Green Mountain

By the lakeside of Heavenly Pool, the Wu Temple Mountain people gathered together, not rushing to patrol the mountain, as if the thief in the heart of the lake wouldn’t escape as long as Wu Kezhi took action.

Next to the shabby grass hut, Uncle Changsheng bent over picking up the usable things from the ground, picking and picking, because there were too few usable items, he despairingly threw everything back to the ground.

He looked at the distant birds and beasts lowering their heads to drink water by the Heavenly Pool, and then at his dismantled grass hut, he said with concern: "In the middle of winter, it’s only a few days until New Year’s Eve. How are we supposed to get through? Being daring enough to dismantle my Martial Temple Mountain Gate, there’s only one in the entire world. When Wu Kezhi drags his corpse back, I will hang it up at Taide Archway for all to see!"

Luo Yunlin whispered: "There’s no need for that. Our mountain gate usually doesn’t have anyone visiting, even if we hang it up, no one will see it. Plus, it’s quite disgusting..."

Uncle Changsheng thought for a moment: "That’s true, so forget it."

At this moment, Aunt Qiubai ignored them and instead focused on the wild animals drinking water, instructing others: "One sound of the Martial Arts Roar opens the wisdom of all beings. There must be five beasts here that have been enlightened. Find them and make them spirit beasts of the mountain gate."

Uncle Changsheng questioned: "Why collect spirit beasts for the mountain gate? There’s no suitable path for their cultivation, and they are wild and unruly, hard to tame. So far, I’ve only heard that the Ning Dynasty has a big Qing Niu tamed by Huangshan Dao Court, but it’s a greedy rascal that doesn’t obey discipline... Why, is there another reason?"

Aunt Qiubai gave him a glance: "It’s for prestige."

Uncle Changsheng was speechless for a while.

Aunt Qiubai said proudly: "Even the defeated Apostle of Huangshan Dao Court has such things, so must our Wu Temple Mountain Gate."

As she spoke, Luo Yunlin softly asked: "Is that tiger secretly observing us?"

Uncle Changsheng squinted at it, only to see the tiger that had finished drinking water climbing back onto a ridge, standing quietly on the tallest rock beside Heavenly Pool.

It didn’t hurry to leave, but instead looked down at the birds and beasts, the Wu Temple Mountain people, and the swirling mist over the Heavenly Pool. When it saw Changsheng looking at it, a trace of caution appeared in its eyes.

Aunt Qiubai’s eyes lit up: "No doubt about it, its wisdom has opened!"

Just as she finished speaking, the tiger glanced at her from afar, then turned around and leapt off the ridge, disappearing.

Aunt Qiubai wanted to pursue but was stopped by Uncle Changsheng, who stretched lazily: "Let it run away. Why compete with Huangshan Dao Court over such things? If we compete, it should be on the realm of the Executive Officer and martial abilities, on demeanor and appearance. With me here, Huangshan Dao Court will never surpass my Wu Temple."

Aunt Qiubai gave him a sidelong glance: "We’ll talk when your wisdom opens."

At this moment, the sound of water came from the edge of the Heavenly Pool.

Everyone turned to look, only to see Wu Kezhi walking from the water onto the shore, and the wild animals drinking water by Heavenly Pool quickly made way for him, then scattered like birds and beasts.

Uncle Changsheng asked from afar: "Did you kill him? Where’s the body?"

Wu Kezhi shook his head: "Couldn’t find it."

Uncle Changsheng raised his voice: "Such a large ball of golden light at the bottom of the lake, how could you not find it?"

Wu Kezhi explained: "The opponent left just before I arrived, just a moment away, but was delayed by the Soldier Master’s Blade Intent. It pushed me back several meters, making it impossible to recognize the direction, so I had to leave the lake bed."

Aunt Qiubai suddenly asked: "Did you see Biaozi at the lake bed?"

Wu Kezhi’s eyes moved: "Indeed, he was also at the lake bed."

The sound of water was heard again, and it was Wu Hongbiao walking onto the shore step by step. Aunt Qiubai asked with concern: "Are you okay? Why are you only coming ashore now?"

