Chapter 43: Chapter 43, Black Tiger Village
Translator: 549690339
He rested lightly throughout the night.
At the crack of dawn, Lu Yun woke up early.
Despite having the panel, he still held the cultivation concept of winter training in the coldest spells, summer training in the hottest spells, thousands of hammers and hundreds of forging, and achieving proficiency through practice.
After ending his early morning cultivation, Lu Yun opened the panel.
[Name]: Lu Yun
[Power]: Flying Spirit Martial Academy
[Martial Arts]: Breaking Wind Saber Technique (Perfection, unimprovable), Mix Origin Technique (Perceive Truth, unimprovable), Pure Yang Aura (Great accomplishment 36%), Seven Kill Saber Technique (Great accomplishment 1%)
[Innate Talent]: Five Star
[Martial Arts]: Meridian Passage Realm (Eight meridians)
[Energy Value] :2
After leaving the Martial Academy, the cultivation progress of the Pure Yang Aura increased by two percent, and the Energy Value accumulated two points again.
It must be said, even though the progression of cultivation is slightly slower, a faint smile can be found on Lu Yun’s face.
This cultivation progression showed that even without relying on the panel, his talent for cultivation was not low.
Suddenly, he moved his ears slightly and looked at the door, where a shadow was moving.
He got up and opened the door, only to see Captain Wang who came with a knife in hand.
At the same time, Xiao Chen from the next room opened his door and came out.
“The two young masters are up early!” Seeing Lu Yun and Xiao Chen come out almost simultaneously, Captain Wang’s face gave a start, but quickly returned to normal.
“Captain Wang is up very early too!”
Lu Yun slightly smiled, his gaze landing on the bundle Captain Wang held in his right hand.
“I brought some breakfast from the market. It’s not much, but it should suffice for the two young masters. Let’s eat and then we can set off!”
As he spoke, Captain Wang opened the bundle to reveal some delicate pastries and fragrant fruits.
Xiao Chen spoke: “Captain Wang, your intentions are appreciated. However, it’s not early anymore, we should set off soon!”
“Oh— ” Captain Wang was stunned, not knowing where to put the food in his
hands.
“Captain Wang, as martial artists, we can withstand hunger for a day or two. The priority right now is to set off promptly, so we don’t fall behind schedule.” Lu Yun explained at this point.
“Master Lu Yang is right.” Captain Wang complied with a smile.
Under the guidance of Captain Wang, the three of them rode their horses out of the county city, heading towards the Green Cloud Mountain Range.
More than two hours later, the Green Cloud Mountain Range lay before their eyes.
“The Green Cloud Mountain Range and Cloud Dream Mountain Range are both offshoots of the Hundred-Thousand Mountains. They both contain many high-level Demon Beasts deep within.
Luckily, both Black Tiger Village and Black Wolf Gang are located along the outskirts of the Green Cloud Mountain Range. Otherwise, even if Lord Zhao ordered it, I wouldn’t dare to lead you here.”
Captain Wang, who led the way on his horse, spoke with lingering fear, indicating his evident trepidation towards the Green Cloud Mountain Range.
“I wonder how Spirit Creek Village is doing now.” Listening to Captain Wang mention the Cloud Dream Mountain Range, Lu Yun thought of Spirit Creek Village. That was the first place he came to when he arrived, and it became his first home where he had his ties.
“Junior Brother Lu, Demon Beasts are the second enemy of our Morign Dynasty. Now that we have entered the Green Cloud Mountain Range, we should be careful.” The normally reticent Xiao Chen suddenly spoke out.
Lu Yun nodded. During his days in the Martial Academy, he not only improved his strength but also broadened his knowledge and understanding of the Morign Dynasty.
If the evil cult powers of Red Moon Demon Sect and White Lotus Sect were the enemies of the Morign Dynasty, then these Demon Beasts were enemies of all mankind.
“Young masters, that mountain up ahead is the stronghold of Black Tiger Village. Let’s proceed with caution!” Captain Wang pointed to a rugged and barren hill and said.
Then, the three men made their way towards the barren hill. After an hour, they sighted a vast group of hill villages in the distance.
The area of Black Tiger Village was not vast, but surrounded by steep and unexplored cliffs. Only one road led to the hilltop. Its terrain was ideal, easy to defend and hard to attack, a single man could hold the pass against ten thousand.
