Chapter 146: Paying Respects to the Local Bosses

The peaks of Mount Gaoshen rose steeply one after another, resembling the razor-sharp fangs of some primordial beast jutting straight up from the earth, radiating a stern, murderous aura that pierced the clouds.

Linked together in an unbroken chain, the mountains from afar looked like a dense forest of sabers, spears, and halberds. They presented a wondrous, bizarre, and unpredictably shifting spectacle.

Even the blinding rays of the sun, upon reaching this place, failed to pierce the thick clouds and heavy mists that shrouded the mountain peaks.

The Fatty could not help letting out a sigh. "I've traveled quite a bit within the Dynasty, but I've rarely seen terrain like this. Truly a perilous place."

Even Ma Junmei, usually so carefree, seemed awed by the imposing majesty of Mount Gaoshen. Sometimes, the universe possesses its own mysterious presence that forces humanity to bow its head, which is why the ancients so often made offerings to heaven and earth.

At the foot of Mount Gaoshen, a cluster of tents had long since been pitched like Mongolian yurts. The orthodox martial artists of the Hundred-Mile Escort Agency and the Emei Sword Sect were stationed right here.

In fact, all along the journey from Zhou Village, Zhang He and his companions had noticed that the practitioners of the unorthodoxy, spearheaded by the Sun Moon Divine Cult, had set up camp in the exact same manner, less than ten miles away from the orthodox forces.

Hua Feihong said, "When we arrived, we already made inquiries. The two sides have been locked in this stalemate for three full days."

The Fatty couldn't help offering a wry smile. "Why does this feel just like going to war?"

Zhang He replied calmly, "It's not like going to war; it simply is war. When the real fighting starts later, it will probably be even more brutal than actual warfare."

Pointing at the peaks behind the encampments, Ma Junmei said, "I don't get it. Are these people all complete idiots? Heading north from Mount Gaoshen brings you to Jiangzhou, and further north you reach the Grand Canal, which leads straight to the capital. Why on earth are they refusing to take an easy retreat and insisting on reaching a deadlock with the unorthodoxy on this exact road? What's the point?"

Naturally, her question was directed at Zhang He, who smiled and said, "It's not that they won't retreat; they simply can't afford to retreat any further."

"Why?" Everyone felt a surge of curiosity.

Zhang He explained, "Look, the unorthodoxy's camp is pitched right where the path emerges from Zhou Village, a most dangerous spot. Yet the orthodox forces are holding their ground at the foot of this mountain without making a move, which actually shows they are secretly intimidated by the enemy's momentum. The force the unorthodoxy has gathered this time is terrifyingly powerful. Otherwise, why would they have gone three days without moving a single escort cargo? The truth is, they have been backed into a corner where there is no retreat left."

Hua Feihong murmured, "I understand Brother Wu's meaning. It's just like King Xiang Yu of Chu back in the day. He preferred to take his own life by the Wujiang River rather than cross back east, not because he was too ashamed to face his fellow elders, but because he knew that retreating further would make a comeback impossible—let alone contending for supremacy over Chu and Han or hunting the deer in the Central Plains."

Zhang He said, "Precisely. The Hundred-Mile Escort Agency, in particular, commands astonishing influence across the nine northern provinces, but they hold virtually no sway in the south. This is their very first time accepting a red-cargo escort heading south. If they tuck tail and flee from Mount Gaoshen, they will not only become the laughingstock of the unorthodoxy, but they will likely be looked down upon by the orthodox sects as well. Who would ever be willing to entrust them with goods to escort in the future? If this first venture to open up southern markets fails, the Hundred-Mile Escort Agency can forget about ever reaching into Jiangnan."

Ma Junmei said coldly, "So not only do they have to deal with the Four Great Factions of the unorthodoxy, but they also have to force their way through the enemy's frontal blockade and transport the red cargo out anyway. Is that it?"

The Fatty chuckled involuntarily. "That's what you call losing the fight and losing the punch, but refusing to lose face."

"Exactly." A trace of mocking amusement appeared on Zhang He's face. "Because they are an upright, prestigious sect with reputations to maintain, how could they possibly run away with their tails between their legs? Think of how many eyes in the martial arts world are currently fixed on this road, waiting to see the outcome of this battle."