Wu Hongbiao quickly explained: "Had some encounters at the lake bed, was delayed."

Wu Kezhi looked at him thoughtfully: "You were at the lake bed the whole time?"

Wu Hongbiao nodded: "The whole time."

Wu Kezhi turned, staring directly at him: "You didn’t see the anomaly at the lake bed?"

"I saw it," Wu Hongbiao honestly explained: "I saw the golden light at the lake bed and intended to approach and check, but was expelled by the Soldier Master’s Blade Intent."

Wu Kezhi lowered his head in contemplation. This matched his own experience, showing no flaws.

Aunt Qiubai puzzled on the side, asking Wu Kezhi: "Xiao Wu, why are you interrogating your own people?"

Wu Kezhi ignored her, lifted his head again and asked: "Why didn’t I see you at the lake bed?"

Wu Hongbiao recalled: "I was expelled to the edge of Heavenly Pool by the Soldier Master’s Blade Intent, but upon hearing the Martial Arts Roar, I dared to venture closer, wanting to see what was happening."

Wu Kezhi advanced a few steps, standing within a step’s distance of Wu Hongbiao, sternly asking: "And then?"

Wu Hongbiao rubbed his forehead: "Then the Soldier Master’s Blade Intent somehow drilled into my forehead."

Wu Kezhi was somewhat surprised: "You’ve acquired the Soldier Master’s Blade Intent?"

The Wu Temple Mountain People suddenly surrounded him, each one reaching out to touch the blood-red vertical pupil in the center of his brow. Luo Yunlin exclaimed, "Wow, it’s true—this thing just appeared out of nowhere."

Aunt Qiu Bai also squeezed forward to touch that blood mark: "Congratulations, this Soldier Master’s Blade Intent has been at the bottom of the lake for so many years without choosing a master. I originally thought it was futile for you to soak in the lake every day, but it turns out that sincerity can indeed conquer all, and you’ve truly subdued it."

Uncle Chang Sheng stood on the edge of the crowd with a sarcastic tone: "It’s just the Blade Intent left by the Soldier Master when he casually carved words back in the day. Over time, it gained spirituality but is not considered a rare thing. The Soldier Master might not even know there was such a thing at the bottom of the lake... If it doesn’t recognize me, it’s its loss."

Aunt Qiu Bai rushed out of the crowd, twisting Uncle Chang Sheng’s ear: "Back then, Jiang Xi only managed to replicate the Soldier Master’s calligraphy at the bottom of the lake and mastered three sword techniques, propelling him to the Seeking Dao Realm. Now, the Soldier Master’s Blade Intent choosing Biaozi as its master is a great event, so why are you being so sour?"

Uncle Chang Sheng tilted his body: "I’m just stating the facts!"

Luo Yunlin suddenly said to Wu Kezhi: "With so much Martial Arts Roar today, could it be that some of it was drawn by Biaozi? That would make a lot more sense."

Wu Hongbiao was pondering, about to confirm this for Chen Ji when he heard Wu Kezhi deny it: "We went down only after the Five Sounds of Martial Arts Roar happened, and at the bottom of the lake we encountered the Soldier Master’s Blade Intent. This indicates that the recognition by the Blade Intent happened afterward. Biaozi, did you see anything else at the bottom of the lake? Think carefully, because if you lie, the Martial Temple Mountain Gate won’t keep you."

Wu Hongbiao remained silent for a moment: "No, the bottom of the lake was too dark; apart from the Soldier Master’s Blade Intent, I saw nothing."

Aunt Qiu Bai asked: "What should we do now?"

Wu Kezhi sighed: "Cultivating your sword has led to the Five Sounds of Martial Arts. Even the Mountain Master hasn’t experienced such a thing. If we let this person escape, in the future, the Mountain Master might also be in danger."

Aunt Qiu Bai said: "You give the orders, we’ll listen to you, and we’ll put cultivation on hold for now."

