In the territory of West Shu, the peaks overlap.
In contrast to the chaos between North and South Yangtze in recent years, the Shu Region hidden among the mountains remains harmonious.
Life here continues as before, with farming at sunrise and resting at sunset.
Travel relies on carriages, and farming on ox carts.
The streets and alleys of the city retain their ancient appearance, unchanged.
Long Fei and Lin Yingying didn’t pause in these cities and went directly to the foot of Mount Shu.
As the foremost sect in the Shu Region, there is a large city at the mountain’s base, entirely serving the Mount Shu Sect above.
Cultivators co and go in the city.
The most common are the non-religious sects, mostly sword cultivators, posting advertisents everywhere to recruit new disciples.
Besides these, there are nurous dicine shops and weapon stores, reportedly all opened by the disciples of Mount Shu.
Long Fei and Lin Yingying found a tavern to have a al and overheard people bragging about recent events at Mount Shu.
Soone lowered their voice and said, "Have you heard? A couple of days ago, a group of won ca to make trouble at Mount Shu and got trapped by the Yin-Yang Dust Grand Formation?"
"I’ve heard about it. That group of won is said to be very formidable, moving from the mountain’s base to its peak. If it weren’t for the Yin-Yang Dust Grand Formation, they couldn’t have been trapped."
Soone asked out of curiosity, "Why are they targeting Mount Shu?"
Soone replied, "They say it’s an old grudge. Mount Shu supposedly took sothing from them, and they’re here to get it back."
Soone reminded, "Everyone, keep your voices down. I saw disciples of Mount Shu in the city catching accomplices of that group. Let’s not ntion this anymore, lest we get caught by the disciples of Mount Shu."
A group of people quickly quieted down and concentrated on drinking.
Upon hearing this, Long Fei’s first thought was of Wang Xiaoya and her group.
Lately, there have been rumors of Xie Sanniang leading them around to settle old scores, causing trouble for many second-rate sects.
They must have co to Mount Shu and ended up trapped there.
Lin Yingying had the sa thought, hurriedly ate a couple of bites with Long Fei, and intended to head to Mount Shu to pay a visit.
But they encountered disciples of Mount Shu who acted arrogantly, behaving in this city as if it were their own backyard.
The door of Long Fei’s private room was kicked open by them.
A group of people sized up the pair, seeing they were unfamiliar faces, coldly asked, "Where are you from?"
"Chang’an!"
Long Fei responded calmly.
The Mount Shu disciple shouted, "Chang’an City? Then you’re allies of the Mystic Yin Sect. Take them away."
He raised his sword, and the disciple behind him surrounded Long Fei and Lin Yingying.
The two smiled faintly, deciding to play along, and followed these disciples of Mount Shu up the mountain.
They simply extended their hands, allowing the disciples to bind them and take them away.
Just as unfortunate as them, there were over a hundred n and won wearing different attires.
Among the crowd, they shouted helplessly, "Master Tao, we’re innocent! We ca from Chang’an City to do business here and haven’t done anything wrong!"
"Master Tao, let us go! We have elders and children to care for. How will they survive if we go up the mountain?"
A disciple treading on a flying sword scolded the people behind, "Shut up, the Mystic Yin Sect has recently been causing trouble in our Mount Shu’s territory, wiping out five or six of our non-religious sects. We are only taking you up the mountain for questioning, and you will be released once it’s clear!"
Their actions were domineering, giving these people no chance to argue.
Ma Tengfei was in the backyard feeding three wolves. Hearing the commotion, he ran out, and upon seeing Long Fei and Lin Yingying tied up, he beca anxious and drew his sword.
Long Fei, however, secretly communicated, advising him not to act rashly and to co up the mountain to demand people tomorrow.
They followed the group of disciples and went up Mount Shu.
Mount Shu stretched over ten thousand miles with countless peaks.
The main peak is Qixia Peak, splendidly beautiful whether in the morning or at dusk from afar.
Indeed, it is a Cave Heaven Blessed Land, extraordinary in its grandeur.
The archway entrance to the sect is fashioned from two enormous swords carved from mountain rock.
On one sword hilt is inscribed ’Shu’ and on the other, ’Mountain.’
