Chapter 151: Shennong Village
Du Yuejiao, her long, black hair loose, wore a pink dress.
Although the full moon had passed, its light was still bright, illuminating her through the window.
She seemed to be bathed in moonlight, an ethereal, dreamlike figure.
Her cultivation of the Illusory Moon Demonic Flame Technique had clearly progressed.
She whispered, “I was about to sleep, but I saw your light was still on, so I came to check on you. Are you going to bed, Brother Shi? I’ll leave you then.” She turned and floated towards her own room.
Shi Hao sighed in relief.
He hadn’t done anything, yet he felt like he had narrowly avoided being caught in a compromising situation.
At daybreak, Hou Bomin and Xiang Gu stayed at the monastery.
Shi Hao, along with Gong Muhong, Daoist Chuan, Zhao Peng of Azure Dragon City, the four women from Wu Village, Du Yuejiao, and Xu Xiaoyan, set out for Shennongjia.
Shennongjia wasn’t far from Mount Xieluo, where Wudang Monastery was located. It was to the south, named after the legendary Shennong, the Divine Farmer, a mythical ancestor of the Chinese people, who was said to have climbed the mountains here, gathering herbs and teaching the people agriculture and medicine.
The terrain was treacherous, the mountains rising in steep, terraced slopes.
If you could fly, it was only about two or three hundred li east of the Three Gorges.
Without such abilities, however, even skilled martial artists would have to travel by boat along the Hanyang River, then the Long River.
Several of the Nine Villages of Ba Shan were founded by refugees who had fled to this region with the last emperor of the Sheng Dynasty.
The Gong family, for example, were descendants of a general who had accompanied the emperor. And further back in their lineage, during the early Sheng Dynasty, there had even been a prominent official.
They arrived at Shennong Village. Its walls, built from large stone blocks, were over ten feet high, patrolled by local militia.
The village gates were open, but two martial artists and several militiamen stood guard.
Of the Nine Villages, Shennong Village was clearly the strongest. Their leader, Jing Fude, was a sixth-rank expert, and they had several other skilled martial artists at the seventh rank.
Gong Muhong and Daoist Chuan approached the guards and requested an audience with Elder Jing.
Although surprised by their visit, the guards, recognizing them as leaders of neighboring settlements, didn’t stop them.
They sent a messenger to inform Elder Jing and invited them inside.
Shi Hao and the others entered the village. The architecture was typical of the Central Plains, suggesting the villagers’ ancestors had migrated from there.
In the training grounds, young men practiced spear techniques on straw dummies.
Although they seemed well-trained, the atmosphere lacked the vibrancy of the Gong family estate, a sense of weariness and resignation hanging over the village.
Even the trainees seemed listless and unmotivated.
They were led to a manor house and entered.
An old man, almost seventy, dressed in a brocade robe, was talking with another man in his fifties, both seated in large chairs.
The other man, dressed in a long robe, his face kind and jovial, was laughing.
“Elder Jing!” Gong Muhong and Daoist Chuan stepped forward and bowed.
“So it’s Nephew Gong and Abbot Chuan, and Nephew Zhao Peng from Azure Dragon City,” the old man said, “And these are…?”
Daoist Chuan introduced them, “This is young Shi Chongyun, and these four are from Wu Village.”
Elder Jing, the leader of Shennong Village, said, “Mount Nangong, Mount Xieluo, Azure Dragon City, and Wu Village… four of the Nine Villages. You must have an important matter to discuss.”
The man in the long robe said, “Since you have important matters to discuss, I’ll take my leave…”
“Nonsense,” Elder Jing said, “Stay.” He introduced the man to Gong Muhong, Daoist Chuan, and the others, “This is my good friend, Zhao Xuanding. You must have heard of him.”
Daoist Chuan’s eyes widened, “Zhao Xuanding, the ‘Canyon Stabilizer’! It’s an honor to meet you.”
Zhao Xuanding, sitting in his chair, bowed slightly, “You flatter me. I’ve heard of the Hanyang Gang’s recent aggression, their ruthless expansion. The Ba Mountains and the Hanyang River have always been closely connected. If the Hanyang Gang controls the mountains, they’ll also control the river, and West Shu will be theirs.
“I was worried about Shennong Village, so I came to check on you. It seems you all share my concern.”
Gong Muhong, Daoist Chuan, and Zhao Peng were pleased.
