First Taste of the Martial World

From Lantian City, the Chang'an Commerce Guild caravan would continue southeast along Yong Province Road toward Fengxiang, the provincial capital. Pan Long and Han Feng, meanwhile, would head south along Yong-Yi Road, cross the Zhongnan Mountains, and reach Yi Province.

In other words, this was where they parted ways.

Zhao Lin would leave them too. Pan Shou's eldest disciple and Pan Lei's second senior martial brother would take Pan Ying's ashes with the Chang'an Commerce Guild to Fengxiang City, then continue southeast to the Pan Lineage's branch in the Central Plains.

The Pan Lineage's ancestors had understood the wisdom of not putting all their eggs in one basket, so they had established branches throughout the realm. The Central Plains branch was their hub. It had a large population and maintained good relations with every other branch. When Pan Shou had retired from worldly affairs, that was where he had gone to live in seclusion.

As a former clan head and a rare Innate Master, he naturally commanded immense respect. That was why one call from him brought a hundred answers, and why he could bring a group of disciples and juniors to the Northlands every year.

Deaths on the road like Pan Ying's were rare, but they did happen. The family had long since made plans for what to do.

When it was time to part, Zhao Lin was reluctant to leave and worried for them. He repeatedly urged Pan Long and Han Feng to be careful in all things, never stir up trouble, and avoid danger whenever they saw it coming. He went on like that for quite some time.

But not a word of it did Han Feng any good.

The Chang'an Commerce Guild caravan had barely disappeared into the distance when Han Feng leaped for joy and shouted, "We're free! Long live freedom!"

Watching him celebrate, Pan Long could only shake his head inwardly.

He's a husky off its leash! I don't even know if I can keep this kid under control...

As soon as they had seen Zhao Lin off, Han Feng dragged Pan Long away to do more sightseeing. They had already visited the Star-Plucking Tower, where an Immortal had once stopped, and Clear Wind Bookshop, whose history stretched back even further than the Great Xia Dynasty. They had also eaten the famous Lantian Gray-Water Noodles. Next, they planned to visit the Jade Mountain Ruins and see whether they could find traces of Immortals.

Pan Long had no objections. The Jade Mountain Ruins were a little far away, but he had set out to travel ten thousand miles. One destination was as good as another.

They packed their things, left Lantian City, and headed southwest. After walking for most of the day, they saw a mountain ahead with a piece missing.

The mountain was steep, with tall, graceful slopes and fine scenery. Strangely, though, a section was missing between several peaks. The peak in the middle rose normally from its foot, but halfway up, it vanished without a trace.

Pointing at the half-mountain, Han Feng said excitedly, "These are the Jade Mountain Ruins. Legend says that when the Immortals lived here, the peak was made of white jade from halfway up. They've taken Jade Mountain away now, but the power they left behind remains. Blades and axes can't even mark the rock where the peak broke off—I want to test it myself!"

Only then did Pan Long understand why Han Feng had gone out of his way to buy a hammer and chisel in Lantian City.

This kid really is something! Wait, the smithy had an awful lot of hammers and chisels, and the blacksmith looked like he understood the moment Han Feng asked for them... Could there actually be loads of brats like him?

Imagining thousands upon thousands of Han Fengs roaming the Martial World, Pan Long had to work hard to keep the corners of his mouth from twitching.

Should he call that scene "Chicken, you're so beautiful"? Or "They're everywhere"?

Whatever it was, it certainly wouldn't be "all creatures vying for freedom beneath the frosty sky." No matter the variety, every Han Feng was a husky at heart. They were all the same species.

Both were skilled martial artists. Even though the mountainside was steep, they managed to climb it slowly. The sun was nearly setting by the time they finally reached the summit—or rather, the halfway point.

As soon as they got up there, they discovered people actually lived here.

Several tents stood scattered across the broad platform where the peak had been severed. Several people sat or lay on the ground. Some were cultivating Internal Art, some were studying something, and others appeared to be simply asleep.

"What are they doing here?" Han Feng asked, puzzled.

Pan Long had no idea either. He truly could not understand why anyone would choose to live here.

The wind was strong, climbing up or down was difficult, and Lantian City was some distance away. Whether they needed supplies brought in or a doctor for a headache or fever, everything would be inconvenient.

Han Feng's insistence on climbing up for a look had already struck Pan Long as this fellow has far too much time on his hands. But these people had chosen to live here. "Too much time on their hands" didn't begin to cover it.

Could they be some illegal sect? Or a bunch of lunatics with something wrong in their heads?

At that thought, Pan Long grew wary.

Just then, a plump young man came over and asked, "Are you here seeking a chance to meet the Immortals too?"

Pan Long and Han Feng exchanged looks.

"A chance to meet the Immortals? Didn't they leave ages ago?" Han Feng asked.

The plump man replied, "They did leave, but they lived here once. Maybe someday they'll come back for a look, to revisit old memories. If we stay here and happen to catch them returning, we might get the chance to become their disciples."

