Daoist Sang: I am upholding justice
Tonight, there is no moon, and even the wind has ceased.
A group of people holding torches is moving through the mountain ravine.
They spread out in a fan shape, as if searching for something, in an orderly manner.
They are not wearing armor or displaying any banners, but they are loud and rowdy, resembling people from the martial world.
Because of the commotion they are causing, they have been noticed by the people of Shimo Stronghold. If they were well-trained elite soldiers, they would not be creating such a ruckus. Even before they arrive, the sound of their voices has already traveled far.
These people are fumbling in the darkness, cursing and grumbling.
“This doesn’t sound like the dialect of Yongzhou,” said Meng Qi, sitting behind a large rock, holding a small piece of bread in his hand.
The bread from Shimo Stronghold is fragrant, especially when the outer crust has softened in the meat soup, making it crispy to bite into.
With his ears slightly twitching, Mo Li accurately discerned the sound of chewing amidst the commotion. He couldn’t help but shake his head, trying to shake off the image of a sand rat earnestly gnawing on food that popped up in his mind.
“Why did you bring food with you?”
“Well… I’ve already eaten half of it. Can’t just leave it behind.”
Mo Li was surprised in his heart.
Wasn’t the Physician always urging him to eat and sleep? Why is he now finding fault even when he’s eating?
Well, maybe he doesn’t like eating while walking. It’s said to be unhealthy. The Physician’s words always have some reasoning behind them. Meng Qi thought generously, then increased the speed of his eating.
Mo Li: “…”
If he didn’t know Meng Qi’s temperament, Mo Li would have thought that someone was intentionally trying to pick a fight with him. Why does he seem to get more spirited the more he eats?
Despite having only a small piece of bread, Meng Qi was crunching away as if there was no end to it.
Mo Li turned his head and was astonished to see that the bread Meng Qi held in his hand was even larger than the one from before. It was bizarre. Could it be that the more he ate, the more the bread multiplied?
Before Mo Li could ask, Meng Qi naturally raised the bread in his hand and asked, “I brought the untouched piece of bread from your table, Physician. Would you like some? Shall I split it with you?”
“…”
Mo Li turned his head expressionlessly and ignored Meng Qi.
—He had a feeling that after transforming into a sand rat twice, someone became insatiable in their eating and sleeping habits.
After finishing his own bread, Meng Qi approached Mo Li and looked outwards. He saw the torches moving in the distance.
“Can you figure out who they are?” Physician Mo asked.
“Although these martial world individuals are rough, their search formation seems quite organized. Perhaps we should ask the leader if any strangers have recently visited the outpost or if there is any hidden treasure deep in Shimo Mountain.”
Having led troops and fought battles before, Meng Qi could discern that these unexpected guests were trying to find the way to the outpost.
Before long, the leader of Shimo Stronghold arrived.
Upon hearing Meng Qi’s words, he immediately grew worried and said, “Neither of these situations apply to our Shimo Stronghold. Unless it’s those wretched scoundrels from Chima Mountain playing tricks, but they are at the end of their rope. How could they have such influence?”
“It’s possible that these forces have sought them out…”
Mo Li stared at the brightest point of the torches for a while and lowered his voice to speak to Meng Qi, “There are a few people wearing Daoist robes over there.”
At that moment, in an area where the torches formed a circle, a Daoist held a compass in his hand and compared it with a map. He exclaimed with joy, “It’s in this vicinity! We’re getting closer. We must find that hidden dragon’s den!”
The surrounding people readily agreed.
Being too far away, Mo Li couldn’t hear what they were saying.
“Brother Meng, stay here while I go take a look.
Meng Qi grabbed him and insisted, “No, let me go. Physician Mo, as a disciple of a renowned physician, you probably haven’t had much experience in gathering intelligence.”
“No, it’s too dangerous. They have a large group of people… and in this darkness, you don’t know the way. How will you find your way back?” The leader hurriedly tried to persuade him.
