Chapter Thirty-Two: The Hidden Cave of the Falling Wild Goose, The Right Envoy of the Black Lotus
Clang, clang, clang!
“Sir, someone is here to see you. It’s Head Escort Yu from the Wind and Fire Escort Agency—he seems to have urgent business!”
“All right, I’ll be there shortly.”
At dawn, just as the light began to seep into the world, the inn boy knocked at the door. Han Chong thought to himself, Yu Tianlong really can’t wait!
Creak.
“Hm? Head Escort Yu, what brings you here so early in the morning?”
Han Chong opened the door, only to see Yu Tianlong pacing anxiously in front of two escort men, his face etched with panic and worry.
Their clothes were torn in more than a dozen places, faces streaked with dirt and ash, appearing thoroughly disheveled.
“Brother Han, disaster has struck!” Yu Tianlong hurriedly clasped his hands in greeting, forcing a bitter smile.
“Oh? What could cause such alarm? Has something happened to the goods I entrusted to you?”
Han Chong feigned shock, his voice cold and stern.
“Brother Han, you truly have foresight. Last night, I personally led twenty escorts to transport your treasures toward Yunzhou. Who would have guessed, passing through Falling Wild Geese Gorge, we were ambushed by a band of mountain bandits.
These ruffians were truly fierce, killing and wounding more than ten of my men. I barely escaped with my life, and rushed here to inform you, Brother Han.”
At this moment, Ouyang Jingguan and Mingzhen stepped outside.
“Outrageous! Head Escort Yu, you must be joking with me!
I entrusted my valuables to the famed Wind and Fire Escort Agency, the most reputable in Peijun Prefecture, precisely because of your distinguished name. And now, just a word from you is meant to dismiss us? Or perhaps, you covet the treasure, intending to steal it for yourself?”
Han Chong narrowed his eyes, his tone sharp and uncompromising.
“Hmph! What are you implying, Brother Han? The loss pains me deeply, and I’ve lost so many of my brothers.
I haven’t even taken time to tend to my wounds, yet I came at once to inform you, hoping we might recover the treasure together. But I didn’t expect you to malign me so!”
Yu Tianlong’s expression darkened; he had anticipated Han Chong’s rage and responded coldly.
“Hmph! So you intend to play games, Head Escort Yu. Ouyang, take action!”
Han Chong gave Ouyang Jingguan a signal, and instantly lunged forward, hands shaped like claws, reaching for Yu Tianlong.
Yu Tianlong never expected that in the inn, Han Chong and his companion would resort to violence without so much as a word!
But perhaps it was for the best—he would see what these two were truly capable of!
Han Chong, though not trained in conventional martial arts, had watched countless kung fu films in his previous life—Shaolin Dragon Claw, Nine Yin Bone Claw, Iron Palm, White Crane Fist, Jeet Kune Do, he had studied them all. Now, endowed with the inner strength of a peerless master, his movements were powerful and swift!
Yu Tianlong found Han’s techniques unorthodox and unpredictable, his inner strength matched his own, making him a formidable opponent!
Meanwhile, Ouyang Jingguan subdued the two escorts behind Yu with ease and joined the assault.
Unable to withstand the combined onslaught, Yu Tianlong was pinned by Han Chong's mighty grasp, immobilized.
“Brother Han, let’s talk this through. I mean no offense and will help you recover the treasure!”
Yu Tianlong was astonished; he hadn’t expected such martial prowess from the pair—each rivaled his own skill. No wonder Han Chong had entrusted such valuables to him.
“Hmph! The treasure stolen by mountain bandits—how do you propose to retrieve it?”
“Brother Han, listen. I’ve assembled fifty men. With your help, surely we can reclaim the treasure from those bandits in Falling Wild Geese Gorge!”
“Hmph! You truly infuriate me. But I’ll trust you this once more. If you dare deceive us again, don’t blame me for being merciless!”
---
“Of course! I wouldn’t dare.”
Han Chong gave him a forceful shove, knocking him to the ground.
“Then lead the way!”
“Yes, yes! I’ll lead the way at once.
Wu Liu, fetch some wine and meat—the three gentlemen haven’t had breakfast yet. And bring some vegetarian dishes for the young monk.”
Yu Tianlong turned to the escort, bruised and lying on the ground, giving instructions.
“Yes, yes! I’ll go right away.” The escort clutched his chest, stood, bowed, and hurried out.
“Gentlemen, let’s be on our way.” Yu Tianlong gestured forward, leading them.
Han Chong and Ouyang Jingguan exchanged glances and followed, the three trailing behind.
They mounted their horses and sped westward, toward Peijun Prefecture.
The further west they rode, the narrower and more treacherous the mountain roads became, lush with vegetation, the mountains rising steep and sheer, seldom trodden by men.
