Rumble rumble!
After Qingming, the weather in the mountains beca even more changeable.
The sky was gloomy, dark clouds like ink, seeming to press down on the mountains about to fall. Thunder roared, fierce winds howled, branches thrashing through the woods with loud noises.
Midway up the mountain, an ancient Mountain God Temple stood.
The mountain path outside the temple was originally an ancient military road from the Three Kingdoms Period, but it had long been abandoned, overgrown with wild grass, and occasionally one could find decayed arrows.
The Mountain God Temple itself was very old, eroded by the years, its temple walls mottled, and the plaster peeling off to reveal the bricks and stones beneath.
In the fierce wind, a rchant team proceeded with difficulty along the winding mountain path.
In Dangyang County, there were many mountain paths, and in these troubled tis, it was not uncommon for people from the green forest to rob travelers on these paths, so those who dared to take these roads were certainly not ordinary.
They each held sharp blades, had sturdy physiques, and were clearly practitioners, so of whom were peddlers carrying loads.
There were two types of peddlers in the pugilistic world.
One type was local, buying goods from nearby county towns, wandering the countryside without using abacus or keeping accounts, selling small items like needles, handkerchiefs, rouge, and candies.
Others were craftsn who sharpened knives or repaired bowls and pots, making a living with a small skill.
But another type road the north and south of the country.
They gathered information about different places, selling it to pugilistic world inns and were skilled in martial arts or magic skills, directly helping people with minor troubles.
Of course, so were not decent folks, originally spies of the Green Forest Road, sweet-talking, sotis enticing housewives, or even committing murder and robbery.
And these peddlers were the informants of pugilistic world inns.
But faced with this storm, they were still in a ss.
The tarp on the cart was blown left and right, everyone bent down, heads lowered, squinting their eyes, using their hands to fend off the fierce wind.
"A thunderstorm is coming!"
"Quick, let’s take shelter in the temple ahead!"
Suddenly, the donkeys ahead began braying disorderly, refusing to move another step.
"You beast, acting up at a ti like this!"
The driver, angry, lashed wildly with his whip, but the donkey just wouldn’t budge, instead retreating backward, and in a sudden rage it almost bit soone.
"Stop, sothing’s not right!"
The leader of the rchant team sensed danger and said with a heavy voice, "These animals have traveled with us through thick and thin and wouldn’t hurt people without reason; there might be sothing ahead."
"Quick, you two, go look, but be careful!"
At his command, two n imdiately grabbed their simple blades, carefully advancing one in front and one behind to scout the path.
They were very familiar with this mountain path.
After the uphill climb and rounding a corner, there was the Mountain God Temple where they sotis took shelter from the rain and occasionally rested overnight.
Could there be bandits lying in ambush?
However, upon rounding the corner, the two n were taken aback.
They saw several horses stopped in the open space outside the Mountain God Temple, their saddlebags hung with luggage, the horses shuffling their hooves restlessly.
A young man kept muttering to himself, apparently calming them.
There was also a Daoist, a young bladesman in black clothing, and a bald, muscular man gathered together, staring at the temple, seemingly discussing sothing.
It was Li Yan and his group.
Aware of the approaching rchant team from afar, Li Yan had already noticed them and casually glanced, saying, "Guys, don’t be afraid. We are not bad people."
The scouting man didn’t relax his vigilance and suspiciously responded, "It’s going to rain; why don’t you go inside to take shelter?"
Li Yan looked at the sky, "No rush, let’s wait a bit."
Seeing their relaxed and carefree deanor, the two scouts from the rchant team didn’t say more and nodded, then turned and left.
"Boss, there are four people at the temple entrance..."
Back with the team, the two imdiately reported what they had seen.
The shopkeeper pondered a mont, "With horses and luggage, they’re probably not highway robbers..."
"Let’s go! Into the temple to take shelter, everyone be careful!"
At his command, the rchant team moved forward and quickly arrived outside the temple.
Seeing the attire of Li Yan and his companions, the rchant leader imdiately understood and greeted with a smile, "Gentlen, from which mountain do you co, and what incense have you burned?"
"From Hua Mountain, burning the Three Pure Ones’ incense!"
Sha Lifei laughed heartily, "Gentlen, don’t be nervous. It’s treacherous mountains we traverse, all of us are wanderers. Let’s all put away our weapons."
"Oh?"
The rchant leader’s heart trembled, and he quickly bowed respectfully, "These tis are troubled; pardon any offense you’ve seen."
Saying this, he signaled with his eyes, and his n put away their weapons.
The incense of the Three Pure Ones was clear evidence of soone from the Mystical Sect.
Among the Mystical Sect, there were both deceivers from the Gold Sect and genuine experts possessing Magic Skills, holding the highest positions in the pugilistic world.
Either way, he didn’t want to provoke them.
But just as they were about to enter the temple, Sha Lifei stopped them with a smile, "Why the rush? Let’s wait a little more before entering the temple."
The rchant team leader frowned slightly, and asked cautiously, "Gentlen, is there sothing in the temple?"
He, who traveled frequently through the mountains, was naturally aware of certain taboos; in these wild and desolate places, it was best not to invoke certain nas.
"That’s... hard to say."
Sha Lifei chuckled, "Anyway, just wait a bit."
Seeing Dao Xuan among the crowd appearing completely at ease, the rchant team leader was clearly puzzled but raised his hand in agreent, "We’ll wait as advised."
Having said that, he turned to his n, "Just wait here."
However, this wait turned into nearly a quarter of an hour.
The rchant team, on alert, didn’t dare to chat further.
And the sky grew even more overcast, with dark clouds bearing down and the mountain wind becoming more furious, signaling an imminent downpour.
Crack crack!
Suddenly, lightning streaked across the sky like silver snakes, brilliantly illuminating it.
Raindrops pattered down, splattering mud on the open ground outside the temple, and within a breath, a torrential rain began.
Billions of raindrops hit the leaves of the forest, creating a rustling sound like the tide of the sea, and with the increasingly fierce mountain wind, rain swept diagonally across the air.
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