Chapter Twenty-Five: Liangyang Village

Chen Jiu had spent three days resting in this mountain cave.

During this time, his daily task was to use the secret method left by Zi Huan to try to activate the lotus platform. The once pitch-black and withered lotus platform, under the influence of the secret method, began to show signs of change. First, the base of the lotus slowly emitted a faint blue glow, then layers of green emerged around it, as if a green lotus was about to blossom.

Naturally, Chen Jiu treated it as a treasure—something he had obtained through much difficulty. Yet, what troubled him was that Zi Huan had not told him what divine powers the lotus platform could manifest. No one knew what it would become half a month later. All Chen Jiu hoped for was that it would possess powerful defensive abilities.

After tidying up the lotus platform and his belongings, Chen Jiu extinguished the campfire and prepared to leave. He was well aware of his precarious situation. Not only had he been discovered escaping by the master of Ascension Tower, but he had also taken several treasures right in front of him. Yet none of these were the most fatal—what was truly dangerous was that Chen Jiu had learned of Ascension Tower's deeds and lived to tell the tale.

For Ascension Tower in Xinyang County, this was a calamity. If such disgrace were made public, its reputation would surely plummet. But Chen Jiu had no intention of acting as a righteous crusader. Even if someone believed his words, what could he do? Ascension Tower was established by the Bureau of Public Security and naturally shielded by it. Should he dare to speak out, he might not survive half an hour!

Moreover, the matter would not be easily forgotten. The Tower's master would certainly seek trouble with him. Assassins from Ascension Tower might already be on their way to kill him...

Chen Jiu's expression was grave.

"The only thing I can do now is to leave Xinyang County quickly," he resolved, preparing to set out.

Though he had lost his map and money, he vaguely remembered that a county called Jingyang lay to the south of Xinyang. By crossing Tai'nan Mountain and heading south, he could reach Jingyang's territory. This was his first reason for heading to Jingyang.

The second reason was related to some news he had purchased for two taels of silver at Ascension Tower. He had heard from a cultivator that many little monsters once haunted Jingyang, and the treasures in the Ascension Tower there were cheaper.

With these reasons in mind, Chen Jiu decided to travel south to Jingyang, to lay low and perhaps earn some merit along the way.

...

South of Tai'nan Mountain stretched a wilderness where signs of human life were rare.

Only a winding path extended across the wilds.

Chen Jiu walked through this desolate landscape, surrounded by solitude, with even birdsong seldom heard. When tired, he paused for brief rest; when thirsty, he drank from roadside puddles; when hungry, he dug up wild vegetables and earthworms to sustain himself. If cut and bleeding from wild grass, he staunched the wound with cattails found everywhere—something he'd learned as a child on Blue Star.

Though exhausted and helpless, he could not pause to cultivate and resist hunger, for he never knew when or where an assassin might appear to end his life.

Having angered Ascension Tower in Xinyang County, it was obvious trouble would follow. Thus, he was unwilling to linger here any longer.

And his caution proved wise. Just three days after he left the cave, two black-robed cultivators entered to investigate. These were the "Suspended Eyes" under the Bureau of Public Security in Xinyang County.

In the Great Jin dynasty, the Bureau was the official institution for cultivation, staffed by many talented individuals and divided into two sub-offices: the Office of Extraordinary Talents and the Office of Suspended Eyes.

The Office of Extraordinary Talents was a place that welcomed remarkable individuals from across the land, producing renowned scholars, Daoist prodigies, and Buddhist elites.

The Office of Suspended Eyes was originally the imperial guard of the Jin royal family, comprised of elite assassins skilled in the art of killing. Once absorbed into the Bureau, they gradually replaced the so-called martial arts experts with cultivators. Even so, these cultivators received the most systematic assassin training... They were killers lurking in the night; whenever the Bureau wished to eliminate a person or a monster, they dispatched the Suspended Eyes.

Chen Jiu sensed unease, but he had no idea what formidable force was approaching...

...

After six days of travel, Chen Jiu finally saw the wilderness around him turning green. The earth seemed draped in a verdant veil, the forests thickened, and birds and beasts became less rare. He must be close to leaving Xinyang County.

That morning, after soaking five soybeans in dew and once more catalyzing the lotus platform, Chen Jiu packed up and prepared to set out again.

Golden rays poured from the sky, filtering through the trees and casting beautiful spots of light on the carpet of dry leaves.

What delighted Chen Jiu most was that the once narrow path had now widened to a yard across, clearly opened by human hands. This indirectly proved the presence of people nearby.

He had not eaten a proper meal in ages and was famished and sluggish. Though a cultivator, unless he ascended to the First Tower of Immortals, he would always be dependent on the mundane needs of food, clothing, shelter, and travel.

At this time, Chen Jiu walked along the leaf-strewn road, every step crunching beneath his feet.

Suddenly, he saw an old man returning from gathering firewood ahead, carrying two bundles on a pole, slowly making his way.

His spirits lifted, and strength surged through his legs.

Soon he caught up with the old farmer and greeted him, "Good day, benefactor. This humble Daoist greets you."

The old farmer, startled by the voice behind him, put down his firewood and turned around.

"Eh? You're a Daoist," the old man said, removing the white cloth from his shoulder to wipe the sweat from his brow, surprised.

Chen Jiu bowed and asked sincerely, "Could you tell me, benefactor, where are we?"

The farmer looked at Chen Jiu suspiciously and answered with another question, "Where do you come from, Daoist?"

Chen Jiu's heart stirred. "I am a wandering hermit, calling the four seas my home."

The old farmer nodded, "You smell strongly of earth—must be sleeping outdoors every day?"

Chen Jiu only smiled awkwardly, offering no reply.

"It's no harm to tell you. This is where Xinyang and Jingyang counties meet, called Liangyang Village," the old man said unhurriedly.

Chen Jiu's expression changed, his tone brightening, "So, beyond here is Jingyang County?"

A most ordinary question, yet upon hearing Chen Jiu's intention to go to Jingyang, the old man's face suddenly changed. He frowned, showing shock. "Daoist, you mean to go to Jingyang County?"

Chen Jiu was taken aback. From the old farmer's surprised tone, something seemed amiss.

"Yes, I have matters to attend to in Jingyang," Chen Jiu nodded.

The old farmer shook his head, raising his arm to point down the road.

"What do you see?"

Chen Jiu's heart stirred and he followed the direction indicated. At the far end of the road, he saw a towering hill rising, majestic as if about to pierce the clouds. Even from a distance, he could sense its grandeur.

"What's wrong with that hill?" Chen Jiu asked, puzzled.

The old man sighed bitterly, "The hill is fine, but the 'big beast' on it is the problem!"

"Big beast?" Chen Jiu was confused.

"So what's the name of that hill?"

The old farmer lifted his head and pronounced each word deliberately:

"Jingyang Ridge..."