The Dragon Roars in the Nine Skies Hidden in the Clouds

The atmosphere became noticeably different during the rest of the journey.

Gongsun Sheng was no longer as completely nonchalant as before. His vigilance had increased considerably, and he chose more cunning routes. He would even occasionally stop to calculate with his fingertips or concentrate his attention to check for any tracking or ambush. The caution and alertness that belonged to "Into the Clouds Dragon" were now clearly evident.

I, on the other hand, was immersed in a complex mixture of dread and inexplicable excitement. That shaky cry for help last night was like opening the door to a new world. I had always believed that survival in this world required either foresight or the cultivation of profound Taoist techniques like Gongsun Sheng. I never imagined that under extreme emotion, I could unleash such strange power.

"Master," I couldn't help but catch up with him and walked side by side with him, asking in a low voice, "What was that... sound I heard last night?"

Gongsun Sheng stared forward, his steps still unbroken. "Music can connect us to the heavens, but it can also disturb the human mind. Extreme emotions can mobilize the power of the spirit, venting it through music. This is 'soul music.' This method is dangerous, hurting both others and yourself. It should not be used lightly unless absolutely necessary."

Soul sound?

Hurting others and yourself?

I think back to last night, and I was indeed exhausted and had a splitting headache that lasted until dawn. It seems that this kind of power is not without price.

"Then...how is this different from the 'Tao Sound' that you, Taoist priest, demonstrated?" I asked.

"The sound of the Dao harmonizes with the heavens and the earth, silently nourishing everything. It draws upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, nourishing all things and aiding spiritual cultivation," he explained, his tone as if expounding on some natural law. "Soul sound, on the other hand, originates from one's own obsessions. It is violent and sharp, impacting the spirit of a living being. At the mildest, it causes a trance; at the worst, it shatters the soul. The two have different origins and opposite effects."

One looks outward, in harmony with heaven and earth; the other looks inward, exploring oneself.

One is gentle, like a spring breeze; the other is violent, like a loud thunder.

I seemed to understand, but at least I understood one thing: I was not completely powerless to protect myself, but the use of this power required extreme caution.

"Are those people...really coming for us?" I brought the topic back to last night's attack, which was my biggest source of anxiety.

Gongsun Sheng was silent for a moment before he said, "It's almost certain. The crossbow design and coordinated techniques show that they are not ordinary bandits. More likely... they are skilled soldiers, or some powerful figure's retainers."

"Is it because of the birthday gift?" I guessed. This is the biggest thing we could be involved in right now.

"Perhaps." Gongsun Sheng's answer still left room for doubt. "Or perhaps, it's directed at you."

My heart suddenly tightened.

He glanced at me sideways, his eyes penetrating. "Your existence is inherently unusual. Perhaps others have already noticed your difference."

Anyone else? Who would notice? Cai Jing? Gao Qiu? Or… some other hidden cultivator in this world?

This speculation gave me a chill. If this was true, then my situation was even more dangerous than I had imagined.

"Then we..." My voice was a little dry.

"That's all right." Gongsun Sheng's tone radiated a powerful confidence, a strength born from the absolute strength of the core of "Long Aotian." "If an enemy comes, we will fight him; if a flood comes, we will block it with earth. Since I promised to keep you here temporarily, I won't let you die easily."

His words were like a reassurance, calming my flustered state. But at the same time, I realized the delicate balance between him and me was being disrupted. No longer just an "oddity" to be observed, I was truly drawn into the turmoil he had stirred, becoming someone in need of his "protection." This dependency wasn't something I wanted.

We traveled quickly all the way and finally arrived at our destination on the afternoon of the third day - it was not a bustling town, but a secluded mountain villa located in a deep mountain valley.

The villa was small, with white walls and black tiles, nestled amidst a sea of ​​lush bamboo, appearing quiet and secluded. There was no sign at the entrance; only two men, dressed in ordinary peasant clothes but with unusually sharp eyes, were casually sweeping the floor. Upon seeing Gongsun Sheng, they immediately stopped and bowed respectfully. Their gazes lingered briefly on me, scrutinizing me, but they didn't ask any further questions.

