After returning to Fulu Town, he had a brief exchange with Song Changjing, the Prince of Dali. The old ape from Zhengyang Mountain did not stay at the Li residence for long. It dashed out of town, paused briefly at the place where the straw-sandaled boy had entered the mountain, and then retreated to where it had thrown the punch, carefully examining the depth of the boy’s footprints in the mud.

Besides this, the old ape also noticed a series of shallow adult footprints. It guessed they were likely left by the young swordsman from Fenglei Garden. When it had punched the Mud Lane boy, that person had clearly intended to take advantage of the situation, displaying a momentary leakage of sword energy. Although it was fleeting and well-concealed, the old ape was a veteran of countless battles, and had cultivated for a thousand years at Zhengyang Mountain, known for its “Sword Qi Cutting Through Treasure Bottles.” It was simply too familiar with sword energy and intent.

This guardian ape of Zhengyang Mountain had lived too long and seen too much. It had witnessed sword immortals skilled in nurturing superior flying swords, some possessing dozens of exquisite miniature swords, each as small as a hair. It had also seen natal flying swords as large as mountains, capable of splitting rivers with a single strike.

After pondering deeply, the old ape continued onward, entering the mountain. First, it encountered dense weeds, followed by a bamboo forest. The ground was covered with fallen leaves accumulated from the previous autumn and winter, but because it was so close to the town, the bamboo forest did not appear desolate or overgrown. Following faint footprints, the old ape found itself nearing the edge of the bamboo grove.

Instead of walking straight out, the old ape surveyed its surroundings. It saw no footprints on the ground and no obvious marks on the bamboo stalks. Still, it did not head directly up the mountain. Instead, it leaped into the air and stepped on the top of a thick green bamboo, adding a slight amount of force, causing the bamboo to bend towards the mountain. Just as it was about to break, the old ape suddenly released its qi. Its burly body became as light as a feather. Freed from the weight, the bamboo rebounded, returning to its upright position. The old ape stood atop the swaying bamboo like an immortal riding the wind, looking around before glancing down. Finally, it spotted a faint clue, twitched its lips, and gazed off to its left, listening intently. It faintly heard the sound of a flowing stream.

The old ape sneered, “As cunning as ever.”

Stepping on one bamboo stalk after another, breaking countless of them along the way, the old ape hurried toward the stream on its left. Upon reaching the stream bank, it hesitated, unsure whether the straw-sandaled boy had followed the water into the deep mountains or fled downstream. The old ape squatted down, frowning with annoyance. If it were in any other mountain range with even a trace of spiritual energy, the old ape could simply reach out and forcibly summon the local earth deity, who had lost its backing, and ask the boy’s whereabouts.

This was considered one of the innate abilities of a Mountain-Moving Ape. Otherwise, no matter how powerful or famous other cultivators might be, they could never easily order around a deity of the land. Their paths were too different. It was like the secular imperial court, where the Minister of War could hardly order a minor Clerk of Revenue to do anything. Most importantly, the Minister of War and the Clerk of Revenue were not even in the same country.

Listening to the sound of the flowing water, the old ape fell into thought.

Logically, the boy had probably honed his skills and stamina by climbing mountains and wading through water since childhood. He might have even practiced rudimentary breathing exercises, giving him extraordinary physique, light and hard bones, and strong blood and qi. This allowed him to play a game of cat and mouse with the old ape on the rooftops of the alleys. In that case, hiding in the familiar dense forest was reasonable. If he were purely acting on youthful impulse, driven by a surge of anger for revenge, he would have gradually cooled down after experiencing fear and naturally become afraid, fleeing to the blacksmith shop in the south to seek the protection of Master Ruan, which was also plausible.

The former would only take time, while the latter would not only consume effort and spirit but even erode Zhengyang Mountain’s goodwill.

Following its instinct, the old ape blurted out, “This boy must die.”

After saying this, the old ape had no further doubts and chose to track downstream.