But this is for ordinary people. Among the three of them, the weakest, Captain Wang, is already in the mid-stage of the Meridian Passage Realm, making it easy for him to climb the mountain.
Arriving halfway up the desolate mountain, where the path no longer accommodated horses, Captain Wang dismounted.
Looking towards a small black dot on the mountain top, Captain Wang said, “Black Tiger Village has a lookout tower, always manned. If we climb through this path, we will certainly be spotted. If the bandits attack us from above with crossbows, even our high cultivation wouldn’t shield us.”
“It’s simple, we sneak up from the side.”
“Hmm, that will work!”
After saying this, Xiao Chen and Lu Yun also dismounted, tying the reins of their horses to a large tree and headed towards the left side of the desolate mountain. Captain Wang quickly followed.
This cliff, difficult for most people to climb, could not stop the three of them. They soon reached the mountain top.
Perhaps they believed that due to the excellent position of Black Tiger Village, even if Green Cloud County sent an army, they wouldn’t be able to attack immediately, so the defense was very weak. Only four bandits were on guard.
Lu Yun and Xiao Chen flashed a movement, quickly dealing with the few bandits guarding the entrance of Black Tiger Village.
More than a village, Black Tiger Village was like a congregation of houses built with rocks and wood and stood on top of the desolate mountain.
After dealing with the guards and entering the gate, the three of them effortlessly moved through the village, as if in deserted lands.
It wasn’t that their movements were unusually agile, it’s just that the defense of the Black Tiger Village was too lax—so lax that it seemed unaffected by external threats.
On the journey, Lu Yun completely dismissed his doubts about Black Tiger Village being a base of the White Lotus Sect. If such a place was considered a base, it could only mean that the Morign court was too corrupt, incapable of thoroughly eliminating even the White Lotus Sect.
Soon, they arrived in front of a rather rudimentary hall.
The first thing that caught their eye was a grey-brown plaque. It was unknown how many years it had been hanging there—it looked quite old—but the three crookedly written characters on it were glaring.
Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness!
Upon seeing these three words, Lu Yun dazed momentarily.
Not for any other reason, but because these three words seemed familiar, reminding him of The Marshes of Mount Liang in his previous life.
However, compared to The Marshes of Mount Liang, this Black Tiger Village was far behind in every aspect.
Inside the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness.
Currently, almost all of the Black Tiger Village’s bandits had gathered here, apparently holding a meeting.
At the top position of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness lay a wooden chair, covered with a black tiger skin. A muscular and sturdy man was sitting on it.
Unlike the tattered clothes of other bandits, this sturdy man was dressed perfectly in silk and satin. He was draped in a large tiger skin coat, and a long sword with a cold gleam was placed beside the wooden chair.
This man was the Village Chief of Black Tiger Village.
He sat in silence, emanating a strong aura that resulted in the bandits in the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness holding their breath.
“Hmm, continue arguing!”
After the Village Chief of Black Tiger Village harrumphed, the atmosphere in the hall became even more oppressive and quiet. The bandits lowered their heads, not daring to meet the Village Chief’s gaze.
“Chief, it’s true that a few days ago a big demon suddenly came out from the depths of the Green Cloud Mountain Range. The Black Wolf Gang, from the gang members down to the ordinary members, all fell victim to it. It’s no wonder everyone is worried.”
The one speaking was a middle-aged man, also dressed in fine silk. He was the number two person in Black Tiger Village, and at this time, he was the only one who dared to meet the gaze of the Village Chief.
“The other gang members being short-sighted is one thing, but you, our advisor…”
Before the Village Chief could finish, the military advisor interrupted him, saying:
“Chief, you misunderstood. I fully agree with your plan to absorb the territory of the Black Wolf Gang. Only like that can we strengthen the power of our Black Tiger Village. However, in order to avoid what happened to the Black Wolf Gang from happening again, we must be prepared for the demon beasts that lurk deep within the mountain range!”
“Oh?” The gaze of the Village Chief of Black Tiger Village narrows. He smiles and says, “Advisor, do you have any suggestions? Let’s hear them.”
The advisor unfolds his folded fan, smiles mysteriously and says, “Instead of saying it’s prevention, it would be better to say…”
Bang!
At this moment, the sound of a door being broken interrupted the advisor’s words..