Gongsun Sheng nodded slightly and took me straight in.

The interior of the villa was a truly unique experience, with winding corridors, rockery and flowing water, and an ingenious layout. It was clearly no ordinary mountain residence. The servants he occasionally encountered all walked with a light and steady presence, and were definitely not ordinary servants.

Gongsun Sheng seemed to be very familiar with this place. He walked through the corridors and courtyards and finally came to a study built by the water.

The study door was open, and a burst of hearty laughter came from inside.

"Hahaha, Mr. Gongsun is a rare guest! How come you have time today to come to my desolate mountain place?"

As the words came out, a middle-aged man with a burly figure and a majestic face, dressed in brocade casual clothes, came out. He was about forty years old, with bright eyes and a majestic demeanor.

When I saw this person, my head buzzed, as if I was struck by thunder!

Although he was wearing casual clothes and his temperament was different from the calm and composed one in the later part of the original novel, but that face, that iconic heroism... I would never mistake him!

The Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King—Chao Gai!

He's actually here! The person Gongsun Sheng brought me to see was actually him!

My heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and the blood seemed to rush to my head. I finally understood why Gongsun Sheng had brought me down the mountain! The birthday gift incident had been exposed, and these "Seven Stars" were now wanted criminals of the imperial court. They must have found a secret place to hide and discuss the next steps. And this place might be one of their secret bases!

I subconsciously looked at Gongsun Sheng, but he looked normal. He bowed to Chao Gai and said, "Chao Baozheng, how are you?"

"TOEFL, TOEFL!" Chao Gai laughed and walked forward, patting Gongsun Sheng's shoulder affectionately. His eyes immediately fell on me, and with undisguised curiosity, he asked, "Who is this girl..."

"A descendant of an old friend, temporarily following me for cultivation." Gongsun Sheng introduced me lightly, briefly mentioning my background. "Bu Luanyin, Miss Bu."

I quickly bowed and said, "I'm Bu Luanyin, greeting Chao Baozheng." I tried to keep my voice steady, but my fingertips trembled slightly. This was Chao Gai! The second leader of Liangshan! I had met one of the core characters of the Water Margin without any preparation!

"Miss Bu, there's no need to be so polite." Chao Gai didn't seem to be too wary of me. Perhaps because of his absolute trust in Gongsun Sheng, he smiled and let us into the study.

There are two other people in the study.

A man wearing a silk scarf on his head and a loose linen shirt with a black edge, with a handsome face, a white face and a long beard, holding a feather fan in his hand, is none other than Wu Yong, the resourceful star!

The other man had a strong build and a rough face, and it was none other than the red-haired ghost Liu Tang!

Seeing us come in, Wu Yong and Liu Tang also stood up. Wu Yong's sharp eyes swept over me with a hint of cautious inquiry. Liu Tang just glanced at me curiously before returning his attention to Gongsun Sheng.

"Mr. Gongsun, you've arrived just in time!" Liu Tang, impatient, spoke first. "We're just discussing our next move! That scoundrel official is hot on our trail, and even though this place is secretive, I'm afraid it won't be a long-term solution!"

Chao Gai gestured for us to sit down, his expression growing serious. "Indeed. The birthday gift incident has shaken the capital, and the old villain Cai Jing will certainly not let this go. We must find a safe place to settle down as soon as possible."

Wu Yong gently waved his feather fan and said slowly, "In my opinion, there is only one way to go now."

"But what about Liangshan Marsh?" Gongsun Sheng interjected, his tone calm, as if he had already expected it.

"Sir, you are wise!" Wu Yong nodded. "Liangshan is an 800-li marshland, easy to defend but difficult to attack. Although Wang Lun is not a heroic leader, he is able to temporarily avoid the limelight by occupying a strategic position. We can go and join him first and see what happens next."

