Chapter 51: Standoff
After returning to Fulu Town, he had a brief, almost perfunctory spar with the Great Li vassal king Song Changjing. The old ape from Zhengyang Mountain did not stay long at the Li residence. He sped out of town, paused briefly at the spot where the straw-sandaled boy had entered the mountains, then retreated to where he had thrown his punch earlier, carefully examining the depth of the boy's footprints in the mud.
Beyond that, within the old ape's field of vision, there was also a trail of faint adult footprints. The old ape guessed they most likely belonged to that young swordsman from the Wind and Thunder Garden. When he had thrown his punch at the boy from Mud Vase Alley, that person had clearly been trying to take advantage of the chaos. There had been a fleeting moment of sword aura spilling out. Although it was subtle and well-concealed, the old ape himself had experienced countless battles and spent a full thousand years cultivating on Zhengyang Mountain, a place where "sword aura crisscrossed, shattering treasure vases." He was far too familiar with sword aura and sword intent.
This old guardian ape of Zhengyang Mountain had lived far too long and thus had seen far too much. He had witnessed sword immortals skilled in nurturing superior flying swords, some possessing dozens of exquisite, miniature flying swords, each as small as a hair or a strand of ox wool. He had also seen life-bound flying swords as large as mountain peaks, cleaving down with a single strike to sever rivers and streams.
After concentrating and pondering, the old ape finally continued forward. After entering the mountains, there was first an overgrown stretch of weeds, then a bamboo grove, the ground mostly covered with dead leaves accumulated from the previous autumn and winter. But because it was closest to the town, the bamboo grove didn't seem desolate or chaotic. Following the barely perceptible footprints, the old ape found himself about to exit the bamboo grove.
The old ape did not walk straight out of the bamboo grove. Instead, he looked around. He didn't see any boy's footprints on the ground. Lifting his gaze, the surrounding green bamboos also showed no obvious marks. But the old ape still didn't chase straight up the mountain. Instead, he leaped into the air, stepping onto the top of a thick green bamboo, applying a little extra force, his body leaning towards the mountainside. The bamboo bent accordingly. Just as it was about to snap, the old man suddenly dispersed his energy, his burly body becoming as light as a feather. Without the burden of the heavy pressure, the green bamboo immediately rebounded, returning to its upright state. The old man stood atop the slender bamboo like an immortal riding the wind, his body swaying slightly with the bamboo. After surveying his surroundings, he looked down and finally noticed a clue. Curling the corner of his mouth, he looked off to his left. After carefully pricking up his ears and listening intently, he faintly heard the sound of flowing water from a stream.
The old ape sneered coldly, "Still as cunning as ever, true to form."
Stepping on one green bamboo after another, the old ape dashed towards the small stream on the left. On the way, he broke countless bamboos. Reaching the stream bank, he was momentarily unsure whether the straw-sandaled boy had followed the stream deeper into the dense forest or fled downstream. The old ape crouched by the stream, frowning deeply, somewhat angry. If this were the outside world, on any mountain with even a trace of spiritual energy, he could just grab randomly, forcibly summon the local earth god who had lost his backing, and ask him where the boy had gone.
This counted as one of the life-bound divine abilities of the Mountain-Moving Ape. Otherwise, other cultivators, no matter how heaven-defying their techniques or how renowned their names, would never be able to order around the deity of a local region so easily. The paths of the Great Dao were different, like the officialdom of a secular dynasty. Even the Minister of War would find it difficult to boss around a minor Vice Director of the Ministry of Revenue, ordering him to do this and that. What was more important was that this Minister of War and that Vice Director weren't even in the same court.
Listening to the sound of the flowing water, the old ape sank into deep thought.
According to common sense, that boy had likely honed his agility and stamina by going up mountains and into the water since childhood. Perhaps he had even practiced some crude breathing and inhalation techniques, which gave him a physique beyond the ordinary — light and agile, with strong bones and robust qi and blood, enabling him to play cat and mouse with the old ape on the rooftops of the alleyways. In that case, hiding deep in the familiar dense forest would be reasonable. If it were pure youthful impulsiveness, he had initially charged in fueled by a burning desire for revenge. After tasting the gravity of the situation, his passion would gradually cool, and naturally, he would start to feel fear. Then running to the blacksmith shop in the south, seeking the protection of Master Ruan, would also make sense.
The former option only took time; the latter would not only consume time and energy but could even expend the goodwill owed to Zhengyang Mountain.
Acting on his instinct, the old ape blurted out, "This boy must die."
