Nine-Dragon Mountain

"Phew, phew, phew..."

The surge in strength had given Jian Shang enough power to wield the hundred-forged steel saber one-handed. As he swung it, it sliced through the air with a whistle, looking fairly convincing.

After eating, Jiang Yao and the others each began studying and pondering the three secret manuals. Sun Ji spread out the sheepskin map to examine it, while Jian Shang borrowed Jiang Yao's hundred-forged steel saber and Gao Gong's spiked club. Following the information in his mind, he practiced wielding them until he grew familiar with them, then learned how to mount and dismount, as well as various movements on horseback.

Not until the sun sank westward and the horizon was dyed with rosy clouds did they stop.

Immersed in his training, Jian Shang had already cultivated Basic Spear Arts, Basic Saber Technique, Northern Di Saber Technique, and Northern Di Horsemanship to the "mastery" realm, each with proficiency exceeding 1,000.

This was one of the players' greatest advantages. No matter what they learned, they could pick it up and become familiar with it very quickly.

However, the "mastery" realm required 9,999 proficiency points, and every realm afterward required ten times more than the last. To advance, one needed tremendous perseverance and vast amounts of time. Perhaps this was what they meant by easy to understand but hard to master. For natives with high comprehension, though, the later realms were comparatively easier to attain than for players.

It was worth mentioning that Basic Saber Technique primarily trained the eight fundamental moves of sweeping, chopping, deflecting, shaving, skimming, pressing, slashing, and thrusting, also known as the Eight Methods of the Saber. Northern Di Saber Technique, meanwhile, focused on lifting, hooking, flinging, hacking, dancing, hanging, and scooping, with particular emphasis on speed of attack.

They had barbecued during the day because a chaotic battle was raging below the mountain, and broad daylight made them difficult to notice. Even if the barbarians discovered them, they might not care. But barbecuing at night would be far too conspicuous.

After casually eating some coarse grain pancakes, everyone gathered to discuss their route.

"Since we've decided to seek our future in a major city or giant city, we might as well head straight for a giant city. According to Brother Jiang's memories, and for the sake of safety, we'll take this route... Though it's relatively remote and filled with forests and hills, it will let us avoid barbarian patrol riders. Even if we encounter them, it'll be easier to maneuver around them. Everyone, memorize the route..."

Sun Ji pointed at the sheepskin map spread across the ground as he explained and analyzed it. The others memorized the route and terrain in case some unforeseen accident separated them.

"Jian Shang should keep the map. If there's nothing else, let's set off!"

Seeing that everyone had memorized enough, Jiang Yao stood first and spoke. The others rose after him and headed toward the Northern Plains Biao.

Jian Shang and Sun Ji, however, remained where they were without moving.

"What's wrong?"

Jiang Yao turned back and asked in confusion, then immediately understood.

Nine people, seven horses.

Apart from Gao Hong, who naturally rode with her younger brother, two more people would have to share a horse. One of them would naturally be Jian Shang, but that raised a problem: who should Jian Shang ride with?

"Get on! What are you standing there for?"

At that moment, Jiang Qing, who had already mounted with nimble movements, looked naturally at Jian Shang and called out to him.

"No!"

Before Jian Shang could answer, Sun Ji suddenly raised his voice in a shout, drawing everyone's stunned gaze. Sun Ji looked at Jian Shang with a serious expression and continued:

"Though I admire your character and your diligence, some matters still need to be clearly distinguished. It was fine earlier because things were urgent, but it won't do now. I should take you!"

"I understand! But forget about you. Though I also admire your sentiments and your cleverness, I still have some doubts about your courage and martial strength. For the sake of my own safety..."

They had only just met, and he was an outsider while they were childhood friends. Jian Shang had no romantic intentions toward Jiang Qing, nor did he want this trivial matter to leave a thorn in everyone's hearts. So he copied Sun Ji's tone and manner as he spoke slowly. Halfway through, he deliberately paused. Only after Sun Ji's face had turned slightly pale did he smile and continue:

"I'd better ride alone. I really want to experience the thrill of galloping across the plains!"

"Don't you not know how to ride?" Jiang Qing asked doubtfully, her brows furrowed with concern.

"Didn't I spend the whole afternoon learning? It's fine, don't worry!"

Jian Shang nodded confidently at Jiang Qing.

"But..."

Jiang Qing was still somewhat hesitant. Clearly, she did not believe Jian Shang could learn properly in a single afternoon. They were about to travel a thousand li, with an unknown number of barbarians watching from all directions.

"That settles it. Qing will ride with me, and Jian Shang can try on his own. Riding is a basic skill, after all. If he can't ride, it'll be inconvenient whenever he goes out, and in these times, it'll be dangerous too!"

