Chapter 10, Tianshan Gorge

It is no wonder that his cultivation is too low, lacking any means of escape. How could he dare to meet guests at will, and how could he have survived until now

This is a cave formed by a sinkhole, from which numerous beams of light filter down through the scattered cracks above, illuminating the cave faintly.

It turns out that this thing is real, fortunately, fortunately...

Wu Sheng also felt a wave of dizziness. Fortunately, when he had just covered his mouth with the wine cup, he caught a whiff of the antidote, otherwise he would likely have met the same fate as the man from Julong Mountain at this moment

Gold is a valuable commodity, with one ounce worth a thousand coins. That pile of small change amounts to over a hundred pieces. Although I have not found the treasure trove hidden by the hermit of Julong Mountain, this harvest is sufficient to sustain me for quite some time

From a distance, he watched as the four individuals ascended the mountain path. Wu Sheng tumbled down, rolling and crawling, desperately fleeing down the mountain.

Dragging the man from Julong Mountain out of the pond, I carefully checked his breath; there was none. I also felt for his pulse, but found no signs of life. The man from Julong Mountain had drowned in the pit he had dug himself while in a state of unconsciousness

Wu Sheng felt a tightness in his breath and retreated back into the stone cave, filled with lingering fear in his heart

His right hand held a thin and long person, bound tightly with ropes like a bamboo pole

Continuously sliding in the darkness for about the duration of a tea break, my feet finally touched the bottom, only to find that I had fallen into a pond

However, it is certainly inappropriate to enter the gorge so rashly. Wu Sheng still prefers the old method: ascend the mountain

Climbing up along the left ridge, I stumbled forward along the mountain crest for half an hour, and the scene of the valley below came into view: a stream meandered between the two mountains, and on this side, halfway up the mountain, there was a flat area scattered with a few thatched cottages, with no other signs of human habitation in sight.

The Journey of the Jixia Academy

A leather bag was pressed under the stone, tightly bound with a rope. After Wu Sheng opened it, he couldn't help but let out a cheer.

This should be the place where the recluse of Julong Mountain, known as Xinxitang, resides

The escape route chosen by the residents of Julong Mountain is quite ingenious, located above the foothills. One can see the bamboo forest of the Julong Mountain residents at the mid-mountain flat with just a glance, situated about five or six zhang above the base of the mountain. The view is excellent, allowing a clear sight of the path leading up the mountain.

The floor of the main hall suddenly opened downwards, and the person from Julong Mountain, along with the seating, fell into the abyss.

Wu Sheng saw a huge rock nearby, approximately ten feet high, with a depression facing him. He crouched down and hid under the rock. It not only sheltered him from the wind and snow but also provided excellent concealment, making it an ideal observation point

Peering down, he saw that there were no signs of life around the thatched cottage on the hillside, but Wu Sheng was not in a hurry; he patiently waited. Since the owner here was a friend of Jin Wuhuan, even if Jin Wuhuan was not present, he could still learn about Jin Wuhuan's whereabouts from him.

Wu Sheng just happened to be standing at the edge, and was startled unintentionally, quickly stepping back two paces. When he leaned forward to look, he saw a dark, sloping slide leading downwards, deep and bottomless, which should be the means of escape for the people of Julong Mountain in a moment of crisis

Opening the cork of the small bamboo tube, a handful of dark green pills poured out, emitting a faint and subtle fragrance that wafted into the nostrils, instantly dispersing spiritual energy into the meridians, yet with a slight hint of spiciness, the nature of this spiritual pill remains unknown

Wu Sheng now has great confidence in the divination of Bu San Shi, stating that there was an ominous sign when an accident occurred at Julong Mountain. Since it is said that there will be a harvest in three days towards the northwest, it is possible that Jin Wuhuan is in this Tianshan Gorge

The cave was not large, and after surveying the area, no treasure was found. Therefore, I looked up at the stone wall above and soon noticed a suspicious spot obscured by stones. After climbing up, I pushed the large rock aside with great effort, revealing a hole through which a cold wind immediately rushed in.

