Blade - Unbound

Autumn rain lingered endlessly, shrouding the mountains in mist.

A servant held an umbrella, trying to support a young scholar. "Young Master, be careful, it's slippery."

"No need!" The scholar waved him off casually. Looking at the muddy mountain path, he wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled. "My teacher always says that reading ten thousand books must be accompanied by traveling ten thousand li. How true those words are.

"The customs of Shanzhou are indeed vastly different from those of my Ezhou homeland. Though the Divine Continent has been united for thousands of years, Qin and Chu still retain distinct local cultures and traditions.

"You can't govern by copying books alone. If one wishes to govern a region, one must understand the people."

The servant looked at him with admiration before speaking again, "Young Master, you'll definitely become a good official someday."

The scholar looked northward and sighed. "A good official? The capital is filled with nobles and powerful families. Our dynasty has stood for a century already, and the great clans have long taken root. Without someone backing me, this trip to the capital will most likely end with failure."

An elderly hunter was walking beside them. The scholar and servant spoke in their hometown dialect, which the hunter barely understood. He had no time to think about it anyway, since he was preoccupied by vigilantly scanning the area.

Noticing the look on his face, the scholar switched to the common tongue. "Uncle Wang, is this place dangerous?"

"Dangerous?" The hunter snorted. "It's far worse than that! You youngsters ignored the main road and insisted on taking this remote mountain trail. This silver is so much harder to earn than I thought!"

The scholar laughed. "Since we’re passing through Capital Passage City, how could I not visit Tianzhu Mountain? During the Song Dynasty, the recluse Shao Anle once lived here. The legendary sights of the mountain piercing the heavens and golden peaks rising above the sea of clouds have fascinated me for years."

The hunter pointed ahead and lowered his voice. "I don't know what you're talking about. All I know is that the back mountain isn't peaceful. Herb gatherers wander up there and somehow lose their way. The lucky ones find their way back while the unlucky ones disappear forever."

The servant gulped nervously. "Is there... a ghost wall in the mountains?"

"Shut your mouth!" The hunter barked. Seeing the servant turn pale, he softened his tone slightly. "Did you forget what I told you? Remember. We address them as Lord Qingfeng."

The servant quickly corrected himself after recalling the taboo. "Oh, right. Lord Qingfeng's wall."

The scholar nearly burst out laughing, but seeing the hunter's expression, he forced himself to hold it in. Looking toward the distant forest, he mused, "The legends say that Grandmaster Luo of the Tang Dynasty once secluded himself here. Naturally, there are mysteries hidden in these mountains."

As he spoke, he pulled out a tortoise shell and several copper coins from his robe. He shook them and cast them onto the ground.

The hunter immediately looked impressed. "Young Master knows the mystic arts?"

A trace of pride flashed through the scholar's eyes. Still, he smiled modestly and explained, "I've merely studied some principles of divination. Throughout this journey, I've relied on fortune-telling whenever entering the mountains. Every danger has turned into fortune. I've never been wrong."

"Hmm, the second line changes. Kun position is auspicious..." Counting on his fingers, he calculated silently before gathering up the shell and coins before speaking again. "Don't worry, this trip into the mountains will go smoothly."

***

By nightfall, thick fog filled the forest. The group was completely lost.

Holding a lantern, the servant looked around in panic. His voice trembled when he spoke. "Y-Young Master, your divination isn't working..."

The scholar's legs were shaking too. Still, he stubbornly replied, "Don't worry. It's only mountain fog. We'll rest for the night and continue tomorrow..."

"Tomorrow you'll be dead!" The hunter's temper finally flared as he continued to yell at them, "You city folk don't know a thing. Do you really think staying put will save you? It'll lure you straight off a cliff in the middle of the night!"

With that, he bowed toward the dark forest and yelled loudly, "The great road reaches heaven, each walks their own path. We bear no old grudges and no recent enmity. If we've caused offense, please forgive us."

