Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Ambush!
Spring Comes Mountain is located outside Huai Valley Village. When the spring wind arrives, it blows into the valley from this location, hence the name Spring Comes.
Built halfway up the mountain is a small temple, about ten square meters in size. The arrangement inside is simple, consisting only of an offering table, two meditation cushions, and a painted clay sculpture.
The sculpture is called the Spring Locust Elder. In the past, people from Huai Valley Village would come to worship every time spring commenced.
With mountain bandits rampant, the atmosphere around Huai Mountain has become tense, leading to the decline of the Spring Locust Temple.
Now, with a hole in the temple’s roof left unrepaired, the face of the Spring Locust Elder below it bears the brunt of wind and rain, leaving much of the painted surface of the sculpture worn off.
The once prosperous and immortal-looking elderly figure has turned into a grotesque and unclear face, detested by all.
Only one person still worships him every day.
A small slender figure runs into the temple, followed by two rabbits and three squirrels.
The person and five animals place the food they’ve gathered on the ground, making up a handful of berries and a dozen nuts.
Taking out a small pile to place on the offering table, he shares the rest with the animals.
Winter demands resistance against the cold, requiring more body heat. Despite being accustomed to hunger, this food is insufficient.
He glances sneakily at the sculpture, then at the offering he’d just placed on the table.
Taking some more shouldn’t anger Grandpa Huai, right?
Just as he hesitates, a voice comes from behind.
"Is this all a growing young man like you eats?"
Wu Chang waved towards the turning village guard, pulling out a chicken from behind.
"Want to join me for a bite?"
The village guard’s nod left a blur.
"Where’s the nearest fresh water?" Wu Chang asked.
"This way!" The village guard jogged ahead to lead Wu Chang.
By the river, Wu Chang used the Four-sided Age Fire Lamp to light a fire and boil water. After plucking the feathers from the chicken, he used the Treasure Sword found in Chen’s Treasure Vault to open it and clean the innards.
The chicken was also taken from Chen Family Village, a wild variant from the mountain, with colorful feathers. Based solely on appearance, this chicken would certainly be imprisoned in reality.
While handling the food, he conversed with the village guard.
"What’s your name?"
"Wild Grass."
"No other name?"
"Seems like there is, but can’t remember it."
Wu Chang sharpened a branch to a point, skewered the whole chicken, and then coated it with wild spices from the mountain.
These spices grow on the most dangerous cliffs, requiring life-risking harvesting, priced more than gold, they are one of Huai Mountain’s most prestigious specialties.
The entire Huai Mountain yields just one small box a year; even noble lords rarely have the chance to enjoy them.
However, in Wu Chang’s hands, they are used generously as if free.
Hmm, indeed they cost nothing.
"Do you usually eat with those little ones?"
Previously, when helping the village guard escape bullying, he had seen the guard soothe rabbits’ nerves, and now it seemed the guard could do more than just calm them.
"Yes, sometimes when I can’t find food, they bring out hidden food to share with me."
The village guard drooled while caressing the squirrel beside him.
"You can communicate with them?" Wu Chang asked curiously.
"Yes."
"Is it just them, or all animals?"
"Only them. The big dog in the village is fierce; it never lets me near it." The village guard shivered.
Wu Chang nodded, it seemed he could communicate with all animals.
Over the fire, the chicken soon cooked, Wu Chang tore off a drumstick and handed it to the village guard, who ate ravenously.
Wu Chang was about to remind him to slow down when a small bird landed on the guard’s shoulder, chirping twice.
The village guard hastily got up from the ground, disregarded the chicken drumstick in his hand, and ran towards the mountain top.
Wu Chang followed curiously, only to find the guard crouched at the summit secretly watching the distant woods.
"What are you doing?" Wu Chang asked.
The village guard whispered, "This is a secret I can’t tell you."
Wu Chang asked, "What do you think of me?"
"You’re a good person." The guard immediately replied.
