novelraw Chapter 41: Pursuers Enter Deep into Crotch Mountain
Chapter 41: Pursuers Enter Deep into Crotch Mountain
The Spirit Gathering Pill's medicinal power hadn't dissipated yet. No matter where he ran now, he was like a large lightbulb, completely unable to conceal his tracks.
So this time, Li Qiuchen chose the easiest path to travel, running wildly all the way toward Crotch Mountain.
In the blink of an eye, another day passed.
Not until the sun set did Li Qiuchen stop and begin to rest.
The soles of his shoes were worn through.
The good news was he could now confirm he'd entered within the three-hundred-li range of Crotch Mountain.
The bad news was, after the white crane's reconfirmation, the pursuing troops behind still had no intention of giving up and were still clinging tightly behind.
After Li Qiuchen rested briefly to recover some strength, he immediately lit sandalwood incense and called upon the Mountain God.
Same as the previous two times, guided by the white-clothed maiden, they passed through the mist and arrived at the Mountain God's cave dwelling.
After hearing Li Qiuchen's report of the situation, Jiang Tingyue carefully inquired about the cavalry's dress and appearance. After pondering for a moment, he nodded, saying, "They shouldn't be county troops, but garrison troops under the Defense Commissioner's jurisdiction. These people are indeed quite troublesome. Once that stubborn streak comes up, they don't give face to anyone.""I'll give you a talisman to stick on your body. Just avoid them from afar. If they can't find your tracks, they'll naturally withdraw. Once this matter is concluded, I'll argue with their superior."
Having said this, he instructed the white-clothed maiden to bring cinnabar talisman paper. He wielded the brush boldly, writing a line of text and handing it to Li Qiuchen.
Li Qiuchen received it and looked. There were only large characters written on it.
—Mountain God's Decree, Unobstructed Passage!
In a daze, he returned to the original place. The talisman flashed before Li Qiuchen's eyes, then vanished into his body.
In that instant, Li Qiuchen only felt the mountains and rivers before his eyes transform into smooth roads, no longer as rugged and rough as before.
He tried stepping forward. He only felt the surrounding scenery transform into flowing light retreating behind him.
Isn't this the divine ability to shrink earth into inches?
Li Qiuchen walked forward several steps, then turned back to discover the white crane behind him had already fallen dozens of zhang away.
Moreover, it wasn't just as simple as shrinking earth into inches. Those tree roots, mountain rocks, streams... all seemed to automatically make way for his steps, allowing him unobstructed passage through the mountain forest.
Senior Jiang Tingyue is an honest person!
Although he'd said it once already, Li Qiuchen felt he must mention it again.
This person could be dealt with.
He didn't lecture you with big principles or play petty tricks. When he said he'd give benefits, he gave substantial benefits. After assigning you work, he wouldn't just ignore you. Within the scope of his authority, he did his utmost to provide various conveniences.
Where could you find such a good boss?
Then what more was there to say? Run! Run immediately!
You say you need to sleep at night?
Young person, why sleep long before death? After death, you'll sleep eternally.
The Medicine Master's blessing's greatest advantage was good stamina and thick health bar.
After resting briefly to recover some strength, Li Qiuchen called the white crane and traveled through mountains overnight, leaving everything behind in a cloud of dust.
He used an entire night running wildly for one hundred eighty li. He didn't even stop when passing the familiar village down the mountain, following the river all the way upstream.
By the afternoon of the second day, Li Qiuchen had returned to his old nest. He climbed onto the kang bed, closed his eyes, and began sleeping soundly.
He was truly exhausted.
At this very moment, over a hundred li behind him on the mountain path, two scout cavalrymen held hunting dogs, standing on the hilltop staring at each other blankly.
"Where's the person?"
"The Hundred Li Soul-Chasing Smoke broke off. How do we chase? Where do we chase?"
"He couldn't have burrowed underground, could he?"
"How about... we return and report to the Young Master?"
The two hesitated for a long while. Really unable to find a solution, they could only ride their horses back.
Traveling two li of mountain path and turning around the mountain's waist, they saw scattered campfires lit by the roadside.
Over a hundred elite cavalry had set up a crude military camp, solemn and silent.
The young general leading them wore black armor. He removed his helmet and sat by the campfire, absentmindedly toying with a human head in his hands.
That was precisely Mohe the Perfected Being's broken skull. The brain matter had dried, and the fierce expression was still frozen on his face.
On an iron spear beside him hung dozens of fierce and terrifying human heads. Some of these heads looked like they hadn't died completely, still wriggling bit by bit, dripping fresh blood.
The Song brothers, Song Gang and Song Yu, knelt sitting across from the campfire, covered in cold sweat, not daring at all to raise their heads to look at this horrifying and bizarre scene.
"Report—!"
The two scouts walked forward, lowered their heads in salute, and said guiltily, "Young Master, we lost the trail."
"Lost it?"
The young general turned his head. His sword-like eyebrows raised slightly.
"Yes... the other party somehow used some method to flee over a hundred li away in a day and night. The Hundred Li Soul-Chasing Smoke lost contact. The Windchaser hounds also can't smell any scent. The mountain paths ahead are complex. We..."
"A child of eleven or twelve years old, merely Qi Refining realm cultivation."
The young general looked at the Song brothers kneeling across from him, not daring to speak, then looked at his own scout cavalry. He couldn't help but snort coldly, saying, "Easily killed this demon gathering crowds to cause chaos, then slipped away right under the noses of the Defense Commissioner's most elite scouts?"
The two scouts exchanged glances and quickly said, "We are incompetent and willing to accept military law!"
"Foolish."
The young general said coldly, "Until now you still regard him as a child. Have you considered the possibility that he's an old demon disguised as a child?"
"Medicine Master remnants have never been judged by common sense. Those old guys who appear white-haired and youthful with immortal bearing, those are all wastes who haven't found the right path and can't cultivate to amount to anything. Conversely, the deeper the Dao practice, the younger and more beautiful they become."
"If we let this demon recuperate within Yun County's borders, who knows how many innocent civilians will suffer his cruelty. In another hundred or eighty years, perhaps another 'Immortal' will be cultivated!"
The vice-general beside him advised in a low voice, "Young Master, with our few troops, trying to hunt Medicine Master remnants in this old mountain forest really isn't enough."
"He can't run far."
The young general said coldly, "Since he ran in this direction, it means his dojo is in this direction. Following the mountain villages to investigate, we'll always find his tracks."
The vice-general said with difficulty, "Young Master, we've already been away from the county seat for many days. If we continue going deeper, I'm afraid in terms of supplies..."
The young general hesitated, furrowing his brows, "Not counting the consumption for the return journey, there's at least three days' leeway remaining."
"Young Master, Yun County's territory isn't peaceful. When we return, we must also avoid accidents."
The so-called logistical supplies, put simply, were feeding people and horses.
What people ate was easy to handle. If push came to shove, they could still hunt.
What horses ate wasn't easy to handle.
Although there was grass everywhere in the mountains, you couldn't have warhorses graze while running.
The young general hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded, saying, "Draw maps of this area's mountains and geography. Tomorrow we'll go another hundred li deeper. If there's still no harvest, then that demon escaped disaster."
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