Xiao Lingling also sighed. "It seems that the few hundred miles from Mount Gaoshen to Fengling Crossing are practically as distant as ten thousand miles for the Hundred-Mile Escort Agency and the Emei Sword Sect. Even advancing a single step is difficult."

Gazing at the sea of white tents, Ma Junmei couldn't help asking, "Then why don't they find a qinggong master to quietly sneak the red cargo out?"

"Well asked!" Zhang He clapped his hands.

Ma Junmei looked pleased with herself. "Ha! Little Zhang, you finally realize that your Big Sister here isn't actually slow-witted. I finally hit the nail on the head, didn't I?"

To her surprise, Zhang He countered with a question of his own: "What is the red cargo they are escorting?"

Ma Junmei froze.

Zhang He continued, "Is the red cargo equipment, bank drafts, jewelry, blueprints, medicinal pills, or raw materials? What is the quantity? How many men are needed to guard it? Why did they ask the Hundred-Mile Escort Agency to handle the escort? Furthermore, why didn't they ask Shaolin or Wudang, but chose Emei instead? And why did the people of the Emei Sect actually come?"

Ma Junmei was utterly bewildered by Zhang He's rapid-fire questioning, instantly reduced to silence.

Zhang He said, "This is why I wanted the two of you to go pay a visit."

Hua Feihong asked, "Brother Wu, why do you insist on not coming down with us?"

Zhang He smiled again—a smile filled with philosophy, yet light and breezy. His expression was a mix of irony and helplessness. However, Hua Feihong did not press further, for she knew that whenever Zhang He wore such a smile, he invariably had his own hidden hardships or reasons.

Therefore, she cupped her fists and said, "Then, Brother Wu, let us split up and act separately. If there are any developments, please send a message by trained pigeon."

Zhang He nodded. Hua Feihong and Ma Junmei leaped down from the massive tree and strode off in the direction of the encampment.

Inside the central command tent of the Hundred-Mile Escort Agency, a plaque bearing the characters 'Hall of Assembled Righteousness' hung high. Beneath it, a tall man was pacing back and forth continuously. Although his face bore a contemplative expression, his bearing remained remarkably steady.

His name was Chang Tianfan, a vice chief escort of the Hundred-Mile Escort Agency.

The Hundred-Mile Escort Agency traveled throughout the nine northern provinces with none daring to provoke them, and as a vice chief escort, his prestige and strength were top-tier. As for this mission to Chenzhou's Fengling Crossing, the true objective was precisely as Zhang He had anticipated: the agency wasn't merely looking to earn a profit; opening up the southern market was far more important.

Looking at it from another angle, aside from the Hundred-Mile Escort Agency, there wasn't a single other escort agency across the entire Central Plains continent daring enough to accept this job. One must realize that the people arraying their forces with open blades and drawn weapons ten miles away, waiting to launch a frontal plunder, were none other than two dharma protectors of the Demonic Cult, an elder of the Wind and Cloud Palace, a representative of the Golden Palace Clan, and the Arbiter of Life and Death hailing from the misty, cloud-veiled peaks.

If this escort cargo made it through, the reputation of the Hundred-Mile Escort Agency would reach unprecedented heights. If it didn't make it through, Chang Tianfan shuddered to even imagine the consequences. How many pairs of eyes in the martial arts world were watching him wait to make a mistake right now?

Besides, the chief escort had dispatched him personally to handle the escort, which showed just how much importance the main agency attached to this mission.

Therefore, this mission had to succeed at all costs; failure was not an option, regardless of the price.

"Chief Escort Chang, when are we setting out? Today is already the fourth day." A sharp, delicate female voice rang out. Although the voice was pleasant, the tone carried a faint undercurrent of impatience.

No matter who it might be, being cooped up here at the foot of Mount Gaoshen for three full days would drive them to distraction.

Seated on a tiger-skin chair, a beautiful woman draped in flowing purple garments adorned with luxurious ornaments was gazing directly at Chang Tianfan. Her name was Nangong Qing, reinforcements dispatched by the Emei Sword Sect to assist the Hundred-Mile Escort Agency.

Nangong Qing was the vice altar master of the Clear Breeze Altar within the Emei Sect, a figure who was practically the embodiment of a god of slaughter.

