Chapter 82, Vaulting Mountains Expedition

Translator: StarReader

 

Laba Festival.

 

The morning was abuzz with activity in Gusu County City. Streets were adorned with lanterns, and families had begun their ancestral sacrifices, slaughtering oxen and sheep to pray for a prosperous new year.

 

Laba, meaning hunting, was about chasing game animals for ancestral offerings. Thus, on this Laba Festival day, it was customary to venture into the wilderness to hunt game for these offerings. However, Gusu’s hunts had always been small-scale, reserved for hunters and brave young men.

 

This year, however, marked the inaugural martial competition in the Wu Region. Under Magistrate Wang’s leadership, constables and officials gathered at West City Tower to conduct a grand sacrificial ritual with the city’s commoners. Following this, he announced that disciples from major groups were to embark on a hunt in Vaulting Mountains to celebrate Laba Festival.

 

In the evening, they would gather around bonfires in Xikou Town for feasting on their spoils. Thousands of martial disciples from four major groups and countless minor ones surged forth like a flood from Gusu’s West Gate, kicking up three miles’ worth of dust as they rode towards Vaulting Mountains.

 

Naturally, only about a hundred dashing young heroes rode horses; most ordinary disciples lacked mounts and walked instead.

 

…

 

Su Chen, Ah Chou, and Ah Nu had agreed to join this expedition together and arrived early at West City Gate to witness the magistrate’s grand Laba Festival ritual.

 

“Let’s ride out together, Young Master Su and Ah Chou!” “Ah Nu,” she exclaimed, her white silk riding attire stark against her radiant smile. She mounted a spirited black colt, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

 

Su Chen and Ah Chou found themselves in an awkward situation; while other young heroes rode magnificent steeds, they were left without mounts. Gusu’s horse market was notorious for its high prices—even the most common horses started at forty silver taels, let alone superior breeds costing over a hundred.

 

Ah Nu seemed prepared for this, commanding two elite guards to bring forth two tame horses, their saddles adorned with small bags containing wild game spices and cloth. She had thought of everything for their Laba Festival expedition into the Vaulting Mountains.

 

“We appreciate your kindness, Young Miss Ah Nu,” Su Chen said, “but we… we don’t know how to ride.”

 

Ah Nu laughed, “These horses are well-trained, gentle beasts. As first-rate experts, you two should have no trouble controlling them. By the time you reach the Vaulting Mountains, you’ll be experts yourselves!”

 

Ah Chou eagerly mounted his horse, struggling initially but soon finding his rhythm. He winked at Su Chen and waved at Ah Nu before galloping off after Han Shu and the Heaven Falcon Group, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake.

 

Su Chen, observant as ever, noticed every twitch of his mount’s ears and mane. Despite his inexperience, he quickly adapted to riding, his movements fluid within minutes.

 

Together, they rode towards the Vaulting Mountains at an unhurried pace, their two elite guards from Mist Terrace following closely behind on ordinary mounts, tasked with protecting Ah Nu’s safety during their journey.

 

But their hunt could be considered more of an excuse, a rare opportunity to enjoy the Laba Festival leisurely, riding horses through the scenic landscapes of the Vaulting Mountains.

 

…

 

After an hour, they reached the foot of the Vaulting Mountains. The range lay west of Gusu, crowning the eastern shores of the Vastest Lake. Its peaks rose like domes, their hues a deep emerald, towering and profound.

 

The mountain’s face was a sprawling expanse of jagged ridges. Countless serpentine paths wove through them, leading towards various peaks. Along these paths, dense forests hugged the mountainsides.

 

In the depths of these mountains, larger prey could be found: wild boars, deer, antelopes, and even bears and big cats. But today’s hunt was different.

 

“Young Master Su,” Ah Nu whispered to Su Chen, “those two guards are an eyesore. Let’s lose them and explore the mountains on our own.”

 

Su Chen nodded in agreement. They urged their steeds along the narrow mountain paths, the horses’ hooves pounding against the earth like distant thunder.

 

Their mounts were top-tier, galloping faster than even the most skilled practitioners of lightness skill. The labyrinthine paths added to the challenge; one wrong turn could lead them far astray, wasting considerable time to backtrack.

 

They soon outpaced their guards, leaving the men cursing futilely in their wake. After three miles or so, their laughter echoed through the mountains as they finally slowed down, their hearts racing with exhilaration and freedom.

 

The mountain hunt was buzzing with martial disciples, making accidental injuries more likely. For safety, Su Chen hadn’t ventured deep into the Vaulting Mountains but instead walked along its outer perimeter with Ah Nu. They strolled through narrow paths and dense woods, shooting at waterfowl and mountain birds as if they were celebrating the Laba Festival.

