Chapter 516: Chapter 302: You People Never Cease to Disappoint Me!
According to Zhang Yu, that peach blossom forest was fresh and beautiful, with blossoms falling like a celestial realm.
Zhang Yu’s leg was already broken at that time, and he knew that if he kept dragging it out, he would die in the mountains, so he walked into this peach blossom forest.
As he put it, the Golden Mountain was full of danger, always giving off an eerie feeling, but this peach blossom forest gave off a warm sense of security.
He walked into the forest until he reached the end of the peach forest.
The end of the peach forest was a mountain, and on the mountain, there was a small cave entrance, inside of which there seemed to be a faint light.
He accidentally discovered that this cave might not be natural, as there were three characters carved on the rock wall beside the cave—"Fairy Cave."
Looking at the beauty and spiritual energy of this peach forest, it truly had a hint of being planted by a fairy, so Zhang Yu dragged his broken leg and walked into this Fairy Cave.
At first, the cave was extremely narrow, just enough for a person to pass. After walking several dozen steps, it suddenly opened up wide.
According to Zhang Yu, what appeared before him was a scene of an earthly paradise.
The land there was flat and broad, with proper houses, fertile fields, beautiful ponds, and mulberry and bamboo. The pathways intersected, and the sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard. Among them, people were working back and forth, their clothing just like outsiders. The young and old were at ease and happy.
In the Martial World, notorious for his deeds, Zhang Yu saw this scene, especially these people who seemed not to be skilled in martial arts, and he couldn’t help but have his deceptive thoughts.
Because the women here were extremely beautiful, fair, and delicate, as pretty as fairies.
But since he was injured, he didn’t act immediately.
Upon seeing an outsider like him, the villagers warmly welcomed him.
Among them, there was even a beautiful female healer who treated his injuries.
Zhang Yu’s bones quickly realigned, and the villagers killed chicken and pigs to entertain him.
In that place, Zhang Yu ate well, drank well, and was cared for by a beautiful doctor, so he recovered quickly.
He thought about whether he should have his way and leave, since he had already observed for days that these people indeed didn’t seem skilled in martial arts.
But he still had a bit of conscience and a sense of sect honor, thinking that if he were to act, it should be with fellow disciples from the Red Tower Mountain.
So he decided to leave.
Before leaving, he learned from the female healer that the so-called Golden Palace was not far from there.
It was merely their ancestral home, and the so-called Golden Palace was just a place with a golden ancient tree whose leaves, when struck by sunlight, appeared like gold everywhere.
After learning this, Zhang Yu knew he had made a great contribution, so with the villagers seeing him off,
When he left, he marked the road, just waiting to call people to pass through the Fairy Cave, to deceive fairies, and to get the Divine Skill from the Golden Palace.
Upon hearing this news, Hong Kaishan couldn’t contain his ecstatic joy.
But he knew this opportunity was rare and difficult.
He patted his chest and promised Zhang Yu that if they really found the Golden Palace through that village, he would be the excellent marriage choice for the big missy.
Even if missy wanted to have multiple husbands, he would be the main one.
Because the Fairy Cave was already deep within Golden Mountain, the journey was distant and fraught with many unknown dangers, Hong Kaishan organized this treasure hunt.
It’s safe to say he had poured all his efforts into it.
He even prepared plenty of smoking pipes just in case.
This time, there was bound to be a big harvest!
Before noon, Duan Yun and Ziyu had already arrived at the meeting place.
It was a small corner building in Qinghe City, where four Red Tower Mountain Disciples were quietly drinking tea.
The reason for their low profile was not only because they were dressed simply, but they didn’t even smoke.
Duan Yun and Ziyu were just about to speak when a square-faced man reminded them to keep a low profile.
These people were probably Inner Sect Disciples, appearing quite proud.
Before long, Master Wang appeared.
He was the leader of this team.
Duan Yun didn’t expect this "examiner" would also enter the mountain.
The team soon set off.
They discreetly left Qinghe City.
Outside Qinghe City was stretch after stretch of farmland.
From time to time, farmers were busy in the fields, making it look lively.
But the further they went towards the mountain, the fewer people they saw.
Here, many pieces of farmland were abandoned, overgrown with weeds, and you could even vaguely see human bones within the grass.
As the last piece of abandoned farmland was left behind, the overwhelming feeling of dense forest came upon them.
Simultaneously, mist filled the air.
These fellows seemed to be holding back, and seeing no one around, they all took out their pipes to smoke.
