Blade - Unbound

Chapter 88: Outlaws and the Imperial Court

The mass grave at noon was completely different than before. The gloomy atmosphere blanketing the mountain had been driven away. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy overhead, casting pillars of light onto the forest floor and lending the place an unexpectedly tranquil elegance. Of course, that elegance only existed if one ignored the countless barren graves and scattered bones lining the path.

A total of more than thirty people were now ascending the mountain.

The Military Surveillance Department had left some of its men below the mountain to provide support, while Chang Xuan personally led the main force. He was accompanied by Guan Wanche and five squad leaders, all experts of the Dark Jin Realm.

The dozen or so men under their command were likewise at the peak of the Light Jin Realm. These elite members of the Military Surveillance Department were clearly experienced in forest warfare. Not only did they have hawks circling overhead, but they had also brought along two mastiffs.

As for the Xianyang Enforcement Hall, because several of their members had been poisoned and others needed to remain behind to guard the altar grounds, only Luo Mingzi and five Daoists accompanied the expedition.

Although their numbers were small, more than a dozen Dark Jin Realm experts were sufficient to deal with most situations.

“Woof! Woof!”

The ferocious mastiffs quickly picked up the trail. The hawks circling above also indicated the direction of those who had entered the mountain.

At that moment, one of the Daoists' ears twitched. “Careful. There's an ambush ahead.”

Before his words had even finished, a strange flute melody drifted out from the forest. The Military Surveillance Department's mastiffs also suddenly stopped and began barking wildly at the surrounding woods.

Dark figures emerged from all around them, pouring out from ditches and forests alike. Every one of them was a wild dog that fed on corpses from the mass grave. Their eyes gleamed with vicious intent, and their fangs looked savage and terrifying.

Li Yan had already scented them long ago but he couldn't even be bothered to mention it. With so many experts present, he wasn't needed.

Sure enough, Luo Mingzi's expression didn't change in the slightest. He swiftly removed a token from his waist. It was the same item he had used during the previous mountain expedition, the Profound Bamboo Envoy Talisman.

Forming a hand seal, he recited the Mountain Entering Six Invocations. “Soldiers and divine forces, form ranks before me and advance!”

However, unlike before, the cadence of the incantation had changed.

Watching from the side, Li Yan couldn't help feeling envious. He had discussed the matter with Wang Daoxuan and learned that this was called the Baopu Mountain-Climbing Technique. It wasn't unique to the Taixuan Orthodox Sect but was widely circulated throughout the mystic path.

Wang Daoxuan's lineage of the western mystic path possessed the technique as well. Unfortunately, cultivating it required two conditions. First, one had to construct the second level of their inner temple. Second, one had to refine the expensive Profound Bamboo Envoy Talisman.

Neither of them qualified.

Though the technique's requirements were harsh, it was extraordinarily useful. By merely altering the six invocations, one could conceal oneself from ghosts and spirits or suppress the fierce mountain beasts.

As Luo Mingzi recited the spell, both astral qi and killing qi began to stir. A powerful aura, like that of a ferocious tiger, gathered around him, causing the wild dogs to panic. Some collapsed, and others were so frightened they urinated where they stood.

Of course, the Three Talents Demon Suppressing Coins could achieve a similar effect. The difference was that its area of influence was far smaller.

At the same time, the Daoist who had given the warning removed a large bow from his back. Closing his eyes, his ears twitched repeatedly. He drew the bow and aimed toward the sky to the right.

The bowstring thrummed as an arrow shot into the forest. An instant later, a scream filled the air and the music coming from the flute ceased. The surrounding wild dogs immediately scattered and fled.

Chang Xuan wasn't surprised in the least as he calmly issued the order. “Go check.”

The Military Surveillance Department and the Taixuan Orthodox Sect were clearly accustomed to working together. They had pretty good synergy.

Two officers immediately rushed into the forest. Before long, they returned and cupped their fists. “Lord Chen, it was a member of the Beggar Gang. He was killed by the arrow.”

After hearing the report, Chang Xuan frowned. “The Beggar Gang knows the terrain well and is skilled at handling snakes and controlling dogs. Treasure-hunters also use all sorts of strange techniques. We should be careful not to stumble upon their traps.”

The wild dog ambush was merely a minor interruption. There were several tracking experts in the group, and thus, it did not take long before they arrived at an old burial mound. They quickly found a tunnel entrance behind it, beneath a large tree.

The opening was pitch-black and radiated sinister yin energy.

“Go in!”

“Wait.”

Just as Chang Xuan was about to order his men forward, Luo Mingzi stopped him. His expression was serious as he shook his head. “There are traps inside. Don't rush.”

