Volume Two: The Winds Rise in Anxi Prefecture - Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Nine: The Wind and Rain Temple

The Northern Frontier Mountains stand as the most majestic and vital mountain range in the northern territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty, holding immense strategic significance.

They serve as the critical thoroughfare for prefectures such as Beilu wishing to travel southward to Anxi Prefecture.

The overwhelming presence of fiendish monsters not only threatens the safety of Beilu Prefecture and its neighbors but also obstructs their communication and commerce with other prefectures and the Imperial Capital.

Setting out from the South Gate, the group traveled southwestward.

After a day and a night, the members of the Demon Suppression Bureau finally arrived at the foot of the Northern Frontier Mountains.

Through the carriage windows, the rolling, undulating mountain ranges stretched out endlessly into the horizon.

"By order of Commander Xu, there is no need to pitch tents. All martial artists of the Demon Suppression Bureau are to enter the Northern Frontier Mountains, clear out the outer perimeter of monsters first, and then proceed to rendezvous at Wind and Rain Mountain."

A loud voice rang out, transmitting the directive.

Wen Yan, Chen Xuanfeng, and Lu Jiuzhang alighted from the carriage.

The vast procession marched forward into the Northern Frontier Mountains in an imposing formation.

It was the first time they were given no opportunity even to rest.

"There are far too many fiendish monsters within the Northern Frontier Mountains. Proceed with utmost caution," Chen Xuanfeng said. "I have an old acquaintance who is the Commander of the Baishui County Demon Suppression Bureau. We will travel together with them when the time comes."

Just as Chen Xuanfeng finished speaking, a robust, tall-statured middle-aged man in his forties walked over.

Two martial artists followed closely behind him, presumably from Baishui County.

"Commander Chen, to be honest, I haven't had the chance to celebrate your promotion to Commander of Changshui County. I've been bogged down by endless mundane affairs; I hope you won't hold it against me," the Baishui County Demon Suppression Bureau Commander said, cupping his fists in a salute.

"You are too modest, Commander Yang!"

Chen Xuanfeng returned the salute, while whispering an explanation to Lu Jiuzhang: "His name is Yang Zhe. He also comes from the border garrisons and is quite dependable."

"A congratulatory gift is a must. I specially brought a piece of jade, mined right here in Beilu Prefecture," the burly Commander Yang said with a smile as he handed it over. "This piece is suet jade, exceptionally rare in yield."

"Then I shall not stand on ceremony."

Accepting the gift without pretense, Commander Chen took it directly.

By now, the entire force was deployed in a fan-like distribution, naturally breaking into dozens of smaller squads.

The contingent from the Anxi Prefecture Demon Suppression Bureau was the largest, consisting almost entirely of martial artists, the weakest among whom had just stepped into the Ninth Grade of the Martial Dao.

"That Commander Xu is truly riding the crest of a wave right now!"

Gazing at a figure positioned at the very center of the Anxi Prefecture Demon Suppression Bureau's contingent, Commander Yang remarked with a sigh, "Originally, Commander Zhong was one of the strongest contenders for the position of Commander of the Anxi Prefecture Demon Suppression Bureau."

"Now that Commander Zhong is gone, Deputy Commander Xu is the most likely candidate to succeed him. He shares the same clan as Prefect Xu and enjoys his backing. I suppose the position of Chief Commander is already well within his grasp."

Mention of Commander Zhong plunged Chen Xuanfeng into a bout of melancholy.

Though his relationship with Zhong Zhengming had been ordinary, he deeply admired the man's integrity and character.

Who could have foreseen such a dramatic and tragic turn of events?

"Why hasn't Commander Yang vied for that position?" Chen Xuanfeng asked. "In my view, you are far more reliable than he is."

"Hahaha, Commander Chen, please don't joke. Whether in terms of strength or background, I fall far short of Commander Xu. To compete rashly would only invite ridicule," the burly Commander Yang said, waving his hand dismissively.

As his words faded, the procession began to move forward in succession.

Lu Jiuzhang walked close to Chen Xuanfeng, constantly scanning the surrounding environment.

"Master Nine, there are immensely powerful fiendish monsters in these mountains," the large black dog murmured in a low voice. "If the experts of the Anxi Prefecture Demon Suppression Bureau prove no match for them, we should pull back at the earliest sign of trouble."

The moment the wind turned unfavorable, the large black dog's first instinct was to plot an escape.

