Chapter 4 Entering the Bandit's Lair

  First entering bandit's lair

  The dawn's aurora awakened the quiet town of Clear Water Bay, with wisps of smoke and birdsong filling the air. The town was painted like a beautiful picture. A loud barking sound startled Cloud Sky Heaven, who sat up abruptly in bed, looking around in confusion, wondering if he had just had a nightmare. Cloud Sky Heaven thought to himself, no, dreams wouldn't be so real. He clearly remembered following Ye Zi Chun out last night. Damn it, was it really a dream? He was getting confused. He reached out to touch his head, and as soon as he put down his arm, he noticed that there was fresh blood on his sleeve. But then he found the jade pendant that had been shattered by Yan Wang still intact around his neck. He was confused, got out of bed, pushed open the door, and decided to venture into Flying Dragon Ridge again.

  "Are you awake, Mr. Yun? Thank goodness! What were you doing sleeping in the graveyard the night before last?" Wang Shan Gen, holding a bowl of medicinal soup, called out to Yun Xiang Tian who was just walking out of the room.

  Yun Xiang Tian looked at Wang Shan Gen with a puzzled expression; "The night before last, I fell asleep in the tomb?"

  "No, it wasn't. Yesterday morning, a herb collector from the east of the town found you and knew that you were staying at my place, so he carried you back. You've been asleep for a whole day and night! I was worried that something bad might happen to you, so I invited a doctor to give you medicine and injections." Wang Shan Gen handed over the medicine bowl to Yun Xiang Tian and continued: "Drink the medicine first, then tell me what's going on? It's really scary!"

  Yun Xiang was shocked to find himself sleeping for a whole day and night, what had happened during this time? He didn't dare to reveal it, but pretended to be very scared. He said he went to Wangjia Slope yesterday and followed someone's shadow up to Feilong Ridge by chance, then remembered nothing afterwards. He also whispered to Wang Shan Gen: "Did I bump into a ghost?"

  Wang Shan Gen was taken aback, then let out a long sigh and said, "Maybe it is?" After finishing speaking, his expression was extremely unnatural, looking somewhat lost.

  A sound of wooden fish drumming came from outside the gate, interrupting their conversation. Wang Shan Gen walked to the gate with great impatience and said to a monk holding a Zen stick: "You just came to beg for alms yesterday, why are you here again today? Go away, go somewhere else to beg." After finishing speaking, he turned his head and walked towards his own room, ignoring the monk.

  Yun Xiang Tian looked at the monk, who smiled lightly and chanted in a low voice with his hands clasped together: "Amitabha, good, good." He turned around and left. Yun Xiang Tian saw very clearly that it was him, the monk who had broken into his room at night. It seemed he had come for him. Yun Xiang Tian thought to himself: I was worried about not being able to find you. Whether you're human or ghost, I'll have a word with you anyway.

  Yun Xiang Tian followed the monk all the way up to Feng Ling Mountain and arrived at a steep cliff. The monk slowly turned around and said to Yun Xiang Tian, "Amitabha Buddha, benefactor, it's been a long time no see. I pay my respects. I have brought you here today because there is something I would like to ask for your guidance. Is that alright?"

  Yun Xiang Tian said lightly, "Master is joking, please enlighten me? However, I was thinking of asking Master, didn't know if Master sneaking into my room at night was the will of the Buddha or another plot? Could it be that you want to save me?"

  The monk's face showed a hint of shyness, and with one hand in a gesture of respect, he said "Good, good. The Buddha ferries those who have affinity, don't be surprised, patron." After a brief pause, he continued "I, an old monk, would like to ask about the origins of that 'Weary Bird Returning to the Forest' jade pendant you're wearing. Because it has some connection with me. Would you be willing to tell me?"

  Yun Xiang hesitated for a moment before saying: "The jade pendant was passed down from my father. Are you an old acquaintance of my father?"

  The monk's face showed joy, and he forgot the Buddhist rule of no joy or anger. He danced with joy, suddenly flipped over and knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly. He muttered to himself; "The Buddha has appeared! The Buddha has appeared! I finally found the clue to the case." After a series of bows, he grabbed Cloud Soaring Heaven's hand, grinning from ear to ear, saying: "I am Monk Chi Tuan, quickly follow me to Yuquan Ridge to see Hong Shan Girl."