He turned toward a bearded Daoist with graying hair. He was clearly advanced in age.

The bearded Daoist, upon seeing Luo Mingzi’s gaze, withdrew a talisman from his robes. Forming a seal with his left hand, he started to gather killing qi around him. When he had gathered enough from the surroundings, he flicked his right hand and sent the talisman flying.

The yellow talisman ignited without wind and shot straight into the tunnel. Although the flame extinguished almost immediately, a burst of astral qi spread outward like a massive stone crashing into still water, causing a gust of yin wind to burst from the tunnel.

Several venomous snakes fled out in panic, as faint sounds of mournful weeping could be heard.

Three officers from the Military Surveillance Department drew their swords when they saw the snakes, and soon, flashes of sword light filled the air. Every snake that approached the group was cut into pieces.

Luo Mingzi glanced toward the sky and shook his head. “These people certainly planned it out well. On the Yang Festival, when a new cycle begins, all the wandering ghosts of the mass grave hide underground. Now, they've become a protective shield for these intruders.”

Li Yan frowned. “There is no sunlight underground, and the yin and killing qi are concentrated. Can we not summon spirit troops to search the area?”

That was undoubtedly the easiest method. No matter how complex the underground tunnels were, once yin soldiers were deployed, everyone inside would be captured in short order.

Luo Mingzi shook his head. “They anticipated that as well. The Mountain God is currently being enfeoffed, and its original form is a heavenly treasure. If it is frightened before obtaining its divine rank, all of its accumulated fortune will dissipate.”

He turned toward Chang Xuan. “Captain Chang, the tunnels below have effectively become a ghost den. Though they're only wandering spirits, it's best that your men don't enter. The passages are narrow, and too many people will only get in each other's way. Instead, search for the other exits and make sure nobody escapes.”

Chang Xuan hesitated briefly before nodding. “Very well. We'll remain outside and provide support. Be careful, Daoist masters.”

Luo Mingzi nodded and turned to Li Yan and the others, gesturing to the tunnel. Soon, all of them disappeared into the darkness.

***

No sooner had they departed than Guan Wanche suddenly spoke, “My lord, it seems the Maitreya Sect never came.”

Regret filled Chang Xuan's eyes and he shook his head. “A heavenly treasure capable of serving as a supreme healing treasure... To be honest, if the Taixuan Orthodox Sect hadn't issued orders, even I would have been tempted to take it for myself. I never expected the Maitreya Sect to restrain themselves.”

Before he could finish speaking, a cold voice rang out from the distant forest. “Oh? Seems like you’re looking for me?”

“Who goes there?!”

The members of the Military Surveillance Department immediately drew their weapons. Yet when they looked toward the source of the voice, there was nobody there.

Confusion filled in their eyes. The mastiffs had not given any warning, and the hawks overhead had detected no enemy. Where exactly was the speaker hiding?

Chang Xuan was about to order a search when something occurred to him. A thoughtful expression crossed his face. “The enemy is using mystic arts. They want us to split up to look for them. Don't fall for it. Everyone, form the Lotus Blossom Formation!”

His experience allowed him to instantly identify the enemy's intentions. With a single order, the members of the Military Surveillance Department drew bows and nocked arrows.

Standing back-to-back, they aimed in every direction. The formation resembled a hedgehog covered in razor-sharp quills.

Though the enemy refused to reveal themselves, a smile appeared on Chang Xuan's face. His greatest concern was that the enemy might not be greedy. As long as they coveted the heavenly treasure, there was no need to rush, he could afford to take his time.

A surprised voice came from the forest. “Hm?”

Moments later, an elderly man stepped out from behind a tree. He wore a Daoist robe and had white eyebrows and a white beard.

Guan Wanche called out, “Lord Chang, it's him!”

He immediately recognized the old man as the same individual who had infiltrated the Zhou Family residence that day.

Chang Xuan's eyes were sharp. At a glance, he realized the old man was wearing a human-skin mask. His cold voice soon rang in everyone’s ears. “Since you've come, why not show your true face?”

The old man shook his head slightly.

But before he could respond, Chang Xuan's expression changed. “Fire!”

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

A storm of arrows immediately filled the air. The newcomer was none other than Dugu Qian, Incense Master of the Maitreya Sect. His skills were equally impressive.

With a single leap, he disappeared behind a tree trunk. Arrows rained down, embedding themselves in trees and the ground, their fletchings trembling from the force behind them.

Dugu Qian paid them little attention as he removed a bone flute hanging around his neck. Forming a hand seal with his left hand, he placed the flute to his lips and began playing.

A strange melody quickly echoed through the forest as the vegetation behind the Military Surveillance Department began rustling violently.

