Li Qiang had guessed correctly. On his very first day staying at the prefectural offices, Feng Kaiyun had sent an urgent dispatch to the capital through the relay stations.
Feng Kaiyun could hardly be blamed. Whichever country on Heavenly Court Star Li Qiang appeared in, once the local officials discovered him, they would immediately report it.
A cultivator's power was an important resource to any country. Experts among cultivators, in particular, were people every country sought to win over.
Feng Kaiyun's report had directly alerted the emperor. The reason was that Li Qiang spoke the court dialect-and specifically the kind spoken by members of the imperial family within the palace.
The emperor ordered an inquiry into Li Qiang's origins. Dispatches had gone back and forth several times without getting anywhere. In the end, they concluded that he might be a descendant of an imperial family member who had ended up among the common people.
Li Qiang had displayed his formidable might in Hanlin City, dealing the Black Banner Army a crushing blow. After its leader, En Gang, was seriously wounded and forced to withdraw from Hanlin City, Feng Kaiyun hurriedly activated the imperial sound transmission formation and reported the situation to the palace.
Li Qiang's head was spinning. He had no desire to receive any imperial decree. Quietly, he asked, "Old Master Cheng, what happens if I don't go receive the decree?"
Cold sweat broke out on Cheng Zizhong. "You can't!" he said in alarm. "Defying an imperial decree is punishable by beheading. Not only would you lose your head, but Old Master Zhao's entire family would lose theirs too. You absolutely, absolutely mustn't." He thought, If he refuses to obey, I'm afraid I'll lose my head too. If he really won't receive the decree, who could stop him?
Li Qiang thought, What is dictatorship? This is. There's no justice! If I ran, nobody could do a thing about it, but my old disciple's whole family would be finished. Sigh, forget it. I'll receive it first and see.
Cheng Zizhong watched Li Qiang nervously. Seeing his expression shift between light and shadow, he urged, "Why not receive the decree, hear what it says, and then decide?"
Li Qiang could only nod. "All right."
He turned to call Zhao Hao, only to find that an incense table had already been set up in the hall. Standing behind it, the herald unfurled the imperial decree and drew out his words as though singing. "The... imperial... decree... has arrived. Li... Qiang... receive... the decree."
Everyone who had been standing knelt down. Li Qiang alone remained standing bolt upright.
Behind Li Qiang, Cheng Zizhong frantically tugged at his trousers. Li Qiang lowered his head. "Old Master, stop pulling. You're going to pull my trousers off." Cheng Zizhong nearly fainted dead away.
Grinning cheekily, Li Qiang said, "Brother, my knees are injured, so I can't kneel. Do me a favor-let's not be too particular. Hand me the decree, and we'll count that as receiving it. Make things convenient for me, convenient for you, convenient for everyone. How about it?" He thought, No, no, that last part was wrong. Doesn't 'making things convenient' mean going to the toilet? Ah!
Cheng Zizhong knew trouble was brewing. Seeing the herald trembling with rage and about to explode, he hurriedly kowtowed. "Imperial envoy, this humble one has confidential information to report."
"Speak!" said the herald.
Cheng Zizhong rose, walked over to him, and whispered in his ear.
The herald nodded. "Very well. You handle everything." He handed the decree to Cheng Zizhong.
Who was Li Qiang? If he wanted to listen, lowering one's voice was useless. He heard Cheng Zizhong tell the herald, "I have secret imperial orders to act as circumstances require. Please give me the decree and let me read it." Li Qiang gave Cheng Zizhong a look of dawning understanding.
Zhao Hao gave the herald a large sum of silver. Watching him leave with a beaming smile, he wiped away cold sweat and muttered inwardly, This master of mine really is different. He doesn't even take an imperial decree seriously.
Li Qiang patted Cheng Zizhong's shoulder. "Master, I underestimated you. Tell me, what does the decree say?" Li Qiang did not intend to expose him. He merely gave him a gentle hint, meaning that he knew everything.
Cheng Zizhong's aged face reddened slightly. "It summons you to the capital for an imperial audience."
Li Qiang did not understand. "What imperial audience? I don't understand."
"It means you're to go see the emperor," Cheng Zizhong said.
Li Qiang thought, Seeing the old emperor might be fun. I've lived this long without ever seeing a real emperor. I should go take a look and broaden my horizons. Smiling, he said, "I was just thinking of visiting the capital for some fun. I'll go. I'll definitely go."
Zhao Hao said, "Master, this disciple also owns a jewelry shop in the capital. When we get there, please stay at my home."
