Death Comes from Afar

Li Shan set down his chopsticks, wiped the grease from his mouth with the back of his hand, and asked in confusion, "Brother Yan, you're not short of silver now. Why are you taking this back for Uncle Chang too?"

Li Yu chimed in softly, "Yeah, Brother Yan. You're so impressive now—you have status if you want status, wealth if you want wealth. Why are you still being so thrifty?"

At the other table, Chen An and Li Yin had also noticed the matter when Li Yan rose. They looked at him in confusion as well. They knew how extravagantly this master spent money, so why was he taking even a used belt back today?

Li Yan smiled broadly. "What do you know? This belt was bestowed upon me by my master. I'm taking it back so Father and Mother can see it too."

Hearing this, Li Yu said in sudden understanding, "I get it. This is like those things storytellers always talk about, like an imperial sword bestowed by the emperor, right? If anything happens in the village later, we can use this to block some trouble, can't we?"

Li Shan nodded repeatedly. Chen An and Li Yin also understood the reasoning after hearing this. Such things were common enough in official circles. The ancestral homes of many officials often kept court robes, hairpins, fans, even treasured swords bestowed by the reigning emperor or great officials. Lord Ji was an important figure in this region; something he had given, placed in the old family home, was more useful than some official documents.

Li Yan had only thought of it on a whim. After all, he had worn this belt for several months. Though he had bought a few more afterward, he had used this one the longest. Giving it to his parents could serve as a keepsake.

It had been an impulsive act, and when he saw Chen An and Li Yin's puzzled expressions, he regretted it somewhat. Fortunately, his mind turned quickly, and Li Yu had truly played along well, accidentally saving him the need to explain.

"You sure know a lot, haha." He laughed and patted Li Yu's shoulder, then looked at the sun outside. With a sigh in his heart, he thought, It was finally about to begin. Perhaps today would be the day I died. No matter what, I would fight with everything I had.

At that moment, tens of thousands of miles from Green Mountain Pass, a streak of radiance was flying from west to east through the skies above Great Green Mountain. Within that radiance was a shuttle-shaped object, upon which three young men were conversing.

"Senior Brother Wu, did the senior brothers of the Enforcement Team confirm that the person from the Immortal-Seeking Lineage is within the imperial dynasty's borders?" The speaker was a slightly plump young man with a round face and large eyes.

The person he addressed was lean and gaunt, with a horse-like face, dark skin, and a gloomy expression. Beside him stood another young man of around twenty, fair-skinned and beardless, with a gentle expression. All three wore dark green robes.

Yet several centipedes would occasionally crawl out from the sleeve cuff of the long robe worn by the man called Senior Brother Wu. They crawled up and down his body, crossing over one another, before burrowing back into his sleeve.

Before long, they would emerge again, crawl another circuit, and burrow back into his cuff. It was enough to make one's scalp tingle, yet the other two men on the shuttle acted as if they saw nothing.

"Yes. We came under orders, having received instructions from the Enforcement senior brothers. Their order stated that this person was in Green Mountain Pass, a city within the imperial dynasty's borders, serving as a strategist for the local garrison."

"Once we confirm it again after arriving, we can kill him. But the Enforcement senior brothers made it clear that the Hall Master of Enforcement wanted him alive, so he could be captured and taken back to feed the Soul-Entwining Threadworms."

"Ah, Soul-Entwining Threadworms?" The round-faced, big-eyed young man could not help crying out. That was an incomparably vicious punishment; merely thinking of it made his entire body turn cold and his face go pale. The fair, beardless young man's gentle expression also froze, and he said, "Senior Brother Wu, could there be some mistake? Using such a thing goes against the harmony of Heaven."

"Hmph, how could I have gotten it wrong? I confirmed it repeatedly. When I received the order, my reaction was no less than yours now. I have no idea what those madmen of the Enforcement Hall are thinking."