His expression was utterly sincere as he repeated the plea three times. When he was done, he took three thin stalks of white cogon grass from his pouch. Keeping one for himself, he handed one each to the scholar and servant. "One stalk per person. From here, we'll take the left path. Every three steps, tap the ground once with the grass.

"Don't speak and don't look back."

The servant's eyes lit up. "Is this the invitation of Goddess Mao? Uncle Wang, are you from Ezhou too? We often worship Goddess Mao where we're from."

The scholar nodded. "Holy reeds and sacred grasses ward off misfortune and bring blessings. Our Chu lands have long revered cogon grass. The Discourses of the States record that King Cheng once gathered the feudal lords at Qiyang..."

The hunter nearly lost his mind at the droning. He yanked out his woodcutter's blade and growled, "If you two keep yapping, none of us are leaving here alive! I'll kill you myself first!"

The scholar and servant immediately shut up.

Satisfied, the old hunter snorted. "This method comes from my ancestors. Remember. No matter who calls from behind you, don't answer and don’t look back.

"Hold onto the clothing of the person in front. If you turn around and disappear, don't expect me to look for you. Life and death are decided by fate, so don't blame others for your misfortune."

With that, he took the lead.

Under such circumstances, the scholar and servant were so scared they were about to poop their pants. All they could do was follow obediently.

Every three steps, they tapped the ground with the grass stalk. As they walked, both began to feel something was wrong. It felt as though someone was following them.

Cold breath seemed to brush against their ears as vague voices whispered in the darkness. Their legs started to go weak, but they remembered the hunter's warnings and dared not break a single taboo. They simply followed him.

But perhaps the method was working. Within less than half an incense stick’s worth of time, the fog began to thin and the scenery around them gradually changed.

They found themselves at a bend in the path, where a massive boulder was decorated with four faded characters: All Gathering Divine Beauty.

Though the cinnabar paint had long since peeled away, the boldness of the calligraphy remained evident. Between several giant rocks stood a waist-high shrine. The mountain god statue was weathered and worn, with dust covering the stone altar. It was obvious that no one had burned incense in a very long time.

The old hunter finally relaxed. He hurried forward, took out incense and candles from his pack, and offered sincere prayers. "Mountain God, please protect us..."

The scholar and servant turned around, and immediately paled. The fog had completely vanished, leaving moonlight to illuminate several ancient stone tombs. They had once been impressive, but now they lay broken and collapsed, covered in moss.

The hunter grew nervous as he lit three sticks of incense and shaped a small altar from loose earth. Planting the incense in the ground, he clasped his hands and muttered, "Sorry to disturb you all. Thank you, thank you."

The scholar and servant were thoroughly frightened, and they hurriedly joined in the prayers before leaving as quickly as possible.

Once they exited the isolated mountain path, the hunter visibly relaxed. Looking ahead, he said, "We've already lost too much time. It's not suitable to travel at night. The road ahead is still remote, but villagers use it occasionally. If I remember correctly, there's a mountain god temple nearby. We can rest there for the night."

The servant swallowed nervously. "A mountain god temple? Nothing bad will happen there, right?"

The hunter glared at him and snapped, "What are you talking about? Nothing dares cause trouble beneath the protection of a mountain god. It's the safest place possible."

After experiencing the ghost wall, the scholar had become much more sensible. "Yes, yes. We'll listen to Uncle Wang."

The three continued onward. After several turns and a gentle slope, a mountain god temple appeared before them. It looked like it had weathered several years, and the three stopped to stare closely at the faint flicker of firelight inside.

The scholar looked askance at the hunter, not knowing how to continue. "Uncle Wang..."

The old hunter took a deep breath before explaining, "They are probably travelers. We'll spend the night there. Remember to be polite, don't say anything foolish."

Even so, he removed the bow from his back and nocked an arrow.

One thing remained unsaid. At such a late hour, in such an isolated temple, the occupants might be travelers, or they might be bandits.