"Aren't you going?" Li Qiang asked.
"This disciple has resolved to follow Master in cultivation. Wherever Master goes, this disciple will never leave your side," Zhao Hao said. He thought, It took so much effort to find a master truly willing to teach me cultivation. This opportunity could vanish in an instant. How could I let you leave?
Zhao Hao added, "The Ling Trading Company has a shipment of local produce and mountain goods to transport to the capital. That tall fellow in blue in the hall just now is called Ling Hongxuan. Master, shall we travel with him?"
Li Qiang did not mind either way. "All right. Sorry for the trouble-please make the arrangements and see what else we need to prepare." Then he said meaningfully to Cheng Zizhong, "Old Master, you're going to the capital too, aren't you?"
Cheng Zizhong had been trying to find an excuse to travel with Li Qiang. Hearing this, he smiled. "Hehe, yes. With an expert of your caliber along, the journey will be much safer." He thought, Good heavens, he really is no simple fellow.
Li Qiang returned to his room and sank into thought. The sudden battle in Hanlin City had brought him to his senses. Against other cultivators, he was not powerful, while slaughtering ordinary soldiers was meaningless. They did not even have a chance to fight back. There was truly no honor in such a victory.
Li Qiang pondered privately, I can't go on killing indiscriminately like this. I'm just a traveler, just a passerby on this planet. There's no need to involve myself in this world's conflicts. In fact, staying out of it was already impossible for Li Qiang. Unless Fu Shan took him away immediately, he was no longer free to act as he pleased.
Traveling from Wind Chime Town to the capital meant passing through three extremely dangerous places: Seven Forks Ridge, Soul-Startling Slope, and Bewilderment Forest. Caravans passing through had to gather into a large party before daring to proceed.
Seven Forks Ridge was haunted by more than a dozen bands of robbers and bandits. Unknown beasts were often encountered at Soul-Startling Slope. As for Bewilderment Forest, an abandoned Star Mystery Grand Formation built by cultivators lay within it. Anyone who accidentally stepped inside would be trapped until death.
Ling Hongxuan felt very reassured about transporting this shipment, because Li Qiang and Old Master Zhao were traveling with him. He found Li Qiang mysterious. Li Qiang often gave them things they had never seen before, put on no airs at all, and laughed and joked all day, always seeming happy. He was interested in everything and never stopped asking questions. Everyone in the caravan liked him.
Li Qiang was indeed very happy. All along the journey, the scenery was as beautiful as a painting, a delight to the eyes and heart.
Li Qiang pestered Cheng Zizhong and Zhao Hao to learn about the local customs and ways of life.
"Master, Seven Forks Ridge is just ahead," Zhao Hao said.
Li Qiang asked curiously, "The place where bandits often appear?"
Ling Hongxuan cut in. "Passing through Seven Forks Ridge is what our caravan fears most. If we encounter a small band of robbers, we're lucky. A little silver will settle things, or failing that, we can force our way through with our numbers. What we fear is running into a large band. If negotiations go wrong, the goods are certainly lost. If the people can't escape either, that's when it gets truly terrible."
A question suddenly occurred to Li Qiang. "How many days does it take us to get from Wind Chime Town to the capital?"
"If we hurry, forty-odd days," Ling Hongxuan said with a smile. "If we go slowly, it's hard to say."
Li Qiang shook his head, thinking, Then how did that imperial envoy reach Wind Chime Town so quickly?
Beside him, Cheng Zizhong said, "The imperial family has built small teleportation formations throughout the country. However, they can only transport important people and objects, and an imperial decree is required to activate them."
Li Qiang looked at Cheng Zizhong and thought, Hey, he's pretty sharp. He even guessed that.
Cheng Zizhong smiled faintly and said no more.
Upon reaching the foot of Seven Forks Ridge, Ling Hongxuan waved the wagons to a halt and said to Zhao Hao, "Old Master, please make the arrangements."
Li Qiang watched curiously. Zhao Hao jumped onto a large wagon. "Listen up! This isn't your first time crossing Seven Forks Ridge, so I'll spare you the empty talk. Follow my arrangements. Every driver is to watch his own wagon and not fall behind. Brother Hongxuan will coordinate from the middle. Ten men will clear the way ahead-make sure you bring your weapons. Everyone else, take bows and arrows. Also, tie down the cargo tightly. Seven Forks Ridge won't wait for you. We need to get through quickly. If we're lucky, we'll reach Panshi Town this afternoon. Once we arrive, I'll buy everyone a drink. Understood? Louder! I can't hear you!"