Meng Qi shook his head, placing his hands on Mo Li’s shoulders. With a firm push, as if leaving behind something valuable, he calmly displayed his lightness skill and disappeared into the night.
Mo Li twitched his mouth, feeling that someone was imitating “Warm Wine Slaying Hua Xiong.”
—And he was the wine.
The leader wore a puzzled expression, not understanding what was going on. Worried about the safety of the stronghold, he had no choice but to pay attention to the movements of the unexpected guests outside.
Meng Qi passed by several people along the way, brushing shoulders with them. His high-level lightness skill concealed his figure under the torches, making it indistinct. Those people only felt a gust of wind, or perhaps they mistook him for another person searching the mountain.
Silently, he approached the brightest point of the torches.
In the darkness, the person standing in the illuminated area was like a target.
Based on their carelessness, Meng Qi was certain that these individuals were not from the military or clear-minded martial artists.
When Li Yuanze raised his troops to conquer the world, Meng Qi was only ranked seventh among his talented colleagues in terms of strategists. If ranked among the generals, Meng Qi held a similar position of mediocrity.
If only the fourteen founding heroes were considered, Meng Qi would be at the bottom. Naturally, Li Yuanze’s army was not solely comprised of fourteen capable individuals, so Meng Qi appeared higher in the ranks, considered one of the trusted inner circle.
However, the military affairs assigned to Meng Qi often went unnoticed.
As the sole commander of a border army, he was not in that position. The military advisor assisting the border army commander rarely fell to him either.
Due to his lack of expertise in political affairs, it was not Meng Qi’s responsibility to stay stationed in the rear.
Meng Qi’s most common tasks involved leading troops to support others, joining forces with others as a vanguard, or supervising the supply lines from the rear. Meng Qi belonged to the type of person who couldn’t achieve great feats but would never make small mistakes.
With him around, everyone felt more at ease.
This was especially true for fortresses responsible for storing provisions. Such tasks often fell to him when the battle was raging.
Meng Qi neither drank alcohol nor pursued romance, and he didn’t easily fall for biased information or act recklessly. Even if the enemy surrounded the city and insulted his ancestors up to the eighteenth generation, he wouldn’t be provoked into launching an attack.
—The ancestors up to the eighteenth generation didn’t actually exist, so insults were meaningless. He would just get annoyed, like losing to a sand rat.
If they wanted to attack the city, they could come, and if they wanted to employ tactics, he could respond accordingly. He remained calm and composed.
When he served as the vanguard general, his purpose was not to be ruthless and gain merits but to observe the enemy forces.
Meng Qi had good eyesight, strategic thinking, and the ability to protect himself. He wasn’t afraid of fighting on the battlefield, nor did he seek to snatch credit from others. As a result, he maintained good relationships with his fellow strategists and generals, occasionally helping to mediate conflicts among them.
Li Yuanze placed great trust in this subordinate because what Meng Qi could do alone was beyond the capabilities of other strategists or generals. He seemed dispensable but was actually an essential presence.
In the past, Meng Qi also had a light cavalry under his command. They excelled in delivering messages, were skilled in archery, and could climb city walls and steep cliffs even without horses. They were usually employed as scouts.
Gathering information was indeed Meng Qi’s strength.
—It has absolutely nothing to do with the sand rat eavesdropping
With just a quick glance, Meng Qi identified seven or eight flaws in the formation presented by these individuals. Given his past experience, it would be easy to dismantle each one. He thought to himself that he wouldn’t even have to beat them until they fled in humiliation. A bunch of ragtag people dared to make a fool of themselves in front of him without knowing their own limitations.
“Tsk.”
Meng Qi regretfully thought, but he was now alone.
A clever woman can’t cook without rice. Without soldiers under his command, he had no choice but to handle it himself.
Under the illumination of the torches, the person giving orders appeared to be around forty years old with a red face and a somewhat domineering demeanor.