  Yuquan Ridge is located on the eastern half of the back slope of Fengling Mountain, with a treacherous terrain. It has been said that "to get Yuquan water, one must first pass through the Ghost Gate". There is a bay spring on Yuquan Ridge, with clear and sweet water. When used to make tea, it emits a refreshing fragrance, and when tasted, it leaves a lasting aftertaste. Wealthy merchants were willing to spend a lot of money to buy it, but due to the steep cliffs and deep valleys, few people dared to come and fetch the water, lest they lose their lives in the depths. Later, it was occupied by mountain bandits, who took advantage of Yuquan Ridge's natural barrier to build a stronghold, recruit soldiers and horses, and form an alliance with the two groups of mountain bandits from Xuanjian Cave and Heihu Peak to resist the government.

  The foolish monk and the venerable one walked along, speaking incoherently about things that Cloud Soaring Heaven couldn't quite understand. His expression was solemn and respectful, yet his hands danced with excitement, completely at odds with his age. He led Cloud Soaring Heaven to a narrow pass on Jade Spring Ridge. In front of the pass stood a deer-horn fence, guarded by several mountain bandits. The foolish monk ordered the bandits to open the gate, and he led Cloud Soaring Heaven inside.

  Yun Xiang Tian carefully observed the scene. The narrow pass was situated between two steep cliffs, forming a natural passage that was only about two feet wide and several dozen feet long, winding and twisting, allowing only one person or horse to pass through at a time. Looking at this stronghold, which seemed to have been carved by the gods themselves, Yun Xiang Tian couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the wonders of nature. He looked up to see that the cliff walls were equipped with rolling logs and rocks, and on top of them, mountain bandits held sharp weapons, gazing menacingly. Yun Xiang Tian thought to himself, "This is indeed a strategic location, where one man can hold off an entire army." No wonder the authorities had failed in their attempts to eradicate the bandits time and again.

  "Monk uncle, caught another fat sheep?" The speaker sounded like a young girl. Yun Xiang Tian couldn't help but take a closer look at her. The girl had two buns of black hair tied up with a pink mountain flower on top, a pair of sparkling eyes that seemed to be mesmerizing, and a layer of pink veil covering her face, making it impossible to see her expression. She wore a pink tight-fitting outfit that accentuated her slender figure, with a shotgun holstered at her waist, giving off an air of elegance and vitality. When she saw Yun Xiang Tian staring at her, she glared at him, pulled out the shotgun from her waist, and shouted sternly: "Take another look, or I'll dig out your eyes as a punishment!"

  The foolish monk hastily blocked the way in front of Yun Xiang, and said in a low voice: "Oh my goodness, madam, please put down your gun. Put it down, this is our mountain stronghold's noble guest, the noble guest I've been searching for fifteen years, quickly go find Hong Shan Girl to come and welcome the noble guest."

  Looking at Yun Xiang Tian's bewildered face with a hint of a smile, and Chi Teng He Shang who was rushing around frantically. The girl found it somewhat inexplicable, she slowly lowered her gun; "Who is he?" the girl asked coldly, pointing at Yun Xiang Tian with her left hand.

  The foolish monk burst out laughing and said, "Don't ask, don't ask, hurry up and inform Hongshan Girl. The poor monk will once again see the weary bird return to the forest." His face was full of excitement and complacency.

  The girl's eyebrows moved slightly as she heard this, and after glancing at Yun Xiang Tian, she didn't say another word. She just nodded her head slightly and turned to leave.

  Hongshan Girl was a nearly fifty-year-old female bandit, with a head of black hair coiled on top of her head, born with red lips and white teeth, willow eyebrows and phoenix eyes. She looked like a noble lady from a wealthy family, but a set of sturdy clothes and a pair of pistols at her waist added a bit of heroic spirit to her. Behind her followed a group of burly men, each with a strong back and waist, their faces revealing a fierce aura that made people feel a chill in their hearts. Hongshan Girl didn't say a word, her phoenix eyes fixed intently on Yun Xiang Tian, making him feel uneasy all over. After a long time, Hongshan Girl said softly: "Follow me."

  The bandit's lair on Yuquan Ridge was called "Anmin Stockade". To enter Anmin Stockade, one had to first pass through the mountain gate at the foot of Yuquan Ridge. After passing through the mountain gate, there was a vast expanse of flat land, and after walking for more than 20 yards, there was a gentle slope leading up to a small road. The small road was flanked by cliffs on one side and a deep chasm on the other. After crossing the small road, in front of us was a wide gorge about one zhang (a unit of length) wide, with a suspension bridge connecting the two sides. On the other side of the gorge was Anmin Stockade, which was built on the mountain slope. The stockade had steep cliffs several zhang high on three sides, and in front of it was the deep gorge that was said to be "the ghost gate pass". Only a small platform with an area of about 10 mu (a unit of area) was left, with a bay-shaped pond formed by the convergence of mountain springs. The pond was about one mu in size, with clear water that allowed us to see the bottom, and we could count the number of fish swimming inside. The stockade was built on the back of the mountain, winding around the pond, with a sense of elegance amidst danger, presenting a unique landscape. In the middle of the stockade stood a large yellow flag with the four characters "Replace Heaven's Way" written on it. At the innermost part of the stockade, behind the pond, was the bandit chief's council hall, with a plaque above the door that read "Loyal and Righteous Pavilion".

