Chapter 58

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Chapter 58: Misjudgment

     

The next morning, as the sun rose, a group of people had long been waiting quietly on the ring finger of Five-Claw Mountain’s Stone Man Peak in front of the already lush and green jujube forest.

     

Among them was a person dressed in green robes and a green headscarf, precisely Yanming Hermit.

     

Behind him were three young people, one of whom was Lu Yueming, who had saved Zhang Xiaolong and the others on the road the previous day. At this moment, Lu Yueming showed none of the arrogance he had displayed yesterday. He stood behind the crowd quietly with his hands clasped behind his back, eyes fixed on Yanming Hermit, silently waiting.

     

As dawn broke, a shadow swiftly passed through the jujube forest. Yanming Hermit, familiar with the terrain, used his lightness skill to leap across and casually marked the two jujube trees. However, he soon froze in place, because aside from the two fresh marks he had just made, there were no other marks on the trees. Where were the sword marks he had carved into the trees last month? Yanming Hermit was puzzled. Those deep cuts, penetrating three inches into the trees, couldn’t have healed within a month. Even if they had healed, there should have been some trace. Could it be that these were not the same two jujube trees?

     

Yanming Hermit’s heart skipped a beat as he thought: “This could be bad. If this isn’t the original entrance, getting through this forest might be troublesome.” As he pondered this, he carefully examined the nearby jujube trees but found nothing. It seemed as though he had never marked these trees before. At this moment, a young man wearing black clothes, short and stout with a sincere expression, approached and asked: “Senior Uncle Yanming, is there something wrong?”

     

Yanming Hermit turned to see that it was Tan Feng from the Tan family. Yanming Hermit couldn’t help but smile, the Tan family members were all short, stout, and sincere-looking, which was very reassuring. Truly, birds of a feather flock together. Smiling, he explained the situation to Tan Feng. Upon hearing this, Tan Feng said: “That’s simple.” He then turned to a slender young man in a white robe, who looked like a scholar, and said: “Brother Zhang, why don’t you come with me and check this side for any trees with sword marks? Brother Lu and Senior Uncle Yanming can check the other side. How about that?”

     

The scholar was none other than Zhang Zhaoyang from Ten Thousand Swords Peak. He had a thin face and sharp eyes. He didn’t say much, only: “Good.” Before turning to walk in the other direction. Tan Feng followed closely behind him, carefully inspecting the outer jujube trees. Meanwhile, Lu Yueming continued to smile at Yanming Hermit, waiting for his instructions. Yanming Hermit didn’t say much either, he simply gestured to Lu Yueming and turned to walk in the other direction. Lu Yueming quickly took a few steps to follow closely behind him.

     

Yanming Hermit walked a few steps before slowing down, muttering in his heart. In fact, the sword marks he made last time should be around here, there would definitely be no more if he went forward. Lu Yueming, sensing his thoughts, spoke up from behind: “Senior Uncle Yanming, are the marks you made last time around here?” Yanming Hermit stopped and turned back, saying: “Yes, I think there should be nothing further ahead.”

     

Lu Yueming replied, “Then, Senior Uncle, why don’t not carefully examine once more, while we the younger generation check around?”

     

Yanming Hermit laughed and said: “The Piaomiao Sect truly grows stronger with each generation. Sect Master Ou is very fortunate to have such outstanding disciples under his tutelage. Alright, you go ahead and take a careful look. I’ll stay here.”

     

Lu Yueming nodded with a smile and continued forward to inspect further, leaving Yanming Hermit behind him.

     

Not mentioning Yanming Hermit contemplating his next move where he stood, the other three looked from their original position to the end of the jujube forest, then back from the end to their starting point. As expected by Yanming Hermit, they found nothing. Everyone fell silent involuntarily. The premise of their earlier discussion was entering from the original entrance. Now that the entrance has changed, all previous plans naturally became invalid. What should they do now?

     

The three of them stood quietly, thinking and waiting for Yanming Hermit’s instructions.

     

The three that came this time to Five-Claw Mountain were chosen with the same method as the last time, with the four sects last time dispatching second-generation disciples, but this time with greater secrecy. Ever since the leaders of the four sects returned from Wutong Mountain, they have frequently sent different disciples to various places to handle affairs, fearing that spies from other sects might uncover their plans.

     

These three are just one of these actions. It was only at the moment they set off that their sect masters revealed the objective of this mission and secretly instructed them on everything to be cautious of. After them, many more disciples continued to be sent out continuously. Even many core figures within their sects are unsure of who is executing which tasks. Therefore, these three managed to deceive the surveillance of other sects and smoothly arrived here.

     

The disciples chosen to participate in this matter are naturally the outstanding ones among their peers. Knowing the value of the secret realm, the four sects will not underestimate the situation again. Moreover, not only did these three individuals consume their sect’s secret medicinal pills, but they also had profound skills, which are quite formidable in the martial world. Otherwise, Lu Yueming alone wouldn’t have effortlessly dealt with the seven individuals from West Cui Mountain yesterday. If it were Wen Wenhai and Xue Qing from a month ago, it probably wouldn’t have been so easy.

