Chapter 245: Thunderstorm

Rumble!

After Qingming, the weather in the mountains had become increasingly unpredictable. The sky was overcast, and clouds black as ink seemed ready to press down upon the mountain at any moment. Thunder boomed; fierce winds howled through the forest; and branches thrashed wildly with a continuous rustling roar.

Halfway up the mountainside stood an old Mountain God temple. The mountain road leading up to it had once been an ancient military route during the Three Kingdoms period, but it had long since fallen into disuse. Weeds grew thick across it, but one could still find a corroded arrowhead buried among the grass now and then.

The Mountain God temple itself was also extremely old. Years of erosion had left its walls mottled and peeling, exposing the mud, tiles, bricks, and stones beneath. Amid the gale, a caravan of traveling merchants struggled forward along the mountain road around the bend.

Dangyang County was filled with mountain roads, and with the current unrest, greenwood bandits who robbed travelers were hardly uncommon. Anyone who still dared travel these routes was naturally no ordinary merchant. These merchants all carried a sharp weapon and had a sturdy build. They clearly possessed some martial training. There were also several peddlers carrying shoulder poles among them.

Peddlers generally fell into two categories within the jianghu. One kind consisted of locals who purchased goods from nearby county towns and wandered through the countryside. They used no abacus and kept no accounts, selling small items such as needles and thread, handkerchiefs, rouge, and candy. There were also knife sharpeners, bowl menders, and pot repairers who supported their families through a simple craft.

The other kind, however, wandered the realm. They listened for rumors wherever they went, gathering information and selling it to jianghu inns. They also possessed martial skills or unusual arts and would simply help resolve minor troubles they encountered.

Of course, some were hardly respectable people. Some were originally scouts for greenwood gangs, or glib-tongued fellows who seduced respectable young wives, while others even murdered travelers for their valuables. Those particular peddlers were rumor-gatherers employed by jianghu inns.

However, beneath the mountain winds and approaching thunderstorm, all of them cut a sorry figure. The tarpaulins over their carts were being blown violently from side to side. Everyone bent forward with their heads lowered and eyes narrowed, raising their hands to shield themselves from the wind.

"A thunderstorm's coming!"

"Quick, let's shelter in the temple ahead!"

Suddenly, the donkey at the front began braying wildly and refused to take another step.

"You damned beast! Of all times to get stubborn!"

The driver angrily lashed it with his whip, but the donkey still refused to move. Instead, it began backing away, and when the beating became too much, it nearly turned around to bite him.

"Stop. Something's wrong!" The caravan leader had a bad feeling and said gravely, "These animals have traveled all over with us. They wouldn't suddenly try to hurt people for no reason. There's probably something ahead. You two, go take a look. Be careful!"

At his order, two men immediately drew their sabers and cautiously went ahead, one in front and one behind. They knew the mountain road extremely well. Once they climbed the slope and rounded the bend, they knew they would find a Mountain God temple. They had sometimes sheltered from rain there, and occasionally used it as a rest stop after nightfall.

Could bandits be lying in ambush?

But the moment they rounded the corner, both men froze. Several horses were standing in the open space outside the Mountain God temple, luggage hanging from their saddlebags as they shifted their hooves uneasily. A young man was murmuring continuously, apparently trying to calm them. There was also a Daoist, a young bladesman dressed in black, and a bald burly man gathered together, staring at the Mountain God temple as they discussed something.

Naturally, Li Yan had long since noticed the caravan approaching from afar.

He casually glanced at them and said, "Gentlemen, there's no need to be afraid. We're not bandits."

One of the scouts did not lower his guard. He asked suspiciously, "It's about to rain. Why aren't you seeking shelter inside?"

Li Yan glanced at the sky and muttered, "No hurry. Wait a little longer."

Seeing how relaxed they appeared, the two scouts said nothing more. They nodded, turned around, and left.

Once they returned to the caravan, the two immediately described what they had seen. "Boss, there are four people outside the temple..."