Walking over to take a look, the pit, measuring seven feet on each side, is about ten feet deep, with many short blades inserted into the bottom, glistening with a dark sheen, clearly tempered with deadly poison. Caught off guard, an ordinary Qi Refinement practitioner would likely suffer a great loss, and those with slightly lower cultivation would find it hard to escape with their lives

Just now, I was sitting right on top of this deadly trap

Wu Sheng quickly secured the package to his back. After a moment of thought, he turned around and returned to the pond, where he felt around for a while and retrieved a long sword, which was precisely the one used by the master of Julong Mountain for self-defense earlier.

The Tianshan Gorge spans over sixty miles. Wu Sheng traveled for a day and a half before he finally saw the gorge entrance between the two peaks. By calculation, it was precisely the third day since he set out from Hongshanji.

two taels of gold, a pile of ant-nose coins, a set of clothing, shoes, and hats, two pieces of dried meat, and a small bamboo tube

He pinched off the half-burned incense, put it away again, and took a deep sniff of the clay pill to regain his strength. Wu Sheng approached the person beside Julong Mountain and noticed a raised spot on the ground that the man had just attempted to touch with his palm, so he tried pressing down on it.

Since the people of Julong Mountain thought of bringing this elixir with them during their escape, it must undoubtedly be a valuable item

Having tidied up, I finally emerged from the stone cave, and the wind and snow immediately struck my face, as it was snowing outside once again

Upon turning back, I noticed that the spot where I had just been seated also had a large pit, and all the food had fallen into it

Just as I was about to descend, I saw four figures approaching from a distance. Each wore a conical hat and carried a long sword, treading through the snow without leaving any footprints, moving with remarkable swiftness

Wu Sheng braved the wind and snow to rush to Tianshan Gorge, not daring to pause even for a moment along the way. The footprints left in the snow were quickly scattered by the wind and covered by the snow.

The sword blade glowed red, resembling the light of blood. Although it was not as good as the lost jade sword, it was still a fine weapon. Wu Sheng, a swordsman among assassins, had seen countless swords. Although he had lost his cultivation, his discerning eye remained. This sword could likely be used even if one reached the Divine Refinement stage. He also tied it with a habitual cross behind his back, ready to draw it for self-defense at any moment

It was time to relieve himself again. Wu Sheng stood at the edge of the cliff, unfastened his pants, and let it flow down below.

Three feet against the wind, solid yet unbroken, is far better than before coming into this world. Wu Sheng expressed satisfaction with his physical condition, while also secretly resolving that when he seeks a place to build a house in the future, he will definitely not reside in the valley below, as it is far too easy to be spied upon

Wu Shengmai was attempting to step out of the pond when he inadvertently tripped over something, only to discover that he had stepped on a person. He reached into the water and pulled up none other than a person from Julong Mountain who had just slipped down.

The two individuals at the front, with their familiar figures and attire, made me think for a moment; could they not be the same two I encountered a few days ago at my own Cuiyun Valley?

At the moment of exhilaration, I suddenly felt something was amiss above me. Turning to the side and raising my head, I inexplicably saw a burly man with a long beard standing atop a giant rock, staring at me in astonishment

A chill suddenly rose in Wu Sheng's heart, causing the hair on his body to stand on end.

The wind and snow have intensified, which is excellent

Wu Sheng reached into his bosom and rummaged around, finding nothing, and silently cursed his bad luck

The pond at one's feet is no higher than the waist, suggesting that it has been deliberately excavated to cushion the force of a fall

Without holding a copper rod and without a green snake coiled around his waist, Wu Sheng still recognized him. The bamboo pole held by the burly man with a twisted beard was indeed Jin Wuhuan. After ten years, his appearance had not changed at all

The bamboo pole also stared at itself in astonishment

Moments later, the wooden board began to turn on its own, slowly closing and returning to its original state

Such a domineering fragrance, I haven't even had the chance to ask my second question yet

Wu Sheng did not dare to linger any longer; who knows what kind of helpers the people from Julong Mountain have summoned and when they will arrive. After a brief contemplation, he decisively pressed the mechanism again and slid down the slope that had been set by the people of Julong Mountain—this should be the fastest escape route, and perhaps there is a treasure vault below.