Chapter 94 A Line of Sky
After riding south for more than a hundred miles, Wang Yao finally arrived at the Shannan Pass, where a crack that seemed to have been split directly separated the southern Xinjiang mountains.
A narrow gap in the sky? This was Wang Yao's first thought, but this narrow gap was slightly larger than the one Wang Yao had seen in his previous life. At least it could accommodate a two-way convoy.
"The rocks in the clouds have cracks in their brocade shape, but the setting sun has never been allowed to penetrate them. Who has ever looked up to see the road to the sky, where the blue sky is a foot long and ten thousand feet long?" Wang Yao looked at the two walls sandwiched together, and the blue sky visible through the crack was like a line, and he couldn't help but recite a poem.
According to legend, this place was split open by Wu Zu with an axe using his supreme power in order to connect Shannan with the Central Plains.
Although many people don't believe it, from Wang Yao's perspective, this is very likely to be true.
Isn't it normal for someone who travels through time to do something like this? And even with Wang Yao's limited knowledge of geography, he could tell that the Shannan Pass wasn't formed naturally.
Teams of elite soldiers guarded the pass, and a pass was built here, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.
Unless you can attack from between the two walls from a high position, it would be extremely difficult to break through by force.
Besides, it is not easy to go deep into the southern Xinjiang mountains and climb to the top of the mountain.
Even though the Central Plains were in a state of decline, there were still many caravans entering and leaving the Shannan Pass, and the traffic was constant.
Wang Yao lined up obediently. In front of the city gate, tough soldiers were carefully checking the passes of people coming and going.
These soldiers are very elite, full of murderous aura, and have seen blood. They are completely different from those soldiers in the mainland.
"Where are you from? What are you doing? Where are the guards?" Seeing that Wang Yao was traveling alone and only had a bag on his back, the soldiers who checked realized that he was a warrior, and his martial arts skills might be quite good.
But even so, the inspecting soldiers did not lose confidence and continued to inspect as usual. Didn’t they see the powerful crossbows at the pass staring at them hungrily?
These are not the most dangerous things for Wang Yao now. The dangerous thing is that those crossbows are also staring at this place.
This kind of arrow has a force of several thousand pounds, and the arrowhead is made of fine steel forged a hundred times. Wang Yao may not be able to block an arrow head-on.
Only a master can fight head-on. Wang Yao may need to complete the three levels and keep his body as one before he can resist one or two.
"I am assisting the Military Police Department in investigating the case. Please let me go." Wang Yao did not prepare any passes, but took out the token given by Yan Wu and a document of cooperation.
It said that the warrior was invited by the Military Police Bureau to assist in a major case, and that all prefectures, counties and checkpoints along the way were requested to release him immediately and provide assistance.
The back was stamped with the official seal of the Great Wubu. The scarlet mark startled the soldiers, and they made way as a conditioned reflex.
"Hello, sir, please come in. If you need our assistance, please go directly to the city wall to find our commander." The two rows of soldiers immediately stood up straight and gave Wang Yao full respect.
Maybe these soldiers are not very afraid of martial artists, but they are really afraid of the Wubusi, because their reputation inside is more prominent than outside.
It could even be said to be terrifying. Many censors and the original functions of investigating illegal activities were merged into the Wubusi. What these soldiers could not understand the most was why the emperor trusted the Wubusi so much.
Wang Yao now knew the answer. Anyone who entered the Wubu Division had to practice a special technique. Those who practiced this technique would be influenced and would not betray the emperor and the Wubu Division.
When Yan Wu told him about this, he completely lost interest in joining the Wubu Division, although he had some ideas at first.
The journey was smooth and Wang Yao passed through the narrow Shannan Pass and arrived at the southernmost tip of the Wu Dynasty, Shannan Road.
Shannan Road has six prefectures and thirty-one counties under its jurisdiction. Its population is not as prosperous as that of the Central Plains, but it is also a pearl in this southern barbarian land.
Damp and moist, this is how Wang Yao felt after a day of traveling. There was a little rain from time to time, which made the atmosphere dull and depressing.
But food can indeed be said to be sufficient. The rice in the rice fields can even be harvested three times a year, and various fruits also grow very well.
No wonder so many elite troops are stationed here. It won’t require too many resources from the central government, and the local food supply can be guaranteed.
The Poison Spider Temple is located in a small county town near the Southern Xinjiang Mountains. The main temple is even on the mountain. Wang Yao came to this Linjie county town.
A Buddhist temple stands openly in the center of the city, with a prosperous incense business and a constant stream of pilgrims coming and going.
"Hey, uncle, is this Buddhist temple spiritual?" Wang Yao grabbed an old man who was carrying a basket full of rice.
The old man looked at Wang Yao's attire with a strange look on his face and asked, "Young man, you are not from Shannan, right? I haven't seen Central Plains clothes for a long time."
Wang Yao was a little embarrassed. He really hadn't thought it through. This set of Han Chinese clothes was indeed too eye-catching in the small county town in Shannan.
In Shannan Road, orthodox Han people basically gathered in big cities like the prefectural capital far away from the mountains, while other Miao or mixed-race people lived in places close to the mountains.
They naturally have a sense of familiarity with the mountains in southern Xinjiang. The mountains and rivers nurture the people. Even without martial arts skills, these locals can go into the mountains to collect herbs.
"Yes, sir, I came here because of its reputation. I heard that the Buddha here is very effective." Wang Yao pretended to be worshipping Buddha.
The old man said with a look of astonishment, "Duzhu Temple is very effective. The people around us are all blessed by the Buddha.
However, the most important thing is that you can get elixirs at the Poison Temple that can drive away snakes and insects.
Those monks can also heal wounds and are very good at dealing with poisonous creatures in the mountains. We come here when we are bitten by poisonous insects."
The old man was a pure Han Chinese, so he was quite friendly to Wang Yao and mentioned some key points.
Wang Yao went on to learn that if he wanted to learn martial arts, he would not be able to find masters in the Poison Spider Temple in the city, so he had to go up the mountain.
Looking up, he saw a vague building standing on the mountain, but the occasional passing clouds blocked Wang Yao's view.
"Young man, I know that you are not sincere in worshipping Buddha. You want to learn martial arts from a master, right?" The old man felt relieved when he saw Wang Yao's gaze.
Wang Yao did not hide it, nodded, and said: "Yes, sir, but there are so many miasma on this mountain, how can I go up."
The old man pointed to the believers around him who were carrying herbs. These were mountain people who collected herbs from all over the mountains and were very good at dealing with miasma.
"Follow them. After these people pay their tribute, they will receive more rewards and may even go to the mountains."
It turned out that the old man and other believers were carrying baskets filled with food, herbs and other things, all for offering.
However, this offering is not a form of extortion by the Poison Spider Temple, but a mutually beneficial one. The monks will also give some money to the believers who offer the offerings.
If the offerings are of high value, they will also be given some sachets to repel poisonous insects or precious pills.
Wang Yao nodded, but he was not going to rely on others. Since there was a road at the foot of the mountain, he could go up by himself.
After buying a few sets of brightly colored clothes and changing into local attire, Wang Yao headed up the mountain.
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