The leader pondered for a moment before speaking again. "They have horses and luggage with them, so they probably aren't highway robbers... Forget it, let's go! We'll shelter in the temple. Everyone stay alert!"

At his command, the caravan continued forward and soon reached the temple. After taking in Li Yan and the others' appearances, the caravan leader immediately understood something.

Smiling, he cupped his hands and asked, "Gentlemen, which mountain do you come from, and what incense do you burn?"

"From Mount Hua, and we burn incense to the Three Pure Ones!" Sha Lifei laughed loudly before he continued, "No need to be nervous, gentlemen. The mountains are high and the roads dangerous. We're all wanderers far from home. Put your weapons away."

"Oh?" The caravan leader's heart trembled. He quickly cupped his hands respectfully. "These have been troubled times lately. Forgive us for making a spectacle of ourselves."

As he spoke, he gave his men a look, signaling them to put away their weapons. The term ‘burning incense to the Three Pure Ones’ clearly signaled that they were members of the mystic sects.

People of the mystic sects varied wildly in quality. Some were swindlers from the Jin Sect who cheated and deceived others, while others were true masters possessing extraordinary arts. The latter’s standing within the jianghu was often among the highest. However, whichever kind these people were, the caravan leader had no desire to offend them.

But just as they were about to enter the temple, Sha Lifei stopped them and smiled. "What's the rush? Wait a little while before going inside."

The caravan leader frowned slightly and cautiously asked, "Gentlemen, is there perhaps... something inside the temple?"

He had traveled far and wide for many years and often crossed mountain wilderness, so naturally he knew some of the taboos. In desolate places like this, there were many things whose names were best left unspoken.

"Well... it's hard to say." Sha Lifei laughed evasively. "Anyway, just wait a while first."

The caravan leader glanced at Wang Daoxuan, who remained completely calm, and uncertainty flickered in his eyes. Finally, he waved a hand. "We'll listen to you."

He turned and said, "Wait here for now."

Because of this single decision, they ended up waiting for nearly half the time it took an incense stick to burn.

The caravan remained wary and did not dare strike up much conversation. Meanwhile, the sky grew darker and darker. Black clouds hung heavily overhead, while the mountain winds became increasingly violent. Everyone knew a downpour was imminent.

Crack!

Suddenly, lightning flashed across the sky like a silver serpent. Raindrops began pattering down, splashing tiny pits into the muddy ground outside the temple. In the span of a single breath, the heavens opened and torrential rain came crashing down. Countless raindrops struck the leaves throughout the forest, producing a rushing sound like ocean waves. Combined with the increasingly violent mountain wind, even the rain itself was being blown sideways.

In moments, the ground was completely soaked. Water streamed through the gaps in the wild grass, forming puddles everywhere.

Li Yan and the others had already put on rain capes and bamboo hats. In the face of the heavy rain, they remained unhurried and continued waiting calmly.

However, the merchants could no longer endure it. One man looked anxiously at the carts and said, "Boss, if this shipment gets damp, it'll all be ruined!"

The leader of the caravan gritted his teeth and cupped his hands toward Li Yan and the others. "Gentlemen, forgive us, but we have to go inside first. We're transporting tea leaves and cloth, and they can't be allowed to get wet."

Sha Lifei shook his head. "Why can't you understand what we're telling you? Don't rush. Money isn't more important than your life."

"What a joke!" One of the peddlers finally lost his patience and said coldly, "I've traveled this mountain road more times than I can count, and nothing has ever happened. You're trying to stop us with all this mysterious nonsense so you can swindle some money, aren't you? Don't use cheap jianghu tricks in front of people who know the trade!"

With that, he hoisted his shoulder pole and forced his way into the temple.

Sha Lifei immediately became angry. "Damn it, you refuse a kind offer!"

He strode forward several steps and shoved the peddler aside. A look of anger appeared on his face as he barked, "All of you, stay there!"

That instantly set everything off.

Shing! Shing!

Everyone in the caravan drew their weapons. From their perspective, the four people before them were looking more suspicious by the moment.

Rumble!