—-

South of the town, a winding yellow mud path ran alongside the rice paddies of the townspeople. Halfway along the path stood a dilapidated white-walled, black-tiled shrine. More of a place for the locals to rest, it was invaluable during busy farming seasons, hot summers, or rainy weather, providing shade and shelter.

At this time, Chen Ping’an and Ning Yao were discussing their next steps while resting there.

Ning Yao, with her naturally clear sword heart, could easily see in the dark. She noticed the walls were covered with children’s charcoal drawings, mostly names. The ones lower down were mostly faded or scribbled over, while the ones higher up were still clearly visible: Song Jixin, Zhigui, Zhao Yao, Xie Shi, Cao Xi… a long string of names, likely written while riding on someone’s shoulders or standing on a friend’s shoulders. Ning Yao even saw the names of Liu Xianyang, Chen Ping’an, and Gu Can, clustered together in the highest corner on the left, seeming out of place.

Ning Yao looked away and asked, “Regardless, the first step is done. We forced the old ape to take his first breath. Are you really going back to town to retrieve the wooden bow? Isn’t that too risky? What if the old ape is cautious and doesn’t come up the mountain looking for you? Wouldn’t you be walking into a trap?”

The straw-sandaled boy had been silently inhaling and exhaling, his breathing patterns irregular, guided only by feeling, seeking the “most comfortable” state. Hearing this, his eyes hardened, and he said, “I have no choice. I have to get the wooden bow back, or all our efforts will have been for nothing! Besides, I shot an arrow at the old ape from Mud Lane. It’s true, as you said, even at that close range, unless I hit the old ape in the eye, the damage is negligible.”

Ning Yao was annoyed. “I told you, your petty tricks 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 follow my plan, right?”

In fact, when the boy and girl had discussed how to deal with the old ape in the covered bridge, they initially decided to each do their own thing. Chen Ping’an only asked the girl to wait for him to return to town and find three people, but later, the boy suddenly changed his mind, catching up with Ning Yao before she stepped down from the north end of the covered bridge.

After that, a huge disagreement arose. The girl, carrying both a saber and a sword, was initially determined that Chen Ping’an, who was not a cultivator and didn’t even know martial arts, should just watch the show, or at most, cheer her on while she killed the old ape to avenge Liu Xianyang and vent her anger. But when Chen Ping’an asked her how she planned to kill the old ape, Ning Yao refused to say, only that she had her trump card. Travelling the world, climbing mountains, and walking the path alone, she needed some family secret weapon to survive.

Chen Ping’an did not agree.

That led to Chen Ping’an seeking out three people.

Chen Ping’an stood up and stretched, feeling almost no stiffness. He said, “I’ve rested enough.”

Ning Yao was surprised. “The things from Yang’s shop are that useful?”

Chen Ping’an’s eyes flickered with sadness for a moment, but he quickly nodded and smiled. “Very useful.”

Ning Yao asked, “Will the old ape see through your escape route?”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment and cautiously replied, “Maybe.”

Ning Yao drew two circles and a line on the ground with her scabbard. “This is the route between the shrine and the Li residence on Fulu Street. Where is your wooden bow hidden?”

Chen Ping’an crouched down and drew a circle. “Closer to the east, about here, not too far from Mud Lane.”

Ning Yao nodded. “Okay, even if the old ape comes straight to the shrine, I’ll delay him long enough for you to get the time you need.”

Chen Ping’an drew a small circle in the middle of the line with his finger. “Ning girl, if that worst-case scenario happens, can you lure him here? Where I entered the mountain originally? That way, it won’t take long for me to get there once I get the wooden bow.”

The girl in the dark green robe leaned on her sword, and said proudly, “Maybe I’ll be carrying the old ape’s head to you by then.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head. “Don’t be reckless. Be careful!”

Ning Yao wanted nothing more than to hit him on the head with her scabbard. Who was being reckless?

She glared. “Hey! Standing in front of you is Ning Yao, the future number one sword immortal in the whole world, okay?!”

The boy stood up, checked the two cloth bags at his waist, tightened them as a precaution, then looked up and smiled. “I know, I know. That’s why you can’t die in a place like this, or it would be such a waste. When you become such a big shot in the future, as your friend, I can benefit.”