Zhao Xuanding, the Canyon Stabilizer, was a sixth-rank expert. His support would be a valuable asset.
Gong Muhong addressed Elder Jing, “Elder Jing, the Hanyang Gang’s ambition is clear. Their new leader, Huang Facai, his background is a mystery. The Nine Villages must unite to resist them. What are your thoughts?”
A voice suddenly boomed from behind them, “Peace and harmony are valued above all else in the jianghu. If you want to fight the Hanyang Gang, that’s your business. Don’t drag us into your conflict!”
Gong Muhong, Daoist Chuan, and Shi Hao turned around. A man in his thirties, followed by a younger man, entered the room.
The younger man, tall and thin, held a folding fan, a sinister smile on his face, his demeanor suggesting he was trouble.
“Father,” the older man said to Elder Jing, “The Hanyang Gang hasn’t attacked us. Why should we join this so-called alliance and provoke them? It goes against our principles of peace and prosperity.”
Daoist Chuan said, “We have no choice. The Hanyang Gang is strong, and the Nine Villages are weak. If we don’t prepare now, unite our forces, they’ll conquer us one by one. Together, we are strong. Divided, we are weak. This alliance is our only hope.”
The young man with the fan chuckled, “You’re mistaken, Abbot. The world is in chaos, rebellions erupting everywhere. Our Hanyang Gang is forming the Hanyang River Alliance to bring stability and protect the people.
“You accuse us of having ulterior motives, while forming your own alliance against us. We haven’t provoked you. Why are you making us your enemy?”
Elder Jing looked at the young man, “And you are…?”
The young man, holding his fan, bowed, “I am Li Yan, a disciple of the Hanyang Gang’s leader. Greetings, Elder Jing.”
Realizing he was a disciple of Huang Facai, the leader of the Hanyang Gang, Gong Muhong, Daoist Chuan, and the others felt a chill.
Elder Jing glanced at the older man who had spoken earlier. He said, “Father, since the Hanyang Gang has come to negotiate, we should at least hear them out.”
This was Jing Zhenliang, Elder Jing’s second son.
Elder Jing turned to Li Yan, “What does your master want?”
Li Yan said, “My master has heard of your reputation in the martial world, Elder Jing, your famed ‘Flying Tiger Legs’ technique. He admires your skill and wishes to make your acquaintance.
“The world is in chaos, the people suffering. My master is concerned about the people of the Hanyang River region and wishes to unite the heroes of the land to protect them.
“The Ba Mountains and the Hanyang River have always been closely connected. The mountains are the river’s source, and the river is the mountains’ lifeline. We are one. My master sent me here to invite Shennong Village to join the Hanyang River Alliance, uniting our forces in these difficult times.”
Daoist Chuan said coldly, “You call it an alliance, but it’s a conquest. Everyone knows the Hanyang Gang uses alliances as a pretext for expansion, destroying those who resist. Such methods are an abomination.”
Li Yan said, “You’re mistaken. Conflict in the jianghu is inevitable. The rumors about our ruthlessness are just that, rumors. And even if there have been some… unfortunate incidents, our Hanyang Gang is actively investigating, and we will bring the perpetrators to justice.”
“And my master respects Elder Jing’s reputation. He has no intention of conquering you. We will treat all members of the Hanyang River Alliance with respect.”
Gong Muhong snorted, “You speak of respect, yet your Hanyang Gang killed seven of our Gong family members in Changyan City just the other day. How do you explain that?”
Li Yan smiled, “A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. The ones responsible for the incident in Changyan City were Diao Hongyan, Jin Ba, and Yu He. They’re new recruits who haven’t fully embraced our principles of peace and harmony. They used… unconventional methods to resolve a business dispute.
“Those three were once notorious villains. My master recently persuaded them to abandon their evil ways and join our gang. Once Mount Nangong joins the Hanyang River Alliance, my master will hold a banquet and mediate, having them apologize to you personally.”
Gong Muhong said angrily, “An apology is enough for killing seven of our men?”
Li Yan, bowing slightly, his fan held before him, said with a forced smile, “Then allow me to offer my apologies here and now.”
Gong Muhong’s anger intensified.
Jing Zhenliang said to Elder Jing, “Father, we have no quarrel with the Hanyang Gang. Why make enemies of them? It will only lead to more bloodshed. Since they’ve come here with a sincere offer, why not join their alliance?”
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