Having said this, the old ape had no more doubts. He chose to track downstream along the stream.
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On the south side of the town, there was a small, winding yellow-mud path, flanked on both sides by the rice paddies and crop fields of the townsfolk. Halfway along the path stood a dilapidated little shrine with white walls and black tiles. Calling it a shrine was a bit of a stretch; it was really just a resting place for the locals. Especially during the busy farming season, the sweltering summer heat, or heavy rainstorms, having a place to find shade or take shelter made a world of difference.
It was here that Chen Ping'an and Ning Yao stopped to rest and discuss their plans.
Ning Yao, naturally gifted with a keen sword heart, could see things clearly even at night. She spotted on the crumbling walls childish graffiti scrawled in charcoal — mostly names. Those at the bottom were already blurred and faded, some scribbled over or altered, others overlapping heavily. But higher up, some names remained clear and legible: Song Jixin, Zhi Gui, Zhao Yao, Xie Shi, Cao Xi... a long list. These were probably written by children lifted onto shoulders or standing on friends' shoulders. Ning Yao even spotted the names Liu Xianyang, Chen Ping'an, and Gu Can clustered together at the highest point in the upper left corner, looking somewhat out of place.
Ning Yao withdrew her gaze and asked, "Anyway, the first step is done — we've forced the old ape to take his first breath. Are you really going to go back to town to retrieve your wooden bow? Isn't that too risky? What if the old ape is cautious and doesn't go up the mountain to look for you? Wouldn't you be walking right into the tiger's mouth?"
The straw-sandaled boy had been silently inhaling and exhaling, his breaths varying in depth and length, following only his intuition, pursuing the most comfortable state. Hearing her question, his eyes grew resolute. "No choice. I have to get the wooden bow back, or else all our previous efforts will have been wasted! And when I shot that arrow at the old ape from Mud Vase Alley, it was exactly like you said, Miss Ning — even from that close range, as long as the arrow didn't hit him in the eye, the damage was negligible."
Ning Yao was a bit annoyed. "I told you long ago that those petty tricks of yours wouldn't work! You didn't believe me before, and you wouldn't listen. Fine, I let you have your way. But now that you believe me, you should at least follow my plan, right?"
Actually, back when they were discussing how to deal with the old ape from Zhengyang Mountain at the covered bridge, the boy and girl had initially decided to each do their own thing. Chen Ping'an had just asked her to wait until he returned to town after finding three people. But later, the boy had suddenly changed his mind, catching up to Ning Yao just before she stepped off the north end of the bridge.
After that, a huge difference of opinion arose between them. The girl with the saber and sword had been very firm at first. "Chen Ping'an, since you're not a cultivator and don't even know martial arts, you'd better just watch from the sidelines. At most, you can cheer for me. Let me kill that old ape and avenge Liu Xianyang, to vent our hatred." But when Chen Ping'an asked how she planned to kill the old ape, Ning Yao refused to say, only mentioning that she had a trump card. Traveling the world, going up and down mountains, walking the Great Dao alone — how could she not have some family heirloom trick up her sleeve?
Chen Ping'an didn't agree.
That was the reason for his three subsequent search trips.
Chen Ping'an stood up, twisted his waist. There was almost no hindrance or stiffness. He rose and said, "I've rested enough."
Ning Yao asked in surprise, "Are the things from the Yang family workshop really that useful?"
A flicker of melancholy crossed Chen Ping'an's eyes, but he quickly nodded and smiled. "Very useful."
Ning Yao asked, "Will the old ape directly see through your escape route?"
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment, then answered cautiously, "Maybe."
Ning Yao drew two circles and a straight line in the dirt with her scabbard. "This is the route between the small shrine and the Li residence on Fulu Street. Where did you hide your wooden bow?"
Chen Ping'an crouched down and drew a circle. "Close to the east side, about here. Not too far from Mud Vase Alley."
Ning Yao nodded. "Alright. Even if the old ape comes straight to the small shrine, I'll delay him and buy you enough time."
Chen Ping'an used his finger to draw a small circle in the middle section of that line. "If it really is that worst-case scenario, Miss Ning, can you lure him here? Where I first entered the mountains? That way, after I get the wooden bow, I won't need long to get there."
The girl in the ink-green robe stood with her hand resting on her sheathed sword, saying proudly, "Maybe by then, I'll already be carrying the old ape's head over to you."
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "Don't be stubborn. Be careful!"
Ning Yao wished she could bash his head with her scabbard. Who was being stubborn here? She glared at him. "Hey! The person standing in front of you is me, Ning Yao — the future number one sword immortal in the entire world, alright?!"
