After returning to Fulu Town and engaging in a brief, superficial spar with the Great Li vassal king, Song Changjing, the old mountain-moving ape from Zhengyang Mountain did not linger at the Li mansion. He dashed out of the town and paused briefly at the spot where the straw-sandaled boy had entered the mountains. The old man then retreated to where he had previously thrown his punch, carefully examining the depth and pattern of the boy's footprints in the mud.
In addition, the old ape’s field of vision caught a faint series of adult footprints. He suspected they belonged to the young swordsman from the Wind-Thunder Garden. When he had struck the boy in Mud Vase Lane, that person had clearly intended to take advantage of the situation; for a fleeting instant, a trace of sword qi had leaked out—brief and well-hidden, but the old ape was a veteran of countless battles and had cultivated for a thousand years in the "Sword Qi Piercing the Precious Bottle" Zhengyang Mountain. He was all too familiar with sword qi and intent.
This guardian ape of Zhengyang Mountain had lived far too long and seen far too much. He had met sword immortals who could raise dozens of exquisite, needle-thin flying swords, and he had seen swords as large as mountain peaks that could sever rivers with a single downward stroke.
Only after deep contemplation did the old ape continue forward. After entering the mountains, he passed through tangled grass and then a bamboo grove, the ground covered with dead leaves from the previous autumn and winter. Being closest to the town, the grove was not particularly wild. Following the nearly invisible footprints, the old ape realized he was about to exit the bamboo.
He did not leave the grove immediately. Instead, he looked around and saw no footprints on the ground. Shifting his gaze upward, he saw no marks on the green bamboo either. Yet still he did not rush toward the mountain. Instead, he rose from the ground, placing one foot on the tip of a thick bamboo stalk and applying a slight pressure. His body leaned toward the mountain, and the bamboo bent with him. Just as it was about to snap, the old man suddenly released his qi. His burly body became light as a feather, and the bamboo, freed of its burden, sprang back to its original straightness. The old man stood atop the swaying bamboo, scanning the surroundings. He finally spotted a clue, his lips curling into a cold smile as he looked far off to his left. After listening carefully, he could faintly hear the sound of a flowing stream.
"Cunning as always," the old ape sneered.
He hopped from bamboo to bamboo, heading toward the stream on his left, snapping countless stalks along the way. Arriving at the bank, he was momentarily unsure whether the straw-sandaled boy had followed the water deeper into the forest or fled downstream. The old ape crouched, his brow furrowed in frustration. In the outside world, if a mountain had even a trace of spiritual energy, he could summon the local Earth God with a mere gesture and learn the boy's whereabouts.
This was one of the mountain-moving ape’s innate divine abilities. Other cultivators, no matter how powerful, could not easily command a local deity. It was like the bureaucratic hierarchy of a mortal dynasty—the Minister of War would find it difficult to boss around a minor official from the Ministry of Revenue, and that was even if they were in the same court.
Listening to the sound of water, the old ape fell into deep thought.
Logically, the boy had likely honed his physical strength and stamina since childhood, perhaps even practicing basic breathing techniques. This would explain his unusual physicality—light yet sturdy, with vigorous blood and qi—which allowed him to play cat and mouse with the old ape across the alleyways and rooftops. In that case, the boy would naturally hide deep in the dense forest he knew well. Alternatively, if the boy was simply acting on a youthful impulse to avenge his friend, he might have started to feel the weight of his mistake and sought protection from Master Ruan at the southern smithy.
The first option would only cost time. The second would cost effort and mental energy, and even more, it would exhaust the Zhengyang Mountain's remaining favor.
Following his true nature, the old ape blurted out, "This boy must die."
Having said this, he had no more doubts. He chose to track the boy downstream.
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South of the town, a winding path of yellow mud cut through the rice paddies and farmland of the townspeople. Halfway down the path stood a dilapidated small temple with white walls and a black roof. It was more of a shelter for travelers, especially during the busy harvest season, sweltering heat, or heavy rain.
At that moment, Chen Ping'an and Ning Yao were resting there, discussing their next move.
Ning Yao, born with a clear sword-heart and the ability to see in the dark, noticed that the crumbling walls were covered with charcoal graffiti left by children—mostly names. The lower names were faded, some smudged or overwritten, but those higher up remained clear: Song Jixin, Zhi Gui, Zhao Yao, Xie Shi, Cao Xi, and many others. It seemed they had written them while sitting on shoulders or standing on friends. Ning Yao even spotted the names of Liu Xianyang, Chen Ping'an, and Gu Can clustered in the upper left corner, looking somewhat out of place.
Ning Yao withdrew her gaze. "Regardless, we've achieved the first step. We've forced the old ape to change his breath once. Now, are you really going back to town to get your wooden bow? Isn't that too risky? What if the old ape is cautious and doesn't come after you? You'd be like a lamb walking into the tiger's den."
The straw-sandaled boy had been silently breathing in and out, adjusting the rhythm to find the most comfortable state. He looked up, his gaze resolute. "I have no choice. I must get the bow back, or all our previous efforts would have been for nothing. And when I shot that arrow at the ape in Mud Vase Lane, even at such a close range, if it didn't hit his eye, the damage could be considered negligible."
Ning Yao was annoyed. "I told you your little tricks were useless! You didn't believe me then and wouldn't listen to my advice. Fine, I let you do it your way. But now that you believe me, can you follow my plan?"
In truth, when the boy and girl had first discussed how to deal with the old ape at the gallery bridge, they had decided to act separately. Chen Ping'an had asked her to wait while he returned to town to find three people, but then he had changed his mind and caught up with her before she reached the northern end of the bridge.