Ascending via the mountain path, one reaches a mist-shrouded immortal scene halfway up.
Among the crowd, only Long Fei and Lin Yingying appreciated this mountain beauty.
Others complained, so squatting tiredly on the ground, whipped by Mount Shu disciples until they stood back up.
So tried to flee amidst the chaos, attempting to use sword flight to leave the mountain path.
Unexpectedly, there was a Mountain-Defending Great Formation on the mountain.
Those flying with swords crashed into the formation’s barrier and exploded mid-air like fireworks.
The Mount Shu disciples not only felt no guilt but instead scolded coldly, "You see? That’s the cost of fleeing! Once you enter the gates of Mount Shu, you must behave well to survive. Anyone who runs away will only find a path to death."
Soone sighed, "I’ve long heard Mount Shu Sect’s practices are overbearing, and today I see its reputation is well-deserved."
Long Fei asked from behind, "Old brother, what brought you here?"
The man lanted, "Unlucky , my na is Liuu Yuancheng, a disciple of the Liuu Family from Southern County, here to promote flashlights. Have you seen a flashlight, my friend? It’s a new invention from Southern County, using batteries to illuminate, much brighter and cheaper than the Light Gathering Stone, capable of shining over a thousand ters."
"A disciple of the Liuu Family?"
Long Fei chuckled, "Is it Liuu Jiangnan’s business?"
The man was surprised, staring at Long Fei, nodding repeatedly, "Yes, yes, our clan leader is Liuu Jiangnan, and he’s also the president of the South Yangtze Chamber of Comrce. Does my friend know our president?"
"Sort of!"
Long Fei nodded.
Liuu Yuancheng exclaid joyfully, "What a chance to et a fellow townsman on the road!"
Long Fei asked him, "You said you were selling goods, and they still caught you?"
Liuu Yuancheng lanted again, "Caught, caught indeed! They even confiscated my flashlights, claiming I was following the Heterodox Path and must be associated with the Mystic Yin Sect’s demonesses. Just tell , how did doing business offend anyone? I’ve already sent a ssage via eagle courier to the Chamber of Comrce. Soon, there will be news. Once they arrive, I’ll take you away with , my friend."
Long Fei smiled and nodded, "Thank you, old brother."
He chatted with Liuu Yuancheng about Liuu Jiangnan’s affairs.
The Liuu Family-led South Yangtze Chamber of Comrce is growing ever larger, with business reaching throughout the entire Great Xia Country.
Liuu Yuancheng mainly promotes civilian products, affordable and highly practical.
For example, flashlights, laundry powder, shampoo, soap, sewing machines for making won’s clothes, buttons, and needles and threads.
These products are already widely used in Southern County but are still in the early stages of exploration in Shu Prefecture.
Long Fei listened and thought to himself that no matter the era, won are always the main custor base in business.
Upon reaching the mountaintop, they discovered many people had already been captured, busily repairing buildings.
The disciples catching them shouted at the crowd, "See what your accomplices have done. If you work hard to atone by repairing our hall, we’ll soon let you down the mountain."
Liuu Yuancheng cursed softly, "See? It’s not really about capturing accomplices; it’s about exploiting free labor from everyone."
He forgot there were cultivators here.
Soone holding a sword approached, coldly staring at him and scolded, "You keep mumbling all the way. Are you feeling brave now? You dare to say it again, loudly, let everyone hear it."
Liuu Yuancheng imdiately changed deanor, folding his hands ingratiatingly, "Master Tao, please don’t be angry, it’s my foul mouth. I’ll punish myself with a slap three tis, I promise to reform, and I hope you won’t take offense."
Saying so, he slapped his mouth three tis, finally satisfying the Mount Shu disciple, who smiled, "Giving you face, you don’t want it; you just want a beating from ."
His gaze shifted to Long Fei and Lin Yingying.
Though Long Fei remained unremarkable due to his restrained aura, Lin Yingying, dressed in pure white, exuded an ethereal presence, leaving the disciple dumbfounded, wiping the drool from his mouth, "Wow, where did they catch this girl from? You all don’t know how to cherish beauty, quickly untie her for !"
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