Beside him, the Taoist had a goatee and kept fiddling with his compass.
“Quickly, tell me, how far is the mountain stronghold from here?”
The person being interrogated, dressed in tattered clothes, knelt down trembling and pleaded, “I truly don’t know. I’m just a peddler. Every time I come to the stronghold, I’m blindfolded. Besides… besides, those people are really strange, and I dare not look at them too much.”
Tears and snot mixed together as he cried, flipping back and forth while only mentioning that each time he entered the mountain, he would walk to the nearby peak. As long as he lit a pile of firewood on the cliff, the people from Shimo Stronghold would come to meet him.
In front of the cliff was a maze-like mountain valley, filled with rocks of various sizes.
The ground was crisscrossed with ravines, and the giant rocks were uneven, obstructing the line of sight.
It was difficult to discern the direction when inside.
“…Every time we reach this point, we still have to walk for half an hour, twisting and turning. I don’t even know if those people are taking a roundabout route.” The peddler racked his brain, hoping these ill-fated stars would let him go.
“Have you ever come to the stronghold yourself?” someone pressed on.
“I wouldn’t dare!”
The peddler couldn’t express his suffering. If it weren’t for the difficult livelihood during the famine years, he would never set foot in Shimo Stronghold again. Later, every time he went out, he had to visit the temple and pray, fearing that he wouldn’t be eaten by monsters.
His ramblings were always regarded as a joke by the neighbors.
Who would have thought that a group of ill-fated individuals would come this year, without any explanation, they tied him up and demanded that he lead the way.
That Taoist, with his strange tone, seemed fearful, could it be that they wanted to enter the mountain and capture the monsters?
The peddler’s mind was in a daze, and he cowered without daring to move.
The red-faced leader angrily cursed a few words and ordered someone to climb to the top of the giant rock to look for directions.
There were over a hundred of them, but once they entered the stone valley, it was as if they had thrown a stone into a river, causing no ripples at all. The stone valley was vast, and no matter how they searched, they couldn’t find a way.
After waiting for a while, someone finally climbed up the giant rock, holding a torch and looking ahead, only to see a steep mountain wall.
To the left was a cliff, and to the right was a dark forest. Most people would think that the way out was on the right.
The goatee Taoist held the compass, hesitating.
“Daoist Sang, what do you think… There’s no light at night, why don’t we come back tomorrow to search for the Hidden Dragon’s Lair?”
“Gentleman Qing is unaware. The so-called Hidden Dragon’s Lair must be explored at night, with the Qi pointing towards the Fighting Bull, surpassing the Purple Microcosm,” the Taoist stroked his beard and shook his head, “The dragon veins of the Qi Dynasty’s Lu Family have already been determined to be in Yongzhou. Qingwu Ancestor has performed the ritual thirteen times, firmly nailing down this dragon. He has contributed to the bestowed king of Heaven, and as long as we find the Hidden Dragon’s Lair, we can make use of his arrangements. At that time, the King of Wu will regain his country and return to the court, and it will be a matter of days.”
The leader frowned and asked, “How can Daoist Sang be sure that the Hidden Dragon’s Lair is in Shimo Mountain?”
“I have observed the topography of Yongzhou, and only this place is flat for miles around, with only one mountain, which is the rising posture of a dragon. The saying ‘The divine dragon shows its head but not its tail’ doesn’t mean that we can’t find the dragon’s tail, but rather that we can only catch a glimpse of its scales and claws.”
The goatee Taoist confidently explained, “Although the terrain of Shimo Mountain is not steep, once you enter the mountain, you will find it intricate and complex. The surrounding areas of Yongzhou have been barren due to several years of drought, but this place is thriving. Isn’t that the case?”
Meng Qi: “…”
According to the Physician’s words, if Shimo Mountain has a water source, then naturally there would be vitality.