"Shh. Do not discuss the Enforcement Hall's affairs. Among our peaks, aside from Patriarch Wei's peak, which has no Enforcement Hall, which other peak's Enforcement Hall is not filled with ruthless people? But this is not something disciples of our Qi Condensation Realm can discuss. Otherwise, if they learn of it, our ends will not be much better." After his expression changed, the gentle young man warned the other two.

The other two men's expressions changed as well, and they did not continue the subject. Senior Brother Wu then said, "Originally, this was not a task for us. But with the sect's five-year grand competition taking place this time, the senior brothers and uncles from our peak's Enforcement Hall who were outside all have to return."

"Thus, this task has fallen to us. Fortunately, that person from the Immortal-Seeking Lineage is not very highly cultivated. He may only be at the second or third level of Qi Condensation, perhaps even around the first level. With our strength, any one of us could complete this task alone. It is only because they want him captured alive that the three of us were sent together."

The two nodded upon hearing this. They admired the methods of the Enforcement Hall's senior brothers and uncles; their intelligence had always been accurate, and they had no reason for suspicion. Since they had stated that man's realm, it was likely no higher than the third level of Qi Condensation. Of the three of them, two were at the ninth level of Qi Condensation and one at the tenth. This was not merely overestimating that man—it was practically making a mountain out of a molehill.

"However, there is one more matter. The Enforcement senior brothers said that an uncle-master only recently discovered that the person from the Immortal-Seeking Lineage might have taken a disciple as well. But that disciple is not from the Immortal-Seeking Lineage. He is merely a mortal with spirit roots whom that person found in the mortal world. That disciple is to be captured and taken back as well," Senior Brother Wu added.

"Oh? He has another disciple?" the gentle young man asked.

"Yes. We will capture him along with the other one." Senior Brother Wu's gaze was dark and sinister.

"That person is rather pitiful, then. Who knows how he will be dealt with after being captured and brought back? If he is implicated alongside his master, he truly will become a wronged ghost," the round-faced youth said with sympathy.

As they spoke, the streak of radiance sped eastward, and their voices gradually faded into the distance.

Inside the military camp in Green Mountain Pass, Liu Chengyong paced back and forth within his quarters, glancing outside from time to time. He had originally been on duty today, but he had received the Marshal's secret order to switch shifts and wait for Li Yan in the army camp, where he was to act according to orders. It was already past noon, yet Li Yan had still not arrived.

Within the Marshal's Residence, Strategist Ji was seated in the main hall, discussing matters with Marshal Hong.

"Marshal, why are we not discussing matters in the army camp today?" Ji Wenhe asked lightly after glancing at Hong Linying.

"Oh, the spy in the Meng Kingdom vanguard only just returned with news today. I feel that this matter should not be known by too many people yet, so the two of us should discuss it first before settling it with the generals," Hong Linying said solemnly after taking a sip of tea.

"Oh? What else did the spy in the Meng Kingdom vanguard discover?" Ji Wenhe sat up straighter upon hearing this. After all, one had to fulfill one's duty while holding one's position.

"This morning, word came from that side that the Meng Kingdom will soon transfer a great army from several other locations—"

Li Yan looked at the sun beyond the window. It was about a quarter of an hour past noon. Rising to his feet, he smiled at Li Shan and Li Yu. "I should head back. My cultivation has been growing more demanding lately, so we may not be able to meet again for some time."

Li Shan and Li Yu did not think much of it. They, along with everyone else in the village, knew that Li Yan had become Strategist Ji's disciple and was diligently practicing martial arts. They rose as well. "Brother Yan, we understand. We'll also tell the uncles from the village about your situation."

"Mm, then I'm leaving." With that, he tossed a silver ingot onto the table, turned, and walked outside. Chen An and Li Yin hurried after him.