Ning Yao sighed. “Chen Ping’an, you’re so long-winded and indecisive. I advise you not to get married, just find a woman and marry her off.”

The boy chuckled, not arguing. Just as he was about to leave the shrine, Ning Yao said, “I’ll take you to the stream first. Then I’ll walk a short distance northwest to prevent the old ape from worrying about the little girl’s safety. After leaving the bamboo forest, he might not find your trail and give up the pursuit, returning to town.”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment and didn’t refuse.

The boy and girl ran towards the stream together. The girl’s breathing was like a vast river, the depths silent, the currents surging. The boy’s breathing, on the other hand, was like a babbling brook, thin and steady.

Their presences were vastly different.

Ning Yao couldn’t help but ask, “Is that herb you smeared on the arrowhead of the wooden bow really effective?”

The boy replied, “It’s effective on wild boars over two hundred pounds. It should work on the old ape too.”

Ning Yao said nothing more.

As they approached the stream, at the spot where the straw-sandaled boy had come ashore, the boy and girl simultaneously exploded with strength, pushing off the ground and leaping across the stream.

After landing, the girl gripped her scabbard and slowed her pace. The boy sprinted, jumped across the river, landed, and ran, all in one smooth motion, instantly passing the girl. Just as Chen Ping’an was about to turn around, the girl said, “You go to town first. Don’t worry about me.”

The boy continued forward, turning his head to remind her, “I’ll take a slight detour, entering the town through a quiet alley. I might be a little late.”

Ning Yao nodded. After Chen Ping’an disappeared from sight, she stopped gripping her sword hilt and began walking slowly westward.

Not long after, the girl stopped and squinted at the distant upstream.

A burly figure suddenly shot off a large rock in the stream toward the north bank, landing twenty paces in front of the girl, radiating an oppressive presence.

The old ape was somewhat puzzled. There was no sign of the boy hiding nearby. He glanced at the long sword in the white scabbard at the girl’s waist, and said with a smile, “Little girl, were you the one who caused trouble on Fulu Street earlier?”

The girl placed her hands on both the saber and sword hilts, remaining silent.

The old ape asked curiously, “Little girl, although you kept your identity hidden on the way to town, I know you have an extraordinary background. You’re definitely not like those two wastes from Qingfeng City and Old Dragon City. But I’m curious, what grievances do we have that require this? Or does your family or sect have a grudge against Zhengyang Mountain?”

Without a word, Ning Yao drew both her saber and sword, her figure flashing away.

The narrow saber came first, striking down at the old ape of Zhengyang Mountain. The old ape simply raised its hand, forcefully deflecting the edge of the saber with its arm.

Taking advantage of the momentum, the girl spun around, swinging her sword horizontally towards the old ape’s neck.

The old ape also used its arm to brutally smash away the sword blade.

Failing with her first two attacks, the girl did not engage in close combat, creating distance between herself and the old ape, and walked slowly.

After assessing the sharpness of the two weapons with its immensely powerful body, the old ape ignored the bloody grooves cut into the outside of its arm and laughed, “The weapons are really good, and you dared to carry two of them on your body, it looks like a millennial family disciple from the mountain, otherwise it is a direct disciple from a first-class noble family under the mountain, I almost thought you were another Fenglei Garden swordsman hidden in the dark.”

The old ape moved as the girl made what seemed like careless steps, slightly shifting its line of sight as it followed her form, and said in a deep voice: “Little girl, knowing that even if you fail, you will still not give up, then I will give you one last chance to report your teacher’s school background, after that you will be killed by me again, Zhengyang Mountain will not admit its mistakes for this, and will not care where you come from, who your teacher is.”

Ning Yao completely ignored it, constantly looking for the old ape’s true weakness.

After all, she wasn’t the Prince of Dali, who had already reached the threshold of the tenth realm and could directly withstand a Mountain-Moving Ape.

The old ape, who thought it had retreated too much, sneered: “If you don’t appreciate it, then go your own way.”