Initially, Meng Qi thought that this Taoist would mention the presence of spiritual energy here
Daoaist Sang sighed, “The Hidden Dragon’s Lair is of utmost importance. I didn’t expect it to be occupied by a group of bandits. Perhaps they are the ones left behind by Qingwu Ancestor to guard the dragon’s lair. In order to avoid any interference, we must eliminate these bandits.”
“But… if blood is shed in the dragon’s lair, will it cause any obstacles?”
“No worries, we are here to sever the dragon’s veins, not to establish them.” Daoist Sang waved his whisk and coldly snorted, “Among the sorcerers in the world, Zhao Cangfeng, the Qingwu Ancestor of Yongzhou, is the leader. Yet, he wants to help that self-proclaimed Heavenly King seize the dragon’s veins and create momentum. He truly doesn’t know what’s good for him! The Qi Dynasty Emperor, Lu Zhang, is a traitor. Our actions this time are to uphold justice and restore order!”
“Daoist Sang is right.”
The goatee Taoist laughed and praised the red-faced leader, “Genterman Gong, you have worked hard and achieved great feats. You personally led your men to Yongzhou upon receiving the letter from Jiangnan and made this grand event happen. In front of the King of Wu, you deserve the greatest credit.”
“Well said.” The red-faced leader was pleased with himself and loudly commanded, “Fetch ropes and iron spikes, and chisel stones for traction.”
The rocks were weathered by wind and sun, and the top was extremely smooth. There was also a distance between each rock, making it nearly impossible for anyone to traverse the stones using lightness skills. This group of unskilled individuals could only rely on clumsy methods.
They clumsily knocked stones and pulled ropes, leaving someone at the top of the rocks to confirm the direction. They were busy and bustling, heading towards the forest on the right side of the stone gully.
Meng Qi silently departed, but he didn’t go right.
Shimo Mountain Fort was not on the right side.
At the end of the stone gully, there was a hidden spot in the front mountain wall. The surrounding rocks were rugged and seemingly devoid of any passage, but upon closer inspection, a pathway for a single person could be found. This was the entrance to the small path that led to Shimo Mountain Stronghold.
When Mo Li brought along the sand rat, they didn’t take this route. Instead, they stepped on the giant stones and directly scaled the immense, nearly vertical mountain wall.
Their high-level lightness skills made the maze irrelevant. They had completely overlooked it.
Behind this mountain wall were two peaks, and one of them was where Mo Li rested with the sand rat in the pine forest. From the small path, one could ascend the mountain. Standing in the forest and looking down, it was clear that the torches had deviated from the intended direction and were heading right.
Shimo’s leader breathed a sigh of relief.
Meng Qi returned quickly, and Mo Li didn’t bother to complain about how long he had been standing there in the cold night. He asked, “Who were they?”
“They were sorcerers serving the King of Wu in the south.”
Meng Qi spoke solemnly, “This group of people believes that there is a hidden dragon’s lair in Shimo Mountain that can destroy the Qi Dynasty. They are convinced that it is located in the unknown Shimo Mountain Stronghold. I don’t think they will give up until they find it.”
The leader of Shimo and a few others in the fort had their mouths agape, wearing peculiar expressions.
“…Do we have a dragon beneath our feet?”
“Nonsense! There are only man-eating beasts here! And I’ve slaughtered them!” The leader of Shimo exclaimed angrily.
Mo Li shook his head at Meng Qi, denying the existence of dragon veins here.
“They are not benevolent. In order to sever the so-called dragon veins, they not only want to occupy Shimo Mountain Stronghold but also have no intention of leaving any survivors!” Meng Qi decisively said, “Leader, you need to make a decision quickly, whether to escape or fight. Time is of the essence.”
The leader slammed his palm against a tree trunk, causing several cracks to appear on the bark. He gritted his teeth and said, “Escape? Where can we run to? Where else do we have to take refuge? We have no choice but to fight!”
