Chapter 398 - 397: The Scent of a Conspiracy

Chapter 398: Chapter 397: The Scent of a Conspiracy

The merchants had no objections. These envoys were foreign ministers, and as long as they were within the borders of the Treasure Tree Kingdom, the Guard Team was obligated to ensure their personal safety.

"Are they in such a hurry to head back?"

"Who knows?" Xu Dongdong shrugged. "I only know that for the White Elephant Kingdom, it’s because the journey is too long. Last time, for my king’s 750th birthday, the White Elephant Kingdom sent a Suo Yuhe to offer congratulations. I heard it flew for seven or eight days one-way. This time, the gifts from the White Elephant Kingdom are numerous and heavy. The Crane Demon can’t carry them, so they switched to land transport, which will take at least forty to fifty days."

With the Guard Team clearing the path ahead, not even the most reckless bandits dared to show their faces, despite the Emperor’s Liquid having just passed.

The journey was exceptionally peaceful, and they soon passed Fanshi Yu.

Reaching this landmark meant they had officially left the outskirts of Fufeng City. Xu Dongdong could only accompany them this far, so he bid farewell to Hee Lingchuan and the others and headed back.

"I hope we can work together in a few months, Brother Hee."

...

「Several more days passed uneventfully.」

Hee Lingchuan remained vigilant, but the road ahead grew wider and the merchants and travelers on it more numerous. It was clear that the area was peaceful, free from disaster or misfortune.

’By my calculations, the Shanyu Kingdom’s envoy should have already set off east under the escort from Fufeng City. Which one is that scoundrel Fushan Yue’s target?’

’If it’s the Shanyu Kingdom’s envoy, he should be heading east. In that case, he would have parted ways with the northbound Guard Team, and my group shouldn’t run into Fushan Yue. Fushan Yue has a knack for killing snakes. I wonder if that great python from the Shanyu Kingdom will make it back home alive.’

’But if it’s the Spirit Seed, Fushan Yue might be nearby!’

The Soul-Catching Mirror started pestering him again. Its master was calm and unconcerned, but the Mirror itself was itching with impatience. "If Fushan Yue doesn’t show up, are we not going to snatch the Spirit Seed? Let’s give it a shot, just one shot! Get the Guard Team’s leader to look in the mirror. As long as the Soul Capture is successful, you can make him offer up the seed willingly."

"With your power?" Hee Lingchuan rejected the idea without a second thought. "You wish. They’re protected by Primordial Power. The only reason you could bewitch Wu Jingsong and the others back then was because they were far from their homeland and their resistance was too weak."

The Spirit Seed Guard Team was protected by Primordial Power, giving them high resistance to Spells, Divine Techniques, poisons, and curses. It even provided partial mitigation against the attacks of Martial Artists.

It wasn’t impossible to capture their souls, but it would require them to be exhausted, weakened, and demoralized. Only then would there be a chance of success. After all, Primordial Power wasn’t omnipotent.

Moreover, the Spirit Seed’s Life Force was too powerful for it to be placed in a Storage Ring. Therefore, unless the Guard Team possessed the Jiezhi Storage Technology from Songyang Prefecture, the captain had no choice but to carry it on his person.

But the man was well aware of the Spirit Seed’s importance. He was surrounded by five or six guards at all times, forming a tight defense.

"If Fushan Yue doesn’t show up, it’s just wishful thinking on your part."

The Soul-Catching Mirror let out a long sigh.

By now, the crops on both sides of the Official Road were thinning. The beautiful sight of endless wheat fields swaying in the wind was gone. In its place, grasslands and tundra became more common, with hard rock and steep cliffs taking center stage.

Having often traveled the Chipa Plateau, Hee Lingchuan recognized this as the transitional terrain from plains to highlands, indicating a steady increase in altitude.

Shi the Second also explained that the caravan was indeed traveling on a plateau. The ground here was at least one hundred seventy to one hundred eighty feet higher than in Fufeng City, and it would only get higher as they went on.