This included Master Wang, who had repeatedly advised them that smoking was just an aid.
At this moment, Master Wang came over and said, "Don’t worry, there will be time for you two siblings to smoke later."
It’s safe to say that the path into the mountains was not easy to find.
Countless people from the Martial World had come to Golden Mountain in search of treasure, and gradually a path formed in the trackless forest.
It’s just that this isn’t peak season for treasure hunting, so the path that was previously cleared has gradually become covered with weeds.
Among them, the most shocking are the corpses by the roadside.
Some of these corpses have already become bare bones, while others have not completely decayed, covered with flies in the hot weather, clearly having died not long ago.
Duan Yun glanced briefly and noticed that the manner of death varied. Some clearly died from internal fights, while others seemed to have been gnawed by some wild beasts.
However, the Red Tower Mountain people seemed accustomed to such sights and paid no attention.
When venturing into the mountain to seek treasure, one must not only guard against wild beasts and poisonous insects, but even more against people.
Betrayal, murder for treasure — these kinds of incidents are all too common, and idle Martial World travelers are the easiest to die.
Unlike them, those with sects or schools walk together as a symbol of strength, and generally, no one dares to provoke them.
The group kept walking without stopping.
Duan Yun and Ziyu could only feel they inhaled quite a bit of complex secondhand smoke.
During the journey, Duan Yun increasingly found Master Wang duplicitous.
What does it mean that smoking is merely auxiliary, mainly for practicing martial arts? This guy has been puffing away nonstop like a real old smoker.
Until dusk, the whole group finally stopped at a relatively flat terrain.
There, quite a few people were already waiting.
Duan Yun casually swept his eyes over the scene, reckoning there were at least fifty or sixty people.
Good gracious, Red Tower Mountain really put up quite a show this time.
They had already noted that Red Tower Mountain’s base in Qinghe City totalled just over a hundred people. With more coming like this, it’s almost like the whole nest is mobilized.
It’s evident that the information Ziyu obtained was indeed true; Red Tower Mountain really has made some progress in the mountains.
Soon enough, they saw familiar faces.
Quite a few familiar faces.
Did all the Outer Sect Disciples come?
Good heavens, the old man said that only outstanding Outer Sect Disciples had the chance to enter the mountain, and yet it turns out everyone is outstanding?
The group looked at one another, the pride and joy of being selected quickly vanished.
The Inner Sect disciples hadn’t interacted much with the Outer Sect disciples before. This was Duan Yun’s group’s first time entering the mountain, scattered across various teams, feeling bewildered for a time.
The more perceptive ones sensed something was amiss.
That night, the group camped and rested here.
A middle-aged man with a round face managed everything.
From the conversation, they learned that this man was Elder Hong Mingtian of Red Tower Mountain.
He was also the aggrieved party in the affair of catching the adulterer and childhood sweethearts.
At that time, his wife’s childhood sweetheart cursed this elder to die at the Golden Mountain, and later one wonders if the prophecy would come true.
Especially since Duan Yun was here, a careless move might wipe them out.
Yet that night, the treatment of the initially lowest-tier Outer Sect disciples was unexpectedly good.
The food was the same as that of the Inner Sect disciples, and they weren’t even tasked with night watch.
Master Wang told them to rest well.
The next day, the group continued forward in the form of eight small teams, only this time, Duan Yun and Ziyu had a pipe in hand.
"Smoke."
"On the next part of the journey, smoke well for me, preferably without pause."
Master Wang said, looking at the siblings.
The accompanying four inner sect disciples watched this scene, especially looking at Ziyu, revealing expressions of pity.
Duan Yun and Ziyu expertly took a puff.
With just one puff, they immediately sensed something amiss.
The smoke was overpowering, as if it was enveloping their body’s Qi-Blood, moving in and out together.
This smoke is poisonous!
In the team ahead, some Outer Sect disciples expressed a desire not to smoke, only to be slapped a few times instantly.
"Those who defy orders shall die."
Duan Yun instantly understood.
Previously, the Outer Sect disciples were treated so well, even last night, given good food, drinks, and rest, surpassing the Inner Sect disciples, not out of new kinship care, but rather to await them here.
This is equivalent to tricking you onto a bus to a certain destination, and from there, it’s beyond your control.
Can only say they’re quite the players!
Amusing!
These sects truly never let the Young Hero down.
Duan Yun took a fierce puff, and only felt his internal Qi-Blood throbbing, exclaiming: "Damn, this is potent!"