards dressed in black martial attire, wearing leather caps and leather armor.

As the sedan chair reached the Five-Mile Pavilion near Four Peaks Mountain, Pingding Valley came into view. A flat hill could be seen near the valley entrance. Many people were gathered there in groups, and if one excluded the hundred or so government officials guarding the mountain path, there were roughly six or seven hundred people in total.

The crowd was not gathered together, but rather split into groups of three or five, maintaining a certain distance from one another. To distinguish themselves, each group had raised their own banners.

Before the hill stood the banners of the Flying Fish Sect, Iron Heart Martial Hall, Long Wind Society, Heavy Axe Gang, and Bamboo Flower Society. Besides these, there were Northern Blade-Wielders looking to make a living, as well as various wandering martial artists.

Several bonfires had been lit in the open space. These martial arts roughnecks were impatient by nature; some had seized or bought cattle, sheep, pigs, and dogs from nearby towns and villages to roast over the fires.

He Fusheng, who had arrived early to receive the guests, had prepared plenty of wine and food for them to enjoy. The scent of meat and wine drifted around the bonfires, and the boisterous nature of the martial arts crowd made the atmosphere noisy and rowdy.

"There are fewer people than I imagined."

He Ping lifted the sedan curtain, scanned the area, and shook his head.

"Young Master, this is only the first wave. There are several other families who received notice but haven't arrived yet; this isn't even half of them... By the way, that is Qi Baiyi, the new leader of the Hu Ma Gang."

The steward reached out to point at one of the figures. That man was dressed in white with a sword tucked at his waist, his broad-shouldered, long-legged frame standing as straight as a spear shaft.

The man's features were somewhat distinct—a high nose and deep-set eyes suggested he might have some Tiele blood. He appeared to be around twenty-four or twenty-five, and his bearing was exceptionally imposing.

"I recall he is the seventh foster son of Xie San, skilled in a style of fast swordplay. This man is quite interesting; I hear he has integrated Xie San's 'Wind-Soaring Blade' into his own swordsmanship. He is a formidable sword master."

He Ping recalled the intelligence on the Hu Ma Gang and felt quite puzzled.

"However, after the deaths of Xie San and Chenxing Stone, those foster sons of Xie San within the Hu Ma Gang have been fighting and undermining each other in private. Some have left the Hu Ma Gang to strike out on their own, while others have set up their own shops... Yet this Qi fellow still wants to carry the banner of the Hu Ma Gang."

The Hu Ma Gang was a well-known organization in the North that gathered many swordsmen, relying on horse-running, wind-chasing, and blood-licking business. One could say that the reputation of the "Hu Ma Gang" had offended many people and incurred countless grudges over the years; whoever operated under this name had to shoulder all the grievances of the jianghu.

"Xie San did a great favor for Qi Baiyi. It is said that his biological parents were killed by horse bandits, and it was Xie San who avenged him. That the Hu Ma Gang did not scatter like stars and clouds after Xie San's death, and has managed to struggle on, is surely to this man's credit."

He Fusheng held this Qi Baiyi in high regard, considering him a man of great loyalty and a talent under Xie San.

"Have these days been difficult for the Hu Ma Gang?"

He Ping asked.

"After Xie San died and Chenxing Stone went missing, those foster sons of the Hu Ma Gang couldn't stand the sight of each other. For this period, it has been entirely this Qi Baiyi holding things together. Young Master, look, he doesn't even have many gang members under him."

He Fusheng stood by the sedan chair and offered an explanation.

He Ping nodded slightly.

"This man is worth winning over."

As they spoke, a date-red horse galloped over like a whirlwind. The rider on the horse wore black iron armor just like the purple-faced man, yet their posture made He Ping pause in slight surprise.

The person riding the horse was clearly a tall, athletic woman. The armor on her body was custom-made to fit her curves, exquisite and peerless, and paired with her slender frame, she was perfectly proportioned.

"Is He Ping here?"

A voice as hoarse as a leopard's rang out. This woman in black iron armor wore no helmet, only a metal mask shaped like a green ape covering her face from the eyes down.

"I am He Ping. May I ask who you are..."

He Ping stepped out of the sedan chair and cupped his hands in a salute.

"I am Qi Huiying, fifth seat of the Thirteen Flying Cloud Riders. He Ping, listen well: immediately order these men to proceed to Four Peaks Mountain to conduct a search. According to this map, divide into three routes: east, south, and west."

The female knight astride the horse tossed a copper-tube-like object into the air. He Fusheng, the steward beside He Ping, reached out to catch it. He took out a scroll of silk from within and discovered it was a map, marked with the three routes into the mountain.

"This matter cannot be delayed. Within one hour, muster all your men and enter the mountain immediately!!!"

Her tone was cold, yet it carried an air of imperious command that allowed for neither negotiation nor refusal.