Pan Long gave a dry chuckle and nodded to show he understood.

Han Feng, however, pressed him with curiosity. "Has anyone succeeded?"

"They say that thirty years ago, an Immortal passing through took a liking to two people and accepted them as disciples." The plump man sighed. "My luck's been poor. I've waited here five or six years without getting a chance."

Han Feng asked nothing more. He shot Pan Long a look that said, Brother Long, I think there's something wrong with their heads.

Pan Long's answering look said, Funny, I was thinking the same thing.

Han Feng's eyes said, Let's leave. They say stupidity is contagious.

Pan Long's replied, You brought the hammer and chisel. Aren't you going to try them?

Han Feng nodded, took out the hammer and chisel, and ran to the spot farthest from those people. He set the chisel against the ground and brought the hammer down hard.

Clang! Sparks flew in every direction.

He looked at the spot he had struck. The rock was exactly as it had been before, without so much as a scratch.

"Blades and axes really can't mark it!" Han Feng said excitedly. "I'll try again!"

He searched for a while and found a tiny crack in the ground. Pressing the chisel's tip firmly into it, he swung the hammer with all his might.

Another clang! The chisel sprang aside. The crack remained unchanged; not even the tiniest corner had chipped away.

"Another pair of ignorant fools!" someone called mockingly from a distance. "Stop wasting your strength! Jade Mountain is a legacy left by the Immortals. Forget ignorant boys like you—even an Innate Master couldn't harm this stone in the slightest!"

Han Feng turned at once and retorted, "What about a Real Person Grandmaster?"

"Hah!" came a derisive laugh. "Are you a Real Person Grandmaster? What does it matter to you what one could do? If you're so capable, why don't you just become an Immortal?"

Han Feng blazed with anger and was about to go confront them, but Pan Long grabbed him.

"Forget it. What's the point of arguing with people who won't train properly and spend all day dreaming of an Immortal whisking them away to heaven in a single step?" he said. "Those who work often succeed; those who travel often arrive. In ten or twenty years, when we've become masters they have to look up to, there'll still be time to come back and laugh at them."

Disdainful laughter and cutting remarks came from the other side.

Pan Long paid them no mind. He led Han Feng away from the others and pitched their tent.

They had enough supplies to spend eight or ten nights outdoors without trouble. The only difficulty was that there was no firewood here, which made things a little inconvenient.

But even that was no problem for Pan Long. He held the water flask in his palms and circulated his inner strength for a moment. The cold water inside turned warm. He did the same with their dry rations, and warm water with hot rations made a decent dinner.

The mountain was cold, but the tent kept out the night wind, and thick furs beneath them made it bearable enough.

Training in these conditions, however, was out of the question.

Training would make them sweat. If they couldn't dry themselves afterward and then caught a chill, they could easily fall ill.

Han Feng was plainly still furious. Even after falling asleep, he muttered things like "Scared now, aren't you?" in his dreams. Pan Long guessed he was dreaming that he had become an Immortal and returned to give those people a thorough mocking.

This guy can't let even the smallest thing go...

Pan Long smiled and shook his head, but he did not sleep.

One could never be too careful. Han Feng was a reliable companion to whom he could entrust his life, but the Immortal Seekers on the mountain were strangers whose backgrounds he knew nothing about.

Someone had to keep watch tonight. Otherwise, if those people launched a surprise attack, they would be in serious trouble.

Sure enough, around midnight, he heard footsteps drawing closer from the distance.

To his surprise, more than one person was approaching.

One, two, three, four... Six of them?! I counted seven tents here during the day. Even if each held two people, that would only be fourteen—and some might hold just one. For so many to come at once, they must be working together!

He frowned, and a murderous glint crept into his eyes.

If only one person had come, they might simply have wanted to talk or cause a little trouble. But with so many approaching at once, there could be no other explanation: they meant to attack in the night and kill them.

He wanted to wake Han Feng, but the tent was pitch-black. Even if he woke the boy, he would have no way to explain what was happening, and might only make noise and alert their enemies. He could only sigh inwardly.

Forget it. I'll handle them myself. Once the fight starts, he'll wake up.

He quietly moved to the edge of the tent and crouched on the side nearest the approaching men.

A little later, their footsteps drew closer and closer, then suddenly stopped.

They're about to strike!

In a flash, Pan Long flung open the tent and charged out.

In the moonlight, six "Immortal Seekers" who had looked kindly enough by day now wore vicious expressions. Not only did they carry weapons long and short, each also held a crossbow aimed at the tent.

When Pan Long emerged, they froze for an instant, then moved to pull the triggers.

But Pan Long had been ready, and he moved faster.

His right hand swept past his waist. When he flung it outward, streaks of cold light cut through the night, whistling through the air with a fierce wind.

At this distance, throwing knives were faster and more accurate than crossbows!