“Brother Han, see those two valleys shaped like wild geese spreading their wings? That’s the only route to Yunzhou City—the location of Falling Wild Geese Gorge.”
“Indeed.”
Han Chong gazed into the distance, marveling at how Peijun Prefecture and Yunzhou City were connected by but a single mountain path—so inconvenient.
“Head Escort Yu, do you know where the bandits are hiding?”
“Brother Han, you may not know—within a thousand li, Falling Wild Geese Gorge is the most perilous terrain.
It’s the only route between Peijun Prefecture and Yunzhou City, which has bred the region’s largest gang of bandits!
Wind and Fire Escort Agency has battled them over two hundred times throughout decades of business. The imperial court has sent troops a dozen times, yet they still cannot be eradicated.
Their leader, Ding Xingxiu, is not only ruthless and cunning, but also possesses the strength of a peerless master. He resides in a secret cave within Falling Wild Geese Gorge.
To this day, no one has found the cave, nor returned from venturing deep into the gorge!”
Yu Tianlong gritted his teeth as he spoke of Ding Xingxiu, hatred clear in his expression.
All three furrowed their brows—they hadn’t expected the bandits of Falling Wild Geese Gorge to truly exist! Was Yu Tianlong not afraid they’d disrupt his ambush?
Raptors cried above, crows wailed, the black cliffs below inspiring unease.
“Head Escort Yu, where are your men?”
“Heh.”
Clap, clap, clap!
He sneered, slapping his hands thrice, the echoes ringing out.
Suddenly, dozens of green-clad escorts burst from the surrounding forests, encircling them.
“Tsk, tsk! You three are truly foolish—I almost feel sorry to kill you.”
“Ha, ha, ha!” The escorts laughed triumphantly, the echoes reverberating off the cliffs like the laughter of demons.
“Oh? Do you think these underlings can kill us? Even counting you, what can you possibly do?”
“Hmph! Present the Black Lotus Right Envoy!”
Yu Tianlong, full of pride, dismounted and bowed toward the cliffs in welcome.
Black Lotus Right Envoy? Han Chong’s face flickered. Was this connected to the Black Lotus Calamity indicated by the system?
From the cliff’s base, a stone door slid open, and two squads of black-clad, blade-wielding men marched swiftly toward them.
---
In their midst strode a man garbed in white, his robe embroidered with a black lotus, eyes fierce as a tiger.
His features were handsome enough, but a long, narrow scar marred his face, making him appear ferocious.
“Yu Tianlong, just two youngsters and a little monk, and you must trouble me? Aren’t you overreacting?”
“Heh, forgive me, Right Envoy Ding. Don’t be fooled by their youth—their martial skill is exceptional. We may not be able to handle them ourselves.”
Yu Tianlong clasped his hands, smiling, then signaled a slightly plump escort beside him.
The man understood, hurried to the scarred figure, and produced two gold ingots as tribute.
“Hmph! You certainly profit daily. So generous—these must be fat sheep indeed.”
The scarred man pocketed the gold without making a move.
“Heh, Right Envoy Ding, that’s just a deposit. Once these three are dealt with, I’ll reward you further!”
...
“Are you two finished?” Han Chong asked coldly, impatience clear.
“Oh! He’s eager. Boy, you must be tired of living, eh?”
The scarred man grinned hideously, staring at Han Chong.
“If you wish to take our lives, let’s see if you have the means. Let me ask—did you and Head Escort Yu kill Yun Tianxiao?”
The scarred man and Yu Tianlong exchanged glances, suspicion written on their faces.
“Yu Tianlong, who have you brought?”
“I’m not sure myself.
Han, who are you? What’s your connection to Yun Tianxiao?”
Yu Tianlong shouted angrily at Han Chong.
“I was a close friend of Head Escort Yun. I’m here to avenge him!”
“Hmph! You want revenge, but you don’t know your own limits. Prepare to die!”
The scarred man could finally restrain himself no longer. He lunged at the three, not empty-handed, but drawing a flexible black sword from his waist and thrusting it at Han Chong!
Han Chong, however, did not intend to kill him—only by capturing him alive could he uncover the secret of the Black Lotus.
He wielded the Golden Silk Demon Binding Rope, whipping it forward. The rope shimmered with faint golden light, slithering like a spirit snake toward the scarred man.
“A magical artifact!” The man’s expression changed drastically. He danced his black sword, retreating.
“How is this possible!”
Yu Tianlong exclaimed in shock, eyes wide. He hadn’t expected Han Chong to be a cultivator!
Magical artifacts are exclusive treasures for cultivators, extremely rare and requiring vital energy to wield.
But astonishingly, the scarred man’s black sword also emitted a faint dark glow, and as it moved, it formed a phantom black lotus.
The Demon Binding Rope struck his sword, producing metallic clangs, unable to ensnare him!
The Black Lotus Right Envoy was a cultivator as well!