Wu Kezhi closed his eyes in thought for a moment: "They haven’t yet escaped from Changbai Mountain. Luo Yunlin, go down to Erdao Baihe Town to find the disciple Ma of the Hu Family, return the King Wen Drum to them, and ’send them out’ to hunt for people. Remember, I want Grandmaster Hu San himself to trace them, bringing all his disciples and grandchildren into the mountain; otherwise, we’ll disassemble all five of their halls and they will have no place on Tokyo Road."

"Alright," Luo Yunlin accepted the order and turned to run down the mountain.

Wu Kezhi opened his eyes: "This person trespassing into our Martial Temple Mountain Gate must know the consequences. If the Martial Temple doesn’t catch them, the Jing Dynasty will exert all its national strength to capture them... They might flee to Korea."

Wu Hongbiao’s heart tightened, and he feigned enthusiasm: "I’ll take a trip to Korea."

Wu Kezhi shook his head: "You’ve just acquired the Soldier Master’s Blade Intent, so stay and guard the Mountain Gate."

Wu Hongbiao had no choice but to comply.

Wu Kezhi looked at Uncle Chang Sheng and Aunt Qiu Bai: "You two take a trip down the mountain to Korea to find the Shouyang Great Monarch and tell him that if he finds this person, our Martial Temple will tacitly approve of him raising troops, and the Heartless Sword Dao may assist him."

"Uh, such a small matter, one person can handle it..." Uncle Chang Sheng didn’t finish his sentence, as Aunt Qiu Bai dragged him down the mountain by the ear.

Wu Kezhi watched the two leave, then instructed a Wu Temple Mountain person: "Go to Shangjing to find Lu Jin and have him mobilize five thousand Central Forbidden Army into Changbai Mountain, dispatch carrier pigeons to block all transport routes. Remember, only entry, no exit. Tell him, if this person sides with the Ning Dynasty, his grand vision is just a daydream."

After this person accepted the order and left, Wu Kezhi instructed another Wu Temple Mountain person: "Go find Yuan Hengli Zhen and have him bring the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry Mo Blade Camp. If he dares to delay, the Martial Temple won’t tolerate him in the future."

Wu Hongbiao listened on the side. In just a few words, Wu Kezhi had set up an intricate trap within Changbai Mountain.

After pondering for a moment, he asked, "Uncle Wu, are you also staying at the Mountain Gate? Where are the others going?"

Wu Kezhi replied coolly: "The remaining people will accompany me to Mirror City Port, the nearest place to leave Changbai Mountain by sea."

...

...

The sky gradually brightened.

Mrs. Lu carried Chen Ji as they traversed through the frost-covered paths of Changbai Mountain. The wind stirred by her movement made the frost and snow fall gently.

She would occasionally turn to sense Chen Ji’s vitality, feeling reassured only when she confirmed his breathing, though she couldn’t understand why Chen Ji remained cold to the touch and hadn’t awoken.

As they descended the mountain, Mrs. Lu suddenly saw a person half-hidden behind a pine tree ahead. When she looked closely, she recognized it as Old Ears holding Wu Yun.

Old Ears, holding Wu Yun with one hand, waved with the other: "This way, the path down the mountain is over here!"

Mrs. Lu’s face turned grim, and she sped up.

When she reached Old Ears, anger welled up in her chest, and she couldn’t contain her suspicions about Old Ears’s identity. She kicked him. The kick landed on Old Ears’s chest, causing him to let out an "ow" and flip backwards twice before stabilizing himself.

Mrs. Lu was stunned, not expecting Old Ears to fail to dodge the kick—how strange...

She examined Old Ears carefully, asking in a stern voice: "Why did you lure Chen Ji to intrude into the Martial Temple Mountain Gate, what are your intentions? Who are you really?"

Old Ears brushed off the snow on him, chuckling evasively: "Old Ears is just Old Ears, who else would Old Ears be? You blame this old man wrongly. It was clearly Chen Ji himself who wanted to steal a sword, so the old man brought him... Hurry, let’s leave first, talk about it after we’re at sea. Wu Kezhi should be angry by now, and if we don’t go, it’ll really be too late to escape."