Afterward, they had a major disagreement. The girl, who carried both a saber and a sword, was initially firm: since Chen Ping'an was not a cultivator and didn't even know basic martial arts, he should stay out of it and just watch, or perhaps cheer her on while she killed the old ape for Liu Xianyang. However, when Chen Ping'an asked her how she planned to kill the ape, she refused to explain, claiming she had a secret trump card, a family inheritance that allowed her to walk the world alone.
Chen Ping'an did not agree.
This led to his subsequent three visits to find people.
Chen Ping'an stood up, twisting his waist. The stiffness was almost gone. "I've rested enough."
Ning Yao was surprised. "The medicine from the Yang family shop is that effective?"
For a moment, the boy's eyes dimmed, but he quickly nodded with a smile. "Very effective."
Ning Yao asked, "Will the old ape see through your escape route?"
Chen Ping'an considered carefully. "He might."
Ning Yao used her saber to draw two circles and a straight line on the ground. "This is the route between this temple and the Li mansion on Fulu Street. Where is your bow hidden?"
Chen Ping'an crouched and drew a circle. "Near the eastern side, roughly here. Not too far from Mud Vase Lane."
Ning Yao nodded. "Good. Even if the old ape comes straight for the temple, I will delay him, giving you enough time."
Chen Ping'an then drew a smaller circle in the middle of the line with his finger. "If it comes to the worst, Miss Ning, can you lure him here? This is where I first entered the mountains. Once I get the bow and head over, it won't take long."
The girl in the dark green robe leaned on her saber, her tone proud. "Perhaps by then, I'll be carrying the old ape's head over to you."
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "Don't push yourself. Be careful!"
Ning Yao wished she could use her saber to knock some sense into that head of his. Who was pushing themselves?
She glared. "Hey! The person standing in front of you is Ning Yao, the future greatest sword immortal in the world, okay?"
The boy stood up, checking the two cloth bags at his waist, tightening them once more for safety. He looked up with a grin. "I know, I know. So, let's not both die in such a small place. That would be such a waste. When you become that great figure, as your friend, I'll be able to enjoy some of the reflected glory."
Ning Yao sighed. "Chen Ping'an, you're so indecisive and sentimental. I suggest you don't marry a wife in the future—just find any woman to settle down with."
The boy let out a soft "Heh" but didn't argue. Just as he was about to leave the temple, Ning Yao said, "I'll walk you to the stream first. Then I'll head northwest for a while, to prevent the old ape from worrying about the little girl's safety, leaving the bamboo grove, and then giving up the chase once he realizes you're gone, and returning to town."
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment and did not refuse.
The boy and girl ran toward the stream together. The girl's breathing was deep and powerful like a great river, silent but with hidden currents. The boy's breathing was like a mountain stream—thin, continuous, and steady.
Their auras were distinct.
Ning Yao suddenly asked, "Did the poison on your wooden bow's arrowhead really work?"
The boy replied, "It worked on a wild boar weighing over two hundred pounds, so it should work on that old ape."
Ning Yao said no more.
As they neared the stream—the same spot where the straw-sandaled boy had previously emerged—they both exerted their strength and leapt across to the opposite bank.
After landing, the girl slowed her pace, her hand on her saber. The boy sprinted, jumped, and landed in one fluid motion, instantly passing her. As he was about to turn his head, the girl said, "Go to town first. Don't worry about me."
The boy continued forward, turning his head to remind her. "I'll take a slightly longer route through a quiet alley. I might be a little late."
Ning Yao nodded. After Chen Ping'an’s figure disappeared, she released her grip on the sword hilt and began to walk slowly toward the west.
Not long after, she stopped, her eyes narrowing as she looked upstream.
A burly figure suddenly shot out from a large rock in the stream, landing twenty paces in front of her on the north bank, radiating a powerful presence.
The old ape looked around, sensing no hidden presence of the boy. He glanced at the white-sheathed longsword at the girl’s waist and smiled. "Little girl, you're the one who caused trouble at Fulu Street earlier, aren't you?"
The girl kept her hands on her saber and sword hilts, silent.
The old ape asked curiously, "Little girl, on the way to the town, though you were always hiding, I knew you were no ordinary person, far from being like those two trash from Qingfeng City or Old Dragon City. But I'm curious—what grudge do we have? Why go to such lengths? Or is it that your family or sect has a conflict with Zhengyang Mountain?"
Ning Yao said nothing. Her saber and sword left their sheaths simultaneously, and her figure vanished in a flash.
The narrow saber struck first, aimed directly at the guardian ape’s head. He raised his arm and deflected the blade with his bare forearm.
The girl used the momentum to spin, sweeping her sword across the ape’s neck.
The ape also used his arm to knock the sword away.
Having failed in her first two moves, the girl did not stay close. She retreated a distance and walked slowly.
The old ape, using his formidable physical body to test the sharpness of the two weapons, ignored the bloodied groove on his arm. He smiled. "Fine weapons indeed. And to carry two at once—I'd say you're either a disciple of an ancient family from the mountains or a direct heir of a top-tier clan from the lowlands. I almost thought you were another hidden swordsman from the Wind-Thunder Garden."
As the girl moved with seemingly casual steps, the old ape’s gaze followed her. He spoke in a deep voice, "Little girl, I know that even if you're defeated now, you won't give up. So I'll give you one last chance. Tell me your sect or family background. After that, if I kill you, Zhengyang Mountain won't admit any fault, nor will we care where you came from or who your master was."
Ning Yao ignored him entirely, still searching for the old ape’s true weakness.
After all, she was not the Great Li vassal king who had touched the threshold of the tenth realm and could face a mountain-moving ape head-on.
The old ape, believing he had already shown too much mercy, sneered. "So unappreciative. Then suit yourself."