Before they even approached, a cold voice drifted from inside, "Hm? Why do I smell living people? Could some Cave Lord have sent this old man a midnight snack?"

The scholar's hair stood on end. He knew that tone all too well from stories and opera plays.

Even the old hunter's legs nearly gave out.

Just as they were preparing to flee, a gentle laugh came from within. "Brother Yan, why frighten them? We're all travelers on lonely mountain roads. Come in. It's safe here."

The three exchanged uncertain glances when they heard the second voice. Whatever it was, there was no turning back. They cautiously entered the temple.

Inside, a campfire burned between two men. One wore Daoist robes, while the other was a young man dressed in black. The youngster had a pale face, but his eyes were shining like cold stars in the darkness as a blade hung from his waist.

The hunter discreetly checked their shadows dancing in the firelight. Only then did he relax slightly. "My apologies for disturbing you."

"No trouble at all." Wang Daoxuan smiled warmly and removed a kettle from above the fire. "The mountains are cold at night; have some tea to warm yourselves."

Seeing their caution, he chuckled. "Don't worry, we aren't villains. And there's no sleeping drug in the tea."

The hunter nodded. "Daoist jests. A Guanzhong bladesman can take our lives as easily as breathing. Why would he need sleeping drugs?"

Clearly, he recognized the Guanshan Blade.

Though they lacked proper cups, all three carried bamboo water containers which served as makeshift tea cups. After drinking the hot tea, they finally recovered their composure.

The scholar took a sip and immediately praised it. "Excellent tea! This is Yellow Tea, one of Huainan's Three Famous Teas! This is this year's harvest too."

"Fellow Daoist has refined taste." Wang Daoxuan laughed. "I know nothing about tea. Little Brother Yan picked it up along the way, which cost us quite a bit of silver."

Seeing Li Yan's extraordinary appearance and bearing, the scholar immediately felt favorable toward him. He cupped his hands and introduced himself. "My name is Yan Jiuling. May I ask your honored name, brother?"

Li Yan answered simply. "Li Yan."

Perhaps feeling more at ease, the old hunter looked toward the campfire. After some hesitation, he said, "Forgive my bluntness, but lighting a fire inside a mountain god temple seems disrespectful."

Li Yan glanced at him with a raised eyebrow. "Don't worry, the mountain god here lost his worshippers long ago. He left ages ago. Otherwise, how do you think you ended up trapped by the ghost wall?"

The three instantly felt chills run down their spines.

Wang Daoxuan quickly reassured them. "Don't worry, young Brother Yan noticed something wrong and helped break the trap."

So that was it.

The three exchanged looks before the hunter smiled awkwardly. He dared not speak further. This time, he knew they had encountered genuine experts.

Li Yan's poor mood was understandable. After all, Tianzhu Mountain lay within Fengyang. After leaving Wu Family Gully, they hurried over to the mountain. Yet, even after searching the mountain from afternoon until evening, they found no trace of the cave belonging to Wu Laosi's lineage.

Unable to find it, Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan continued searching until they discovered this mountain god temple. Their plan had been to use the Summoning Writ's ability to communicate with spirits and ask the mountain god for directions.

Instead, they found that the temple had lost all incense offerings long ago. Even the mountain god's divine aura had vanished. Only wandering spirits remained, occupying the clay statue.

Thus, Li Yan forced them to disperse with his Thundercloud Divine Drum.

The answer was close at hand, yet unreachable. Naturally, he was frustrated.

Wang Daoxuan suddenly turned to the hunter to ask, "Respected elder, we're seeking certain reclusive masters in these mountains. Would you happen to know anything?"

The hunter hesitated before answering. "I wouldn't dare deceive you, Daoist. I live in Tianzhu Village lying to the right of the foot of the mountain. There are indeed several fairly prosperous temples on the mountain.”

