After eating and drinking their fill, Yu Wan Ning bought a map of the Shuzhou terrain drawn by a traveling mystic in the small town. The map was not very detailed regarding the Qinling Mountains, but it was better than nothing. Yu Wan Ning's destination was the Qinling Mountains, believing that only in its depths could she temper her martial arts and fist techniques to ascend to the legendary Upper Five Realms.
It was nearing noon.
The mountain path ahead grew increasingly narrow, overgrown with weeds. Yu Wan Ning unfolded the map. This place was called the Guanzhong Ancient Road, the original passage connecting to Eastern Shu. It had long since fallen into disuse and was now practically an uninhabited area, frequented only by hunters and herb gatherers.
Yu Wan Ning didn't mind. Her tempering was meant to be found in the wild, untamed essence of the mountains and fields. Only in the vast wilderness could her cultivated fist intent become more potent and solidified. She stepped forward, continuing her journey.
Just then, rustling sounds emanated from the woods ahead. A group of hunters emerged from the depths of the forest, their faces weary, clearly having been in the wilderness for many days. However, their spoils were substantial; each carried several rabbits. Two of them were even shouldering a wild boar together. Additionally, an old hunter carried a section of beast bone on his shoulder.
"Hm?"
Yu Wan Ning frowned. She could feel the profound ancient aura and spiritual energy emanating from the beast bone. Upon closer inspection, faint, intricate runes flickered on its surface. It was a legendary runic beast bone, a treasure in the eyes of mountain cultivators. If one could comprehend these runes, there was a chance to acquire some ancient technique or spell.
However, these hunters clearly did not understand its true significance.
Yu Wan Ning felt a twinge of unease. Although she didn't wish to "poach" the runic beast bone from the hunters, if other cultivators saw it, these hunters could be in mortal danger. After all, cultivators from the mountains often resorted to unscrupulous methods.
"Uncle,"
Yu Wan Ning approached and pointed to the beast bone on the old man's shoulder. "Where did this beast bone come from?"
"Oh!"
The old hunter smiled and said, "Found it in the mountains while hunting. Saw it glinting, thought it might be phosphorescent, so I picked it up as a decoration. Perhaps my old wife will like it."
"Oh..."
Yu Wan Ning smiled and took out a stack of copper coins from her怀. "I find this beast bone quite appealing too. Would you be willing to sell it to me? I only have this much copper on me. All of it, for the bone, is that alright?"
"Ah?"
The old hunter hesitated. This traveling woman exuded an air of nobility, resembling a mountain cultivator. If she desired it, could this beast bone be a treasure of immense value?
As the old hunter deliberated, the sound of horse hooves echoed from behind. Soon, a large contingent of armored cavalry appeared in sight. If her guess was correct, they were the legendary Western Shu Iron Cavalry. The leader, a middle-aged man, immediately noticed the beast bone in the old hunter's hand, its runes shimmering. A wicked thought immediately formed in his mind.
He glanced at Yu Wan Ning. The young woman was quite attractive, but her internal energy was not potent. She appeared to be at most a warrior of the second or third realm, clearly no match for the Western Shu Iron Cavalry. He frowned and asked, "Who are you, and why are you in these mountains?"
Yu Wan Ning knitted her brows and clasped her fists. "Yu Wan Ning, a wandering warrior."
"This is none of your business. Move aside."
The cavalry leader waved his hand dismissively. Two cavalrymen stepped forward, pushing Yu Wan Ning aside, attempting to drive her away. The leader then pointed at the old hunter and said, "Hand over the beast bone."
"Ah?!"
The old hunter looked astonished. "Esteemed officer... this beast bone is mine..."
"Stop your nonsense!"
The cavalry leader fiercely brought down his whip, leaving a bloody gash on the old hunter's face. Blood poured out. The other hunters erupted in anger. One man said, "Sir, we are all registered hunters from Zitong Commandery, subjects of the Great Shang's Shuzhou. Why are you acting so unreasonably?"
"It is your fortune that I desire your possession,"
The cavalry leader sneered. "What, you wish to die?! Old man, hand over the beast bone!"
"Hurry!"
Several cavalrymen began to herd them.
Just then, a surge of potent fist intent erupted. As the cavalry leader turned, a figure flashed past. Yu Wan Ning, filled with righteous anger, unleashed a punch, sending him tumbling off his horse. In an instant, he spat out a mouthful of blood.
"You court death!?"
The cavalrymen were enraged. Some thrust their spears forward, while others retrieved crossbows from their saddles, preparing to shoot Yu Wan Ning.
The spearheads sliced through the wind with fierce intent. These cavalrymen clearly intended to kill. Their goal was a single, fatal blow, to eliminate Yu Wan Ning here. In this desolate wilderness, no one would investigate these cavalrymen, giving them license to act with impunity.
Yu Wan Ning's delicate eyebrows furrowed. She too felt a surge of killing intent. Her arms slammed together, her entire body suffused with fist intent. With a cracking sound, she snapped the spearheads of the incoming spears. Then, she swept her fist outward, sending three cavalrymen flying backward. Before they even hit the ground, they were dead. Next came the crossbow bolts.
Yu Wan Ning's body dropped, her lithe form nimble as a startled rabbit. She darted forward in a series of sharp zigzags, evading the crossbow bolts while striking each cavalryman with a fist, knocking them off their horses. This time, she held back some of her strength, merely injuring them instead of killing them outright. The cavalrymen were stunned. This woman's martial prowess far exceeded their expectations.
