Beyond the Ji River

Outside Xiaoshan Town, as the Alarm Drum boomed, militia squads hurried up to the city walls with muskets and spears at their captains' urging. Several cannons had also been uncovered and aimed beyond the town.

A long column appeared in their line of sight, numbering perhaps more than a thousand.

"Where did these people come from?"

The townspeople were all uneasy and confused.

The particularly aggressive barbarian tribes around the garrison town had long since been scattered by them. The few remaining, more docile groups depended on the town to survive, with their livelihoods and economy under its control. They were also being steadily assimilated. There were no longer any barbarian tribes of more than two hundred people within a hundred miles.

Once the newcomers drew closer, the townspeople noticed that at first glance they looked somewhat like barbarians, but on closer inspection, there were obvious differences.

Most barbarians covered themselves with animal skins and leaves and had little in the way of civilization. These people, by contrast, mostly wore cloth garments. A few were even dressed in finery, wearing blue-and-yellow cloaks and crowns woven with colorful feathers and gold thread.

They clearly had a well-defined social hierarchy, as well as a degree of organization and discipline. They were nothing like any barbarian tribe the townspeople had encountered before.

Where had these people come from? It was as if they had sprung up from underground.

A militia officer asked the town chief whether they should attack first, but the suggestion was rejected. The town's first priority was to protect its people. As long as these strangers did not stop there, damage the farmland, or attack Xiaoshan Town, the town would not make the first move.

Chen Zheng, accompanied by several students, was tasked with carefully recording the newcomers' appearance, clothing, ornaments, and manner of communication. He planned to give his notes to a courier later, to be sent on to the provincial capital.

A group of people of unknown origin appearing in the wasteland was something they absolutely could not ignore.

Before long, he realized that they were not heading toward the town. Instead, they entered the ruins, and were soon hidden from view by the remaining high walls and pillars.

Inside the ruins, several barbarians crawled out of the Giant Python Cavern and spoke a few words, trembling with fear, to an old man who held a golden-and-silver staff and looked like a priest.

Anger showed on the old man's face. He pointed, and several men immediately came forward to whip the barbarians.

He walked out into an open space, took out a candle, and lit it. Muttering something under his breath, he watched white smoke rise from its tip. It formed a long, willow-branch-like shape, lifted slightly, and pointed in a certain direction.

He called out, and a dozen men stepped forward. They were powerfully built, clad in leather armor, and carried short knives and spears. After he spoke at length, they bowed their heads to him, then mounted creatures that looked part mongoose, part cat. As the beasts gave a series of short cries, they sped off toward the southeast and soon disappeared from sight.

A man wearing a white mask stepped out from the crowd and spoke in Celestial Xia Language. "So few people? Can they find them?"

The old man turned around and answered confidently in the same language. "Erlan is the finest warrior in my tribe. He has divine blood, and wields the same power as the gods of Celestial Xia."

The masked man replied in an amused tone, "Let's hope so. Your opponents this time are no ordinary folk."

At that moment, before the arched bridge over the Ji River, Cai Weng heard musket fire from ahead. He raised a hand, and the group immediately slowed their horses. Leaning forward in the saddle, he took a look, then turned to Wen Guo. "Nephew Wen, go ahead and ask who they are."

Wen Guo nodded, took off his cloak, and rode forward. Seeing that he was alone and dressed in a Daoist robe, the bridge guards made no further aggressive moves.

Wen Guo spoke with them beneath the bridge for quite a while before riding back. "Uncle Cai, I asked. Those people are garrison soldiers from Guanshan Town. They said they discovered a few Other God Cult members trying to destroy the bridge a few days ago, so they posted guards here."

Wen De asked, "Can we cross?"

Wen Guo shook his head. "They said their captain ordered that no one be allowed through until the Other God Cult members are dealt with. That includes us."

Wen De asked in surprise, "Even with a Profound Residence Road Pass?"

Wen Guo replied helplessly, "That's the problem. None of them can identify a Profound Residence Road Pass, and they're afraid ours is a forgery. So they refuse to let us through, and they won't send a message to inform the town, either."

Wen De was at a loss for words.

Cai Weng pondered for a moment. "We can't afford to waste time here. Besides, these Other God Cult members are likely the very group we're hunting, so we can't wait. We'll take another route."

With their strength, they could easily force their way through. Even the militia's muskets would not stop them. But doing so would inevitably cause casualties. They were not bandits; they had to abide by rules and laws, and would never harm soldiers under the Protectorate Office. It could also lead to considerable chaos.

They could hold the guards accountable afterward for obstructing the Profound Residence's work, but they would never quarrel with a few militiamen simply for doing their duty. So the best way to avoid a conflict was to cross somewhere else.

Wen De asked, "Uncle Cai, is there another place where we can cross the river?"

Cai Weng's horse suddenly shifted beneath him. He patted its neck to calm it, then said, "The last time I came here, the Ji River was much more turbulent than it is now. But the water's lower, and the current isn't as swift. It probably hasn't rained for the past two months. There should be somewhere we can cross in a narrow stretch downstream. If not, we'll leave the horses and helpers here for now. The four of us can fell trees and make a raft to cross first. Once we reach Guanchen Town, we can come back for the others."