Daoist Sang: I am upholding justice
Tonight, there is no moon, and even the wind has ceased.
A group of people holding torches is moving through the mountain ravine.
They spread out in a fan shape, as if searching for something, in an orderly manner.
They are not wearing armor or displaying any banners, but they are loud and rowdy, resembling people from the martial world.
Because of the commotion they are causing, they have been noticed by the people of Shimo Stronghold. If they were well-trained elite soldiers, they would not be creating such a ruckus. Even before they arrive, the sound of their voices has already traveled far.
These people are fumbling in the darkness, cursing and grumbling.
“This doesn’t sound like the dialect of Yongzhou,” said Meng Qi, sitting behind a large rock, holding a small piece of bread in his hand.
The bread from Shimo Stronghold is fragrant, especially when the outer crust has softened in the meat soup, making it crispy to bite into.
With his ears slightly twitching, Mo Li accurately discerned the sound of chewing amidst the commotion. He couldn’t help but shake his head, trying to shake off the image of a sand rat earnestly gnawing on food that popped up in his mind.
“Why did you bring food with you?”
“Well… I’ve already eaten half of it. Can’t just leave it behind.”
Mo Li was surprised in his heart.
Wasn’t the Physician always urging him to eat and sleep? Why is he now finding fault even when he’s eating?
Well, maybe he doesn’t like eating while walking. It’s said to be unhealthy. The Physician’s words always have some reasoning behind them. Meng Qi thought generously, then increased the speed of his eating.
Mo Li: “…”
If he didn’t know Meng Qi’s temperament, Mo Li would have thought that someone was intentionally trying to pick a fight with him. Why does he seem to get more spirited the more he eats?
Despite having only a small piece of bread, Meng Qi was crunching away as if there was no end to it.
Mo Li turned his head and was astonished to see that the bread Meng Qi held in his hand was even larger than the one from before. It was bizarre. Could it be that the more he ate, the more the bread multiplied?
Before Mo Li could ask, Meng Qi naturally raised the bread in his hand and asked, “I brought the untouched piece of bread from your table, Physician. Would you like some? Shall I split it with you?”
“…”
Mo Li turned his head expressionlessly and ignored Meng Qi.
—He had a feeling that after transforming into a sand rat twice, someone became insatiable in their eating and sleeping habits.
After finishing his own bread, Meng Qi approached Mo Li and looked outwards. He saw the torches moving in the distance.
“Can you figure out who they are?” Physician Mo asked.
“Although these martial world individuals are rough, their search formation seems quite organized. Perhaps we should ask the leader if any strangers have recently visited the outpost or if there is any hidden treasure deep in Shimo Mountain.”
Having led troops and fought battles before, Meng Qi could discern that these unexpected guests were trying to find the way to the outpost.
Before long, the leader of Shimo Stronghold arrived.
Upon hearing Meng Qi’s words, he immediately grew worried and said, “Neither of these situations apply to our Shimo Stronghold. Unless it’s those wretched scoundrels from Chima Mountain playing tricks, but they are at the end of their rope. How could they have such influence?”
“It’s possible that these forces have sought them out…”
Mo Li stared at the brightest point of the torches for a while and lowered his voice to speak to Meng Qi, “There are a few people wearing Daoist robes over there.”
At that moment, in an area where the torches formed a circle, a Daoist held a compass in his hand and compared it with a map. He exclaimed with joy, “It’s in this vicinity! We’re getting closer. We must find that hidden dragon’s den!”
The surrounding people readily agreed.
Being too far away, Mo Li couldn’t hear what they were saying.
“Brother Meng, stay here while I go take a look.
Meng Qi grabbed him and insisted, “No, let me go. Physician Mo, as a disciple of a renowned physician, you probably haven’t had much experience in gathering intelligence.”
“No, it’s too dangerous. They have a large group of people… and in this darkness, you don’t know the way. How will you find your way back?” The leader hurriedly tried to persuade him.