"Very well!"

Lu Jiuzhang nodded.

There was no sense in making pointless sacrifices.

Kill the monsters if they could; run if they couldn't.

It was a simple truth!

...

After pushing more than ten miles deep into the range, the group finally encountered monsters.

They were Crimson Tiger Beasts, five in total.

The strongest possessed a cultivation base of no higher than the Eighth Grade of the Dao of Monsters, while the rest appeared to be her offspring, lingering at the Ninth Grade.

To Lu Jiuzhang and his companions, these creatures posed no threat whatsoever.

Chen Xuanfeng made his move, effortlessly slaughtering the beasts.

Afterward, the company pushed deeper, and the presence of monsters grew increasingly dense.

It wasn't until they had penetrated about a hundred kilometers in that they were granted a brief respite.

Along the way, they had eliminated no fewer than several dozen fiendish beasts.

Even after clearing out a number of them earlier, the population of monsters seemed to multiply relentlessly.

To the northwest, a towering mountain stood proudly.

That was Wind and Rain Mountain.

It marked the boundary separating the outer perimeter of the Northern Frontier Mountains from the inner depths.

The fiendish entities in the outer region were relatively weak, mostly dwelling in the Eighth or Ninth Grade of the Monster Dao.

Venturing further inward, however, the realm and strength of the monsters escalated dramatically.

Monsters of the Seventh Grade were commonplace, and their combat prowess was formidable.

"A sect known as Wind and Rain Temple once stood upon Wind and Rain Mountain," Commander Yang explained. "It was the largest sect in Beilu Prefecture, and its primary mandate was to suppress and guard the Northern Frontier Mountains."

"Later, for reasons unknown, Wind and Rain Temple declined, and all its disciples vanished without a trace."

Lu Jiuzhang raised his gaze toward Wind and Rain Mountain. The peak possessed an ethereal grace, its undulating ridges draped in lush verdure, while its summit remained shrouded in drifting clouds.

As dusk approached, the setting sun painted the landscape in breathtaking beauty.

"Let us press on. We can rest once we reach Wind and Rain Mountain," Chen Xuanfeng declared.

The group had no choice but to continue. An hour later, they finally arrived at the foot of Wind and Rain Mountain.

Night had fallen, and torches flared into life all around them.

Lighting fires in the dead of night was a foolish endeavor, as it invariably attracted fiendish entities.

Yet, with such a massive assembly of martial artists gathered here, fear was absent.

At the foot of the mountain sat a dilapidated temple, its walls crumbling and choked with overgrown weeds.

Deputy Commander Xu took up quarters within the ruined Taoist temple.

The rest of the company lacked such fortune; as tents were erected one by one, they had to make do with sleeping in the open wilderness.

Still, as Commander of a County Demon Suppression Bureau, Chen Xuanfeng managed to secure a private tent of his own.

Lu Jiuzhang was not so fortunate, sharing a single tent with two Deputy Commanders from the Baishui County bureau.

Out in the clearing, some took advantage of the night to kindle fires and cook their evening meal.

Finding the tent too stifling, Lu Jiuzhang stepped outside and saw Chen Xuanfeng standing in the open clearing, gazing silently at the bright moon.

"Commander Chen has quite the refined taste."

Lu Jiuzhang remarked with a faint smile, walking over to sit beside Chen Xuanfeng.

"Journeying this far, things have felt... suspiciously effortless," Chen Xuanfeng said abruptly.

"Commander Chen, how do you mean?" Lu Jiuzhang inquired.

"In past suppression campaigns, it was never as effortless as today, even along the outer perimeter where monsters abound," Chen Xuanfeng said. "I recall Commander Zhong once keeping statistics: for every ten miles advanced, casualties were inevitable."

"Ninth-grade martial artists suffered the heaviest losses—at least several dozen at a time."

"Even eighth-grade martial artists would see one or two killed or wounded!"

"Yet today, observing the Anxi Prefecture Demon Suppression Bureau, remarkably few have been injured. Even fatalities are exceedingly rare."

Lu Jiuzhang nodded slowly. "Does Commander Chen suspect those monsters have laid a trap for us?"

"They have already laid it. Those beasts are far from stupid; after suffering repeated purges, they have wised up and devised a countermeasure."

"Past tactics could always be broken, but this time... something in my heart feels deeply unsettled."