After the three left the tavern, they untied their horses beneath a tree, mounted up, and galloped toward the North City Gate. Before long, they reached it. Seeing the three of them, the soldiers saluted and moved aside the obstructions barring the road, allowing them to leave at a gallop. By now, few of the soldiers stationed in small squads at the North Gate failed to recognize Li Yan.

The road was smooth and unobstructed. Li Yan worried that Strategist Ji might have been delayed by some matter and left later than expected, causing their schedules to collide. It would be troublesome if they met head-on. That was why he had waited until after noon and lingered another quarter of an hour in the city. Fortunately, his worries proved unnecessary. Nothing happened along the way, and the three swiftly returned to the Strategist's Residence.

After dismounting, Li Yan tossed aside the reins and slowly headed into the valley. Chen An and Li Yin naturally went to tend to the horses. They were also quite relieved today. Apart from eating and drinking in the city, this master had not acted up, nor had he gone shopping for anything. Well, if one had to call it shopping, he had bought a belt, and it was still tied around his waist.

After entering the valley, Li Yan immediately raised his guard. Yet he did not sense any Divine Sense extending outward, which eased his heart somewhat.

Without hesitation, he headed straight for the first stone house. Its door was not closed. Reaching the entrance, he bowed. "Master, this disciple requests an audience." After waiting a moment with no response from within, he entered. He looked around, but there was no one inside. He let out a long breath, then turned and hurried toward his own room.

Once inside, he quickly took out brush, ink, and paper. After steadying his breath and calming himself, he began to write. Before long, he set down the brush, picked up the paper, and examined it again and again.

Then, with a rip, he tore it apart and began anew. He wrote and rewrote three or four times. Sweat beaded more thickly upon his forehead with each attempt. When he finished the fourth draft, he examined it carefully once more. By then, sweat densely covered his brow. At last, he exhaled deeply and placed the paper on the table to dry.

Turning around, he burned the sheets he had torn up, carefully packed the black ashes into a small cloth pouch, and tucked it into his robe. He then went to the side of the pool. After looking around and confirming that no one was present, he scattered the ashes into the flowerbeds around the pool and casually turned over the soil a few times.

After washing his face in the pool, he quickly returned to the stone house. By then, the ink on the paper had mostly dried. He picked it up, looked around the room, then checked himself from head to toe. Once certain there was nothing else to take, he turned and hurried outside. He could not be sure how long Hong Linying could keep Ji Wenhe occupied.

When he reached the mouth of the valley, he called out for Chen An. Chen An was taking a noon nap. He had drunk some wine earlier and was feeling a little dizzy, just about to enjoy a good sleep. He had only just drifted off when he suddenly heard a familiar voice. Reflexively, he sprang up, grabbed his clothes, threw them on, and rushed out.

Only after exiting did he realize that Li Yan was calling him, and unease immediately filled his heart. They had only just returned—why was he being summoned again? Had the master's illness acted up once more?

By the time he reached the front of the valley, Li Yin was already standing before Li Yan, looking at a sheet of paper in his hand. Chen An hurried over and asked, "Young Master, what is it?"

Li Yan shot him a glance. "Wouldn't you know if you looked?"

Chen An obediently looked toward Li Yin. Li Yin said nothing and handed him the paper. Chen An accepted it in confusion and read it. A few words had been hastily scrawled upon it, clearly written by someone pressed for time: "Disciple, upon seeing this letter, come swiftly to the army camp in the city. Your master awaits you there."

Chen An recognized it as Lord Ji's handwriting, merely hurried and somewhat messy. He looked up at Li Yan. "Young Master, this is a message left by Lord Ji."

"Nonsense. Of course I know it is a message from Master. Presumably, after we left, Master went to the army camp on some business. Perhaps there are matters that require me to accompany him as well." At that, he fell silent.

Chen An and Li Yin exchanged glances. Chen An said, "But if Lord Ji had business with us in the city, he would surely have sent someone to find us."

"How would I know? You certainly concern yourself with a wide range of matters, don't you?" Li Yan's tone began to turn unfriendly.