A disgusting stench swept toward them. It was so intense it could make ordinary people dizzy, but the officers present were no ordinary people. None of them panicked. Instead, a few of them removed leather pouches from their waists and hurled them into the air as three drew their bows.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The pouches exploded instantly, scattering pungent yellow powder everywhere.

“Realgar?”

Dugu Qian's relaxed expression suddenly changed as he immediately stopped playing the flute. Unfortunately, it was already too late. A giant snake as thick as a tiny tree trunk burst from the forest as it was driven into a frenzy from the realgar. Its blood-red comb stood erect on its head as it opened its massive jaws and lunged toward the formation.

Despite facing the legendary Crowned Serpent Spirit, the Military Surveillance Department remained completely calm. Guan Wanche led several men as they seized a prepared iron net that was covered in iron hooks from the ground and cast it forward.

That was the Ghost's Sorrow, a tool specifically used by the authorities to capture martial artists. The maddened Crowned Serpent Spirit charged straight into it and was immediately entangled. Its scales were incredibly tough, sending sparks flying as they scraped against the hooks. Unfortunately for the snake, the Ghost's Sorrow was enormous. The harder it struggled, the more entangled it became.

Even knowing what to expect, everyone felt a chill running down their spines. The creature was immune to ordinary weapons, immensely powerful, and lethally venomous. If it had reached the formation, casualties would have been severe.

It was no wonder it could slaughter an entire bandit stronghold alone.

Without hesitation, Guan Wanche removed a skin pouch from his waist and sprayed its contents onto the snake. He had prepared for it the moment Sha Lifei had told him the story the day before. The liquid was a mixture of black dog blood and realgar. It landed on the Crowned Serpent Spirit's body, causing white smoke to hiss into the air. The scales then softened, allowing the iron hooks to pierce deeply into its body

The pain allowed the snake to regain some clarity. It no longer dared move and its cold eyes stared at the group while poisonous mist churned within its throat.

Chang Xuan, who had stood with his hands behind his back the entire time, finally drew the sword hanging at his waist. With a flick of his finger, a clear sword hum echoed through the forest.

He glanced coldly at the Crowned Serpent Spirit. “This is a treasured sword bestowed by the imperial court, which possesses the power to suppress evil. You may test it if you would like, but if you do, we can see who’s faster. Will my sword be faster, or will your spit?”

The snake was surprisingly intelligent. Upon hearing Chang Xuan, it immediately closed its mouth. Chang Xuan nodded in satisfaction before looking toward the distant forest with a smile on his face.

He called out, “Tomb Serpent Dugu Qian, since I knew you were coming, do you really think I would be unprepared?”

Though he spoke casually, he felt immensely fortunate. After hearing Sha Lifei’s account the day before, he immediately sensed that something was wrong. He had dispatched riders to nearby villages at once to gather the necessary materials. Everything had been assembled just in time before the battle started.

In any case, the power of the imperial court was simply not comparable to that of ordinary people. The Military Surveillance Department, in particular, had never ceased gathering intelligence on the Maitreya Sect.

They already possessed information regarding Tomb Serpent Dugu Qian. Although the Crowned Serpent Spirit was rare, they had long known how to counter it.

Chang Xuan smiled and continued, “Since things have come to this, why don't you come out and have a proper conversation?”

Dugu Qian's expression darkened as he walked out from the forest reluctantly. “Lord Chang is quite the strategist. You are quite skilled as well. I never imagined that a mere captain of the Military Surveillance Department would actually be a Jin Transformation Realm expert! Looks like I was careless this time.”

Chang Xuan sighed. “The imperial court differs from the jianghu; skill alone does not count for much. Compared to fighting, I much prefer using my brain. I know Incense Master Dugu possesses profound proficiency in the mystic arts, and there is no way we can truly stop you from coming. However, you’ve seen the situation, I’ve come prepared.

“You won't gain any advantage from this, why not withdraw with your life intact today?”

Dugu Qian's expression shifted repeatedly. Eventually, he grunted, “They say dragons and serpents rise from among the common folk. It seems the imperial court is where the truly hidden dragons and crouching tigers reside.

“I shall admit defeat today and leave at once. Now, release my Crowned Serpent Spirit.”

“Ah, about that.” Chang Xuan frowned and lightly waved a finger. “One thing has nothing to do with the other. I worked hard to catch this creature, so why would I hand it over so easily?

“Also, tell your brother Fire Ghost to stop aiming that at me. At this distance, it might wound me, but your precious snake certainly won't survive.”