 

“Master Su,” Ah Nu exclaimed, her eyes lighting up at the sight of countless mushrooms. “We should pick some to take back to Xikou Town. We can make a delicious mushroom soup to go with our wild game.”

 

“Remember not to pick brightly colored or strongly scented ones; they’re usually poisonous,” Su Chen cautioned immediately.

 

Their horses had carried them to the edge of a small grove. Ah Nu happily dismounted and began filling her cloth bag with mushrooms she’d picked from the damp forest floor. Su Chen also dismounted to help, using his knowledge from Li Kui about mushrooms to discard any inedible ones.

 

While picking, Ah Nu seemed lost in thought, hesitating before finally plucking up the courage to speak. “Master Su, there will be a Crowning Flower Contest at Mist Terrace in Gusu soon… Would you like to attend?”

 

“Crowning Flower?” Su Chen replied absently, his mind partly on their surroundings.

 

Suddenly, his ears pricked up at familiar voices coming from a nearby grove, some thirty yards away. His brow furrowed as he recognized the speakers.

 

“Shh!”

 

Su Chen raised his hand, silencing Ah Nu. He strained to listen.

 

“Ding Shisan, this matter is of utmost importance. Any slip-up and I won’t go easy on you,” a voice growled.

 

“Don’t worry, Daoist. This job’s as good as done! One more heist and we’ll have enough for eight lifetimes,” Ding Shisan replied eagerly.

 

The two figures whispered in the woods.

 

Su Chen’s brow furrowed. He couldn’t make out their conversation, but he recognized those voices. They belonged to Daoist Qinghe and Ding Shisan.

 

Su Chen was taken aback. He had previously caught them collaborating at the Han Mountain Daoist Temple, planning to rob Merchant Li’s boat. Now here they were again, conspiring in the Vaulting Mountains.

 

What were those two scheming now? What household were they targeting for theft?

 

Su Chen leaned closer to listen.

 

Ah Nu listened too, but she heard nothing. Absently, she stepped on a dry branch, snapping it.

 

The sound echoed through the forest, alerting the men.

 

“Who’s there?” one voice called out sharply.

 

“Show yourself!” demanded another.

 

A sudden fierce shout rang out, and a tall, gaunt blue-clad Daoist erupted from the woods, accompanied by a gust of wind. He was missing his left arm, wielded a light sword at his waist, and had piercing eyes and prominent temples, marking him as a peak first-rate internal cultivator.

 

Close behind followed a burly middle-aged pirate, gripping a Water-splitting Blade, bursting out from the small grove. Su Chen instantly recognized them: Daoist Qinghe, the acting abbot of Han Mountain Daoist Temple, and Ding Shisan, the notorious pirate chief.

 

Daoist Qinghe emerged from the grove to see a Medicine King Group disciple in robes and a white-clad woman leisurely gathering mushrooms at the forest’s edge. Ah Nu started, quickly hiding behind Su Chen, near the two steeds, warily eyeing the pair from the woods.

 

[If things go bad, I’ll have an easy escape on horseback. I’m merely third-rate; if fighting breaks out, I don’t want to drag Su Chen down.]

 

Qinghe frowned, uncertain whether the duo had overheard his conversation with Ding Shisan.

 

“Daoist Qinghe, since these two stumbled upon us, it’s their bad luck,” growled Ding Shisan. “We can’t afford any leaks right now. Better kill them just in case.”

 

“Ding Shisan, you should leave immediately. Two kids are no match for me. If you’re seen by passing martial artists, my reputation will be in tatters!” Qinghe said coldly.

 

“Then I’ll leave them to you. I have matters to attend to. Farewell!”

 

Ding Shisan glared at Su Chen and Ah Nu before disappearing into the grove, racing towards Vastest Lake without a care.

 

He wasn’t the least bit worried.

 

Daoist Qinghe was a seasoned expert at the peak of the late first-rate realm. Killing two kids to silence them was as easy as crushing ants.

 

The so-called peak of the late first-rate realm meant the Middle Dantian had reached its highest level, with nothing left to cultivate.

 

The term seasoned signified that he had maintained this cultivation level for two to three decades. His martial arts skills were polished to perfection, and his combat experience was unparalleled.

 

Even a peerless master at the same level, lacking such refined techniques and battle-hardened experience, might not stand a chance against Master Qinghe.

 

Outside the seven Grandmasters of the Wu Region, Daoist Qinghe stood as the absolute pinnacle of martial prowess in the martial world.