Chapter 248 Exploring Perilous Lands, Digesting Treasures, and Displaying the Power of Pure Yang
The rain was continuous, and a murderous intent lurked within.
Li Xian knew her opponent would be formidable and would undoubtedly follow closely. However, their sudden arrival caught her off guard. Remaining calm, she hid in an alley. When a carriage passed by, Li Xian and Wen Caishang slipped inside and rode out of the city.
turn out to be……
Although Li Xian and Wen Caishang had the upper hand and were always one step ahead of them, the "Red List" was brewing, and clues would inevitably be left along the way.
Tracking it is not difficult.
It's not easy to win her over.
During this time, Su Qiuwu was at a loss. His vicious plan was ruthless, but it was still a step short. But he was very lucky, and during the chase, he suddenly encountered a "divine constable".
His name is "Cold-Blooded Divine Constable Leng Shixing." This man is a first-rate hunter, skilled at apprehending criminals. Su Qiuwu offered gifts to curry favor and explained his reasons. Leng Shixing, having been entrusted with this task, saw his sincerity and agreed to help. He had grown up in Huashui Prefecture since childhood and had spent years chasing criminals, so he was very familiar with the terrain.
He said, "Blindly following clues will only leave you trailing behind the criminal. You need to anticipate and plan ahead."
He then deduced various routes. He considered all possibilities: fleeing south, escaping north, hiding in the east, and so on. He was extremely familiar with the terrain of Huashui Prefecture. Based on the existing clues, he identified several locations and said, "Weihu River, Qunhua Valley, Manlin Road... these are the easiest places to escape. Judging from his movements, if he is smart enough, he should have fled to Weihu River."
Su Qiuwu said, "That's strange. As far as I know, the fugitive is not a local. How does he know about Weihu River, Qunhua Valley, and other places?"
He followed the route, purchased maps, set up a search party, and coordinated the disciples of various factions. However, the "maps" were limited in scope and varied in content. He had to personally travel the route to fully understand the many terrain features.
The Wei-Hu River is located in a very remote area, and I have never heard of it before. Su Qiuwu's act of ferrying others across the river based on his own experience naturally aroused his suspicion.
Leng Shixing said, "So... if he's smart enough, he'll naturally know all these locations. If he's not smart enough, and he's just running aimlessly, you can eventually find him by your relentless pursuit. Then I won't need to get involved!"
Su Qiuwu thought to himself, "That brat is indeed formidable. If it were him, it's quite possible!" He decided to give it a try. Ignoring the clues along the way, he headed straight for the Wei-Hu River. He laid a tight net, forming an encirclement.
There are three cities along the Weihu River: Baihu City, Xianghu City, and Longhu City. Beyond these cities lie towering, complex mountains and powerful sects that dominate the region.
Upon arriving in the city, Su Qiuwu immediately distributed the "Red Notice." That same day, clues were found, and Li Xian's approximate location was determined. Following Leng Shixing's orders, a trap was set. Quietly, nothing was overlooked.
That's why we're in this situation today.
Li Xian remained calm and spent the night in the countryside. He dared not light a fire, as the continuous drizzle made the air sticky and damp. Although Li Xian knew the route of the Wei-Hu River, he was unfamiliar with the surrounding terrain. If he wanted to escape, figuring out the layout of the terrain was of paramount importance.
As night fell, Li Xian knew he had to steal the map, even at great risk. He sneaked out and re-entered the city. He found that each bookstore was guarded by disciples.
Li Xian thought to himself, "The world is vast, but without a map, I'd be completely lost. Like a blind man, I'd wander around aimlessly, relying entirely on luck." He realized that acquiring a map had become a difficult task.
So they devised another plan and used the same trick again. They followed the lone disciple, ambushed and killed him, and searched the map. They actually found him, buried the disciple's body, and returned to the countryside to discuss the route with Wen Caishang.
The map covers an area of about 100 li. The left bank of the Wei-Hu River is depicted in detail, showing the distribution of mountains, vegetation, and secluded paths... but the right bank, Tiger Cry Ridge, is completely blank.
It is rumored that only the Tiger Luo Sect and the Elephant Luo Sect possess some maps of Tiger Cry Ridge, and that these maps are held by their sect leaders.