Wang Daoxuan shook his head. "The abbots there are certainly learned men, but they aren't the people we're seeking."

He naturally knew whom the hunter referred to. Li Yan and he had already visited those temples in search of information. Unfortunately, while they belonged to the Buddhist path, they were not part of the mystic path they sought.

The hunter scratched his head and frowned. "To be honest, this is already the back mountain. My grandfather once told me there were many recluses living here in the past. However, strange incidents occurred years ago. Since then, villagers stopped coming to the back mountain."

Yan Jiuling's eyes lit up, and he suddenly asked, "Are you searching for the lineage of Master Luo? I've heard that the grandmaster was one of the great cultivators of the Tang Dynasty."

Unlike ordinary people, he knew something of the mystic path. As a child he had even sought the Dao himself. Unfortunately, he never awakened any divine abilities and thus could not enter that path. Now that he realized Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan were cultivators, his curiosity flared.

Wang Daoxuan laughed. "Master Luo's lineage isn't here."

Li Yan suddenly asked, "Do any famous spirit mediums live in the nearby villages?"

The hunter frowned. "I don't know, but I did hear of one incident. Several years ago, some herb gatherers lost their souls in the northern mountain. But an old woman suddenly appeared and called their souls back. When they returned, she sternly warned them never to return to the northern mountain."

"The northern mountain?" Li Yan frowned. "I've already searched the northern mountain thoroughly and didn't find any reclusive masters."

The hunter shook his head. "Then you don't know. There's another dangerous area in the northern mountain. You can only reach it by descending from Tianzhu Peak."

"It's hidden, and ordinary people would never find it."

Wang Daoxuan's eyes immediately lit up. "Thank you, elder."

A trace of excitement appeared in Li Yan's eyes as well as a thought flashed through his mind.

The ritualist had mentioned that a junior sister still guarded the ancestral altar. It should be an old woman, someone capable of soul-summoning.

It had to be her!

At last, they had a lead. The two immediately felt reinvigorated. But with outsiders present, certain matters couldn't be discussed openly. In the end, they simply leaned against the wall and went to sleep.

Poor Yan Jiuling.

He looked at the ruined temple, the wandering bladesman, and the Daoist, both mysterious cultivators. It felt exactly like a scene from the novels he loved. Filled with excitement, he hoped to befriend them, yet the two simply lay down and fell asleep.

Helpless, he eventually drifted off as well, exhausted by the climb and terrifying experiences of the day.

***

"Young Master! Young Master!"

Yan Jiuling felt someone shaking him, and he opened his eyes groggily.

Bright daylight shone outside the temple. The campfire inside had long since gone cold.

The bladesman and Daoist were gone.

Yan Jiuling immediately asked, "Where are they?"

The hunter replied, "They left long ago, before dawn. And honestly, you're a proper scholar. It's best to keep your distance from jianghu people."

Now that daylight had restored some courage, the servant finally protested after enduring the hunter's scolding all day. "My young master is a provincial graduate! He'll become an official one day!"

But the scholar immediately reprimanded him, "Zhu Mo, stop talking nonsense."

Seeing the hunter suddenly become reserved, he smiled and shook his head. "Uncle Wang. I'm only a scholar. You don't need to mind such things."

The servant shrank back. "Young Master, when are we leaving? This wilderness is really dangerous. Master ordered you to visit Lord Li in Chang'an. What if we're late?"

Yan Jiuling seemed completely unconcerned as he replied, "We'll leave after visiting Tianzhu Peak."

His face was filled with regret from missing the opportunity to connect more with the two mysterious travelers.

In the end, he murmured softly, "Li Yan, Li Yan... The Great Expansion Seeking the One...

"Indeed. Only by traveling the world can one witness the mysteries of heaven and earth."

While the scholar was lost in thought, far above on the steep cliffs of Tianzhu Peak, a lone figure was already climbing down through a narrow mountain crevice. Gradually, he disappeared into the endless sea of clouds and mist.