Midsummer is approaching early autumn, when the forests are the most lush and the birds and animals are the fattest. All living things are preparing for winter, and you can hear a lot of movement even at night.
But everything here is quiet.
The sun's light was gradually disappearing over the mountain ridge, and the afterglow outlined a blood-red edge on the entire mountain range.
July 1st, the first day of Ghost Month.
Legend has it that the underworld opens its gates to the living world on this day, allowing the living to perform rituals and offer sacrifices to the departed souls. If the deceased souls harbor unresolved grievances, they will take this opportunity to return to the human world, seeking revenge or avenging grievances.
The gates of hell open in July. Now, there is a crack in the middle of this dark mountain that leads directly to the center of the earth. Doesn’t it look like the gate of hell?
Zhao Youshan's neck was stiff and his mouth was dry. He regretted that he had not made a detour to Yongye Temple to ask for a peace amulet before coming here. Now he was really in a passive situation and had no way out.
"May I ask, Lord Lu, what are we waiting for?"
He wanted to ask if they were actually waiting for someone, but when the words reached his lips, he felt a little foolish, so he changed the question to a more tactful one.
However, Lu Songping's answer made him even more confused.
"Who knows what we're waiting for. Anyway, we'll know when we see it."
Saw it? If he really saw a demon or ghost coming to take his life, wouldn’t it be too late even if he knew about it?
Zhao Youshan felt sad in his heart, but he had to pretend to be calm on the surface, for fear that the dozens of young brothers following him would notice something and lose their composure.
A soldier who mourns will always win. But if you mourn too much, you will inevitably become a deserter. And since ancient times, no matter when or where, the fate of deserters has never been good.
Zhao Youshan's heart was pounding when he suddenly heard a noise in the nearby forest. Looking back, he saw a fully armed army of nearly a thousand soldiers. These soldiers were well-trained, with thick, sound-dampening cloth tied around their feet. Their armor wasn't as heavy as the armor of the Guangyao Battalion, so they made no sound at all as they marched through the forest.
The leader was riding on a horse, tall and majestic, and it was Yan Guang from the Yanchi Camp.
Yan Guang looked at the dark patch of sky in the mountains. He saw neither the Bai family bandits nor the Subei rebels. His face immediately looked unhappy.
"Lu Songping, your grandfather personally led the troops here at the risk of his own life. What the hell are you holding back? Let it out now!"
Lu Songping was neither anxious nor annoyed, but he still maintained his commanding demeanor.
"You will know the time when it comes. Have your men set up camp right here. Do not approach the cave without my order."
Yan Guang was holding his breath, and the words to curse were on the tip of his tongue, but when he remembered the badge on his waist, he swallowed it back.
The person is annoying, but the badge on his waist is the badge of the Black Feather Camp.
The few waist badges that the Black Feather Camp had were almost as heavy as the tablet in Prime Minister Bai's hand, so he had no choice but to obey.
General Yan Guang gave orders in a low voice, while Lu Songping on the other side called out a few soldiers who were previously guarding the official road.
"You guys, follow me in later."
Zhao Youshan never thought that in the end, the task of entering the gates of hell would fall on him again.
His confusion and fear were written all over his face, and his voice was trembling.
"Lord Lu, these youngsters and I are no match for General Yan's men. If something goes wrong, we won't be able to bear the consequences..."
Before he finished speaking, Yan Guang was also very unhappy.
"What do you mean, Lieutenant Lu? You called us here, but you don't let us get involved. You insist on letting these weaklings take the field. Are you really not kidding me?"
"Soft-shelled shrimp have their advantages, and hard-shelled crabs have their uses." Lu Songping's voice was soft, but it was particularly resonant in this quiet night. "The general's shell is too hard, so I, a snake, was able to take advantage of it. Although I have made many military achievements over the years, I am still guarding that damn place called Northwest Pass and eating dirt."
"......you!"
Yan Guang was so angry that his beautiful beard stood up and the reins in his hands creaked.
"If you can't find any evidence today, I will personally issue the arrest warrant and execute you on the spot, saving His Majesty the trouble of this matter!"
Lu Songping ignored Yan Guang and checked his sword and dagger. Finally, he took out a porcelain bottle from his waist and poured out a pill.
The pills were pitch black and looked about the size of ripe peaches.
For the first time, the young general's somewhat feminine face showed undisguised disgust.
"You're a quack doctor, your skills are very crude." However, despite being harsh, he finally swallowed the pill without leaving any. "If it's useless, I'll make you pay later."
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