This was evident from the increasingly sparse vegetation.

Further on, desolate scenes of mountain ranges like coiled dragons and a lone tree leaning against the setting sun became a common sight.

This place was called the Gale Tundra.

Although both were plateaus, it was completely different from the Chipa Plateau. The latter was humid and temperate with a pleasant climate, a paradise for flowers, plants, fruits, and vegetables. The Gale Tundra, as its name suggested, was a land of howling winds year-round. It was an achievement for turf just to cling to the cracks in the ground; almost no delicate crops could grow here.

The Official Road snaked through the mountains like a dragon, sometimes clinging to high ridges.

Travelers looking to either side would see countless slopes and sheer cliffs.

Even so, the Official Road through the mountains was built wide and flat, with guardrails installed on both sides to prevent travelers from falling—a very thoughtful touch.

The further the convoy advanced, the higher the altitude and the lower the temperature became.

Though it was nearly the sixth month, the morning branches were unexpectedly coated in frost.

In the distance, the high mountains were capped with snow that never melted year-round.

People began to see their breath misting in the air. The experienced Stone Gate Merchant Team quickly took out and distributed cotton-padded clothes.

Villages and towns were very few on this plateau, appearing only every seventy or eighty li, unlike the plains where they were scattered like stars. The convoy had to manage its time carefully to avoid missing a place to stay for the night.

Fortunately, the Guard Team was more thorough in their planning than anyone else. All everyone had to do was keep up with them without falling behind, which was a great relief.

That day, the convoy reached Black Rock Stronghold before nightfall, finally finding a place to sleep that was sheltered from the wind and rain.

Black Rock Stronghold was originally a small stockade of just over a hundred people. But as this trade route matured and prospered, its role as a service area on the Official Road led it to expand. Now, it had a permanent population of over eight hundred, most of whom made a living by providing services to passing merchants and travelers.

The open space had its advantages; with plenty of land, it was easy to add new buildings. Black Rock Stronghold had over three hundred wooden houses, ranging from single, detached homes to large common rooms that could accommodate twenty to thirty people. There was more than enough room for the Guard Team, the envoys, and the merchant caravans.

The only problem was that everything was expensive.

Hee Lingchuan could understand the high prices for lodging and food. After all, crop yields were poor here, and about eighty percent of the grain had to be shipped in.

But they even charged for using the latrines. You could say they charged for every aspect of life—eating, drinking, and relieving oneself.

Black Rock Stronghold strictly controlled the only water source within a thirty-li radius. Fearing contamination, they absolutely forbade people from relieving themselves wherever they pleased.

As Hee Lingchuan and Shi the Second sat down to eat in a tavern, they were instantly reminded of their school cafeterias.

This was the largest eatery in Black Rock Stronghold, and it was swarming with at least three to four hundred diners.

The merchant team chose to eat here because the food was decent and affordable, and crowded places were always warmer.

The caravan hands could only afford a baked potato, or at most a bowl of hot noodle-skin soup. Shi the Second and Hee Lingchuan, however, ordered lamb blood-sausage soup to warm themselves up, served with buns filled with assorted mushrooms. You couldn’t even find a shred of meat inside, but they tasted surprisingly good.

After a full day of long-distance travel, the two were slurping away heartily when they saw three Guards walk over. The Guards went to the food stall to get takeout, ordering all the best meat-heavy dishes.

Hee Lingchuan recognized them as members of the Spirit Seed Guard Team. They seemed to be of lower rank, as they were always fetching meals for their superiors.

He listened closely, and sure enough...

One of them complained, "These envoys have their own hands and feet. Why do they order us around to do their chores every day?"

Another Guard laughed. "Who says they have hands and feet? The envoy from the Xuluo Kingdom..."

"SHH!" The third one was more serious. "Too many ears here. Don’t gossip."

The one who spoke first scoffed. "What’s there to hide? It’s that envoy from the Chiyan Kingdom who’s so secretive. Every time we stop for the night, he hides in his room and never comes out. Is he a gecko or a Mountain Ghost? Can’t he stand the light?"

