Chapter 85: Chapter 84: Leaping Over the Rolling Mountains

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!—

As night fell, Wu Chen heard hurried footsteps outside. They stopped right in front of his door.

Resting on the bed, he rose and went to the door. "Who is it?" he asked softly.

A voice from outside replied, "It’s me."

Wu Chen continued, "To leap over the endless mountains?"

The person outside immediately responded, "To cross the boundless sea!"

CREAK~

Confirming it was Lin Gaoyuan and that he’d given the correct response to the code Wu Chen had invented, proving nothing was amiss, Wu Chen opened the door.

’The people from Cangwu City are bound to be powerful,’ he thought. ’It pays to be cautious.’

’If the person outside had just stated their name, I would’ve had to consider escaping through the window.’

"What did the men who arrived have to say?" Wu Chen was asking about the outcome of Lin Gaoyuan’s meeting earlier that day.

The prominent families must have had a long discussion with the official from Cangwu City.

’The wealthy families of Fenglin County provide the funds, and the men from Cangwu City provide the force. That’s probably the gist of it.’

"A Thousand-man Commander arrived with three hundred men, all riding at top speed. Another seven hundred or so are on their way."

With the reinforcements finally here, Lin Gaoyuan let out a deep sigh of relief. The fact that it was a Thousand-man Commander leading over a thousand elite soldiers made him feel completely secure.

If they’d had this kind of force earlier, the Demon Corpses never would have had the chance to run rampant.

"The Commander said they’ve been traveling hard and the men and horses are exhausted. They’ll rest for three to five days. Once the soldiers have eaten their fill and recovered their strength, they will immediately march into the mountains to encircle and destroy the Demon Corpses."

That was the outcome of the meeting.

Wu Chen nodded. A thousand elite soldiers marching into the mountains would have no problem exterminating the Demon Corpses.

"But..."

Lin Gaoyuan’s tone shifted as he brought up something strange.

"When the Commander heard the county magistrate was dead, he didn’t seem to react much. But for some reason, after visiting the magistrate’s estate, he almost tore the place apart..."

"Could it be that he was so angry because the magistrate had his heart and lungs torn out, and the killer was one of the Blood Evil?"

Wu Chen just smiled, thinking of the two yellowish-red banknotes tucked inside his robes.

’Of course,’ he thought. ’If an official dies, the imperial court will just appoint another one.

But if the money is gone, how could that Commander not be furious?!’

Wu Chen changed the subject. "Did you ask about Black Stone City? What did the Commander say about that?"

’After all, with Fenglin County now heavily guarded, the starving Demon Corpses are bound to go further afield to the less-defended Black Stone City.’

"I asked. The Commander said not to worry. Another Thousand-man Commander was dispatched to Black Stone City as well."

Lin Gaoyuan then relayed to Wu Chen everything the Commander had discussed with the prominent families.

At the Commander’s request, the families had recounted in detail the events that had transpired in Fenglin County.

Since they had coordinated their story beforehand, everyone omitted Wu Chen’s role. They claimed that a few unknown Rangers from the martial world had helped them, and that’s how they’d managed to hold the city walls.

Once the Demon Corpses retreated, these wandering martial artists had departed.

After Lin Gaoyuan finished his account, Wu Chen nodded.

"With a thousand elite soldiers marching into the mountains, exterminating the Demon Corpses certainly won’t be an issue."

"That being the case, it’s time for me to leave."

Fenglin County was now secure, and the officials would handle the Demon Corpse infestation. There was no longer any reason for Wu Chen to stay.

He planned to set out for Mountain Mist City to find Martial Arts befitting the Jade Bone Realm.

"Young Master Wu, you’re leaving so soon? Why not stay a couple more days..." Lin Gaoyuan urged him to stay.

He had been incredibly busy the past two days, consoling the families of the injured and fallen Guards and Hunters and managing his family’s business. He hadn’t had a moment to spare.

He’d only just gotten a moment of free time now that the reinforcements from Cangwu City had arrived, and he had been planning to drink and relax with Wu Chen. He never imagined Wu Chen would be planning to leave already.

In response to Lin Gaoyuan’s earnest invitation, Wu Chen simply waved a hand in refusal.

His mind was now completely focused on obtaining new Martial Arts.

Realizing he couldn’t convince him to stay, Lin Gaoyuan didn’t press the issue. Instead, he took out a palm-sized bag he had prepared earlier.