The promotion hierarchy within the Emei Sect was as follows: Disciple, Blue Rain Altar, Flowing Cloud Altar, Clear Breeze Altar, Star and Moon Altar, Golden Summit Altar, the Five Senior Sisters, the Reward and Punishment Envoy, the Law Enforcement Envoy...

Despite being a prominent sect of the Central Plains martial arts world, Emei differed greatly from Shaolin and Wudang.

A first-tier disciple entered Emei; upon reaching the second tier, they entered the Blue Rain Altar. The third tier did not lead to the Flowing Cloud Altar, but rather made one the master of the Blue Rain Altar. Only upon reaching the fourth tier could one be promoted to the Flowing Cloud Altar.

As for positions like vice altar master, it was entirely possible for them to be held by third-tier members who stood out as the absolute elites of their current advancement level.

By extension, Jiang Yao had originally been at the fifth tier of the Emei Sword Sect, making her a top-tier expert within the Flowing Cloud Altar.

Shaolin martial arts emphasized a solid foundation and vanquishing demons to defend the Dao; Wudang represented the orthodox internal school and masters of swordsmanship. Emei's martial arts, however, stood in a category of their own, characterized by bizarre weaponry and rich versatility.

In *The Dynasty*, Emei was a major sect for female practitioners. Because women generally placed less emphasis on cultivating physical strength, Emei's martial arts excelled independently through movement, footwork, swordsmanship, qinggong, palm and fist techniques, and hidden weapons. In terms of martial skills, Emei's single-target damage output was not exceptionally high, but it was universally acknowledged as the sect with the strongest crowd-control and area-of-effect killing power.

Even the first eight tiers of Emei focused primarily on swordsmanship and qinggong: *Flying Flower Sword*, *Blue Rain Sword*, *Flowing Cloud Sword*, *Clear Breeze Sword*, *Star and Moon Sword*, and *Golden Summit Sword*. Currently, among Emei players, no one had reached the eighth tier yet, but quite a few female Emei players had already become renowned experts in the martial arts world.

Just imagine how formidable it would be to master merely these six styles of swordsmanship! And this was only a small fraction of Emei's martial arts. In the end, upon mastering Emei's ultimate techniques—such as the *Emei Divine Sword*, the *Thirteen Forms of Clear Breeze*, the *Thirty-Six Dipper Fingers*, and the *Allure Stab*—one would essentially approach invincibility.

With Nangong Qing having mastered at least the first four forms of swordsmanship, she was undeniably a formidable figure.

Therefore, faced with her impatient inquiry, Chang Tianfan—who could not afford to offend her—smiled and said, "Please exercise patience, Lady Qing. I have already made covert arrangements. Once everything is properly set, we will depart immediately."

"Hmph!" Nangong Qing let out a cold snort. If the Five Senior Sisters hadn't instructed her before departure to show courtesy to the Hundred-Mile Escort Agency, why would she ever have paid any attention to this Chang Tianfan?

Forget a mere Chang Tianfan; even the Four Great Factions of the unorthodoxy stationed ten miles ahead were nothing more than a swarm of ants in her eyes. She could kill them whenever she pleased, strike whenever she wanted. With her sixth-tier strength and Emei's various sword techniques, dealing with those people would be as easy as chopping vegetables.

The problem was that Chang Tianfan was more womanish than a woman, dawdling and dithering, halting for three whole days without moving. This infuriated Nangong Qing to the utmost. Not a single person in her proud Emei Sect had ever suffered this kind of humiliation. If the ones blocking the road ahead were people from Shaolin or Wudang, that would be one thing, but the opponents were merely a rabble of unorthodox scum. What on earth was he afraid of?

Just as she was continuing to harbor her sullen anger, the tent flap was lifted, and an escort hurried inside. "Chief Escort Chang, Altar Master Nangong, there is someone from another sect outside requesting an audience."

Chang Tianfan and Nangong Qing exchanged glances, both of their faces registering astonishment. For someone to request an audience in this place, at this time—what had happened?

Suppressing his composure, Chang Tianfan asked, "Did the visitor state their affiliation?"

The escort replied, "They did. They are from the Yaoguang Palace of the Seven Sages of the Mount Shu Sword Sect. I have already verified it; they are indeed disciples under the tutelage of Fairy Lingyin."

Chang Tianfan said calmly, "Show them in!"