Meng Qi shook his head, placing his hands on Mo Li’s shoulders. With a firm push, as if leaving behind something valuable, he calmly displayed his lightness skill and disappeared into the night.
Mo Li twitched his mouth, feeling that someone was imitating “Warm Wine Slaying Hua Xiong.”
—And he was the wine.
The leader wore a puzzled expression, not understanding what was going on. Worried about the safety of the stronghold, he had no choice but to pay attention to the movements of the unexpected guests outside.
Meng Qi passed by several people along the way, brushing shoulders with them. His high-level lightness skill concealed his figure under the torches, making it indistinct. Those people only felt a gust of wind, or perhaps they mistook him for another person searching the mountain.
Silently, he approached the brightest point of the torches.
In the darkness, the person standing in the illuminated area was like a target.
Based on their carelessness, Meng Qi was certain that these individuals were not from the military or clear-minded martial artists.
When Li Yuanze raised his troops to conquer the world, Meng Qi was only ranked seventh among his talented colleagues in terms of strategists. If ranked among the generals, Meng Qi held a similar position of mediocrity.
If only the fourteen founding heroes were considered, Meng Qi would be at the bottom. Naturally, Li Yuanze’s army was not solely comprised of fourteen capable individuals, so Meng Qi appeared higher in the ranks, considered one of the trusted inner circle.
However, the military affairs assigned to Meng Qi often went unnoticed.
As the sole commander of a border army, he was not in that position. The military advisor assisting the border army commander rarely fell to him either.
Due to his lack of expertise in political affairs, it was not Meng Qi’s responsibility to stay stationed in the rear.
Meng Qi’s most common tasks involved leading troops to support others, joining forces with others as a vanguard, or supervising the supply lines from the rear. Meng Qi belonged to the type of person who couldn’t achieve great feats but would never make small mistakes.
With him around, everyone felt more at ease.
This was especially true for fortresses responsible for storing provisions. Such tasks often fell to him when the battle was raging.
Meng Qi neither drank alcohol nor pursued romance, and he didn’t easily fall for biased information or act recklessly. Even if the enemy surrounded the city and insulted his ancestors up to the eighteenth generation, he wouldn’t be provoked into launching an attack.
—The ancestors up to the eighteenth generation didn’t actually exist, so insults were meaningless. He would just get annoyed, like losing to a sand rat.
If they wanted to attack the city, they could come, and if they wanted to employ tactics, he could respond accordingly. He remained calm and composed.
When he served as the vanguard general, his purpose was not to be ruthless and gain merits but to observe the enemy forces.
Meng Qi had good eyesight, strategic thinking, and the ability to protect himself. He wasn’t afraid of fighting on the battlefield, nor did he seek to snatch credit from others. As a result, he maintained good relationships with his fellow strategists and generals, occasionally helping to mediate conflicts among them.
Li Yuanze placed great trust in this subordinate because what Meng Qi could do alone was beyond the capabilities of other strategists or generals. He seemed dispensable but was actually an essential presence.
In the past, Meng Qi also had a light cavalry under his command. They excelled in delivering messages, were skilled in archery, and could climb city walls and steep cliffs even without horses. They were usually employed as scouts.
Gathering information was indeed Meng Qi’s strength.
—It has absolutely nothing to do with the sand rat eavesdropping
With just a quick glance, Meng Qi identified seven or eight flaws in the formation presented by these individuals. Given his past experience, it would be easy to dismantle each one. He thought to himself that he wouldn’t even have to beat them until they fled in humiliation. A bunch of ragtag people dared to make a fool of themselves in front of him without knowing their own limitations.
“Tsk.”
Meng Qi regretfully thought, but he was now alone.
A clever woman can’t cook without rice. Without soldiers under his command, he had no choice but to handle it himself.
Under the illumination of the torches, the person giving orders appeared to be around forty years old with a red face and a somewhat domineering demeanor.