"Young Master Wu, this is just a small token of my gratitude. It’s nothing grand."

Wu Chen looked at the dusty, unremarkable little bag and had an inkling of what it might be. Then he heard Lin Gaoyuan continue.

"This little storage pouch is a family heirloom."

"It may look unassuming on the outside, but it contains a world of its own within. That’s why it’s also called a Qiankun Bag, or a ’mustard seed’ pouch."

"Of course, the name is a bit of an exaggeration."

"As for its true size, you’ll know once you hold it, Young Master Wu."

This had been prepared as a reward for Wu Chen all along. After explaining its function, Lin Gaoyuan handed the small gray pouch over.

’It’s just as I thought!’

Wu Chen’s eyes lit up. He didn’t stand on ceremony and accepted it at once.

As it touched his hand, he focused his senses and perceived a dim space within the pouch, roughly four feet long and wide. Inside, there were five yellow hundred-tael silver banknotes.

For the Lin family, which hadn’t conducted any business for some time and had spent a great deal of silver taels during the Demon Corpse siege, five hundred taels was a considerable sum.

"As the saying goes, ’treasures for the hero.’ And while this little pouch may not be a true treasure, you, Young Master Wu, are a true hero! I hope you won’t refuse it."

Lin Gaoyuan spoke from the heart; this was no empty flattery.

He had run along the city wall by himself, killing as he went, and had even slain three elite Demon Corpses, terrifying the horde and preventing them from advancing.

Lin Gaoyuan was filled with genuine admiration.

Hearing him put it that way, Wu Chen nodded and accepted the gift.

He really could use such a valuable item.

In the future, there would surely be a time when he acquired more Martial Arts manuals than he could read at once. Having this Qiankun Bag would certainly make things much more convenient.

"It’s getting late, so I won’t disturb your rest any further, Young Master Wu."

Having delivered the pouch, Lin Gaoyuan rose to take his leave. He still had many matters to attend to before the Demon Corpse threat was fully resolved.

Wu Chen rose to see him out. Once Lin Gaoyuan was gone, he went to the window and gazed out at the small city.

He stood there until twilight deepened, then finally closed the window and lay down on the bed.

He would rest early and recover his energy.

He had to be ready to set out for Mountain Mist City at first light.

「The next day.」

The rising sun cast its red glow over the entire city.

Wu Chen went to the stables in the inn’s rear courtyard and walked up to a striking, date-red steed.

Thanks to a daily diet of fine fodder, the horse’s coat was glossy, its crimson hair like a blazing fire. It was an exceptionally eye-catching animal.

Having already paid the fee, Wu Chen handed a wooden token to a stable hand, along with a few extra copper plates.

The stable hand cheerfully took care of saddling the horse and preparing everything else.

Finally, he handed the reins to Wu Chen and added, "Safe travels, sir! Watch your step!"

Wu Chen led the horse toward the city gate.

As he neared the gate, he saw three familiar figures.

Wu Chen considered pretending he hadn’t seen them and just walking past.

But the three young women, who had been waiting there specifically for him, weren’t about to let him get away.

"Young Master Wu~"

The trio jogged over to him, drawing the envy of many passersby.

Looking at the three pretty, distinct faces gathered before him, Wu Chen felt a headache coming on.

"Are you leaving Fenglin County, Young Master Wu?" Chen Xiaoqing asked, her eyes filled with reluctance.

"I am," Wu Chen answered honestly.

"In that case, please take these clothes with you. We hope you won’t find them lacking."

The three of them offered up the neatly folded clothes and boots they were holding.

The garments had intricate patterns and exquisite workmanship; a single glance told him they were quite valuable.

"The silver coins you paid to learn Martial Arts were supposed to cover your meals and medicinal tonics."

"Since you never came for them, we converted their value into these clothes. We mean nothing else by it."

Knowing they couldn’t make him stay, the three young women explained, their faces blushing.

Seeing the girls blocking his path, clearly determined not to let him pass until he accepted their gifts, Wu Chen saw he had no choice.

"Then I have troubled you three."

With those quiet words, he accepted the sets of black, white, and gray robes.

The fabric felt cool to the touch, its quality extraordinary. He feared each set must have cost seventy or eighty taels of silver.

Once they saw Wu Chen accept the clothes, the three of them reluctantly stepped aside to let him pass.

Only when his figure had vanished into the distance and the sound of his horse’s hooves had faded did the three young women, their faces crestfallen, finally turn for home, full of reluctance.

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