Li Xian said, "I killed one of my disciples. They will soon realize it, and they need to quickly choose a route to escape." Wen Caishang smiled and said, "You decide."
Li Xian carefully examined the map, simulating the enemy's layout. He outlined several routes and prepared to leave that very night. Suddenly, he pointed to a spot and said, "Wait... Madam, look, doesn't the mountain range here seem abrupt?"
Wen Caishang frowned in thought. Observing the undulating mountain range, she said, "This path on the map should normally be a dead end. But on the map, it has become a hidden passage with unique advantages. The terrain is indeed magnificent and unpredictable. But at this moment, we need to be more careful, lest we fall into someone's trap."
The two men exchanged a glance. Both were exceptionally shrewd, and they both thought, "This map has been altered. Someone is deliberately misleading us by spreading a false map. If we actually try to escape according to this map, we'll be walking right into a trap!"
Wen Caishang said solemnly, "It seems that Su Qiuwu has other helpers, and they are extremely good at chasing criminals. They are precise in their pursuit and lure criminals invisibly. If I were not good at feng shui and were surrounded like this, I would have rushed into this secret passage in a hurry." Li Xian laughed and said, "We are not criminals."
Wen Caishang said, "What do you want to do? The plan to Qianjiang will probably be difficult. This person knows how to secretly change the map and anticipates the enemy's moves, so he must be very cunning. He is intentionally guarding against Qianjiang. And... the Weihu River is full of salvage boats, and the iron nets cast out naturally form a barrier. If we get caught in the iron nets, it will be difficult!"
The river, once a haven of escape, has become a cage of confinement. The carcass of a drowned tiger floats on the water, with boats above attempting to retrieve it and vicious fish devouring it below. The river water is murky and foul-smelling, making it impossible to stay submerged for long.
Li Xian carefully considered his options. The left bank was heavily fortified, the enemy was lurking in the shadows, and countless iron nets stretched across the river, making escape difficult. He thought, "Tiger Cry Ridge is treacherous and mysterious; ten thousand tigers charging into the river must hold some secret. Fate is against me; I have no choice but to take the risk!"
With only one path available, he calmly said, "Then let's enter Tiger Cry Ridge."
...
...
Tiger Cry Ridge stretches for eight hundred miles, connecting to a mysterious mountain range. That mountain range runs through three prefectures and one state: "Huashui Prefecture," "Qiongtian Prefecture," "Chongling Prefecture," and "Wangyue Prefecture." It extends for tens of thousands of miles, never seeing the sun, and is extremely dangerous and treacherous.
The Fu Hua Trading Company had been in business for decades. One day, a torrential rain made navigation impossible. Fearing delays, they ventured into the mountains to find a way out. However, both the merchants and their men vanished.
They crossed the river and entered the mountains. The trees were lush and leafy, but the stench was overwhelming… After a while, the smell made his stomach churn. Li Xian looked back at the path he had come from, but it was now hidden by the dense forest.
Li Xian thought to himself, "Tiger Cry Ridge is extremely ferocious. Entering this place is a last resort. We are outnumbered by the enemy, and this is the only way to survive. If we really perish here, it is fate, and there is no need to regret it." With a firm resolve, he drew his sword and began to chop down the branches and leaves.
They went deep into the area, several miles away.
The sky was dark and gloomy, like night. Ancient, gnarled trees stretched straight to the sky, blocking out the sunlight. Today, it was raining incessantly, the ground was damp and muddy, and it was quite cold.
They walked for a while longer. Wen Caishang's face was slightly pale. Her feet were cold, and coupled with her already weak blood and qi, her injuries had become entrenched. Li Xian carried her on his back and continued on their way. Wen Caishang felt very comforted and even more attached to him.
He focused his Qi on his feet to ward off the chill. The dim light faded, and night had fallen. ...The place where Li Xian stood was covered with dense weeds, offering no place to lie down and rest. Moreover, the water vapor was icy cold; though it hadn't formed frost, it seeped into every crevice, even more so than wind and snow!
Wen Caishang said, "This place seems very strange. Li Xian... we need to be careful." Li Xian replied, "Of course."
