Shu State, Qinling Mountains.
A majestic great mountain stood amidst a range of peaks, towering like a crane among chickens, shrouded in clouds and mist, exuding an immortal aura. This was the East Mountain of the Great Shang Dynasty, one of the pillars of the human realm.
At the summit, a grand yet ancient mountain god shrine stood tall – the East Mountain Shrine. Despite being one of the four great mountain shrines of the human world, it received little incense. This was perhaps inevitable, as the East Mountain lay deep within the Qinling Mountains. To the entire human realm, the overlapping peaks of the Qinling were a forbidden zone, and the East Mountain within its depths was a place ordinary people could not reach. Only some mountain cultivators would occasionally visit this famous mountain, perhaps to share tea and play chess with the Mountain Lord.
Beneath an ancient pine tree, a middle-aged man in golden armor sat by a stone table, leaves from a banyan tree scattered upon him. His presence exuded the killing aura of a military strategist. He was a divine being of mountains and rivers, conferred the title by the Yin God of the military school. Centuries ago, he had been the God of War for the Xia Clan, a formidable figure like Lin Xingchu, standing as a bulwark in the north and south. However, the tide of the world could not be turned. The Xia Clan ultimately fell. Although Ning Haoshou died on the battlefield, his soul found no peace. Touched by the heavens, he was conferred the high title of East Mountain Lord.
Ning Haoshou was at the twelfth realm, and on the East Mountain, he was a true peak of the thirteenth realm.
Alas, for so many years, Ning Haoshou had been plagued by the gossip of the martial world. Many criticized him, saying his twilight years were disgraced. Once a renowned general of the Xia Clan, he had become the East Mountain Lord of the Great Shang Dynasty, a mere guard dog at the eastern gate.
"Sigh..."
He let out a sigh. The world did not understand, and so be it. Why bother explaining? If he, Ning Haoshou, had not guarded the East Mountain, sustaining the foundation of this region, the Eastern Sea would have long ago submerged countless human territories, leaving innocent people displaced. To whose account would that fall? Though Ning Haoshou was a warrior, a strategist, he had also read books and understood principles. He could not do something that would overturn the world for the sake of his own fleeting reputation.
He frowned, looking at the unfinished chess game on the stone table from their last encounter. He couldn't help but chuckle. That old gentleman from the Confucian scholarly circles was truly a terrible chess player, killing his own pieces in a chaotic manner until he himself was defeated. Yet, the man was exceptionally kind, even gifting him a jade hairpin. What use was this hairpin?
He touched his head. He was a military man. Military strategy demanded the wearing of battle helmets. How could he wear a helmet with this hairpin? The old gentleman was indeed strange. As he left, he uttered, "No matter what, do not remove the hairpin." He even claimed to be a Confucian sage, speaking with the authority of heaven, and to be taken at his word. He warned Ning Haoshou to be obedient, lest he bring about his own ruin.
This phrase, "lest you bring about your own ruin," reminded Ning Haoshou of the ruthless rogue cultivators he had encountered in his youth. They all loved to utter this phrase, their menacing tones infuriating. Yet, when the old gentleman said it, there was no trace of threat. Instead, it was like an old teacher in a private school, muttering and rambling, being fussy, but speaking only sensible truths.
"Whatever."
He sighed and rested his hands behind his head, leaning against the tree to close his eyes and rest.
...
At the Mountain Peak Villa, Tianranju.
Lin Zhao straightened Xu Shuo's account and, with his arms crossed, analyzed, "Brother Xu is speaking of two matters, but they might be one. The first is the matter of the Deer Seeking Sword appearing. Gu Yanshu, the disciple of the Sword God of West Shu, Lin Shenghan, is about to emerge from the mountains and temper himself in the Qinling Mountains, though how he will temper himself is unknown. The second matter is the demon race's scheme. They likely intend to take advantage of the Deer Seeking Sword's appearance to strike at the root of the problem. As for what kind of outcome the demon race seeks, Brother Xu did not say."
"He couldn't say."
Xu Shuo frowned. "The demon race's plan is still unclear. As for the Mohist ancestral home, it was an imperial decree from Elder Fuxing. He left without explaining things clearly, merely instructing us to act according to our own judgment. After I visit the Snow Region Heavenly Pond, I still need to go to Yun Province and Furong Province. When you arrive in Shu Province, ensure your safety and then act as circumstances permit. You can either pursue the whereabouts of the Deer Seeking Sword or track the demon race's movements. However, the final battlefield, if nothing unexpected occurs, will likely be in the vicinity of Lingque Lake."
"Understood."
Lin Zhao nodded. "Thank you, Brother Xu. We will make preparations and then depart for West Shu."
"Good."
Xu Shuo cupped his fists and rode the wind away.
After watching Xu Shuo depart, Lin Zhao frowned and said, "It seems things are getting a bit tricky."
Lin Xingchu said, "Xiao Zhao, if you feel it's not quite right, you can pick up Lin Wanhua when you pass by Fusu Great Wall. That girl's swordsmanship is peerless. Even if you encounter a thirteenth-realm great demon, you might not be at a disadvantage with her."
"No."
Lin Zhao shook his head. "Aunt, the Confucian scholarly circles have only mobilized me, Xiao Jiu'er, Shuangzhi, and Old Huang, four people. They haven't asked you or Miss Lin to move, clearly out of consideration. Who knows if the changes in Shu Province are a trap? Will the demon race's ultimate goal still be to advance south? Therefore, neither you nor Miss Lin can act rashly. Moreover, only Tang Guangjun, Lingyu, Mu Zuo, and Chen Ben are left guarding the Snow Region Heavenly Pond. I am not at ease. With you and Miss Lin there, the Snow Region Heavenly Pond will have assistance. Rest assured, the journey to Shu Province may not be too perilous."