Just then, a tremendous bolt of lightning struck down from the sky. Everyone saw a blinding white flash before their eyes, followed by a deafening roar that made their ears ring. The hair on the backs of their necks stood on end.

After the lightning struck and the thunder passed, the gale grew even fiercer. The members of the caravan raised their hands to shield themselves from the wind.

On the roof of the dilapidated Mountain God temple, some of the wild grass had been ignited, only to be immediately drenched by the downpour, sending up wisps of blue smoke.

Ahead of them, the temple door stood half-closed. The rotting wooden panels swayed and creaked in the violent wind, as though they might collapse at any moment. Through the gap, they could vaguely see the ruined divine statue inside, its body covered in dust and cobwebs.

"Wuu... wuu..."

But suddenly, they could hear the sound of a woman weeping amid the wind. The cries were sorrowful and wretched, like a woman who had fallen into the hands of vicious bandits.

Now, no one dared to move. They stared wide-eyed through the rattling temple doors. Inside, a whirlwind had suddenly risen from the ground, carrying dust as it darted left and right. It seemed desperate to escape, yet remained trapped within the temple.

Crack!

Another thunderbolt came crashing down. With a loud bang, a wooden beam inside the temple collapsed.

"AAAH!"

A shrill scream rang out, and the whirlwind abruptly died away.

"I won!" Sha Lifei clapped his hands and laughed. "Brother Yan, don't even think about leaving us behind. We're all going up to Mount Zigai together!"

Li Yan could only shake his head helplessly, "Fine. We'll do it your way."

By this point, the caravan leader had completely forgotten about his goods. Trembling, he cupped his hands and said, "So all of you are masters of the mystic sects. What exactly happened just now?"

"Let's get inside and out of the rain first."

Li Yan and the others had no time to waste on explanations. They led the horses into the temple and quickly used cloth to wipe the rainwater from their luggage and the animals.

The Mountain God temple was fairly large, but even so, once the caravan pushed its carts inside, the place became rather crowded. They had no choice but to tie the donkeys outside the temple entrance.

The donkeys immediately began braying loudly in protest. "Eey-aw! Eey-aw!"

"What is that smell? Why does it stink so badly?"

The caravan leader was just about to continue asking questions when one of his men sniffed the air and looked up toward the roof.

His eyes instantly widened in terror, and he fell backward onto the ground. "A-a monster!"

Everyone's hearts jolted as they hurriedly looked up. The Mountain God temple was ancient, and its rafters were high above the ground. Several of the supporting beams were as thick as buckets, which was probably the only reason the structure had survived for so long.

But there was a black clump sprawled across one of those beams. It had arms and legs like a person, an enormous head, and was still giving off wisps of blue smoke.

"Relax. It's already dead." Li Yan glanced up, frowned slightly, then covered his nose. "Sorry to trouble you, but throw that thing outside."

The caravan members exchanged uneasy glances, but none of them dared ask questions. Several scrambled onto the rafters and used wooden poles to prod the thing down. It landed on the ground with a wet thud, and only then did they get a clear look at it.

The creature was an enormous gecko. Its entire body was charred, and a foul burnt stench filled the air.

After they threw it into the courtyard, Lu San walked outside, formed a hand seal, and whistled several times.

Rustle, rustle!

A horde of black mountain rats came swarming out from every direction. Ignoring the stench, they threw themselves onto the gecko and devoured it completely. Among the rats was one that was much larger than the others. It even had a gold chain with a jade pendant around its neck. The design was ordinary and the craftsmanship rough, clearly something made by common folk. Who knew which grave mound it had dug the thing out of?

Still, seeing a rat decked out in gold and jade was exceedingly strange. After the swarm stripped the gecko of all its flesh, only a pile of bones remained. Strangely, they seemed to give off a faint jade-like sheen.

The rat king wearing the necklace rose upright onto its hind legs and glanced at Lu San.

Lu San immediately cursed, "We already agreed on the rules, so don't go back on your word. If you dare touch anything you shouldn't, that big bald fellow inside won't spare you!"