Dugu Qian's eyelid twitched and he immediately raised a hand. In the distance, a figure dropped from a tree and quickly disappeared. Looking at Chang Xuan, Dugu Qian felt genuine frustration. He had never expected to encounter such a troublesome opponent in Xianyang.

After taking a deep breath, he asked, “Very well, what do you want?”

A meaningful smile appeared on Chang Xuan's face. “I want a name. Who in the Military Surveillance Department leaked information about the new explosive to you?”

***

The narrow tunnels below were dark and damp. Water pooled along the ground, turning everything muddy and difficult to traverse. Dense roots hung down from above while spiders and venomous insects crawled through the darkness.

A Daoist from the Enforcement Hall touched the tunnel wall and shook his head. “No wonder they kept so many wild dogs! They were using them to dig. Judging by the condition of these tunnels, they've been at it for years.”

Meanwhile, Luo Mingzi stared at the chaotic footprints on the ground. A frown appeared on his face. “Mountain Lord took over the western beggars years ago. He must have been planning this ever since. If someone hadn't leaked the information, who would have known that a Mountain Tai Sui had been born within the mass grave?”

Li Yan nodded thoughtfully. “The person who leaked the secret probably had ulterior motives as well.”

Luo Mingzi nodded. “Don't worry, someone is already investigating this matter.”

As he spoke, he formed hand seals again and activated the Baopu Mountain-Climbing Technique.

Rustle...

The venomous snakes and poisonous insects hidden in the darkness immediately fled in panic. The gloomy black mists lingering in the distance also sank into the earth and vanished.

Clearly, neither venomous creatures nor wandering ghosts could stop the group.

Seeing how easily they had dealt with trouble, Li Yan silently shook his head. He felt somewhat useless among so many experts. His divine ability was undoubtedly remarkable, but among the Enforcement Hall members, aside from Luo Mingzi, the elderly bearded Daoist had already reached the second level of cultivation.

The younger Daoists had all constructed inner temples as well. Their divine abilities were far stronger than his own. One specialized in his sense of hearing and could hear movements hundreds of zhang away. Another specialized in his sense of sight, capable of distinguishing yin and yang and seeing clearly in darkness. The remaining three had all awakened their Body Roots and specialized in combat.

Working together, they left Li Yan with little opportunity to contribute. At that rate, they would probably capture the culprits before long.

Still, the trip wasn't wasted. The methods employed by the Military Surveillance Department and the coordinated Daoist techniques of the Enforcement Hall had broadened his horizons immensely.

He carefully committed everything to memory. One of Li Yan's greatest strengths was his ability to extrapolate from a single example. That applied not only to martial arts but also to mystic arts.

Just as he had incorporated the Zhou Family's Ape Leap into his Red Fist and blade techniques after seeing it only once, he was constantly devising new methods of combining hidden force with his existing skills. Perhaps it was the gift of having a previous life. It allowed him to step outside conventional frameworks and view problems differently.

The group moved swiftly and before long, they had descended deep underground. The tunnel network contained numerous branches and dead ends, but footprints could not be erased. With the group's divine abilities, none of the false trails managed to deceive them.

Eventually, the earthen tunnels came to an end and stone replaced soil beneath their feet.

They soon found themselves looking at a stone chamber where marks of human excavation were visible everywhere. On the left stood another passageway, now blocked by collapsed rocks. Farther ahead, several branching tunnels stretched into the darkness.

The earthen tunnel they had followed emerged from an opening in the opposite side of the stone wall. An ancient shrine had been carved into that wall, but the statue within had long since become covered in mottled moss. Time and erosion had worn away its features until it was almost unrecognizable.

Li Yan looked surprised and he couldn’t help but ask, “An ancient tomb?”

The shrine clearly dated back countless years. This was definitely not the work of the Beggar Gang.

“No.” Luo Mingzi shook his head as he examined the surroundings. “The history of the Divine Continent stretches back to antiquity. Even during the era of primitive tribes, people constantly explored the world. In those days, the wilderness contained countless supernatural phenomena.

“That is why the Classic of Mountains and Seas records a deity for nearly every mountain, bringing the custom all the way till this day. Whenever people encountered a place of spiritual significance, they would burn incense and worship.

“In ancient times, people worshipped a Mountain God here. The Mountain Tai Sui absorbed incense offerings and eventually developed divine astral qi. Unfortunately, something later went wrong, and the passages collapsed.”

Li Yan was about to respond when suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his left palm. His vision blurred and when he could see properly again, he saw a strange scene before him.

An elderly man dressed in garments woven from tree bark now stood within a dark cave. His beard was covered in moss, and his face was unnaturally pale. His mouth opened and closed repeatedly. Within his eyes, there was nothing but desperate pleading.