The men roared, "Understood!"
Zhao Hao quietly asked Li Qiang, "Master, would you walk at the head of the caravan with this disciple?"
Li Qiang smiled. "There won't really be bandits, will there?"
There was simply no describing Li Qiang's luck. Not only did he encounter bandits, but...
Seven Forks Ridge had a peculiar terrain. It was as though a gigantic fork had fallen from the sky and smashed deep into the earth, leaving seven trenches. These trenches extended for over a dozen li before converging at the handle into a single road that continued onward. For robbers and bandits, this crisscrossing terrain allowed them to advance to attack or retreat to defend. It was also a route merchants had to travel. There could hardly have been a more ideal place to gather their bands.
Ling Hongxuan's caravan entered by the second road. Li Qiang and his disciple Zhao Hao scouted ahead, with ten saber-carrying men following a short distance behind. Li Qiang was not nervous at all now. He knew perfectly well that, unless he was fighting cultivators, ordinary people could not hurt him-not even martial arts experts. Zhao Hao, meanwhile, had never intended to ask Li Qiang to act. Everything that had happened in Hanlin City remained fresh in his memory.
Walking along the broad road at the bottom of the valley, Li Qiang's head swiveled like a rattle-drum as he looked this way and that. "What sort of people are the bandits here?"
Carrying his treasured saber, Zhao Hao replied, "All sorts. Escaped prisoners, deserters from defeated armies, and common people who can no longer make a living. The bandits here are famous throughout the green basin. There are separate bands, with very complicated backgrounds and people from every country."
"Oh? Why doesn't the country send troops to wipe them out instead of letting them run rampant?" Li Qiang found it rather unbelievable. "Isn't this a vital chokepoint on the road to the capital?"
Zhao Hao was just about to answer when a shrill whistle rang out. "A whistling arrow!" he cried. He immediately waved to the men behind him, and one turned and ran back to report.
A little curious and a little excited, Li Qiang asked, "Are bandits coming?" Before he finished speaking, gongs clanged. He could not help laughing. "Quite a lively show-whistles and gongs and everything. Hehe, why aren't they beating drums?"
Zhao Hao did not know whether to laugh or cry. Most people would be scared out of their wits at the sight of bandits. Master acts as though he's watching a play. Isn't he taking this far too lightly?
With a wry smile, Zhao Hao said, "Let's hope it isn't a large band. Master, don't act yet. Let this disciple handle it."
Li Qiang did not want to kill again either. "All right. I'll watch from the side."
A large crowd rushed out of the mountain woods beside the road. Li Qiang could hardly keep from laughing at the sight.
These bandits were dressed only a little better than beggars, in tattered clothes. Their weapons were decent, with a full assortment of sabers and clubs. Their leader was a huge man nearly two meters tall, with bristling stubble, dark skin, large eyes, a lion's nose, and a broad mouth. A cloth band of indeterminate color was tied around his forehead. His clothes were equally ragged, and he carried a huge axe. The axe, however, was outstanding: fully two meters long, with a head the size of a washbasin. It was black, and its material was impossible to identify.
Suddenly feeling mischievous, Li Qiang leaped before the huge man and shouted with a grin, "Halt! This mountain I opened! These trees I planted! If you want to give up your life, leave your toll money!"
Zhao Hao laughed loudly. "You got it wrong! You got it wrong!"
Li Qiang scratched his head. "No, I didn't. That's how it's written in books."
Raising his huge axe, the big dark man shouted, "Halt! This mountain I opened! These trees I planted! If you want to pass this way, leave your toll money!"
Li Qiang could no longer contain himself and burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Was I wrong, or did the big fellow get it right?"
"Exactly, exactly," Zhao Hao said. "Demanding both lives and money-that would be far too ruthless a bandit."
The big dark man was bewildered by the pair. Who exactly are the bandits here? Why aren't they scared at all?
Swinging his long axe, the big dark man shouted again, "Leave your silver, goods, and clothes, and I won't kill you. Hurry up!"
The lackeys behind him clamored over one another. "Put down your silver!" "I want that man's clothes!" "Hey! Those shoes are mine. Don't fight me for them!"
The big dark man turned and cursed, "Damn it, all of you shut up!"
With keen interest, Li Qiang asked, "Hey, big dark fellow, why should I give you my silver? Wouldn't it be better to keep it for myself?"
The big dark man answered bluntly, "Because I'm a bandit, my fists are big, and my axe is mighty. So you have to do as I say. Put your things down, and I won't kill you."
