Hearing this, Qin Jue could not help but slowly stand up. He stood with his hands behind his back at the railing and pondered for a while. With some puzzlement he said, “People from the Sinan Mansion, with their status and connections, could go and see Yuanshan openly if they wanted to. Why would they need to sneak around?”
Cui You smiled. “Big shopkeeper, the people from the Sinan Mansion probably really cannot go openly. The people who went to see Yuanshan have suffered a big loss at their hands before.”
Qin Jue turned around, surprised. “What happened?”
Cui You reminded him, “Do you still remember the Crown Wind Yang ancient tomb, big shopkeeper?”
Qin Jue was stunned. “It was in Yuanshan?”
Cui You nodded. “Correct. It happened many years ago. I did not connect the matter with Yuanshan before either. I only remembered it after receiving the news just now. Back then, in order to find the Crown Wind Yang ancient tomb, the Sinan Mansion asked the imperial Yu Department to contact Yuanshan. They lied and said they were digging for mining materials, negotiated a share split, and deceived Yuanshan.”
It was not until something went wrong in the ancient tomb and caused a big commotion that the matter could no longer be hidden, and the truth was exposed.
Having a treasure hidden on their own territory yet letting outsiders come in to dig without even knowing about it, the demon realm was naturally furious. While condemning the Sinan Mansion, they could not avoid dealing with the Yuanshan side as well. The previous mountain king of Yuanshan died because of this.
Ask yourself, after the Sinan Mansion caused such trouble in Yuanshan, how could Yuanshan welcome them again? And how could the Sinan Mansion enter openly?
Qin Jue remained silent for a long time. After a while he said slowly, “If that is the case, behind the Luanzhou prefect marrying off his daughter, it is possible that the Sinan Mansion is setting up another scheme. The question is, why does the Sinan Mansion want to sneak into Yuanshan?”
Cui You reminded him, “Big shopkeeper, do not forget what the Sinan Mansion does.”
Qin Jue’s expression showed some shock. He paced back and forth and pondered, “Could it be that Yuanshan has some connection with an immortal cave dwelling? Did they not already find the Crown Wind Yang ancient tomb back then and thoroughly search it? Why go again after so many years? Are they targeting that ancient tomb or is there something else? Why is that fellow Ashiheng also heading that way at this time?” At this point he suddenly stopped and turned back.
The gazes of the two men met.
“His dad!”
“His father!”
The two of them, with expressions of shock at almost the same time, spoke in unison.
Cui You moved closer to the big shopkeeper and nodded. “Back then the matter with Yuanshan was handled by the Yu Department. At that time the Yu Department was controlled by Ashiheng’s father.”
Qin Jue thought for a moment, then felt something was wrong. He shook his head. “If his father really knew something, there would be no need to act only after so many years. Moreover the Sinan Mansion has also waited until now to make a move. There must be something in this that we do not know.”
Cui You thought the same.
After pacing back and forth a few steps, Qin Jue suddenly slapped the railing. “Never mind. If it really has something to do with an immortal cave dwelling, how can we hold back from joining in such lively affairs?”
Cui You looked somewhat worried. “Big shopkeeper, that is the Sinan Mansion. We cannot afford to offend them. It may not be appropriate to get involved.”
Qin Jue smiled. “We cannot afford to offend the Sinan Mansion, but the demon realm can check them. Do not forget that Yuanshan is on the demon realm’s territory. The Sinan Mansion can only sneak around and does not dare to act openly. Since we have accidentally stumbled upon this matter, there is much we can do. We might as well go and see the situation first. If it works, we act. If not, we stay aside. Can I not even go to offer congratulations when Hong Teng is holding a happy event?”
Cui You was slightly startled. “You want to go personally? If there really is something going on, that place will become a troubled area. Matters that the Sinan Mansion gets involved in rarely end well. A happy event could easily turn into a funeral. It may be very dangerous.”
Qin Jue said, “If it really has something to do with an immortal cave dwelling, how can we leave it to others?”