"Go, quickly!"
The cavalry leader scrambled to his feet, mounted his horse, and fled.
When Yu Wan Ning turned, she saw that the hunters had already vanished while she was engaged. The beast bone was also nowhere to be seen. Yu Wan Ning couldn't help but smile bitterly and shake her head. She hadn't really coveted the beast bone. The runes on it weren't particularly dense; they might be useful for those in the Lower Five Realms, but wouldn't significantly benefit her, who was already in the Sea-Crossing Realm. She had wanted to buy it solely to save the old hunter from a fatal predicament.
However, the old hunter had harbored too many calculations and completely misunderstood Yu Wan Ning's good intentions. There was nothing she could do. Misfortune or fortune were self-inflicted. Whatever destiny awaited him now was of his own making. Yu Wan Ning could offer no further assistance.
Just then, the sound of horse hooves returned from the distance, this time more numerous and heavier. At the end of the mountain path, dense ranks of Western Shu Iron Cavalry galloped forth. Leading them was a general clad in pale golden armor, his martial aura incredibly potent. He was a warrior of the Heavenly Origin Realm. He soared into the air, riding the wind, and hovered above Yu Wan Ning. He glanced at the three corpses on the ground and said calmly, "Did you kill my men?"
"Yes."
Yu Wan Ning frowned. "They attempted to kill without provocation. I was merely defending myself."
"Tsk tsk!"
The other party suppressed his killing intent and smiled, cupping his fists. "I am Li Chuyun, Commander of the Western Shu Iron Cavalry, cousin to Li Chunyang, the Grand Minister of the Court. And who might you be, a martial artist of the Tenth Realm, and what is your purpose here?"
"Yu Wan Ning."
Yu Wan Ning's delicate eyebrows knitted. She did not reveal the name of the Mountain Peak Villa, fearing her actions might implicate them. She merely frowned and said, "I am a martial artist who wanders the jianghu, training my martial arts in the Qinling Mountains. I killed them. What do you intend to do?"
"Hmph, training your martial arts?"
Li Chuyun narrowed his eyes. "The celestial phenomena this dawn indicated signs that the Deer-Seeking Sword has appeared. Are you not here for the Deer-Seeking Sword?"
"I don't know anything about the Deer-Seeking Sword," Yu Wan Ning replied truthfully. She genuinely didn't know; having only recently arrived in the human world, she wasn't very familiar with the legends of the Ten Great Swords.
"Fine."
Li Chuyun raised an eyebrow. "You have two choices: either I kill you with a single punch, or you join the Western Shu Iron Cavalry and become a vice-general under my command. Choose yourself."
Yu Wan Ning couldn't help but laugh in exasperation. "Are all people of Western Shu so brutish and unreasonable?"
...
Western Shu, Eastern Border Territory.
Two beams of light descended from the direction of the East Sea, falling into the Qinling region and transforming into two figures. One was a middle-aged scholar dressed in a gray-white robe, adorned with a gentleman's jade pendant. He was Fu Sheng, a thirteenth-realm great demon. The other was a young sword cultivator in a green vine-colored robe, his face exuding an air of calm indifference. He was Lin Zhujie, a twelfth-realm demon sword cultivator.
"What do you say?"
Fu Sheng narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Brother Lin, are you also involved in the matters of the Eastern Yue?"
"Not interested."
Lin Zhujie said indifferently, "If Lord Fu Sheng wishes to engage in those petty pilfering matters, do so at your leisure, but do not involve me, Lin Zhujie. I am too ashamed to be associated with such things."
"Alright, alright, you are the highest bamboo on our demon race's ancestral mountain, the pure stream of our demon race, the most noble of all. Let us lowlifes handle the sordid tasks."
"Lord Fu Sheng."
Lin Zhujie frowned. "Stop being so sarcastic, it's tiresome."
"Fine, let's speak of serious matters then."
Fu Sheng said, "That Mountain Lord is not to be trifled with. He is a twelfth-realm himself, and with his seat in the Qinling, he wields thirteenth-realm power. To kill him, we must act with surprise. The intentions of the Demon Ancestor and Yu Zhi are to achieve this without bloodshed if possible. I, Fu Sheng, am willing to be the vanguard. Will you, Lin Zhujie, also show some commitment?"
"Tell me directly what you want."
"A segment of my vital bamboo stalk, to help me evade heavenly scrutiny."
"Understood."
Lin Zhujie frowned and took a tender golden bamboo stalk from his sleeve, handing it to Fu Sheng. "Since that is the case, there should be no further matters for me, Lin Zhujie, in the Eastern Yue. I wish Lord Fu Sheng well. As for myself, I will head into the depths of the Qinling Mountains to investigate and act as a scout for Lord Yu Zhi. What do you think?"
"As you wish."
Fu Sheng smiled. "Feel free to do as you please."
"Farewell."
Lin Zhujie's figure flashed, transforming into a green streak of light and disappearing into the wilderness.
Fu Sheng, however, frowned, watching Lin Zhujie's retreating back. A flicker of killing intent crossed his eyes. He had long wanted to kill this troublesome bamboo worm, but a twelfth-realm sword cultivator was not easy to deal with.