Beside him, the Taoist had a goatee and kept fiddling with his compass.
“Quickly, tell me, how far is the mountain stronghold from here?”
The person being interrogated, dressed in tattered clothes, knelt down trembling and pleaded, “I truly don’t know. I’m just a peddler. Every time I come to the stronghold, I’m blindfolded. Besides… besides, those people are really strange, and I dare not look at them too much.”
Tears and snot mixed together as he cried, flipping back and forth while only mentioning that each time he entered the mountain, he would walk to the nearby peak. As long as he lit a pile of firewood on the cliff, the people from Shimo Stronghold would come to meet him.
In front of the cliff was a maze-like mountain valley, filled with rocks of various sizes.
The ground was crisscrossed with ravines, and the giant rocks were uneven, obstructing the line of sight.
It was difficult to discern the direction when inside.
“…Every time we reach this point, we still have to walk for half an hour, twisting and turning. I don’t even know if those people are taking a roundabout route.” The peddler racked his brain, hoping these ill-fated stars would let him go.
“Have you ever come to the stronghold yourself?” someone pressed on.
“I wouldn’t dare!”
The peddler couldn’t express his suffering. If it weren’t for the difficult livelihood during the famine years, he would never set foot in Shimo Stronghold again. Later, every time he went out, he had to visit the temple and pray, fearing that he wouldn’t be eaten by monsters.
His ramblings were always regarded as a joke by the neighbors.
Who would have thought that a group of ill-fated individuals would come this year, without any explanation, they tied him up and demanded that he lead the way.
That Taoist, with his strange tone, seemed fearful, could it be that they wanted to enter the mountain and capture the monsters?
The peddler’s mind was in a daze, and he cowered without daring to move.
The red-faced leader angrily cursed a few words and ordered someone to climb to the top of the giant rock to look for directions.
There were over a hundred of them, but once they entered the stone valley, it was as if they had thrown a stone into a river, causing no ripples at all. The stone valley was vast, and no matter how they searched, they couldn’t find a way.
After waiting for a while, someone finally climbed up the giant rock, holding a torch and looking ahead, only to see a steep mountain wall.
To the left was a cliff, and to the right was a dark forest. Most people would think that the way out was on the right.
The goatee Taoist held the compass, hesitating.
“Daoist Sang, what do you think… There’s no light at night, why don’t we come back tomorrow to search for the Hidden Dragon’s Lair?”
“Gentleman Qing is unaware. The so-called Hidden Dragon’s Lair must be explored at night, with the Qi pointing towards the Fighting Bull, surpassing the Purple Microcosm,” the Taoist stroked his beard and shook his head, “The dragon veins of the Qi Dynasty’s Lu Family have already been determined to be in Yongzhou. Qingwu Ancestor has performed the ritual thirteen times, firmly nailing down this dragon. He has contributed to the bestowed king of Heaven, and as long as we find the Hidden Dragon’s Lair, we can make use of his arrangements. At that time, the King of Wu will regain his country and return to the court, and it will be a matter of days.”
The leader frowned and asked, “How can Daoist Sang be sure that the Hidden Dragon’s Lair is in Shimo Mountain?”
“I have observed the topography of Yongzhou, and only this place is flat for miles around, with only one mountain, which is the rising posture of a dragon. The saying ‘The divine dragon shows its head but not its tail’ doesn’t mean that we can’t find the dragon’s tail, but rather that we can only catch a glimpse of its scales and claws.”
The goatee Taoist confidently explained, “Although the terrain of Shimo Mountain is not steep, once you enter the mountain, you will find it intricate and complex. The surrounding areas of Yongzhou have been barren due to several years of drought, but this place is thriving. Isn’t that the case?”
Meng Qi: “…”
According to the Physician’s words, if Shimo Mountain has a water source, then naturally there would be vitality.
