Chapter 18

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Chapter 18: Roaring Bear Valley

Green Cloud City, surrounded by towering mountains, is a natural fortress—easy to defend, nearly impossible to attack.

Among these mountains stands the mighty Green Dragon Mountain. Legends speak of ancient times when demonic beasts roamed freely, preying on humans. It was only through the might of immortal families that these creatures were eradicated. Though the true demonic beasts are long gone, remnants of their bloodline linger in the mountain’s depths, manifesting in beasts of extraordinary strength and ferocity.

The inner reaches of Green Dragon Mountain are perilous, and ordinary folk dare not venture there.

Yi Qianmo held a worn map in his hands, given to him by an old herbalist. Following the directions, he ventured deep into the mountain along a concealed path. This path, the old man’s closely guarded secret, was his livelihood. It was only the lure of a thousand gold coins that persuaded him to reveal it.

Into the Depths

The old man had warned him: it would take half a month to traverse the dangerous terrain. The strange beasts that roamed these parts were territorial and sharp-sensed, detecting intruders from afar.

For an herbalist, avoiding such creatures required patience—hours, sometimes days, spent evading their patrols. But Yi Qianmo had no time to spare. Exhausted from the battle earlier that day, his energy was depleted, yet he pushed forward.

The mountain was eerily quiet under the midnight sky, the silence amplifying the danger that surrounded him. He moved swiftly but cautiously, adhering to the herbalist’s warnings about concealing his scent and avoiding marked territories.

In less than an hour, Yi Qianmo had covered nearly ten miles, his speed driven by urgency. Several predatory scents lingered in the air, signaling that he was being followed. But his swift movements and the path’s edges kept him out of harm’s way—for now.

The Mountain Stream

After hours of trekking, he reached a moonlit mountain stream. Stopping in his tracks, he frowned.

“This stream belongs to a Green Back Bear,” he muttered. “A strange beast with immense strength.”

Before the day’s events, such an encounter wouldn’t have troubled him. He could have outrun the beast without much effort. But now, drained of energy, the risk was far greater.

“This is the only route to the valley. I have no choice but to risk it.”

Taking a deep breath, Yi Qianmo stepped carefully onto the stones lining the stream, avoiding the water. The herbalist had warned him: wet clothes would betray his presence to the bear.

Halfway across, he froze.

A Shadow in the Moonlight

A massive shadow loomed ahead, nearly ten feet tall, its bulk as wide as three men. Under the pale light, two blood-red eyes glinted ominously.

The Green Back Bear.

Before Yi Qianmo could retreat, the beast turned its gaze toward him and let out a deafening roar that echoed through the valley.

“Howl!”

With a thunderous charge, the Green Back Bear lunged at him, water splashing wildly in its wake.

A Deadly Encounter

Yi Qianmo unsheathed his black sword, bracing himself. There was no time to think—only act.

The bear rose onto its hind legs, towering over him like a mountain. Its massive paw swung down, the force enough to pulverize granite. Yi Qianmo dodged, narrowly avoiding the blow, and slipped beneath the bear’s arm.

“Boom!”

The paw struck the ground, shattering the stone into dust. Even in his transformed state, Yi Qianmo doubted he could survive such a blow.

The beast roared in frustration, its agility belying its size as it quickly turned and charged again. Yi Qianmo, now cornered, made a desperate move.

As the bear’s paw came crashing toward him once more, he thrust his sword upward.

“Thud!”

The blade pierced the bear’s paw, eliciting a bloodcurdling roar. But the force of the strike sent Yi Qianmo flying. He hit the ground hard, pain coursing through his body.

Ignoring his injuries, he scrambled to his feet and ran toward the distant valley. The injured bear, though slowed, pursued him relentlessly.

The Valley’s Threshold

At last, Yi Qianmo reached the valley the herbalist had described. The bear stopped at the entrance, its crimson eyes filled with hesitation. It roared repeatedly but did not step inside.

“What’s stopping it?” Yi Qianmo whispered, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

The bear’s hesitation unnerved him.

“Either there’s a stronger beast in this valley,” he murmured, “or something here terrifies it.”

The first possibility seemed unlikely. The herbalist had ventured here many times without issue. But the second possibility—the unknown—sent a chill down Yi Qianmo’s spine.

For now, the Green Back Bear would not enter. But the valley held its own secrets, and Yi Qianmo would soon discover what lay within.