Traveling at night, Li Xian was unaware of the mountain's condition and, for the sake of safety, decided to pause his exploration. The ground was damp, cold, and sticky, so he jumped onto a large tree trunk.
Li Xian said with a wry smile, "Cai Chang, we're in a real mess tonight. We don't even have a place to sleep." Wen Cai Chang said, "When we were in Luanfang Mountain, we always had caves to rely on. They could shelter us from the wind and rain, but right now... we have nothing at all. We barely have half a place to stay."
Li Xian said, "You're injured, close your eyes and go to sleep first. I'll be on duty tonight." Wen Caishang was secretly pleased, "Although Li Lang is young, he is very responsible."
The damp, overcast sky was exhausting. Even Li Xian, with his pure yang body and vigorous blood, felt weary after a long night. The next day… the mountains were still dark, but the path ahead was clearly visible.
By this time, they had ventured far into the distance. The mountain scenery shifted and changed, and the sound of "wailing" echoed intermittently, its somber tone carrying boundless sorrow. It tugged at their heartstrings, bringing tears to their eyes.
Wen Caishang shouted, "Use the melodious fairy music!" Li Xianzhen rang out with a clear, tinkling sound... and the sorrow immediately subsided.
Wen Caishang said, "The human body is like heaven and earth; when bones collide, they produce unique sounds. Conversely... unique terrain within heaven and earth can also produce unique sounds, just like the ethereal music of the human body!"
"That sound just now was like the howl of a tiger, stirring up sorrow in all who heard it. Those with weaker spirits would surely commit suicide! No wonder this place... is a taboo!"
The cries of agony echoed intermittently, sending chills down one's spine. The deeper one ventured, the more the treacherous mountain terrain revealed its fangs.
Suddenly, a large red flower appeared. The bud was extremely vibrant, three zhang tall and three zhang wide... truly magnificent. Breaking open the bud...and inside was a huge tiger. The tiger's skin and flesh were both corroded.
The natural barriers of the world include vegetation!
[As you observe the heavens and earth, and explore their potential, the essence of heaven and earth is absorbed more quickly.]
Li Xian thought to himself, "It seems the danger here surpasses all that I've encountered before! I have no chance of surviving. Either way, I'll die... so let's see what's so special about Tiger Cry Ridge!"
Wen Caishang was not afraid of powerful enemies, but seeing the treacherous terrain, she couldn't help but feel a slight unease. As she traveled, her heart grew heavier. Li Xian drew his bow and shot an arrow, piercing through the dense canopy of trees.
A ray of sunlight slanted in, illuminating the two figures. Until the sun disappeared completely, and it was pitch black. Li Xian, carrying Wen Caishang on his back, used his light-footed skills to ascend to a high tree branch.
She unbuttoned her clothes and wrung them out forcefully. Water gushed out with a "splash." Li Xian said, "This rain isn't heavy, but it's very damp, and it seems to seep into clothes." Wen Caishang took off her clothes, revealing fair skin, and wrung them out forcefully, water dripping out.
Wen Caishang took off her boots, and sweat and water vapor mixed together, enough to pour out water. She was originally flawless, but due to her serious injuries and external evil invasion, she resembled an ordinary woman, her pretty face blushing slightly. Li Xian said, "My body is pure yang, and I am unusually warm. I am much drier than you."
Wen Caishang retorted, "Are you trying to make me envious of you?" Though they had shared hardships, she was still a woman. The two removed their clothes and forced out the water. They hung them on branches to cool off.
Wen Caishang's pockets held a few ounces of clothing, which were remarkably dry. The embroidery was exquisite, depicting phoenixes soaring through the sky. The fabric, woven from pale gold with a hint of red, was a pale gold. Although she was unmarried, she possessed a wealth of experience, and her personal style was uniquely elegant, even quite unrestrained and charming.
A misty fog hung in the air, and the rain continued incessantly. Clothes, boots, and socks grew wetter the longer they were hung out to dry, so everyone had no choice but to put them on.
The tree trunk was very thick, covered with moss and wild fungi… She didn’t sleep well that night. They huddled together to ward off the chill of the forest. Wen Caishang thought that her pure yang body was indeed warm, so she moved even closer.
(End of this chapter)
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