Cui You said, “Big shopkeeper, the Wonderful Green Hall will disappear in less than half a month. The matter with Yuanshan probably cannot be handled and allow a return within half a month. Will you not wait for Tie Miaoqing?”
Qin Jue pondered in silence.
Luanzhou, one of the eastern coastal provinces of the Jin Kingdom.
“Stop. Who dares to trespass into the demon realm?”
A shout rang out among the towering mountains and ridges. Three people were stopped by patrolling minor demons.
The leader was fat. It was none other than Nan Zhu. His clothing and appearance looked quite wealthy, very much in line with his temperament. It was obvious he had put thought and planning into it.
Yu Qing and Mu Aotie were dressed as attendants, with Nan Zhu as the leader.
The three people who had originally planned to return to the temple were robbed on the way back. In the end they still came towards Yuanshan again.
Yu Qing had also considered targeting the Xuanfei Valley, but later felt that the lair of a great demon would be even harder to provoke. It was safer to pick softer targets. Moreover the rewards from an immortal cave dwelling might be even richer.
The important thing was that the Crown Wind Yang ancient tomb was no longer attracting attention. He could make his move calmly.
Seeing they were stopped, Nan Zhu deliberately fiddled with the iron buckle hanging at his waist and showed the Youju token. “We are merchants from Youjiao Port. We are heading deep into the demon realm to discuss business. We are passing through your treasured land and hope you will do us the convenience.”
Several patrolling minor demons examined the Youju token. They knew this item could not be faked. The leader gave an “oh” and said, “So you are from Youjiao Port. Sorry about this, everyone. You have come at an unlucky time. Our Yuanshan has sealed the mountain. You had better take a detour.”
Sealed the mountain? Yu Qing and the other two looked at each other, not knowing what this was about.
Nan Zhu cupped his hands. “We are just passing through. It would be more convenient to go straight across. Such a large area, going around inside the mountains would be so troublesome. Gentlemen, please give us some face. If you have the chance to come to Youjiao Port in the future, we will definitely treat you well.” Then he turned his head and gave Yu Qing a slight nod as a signal. “Gentlemen, patrolling the mountain is hard work. I have some tea money here. Please do not mind it.”
Damn fatty! Yu Qing cursed inwardly, but he still took out money from his pocket and stepped forward to distribute silver notes, ten taels each.
Who knew they would not accept it. The leader pushed his hand away and refused. “It is not that we brothers will not give face to your Youjiao Port. We really cannot accept this tea money. You have come at a really unlucky time. There are orders from above that no one is allowed to trespass. Trespassers will be strictly dealt with! Not letting you through is also for your own good. If you really break in and get discovered, it would be bad if you lose your lives.”
Nan Zhu asked with puzzlement, “Why is this? It did not seem like this before?”
The leading minor demon said, “It seems you are really ignorant. Our great king is about to get married soon. He is marrying the daughter of the Luanzhou prefect. How can the daughter of a regional lord have any mishap when getting married? Of course we need to clear the area. Idle people are not allowed to trespass!”
Yu Qing and the other two looked at each other speechlessly. How could the daughter of a regional lord marry a demon? They could even encounter such a thing?
There was nothing they could do. The other side had made it very clear. If they trespassed and were discovered, they would lose their little lives.
With the strength of the three of them, they did not have the ability to confront the entire Yuanshan. They could only dejectedly go down the mountain. Along the way they also cursed a few times.
After cursing there was still nothing they could do. They had come at the wrong time. After discussing it they could only wait. They would wait until that mountain king’s happy event was over. A happy event could not go on forever, right?
After going down the mountain they did not return the same way. Previously they had rushed straight to Yuanshan over a long distance and had not explored the surrounding area. At this moment they determined the direction and headed to the nearest county town, planning to stay there to avoid the trouble of long journeys back and forth.
After arriving at the nearby city, they discovered that the news of the mountain king Hong Teng getting married was known to almost everyone here. The demon cultivators from Yuanshan had already come here in large numbers to buy goods.