The second man yawned, a weary look on his face. "We even have to test the food for poison when we get back. If they’re so paranoid, why don’t they just come get the food themselves?"

They left after getting their food. Shi the Second took a bite of his bun and said, "I’ve spoken with the envoy from the Xuluo Kingdom, but I’ve only seen the Chiyan Kingdom’s envoy twice. He really doesn’t appear in public. I heard his carriage and lodging are both protected by guards who don’t let anyone get close."

Just then, a caravan hand rushed in from outside, his expression grave as he reported to Shi the Second:

"News just came from up ahead: there was a rockslide at Pingshan two days ago. The Official Road has collapsed, and it will take at least half a month to repair."

A rockslide, also known as a landslide, was a common occurrence among the towering mountains of the plateau.

Repairing bridges and roads on the plateau was no easy task. Shi the Second frowned. "We can’t possibly wait here for fifteen or sixteen days. Go find out which way the Guard Team is going. I bet they’ll turn back and take the route through Wind Demon Mountain."

He looked at Hee Lingchuan, surprised. "Huh? Brother Hee, what are you smiling about?" And he looked quite happy about it, too.

"Nothing," Hee Lingchuan coughed lightly. "What kind of place is Wind Demon Mountain?" ’From the name, it sounds like it has a story,’ he thought.

Most importantly, he thought he could smell a hint of conspiracy.

’Otherwise, why would Pingshan collapse now, of all times? Not earlier, not later, but at this exact critical moment?’

The Soul-Catching Mirror was also trembling with excitement. "Is Fushan Yue about to make his move? Is he?!"

All that worrying and fear on the journey had been for this! Its biggest fear had been that Fushan Yue *wouldn’t* come.

Hee Lingchuan patted it, telling it to calm down. ’It’s far from a sure thing yet.’

"Seven years ago, a sudden collapse at Pingshan altered the terrain, which allowed the authorities to open up an Official Road to the north. Before that, everyone had to take the path through Wind Demon Mountain; it was the only way north," Shi the Second said with a smile. "Don’t let the name fool you. It’s actually very safe. The Stone Gate Merchant Team has traveled it at least four or five times. The scenery there is stunning. If we can get there before sunrise tomorrow, you’re in for a treat."

The old man from the tavern happened to come over to collect the plates. He looked up and smiled. "I’m from that neck of the woods, Wind Demon Mountain. Used to gather herbs on the mountain in my younger days. Only came here after I messed up my leg."

Seeing the man walked with a slight limp, Hee Lingchuan grabbed a dozen or so Copper Plates and gave them to him. "Sir, two more baskets of pan-fried buns, please."

This old man also sold pan-fried buns. They were tasty and greasy, but a bit expensive, so the caravan hands were reluctant to buy them.

The old man grinned, revealing two missing teeth. "Right away!"

He turned and brought back two servings of the buns, so full they were almost overflowing. "Here’s two extra for you."

"Tell us about Wind Demon Mountain." ’A local would know more than Shi the Second,’ Hee Lingchuan reasoned.

"That’s my old home. The wind there is even stronger than here, but the mountain produces Snow Lotus and Yellow Ginseng, which are very expensive medicinal herbs. You can’t cultivate them, so when we were young, we made a living by gathering them."

’Yellow Ginseng is indeed ridiculously expensive.’ It was one of the supplementary ingredients for refining the Hundred Virtues Pill. A single piece, not even as long as an index finger, cost ten taels of silver.

Anything harvested in such a harsh natural environment was bound to be pricey.

The old man smacked his lips. "Wind Demon Mountain was originally the territory of the Immortal Sect of Piaomiao. Later, it became a Daoist Sect but didn’t change its name. The Daoist Sect itself isn’t much, but they raised an extremely powerful Demon known as the ’Wind Demon.’ It often came down the mountain to cause trouble, destroying houses and snatching people away."

"The Wind Demon of Wind Demon Mountain?"