I sat down below, listening to them discuss the crucial decision that would determine the future of Liangshan, my heart racing. Is this what it feels like to watch history (or a plot) unfold before your eyes? I knew they would go to Liangshan, I knew Wang Lun would be murdered by Lin Chong, I knew Chao Gai would become the leader... but I could only be a silent spectator.

My eyes involuntarily turned to Gongsun Sheng. He sat there, listening to the discussion between Chao Gai and the other two, his expression impassive. He didn't interject much, but when he did speak, it was always to the point, pointing out key risks and details. He seemed to play a detached yet indispensable role in this group—both a powerful military support and a calm decision-making advisor.

"Miss Bu, it seems you have heard something about the affairs of the martial arts world?" Wu Yong suddenly turned the topic to me. He waved his feather fan, smiled gently, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle.

I was startled, knowing this was Mastermind testing me. He was a very thoughtful person, and he must have seen that Gongsun Sheng had brought me here for more than just a simple reason: to be the descendant of an old friend.

"Mr. Wu, you're joking." I lowered my eyelids, adopting a humble attitude. "I'm just a musician, wandering around just to make a living. I don't dare to comment on major events in the martial arts world. But... there have been a lot of rumors in the market lately, about Huangnigang, the birthday gift, and even... the heroic deeds of several heroes. I have heard a little bit."

I attribute my information to "rumors," which is the safest way to put it.

"Oh? What do people in the market say about us?" Chao Gai asked with great interest.

I carefully considered my words, avoiding the main point. "Most people praised you heroes for upholding justice, robbing the rich to help the poor, and being true heroes. Some also said... the court was furious, and arrest warrants had been sent to all the prefectures. The situation was very tense."

What I said are all well-known facts. I neither appear ignorant nor overly "prophetic".

Wu Yong nodded and didn't ask any more questions, but the look in his eyes seemed to be more thoughtful.

At this time, Gongsun Sheng spoke up, "Liangshan is indeed the best choice right now. However, Wang Lun is narrow-minded and may be intolerant. We need to make more preparations before we go."

"Sir, you are absolutely right!" Chao Gai agreed. "This matter requires further consideration."

For the next few minutes, they began to discuss in detail how to reach Liangshan, how to negotiate with Wang Lun, and various possible contingencies and their response plans. I sat quietly by, listening to these future leaders planning their futures.

I noticed that although Gongsun Sheng participated in the discussion throughout the whole process, there was always a hint of detachment in the depths of his eyes, as if all this was just a "disaster" or "mission" that he had to go through, rather than his true pursuit.

This made me even more convinced that, deep down, he didn't fully agree with this path. Perhaps... this was my future opportunity?

The meeting came to a temporary end, and Chao Gai arranged for a servant to take me to the wing room to rest. As I left the study, I looked back and saw Gongsun Sheng and Wu Yong whispering something. Wu Yong's eyes fell on me again, with an indescribable deep meaning.

I knew it would be difficult to completely hide myself in front of this brilliant mind. But at least the first step had been taken—I had officially entered the vision of this inner circle, albeit as a marginal figure, dependent on Gongsun Sheng.

Lying on the bed in the guest room, I tossed and turned.

Meeting Chao Gai, Wu Yong, and Liu Tang means I've already stepped halfway into the main storyline of Water Margin. Danger and opportunity coexist.

Did Gongsun Sheng bring me here so I could witness it with my own eyes? Did he want me to fully acknowledge reality and settle down? Or... was there some deeper purpose?

But what I care about most is him.

Against the backdrop of heroes like Chao Gai and Wu Yong, Gongsun Sheng's unique, almost aloof, "Dragon Aotian" temperament is even more prominent. He is like a dragon soaring in the sky, occasionally lowering his head to look down at the mortal world, participating in it but never truly integrating.

What I want to open up is this kind of Tao heart that is at the center of the storm, yet seems to be on the sidelines.

The road ahead seems clearer, but also more difficult.