Unexpectedly receiving the good-person card, Wu Chang nearly didn’t hold back, but resisted the urge to retort, and conveniently said:
"I’m a good person, so I’ll keep the secret. No one will know you told me."
This statement challenged the guard’s perception. His mind froze for a few seconds before saying, "Then I’ll tell you alone."
"Uncle Beardy told me to keep an eye on that mangrove and secretly report to him if anyone enters without his permission."
Mangrove?
Wu Chang looked in the direction the guard pointed, vaguely seeing a hint of red.
Judging by the distance, it seemed to be the same mangrove that players risked entering.
"Can you see that far?"
"Hehe." The village guard giggled.
"Who went in?" Wu Chang pressed.
The guard replied, "It’s the tall slim uncle who always followed Uncle Beardy. They’re brothers, he told me if he enters the woods alone, I don’t need to inform Uncle Beardy."
Wu Chang raised an eyebrow, the guard’s methods seemingly made them figure it out.
The slim tall guy who’s always with Liu Wei, Wu Chang recalled seeing such a person before leaving Huai Valley Village, seemingly named Liu Wu.
Being the one most frequently seen around Liu Wei, could Liu Wu be the guy who called Liu Wei "big brother" that night and first suggested to act against him?
Wu Chang asked, "How’s that tall slim uncle?"
"A bit fierce, but not that bad."
"I want to be friends with the tall uncle, tell me some information about him."
The guard glanced at the chicken leg in his hand and said, "Alright!"
The village guard’s youthful speech stumbled and skipped, jumping topics casually.
Generally, most would get a headache after a few sentences, but Wu Chang listened intently.
"Left-hand knife, hmm, slight limp leg."
"Quick sword skill, likes attacking limbs, good."
"Likes hiding hidden weapons in his right sleeve, okay okay, what else?"
...
Ten minutes later, Wu Chang had memorized much of Liu Wu’s information and said to the guard:
"Grilled chicken’s no good cold, take it back to the temple to eat. I’ll keep an eye for you over there. Don’t look over there later, and don’t tell Uncle Beardy what happened today, otherwise our secret will be exposed."
"But..." The guard hesitated.
"I’m a good person, I won’t let you get into trouble."
The guard thought of the roast chicken below the mountain and eventually nodded in agreement.
Ghost Cry Forest, named for mountain wind sounding like spirits weeping, is the forbidden land of Huai Mountain.
Long before demons appeared, Ghost Cry Forest was infamous for misfortune; after demons emerged, its ominous aura increased.
Not to mention entering the forest, even passing by its edge, if not at noon, one might be entangled by wicked things.
Huai Valley Village scares disobedient children with, "If you misbehave, you’ll be thrown into Ghost Cry Forest."
The habitually avoided Ghost Cry Forest today not only saw someone enter willingly, but also safely return.
The person was Liu Wu, typically silent and withdrawn. If villagers witnessed this, their jaws would drop.
Liu Wu carrying his favored narrow blade, dressed in martial artist’s clothing never seen before, donned a conical hat, and covered his face with half a black mask, slowly walked out of Ghost Cry Forest.
For merchants frequently entering Huai Mountain, it was obviously a standard bandit attire.
He exuded an invisible aura of menace; small animals sensed it and fled instinctively, needing no gestures; merely his presence confirmed him as a skilled fighter.
He was about to disobey his elder brother’s orders to undertake a big task.
His brother was still too soft-hearted; with chaos looming, improving oneself was urgent.
The opportunity was singular, no time to bother others.
If that guy named Wu escaped or died, a colossal chance vanished.
Walking five minutes, Liu Wu arrived at the tree where he tied his horse before entering the forest and froze, seeing it empty.
"Where’s my horse?"
Boom!
A resounding blast echoed in the forest; Liu Wu, without seeing what happened, felt pain in his left hand, his entire palm pierced by an unknown weapon.
Then, three more shots rang out, piercing his right hand and both knees.
Wu Chang emerged from the shadows blowing the gun barrel, "No need to search, your horse is gone."