The Wen brothers thought that made sense.

Zhang Yu had no objections either.

So the group rode downstream along the Ji River. But this time, luck did not seem to be with them. The sky gradually darkened, and they still had not found a suitable place to cross.

Cai Weng stopped at last. Sitting astride his horse by the riverbank, he gazed at the surging water. "It's getting late. We should search again tomorrow. If we still haven't found a suitable place by morning, the four of us will find a way across first."

Zhang Yu felt that the darkness did not matter much to the four of them. Cai Weng had kept stressing the need to hurry; they could let the helpers rest while they continued searching.

But Cai Weng was in charge this time. Since he had changed his mind, Zhang Yu would not object unless something truly exceptional happened.

They searched the surrounding area and found a higher patch of ground. The helpers dismounted and unloaded the tents and other gear from the packhorses. They also cut down trees, and soon several large tents were pitched.

Four single-person tents stood at the corners, with two larger tents in the middle.

Then they dug a deep trench around the camp with shovels. A simple ring of chevaux-de-frise was set up beyond it, and a rope strung with bells was stretched across the gaps. The whole setup looked like a military encampment.

Since there might be Other God Cult members nearby, they could not light a fire to cook. Fortunately, everyone on the journey had pills provided by the Protectorate Office, and they had enough drinking water with them, so this caused little inconvenience.

After talking for a while with Cai Weng and the others, Zhang Yu stepped away alone. Wearing a cloak, he stood on high ground and gazed into the distance at a mountain peak that remained majestic and imposing in the deepening dusk.

After several days on the road, they were getting closer and closer to Goddess Peak.

The beacon tower said to be visible from Celestial Xia proper when lit stood there. If he had time in the future, he might go pay it a visit.

He watched in silence for a while, then returned to camp and went into his single-person tent. After washing up with some of the water they had collected, he swallowed a Primordial Elixir and sat cross-legged.

After meditating for an hour, he emerged from his trance. The surroundings had fallen completely silent. He summoned the Great Dao Unified Text, and a glow rose around him as it appeared.

Ever since Tao Dingfu's hint, he had remained on his guard. The day's events had made him feel that danger was drawing near. Those Other God Cult members might well be nearby, so strengthening himself was essential.

His Divine Essence was currently enough to study only two Seal Glyphs. As for the Profound Text, the three newly acquired Seal Glyphs had to be studied together according to the Profound Residence's Seal Method to reveal the Heartlight Seal, so he could not use them for now. That left him with only the Turbid Canon to work on.

Only the Control Seal remained unread on the Turbid Canon. Studying this Seal Glyph would be the most practical choice. The Sword Seal and Control Seal were originally one. He had already studied the Sword Seal, but the Control Seal had remained untouched. He had been holding back for a long time.

If he studied it as well, the Seal Glyph would be nearly complete.

Having made up his mind, he looked at the Control Seal. As his Divine Essence gradually dwindled, the glyph lit up, its light enveloping his entire body.

In an instant, he felt a subtle change come over him. It was not a physical transformation, but rather a deepening of his affinity for and mastery over swords, in both body and mind.

A barrier had always stood between him and the sword. Now, it seemed to vanish completely, leaving not the slightest impediment between them.

With a thought, a brilliant flash illuminated his cloak as he drew the Xia Sword and laid it across his knees.

He could feel that this time, drawing the sword had been incomparably smooth. His heart and sword moved as one; a shift in intent brought the blade into motion. It was not the Xia Sword's power that had done it for him.

He even felt an urge to go outside and practice his sword forms. But with a mere turn of his thoughts, he easily suppressed the impulse and returned to the stillness he had felt before, without a single ripple in his heart.

He was about to put away the Turbid Canon when his gaze suddenly stopped. After studying the Control Seal, the Sword Seal and Control Seal had not merged again. Instead, another new Seal Glyph had unexpectedly appeared above them!

"What is this..."

His eyes flickered, but without the slightest hesitation, he poured his Divine Essence into it. As that Seal Glyph lit up, another wash of light enveloped his body.

When the light faded, he raised the Xia Sword and studied it. Just as he was about to make a move, a ripple suddenly stirred in the Heart Lake Seal.

Hm?

He turned his head slightly and sensed Cai Weng leaving his tent. Without disturbing anyone, he slipped out of camp.

Where is Senior Brother Cai going?

He thought it over, but had no intention of following to spy on him. Cai Weng probably had his reasons. Besides, although he had not shown what he could do before, his cultivation was undoubtedly far greater than Zhang Yu's. He should be fine.

But Cai Weng did not return for a long time.

Then, sometime around the middle of the night, Zhang Yu, who had been meditating, suddenly opened his eyes.

Numerous footsteps sounded outside, drawing steadily closer to their camp!

A little adjustment today, so just one update. Two again tomorrow. (＿＿)ノ