The boy stood up, checked the two cloth bags at his waist, and tied them tighter just in case. Then he looked up with a smile. "I know, I know. So neither of us should die in a place like this. What a waste that would be. When you become someone that great in the future, as your friend, I can at least bask in your reflected glory."
Ning Yao sighed. "Chen Ping'an, you're way too indecisive and hesitant. I advise you not to marry a wife in the future. Just find some girl to marry yourself into their family."
The boy chuckled but didn't argue. Just as he was about to leave the shrine, Ning Yao said, "I'll escort you to the stream first. After that, I'll walk northwest for a bit, in case the old ape, worried about that little girl's safety, gives up chasing after he comes out of the bamboo grove and doesn't find your trail, and turns back to town."
Chen Ping'an thought it over and didn't refuse.
The boy and girl ran together toward the stream. The girl's breathing was subtly like a great river — deep and silent, with powerful undercurrents. The boy's breath was like a babbling brook — gentle and steady.
Different auras entirely.
Suddenly, Ning Yao couldn't help but ask, "That arrowhead of your wooden bow, coated with that herbal stuff you mentioned — will it really work?"
The boy replied, "It works on wild boars weighing over two hundred catties. It should work on that old ape too."
Ning Yao said nothing more.
The two approached the stream, exactly where the straw-sandaled boy had come ashore. Almost simultaneously, they erupted with strength, pushing off the ground and leaping high across to the other bank.
After landing, the girl gripped her sword scabbard and slowed her pace. The boy, however, sprinted, jumped, crossed the river, landed, and continued running all in one fluid motion, brushing past the girl in an instant. Just as Chen Ping'an was about to turn his head, the girl said, "You go to town first. Don't worry about me."
The boy kept running, turning his head to remind her, "I'll take a slight detour and enter the town through a secluded alley. I might be a little late."
Ning Yao nodded. After Chen Ping'an's figure disappeared, she released her grip on her sword handle and began walking slowly westward.
Before long, the girl stopped, squinting as she looked far upstream.
A burly figure suddenly shot from a large rock in the stream toward the north bank, landing about twenty paces in front of the girl, exuding an overwhelming presence.
The old ape was a bit puzzled. There was no trace of the boy's hidden aura nearby. Purposefully or not, he glanced at the white-sheathed longsword at the girl's waist and chuckled, "Little girl, you were the one causing trouble on Fulu Street earlier, weren't you?"
The girl pressed both hands on her saber and sword handles, remaining silent.
The old ape asked curiously, "Little girl, even though you were hiding your presence all the way to town, I know your background isn't simple. You're definitely not on the level of those two wastes from Clearwind City and Old Dragon City. But I'm curious: what grudge do you have against me to go to such lengths? Or does your family or sect have a feud with Zhengyang Mountain?"
Ning Yao said nothing. In response, her saber and sword left their sheaths simultaneously. Her figure flickered, and she vanished.
The narrow saber arrived first, cleaving down at the head of the old guardian ancestor of Zhengyang Mountain. The old ape casually raised his arm, forcefully deflecting the blade's edge with his bare limb.
Leveraging the momentum, the girl spun her body and swept her sword horizontally toward the old ape's neck.
The old ape again smashed the sword aside with brute force from his arm.
Failing to land either of her two initial strikes, the girl didn't press for close combat. She created some distance and began walking slowly.
The old ape, having tested the sharpness of both weapons with his monstrously tough body, completely ignored the bloody gashes on the outer side of his arm. He chuckled, "The weapons are really top-notch. And daring to carry two of them — it shows you're a disciple from a millennium-old clan on the mountains, or a direct descendant of a first-rate noble house down below. For a moment, I almost thought you might be the other Wind and Thunder Garden swordsman hiding in the shadows."
As the girl seemingly carelessly shifted her footing, the old ape followed her movements, turning his gaze accordingly. He said gravely, "Little girl, I know even if you suffer a setback now, you won't give up. So I'll give you one last chance. State your sect and lineage. After that, if you're killed by me, Zhengyang Mountain won't admit fault, nor will it care where you're from or who your master is."
Ning Yao simply ignored him entirely, constantly seeking the old ape's true weakness.
After all, she wasn't that Great Li vassal king who had already touched the threshold of the tenth realm, able to face a Mountain-Moving Ape head-on.
Believing he had already shown too much forbearance, the old ape sneered, "So ungrateful. Then do as you please."
(Thirty-seven Chinese website [et])