Grinning, Li Qiang said, "What if my fists are bigger than yours? What if my saber is mightier than yours? What if you can't beat me? What'll you do to me then, eh?"
Zhao Hao snorted with laughter, thinking, Master really is a chatterbox like no other. All that copying of his rustic 'I' has my head spinning.
The big dark man looked guilelessly at the huge axe in his hands, his face full of doubt. "Impossible! One stroke of this axe and you'd be in two pieces. You're a rather handsome little pretty boy. It'd be a shame to chop you to death. Put your things down like a good boy, and I'll spare your life!"
Li Qiang thought, This big dark fellow has a pretty good heart. He seems a little simple. Quite amusing.
Pointing at Zhao Hao, Li Qiang asked with a smile, "Big fellow, dare to make a bet? I bet you can't even beat my disciple. Do you dare?"
The big dark man looked at Zhao Hao, then suddenly laughed. "Haha, don't fool me. I know this old man can't be your disciple. He looks old enough to be your father."
A little angry, Zhao Hao said, "Hey, big dark fellow, don't talk nonsense. My master is easygoing, but I'm not!"
"Huh? He really is your disciple?" the big dark man asked in surprise. "Fine, what do you want to bet? I, Zheng Peng, will take your bet!"
Li Qiang smiled faintly. "We'll bet that you can't beat my disciple. If you win, everything we have is yours. But if you lose, what will you do?"
The big dark man, Zheng Peng, said, "I won't lose. If I do, my life is yours. Watch my axe!"
Zhao Hao put away his treasured saber and went forward barehanded. He had already heard the fondness for this big dark fellow in Li Qiang's words, so he was unwilling to hurt him with his saber.
Once they exchanged blows, Zhao Hao immediately understood that Zheng Peng relied entirely on his innate prodigious strength and knew only three fighting moves. He was far below Zhao Hao's level, making victory feel rather unworthy.
Zheng Peng, however, was furious. This old man dodged faster than a ghost, and he could not land a single blow. Pulling back his huge axe, he bellowed, "Old man, stand still! Let me chop you once!"
Laughing so hard his legs went weak, Li Qiang said from the side, "Exactly, exactly. Just let him chop you once."
Zhao Hao laughed too. "All right, go ahead!"
Zheng Peng perked up and shouted, "Take my axe!"
Gripping the huge axe in both hands, he swung it through a full arc and brought it crashing down from above. The force of that blow could have split even a large boulder in two. Zhao Hao's martial arts could be considered first-rate, and he thought nothing of such unskilled brute force. Using the method of "four ounces deflecting a thousand pounds," he lightly nudged the side of the axe head. Bang! More than half the head buried itself in the ground. Zhao Hao reached out and twisted the axe shaft between his hands. Zheng Peng cried out and released his grip, both hands shocked bloody.
Li Qiang smiled. "You lost!"
Zheng Peng stared incredulously at his bleeding hands, then said with a miserable look on his dark face, "Uh, I lost. A man who bets must accept his loss. Go ahead and chop me down." Not only Li Qiang but even Zhao Hao had begun to like this straightforward fellow.
The lackeys behind Zheng Peng erupted in an uproar. "The third chief lost! Hurry and tell the head chief!" "This is bad! That old man is really formidable!" "Run! If the old man wants to kill us, we can't beat him!" The lackeys scattered in a rush.
Li Qiang said earnestly, "Big fellow, I don't think you're cut out to be a bandit. Go home. Stop being a bandit. I won't kill you either."
Zhao Hao shook his head. "Master, I think he has no home to return to. Otherwise, he wouldn't have become a bandit. If you don't want him to remain one, you'll have to take him in."
Zheng Peng was straightforward, but he was not stupid. He could still tell whether others treated him well or badly. Hearing Zhao Hao's words, he hurriedly said, "Young brother, since I lost the bet, you can do as you please with me. If you don't kill me, I'll follow you."
Li Qiang thought, Hey, this big fellow certainly knows how to climb a pole when one's held out to him!
Li Qiang felt it was a real pity for someone like Zheng Peng to be a bandit. Better to take him along. "All right," he said.
"Hey, who hit my brother? Little Blackie, tell your big sister who bullied you. I'll teach him a lesson!"
"A female bandit too?" Li Qiang asked in surprise.
Zheng Peng's dark face reddened slightly. "She's the head chief. She's much more formidable than me."
A young woman emerged from behind a tree, swinging a whip in her hand as she approached with a graceful, swaying gait.