The rat king called out, "Squeak!"

The entire swarm immediately scattered. In the blink of an eye, they vanished without a trace, leaving only the skeleton to be washed clean by the heavy rain.

Sha Lifei grinned. "Haha, at least you know what's good for you, little thing!"

Wearing his rain cape and bamboo hat, he grabbed a cloth sack, ran into the courtyard, and gathered the bones one by one.

The entire scene left the caravan members dumbfounded. The peddler who had been mouthing off earlier was now trembling all over, his head lowered, not daring to look at Li Yan and the others.

"There's no need to be afraid." Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and smiled. "We accepted a task from the City God Temple. People have been disappearing one after another in the nearby mountains, so we came to investigate while we were passing through."

With his refined Daoist bearing and gentle manner of speaking, he immediately put the caravan members at ease.

"Greetings, Daoist." The caravan leader gulped nervously. "What kind of monster was that? We've passed through here several times, so why have we never encountered it before?"

Wang Daoxuan shook his head. "That gecko probably absorbed the incense offerings of the Mountain God temple, developed spirituality, and gradually acquired cultivation. Geckos are originally auspicious creatures, but once the incense offerings to the Mountain God temple ceased, and it occasionally tasted blood and flesh, it naturally degenerated into an evil creature.

"You were lucky not to encounter it before. Those who did are no longer around to talk about it. Besides, after eating a person, it would need to rest for quite some time. This creature was somewhat troublesome. Whenever it encountered danger, it would retreat into cracks in the mountain and survive by eating mountain rats.

"More importantly, it even understood methods of avoiding calamity. If you had entered the temple, it would have treated you as scapegoats, and the heavenly thunder would have struck you instead. You would have died without even knowing why. That is why we stopped you."

Everyone shuddered at what they heard and quickly cupped their hands in gratitude.

"Many thanks, Daoist, for saving our lives."

"It was nothing." Wang Daoxuan smiled and waved them off.

He said no more, instead taking a book from his luggage and reading it quietly. When Sha Lifei returned, he crouched together with Lu San, whispering among themselves as they turned the bones over and discussed how they might be used.

As for Li Yan, he went to the temple entrance and stared toward the distant lightning. His chest and abdomen rose and fell rhythmically, as though he were trying his utmost to resonate with the sound of thunder.

Everyone busied themselves with their own affairs without interfering with one another. Yet to the caravan, their behavior looked extraordinarily strange. If the rain had not been so heavy, they would probably have fled far away already.

No longer able to abide the oppressive silence, the caravan leader finally forced himself to strike up a conversation. "Daoist, are you heading to Dangyang County?"

"Mm." Wang Daoxuan was quite patient. He put down his book and smiled. "There's something we need to deal with there."

Unexpectedly, the caravan leader immediately became interested. "Is it because Lord Guan has been causing trouble?"

The moment those words left his mouth, Li Yan, who had been practicing Thundercloud Resonance, turned his head sharply and frowned. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Dangyang was famous not only for Changban Slope, where Zhang Fei had once stood alone against an army and Zhao Zilong had charged in and out seven times, but also for the renowned Lord Guan's Mausoleum.

According to legend, Guan Yunchang had died there. Fearing retaliation from Shu Han, the state of Wu had sent his severed head to Cao Cao, while his body was buried within Dangyang according to the rites due to a feudal lord.

Thus arose the saying: His body rests in Dangyang; his head lies in Luoyang.

Since the Sui and Tang dynasties, successive emperors had continuously conferred new titles upon him, steadily elevating his divine status. Confucians, Buddhists, and Daoists alike treated him with the utmost reverence. He had begun as the Martial Sage, but he had risen all the way to Emperor Guan.

Only a few years ago, the imperial court had further bestowed upon him the title: Great Emperor Who Subdues Demons of the Three Realms, Heavenly Venerable of Divine Might and Far-Reaching Suppression, Sage Emperor Guan.

He was a true righteous and virtuous god of blessings. Yet these people were claiming that he was causing trouble? What exactly were they trying to do?