  Yun Xiang Tian followed Hong Shan Gu to the Zhong Yi Pavilion. At this time, the sky was already late, and the moon had just risen. However, the hall was brightly lit, shining like daylight. Hong Shan Gu sat calmly in the first chair of the main hall, her face expressionless, unable to discern joy or anger. She looked up and down at Yun Xiang Tian, then asked softly: "Yun Xiang Tian, is your respected father well?"

  Yun Xiang Tian didn't find it strange that she called out her own name, he knew that since he entered Feng Ling Mountain, he was under her surveillance. He said calmly: "My father has passed away, thank you for your concern, Shan Gu."

  Hong Shangu was taken aback, her brow furrowed as she said: "Is your jade pendant a family heirloom? Are you following your mother's surname?"

  Yun Xiang Tian said: "The jade pendant is a family heirloom, but I followed my father's surname."

  Hong Shangu suddenly stood up, her facial expression changing instantly. She looked at Yun Xiangtian and said word by word: "Is your surname Yun?" Seeing Yun Xiangtian nodding in silence, she stopped talking. Hong Shangu's face turned icy cold, and she turned back to look at the foolish monk, who was also looking at her with a puzzled expression.

  "Benefactor, don't play jokes. What is your honorable father's surname?" The foolish monk seemed to find it hard to believe. "Isn't the jade pendant something left to you by your father?"

  "Stop arguing with him." Hong Shangu's eyes widened, and she launched a "Magic Claw Soul Search". She flew forward from her seat, her jade hands radiating a chill, grabbing towards Yun Xiangtian's face and throat. Yun Xiangtian responded with a low shout: "Well done!" He countered with a "Reversal of Heaven and Earth". He kicked his left foot at his opponent's hands, then flipped his body, using his right foot to kick Hong Shangu's face before landing on the ground. Hong Shangu retreated several steps, shouting: "You... you..." Yun Xiangtian knelt down on both knees and said: "Greetings, Jade-faced Demoness Auntie, greetings, Ghost-hand Ruthless Uncle, I offer my respects!" He tore open his collar, pulled out a white silk handkerchief from his neckline, removed the jade pendant, and handed it to Hong Shangu. Hong Shangu looked at the handkerchief and jade pendant, her eyes warming up: "Not bad, indeed not bad." The foolish monk burst into laughter, stretching out his hands to help Yun Xiangtian up: "Quickly get up, quickly get up!"

  Hong Shangu and Chi Tuan Heshang were fellow disciples, known in their heyday as the "Jade-faced Demoness" and "Ghost Hand Ruthless". The two roamed the Jianghu, righting wrongs and upholding justice, earning the admiration of the people. One day, they accidentally killed a local rascal in Lingfeng City and were pursued by the authorities, landing them in prison. Yu Tian Su, then the police chief of Lingfeng County, heard about their heroic deeds and learned that they had only killed to save someone else. Taking pity on them, he used his authority to secretly swap them with two condemned prisoners, allowing Hong Shangu and Chi Tuan Heshang to escape. They were told to join the Red Blade bandits at Yuquan Ridge and guard a great secret on Mount Fengling. After their escape, they changed their names to Hong Shangu and Chi Tuan Heshang. The three of them would often meet in private, but after a year, Yu Tian's dealings with the mountain bandits were exposed, and he barely escaped with his family, parting ways with Hong Shangu and Chi Tuan Heshang, promising to reunite someday. From then on, they wandered the Jianghu, and Yu Tian disappeared from their lives. Chi Tuan Heshang had searched for him many times but was unable to find him in the vast crowd. Fifteen years have passed since their separation. Therefore, when Hong Shangu and Chi Tuan Heshang saw Yu Tian's descendant, they were filled with mixed emotions. That night, a grand banquet was held at the mountain stronghold to welcome Yun Xiang Tian.

  When Yun Xiang Tian returned to his room after the banquet, it was already the second half of the night. He lay on the bed and quickly fell asleep. But in the mountain cave behind his room, a group of ferocious and blood-stained evil spirits emerged.