     

Although there were some flaws in this operation, all three of them were calm individuals. Even Tan Feng, who appears a little rough, at this moment, was silent and focused, patiently waiting for Yanming Hermit’s instructions.

     

Yanming Hermit pondered for a while before saying: “Even if this entrance is no longer the same as before, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s unsafe. However, we cannot enter according to the formula used last time. Perhaps there is a new formula this time. Each of you should bring out your own piece of leather. I assume your masters have already informed you of the methods to use. Now, let’s see if the formula is the same.”

     

Upon hearing this, everyone followed the instructions and took out their respective pieces of leather from their pockets. They cut their fingers with knives and smeared the leather with their fresh blood. However, this time, everyone, including Yanming Ju Shi, was even more dumbfounded.

     

At the place where the formula was originally revealed, now there was nothing but blank space.

     

While the others didn’t feel much, Yanming Hermit immediately broke out in a cold sweat. Despite his advanced martial skills, he involuntarily tensed up and turned around, alertly scanning the surroundings. This situation was indeed too eerie.

     

Originally filled with ambition to venture inside and gain further, Yanming Hermit now was unwilling to go in no matter what. Having roamed the Jianghu for many years, he had never heard of characters written on leather disappearing. This phenomenon was beyond his comprehension. Being cautious by nature, as an old hand in the martial world, he immediately concluded that this was a forbidden area, one not to be approached lightly. The best course of action was to patiently wait until the fifteenth day of the next lunar year and try their luck again.

     

However, Yanming Ju Shi did not reveal any trace of timidity. He calmly said: “Since the formula isn’t appearing, there must be two possible reasons. First, it could be the same as last time. Second, it might not be the right time yet, so the formula hasn’t manifested.” At this point, even he wasn’t entirely convinced of his explanations. If it were the same as last time, the formula should have appeared as it did before. As for it not being the right time, could there really be characters that appear based on the time of day? That idea seemed utterly baffling.

     

In any case, Yanming Hermit said: “We don’t have the formula now, and we can’t be sure if the formula from last time will work. Given this situation, I don’t recommend entering the forest. What are your thoughts?”

     

Although these three in front of Yanming Hermit were not as skilled or as senior as himself, they represented their respective sects after all. Yanming Hermit patiently looked at them, waiting for their responses.

     

Lu Yueming’s eyes shifted slightly, but he remained silent. Before coming here, Ou Peng had already given instructions. While the secret realm was indeed important, the primary focus for the Piaomiao Sect was expanding their territory, as their current strength was sufficient.

     

Obtaining valuable herbs from the secret realm would be excellent, but even if they couldn’t enter, it was crucial to keep this secret safe until they could try again next year. Therefore, Lu Yueming had already made up his mind. Seeing that Yanming Hermit seemed to share his thoughts, he chose not to speak further.

     

Tan Feng from the Tan family frowned. Earlier, the head of his family had emphasized that safety and secrecy were paramount, and it didn’t matter if he didn’t enter the secret realm. However, his curiosity was piqued, and he really wanted to see what a place capable of growing century-old medicinal herbs looked like. After weighing his options for a long time, he finally looked up and said: “When the family head sent me, he made it clear that everything here should be arranged by Senior Uncle Yanming. I have no objections.”

     

Yanming Hermit nodded and then looked at Lu Yueming, who naturally agreed as well. Finally, he turned his gaze to Zhang Zhaoyang from Ten Thousand Swords Peak.

     

Zhang Zhaoyang didn’t frown and ponder like Tan Feng. He looked completely calm, gazing at the jujube forest as if it were the small woods he played in as a child. It seemed he had already made up his mind and was merely waiting for others to decide. When Yanming Hermit sought his opinion, he smiled faintly and said: “Senior Uncle Yanming, our Sword Master has instructed that no matter the dangers in the forest, we must bring back the medicinal herbs. I believe I must explore the jujube forest.”

     

Zhang Zhaoyang’s words were quite unexpected. Yanming Hermit had thought he would also follow his arrangements. Zhang Zhaoyang’s insistence on entering posed a dilemma for Yanming Hermit. However, recalling their meeting at Wutong Mountain, it was clear that Wan Chengjiu was the most eager to enter the secret realm again. Thus, this order was not difficult to understand.

     

But if the others didn’t want to go in, should Zhang Zhaoyang venture in alone? Yanming Hermit pondered for a long while and didn’t know how to answer him.

     

Seeing that Yanming Hermit did not answer him directly, Zhang Zhaoyang naturally understood his hesitation. He cupped his hands towards Yanming Hermit and the other two, saying: “Senior Uncle Yanming, fellow martial brothers, I am fully prepared for this venture into the forest and do not expect any significant danger. If you all are unwilling to join me, then let me go in alone to scout the path for everyone. What do you think?”

     

The last sentence was directed at Yanming Hermit.