Before Jiang Qing could finish, Jiang Yao waved his hand and spoke in a tone that brooked no objection.

"Okay!"

Ever obedient to her elder brother, Jiang Qing answered and obediently dismounted.

"Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop..."

To accommodate the novice Jian Shang, everyone let him take the lead. At first, Jian Shang did not dare urge his horse on with the whip. Coupled with the many obstacles in the forest, the warhorse could only walk, moving extremely slowly.

Only when they were about a hundred meters from the mountain's foot did Jian Shang gradually grow accustomed to the sensation of the horse walking and learn how to steady his center of gravity. Then he went faster and faster...

Crack...

"Hyah..."

Jiang Yao and the others watched Jian Shang ride faster and faster with astonishment and concern, considering whether to call out a warning. Then they saw Jian Shang holding a spear in one hand and the reins in the other. He snapped the reins sharply and gave a low cry.

"Neighhh..."

The warhorse beneath him seemed to sense its master's exhilaration. It suddenly reared up with a neigh, then its four hooves flew as it charged straight toward the mountain's foot.

"Be careful!"

Jiang Yao, Gao Gong, Gao Hong, and the others cried out in alarm.

"Phew, phew, phew..."

"Roar..."

Picturesque scenery flashed past like flying paintings, thunder rumbled beside his ears, and the fierce wind rushing against his face felt exhilarating. Sitting firmly in the saddle, Jian Shang squeezed his legs and shook the reins, urging the warhorse to accelerate again. The strong wind brushed his face, making him throw back his head and let out a long howl.

With whip raised and steed galloping, hooves beat in urgency; through the mortal world he rode unrestrained, his ambitions soaring.

The loneliness of reality and his bewilderment upon first entering Forging the Sacred Court rapidly faded away.

Unfortunately, barbarians roamed everywhere around them, and danger lurked at every turn. He could not gallop to his heart's content, could not howl as he pleased and freely vent his emotions. It was, in the end, somewhat regrettable.

If, one day...

This land belonged to him, then he could gallop freely and howl as he wished...

By then, beneath blue skies and white clouds, brilliant sunlight, green mountains and clear waters, over plains stretching flat as far as the eye could see, upon land wholly his own...

How carefree and exhilarating it would feel, riding a horse through the mortal world in such unrestrained abandon!

All of a sudden, a breath of "qi" rose within Jian Shang's heart, both seeming and not seeming.

Yet Jian Shang was still struggling for survival, still unaccustomed to the world he was in, and did not understand what it was.

"Jian Shang! Jian Shang! Jian Shang..."

Suddenly, Jiang Yao's resounding shouts drifted faintly over. Jian Shang hurriedly reined in his horse amid its charge and looked toward Jiang Yao and the other six riders racing over.

"You've only just learned to ride, yet you're going this fast. One careless mistake... This is no joke!"

Jiang Yao rode up beside Jian Shang and spoke with deep concern. After a pause, he frowned at their surroundings and continued:

"And that's only secondary. What if we run into barbarian patrol riders? You'd be alone, and you're unfamiliar with fighting on horseback. That would be far too dangerous!"

"It was my first time riding. I got too excited and lost my composure a little!"

Warmth filled Jian Shang's heart. He looked apologetically at Jiang Yao, then at Jiang Qing behind him, who was also watching him with concern, and quickly explained.

"Once we leave today, who knows when we'll return? When that time comes, how many of us will be able to return? These mountains, these forests, these waters, this land... and the people here..."

Gao Hong, usually poised and quiet, wore a lost and wistful expression. She gazed toward Shizhuang, where smoke from beacon fires curled upward and which might already have become ruins, her low voice heavy with sorrow.

"I've decided!"

Sun Ji, who had just arrived, suddenly shouted, drawing startled side glances from everyone. Gao Hong, immersed in her melancholy, rolled her eyes at him.

"I've decided! From now on, this mountain will be called Nine-Dragon Mountain! I, Sun Shi Mou, swear here that in my lifetime, I will return to this place. By then, the land of the Divine Land will no longer suffer barbarian ravages, and these thousand li of land will become my fief!"

Sun Ji held the reins and thrust out his chest, proclaiming his oath in a loud voice as if pointing out rivers and mountains.

"There you go again! I really can't stand you!"

Everyone was left speechless in astonishment, while Jiang Qing glared at Sun Ji and snapped at him irritably.

Yet this time, Sun Ji did not retort, much less grin and joke around. His expression was exceptionally solemn and earnest.

His voice was not loud, yet it echoed again and again beneath the mountain's foot...

Winding through the forests and mountains, it shot straight into the heavens!

In that instant, Jian Shang suddenly understood exactly what the "qi" in his heart had been!

*****

Brothers!

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