"Mm."
Lin Xingchu knew she couldn't persuade him.
"Young Master!"
Xiao Ke, dressed in a cyan robe, rubbed his hands and said with a smile, "To be honest, I haven't been to Shu Province yet. Why don't you ask the Empress to allow me to accompany you to the martial world of West Shu? Firstly, I can be your bodyguard, and secondly, you can show me the world. It's a win-win situation. The Empress alone is enough for the Washing Sword River. With me, Lin Xiao Ke, added, it's merely icing on the cake, optional."
"Enough."
Lin Zhao frowned, stepped forward, and gently patted Xiao Ke's shoulder, looking at him with a deep gaze. "Xiao Ke, just as you said, you are one of our Lin family. So I truly consider you family. During the Water and Fire calamity, Aunt was thrown into the depths of the earth by Man Yuan and Liu Bai, nearly perishing. Who knows if the demon race has a second Water and Fire calamity? Therefore, now, not only does the Washing Sword River have Aunt, but it also has you. If such a critical situation reoccurs, Aunt will no longer be fighting alone. Xiao Ke, you must protect Aunt."
"..."
In an instant, the thirteenth-realm Flood Dragon Demon felt a surge of warmth. He had always felt like he was giving more than he received as a "Lin family member." Lin Xingchu was his master. To the outside world, she was gentle and kind, especially towards Lin Zhao, behaving like a loving elder. But the Lin Xingchu that Lin Xiao Ke saw was far more ferocious, often threatening to sever his vital脉络 (mai luo - vital channels) and rip out his dragon tendons. Yet, in the end, she never did. It was simply that his inherent mischievousness needed to be disciplined.
Thinking of this, a light flickered in Lin Xiao Ke's eyes. He, a member of the Lin family, truly had to work hard. Although the Empress wanted to rip out my dragon tendons, I remain loyal to her. I must protect this aunt of the Lin family. This is truly fulfilling the scholar's saying of repaying kindness with virtue. He suddenly jolted. Damn it, with such innate wisdom, could I be a born scholar?
Born of the demon race, what a shame!
...
Shu State, East Mountain.
An old gentleman in a gray-white long robe leaned on a walking stick, laboriously climbing the mountain. His complexion was quite ruddy, and a gentleman's jade pendant hung from his waist. He appeared to be a learned old scholar. The East Mountain was extremely high, and he did not ascend quickly. It was not until the afternoon that he arrived at the summit, panting. Not far away stood the dilapidated mountain god shrine. Beneath the banyan tree sat a Mountain Lord bathed in golden light – Ning Haoshou.
"Oh my..."
The old gentleman appeared flustered. He walked forward, leaning on his stick, bowed, and smiled, "Are you the East Mountain Lord?"
"Indeed."
Ning Haoshou smiled slightly. This old gentleman's cultivation seemed to be only at the seventh realm, likely an old scholar from the secular world. His scholarly aura was undeniable. It must have been quite difficult to reach the East Mountain Shrine. Ning Haoshou said with a smile, "Old sir, please rest first. I will brew you a cup of warm tea. Please have a seat."
"Yes, yes..."
The old gentleman seemed somewhat uneasy. He looked at the Mountain Lord's retreating back with reverence.
Not long after, the East Mountain Lord Ning Haoshou returned and brewed tea for the old gentleman under the tree. The old gentleman repeatedly bowed, very politely. For a mere old man to have the Mountain Lord personally brew tea for him was truly excessive courtesy.
"Where do you hail from, old sir?"
Ning Haoshou asked with a smile.
"Oh."
The old scholar bowed again. "I come from Yuehua Academy in Zitong County. I am old now and can barely move. So, while I still have some strength left, I came to climb the mountain and visit ancient sites. This East Mountain is a millennium-famous scenic spot in our West Shu. If I don't visit it in this lifetime, I will truly regret it."
"Indeed, indeed."
Ning Haoshou smiled and nodded. "The perilous nature of this East Mountain is unmatched in the world. For you to have climbed it, old sir, your health must still be quite robust. Worry not, you can still travel to many places."
"Thank you, Mountain Lord."
The old gentleman looked at the chessboard before him and said, "Does the Mountain Lord play chess? I know a little. Would you care for a game?"
"Excellent, excellent!"
Ning Haoshou smiled, tidied the chessboard, and began to play with the old gentleman.
Just as the old gentleman picked up the first chess piece and raised it slightly, he smiled and said, "Mountain Lord, look at this chess piece..."
"Oh?"
Ning Haoshou looked in surprise, only to see the chess piece suddenly split in two. Before Ning Haoshou could react, a segment of a golden life-carving knife had already pierced his neck. As Ning Haoshou recoiled in pain, golden blood flowed ceaselessly from his neck. His divine power and spiritual energy as the East Mountain Lord began to leak uncontrollably.
"You..."
Ning Haoshou immediately summoned his Dharma body. Instantly, a thousand-zhang Mountain Lord Dharma body soared into the sky. Meanwhile, Fu Sheng, who had hidden his demonic aura within Lin Zhujie's life-bamboo, having deceived the heavens, retreated rapidly. He also summoned his thirteenth-realm Dharma appearance, a smile curving his lips. "Mountain Lord, do not rush. Look behind you!"
Ning Haoshou glanced back.
He saw a figure summon the Dharma appearance of a nine-headed flaming lion. The nine-headed lion stood with its feet on either side of the Qinling Mountains. It opened its maw and ferociously bit down on one of Ning Haoshou's giant Dharma body's arms, tearing it off with a "crack."
Thirteenth-realm Ning Yuansheng had also arrived!