He Ping naturally had no objection to orders from Qi Huiying, the woman among the Thirteen Flying Cloud Riders.
He had learned that during this period, Sheng Qingzhi had appointed this so-called Thirteen Flying Cloud Riders to oversee the campaign to scour Four Peaks Mountain.
Next, he summoned Daoist Chi Ling of the Flying Fish Sect, Master Zhao of Iron Heart Martial Hall, and the leaders of the Long Wind Society, the Heavy Axe Gang, and the Bamboo Flower Society, and explained the situation to them.
His steward, He Fusheng, had arrived early that morning. He had ordered his men to put up a simple thatched shelter in the clearing and set out several seats. Once everyone had taken their places according to rank, they began discussing the arrangements for entering the mountain.
"Next, we'll split into three groups and enter the mountain from the east, south, and west."
Inside the thatched shelter, He Ping took out a silk map and pointed to it.
"I'll take the eastern route in the middle. Daoist Chi Ling, please lead another group along the southern route, while Master Zhao will take the western route..."
He then offered suggestions to the other factions, asking each to choose a direction according to the number of people they could muster, and to make sure each group entering the mountain was large enough.
Four Peaks Mountain was not a single peak but a mountainous region centered around the four strange peaks that gave it its name. Besides the Mountain Demon wreaking havoc in its forests, there were also tigers, leopards, bears, and wild boars. Even before the man-eating Mountain Demon appeared, the nearby villagers and woodcutters had never dared enter the mountains alone.
After listening, Daoist Chi Ling and Zhao Chen exchanged a glance. Zhao Chen, the master of Iron Heart Martial Hall, cleared his throat and spoke.
"Young Master He, why risk your life searching the mountain to deal with that Mountain Demon? I think you'd be better off staying at the perimeter. Daoist Chi Ling, I, and President Xiao of the Long Wind Society can lead the groups."
"No, this is Prefect Sheng's order, and I can hardly disobey. The fifth-ranked member of the Thirteen Flying Cloud Riders specifically named me as one of those who should enter the mountain, so it would be difficult to refuse."
"Then I'll accompany Young Master He along the eastern route."
That was Daoist Chi Ling's suggestion.
He and Zhao Chen were both close friends of the He Family and didn't want He Ping to put himself in danger. If He Ping joined their group, they could look out for one another along the way. But if he led a group into the mountains on his own, they wouldn't be able to help him if anything went wrong.
"Daoist Chi Ling, you're mistaken. Are you worried that my Long Wind Society might harm Young Master He?"
Xiao Hao, the head of the Long Wind Society, was a burly man with a dark face and a ring of whiskers. He burst out laughing. "Everyone, rest assured. The Long Wind Society will ensure Young Master He's safety."
Daoist Chi Ling furrowed his brows and said nothing. The Long Wind Society was a well-known horse-trading guild in North Prefecture, making its living from the horse trade. It had started as a small local outfit but gradually grew until it controlled most of the horse market.
There was no dedicated marketplace for horse trading. Horse dealers led their animals from shop to shop to sell them, while buyers went from stall to stall to inspect the horses.
Xiao Hao of the Long Wind Society had ingratiated himself with Sheng Qingzhi and set up shop in an open area outside Suian City, arranging deals between merchants traveling from north to south.
Over time, the Long Wind Society had grown larger and larger. The veterinarians, blacksmiths, horse-tail collectors, tack shops, restaurants, and gambling dens that depended on the horse market all relied on the Society's business. Its influence had become considerable...
Xiao Hao had a nickname in the martial world: Smiling Leopard. He always seemed cheerful and was quite the hearty sort, but he was ruthless to the core.
These days, rumors were circulating that He Ping had killed Sheng Qinghong. Xiao Hao of the Long Wind Society was also a toady of Prefect Sheng. If he decided to harm He Ping, the situation would become troublesome.
"Why would you say that, President Xiao?"
He Ping laughed, about to say—
"Daoist Chi Ling is only worried that I'm not strong enough to handle a long journey. President Xiao, don't get the wrong idea."
Xiao Hao was an old hand at this. He threw back his head and laughed, then let the matter drop.
"Oh, there's one more thing."
He Ping addressed everyone.
"The depths of Four Peaks Mountain are thick with miasma, and venomous snakes and insects lurk there. You're bound to run into them as you enter the mountains. I specially sought out some hunters who used to live nearby, bought a few of their insect-repellent recipes, and prepared some remedies. Please take them and distribute them among your subordinates."
He showed them a kind of powder, claiming it could repel foul air and insects. Then he produced several gourds filled with the powder and handed them around.
The leaders of the various factions praised him in unison, saying that Young Master He of the He Family had thought of everything, even such small details. They accepted the insect-repellent powder and gourds, then dispersed.
"Then we'll take our leave here."
He Ping said goodbye to Daoist Chi Ling and Master Zhao, then climbed back into his sedan chair and was carried away by several servants.
"Boss Xiao, are we really going to make a move later?"
A burly, ugly man beside Xiao Hao of the Long Wind Society asked in a low voice.
"The young master of the He Family has always treated us well enough. Doing this doesn't sit right..."
"Yan Laosan, what are you trying to say?"
Xiao Hao's leopard eyes turned cold as he snapped, "Who does our Long Wind Society rely on for its business? The He Family's charity, or Lord Sheng's favor? If we offend the He Family, the most that happens is we disband. But if we anger the prefect, do you and I still have a tomorrow?"
"But wasn't it He Jin of the He Family who secretly set this up?"
The ugly man took a step back without thinking when Xiao Hao glared at him.
"Besides, the prefect hasn't ordered us to kill anyone. This whole thing is a bit..."
"But you took the gold and silver He Jin offered."
Xiao Hao's words cut Yan Laosan off.
"Well...I didn't know it was money to buy someone's life."
Yan Laosan tried to explain himself.
"Do you really not know, or are you playing dumb?"
Xiao Hao snorted.
"Let me put it plainly. He Jin of the He Family is more seasoned and steady than that brat He Ping. If He Jin becomes head of the He Family, it'll suit Lord Sheng just fine. Those of us below need to understand what our superiors mean. Lord Sheng isn't pleased with Young Master He. With his standing as prefect, is he supposed to say so openly in court? Such things don't need to be said aloud. We can take care of it for him."
"But..."
For a moment, the ugly man didn't know what to say.
"This is a rare opportunity, too. That young fool of the He Family doesn't even understand that a man of great wealth shouldn't sit beneath a dangerous roof, yet he insists on coming to Four Peaks Mountain to die. How can we not oblige him? By the way, are their people still trailing behind?"
Xiao Hao asked.
"Yes. The mountain path is rough and hard to travel, and He Ping insists on riding in a sedan chair. He was supposed to be at the front, but now he's fallen behind."
"Then that's perfect."
A glint of murderous intent flashed in Xiao Hao's narrowed eyes.
"Once we find a desolate spot up ahead, we'll finish him off... After all, this is Four Peaks Mountain. If anything happens, we can blame the Mountain Demon. Even a man who's hunted geese all his life can have one peck his eyes out. If He Ping went up the mountain to hunt the demon and got killed by it instead, that would be only natural."