Initially, Meng Qi thought that this Taoist would mention the presence of spiritual energy here
Daoaist Sang sighed, “The Hidden Dragon’s Lair is of utmost importance. I didn’t expect it to be occupied by a group of bandits. Perhaps they are the ones left behind by Qingwu Ancestor to guard the dragon’s lair. In order to avoid any interference, we must eliminate these bandits.”
“But… if blood is shed in the dragon’s lair, will it cause any obstacles?”
“No worries, we are here to sever the dragon’s veins, not to establish them.” Daoist Sang waved his whisk and coldly snorted, “Among the sorcerers in the world, Zhao Cangfeng, the Qingwu Ancestor of Yongzhou, is the leader. Yet, he wants to help that self-proclaimed Heavenly King seize the dragon’s veins and create momentum. He truly doesn’t know what’s good for him! The Qi Dynasty Emperor, Lu Zhang, is a traitor. Our actions this time are to uphold justice and restore order!”
“Daoist Sang is right.”
The goatee Taoist laughed and praised the red-faced leader, “Genterman Gong, you have worked hard and achieved great feats. You personally led your men to Yongzhou upon receiving the letter from Jiangnan and made this grand event happen. In front of the King of Wu, you deserve the greatest credit.”
“Well said.” The red-faced leader was pleased with himself and loudly commanded, “Fetch ropes and iron spikes, and chisel stones for traction.”
The rocks were weathered by wind and sun, and the top was extremely smooth. There was also a distance between each rock, making it nearly impossible for anyone to traverse the stones using lightness skills. This group of unskilled individuals could only rely on clumsy methods.
They clumsily knocked stones and pulled ropes, leaving someone at the top of the rocks to confirm the direction. They were busy and bustling, heading towards the forest on the right side of the stone gully.
Meng Qi silently departed, but he didn’t go right.
Shimo Mountain Fort was not on the right side.
At the end of the stone gully, there was a hidden spot in the front mountain wall. The surrounding rocks were rugged and seemingly devoid of any passage, but upon closer inspection, a pathway for a single person could be found. This was the entrance to the small path that led to Shimo Mountain Stronghold.
When Mo Li brought along the sand rat, they didn’t take this route. Instead, they stepped on the giant stones and directly scaled the immense, nearly vertical mountain wall.
Their high-level lightness skills made the maze irrelevant. They had completely overlooked it.
Behind this mountain wall were two peaks, and one of them was where Mo Li rested with the sand rat in the pine forest. From the small path, one could ascend the mountain. Standing in the forest and looking down, it was clear that the torches had deviated from the intended direction and were heading right.
Shimo’s leader breathed a sigh of relief.
Meng Qi returned quickly, and Mo Li didn’t bother to complain about how long he had been standing there in the cold night. He asked, “Who were they?”
“They were sorcerers serving the King of Wu in the south.”
Meng Qi spoke solemnly, “This group of people believes that there is a hidden dragon’s lair in Shimo Mountain that can destroy the Qi Dynasty. They are convinced that it is located in the unknown Shimo Mountain Stronghold. I don’t think they will give up until they find it.”
The leader of Shimo and a few others in the fort had their mouths agape, wearing peculiar expressions.
“…Do we have a dragon beneath our feet?”
“Nonsense! There are only man-eating beasts here! And I’ve slaughtered them!” The leader of Shimo exclaimed angrily.
Mo Li shook his head at Meng Qi, denying the existence of dragon veins here.
“They are not benevolent. In order to sever the so-called dragon veins, they not only want to occupy Shimo Mountain Stronghold but also have no intention of leaving any survivors!” Meng Qi decisively said, “Leader, you need to make a decision quickly, whether to escape or fight. Time is of the essence.”
The leader slammed his palm against a tree trunk, causing several cracks to appear on the bark. He gritted his teeth and said, “Escape? Where can we run to? Where else do we have to take refuge? We have no choice but to fight!”