The three martial brothers wandered around the city, both to gather information and to find a suitable place to stay.
Only then did they learn that the Luanzhou prefect was not marrying off any biological daughter but a spirit pet he had raised. Hong Teng was not taking a wife but a concubine. The auspicious day was in a few days.
While the three were eating and drinking in a restaurant, they suddenly heard another piece of news. Because this county town was close to the sea, a large shipping company from the Yin Kingdom, also the largest shipping company in the world, called “Bihai Shipping”, had taken a liking to the geographical location of the county town. They wanted to open a port here along the coast, build a dock, and recruit workers on a large scale. The wages were said to be good, which excited many people. Quite a few commoners were hoping they could be hired.
Also because this place was close to Yuanshan, Bihai Shipping definitely needed to build good relations with the people from the demon realm here. It was said they had bought quite a few gifts to offer congratulations and were now recruiting a batch of labourers who could travel mountain roads to act as porters.
After the three martial brothers overheard the news, they immediately put their heads together and whispered.
Yu Qing said, “According to the information from the lookout tower, Hong Teng’s lair is not far from the Crown Wind Yang ancient tomb. We were just worrying about what reason to use to get close. This is a perfect opportunity. How about we apply to be porters and make a trip?”
Nan Zhu was startled. “Would that not mean going to Hong Teng’s lair?”
At certain times Yu Qing was indeed bolder than his two senior brothers. “We are porters. What is there to be afraid of?”
Mu Aotie said, “Even as porters they would not let you run around freely, right?”
Yu Qing said, “The ancient tomb is close to Hong Teng’s lair. There are many demon cultivators patrolling back and forth. Hong Teng getting married may instead attract all the attention. It might be a chance we can take advantage of. If we go later using the Youjiao Port identity we would still need to slowly think of ways to manoeuvre closer, which would be both dragging and troublesome.”
Nan Zhu was still startled. “Is this not too risky?”
Yu Qing said, “It is not as dangerous as you think. The inside story that the ancient tomb may still have mysteries is something only we know. No one will make defences in that regard. Besides there is no need to take risks. It is just making one extra trip. We purely act according to the opportunity. If it is convenient we take action. If it is not convenient we wait for the next time. Anyway we have the Youjiao Port identity and can advance or retreat freely. Making one extra trip means one more chance.”
It seemed to make sense. The two senior brothers also did not want to appear timid in front of him, so they agreed with gritted teeth.
After finishing eating and drinking and settling the bill, Yu Qing took out his little notebook again and recorded an entry, noting how much money the two senior brothers owed him for this meal.
The two senior brothers sneered and let him record it. They had no intention of repaying the money at all.
After leaving the restaurant the three changed into a new set of clothes again, dressing up as ordinary hard-working commoners. They found the shipping company’s recruitment spot and mixed in among the hard-working crowd.
When the time came the fence gate opened. A group of people swarmed in. Yu Qing and the other two also happily went with the flow and mixed in. At that moment no one looked like a sect leader anymore.
To enter the mountains they needed to carry loads and cross mountains and ridges, which required quite high physical demands.
The shipping company people had already prepared heavy burdens and were waiting for them. All those who came to apply had to do a load-carrying test.
Everyone lined up in order, one by one.
Of course, those whose bodies passed were not only hired as porters but were also considered recruited by the shipping company. In the future they could have a job with the shipping company.
At the window upstairs stood a thin and lean old man with bright eyes and a goatee. He was none other than Right Lingbo, the steward of “Bihai Shipping” responsible for affairs in this area.
His gaze as he scanned the recruitment scene below suddenly paused. He spotted a rather eye-catching fat man and felt somewhat surprised. He had not expected this fair and plump person to come apply for hard labour.
Just as his gaze was about to move away, he was suddenly attracted by a young man with a small moustache standing next to the fat man, who was looking around. He frowned and stared for a while. Then he muttered something unknown under his breath and suddenly turned his head and said, “Go down and pass the word. That small-moustached one can be hired!”